Friday, March 27, 2009

“Om Satyarupayeh Namah”

(English translation of Hindi discourse given by P.P. Aniruddha Bapu on 31st Aug 2006 on Radha
(Sahastranaam at New English High School, Bandra)

।। Hari Om ।।
|| Om Satyarupayeh Namah||
Om Satyarupayeh Namah.

I bow to Radhaji who is the
embodiment of Truth and whose appearance in itself is Truth.
How is Radhaji’s form? Seeing her images, her idols we
ascertain that she was a “Gopi”; the wife of a cowherd. She is a
Goddess. She is the mother of the world (“Jagadamba”).
However, here she is referred to as Om Satyarupayeh Namah.
What is her true form? Truth itself is her perfect form. She has
no other manifestation. No other appearance but only Truth is
her real self. The original or fundamental form of Alhaadini Radhaji, the preliminary
form, the original form, the epitome of devotion is Truth.
We hear the word “Truth” very often, but we do not understand its true meaning. I
have spoken about Truth a number of times earlier. Truth, Love and Joy are God’s
Trisutri. And we make use of the word Truth even without knowing its meaning. Truth
and Deceit (Falsehood). In our perception, that which is not false is true. This is not
the case. Truth (Satya) and Reality (Vastav) or Factual are two different words. Vastav
means Fact and Satya means Truth. The distance between Truth and Fact; Satya
(Truth) and Vastav (Fact) are poles apart. Truth is very bitter / tough.
Shree Hastamudra Poojan : From 26th July 2006 to 2nd November 2006
Year #1 Issue #33
20th September 2006
Vastav means Fact or reality and Satya means Truth. For instance, an incident occurs
and we believe completely in the incident right from the beginning to the end.
Beginning to end means; start to finish. Fact or reality is the information that is known
about the incident that has occurred. Many a times we have seen in Hindi movies that
someone has been murdered, one person gets killed; someone comes and shoots a
bullet at him from the front. Then the movie begins. He is put through a trial in the
court of law, and we are then able to understand the sequence of events. In the end,
after about 1 or 2 hours after the interval, after 1.5 hours actually it will be shown that
it seemed that someone had shot him with a bullet from the front, but actually there
was someone else shooting him from behind, but this was not shown to us earlier.
That’s why we had not realized it earlier. Who is the killer or the murderer is always
suspense. This is the remoteness between a fact and truth.
What we see with our own eyes, as much as what we have seen happening in front of
us that we perceive as reality or fact. This is not all. There is always something prior
and later than the event too; that which connects the incident with is really the truth.
As I have mentioned earlier, the story that I have narrated several times before, I am
repeating it once again. Someone vows to tell only the truth. Let us say our uncle
Sandeep sitting here. He has pledged that I shall speak only the truth. I shall not tell
lies. He is sitting in the front yard of his house in his village. Just then, a frightened
young girl comes rushing to him saying, Uncle please hide me somewhere, save me.
Some ruffians are chasing and trying to rape me. I know Sandeep very well. He is very
kind hearted, so he will say, my daughter, go and take shelter inside my house.
However, now he has taken the oath, that too for Bapu that he will not tell lies. Just
then, the ruffians arrive from behind and question him, my friend did u see any girl
running this way? Now what should Sandeep reply? If Sandeep has pledged to speak
the truth, and vowed not to tell any lies then he would have to tell the ruffians, my
friend that girl is hiding inside my house. What would that mean? It means she is
there, go in and rape her! In that case, has he spoken the truth? No. He would have
spoken the facts; it cannot be the truth. It is a fact that the girl is inside the house.
However, by revealing this fact it will only lead to unholiness or impurity. Hence, they
are only facts and cannot be the truth.
Instead, if Sandeep reveals to the ruffians that yes, I saw the
girl running away in that direction and also that she was
running very swiftly. In addition, she had a cycle with her or
had a bike with her too. Then, these ruffians will set out to find
her hastily. In the meanwhile, he shall tell the girl, my
daughter, come out quickly and run in the opposite direction.
This will be the truth. Because it leads to sacredness or purity
and the impurity or unholiness is being destructed. Therefore, that alone is truth,
which leads to sacredness. That which leads to unholiness, is not described as truth.
Hence, Radha Ji is Satyarupaya. That means Truth is her form. Truth. My friend, never
give up the companionship of truth in your life. Many a times, while saying something,
or while talking to someone we say that – Today I have realized the real meaning of
Truth. This is a lie. I have found truth today. This is a lie. Truth is always in its
position. I should say that at last I have got an opportunity today to feel the truth.
Let me tell you one more thing my friend, before the strength of Truth and Love;
Strength of Love in Truth and strength of Truth in Love even the greatest strength of
life no matter how powerful it is, always gets defeated. Nobody can confront the power
of Truth. Sita mata, Janaki mata was alone in Lanka. Lanka means not SriLanka of the
present times. In those days, Lanka was referred to as the entire Australian subcontinent.
They were joined together, they have got separated later, and along with it
about 1/3rd portion has merged with the ocean. Lanka was so vast and huge. It was
completely a reign of demons. Sita was alone; she was so tender, and lonely. But was
Ravan – the demon able to harm her even a slightest bit? No. You may say, my friend
she was a great goddess, hence he could not do anything to her. NO. She was safe
because Sita had the truth within her. Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Bharat, Shatrugna had all
manifested in human form. They had a restraint not to make use of their Divine
powers because Ravan was gifted with a boon that God cannot kill him. The one who
makes use of the Divine powers cannot be a human being or cannot have human
existence. Therefore, Ravan abducted Sita thinking that at least when Ram’s wife Sita
has been abducted, at least then Ram will make use of His Divine Power. And the
moment Ram makes use of His Divine Power, he will no longer be a human being; he
will become God. Hence he shall not be able to kill Ravan. This was the main reason
for which Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Bharat, Shatrugna all of them had manifested. None
of them could make use of their Divine powers. They could not use them. Sita was
alone there. She did not use any Divine Powers to protect herself. Because if she
desired to make use of her Divine Power; she would have become the Goddess
instantly. Since Ram is Sita’s husband he would also have become the God and could
not have slayed Ravan. Ravan was granted such a boon by Brahmadev and Shivji.
Only a human being could kill him. Therefore, Sita who was in this Lanka was alone
and helpless. She was a woman. She was just like any ordinary woman. Yet, Ravan
could never touch her.
There are two reasons for this. One of the reasons is that Ravan had a curse spell on
him by Vedavati. If he tries to touch any woman against her wish or desire, it will be
harmful to him. Therefore, he was fighting. He had one more reason that came in his
way. He had abducted Sita, he could have easily touched her but he did not even have
the power to do that. Even when he had abducted Sita and brought her along with
him, he did not have the strength to touch any part of her body. He could not touch
any part of Sita’s body, which was exposed. Not only that, he could not even touch
any part of the saree too that was worn by Sita. He had acquired Divine Powers, that
power he had acquired with God’s grace. With the help of these powers, he had
abducted Sita. If it is not interpreted according to current times, the distance between
his hand and Sita’s body was just about a finger’s length away. That means he could
not touch Sita.
She used to live in forest of Ashoka (Ashoka Van). Trun dayi
aada kahati bedahi. Placing a blade of grass in front of her as a
boundary, she kept gazing at it; you cannot come beyond this
point. Sita always had truth with her. She was the guardian or
custodian of truth. When arrangements were being made for
Sita’s Swayamvar (ceremony to choose her bridegroom), she
was only sixteen years old. When she enters the Swayamvar
mandap (a special structure erected for the ceremony), King Janak announces that
this is my daughter, and she will choose her bridegroom. When Ram breaks the
Shivadhanush; before she garlands him as her husband, she urges her father to tell
him that she is born out of Mother Earth and she is not the daughter created out of his
body. i.e. I am the adopted daughter and not a real daughter. She requests to let Ram
know that in reality, she is not his own daughter, but she is the adopted daughter. She
reveals that she is not Janak’s own daughter. She tells her father that she does not
wish to hide anything. After this, when she arrives at Ayodhya, after arrival at
Ayodhya she respectfully bows to revered father Dasharath. All the people had come
for the wedding.
After arriving at home, all the three mothers were welcoming them with great love.
Kaikeyi was also welcoming them with great love and affection. Now a question arises
in her mind that she has bowed with respect to Dasharath first. Actually, it goes this
way- always the greetings should be first offered to the mother and then followed by
the father. This is the Indian culture. At many places, I see that the father is greeted
with salutations first. This is not the culture of India. First, the greetings are always
offered to the mother. Father will always be given the highest position as the head of
the family. Nevertheless, the children should always offer their greetings to their
mother first. Now she has to offer her greetings to the mother. Mother Kausalya,
Mother Sumitra and Mother Kaikeyi all three of them were standing there, so she was
wondering whom should she bow to first? She is a sixteen-year-old girl who does not
know much. Who should she bow to first? All three of them are her husband’s
mothers. Neither Ram nor Sita ever had the feeling in their mind that she is my real
mother or she is my stepmother. Kausalya was the eldest of all of them. Hence, Sita
felt that she should bow to her first. Just then, the thoughts occurred to her mind that
Kausalya is also their real mother and also she is eldest among the others and she is
the principal wife of the king. Hence, she should be greeted first.
