B.V Narsimha Swami ji-Efficient System For Sai Prachar-Part 2.

Sairam dear all,

In this part we shall read in continuation to Swami ji's efficient system for Sai Prachar .Readers who have missed earlier parts of biography can read by clicking on the links which are given below at the end of post , chapter by chapter.Jai Sai Ram.

CHAPTER -4 PART VII
EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR SAI PRACHAR-Part 2

In January 1945, he published the ‘Glimpses of Sai Baba’ with the Foreword by Justice Sri.C.N. Kuppuswamy Iyer. In this work, Narasimha Swamiji corrects the popular notion about Sai baba that he is only a miracle worker who delights in granting material favours to his devotees. The author has brought out how in every one of his actions and dealings with his devotees; Sai Baba was always having prominently in his mind the spiritual welfare of those devotees. In this book, Narasimha Swamiji has been able to throw a flood of light on the inner meaning of Baba’s sayings and doings’.

In the midst of his lecture tours and turning out Sai literature, Narasimha Swamiji also attended to his official duties. He disposed of correspondence, granted interviews, presided over committee meetings and annual general meetings and directed the daily activities at the headquarters. Some idea can be had of how much he was handling from the following extract taken from page 6 of ‘Sai Sudha’-April 1945;-

“The President finds himself unable to cope with the increasing pressure of work…..organization of the Upasmajams and Mandirs and supervision of the matter for Sai sudha are quite enough to keep all his time and energy…The institution suffers no less than the individual by concentration of all work on an old pair of shoulders’.

Narasimha Swamiji was doing everything-travel, correspondence,writing etc,-all by himself. Had it been a Government activity, a separate department would have been created. A separate University would not have undertaken the writing work he had completed. He used to direct the activities of Upasamajams himself. He used to send them messages periodically. He used to reply each and every letter addressed to him. On an average he used to work for 18 to 20 hours in a day. Though his body had worn out, he was a dynamic young man at heart.
In January 1946, the idea of holding an All India Sai Devotees convention was mooted by Narasimha Swamiji. The movement grew out of the local Upasamajams, which in turn looked for inspiration and guidance from Narasimha Swamiji and his group of volunteers. It became necessary therefore for a conference to be held between the delegates of Upasamajams and Narasimha Swamiji or a body of volunteers deputed by the headquarters. This conference was planned as an annual feature to discuss problems of organization and concert measures to strengthen and expand Sai movement.

Accordingly, after careful preparations the first All India Sai Devotees convention was organized on 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th May 1946 at the P.S. High School, Madras. Two hundred delegates registered from outside and several local devotees attended. The proceedings opened daily, with prayer and service in the forenoon at the All India Sai Samaj. The afternoon sessions were held at the Convention Hall in P.S. High School, Mylapore.

Narasimha Swamiji as President of the All India Sai Samaj was elected President of the Convention and also Chairman of the Reception Committee. The Convention opened in the afternoon of the 16th may 1946 after prayers in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. It is interesting to note that Narasimha swamiji while welcoming the delegates, referred to shortages of foodgrains, fuel, electricity, petrol and paper. He requested the delegates to accept whatever plain food was offered to them. He exhorted them to include ‘Narayana Seva’ (feeding the poor) in the activities of their Upasamajams and to work for communal harmony and brotherhood.

Among the messages of greetings received from those were from Rao Bahadur M.W.Pradhan and Justice Sri M.B. Rege, who had personal contact with Sai Baba. Das Ganu Maharaj, Marthand Mhalsapathy and swami Keshavaiah participated actively in the convention. Delegates discussed the activities of their samajams and problems narrated their experiences.

Resolutions were passed in line with the Presidential address. As started in Coimbatore by the Sai Baba Mission, it was also resolved that each Upasamajam should think in terms of starting Sai baba Gurukulams, Kanya Vidyalaya and Narasimha Ashramams to extend educational facilities and medical relief for the destitute, poor and needy. The Convention also noted with appreciation the working of the Sai Baba High School started by S. Adinarayana Rao at Ananthapur in Andhra Pradesh in 1944. Narasimha Swmaji outlined his plans of starting a free dispensary and a School at Samaj premises for the use of slum dwellers and other poor and down trodden people.

The cultural programme of the convention included music, Sai Harikatha in Tamil and Telugu and a Telugu drama based on the life of Sai Baba.

