Footsteps walking with Me

In His Comforting Care

I ended my previous blog (The Swami I grew up with) with a question. Time to find out how many of you guessed it right. What was the mark Swami had blessed me with!!! But before that, I am going to take a little detour from our main story in order to delve deep into the theme of this incident.

The Ten Buddies - A Fable of Friends

Once upon a time... long long ago... there lived a bunch of friends who lived in a village called "Numbers". They lived together in a big cottage with fragrant roses climbing the walls and the garden was a riot of colors with blossoming flowers of every shade. The friends aiding and adding to each other's qualities. Sometimes multiplying the facts or should I say gossips 😉 And sometimes dividing into group. The one thing they never did was subtracting or moving away from each other. But they did have one desire. And that was to become a leader of the group. 

The Ten Amigos :-)

One day, an argument broke out among the friends as to who betters the rest. 

Number 1 said, "I am Number 1 and I am a hero. this my dear friends is a zero (pointing towards the Zero)".

Number 0 replied,  "Oh no no. You don't call me a zero. Me standing next to any of you, makes you a Hero".

Number 2 interrupted them, "I am 2. Two means double but never in trouble. Don't you see. Two friends together is always a pleasure".

In this manner, all the members argued back and forth claiming to be the best. Unable to choose the best among them, they all went to the number wizard for a solution.
 

The Award goes to...

The wizard in an instant chose number 9 as the best who remained quiet, calm and serene throughout the entire argument. The wizard went onto explain how number 9 is the real hero and took out references from various scriptures to understand the greater significance of number 9.

 

Number of Brahman

Navarathri -  During the autumn festival of the Great Goddess, The Divine mother takes nine form each day. The Navadurga.

Navagraha - According to Indian Astrology, there are Nine celestial bodies and 27 stars.

And the list goes on and on.. The Navarasa.. Navaratna.. Navadhanyam..

The wizard tells the most important aspect of Number 9 through the story of the great avatar, Shirdi Sai Baba. At the time of His Mahasamadhi, Shirdi Sai gave nine coins to Lakshmi bai for the great service she had rendered throughout her life. Baba explained to Lakshmi bai that those were not just 9 coins, but the nine types of devotion, nine facets of the Diamond called Bhakthi. Practicing even one of them can take you to God head.

Even the puranas have described the lives of the great exemplars of the 9 forms of devotion. They are Parikshit for Shravanam, Narada for Kirtanam, Prahlada for Smaranam, Lakshmi for Padsevanam, Prithu for Archanam, Akrura for Vandanam, Hanuman for Dasyam, Arjuna for Sakhyam, and Bali for Atmanivedanam.

Nine Facets of Diamond called "Bhakthi"

At the end, the wizard also explains about the Nine point code of conduct. When questioned by the numbers on who gave this guidelines, the wizard tells that, that was His Master to whom the number 9 is very special. And He is none other than Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba... 😇

Being convinced that infact Number 9 is the best and Sacred, the numbers converged singing in unison the song, “SAI WE ARE NINE… SAI YOU ARE MINE…”


The story ends here.. 

Drama offered in the Divine Presence
"SAI WE ARE NINE.. SAI YOU ARE MINE"

Expecting the Unexpected..

Now, if you all remember, we would write 108 times the name of the Lord every day praying for our results and this became our daily sadhana. The reward came on the day of my SSLC results. And it happened in a manner I never have imagined. So here it is.. Swami in His infinite grace had blessed me with a "999". I was dumbstruck when I saw my results. My joy knew no bounds.


Immediate reaction from my friends was "Oh Rohini, you missed it by 1 mark.. A 1000 would have been great". But guys would there be a greater blessing than this. That 1 mark made a huge difference.

Nine Nine Nine :)

So much stressed upon the numbers/marks, today I realize only one thing. Just when Shirdi Sai offered Lakshmi bai with the 9 coins explaining about the nine forms of devotion, she asked Baba to grace her with Ananya Bhakthi. Likewise, when my dear Bhagwan chose to bless His little girl with a divine mark, she seeks nothing but His love and love alone.. A Devotion without Deviation..

"For one who worships Me, giving up all his activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, who has fixed his mind upon Me, O son of Pṛthā, for him I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death."

A Bond for Lifetimes Sealed in the Very First Darshan..

Though I encountered with several experiences of Sai, I missed His Physical presence. I would long to see Swami and speak with Him.

Day passed by when I had this very beautiful dream. This was the first dream of Swami that I could remember. There was pin drop silence around and I was standing near a staircase in the ground floor of my tuition. All of a sudden, a man taller than me wearing a Kafni was just standing before my eyes. That moment I felt some sort of connection. Later I realized that it was Shirdi Sai himself. It was a clear indication that, "O my dear Child, Here I am. Entering into your life. Get ready for the wondrous miracles you are going to experience from this moment on".