However, she notes who performed the first aarti and the first Aukshan to them?
Mother Kaikeyi has performed it. Now, who is the first person that has welcomed
them, done the first Aukshan, taken their first Aarti? Mother Kaikeyi had done it.
Therefore, the greetings should rightfully be offered to the person who first performed
the aarti. Now she is confused as to who should be worshiped first. In those days,
unlike now a days it was not customary to call out to one’s husband as “Hey, come
here”. Sita could not even cast her glance towards Ram. She considers seeking advice
from someone else. She finds her brother like brother-in-law standing next to her with
his wife, who also happens to be her own sister. They were also transfixed with the
same question. Sitaji questioningly looks towards Lakhan. To this Lakhan replies that
oh Mother, it is absolutely impossible to decide whom among these three was older or
younger. He accosts Sita also as Mother; as Mother this is not possible. Sister-in-law,
this is not possible. It is not possible. Now, Sita’s question remains as a question itself.
Just then, Ram steps forward and he first offers his greetings to Mother Sumitra.
Obviously, Sita follows her husband.
Then they offer salutations to Sage Vasihtha and his wife Arundhatti. At that time, Sita
Mai enquires with Arundhatti Mata if she can ask her a question. She added that her
query cannot be addressed to her husband Shri Ram –Kausalya Mata is the eldest,
Kaikeyi Mata was the first person to welcome them, to perform aarti and to do their
Aukshan, yet why did her husband Ram bow down to Sumitra Mata first? Arundhatti’s
reply to this is very good, very beautiful. Mother Arundhatti replies to her saying
Seethe, I know very well that you are well aware of everything, yet my child, you are
asking me this question. When you are discharging the duties of a daughter, I should
discharge my duties as Guru Maa too.
She continues saying, my child, Sumitra is such a unique
mother that, she has devoted both her sons, both her sons, in
the service of her elder co-wife’s son and younger co-wife’s
son. She has entrusted Lakshman in the hands of Ram and she
has entrusted Shatrugna in the hands of Bharat. Sumitra has
not held back anything with herself. Therefore, in true sense
Sumitra is the embodiment of sacrifice or renunciation
(Tyaagmurthi) Sumitra is such a mother, whose entire life is
filled with selflessness. She does not have anything of her own; she has only her Ram
and nothing else. For the sake of Ram only, she parted with her own son Lakshman. In
addition, in order to carry on his other task, she entrusted Bharat with her other son
Shatrugna. What was she doing herself? She was serving Kausalya. She was serving
Dhasharathji. She was taking care of Kaikeyi. This mother has never ever asked
anything for herself in her life. The one who has Ram is the greatest.
So Sita ji enquires – Does Kausalya mata not have Ram with her? To this Arundhatti
Mata replies that she is unable to answer this question, her husband alone can answer
this question. Sage Vasishta was standing nearby and he tells her – Seethe! Kausalya
also has Ram with her. However, Kausalya possesses Satvik (genuine) pride that Ram
is my son. Kaikeyi possesses Rajas pride that Ram obeys everything she says. He will
never disobey anything that I ask for. Whereas Sumitraji is the one and only one who
says that I am Shri Ram’s. I live for Ram. My existence and my duty are only towards
Shri Ram. I am incapable to repay this debt. I have not done anything for Ram at all.
Whatever I can do is very negligent. Repeatedly he has addressed me as Mother; and
what have I ever done for him. Nothing! Even once, when my Lord Ram addresses me
as Mother, I feel so indebted that I am completely incapable of repaying this debt.
These are Sumitra’s feelings. Hence, among all the three mothers, Sumitra is the
Aadyamatha (principal mother). Sumitra is the unsurpassed among all. In true sense,
Sumitra is Ram’s mother. Therefore, Ram bowed down to Sumitra mata first. This was
rightful because, Sumitra alone has realized and acknowledged the true form of Ram.
Although he was her son and they were sharing the relationship of a mother and son
she did not hesitate even a slightest bit to worship him as God. She has surrendered
her entire life at the feet of Ram to serve him forever. Therefore, in true sense Sumitra
is only Ram’s mother.
Later on when Kaikeyi’s intelligence gets corrupted or what ever; when Ram sets out
on exile Sita tells him that she will join him too. In reply to this Ram tells her that she
should not come with him. She is so delicate and fragile that she will not be able to
bear the harshness of the exile. Sita does not go to Kausalya. The question does not
arise at all that Sita will visit Kaikeyi. She does not even go to Sage Vasishta. She does
not resort to Arundhatti or Vashishta. She does not even go to Sumant. She
immediately goes to meet Mother Sumitra and tells her that Ramji will never turn
down or disobey her words and she asks Sumitraji. See the truthfulness in Sita, how is
its form? Sita continues to ask Sumitraji, Mother I have a question I would like to ask
you. Mother, I know you are very much in grief, yet I have come to trouble you, to
cause you more pain. I would like to ask you a question. Sumitra mata replies,
definitely my child please asks. Then Sita inquires, Mother what are the duties of a
wife? Sumitra replies, my child a wife’s duty is “Nati charami” The vow taken is “Nati
charami”. I shall not do anything without you. I shall not do anything without you. This
is it! This is the vow taken. And this is the duty of a wife. The duty of the wife is to
follow her husband’s footsteps. Why are you asking me this? No Mother, I am just
asking. Sita ji bows to her and takes leave.
Sita has acquired a promise from Sumitra whose entire life has
always been quenched with truth (Satyamay) and whose life is
an epitome of surrenderance (Tyagmay). She comes back to
Ram and tells him that she will definitely go with him. Ram
dissuades her from coming. I am telling you. I am your
husband; I am ordering you that you should stay back here and
serve my mothers. You have to abide by my words. You are
devoted to your husband (Pativrata). This implies that Sitaji is
the Satya Svarupa. She is not following the fact; she is following the truth, I repeat
She is not following the fact but she is following the truth. Even before meeting her
husband regarding this, she has acquired permission from his mother, from the higher
authority. She tells him that this is the instruction from your mother that I should
follow your footsteps. However, if you order that I should stay here I will stay here;
but you will be blamed with the charge of breaching your mother’s promise. Being a
good wife, I do not desire that you should be blemished with the charge that you have
breached the promise made by your mother. Therefore, you please give me permission
to come with you.
Sumitra mata joins them in the conversation and confirms that my son, yes indeed,
she had asked me about it and I gave her the permission. Now, what can Ram say
about it? In fact, Sumitra mata would consider every word that Ram would tell her.
But since the permission was given by Sumitra mata, it was Ramji’s duty to adhere to
her word. Sita had understood the difference between truth and fact. She understood
the difference between truth and fact; and to instill the purity, to develop the
sacredness she made use of that knowledge. She did not resort to facts. Instead, she
took the support of truth. What was the fact? Ramji had said that I should stay back
here because leading a life in the forest would be difficult. She was not a follower of
facts; she was a follower of truth. Therefore, she could walk the path along with him.
Not only this, when Vibhishan escorts her with great respect after she is at liberty from
the clutches of Ravan and brings her to Shri Ram, Ramji’s is overwhelmed with
emotion and tears roll down his eyes. Everybody is very happy at the reunion of Ram
and Sita. Their sufferings have ended. They are happy that Sita’s husband Ram is
happy. King Ram is very well aware that his wife is pure and untainted. Even though
he knows very well that, his wife is pure; he also knows that people always want
evidence.
God always carries out his work in such a way that it shall remain as a proof of
testimony to every human being at every walk of life. He does not carry out any work
without a proof or evidence. This is a word, this is evidence, a proof; this is Sun, this is
Jainrath – do not kill him by hiding the sun. Jainrath as well as sun both exist. This is
the evidence that he is the sinner and should be captured. This is God’s way of
working. Therefore, what did Ram do? He told her Seethe, you are probably being
tarnished with the charge that you have spent several months at the grove of another
person’s husband (Parpurush). I cannot accept you until you have proved yourself
innocent. So, Sita replies in affirmation. Vibhishan prepares a bed of wooden logs for
the Agnipariksha (test of fire). However, mother Sita just utters one single word. Hey
Agnidev (Lord of fire) if I am pure, then you shall be a proof of this to everyone. Even
before Sita was lit to fire, fire is generated from underneath the earth. Agnidev himself
appears in front of all. Unlike today’s terms of timing as 1 minute or 2 minutes or 3
minutes, Sita ji stays in the pyre of fire for complete 24 minutes. She comes out of the
fire, which out a burnt mark on her body. Truth. What was this fire (Agni)? This was a
fire of truth. That means, even fire cannot burn down the truth. This implies that fire is
also a form of truth. Sita emerges unscathed from the fire and is united with Ram. This
is Radhaji.