The session closed in the afternoon on 19th May 1946 with ‘Narayana Seva’ organized at the backyard of the choultry at 136, Brodies Road. More than one thousand persons were served with food.

A copiously illustrated Souvenir, printed on art paper of the size of ‘Sai Sudha’ and priced at 8 annas a copy was brought out. Publishing Convention Souvenirs of larger size has come into practice ever since.

The first All India Sai Devotees Convention set the pattern for other conventions held in later years. Narasimha Swamiji’s age and declining health precluded him from attending subsequent conventions, which were held far away from Madras. But he sent messages to all these conventions. The impetus given to the movement by these Conventions is beyond description. It became popular year by year and the network of Sai devotees widened.

The Convention of Sai Devotees, which started in 1946, became an annual feature. At Coimbatore in 1947, at Madurai in 1949, at Calcutta in 1950, at Dharwar in 1951, at Pune in 1952, at Mumbai in 1953, at Baroda in 1954, the conventions were a great success and devotees were looking forward to these conventions eagerly. These conventions have enabled millions to join the Sai marg. Narasimha Swamiji was happy that the movement he started has taken gigantic proportions and is continuously growing.

By then at the Alamelu Mangapuram sector of Venkatesha Agraharam in Madras, a plot was purchased and a temporary shed was built. By donations from generous devotees, due to a powerful appeal in Sai Sudha and sale of Sai literature, funds were raised to complete the building of the front hall. Here Sai Baba’s picture was installed and worshipped on ‘Guru Poornima’ day on 7th July, 1952. By October 1953, construction of the temple with a tower on the model at Shirdi was completed.

On 9th September 1953, the Maharaja of Mysore, H.H. Sri Jayachamraja Wodeyar visited the Sai Mandir and donated Rs.5000/- which helped the samaj to buy a printing press.

The ‘Maha Kumbhabhishekam’ of the temple was fixed on 18th October 1953 during the ‘Mahasamadhi’ celebrations. The programmes started with Sri Sai Laksharchana and several homas. On 17th and 18th ‘Guru Aradhana’ was held by feeding many devotees and fakirs. The ‘Kalasa Stapana’ was performed on the 18th and the function closed with procession of Sai Baba with music and fire works.

The joy of the celebrations was marred by an accident. Earlier to the ‘Kumbhabhishekam’, Narasimha Swamiji had instructions around 7.30 a.m. from Sai Baba. “You won’t be able to perform Kumbhabhishekam. So do Kalasha Pooja now itself’. Devotees were surprised to see Narasimha Swamiji climbing the ladder to do ‘Kalasha Pooja’ at 7.30 a.m. itself, when the actual muhurtham fixed was at 11 a.m.

Around 8.30 a.m. Narasimha Swamiji slipped in the bathroom and broke his thigh bone. He was admitted to the Madras Medical College Hospital for treatment. His right thigh was in plaster cast for over eight weeks.

As already indicated to him by Sai Baba, Narasimha Swamiji could not perform ‘Kumbhabhisekam’ and on his behalf Radhakrishna Swamiji performed it and also other rituals connected with it.
In spite of agonizing pain and immobilization in plaster cast for eight weeks, Narasimha Swamiji did not express this pain on his face. He welcomed this accidental fall as “Sai Baba’s will and a way to alleviate past Karma”. Sai Baba’s Nama Smaram’ was constantly on his lips. In fact, he had converted his ward in the hospital to a miniature Sai Mandir.

Narasimha Swamiji’s untiring efforts had put the Sai movement on a strong pedestal. By 1956, All India Sai Samaj had grown by leaps and bounds. It had good revenue. Swamiji had groomed a band of dedicated volunteers.

Chapters Posted:

1. Introduction.
2. Early Life.
3. Childhood in Salem.
4. Public Life.
5. Turning Point.
6. In quest of God.
7. With Ramana Bhagwan.
8. Pandharpur.
9. From 1932-to March 1934.
10. From 1932-to March 1934- part 2.
11. At Sakori .
12. Face to Face With The Master.
13. Early Days Of Sai Prachar.
14. Baba Himself Favours The Movement.
15. Only Aim.
16. Early Days of Mission.
17. Lockets and Calenders.
18. Meeting The Disciple
19. Efficient System For Sai Prachar -Part 1.
    

To read in Tamil click Here.