The Staircase where I first met Shirdi Sai

Swami connected with me on that day and I haven't lost the connection since. It's been 15 years now; the bond is growing stronger and stronger with every passing moment. I wake up every morning with the same feeling of connection.

"Do not waste your life in making arrangements,
For they have already been made.
Use that time wisely instead to do prayers,
And seeking Me in all, in every living form.
Only have faith in My arrangements,
And know that I am present
At all times everywhere.
All you have to do is to ask for My help.
I require no time travel.
My presence is certain anywhere,
Where I am sincerely thought of.
In fact, your thought of Me, and My presence
Are instantaneous"

Next comes the most precious times of my childhood.. 

The entry of Sadguru Shri Sai Viswanath Maharaj..  

The Only Resident of my heart - Saimaaa

To be continued... 

 - Rohini Sai

The Swami I grew up with

The Invisible arms

 

 A song becomes close to one's heart because of several reasons. It would either be the lyrics which rightly describe your heart or the tune that touches deep within one's soul or the memories which comes right in front of you when you hear that song. There is one such "Special" song to me.

"Sai Bin Raha Na Jaaye

Chain Na Aaye Mohe Chain Na Aaye"

(I just cannot live without Sai. 

Without Him, I am constantly restless, without peace.)

 

Soulful rendering of the "Special" song by Ravikumar Sir

 

The question one would ask at this point is, why this song ? what's so special in it? As shared in my previous blog (Born a beautiful relationship), Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has entered into the life of this little girl and initiated her on a path towards divinity.

The Crests, Troughs and His Caring Touch

 

It's not always an easy path in a spiritual journey. We are subjected to so many tests along the way. But our dear Bhagwan choses to walk with us throughout this journey. We might not able to see him nor feel him at every point in that difficult path. But He is always there, making sure you are protected. 

A mother of mothers

 

My life was also subjected to so many tests. It was not always easy. I was going through a tough phase of my life. At one side I was enjoying my spiritual life - bhajans, service, friends .. but on the other side my family was struggling financially. It was a difficult childhood for me as well as for my brother. But I would say I got through those days only because of Swami. He held our hands and didn't leave it from then on. Now you know, why the song remains close to my heart. He was my sole protector without whom I couldn't live. 

He is The Creator

At that point, my only way was to read well and uplift my parents. So I studied hard. My mother's sacrifices, my father's hard work and my brother's support pushed me forward. Two years passed by and soon I had to face the SSLC exams. And our prayers intensified to score well. 

At the backyard of our tuition, there stood a neem tree and a tulsi plant. Surrounding the neem tree was a semi-constructed brick wall where one of my friend saw Shirdi Baba for the first time. We were not allowed to go there except on special occasions. During our public exams, we used to stand at a distance from the room and do a namaskar to Baba. But once we stand at the place to receive his blessings, we can feel the powerful vibrations charging your whole self. Now this place has been built into "Dwarakamayi" and continue to remain as a place of miracles. 
 
When Shirdi Baba lived in his physical body for about 60 years in a mosque, which he always referred as ‘Dwarkamayi’, the Mother of Mercy. It is a place where he eliminated the miseries of millions of people who climbed those steps with utmost faith and complete surrender.

The place where the Divine chose to stay :)

The Holy Tulsi Plant

The win-win-win formula 

 

After the exams got over, we were advised by our Guru (Mrs. Ponni Vaidhyanathan whom I am forever grateful) to write "Om sri sai ram" 108 times daily and pray to Bhagwan for scoring good marks in our exams. Everyday evening, I used to gather with my friends and start writing the name of the Lord. Also, as an usual practice, everyday sharp at 6PM we would close the eyes, chant and meditate upon the Divine Master. Little did we know at that time, the kind of spiritual practice we were undertaking. 

Swami says, "There is water underneath the earth but how can man draw the underground water? There is soil and mud between man and the water. The mud symbolises the worldly transactions and affairs. They need to be removed. The water is available when the mud is removed. On the other hand when a bore-well is installed there, it digs deeper and pumps water from the depths of the earth. That bore-well is the ‘Namasmarana’, chanting of the Lord’s name. Therefore when one puts the bore-well of Lord’s name on one’s tongue, it draws the water of ‘bliss’ from one’s heart."

Such was the power of Namasmarana. Meanwhile in the summer holidays, we decided to go on a spiritual tour. And guess who had that deciding authority ??? Bhagwan himself. :-) Before going on any trips, we used to put chit to Swami seeking his permission. There were several times when Swami said no and we would be disappointed. But this time he said yes and we were all excited for the trip. 😇

We started early morning with packed lunch and all smiles. We went to so many places mostly temples. One would think that how could a kid find excitement in visiting temples at that age and that too in their summer holidays. Yes, we did enjoy a lot visiting temples and enjoying the serene atmosphere. That is the way Swami has molded us right from the young age, to seek only true happiness. 