All of us know the story of “Suvarna tula”. The Parijat tree was
brought from Indra’s paradise. Lord Krishna, also known as
Kanhaiya and his consort Satyabhama had once helped Indra in
a war; as a token of appreciation, the Parijat tree is planted in
Krishna’s front yard. Once Sage Narada visits them and as
always he chants “Narayana Narayana” and he comments that
what is the matter? You look very happy. She replies, yes; see
how much my husband loves me. The Parijat tree, brought
from heaven has been planted in my front yard. Oh Oh Satyabhame you are so naïve
and innocent. That Kanhaiya is very smart, see he has planted the tree in your front
yard, but see where do the flowers bloom and fall into Rukmini’s yard. She sees and
realizes it is true! She feels cheated as always by the manipulative Krishna. So she
resorts to Narada and asks him brother, Hey King Narada if there is a solution to this
please let me know. He replies that if you find a deserving Brahmin and gift your
husband as a offering or donation; then your husband shall always be devoted to you.
In the future births to come. So Satyabhama tells him, where can I find a more
deserving Brahmin than you my King? He cautions her to think again. She has made
up her mind and does not want to think over it. Immediately she pours the water as a
sign of offering in Narada’s hands and announces that – I have offered Krishna to you!
Krishna arrives at the scene. Narada questions Krishna, my son what are you doing.
Get up, Stand up, pick up my Tanpura (musical instrument) and follow me.
Satyabhama gets scared and enquires my brother what is the matter? Narada replies
that you have offered him as a donation to me. That means he is my slave; he is my
servant so he will pick up the Tanpura and follow me. But you had told me that he will
be devoted me. Yes, in the future birth. I had not told you about this birth. What ever
it is, Satyabhama was a very nice person, and she was not a devilish person. Very
deeply, she loved Krishna’s feet, but she had jealousy in her mind towards her co-wife.
She wonders whose help she should take. And decides to call for Rukmini’s help.
Rukmini suggests to Naradji that if he wishes to have anything other than Krishnaji,
then they are ready to offer that. Rukmini is fully aware of everything. Radha and
Rukmini are one and the same; bear this in mind. Only their form is different. Narad
asks Satyabhama, what would you like to offer? Satyabhama has made the offering in
the first place, so she should tell. Satyabhama has the “Samantak Mani”, which
produces gold everyday. Satyabhama suggests that she will offer as much gold as he
desires. Narada replies that I do not want much. Just give me as much gold that equal
Shri Krishna’s weight. Satyabhama’s pride takes over her. She tells, Rukmini now you
may take leave I will take care of it. Narada wants only gold and I have the Samantak
Mani that will produce as much gold as he requires and I do not require Rukmini’s
presence to produce the gold, hence you may take leave. Again she turned into a cowife;
who just behaved like a sister five minutes ago; she turned into a co-wife.
Rukmini feels helpless and goes away.
Now, a weighing scale (tula) is brought in. On one scale Shri Krishna sits himself. On
the other one gold is being offered. How much ever gold you offer it seemed to be
insufficient. The side on which Shri Krishnaji was sitting remained stationary. At that
time Rukmini is called. Vatsala is also being called. Satyabhama is also being called.
Then, Jambhvati, all the co-wives arrive immediately for help. Each one of them offer
all the gold ornaments they possess. Whatever gold is there in the royal family or
dynasty is also brought. However, whatever is heavy for Krishna will be heavy only.
Naradji says that if you give gold equivalent to Krishna’s
weight, nothing can be done to him nor can you shake
anything. At that time Rukminiji tells Satyabhama that,
Satyabhama you are a woman of truth, which means you, are
an image of truth. You do not know the truth; we should know
that truth is only Krishna. We all have been born as his
reflection only. That is why you are Satyabhama you are a
satyadan (giver of truth) you go to his feet. Naradji tells that
you are my slave first so you must come to my feet then. Whether to go to his feet or
not I will decide. Now see that Satyabhama is ready to go to his feet. Naradji tells that
my slave is my servant first who are you to go to his feet then? Without my
permission, how can He make you his lover? He cannot do that.
Now see, when she had an opportunity, at that time she chose to behave like a typical
co-wife. She was fighting with the others. She had forgotten Krishna too. Now when
she wants to surrender at his feet but she is unable to do that. This is the problem
with each and every person. When a opportunity is given to surrender at God’s feet we
do not do it. But when we are in trouble we want to surrender at God’s feet but we
cannot go at that time. But there is one thing let us see, this Rukmini who is there she
tells Satyabhama that you should keep remembering Radha, do Radhaji’s jap, Radha
will surely come then. Satyabhama always felt jealous towards Radha. Krishna was
always there in Radha’s thoughts. These thoughts would never come to Rukminiji.
Naradji would laugh and tell see a jogan (female ascetic) has come. On her whole
body there is not even 1 mg of gold. You people might say that in that time was there
milligram of gold? She does not have even one bit of gold, where did you find such a
beggar!What can she do? Naradji knew very well who was Radha? Rukmini bows
before her. She is bowing to the Satya Swarup (True form), which is herself. Rukminiji
tells Radha that- Oh mother, you are only our support. We are only the reflection of
this God and we walk only on the strength of this reflection. You are bhasyarupini
(radiant), you are bhaktirupa (love devotion), you are anandini (happiness) oh mother
you are the only solution to our problem. At that time, Radha says that I have a very
small bit of wealth with me; that is not very big too. Naradji tells her whatever you
have please; put that please without any delay. Then Radhaji takes a leaf of tulsi,
remembers Krishna, and puts it on the weighing scale. And suddenly the equation of
the scales changes and Krishna becomes lighter than the weight of all the gold. That
time Satyabhama understands that she was only Satyabhama but Rukmini and Radha
are real truth, they are satyarupa (form of truth) whereas she is only Satyabhama.
Radha who is Rukmini the satyarupa but Satyabhama is only Satyabhama. Reflection
of truth, which means reality. We cannot get to God only through reality but we can
reach God’s feet only through truth. Reality only takes us away from God and truth
only brings us closer to God.
We too also are always running behind reality. In God’s temple, in siddhivinayak
temple whatever temple’s might be there of God, of Sai Baba we have been going
since the past 2 yrs. In 2 yrs how many Thursdays are there? Around 104 Thursdays
how have we been profited? Salary has increased from 500 rupees to 600 rupees that
much only and nothing else has happened. In reality, we have forgotten the truth that
we have been close to God. Regularly every Thursday God is calling me. He is giving
me his darshan. With that, all the other things that we have not asked, so many good
things have come with that until now. We do not run behind that truth. We keep
chasing only what we want, considering that as a reality. That is why our condition
becomes like that Satyabhama not like Rukmini. We lose not only gold with our hands
but also lose God. We lose devotion and our peace too.
Sameerdada had said a very nice thing in the Bhaktisheel class he had conducted; he
said that when we read the Sai Satcharitra what is the biggest advantage people
gained? We see that this person got this, that person received that but why don’t we
think that all these people have been very fortunate to see Sai with their own eyes.
They saw Sai who could walk who could talk with their own eyes and heard Sai with
their ears. They were lucky to get the udi, which was blessed by Sai. This is the
biggest advantage why don’t you think like that? However, no, we people do not think
about that because we are running behind the reality and not the truth. Mr. Cholkar
got a job, this person got something else that person got a house, Dammu Anna was
blessed with sons, some other devotee got a girl, and some devotee’s son marriage
was fixed. We keep looking at only these things. We just do not look at the truth. That
is why we cannot go closer to Sai.
In Sai Satcharitra Hemadpant keeps saying repeatedly that
nobody knew Baba’s caste. Whether Baba was a Hindu or
Muslim? If he was a Hindu then to which caste did he belong? If
He was of this caste then who were his mother-father? To
know, this is reality. Sai is God. To believe this, is truth.
However, we have more interest in knowing who Baba’s
parents were? Where did Baba stay? Which language would
Baba speak? What was Baba’s height? What was His colour?