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B.V Narsimha Swami ji-Efficient System For Sai Prachar.

Sairam dear all,
In this part we shall read about Swami ji's efficient system for Sai Prachar .Readers who have missed earlier parts of biography can read by clicking on the links which are given below at the end of post , chapter by chapter.Jai Sai Ram.

CHAPTER 4
PART V
EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR SAI PRACHAR

In 1941, Narasimha Swamiji founded an organization named “All India Sai Samaj” with headquarters at Madras to serve as the center of activities of the Sai movement. During his tour in various towns several people became his followers and with the guidance of Narasimha Swamiji they started Sai Samajams, which were called ‘Upasamajams’ affiliated to the main body, the All India Sai Samaj.

With no place of its own to function from, the All India Sai Samaj was first housed in a small rented room in Venkatachala Mudali Street, Triplicane, Madras. On 13th April 1942, the Samaj moved to a house in T.S.V. Koil Street, Mylapore, Madras. This house was considered to be a haunted place and was therefore readily available to accommodate Sai Baba and Narasimha Swamiji. With their arrival, ghosts haunting that place should have got liberated! With the blessings of Swamiji two ‘Bhajan Mandalis’ came into existence-

1. The Narasimha Swamiji Dwarakamayi Prathama Sishya Ghosti headed by S.Sundareswara Iyer of the Railways.

2. The Triplicane Sai Bhajan Mandali led by C.R.Narasimha Raghavan.

In January 1943, the office of the All India Sai Samaj moved to 126, Brodies Road, Madras.

Literature, pictures, lockets, rings etc., were sold from the Central Sai Stores at this address. Even up to 1970 shops in Shirdi received their supplies of lockets, rings etc., from Madras.

Till a permanent building for the All India Sai Samaj was constructed in 1953, Narasimha Swamiji had evolved an efficient system for the propagation of the Sai movement. Each Thursday devotees would gather in the house of one chosen devotee by turn. On each occasion Narasimha Swamiji would present a picture of Sai Baba to the host of the day.

There would be bhajan and ‘Nama Sankirtan’ followed by a talk by Narasimha Swamiji extolling Sai ‘Mahima’. That was the humble and simple way in which he carried on the Sai bhakti movement, gathering sincere devotees in mere handfuls here and there.

Both Sai Baba and Narasimha Swamiji must have got tired of their itinerant life and Swamiji was longing for a permanent abode for Sai Baba in Madras. Around this time, a house in Mylapore had fallen vacant, the tenant having vacated it in a hurry when he found a dead cat in it. When this information was passed on to Narasimha Swamiji, he jumped at the idea and occupied the house without a moment’s hesitation.

When it was found that this house was not sufficient for the increasing number of devotees that were gathering for bhajans, particularly on Thursdays, Narasimha Swamiji moved over to the house of Dr. Nanjunda Rao in September 1943, on the North Mada Street in Mylapore, now known as Ramakrishna Mutt Raod.

In January 1949, When Dr, Nanjunda Rao’s grandson retired from service and wanted the house back for his own occupation; Narasimha Swamiji began to look for another suitable place for Sai baba. At this time an Advocate by name Shri Thyagarajan offered the use of the open space in fornt of his house in Venkatesha Agraharam. A pucca pandal was put up here and Sai Baba shifted here in January 1949.
Narasimha Swamiji now planned to have a permanent abode to house the All India Sai Samaj. With the donations received in response to his appeal he was able to buy a vast extent of land in the same road to the west of the location from where the Samaj was functioning. The plot was purchased for Rs. 29,770/- in 1949. Narasimha Swamiji began construction of a temple for Sai Baba at the newly acquired site. When the construction was in progress, on ‘Guru Purnima” day 7th July, 1952, Swamiji shifted the Samaj to the new site.

The main temple with ‘Garbagriha’ and tower were ready in October 1953. Narasimha Swamiji’s ambition was fulfilled and ‘Mahakumbabhishekam’ was performed on 19th October 1953. Regular worship began in the new Sai Mandir. With the funds available only a zinc sheet roofed open hall could be constructed in front of the shrine for devotees to sit and stand and offer pooja.

In 1954, land measuring approximately ten grounds to the west of the Sai Mandir came up for sale through court. Since this area would be very useful for expanding the humanitarian activities of the all India Sai Samaj, Narasimha Swamiji acquired this place also with great difficulty.