I once read that there are three types of happiness. Bhagwan lovingly explains us that Priyam, Modam and Pramodam are three types of happiness. For example, when you recall your favourite fruit, you experience some happiness. When you spot the fruit in the market, you feel greater joy! (Modam). Finally, when you procure the fruit and relish it, it gives the greatest joy! (Pramodam). Thus, Priyam is the pleasantness or happiness that arises due to the affection you have on a particular thing, person or object. Modam is the happiness you experience when you come in contact with the things you like. Pramodam is the ecstasy, the real happiness you experience when you actually enjoy the object of your liking. Similarly, the thrill you experience by knowing God’s powers – the manifestation of His Divinity and His love from scriptures and epics is called Priyam. When you put into practice what you heard, you derive the happiness of Modam. You experience Pramodam, the everlasting state of joy and bliss, when you are in Union with God.

We should realize the fact that the true happiness lies in Union with the God !!

Coming back to the story, our day's journey ended with worshiping Annamalaiyar. On the way back home, as I was rejoicing the moments of that blessed day, I was also getting braced for the next day. Why is it so ? Because the next day was our SSLC results.. 

Let me end this chapter with a question.. Can you guess what score Swami had blessed me with ? ? ? 😍

Waiting for the results Bangaru? What score can I give you???

                                                                                                                                        - Rohini Sai

Born a beautiful relationship

God, Is that You ?

A divine thursday it was.

"Bring me Sathya Sai Baba's photo Rohini", my tuition teacher said to me. She used to decorate the altar before the bhajan and bringing Swami's photo is a blessed opportunity for the students who studied there. So obviously those who gets called would be excited to even touch Swami's photo. But you know what I was thinking when my name was called upon. "Who is Sathya Sai Baba?". I was that ignorant. In fact, I could not able to differentiate between the forms of Shirdi Sai and Sathya Sai. I was in Class 8 that time. My tuition would fully be decorated with Swami's photo. There used to be bhajans every Thursday. Though I didn't know anything about Swami's divinity, whenever the Mangala Aarathi was sung, I used to become so energetic and clap hands. Slowly Swami entered into my life :) My Chitta Chora.

Depiction of Swami's photo kept in the Bhajan hall

Bhagwan has said in a discourse "The divine will not consider your status or position, your pomp and show. The Lord is bound only by the devotees' devotion."

 These words would be the right one to describe my life with Sai. I did not hail from a family that was devoted to Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai baba nor did have any spiritual knowledge. Just as He decided the time, place of His incarnation and the parents, He knew exactly when to enter into my life as well. 

Thus Enters The Master

When you ask a school going kid what is his/her favorite day in a week, obviously the answer would be a Sunday. But not with us. It was Thursday. It was the day when we get to forget ourselves in Sai Seva. Decorating the altars, Singing bhajans, distributing the Prasadam and more such activities. The beauty of it is, at that time I had no idea about the great blessing that was being showered on us by Mother Sai. Out of all the Seva activities, I had a deep desire to sing for Swami. But one doesn't get that blessed opportunity so easily.

In Swami's word, "Singing aloud the name of the Lord in the form of Bhajans is like placing a lamp on the threshold of the house; it illumines the within and the without. The name of the Lord brings peace to the one who sings as well as to those that listen. "

So clearly it was not an exhibition of one's talent but a sacred act of worship that brings about 'unity and purity' which eventually leads to 'Divinity'.

Coming back to my story, I was no more than a scared little girl who sings only when no one is around or in the bathroom amongst the sounds of running water. So it was a "Mission Impossible" task for me. But I gathered all courage to ask my teacher if I can sing in the next bhajan to which she replied positively. I was paired up with other student who regularly sings. I was all charged up and excitedly planning out my bhajan-singing debut in front of Swami.

Finally the day came. The song I chose was "Shirdi Sai Dwarakamayi" (The One who incarnated as Sai Baba of Shirdi and resided in the mosque which You called Dwarakamayi). As the bhajan progressed, my heart started beating faster. And when my chance came to offer the bhajan, I was dumbstruck. Would you believe me if I said I forgot the entire bhajan. Thankfully my partner managed the song and I was on mute throughout the whole bhajan. This was my debut bhajan to my dear Saimaa..  😄

Shirdi Sai Viswanath Mandir

Fast forward to this day, in the same place where I met my Swami, where all such beautiful interactions with Bhagwan happened, there is Shirdi Sai Viswanath Mandir built with Dwarakamayi.. And if you recall my first song was "Shirdi Sai Dwarakamayi". That was no coincidence but Bhagwan's Divine hand at work :-) 💙

Dwarakamayi Sai at the temple

I am sitting in the same Thursday bhajans and now I am no more on mute. How could I thank the Lord for all the bounties He has bestowed me with?  I can only offer myself at your Lotus feet Saimaa..  

Thus began a glorious relationship between a little girl and her only Lord... !!!
 JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME BEGINS :-) 💫

My arms around you for your warmth, and My love for you forever and ever.

- Rohini Sai