Friends, what do we want to do by knowing all this? Parshuram was fair; Krishna was
dark in complexion whereas Ram had a wheatish complexion. What is the problem in
that? You people knew His height, you will know how much lord Krishna weighs, how
long were His hands, the width of his eyes was how much? Did you people know all
this? What difference did it make? When lord Krishna was born who were his true
parents? Were they in jail? We never had all these questions in our head. Friends even
after giving birth to a God they had to stay in a jail. Then why is God there? This
question should arise in our mind. If Krishna was a God then why didn’t he help his
parents? Friends even His own parents He could not help, He himself had to run away
from the prison first. To whom? To Nand-Yashoda. Then He ran from Mathura too? To
Dwarka. That is why He is known as ‘ranchoddas’. Then what kind of God can we call
Him? When the time comes He himself has to run. These questions should come to our
mind. For what purpose? Only for the truth. Not to criticize God. To know how a
devotee used to love his God then. Vasudev-Devki were only happy about this fact
that God Himself is our son. Staying in the jail or in the jungle, their son staying with
them or not was not a problem at all but His work was the most important to them.
The favour that he has done to us is the most important. Yashoda and Nand did not
even tell this after 13 yrs that for the 13 yrs you have been an advantage to me. Till
that time you stayed with me and now you are leaving me and going. They did not ask
that. Even the gop-gopiya did not ask this. Yashoda didn’t tell Krishna that for thirteen
years you ate my makhan (butter), you broke my pots, you did everything and now
you are leaving me and going. Then why did you come here she did not ask this.
Because she was not behind reality. She was behind the truth. She knew that whether
Krishna stays here or stays there as long as He is in our heart He is ours. Even if by
staying here He is not there in our hearts then His staying here is of no use to ours.
Whenever a sagun sakar avatar comes then we should understand that we should
make the ultimate use of this life. In this life job, marriage, children all these things
should be considered secondary. Before how many ever births have taken place and
later on too many births will come but there is this one birth where God is standing in
front of me. At least in this birth, leaving aside all the secondary things, leaving behind
the reality we should accept only the truth. Just the way Dixitji tells in Sai Satcharitra
that the leg, which is broken, let it be lame, I am getting my Sai, I am getting my
Sadguru I do not need anything else. So in the birth where in we get a chance to sit,
stand and see a sagun sakar avatar then we should first only decide that cars,
bungalow, wedding, business all these things are secondary, they are gone. This sagun
sakar form that is standing before me is only no.1, no.2, no.4, no.50, no.80, no.99.
In every life all the people come for what reason? Only for that reason. In every birth
some receive education whereas some don’t receive it. Some do jobs while others do
some business. They get married; they have husbands or wives and children. In their
lifetime, they are always tied with their difficulties and finally they die one day. In the
first birth, what they did or did not. In the coming births, too they are going to do the
same thing. When God in the form of Sai comes and stands in front of us at that time
we should think that now atleast let me seek only God, I am not saying that you have
to become a sadhu and give up everything and start wandering around. But this
firmness should be developed in my mind distinctly that friend this birth of mine has
taken place to be at the feet of the God or to be surrendered to
God. I get a job or not, I get money or not, I have children or
not but I have my God. It is only because of His reason that He
has come and is standing in front of me. I will never leave His
feet for any reason and that is the important thing. Satyarupa
Sita never said that for so many months I have waited for Him
staying here in this ashokvan. I was bearing the pain. Now
after getting you are telling me to remove the accusation. You
being God you know everything. You are putting so much responsibility on me. Sita
never told all this. Lakshman also did not ask to settle the account that ram I have
stayed with you for 14 yrs and now for 14 yrs I will rest. He too never said like that.
Bharat did not tell that Ram you were not here, placing your padukas on the throne I
ruled and managed all the welfare. I am still a Brahmacharya. I too slept on the
ground. Now for 14 years you become a king and rule I will take rest like a yuvraj. I
will have fun. He never said all this. Remember Hemandpant did not tell Sai that I
have retired now; I need a job. Annasaheb Chichinkar told Baba that Hemadpant has
five children. Pension is not sufficient for him, if he gets some other job it will be better
for him. Baba assured that he would definitely get a job; but what kind of a job? Like a
dead one which means he will get it soon and will have to leave it soon. Anyhow, for
six months he could get job and could loose it too.
“Aata yaneh karave maji chakari” (which means now he should do my seva). At that
time then Hemadpant agreed. In his house the first idol comes. Remember- the idol of
Baba, which is there in Hemadpant’s house, is the first idol of Sai Baba that has been
sculpted or placed and this has been done in Hemadpant’s residence. Before that,
there were no idols of Baba, only pictures existed. How has this been evolved in
Hemadji’s charitra (behaviour, conduct)? That very time when Baba asked Hemadpant
to keep his records, which means start recording my charitra (biography) Hemadpant
whole-heartedly accepted Baba’s word and considered it to be his intent in life? And he
prayed to Baba “jovari hya dehat shvas. Nit karyas sadhuni dhya”(which means till the
time I am breathing God whatever work you want me to do let it be done by me). And
it happened just like that. Every time he said that he had written the 52 chapters and
the last line in that is not “ithi Shri Saisatcharitra” nor “hemadpant virachite” he could
write. Only what he wrote was “ arpito lekhani, mastak tav charni” (which means this
pen and my forehead I bow to you / offer to you. I just offer everything to you). In life
what we need is truth and there is no bigger truth than God.
Whatever is there apart from God is all only false. He is Brahma only who is the final
authority and we should understand that. We see a story of Das Ganu wherein he was
writing the Isha Upanishad. The people who could not understand Sanskrit it is for
them who would get stuck at some point in time, would then come to Baba and ask
Him the meaning “ tena vyaktain bhunjitha” could not understand the meaning of that.
Baba tells him what will I make you understand in that, the maidservant of Kakaji will
explain it you. Kakasaheb; meaning Kakasaheb Dixit. Das Ganu then goes to
kakasaheb’s house, he sleeps there and when he awakens, he hears a maidservant
around 11 yrs or 12 yrs in age singing a song of an orange colored saree. When he
heard her sing, he came out and saw that there was servant named Naamdev, his little
sister had worn torn clothes. Das Ganu tells kakasaheb to give her a nice saree then.
The next day that little girl had worn a new saree and was very happily singing a song.
On the third day, she keeps the new saree at her house. She has worn her torn clothes
again still she is very happy. At that, time by her singing and her behavior Das Ganu’s
problem gets solved. He understands the meaning of “tena vyaktain bhunjitha” which
means Sai Baba tells Das Ganu ‘ ishavaasya jagat sarvam’. What can I tell if you have
the ego that the answer to the question is only with God? Sai Baba knew that Das
Ganu had Satvik ego or pride that he was a learned person (jnani). And Sai Baba could
alone resolve such a big problem. Das Ganu had become a very big person. At that
time Baba tells him what me, you are not a very big person, a very simple
maidservant can solve your problem or tell you the meaning. You understand son how
small you are and Das Ganu agreed to it. That is why Das Ganu became a saint. He
accepted whatever Baba had told him that the solution to your problem will not be got
resolved by going to any sadhu, a simple maid-servant is the only one who could give
you some guidance. Baba showed him the truth, and Das Ganu accepted it.
There is one story of Das Ganu wherein he asks Baba that he
want to do’ naam sumiran saptah’ (a week wherein you
remember God’s name). Das Ganu tells Baba that he wants to
go to Prayag. Baba then tells him what for Prayag what for
Kashi here only is yours everything. Das Ganu starts the naam
sumiran then and keeps his head at Baba’s feet. At that time
in reality stream of water from Ganga and Jamuna starts
flowing from your feet. If he had to go there then would have
been able to drink that water only in reality. However, the Ganga and Jamuna, which
was there here, had sprung from Baba’s feet. That was only the true waters of Ganga
and Jamuna. Nevertheless, we people keep running behind the river Ganga and
Jamuna. But we should understand where the true Ganga and Jamuna is there? Not in
those rivers. That water also is the holy water of Ganga it is indeed. But the water
flowing from my God’s feet the effect of that Ganga and Jamuna water is the most
effective only if anyone could understand that. That is the only truth for me. We think
correctly that friends in life for the future we should do some plan which is good.
Every insidious person; every householder has to realize this. Generally, my friend
what we think is if we have two sons, then we should posses 2 blocks. If we have a
daughter, then we should accumulate the expense that will be incurred during her
wedding and make preparations or arrangements for the gold jewelry. To ensure that
we get some money regularly every month after retirement or in old age, we make
some arrangements or do some planning. But are we able to plan adequately for the
future? We want to maintain good relations with our sons and daughters-in-law. Is this
sufficient? Is it adequate to enroll with a medical scheme? If you want to plan for the
future, then firstly the planning for the present should be well executed. The one who
lives for tomorrow or the one who lives thinking of tomorrow is called as “durdaivi”
(unfortunate). He is inopportune. The one who lives for today, lives for the present he
is called as “Surdaivi”. He is “Daiva vaan”. He is lucky, “Bhagyashaali”. I am a devotee
of God at this moment and forever. God is always watching over me. He does not
watch over me just for a moment, but forever. God may probably help me tomorrow.