Chapters Posted:

1. Introduction.
2. Early Life.
3. Childhood in Salem.
4. Public Life.
5. Turning Point.
6. In quest of God.
7. With Ramana Bhagwan.
8. Pandharpur.
9. From 1932-to March 1934.
10. From 1932-to March 1934- part 2.
11. At Sakori .
12. Face to Face With The Master.
13. Early Days Of Sai Prachar.
14. Baba Himself Favours The Movement.
15. Only Aim.
16. Early Days of Mission.
17. Lockets and Calenders.
18. Meeting The Disciple
    

To read in Tamil click Here.

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Shirdi Sai Baba's Daily Routine-Part 7.

Dear All,
I have already posted 6 parts of the daily routine .In continuation read the following details about Baba's daily routine in part 7.
I have also tried to add rare and old picture's taking devotees to the time which we all have missed ,it shall give us a feel of the time by reading and viewing the same.Jai Sai Ram.

Sometimes Baba would cook food himself and feed his devotees.He had two vessels which were big enough to cook for fifty to a hundred people.

Baba used to cook here.

On the day that he decided to cook for the devotees Baba would go to the market and get all the condiments and groceries himself. He would do all the work such as lighting the fire, grinding the herbs and condiments and the cooking all by himself. (We can see the fireplace used by Baba to cook food at the mosque to this day).

He would cook sweet rice pudding or milk rice pudding or mutton pilau. He would insert his bare hand instead of a ladle in to the boiling cauldron and stir and mix the food while it was cooking. Astoundingly, his hands were never burned. Sometimes he would cook gravy and add rotis to it.
Other times he would cook gruel and serve it to the devotees together with buttermilk, or he would grind wheat and cook large rotis on the fire of the dhuni. Those rotis would be large and have many layers and one roti would satiate even the hungriest.

Handmill used by Baba to Grind wheat.

He would never let the vegetarians draw near when he was cooking with meat. Once the food was ready he would have the maulvi offer it to god and later send a little to the houses of Mahalsapati and Tatya. Later the remainder would be distributed to all the devotees. After 1910, the number of devotees increased and the offerings also grew, so Baba stopped cooking food. The food offerings given as naivedya to Baba would feed 150-200 devotees daily at the mosque.

Once all had finished their meal, Sagun Meru Naik would clean up the place. As Baba sat in his place, he would offer him betel leaf and nut along with a glass of water and two rupees as dakshina.

No one would be allowed to stay at the mosque after the noon meal. Baba would send everyone away and stay alone at the mosque between 1.00 and 2.30 pm. Baba always had a brick with him which he used to look after very carefully. He would say that the brick was a prasad from his guru. He would keep the brick under his head when he slept. Whenever he sat down he kept the brick to his right and rest his right hand on it. Baba never slept during the day and never rested his back on the wall when sitting. He would sit alone unobserved by all and take out an old cloth bag.

There would be some old worn out coins in it. They were of various denominations such as four annas, two annas half a rupee, one paisa and so on. (A rupee had sixteen annas in the currency of that time.) He would take out these coins and rub them vigorously saying, "This is Nana’s; this is Kaka’s, this Somya’s and this Damya’s". If he heard anyone’s footsteps nearing him, he would at once hide the coins in the bag. What those coins indicated or why Baba rubbed them thus was an unfathomable mystery. Baba never told anyone about those coins.

Shirdi Sai Baba's Kafani

It was also during this time of solitude that he would repair the holes in his old and worn out kafni.Baba would again go at 2.30 pm to Lendi garden and return.

He held court once again at the mosque after he returned from the Lendi garden. After this, in the evening, Sri Sai would walk about the forecourt of the mosque. He would stand next to the boundary wall of the mosque and talk to the passers-by. Sometimes he would talk in some coded words that only he could understand.

He used to say things like, "Ten snakes have left, and many more will come". "Vani (the merchants) and Teli (the oil sellers) have troubled me too much. I am not going to stay in this mosque any longer. I am going away from here." Sometimes he would really start to go away from the mosque and Shirdi.