No, God is helping me even at this very moment. This should be my firm faith. The
only thing is that I am unable to identify his help. But never ever think that God is not
helping me. Otherwise you would have become Satyabhama. Every moment, no
matter how much ever deep in trouble you may be; always have the firm belief that
my friend, God is always helping me. No matter I may be a sinner, if I have faith in
God’s feet, I am chanting God’s name, and then definitely God is helping.
The one who says that God will come to my aid and definitely help me; he is a follower
of Satyabhama. The one who says that God is with me and is helping me even in the
present circumstances, even though he may be in big trouble; he is standing with
Radhaji. Radhaji is Satya rupa (form of truth) and Rukmini is Satya rupa (form of
truth). And Truth always comes to our aid. Right in the first sentence I mentioned that
truth is always so great that it is incomparable with any other power. And we can
attain this truth from the God’s feet only with devotion.
Now, you will ask me Bapu, repeatedly you have told that Radha is Bhakti Swarupa
(form of devotion). Today you are saying that Radha ji is Satyaswarupa (form of
truth). So is A=B; B=c; therefore A=C? Yes, right, absolutely right. Radhaji is Bhakti
rupa; Radha ji is Satya rupa; therefore, it implies that Bhakti and Satya are one and
the same. The devotion, which is devoid of truth, is not devotion at all. And the truth,
which is devoid of bhakti, is not truth at all. Therefore, I mentioned right in the
beginning that the one who is away from God could never be the truth. Therefore, an
atheist can never be a follower of truth. What can he be? He can be a follower of facts.
He cannot be a follower of truth. Only a believer can be a follower of truth. He may not
be one today, but he will definitely turn into one in future. You will ask me, Bapu you
told us just today that we shall not discuss about the past or the matter, which took
place two days ago, we shall talk only about the present. If you completely have belief
in God, then even at this moment you are a follower of truth. No matter how much
ever lies you have told, you are still on the path of truth. If you have not reached till
the end of the path, No problem. You are still on the path of truth. Walking on the path
laid by God is the path of truth.
However you are – whether uneducated or educated or whether
ignorant or knowledgeable, a socialite, high classed or low
classed what ever- people say I am of a particular caste, I am
from this region or that region, what ever I am, whether a
sinner or a person with good deeds I am devoted to God. I
have come to be dedicated at the feet of God. I have wanted to
be dutiful at the feet of God. The one who has these thoughts
in his mind always, the one that constantly keeps thinking
these thoughts; Radha ji knows how to keep him on the path of truth? Because she is
Bhaktirupa (form of Bhakti). She is Bhaktirupa ; she is Satyarupa. Because she is a
Satyarupa, she constantly keeps your bhakti on the right path. And being a Bhakti
rupa, she constantly keeps you on the path of truth.
Therefore who has the strength to give you both Satya and Prem and also Satya and
Bhakti? It is Radhaji. Therefore, her name is taken before Krishna’s name. We always
say as “Jai Radhe Krishna” and not as “Jai Krishna Radhe” What do we say? “Jai Radhe
Krishna”, “Jai Siya Ram”, “Jai Sita Ram”. Hence my friends realize that Radha is
Satyarupa. We do not want to run behind “Satyabhama”. God must be above all our
desires and wishes. Never forget this. Stop going in the opposite direction to God
because of the worldly difficulties; livelihood difficulties. More the difficulties, more the
hurdles, our faith in our God’s feet should be stronger; more namasumiran (chanting
of God’s name) should be done. Because this is alone the truth; rest everything is just
an illusion.
।। Hari Om ।।

“OM SHAMBUKAANTAAYEH NAMAH”



(English translation of Hindi discourse given by P. P. Aniruddha Bapu on 10th August 2006 on
Radha Sahastranaam at New English High School, Bandra)
।। Hari Om ।।


The one who is Shiv’s wife, I bow to such a Radha. Now we will
infer here that Bapu is creating a different kind of relationship. But
this name in the Sahastranaam - Shambukaantaayeh Namah
is for the one who is Lord Krishna’s sakhi - true mate, the one who
remains harmoniously absorbed in Shree Krishna, the one who is
Aalahadinhi and is perpetually playing the raas with Shree
Krishna, then how can she become Shambukanta? This means
that one may state Shiv or Param Shiv, Vishnu or Mahavishnu, all are one and that is
why this Dharmacharini is also sakhi. The meaning of word Shiv is pious, complete and
pure. The word Krishna means attraction, the one who can heave anything and has the
capacity to attract no matter what to its core, whether it is exceedingly heavy or
extremely light. Similarly the word Ram means the luminosity, which existed before
the beginning and will subsist even after the end i.e. Ram existed prior to the start of
this universe and would be real even after the ending of this universe. If we see at the
peripheral level these names look different but actually they are not.
The light that exists before the commencement of the universe and continues
right till the end is always pure and it is this very light, which is forever moving
continuously from one point to another. It does not require an agent or a medium and
is not dependent on anyone i.e. it is self sufficient (Swayambhu). It is the same light
Year #1 Issue #22
31st August 2006
Shree Hastamudra Poojan : From 26th July 2006 to 2nd November 2006
based on which we do experiments in school. We observe that when a plant is kept in
a box with a small window on one side for the light to come in, the plant grows in the
direction of the light i.e. it diverts itself towards the brightness or is attracted towards
the daylight. That illustrates that it is this light, which pulls or attracts all living beings
towards it, even if it is something as undemanding as a plant, it is only this light with
the help of which the plants produce food. Not only do humans consume this food but
the animals survive on these plants too. Hence it is this sunshine to which each person
is attracted.
Who moves on the way to darkness and who moves in the
direction of the light? The one who has to commit a sin will be
lured by the darkness, but the one wants to be away from the
shadows will move in the direction of the light only. It shows us
that the devil exists in the form of darkness and God is always in
the form of light. Pure light, God, Paramatma, Shiv, Vishnu,
Ram, Sai, Krishna and that is why all the three of them have the
same form. One form? You will ask but Bapu, if there exists only one form then they
should have maintained that one figure, why create such a state of confusion? Since
Shiv sits in this posture and has a different form, Krishna’s appearance is different.
Ram is different, Krishna is different. Sai is even more different. Why all these
different forms were placed before us? Why did it not happen that He just maintained
that one form for the sake of all the people? The answer has been given by the Vedas,
the Geeta has answered this, and Ramayana has provided the answers too. Sai
Satcharitra has also replied.
We find that each human being sees every event and every object from his own
perspective. I must have already cited this example a couple of times in past - the
example of a beautifully carved glass goblet. A very beautiful glass goblet; just
suppose that you gift this to a woman considering her your sister or your mother. So
what will the first woman say? Dear brother, this is very nice but I have a very young
child who is just one and a half year old and is quite immature. He may grab and
break it into small pieces and might also hurt himself so I will keep it safely in a
cupboard and not use it immediately. The second woman could possibly say that my
son is five years old and refuses to drink milk but if served in this attractive goblet, he
might drink it, so I accept this for my son. While one woman says that she will have
to hide it somewhere away from her son, the other will take it for her son. If there is
any third person or woman (in the current times) she might comment that she would
enjoy drinking alcohol in that goblet. Intoxicating alcohol, beautiful glass, and an
excellent combination. A fourth lady would remark brother my husband is passionate
about alcohol. If I keep the goblet in front of him it will tempt him even more to drink
the alcohol so I would prefer destroying it. It is the same goblet, made from a piece of
glass, same form, same colour, same shape, but four different people have completely
unique and different perceptions about the same object.
Now look at this everyday situation. A family has an eightnine
year old child and when its time for him to come home from
school the mother thinks that my dear child will soon be coming
home, he must be very hungry. It is time to prepare something
for his lunch/snack, so her total attention will be to keep a watch
on the time, as her child should be coming in any moment. She
keeps pondering why he has not come yet? Why he has not come
yet? Now look at the child, it is the same event, he is waiting to reach home, on
reaching home he will get to enjoy, he has been caged in the school for eight hours or
five hours or whatever the duration. He thinks that at home my mother must have
made some good lunch and he will enjoy once he reaches back there. He will get his
mother’s love and care. Both the son and mother are having similar feelings. The child
is coming home, from the external to the internal. For the mother the thoughts are
from the inside to the outside. In both the minds though there is only one thought and
it is about the same event.
Now look at another perspective, if the child is coming home with his report
card and has secured just ten marks out of fifty, now what will he think? My God! Once
I reach home - dhoom dhoom dhoom dishum is going to take place. At this point he
will not remember the lunch, the only thought will be that I have just secured just 10
marks, and a red line on the report card, what mother will do is ok but father will not
spare me. Mother on the other hand is also waiting for her son, that her darling child
will get his report card, how many marks will he have secured? She knows that he has
not put in sufficient effort and not studied hard enough and feels that he might not
score good marks. She decides in her mind that if he has not passed or has cleared
with a very low score she will have to scold him. She thinks though I have prepared
the food for him, I will not serve the food as soon as he comes. Now see it is the same
incident the child is coming home, the mother is as usual waiting for him, but both of
them have a different outlook. The child comes home, instead of showing his report
card to his mother he tells his mother that he is very hungry. Mother replies Yes! But
does not offer the food as usual, instead asks for the progress card.
The child starts crying, since children are quite good at acting, he starts
lamenting that his teacher is quite strict and has been a miser in giving marks to all
the children. The mother very well knows that it is only her child who has secured less
marks and he is for no reason blaming the poor teacher whoever she might be. She
asks for the report card, sees it and screams at her child and tells him that “Let your
father come he will beat you with a stick. You will not get any food today”. Though she
has made the food for him but does not serve it, the child cries, laments but she
becomes adamant. After the father comes he picks the stick and even thrashes the
child a couple of times but later the mother brings the child close to her and lovingly
pats his head and tells him. See I had told you that your father will get you anything
you want but only on one condition that you will behave properly, otherwise you will
get nothing. After some time she serves the food to him and asks him to eat it and
reminds him not to repeat this mistake again. From today onwards you will study hard.
The same child grows and joins a college. Has a girl
friend, now he wants to marry her, so while coming home, this is
again an examination for him. It is the same time at which he
returns daily, mother has no clue of the whole issue, but the
child thinks I will have to convince my mother, if I tell my father
I will have to listen to his abuses –whether you go to college to
study or to do all this?? So it is better to convince mother first.
The mother obviously knows nothing, the child comes home and says sweet words,
and then he moves to the main topic and tells his mother that there is a small
problem. Mother asks what is it my son? So the child very slowly tells her about the
girl in his life. The mother understands that her son has got involved with someone. So
she clearly mentions that without his father’s permission she will not do anything and
also remember that if your father refuses then I will never say yes.
The same mother was looking forward to see her son when he came from the
college everyday and she did not know anything but the child knew what would
happen when he would reach home. Such incidents happen repeatedly. The mother
continues daily to look forward to seeing her son return from school, college but
everyday it is different. The mother is the same, the child is the same but the mother’s
attitude and child’s attitude are different. Why is the mother’s nature different? Her
nature is dependent on her child’s nature. If the child comes home with good marks
her mood is good too and if he comes with low scores then the mood is poles apart. If
the child studies hard and gets good marks, good job then the situation is different. If
he does something wrong then the situation is dissimilar. If he does something good
the situation is altogether diverse. We can see this in a normal simple household,
whatever is the mother’s form she is always the mother, her love is forever the same.
But her attitude always varies as per her child’s attitude.
Her every day form is not the same but the four-year-old child, which we saw
initially, has no idea about this. When he is grown up and he starts realising the roles
of his mother but fully realizes this when he becomes a father himself and faces similar
problems as he had with his own father, his wife has with his mother and same
problems he faces with his son and his wife faces with her daughter in law. At that
point he truly comprehends what his mother had been through. Understanding these
subtle nuances in the initial stages is quite impossible for this child. To fully
understand the pains and joys of being a mother, every girl has to become a mother
herself. Not only by giving birth to a child but also by taking care of her children and
their spouses, the mother has to go through all these practices. Only after all this does
one truly realize what it means and takes to be a true mother. We can say that for an
ordinary being it takes an entire lifetime to understand a normal human mother, to
understand her different roles and responsibilities, it also takes us a lifetime to
appreciate them. This is precisely the reason why models are used in a science class
for demonstration. When we are studying biology we are shown models of a heart,
lungs and intestines, seeing these models one can visualize and comprehend our
internal organs.
It is very simple to understand the meaning of a Red Cross.
What is Red Cross? We all know that it is depicted on an
ambulance, blood banks, on a doctor’s car, it always implies to
something that is related to medicine, something related to a
medical cause. Now we see a skull, what does it represent?
Particularly when beneath it is also placed a cross, so we
understand that it signifies danger. Lets move ahead and now we
see a child who is 10 years old but who knows a lot. Has he become 25 years old or 50
years old or is he 80 years old? NO! But in front of him he has a 25 year old, 50-yearold
model and an 80-year-old model. He knows on observing how a young, middle
aged and an old man looks .All these models are before him and because of these he
understands what youth, middle age and old age is. So to understand our own human
body or any object or even to accept a thought we need to have a representative
model or some examples for us to grasp the subject better.
So the Rishis, the true sages, the learned ones, the munis who concentrated,
contemplated, and meditated on God realised the real essence of God, experienced the
quintessence of God and they structured this in the outward appearance, which
depicted these qualities of God. This form of God was activated due to the devotion,
purity and meditation of these rishis. They became siddh, this can be compared for
ease of understanding to buying of a TV that will not get activated till one works on
getting a connection for the same. What really activates that television and makes it
useful is the connection. Similarly the form originated due to the concentration and
meditation of the Rishis and the Munis on the qualities of God and this became
activated due to the penance of these sages. Hence this form became energetic, active
and functional and also the effectiveness of this form could be ascertained. That is the
reason what has been clearly stated in the Puranas. How is God?
When Rishis and Munis and great devotees invite him, chant his name and pray to him
“To Come” He comes.
The features and manifestation of God would depend on
the circumstances on earth at that particular time, the
description of God would depend on what is most needed at that
time on earth, would be the ones on which the devotees can
meditate. So to take a profile God has to cast himself accordingly
to reflect all those Gunas into one single form and one single
roop. During the Ramayana era the situation was different,
during the Mahabharata times the condition was changed, similarly during the point in
time of Sai Baba the circumstances were poles apart .As per the needs of the times
and as per the requirements of those times God takes a varied form, different shape,
every single time. That is why we see them in different roops and different forms. This
means that though there might be different forms, different shapes, establishment of
different characteristics but the maker of all these forms is KESHAV. Keshav means
the one who is beyond the body, who is beyond form, who is the beginning and who is
the end too. He is the only ONE Keshav.
Aakaashaat Pateetam Toyam Yathaa Gatchatee Saagaram
Sarv Dev Namaskaaram Keshvam Prati Gatchatee
To whatever form of his you might pay obeisance, it will ultimately reach the
Keshava. We see the idol of Vithal, Just now sometime back an abhang was being
sung here in which it was asked who is this Vithal, The king of Kailash has come in the
form of Pandurang. Now everyone knows that he is Bal Krishna, but the uniqueness of
this idol is that it has a Shivling on its head. Shivling on the head of Vithal!! Dear
brother this idol in itself depicts that He and I are not different. We are one and the
same.
It is quite clear that the present of this moment was the
future of this moment too some time earlier and will be the past of
this moment some time later i.e. the moment is the same, it will
remain the same but as per the situation we call it the past,
present or future. Means the instance was the same. When we
were born that moment was the present at that time. But one
moment before it, one day before what does the mother say,” just
see I think the due time has come, now within 24 hrs or two days this child will be
delivered.” The time of birth is still in future but when the actual birth is taking place it
is in the present. Once the birth has taken place this moment will become the past.
That means the moment is same.
Now understand 18th Nov 1956, morning 4:35 a.m. that moment is the same
but when it was in the future tense that time Mai was looking forward to that moment.
After yearning for so many years, 16 long years when the moment came it was
transformed from the future to the present and when Mai played with him in her lap
the moment had already transformed into the past tense. The moment was same but
it has got three names- the past present and future. Similarly we have different
Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Mahabrahma, Mahavishnu and Paramshiv these three
forms are also the same. Though they are all one but as per our requirement, as per
the time as per our reaction, as per our pratisaad we have to take the help of these
different forms.
Many a times in our lives we are in a situation when comes a period of time
where we feel that, ahead of us, behind us, all around us everything is going on
perfectly fine. We have a good job, a good business whatever. These precious
moments are very important in our life, when we have no difficulty, no problem, life is
moving ahead peacefully. The moments of life when we are tension
free, remember that you have God’s unconditional grace on you.
Use these moments in understanding God and getting close to
Him. But the unfortunate part is that we utilize these moments to
actually move away from God. Till we do not have some sorrow, a
problem, a trouble we do not call out his name loudly. We recite
his name deafeningly when some misery befalls us. Remember
when everything was fine and your mind was at peace that was the right time to speak
His name loudly since the mind being at peace, could have been easily and fully
concentrated in his direction only. God also knows at that time that this person is not
doing devotion only for materialistic gains. Since he has everything he does not need
anything and is not praying to gain anything but is doing devotion with total love only
to get me. So dear brother remember that the moments when we do not need to ask
for anything, where we have no difficulty the prayers prove to be the most fruitful.