This would be conveyed to Tatya who would come running to Baba and pacify him saying, "I will punish those who have troubled you. I will not let you leave Shirdi and go away. In any case do not go today. We will see about your departure tomorrow." Only Baba knows why he threatened to leave Shirdi. After allowing him to be cajoled into staying by Tatya, Baba would sit as usual in the mosque and talk to the devotees as if nothing was amiss.
Small Paduka where Baba used to stand

One can see small padukas, which have been placed where Baba used to stand at the boundary wall of the Mosque to talk to the passers-by. Padukas have been placed on the wall where he had rested his hand. It is said that Baba used to stand there sometimes and watch the sunset.

To be continued...

Posted :

Daily Routine-Part 1.
Daily Routine -Part 2.
Daily Routine Part 3.
Daily Routine Part 4.
Daily Routine Part 5.
Daily Routine Part 6.

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Baba's Miracle And Blessings-Experience By Rajeev.

Dear readers,

A post before this was on Faith and trust ,this post also follows the same.The key to Baba is our faith on Him and patience for His grace and this is very nicely shared in the experience today by Sai devotee Rajeev .Jai Sai Ram.

Dear Manisha Jee
Om SAI RAM
I have been worshipping BABA since 15 years in different forms, and have gone through lot of experiences. Since last 4 years I have been totally dependent on SAI BABA. I am regular visitor to your blog and appreciate your efforts. I request you to please post my experience to keep maintain others faith.

|| ANANTKOTI BRAHMADNAYAK RAJADHIRAJ YOGIRAJ PARBRAHM ||
|| SHRI SACHINAND SADGURU SAINATH MAHARAJ KI JAI ||
|| OM SHRI SAI NATHAYA NAMAH ||
|| OM SAI RAM ||

I want to share the Blessings and SAI KARAM on us.
Last month we faced two critical situation one to my near brother-in-law, very close to us, and second my daughter Riya’s admission in LKG.

Brother-in-Law is sincere devotee of SAI BABA. He was en-tour to BABADHAM (SHIV MANDIR in DEOGHAR, (now in JHARKHAND) when he had severe pain in chest. After local checkup, he came to Delhi. As we are not financially strong, it was a challenge where to get doctor diagnosis. Taking SAI BABA's name he went to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. He was diagnosed and informed that heart's three veins are blocked. One 90%, second 65% and third 80%. In two ways in can be cured ballooning or by-pass surgery. Ballooning will require around Rs. 4 lacs and the patient can start day-to-day work in 7 days. By-pass surgery require around Rs. 1 lac and 45 days rest. We opted second option i.e. by-pass surgery. All checkup went so smoothly as SAI BABA was taking care.

We were very worried what will happen to Riya's admission. My son was studying in missionary school and we wanted her to be admitted in same school. We are strong believer of SAI BABA so we had not applied for any other school.
My wife and we usually visit SAI DHAM MANDIR in NOIDA, we went to Mandir and ask BABA to do justice and get both work done. My wife put first priority to operation and second to admission.

By the grace of SAI BABA brother-in-law's by-pass surgery operation was successfully conducted and was discharged in four days (miracle). After 40 days of rest he joined his office work with double energy.

Riya's admission was in three phase, 1st - Written Test, 2nd - Lottery and 3rd - Interaction with Parents. Out of thousands of students by grace of SAI BABA Riya was selected in 1st Phase. All the serial numbers of selected students were written on small chits and kept in a glass jar. Twelve parents were called for picking of chits. This process was to select 110 confirmed admission and 10 waiting-list students. Process started 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 names gone, but Riya’s number was not announced, I cannot tell you the trauma I felt while names were announced from the stage, but back of the mind I was confident that whatever BABA will do that will be the best. Waiting list 1, 2, 3, gone I dialed to my wife, 4 gone, she picked phone said hello, 5 gone, I told Riya's name was not selected in confirmed list, 6 gone, she was shocked, said why BABA has done this, 7 gone, I replied may be BABA has something else in his mind, 8 gone, wife replied but we needed this admission, Riya's number was announced, I told her BABA has accepted our prayer and she is selected.

So BABA has accepted our both request, Riya also got admission. We later understood we had asked operation as our first priority so BABA put more force on that. We know BABA is the ultimate destination and Marg-darshak.

We should not force BABA to do what we want, we should wait for BABA's decision and direction for whatever we do in our life.

After this our faith towards SAI BABA has increased and want to request all to always listen to what your heart says (not your brain).

With this I conclude my story.
JAI SAI RAM,OM SAI RAM.
JAI SAINATH
Rajeev Singh Parmar

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