But now when there is a situation when there is difficulty, struggle, do not think
what a sinner I am. In my good days I did not remember his name so how will I call
him now? Definitely do take his name; taking his name will surely do its job. The
efforts taken and the devotion done during troubled days are not discarded by God but
are instead deposited in your bank. Due to our difficulties and problems if we take his
name and while we are trouble free also we still remember Him and take his name, is
what the basic dwandv is. This exists in every human being but how are these two
forms or two parts alike? One is Shiv roop. Due to the troubles and difficulties the
continuous name recital of God results into Vishnu coming in the form of Shiv in the
Rudra roop, he scares us and invokes in us the realization of recollecting God’s name
and He again in the Vishnu roop comes on a garuda and helps us. He only frightens us,
forces us to do the name recital, makes us practice devotion and after being pleased
with our devotion, sitting on the garuda brings solutions to our problems. It is He who
in the form of Rudra brings us on the right path; again He in the form of Garuda picks
us up from the wrong path, from the mud and the marsh. He comes in the form of
Vishnu sitting on his garuda.
You can observe in any mantra that has originated from
the soil of India, take Arthasheerv or Ganeshji what is said in it.
Tvam Brahma, Tvam Vishnu, Tvam Rudrastam, Rudrastam Agni.
The verse means you Ganapati are Vishnu, you are Rudra, you are
Shiv, you are Indra, you are Sun, You are the moon, and you are
everything. See in Vishnusahastranaam He is called Shiv,
Shambu. In Shivsahastraanaam he is called Ram, he is called
Laxmipati and here we see in Radhasahastranaam that Radha is called Shambukanta.
This means that the fight is not between the two forms of God but the fight is between
the devotees. My God has fought with your God. What we see in the stories, the fight
between Ram and Parshuram, between Shiv and Vishnu, what are these indicating?
These stories tell us that that within us, in us is the Kurukshetra, the battlefield, the
combat zone, this battle continuously takes place in our mind where the two forces
conflict, which force comes to our rescue? Both the forces in spite of being
contradictory to each other do not clash but are converted. Transformed! Nothing in
this universe is destroyed only transformation takes place. Today’s physics says that
there is only transformation. But India knew this more than 10,000 years back thus it
is written in Vedas and Upanishads that nothing in this world is destroyed but it is only
transformed. It never finishes, but just changes form. Let it be energy or a thing with
mass. That is precisely why this Shambu, this Shiv, this Vishnu, this Krishna, this Sai
all are one. Hence there was no reason for the Vaishnava and the Shaivists to fight.
Purans have very clearly said Shivasya Abhyantare Vishnu Vishnusya Abhyantare Shiv.
In the heart of Shiv lives Vishnu and in the heart of Vishnu lives Shiv. Not only
this, in the Puranas it has been very clearly mentioned that any Shiv bhakt who insults
Vishnu will suffer 21 hells for 21 times and similarly any Vishnu bhakt who insults Shiv
will face 21 hells for 21 times. That means the Purans that speak about these Gods
and explain about them clearly mention that they are just one. You should never
believe that my religion or my community is greater than the other. Religion was
made for the well being of the people. Later on there could have been problems
between their followers but that does not mean those religions or the founders are
wrong. Whatever form you believe in you can pray to the same form but you should
not speak wrong about the other forms or religions. Why do we need to spoil our
tongue, our mouth, we should not. We should walk on our path, and we know our
Bapu has told us so many times that every person has a different queue to reach him
so why do I need to go and stand in some one else’s queue? Now a question arises
before us that Bapu we abide by what you say but in our home we have an idol of
Ganeshji’s that we worship on a regular basis, Dattaguru’s statue, Saibaba’s deity our
Kul dev’s icon and our Kul devi’s idol, Annapurna devi’s statue, so what should we do?
Throw them all? You need not throw them. There is absolutely no need to do that. If
you have only one idol it is fine and if you have many then too it is good. But our belief
should be that the form, which we are attached to the most, if we love it the most and
do only its upasana, the other Gods, will neither be hurt nor insulted. First build this
firm belief within yourself. Sometimes some astrologer or some great dev rishi etc do
tell us that since you are praying to this God, the other God is upset with you. Do
understand that he is lying. If it is only one and the only one - Keshav and the rest are
only His forms then how can praying to one of his form antagonise his other form? He
will never be angry. So in my house how many ever idols I have, believe that they are
all my Sai only.
What does Hemandpant say in the very first chapter of
Sai Satcharitra? That Sai is Ganesha, Sai is Vishnu, Sai is
Sadashiv, and Sai is himself standing with the veena in the form
of goddess Saraswati. So does Saraswati get angry with him? If
she would have been angry then could he have written such an
immense manuscript? He could never have written the same. If
Annapurna had been angry with him then he would not have got
anything to eat. RIGHT! In Sai Satcharitra repeatedly Hemandpant has referred to Sai
as a saint, a question rises in the minds of many people that in the central Sai
Satcharitra Hemantpant refers to Sai Baba as sant shreshtha- the grand saint, sant
agraneeya, sant param and later on refers to him as Sadguru and the incarnation of
God. Does this mean that Hemandpant was confused? No, he very well knew that
Baba had come in the form of a saint so I should describe him as a saint. He has
mentioned this in one line that I think is in the eleventh chapter, that some say he is
Mahan bhakt and some say that he is maha bhagwat.
Amongst the bhaktas he is much above the top most Bhakta. He is Maha
manav. But for me he is God himself. He never told anyone that you call me God but
simply placed his views in front of all. He spoke about Megha who considered Him
Shiv, he writes about the Madrasi lady who considered him Ram and he talks about
Das Ganu for whom he was Vitthal. He kept everyone’ s beliefs and tales for the same
before the Bhaktas. He not only mentioned stories about people who used to consider
Sai as a sant but about those people too who considered Him as an asant. This implies
that he depicted Sai in various forms for us. Due to this and because of this in the
Radha Sahastranaam this name Om Shambukaantaayeh Namah is mentioned. This
does not mean that Radhaji divorced Krishna and married Shambu. If someone speaks
such a wrong thing then we should not even hear it as there is only one God in a
sweet form, and He has different forms. This Goddess is only one and this God is only
one, they only have different forms. For whom? For their children. For the good of
their children. They do not need any form. Remember this I am telling this truth from
the depths of my heart.
Many a times you declare that since I do regular Strotra
pathan, naam sumiran then this is the reason that God helps me.
We even advice others that continue taking His name and He will
help you. This is not true. Not at all true. God comes to facilitate
one and all. The atheists, the non-believers he comes to help
them as well. But the one who is not doing naam sumiran, not
doing bhakti, not walking on the right path then such a one is
incapable of accepting his aid. He becomes ineligible. We should know God does not
help us because we have recited some strotras, or because we come here and offered
some Udh to the sacred fire. We should know that GOD always helps us and hence
with due obligation we should recite his name, should do the pradakshina, prostrate in
front of Him, offer garlands to him, offer a flower wreath to him, perform abhishekh,
light scented incense sticks, candles, earthen lamps. Why do we need to do all this?
Not to invite his grace since that is omnipresent. I am a thoughtless being, I do not
have strength to receive fully, and my capacity is limited. To pilfer this grace from
Him, my hands should have the energy and strength to accept it and that is precisely
why I need to do all these practices.
Anyone who says since I ready Sai Satcharitra daily and I go to Shirdi every
month so that’s the reason why Sai’s grace is on me, just understand that person is
dishonest. When God made this whole universe what was there? Was your naam
sumiran there? Were your strotras present then? Your pradakshina existed? No! Was
the blazing of udh and dhoop readily available then? No! Still Sai created this Universe.
He created 84 lakh species, made food for all of them. Did these living beings pray for
this food? No! God does not need anything to create no matter what. And when he
needs to destroy this world at that time as well He does not need anything or anyone’s
help. We should know that he has created this world and made us a jeevatma, a
human and sent us here. Our only duty is to love HIM, support him in his deeds, and
completely surrender our trust at his feet for our benefit only. This is the only way to
bring happiness, peace and comfort in our lives. We call Shambuji bholenath;
everyone knows that Shambu is bholenath and whatever one asks for he simply
grants. Ravan once asked Shambuji to give him Parvati. Shivji gave him and Ravan
thought that is why shambuji is bhole. But he did not know that this Shambu in the
form of Vishnu, Ganesh would surely come in his way. So he takes Umaji with him. For
Umaji Sparsh or Asparsh does not matter.
While going Lord Ganesh appears before Ravan and asks
him, why are you carrying this ugly old woman with you? Is she
your grandmother? Ravan says “What an obtuse thing you are
saying, she is the most beautiful woman Uma. Ganeshji replied,
are you insane? The old lady you are carrying is a very unsightly
woman and all her teeth have fallen off. She is so hideous that
one cannot even look at her. Ravan thinks that this child is
playing a prank on me, but Ganeshji appears again and again in different forms in
front of Ravan At this point a thought emerges in Ravan’s mind, it seems this Shambu,
Bholenath has done some fraud with me. There has to be some problem since so many
people are referring to her as repulsive. Shivji while giving Uma had told Ravan that
just take care of one thing, this Uma is the daughter of the mountains so make sure
that her feet do not touch any mountain or hill other wise she will be taken into the
core of that mountain and I will not be able to help you.
But now Ravan wants to glimpse what she looks like. He then made Umaji
unconscious with the help of Mohini mantra and as she was quite heavy he could not
put her down and the road he had taken was full of mountains. If he would place her
down on the mountain then she would disappear. So he wondered what to do, he had
one experience in the past where when he was carrying the atmaling and he had put it
on the ground, it had remained there forever. So he thought that if on the way he sees
some lake he would place Umaji on the bank of that lake and then see her face.
Whether she is the beautiful Uma or an ugly hag and that is why he keeps on running
and flying in the air. He finds at one place that there are no mountains but a small lake
instead. Now he thinks that he can see her reflection in the water by keeping her face
upturned over the water. But at that moment it so happens that the clouds come inbetween
the sun and the earth, obstructing the light, since there is no light the
reflection cannot be seen in water. He himself had no power to get the light. Ravana
thinks that in case it becomes dark due to night he would spend the nighttime at this
place itself, so he sits but did not sleep. Because if he slept then her hand or foot could
touch the ground, but then he realises that he is not on a mountain, so he can keep
Umaji on the ground. Now the circumstance created for Ravana is” I can keep her
down, as there is no mountain here”. But she is herself the ‘mountain’s daughter,
Himalayas daughter, she is Parvati. So Ravana plans that I can make Parvati rest here,
and since there is no mountain I can do this very without doubt. The moment Umaji’s
feet touch the ground a volcano suddenly erupts, though there was no mountain, no
hill nothing was there, just nothing existed there.
Dears this is actually Uma’s touch, jagat amba ‘s touch that
where ever it will occur, fire will appear in the form of volcano
.The molten lava comes out giving augmentation to a mountain,
Ravan had kept the himastra with him so the fire from the volcano
could not harm him, but a mountain was formed and the moment
the mountain appeared over the ground Parvati ‘s feet touched it
and she departs for her destination through. Ravan stays there till
the volcano becomes still .Now he is left with nothing neither Uma, nor the penance,
the siddhi, the bhakti nothing is remaining now. In this condition we can understand
that this Shiv who is Bholenath is surely Bhola but for whom? The devotee who is
simple and innocent. But if the bhakta is deceiving then this bholenath who is bhola
and is the God of the bhola devotee cannot be cheated. We should understand the
meaning of the word bholenath - the one who is the God of the simple, the caretaker
of the straightforward, the one who supports them, and the one who helps them. He
himself is not plain or Bhola. He is bhola for those whose feelings are clean and pure
and that’s why Krishna is tricky because he understands all the types, who is right and
who is wrong and how to eliminate the wrong .He knows how to upgrade the good and
that is why he takes birth again and again and also bears all the anguish and distress.
We must observe all the incarnations of the Gods and Goddesses; do they live a
good and peaceful life? NO! Let it be Ram or Krishna or Sai or Ganapati or Shiva - in
all the forms they have been continuously fighting with the demons. But for whom?
For us! This we must fully realize that whatever form he comes in, he fights for us or if
he helps then whom does he help? Us. And the line that we read Vanar mala karave
deva, Nako narjanam kuda. Meena bhabi has recited this line that vanar mala karave
deva, nako narjanam kuda, she is saying vanar maj karave deva. Vanar means
monkey. Vanarsena is Ram’s. Vanar maj karave deva, she has pleaded that, Oh God!
Nako narjanam kuda. Kuda means bad, one with bad thoughts. Nako nar janam kuda
means let me not be born as a human, this form is full of wrong judgments, make me
a monkey. Whose monkey? Ram’s monkey. Make me Ram’s vanar Sainak.
Navhata vichar tyancha thayaee. Because in their minds there is never a
negative feeling or a wrong thought. Such are those vanaras, Vichar phakt Ramacha
Their minds only contemplate on Ram, so make me like those monkeys who just think
of Rama, who want to join his army and are ready to fight for
Him. That is why it is said that when Ram becomes the king and
Ram’s kingdom (Ram Rajya) is established, great saints
performed the coronation ceremony. At that time Rama
proclaimed that,” there will be no sorrow in the life of his vanar
sainaks.” Whosoever became a vanar sainak will never have any
trouble in his entire life. This was Rama’s promise. What did
Tulsidasji write about Rama? Rama is a satyasankalap God. Other than Ram all else
have a time bound reign, it is only this Lord Ram who is satya sankalapa (One whose
pledge is always true). Prabhu and his word always comes true. That is why we
should bind ourselves with his true pledge. We should join his army again and again.
We should become like those vanar sainaks. We should take an initiative to join his
army. If we just think and wait that Ram will come and ask us to join his Vanar sena,
let me tell you He has no need to be doing that. It is our requirement. Ram and
Lakshman could have easily killed Ravan by themselves. We read this in Sundarkand. I
do not know how many of you read the Sundarkand, I have been repeatedly been
asking you read it, it is very beautiful. In Sundarkand Sugreev, is sitting with Ram and
Laxman and a messenger comes to inform that Ravan’s younger brother Vibhishan has
arrived, what should we do? Ram asks Sugreev “since you are the king of the vanar
sena and a friend of mine, tell me what should we do”? Sugreev is a paragon of justice
and he says that as per the guidelines of how to rule the covetous form the answer
can come from various corners. He can be in any of his forms since he is a demon and
can change forms easily. He can come with a wrong intention or with a good intention
but at the end of the day he is full of covetousness and is master of impersonification.
So I think he should be held as a prisoner.
But Ram says “No”! Mam par sarnagat bhay haari. Then what is my oath? What is my
oath? That whoever comes to me for refuge I will free him of all fear. This is my
resolution. And tell me one thing that if he has come to me for refuge then it is my
religious duty to protect him. You see this Laxman he can in a moment destroy all the
demons single-handed. So what ever happens you please get Vibhishan before me.
That means that one Laxman was good enough to destroy the whole demon force but
still to destroy Ravana, Ram took a vanar sena with him. This was Ram’s grace on us.
Whenever we do some work for God we should think that He has given us a chance,
an opportunity to become a vanar sainak to lend a hand in his work. But if we think
that He will fight for us and we will sit back on the tree eating fruits, then we will
become just monkeys not His Vanar sainaks. If we have to become a vanar sainak
then we will have to stand ahead of Ram, behind Ram and we should be determined to
fight for him. And our ideals should be that Hanumanji, that Sugreev, that Jamwant,
that Neel, that Angad, that Anaal. Because of whom we know how the bridge was
built, the Ram naam was written and the war was fought. The war that is nondescribable.
No one can know how they fought it. Ravan also fought this war though
his army was made up of demons. The demons that were huge and much larger than
the vanars but still the vanars were not scared. The vanars fought with their weapons,
-nakh, aayuth, giri, baad badaari, chale gaagan mae ichachaari.
There were different types of Vanars, some could change
their shape and form as per their wish, means they could move on
air and land, and they were so grand. Some of the vanars were
very simple they did not even have a Gadha. They just had their
nails and gainiya but none of the vanars ever thought that they
were not very strong or as powerful as the other sturdy vanars.
They joined Ram’s army in small small groups and we must learn
from them and do that in our lives. Hey God! Keep me as your
soldier all my life because it is only this vanar sainak who remains happy throughout
his life. No one else can stay contented and Lord Rama himself during his rajya
abhishekh has said this. This Ram the one who always takes a true pledge, the Satya
Sankalp Prabhu. His word is never artificial. The one who becomes Ram’s soldier
always remains blissful. So if I need to be contented then I need to be his soldier.
Shambukaantaayeh namah: Let it be Shambu or Ram. As we see Rameshwar, it is a
well-known holy place, a pilgrimage, who established this Rameshwar, Lord Ram
established this place of lord Shiva, and who made Ram Raksha? Lord Shiva did. Who
wrote Shivmahima strotra? Ram did. That means Ramji’s best known verses
Ramrakshastrotra has been written by Shivji and lord Shiva’s Shivmahima has been
written by whom non other than Lord Rama, Not Shivmahima, it is Shivpanchashree.
It is considered the most important and the chief strotra of Shivji. It gives the detailed
meaning of the mantra Om Naamho Shivay. Who wrote this panchashree strotra? God
Rama Himself!
So dear friends now in our lives too we should stop the
conflict about different Gods, this God or that God, How many
ever forms of God exist, you can bow to all of them. But the
form, the shape that has made its place in your heart, it’s only
that form that will get interconnected with you. For your every
endeavour, for your every predicament, even before the start of
the difficulty He will stand there, has always been standing and will continue to stand
even in the future.
।। Hari Om ।।

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