Fwd: Glory of the Divine Names of Sri Sathya Sai - OM SRI SAI SARVA JANA PRIYÄYA NAMAH - (10)
Date: Thu, Jan 5, 2023 at 4:00 AM
Subject: Glory of the Divine Names of Sri Sathya Sai - OM SRI SAI SARVA JANA PRIYÄYA NAMAH - (10)
To:
OM SRI SAI SARVA JANA PRIYÄYA NAMAH - (10) Salutations to Sri Sai, Who is dear to all.
'Sarva' covers all living beings-not humans alone, even animals. Lord Sai is dear to all the living creatures. The love of 'Sai Geeta' (the female elephant) for Swami, exemplifies this.
In darshan, thousands of devotees sit patiently and yearn for getting a glimpse of Swami. When the Veda chanting heralding His arrival starts, a wave of emotion runs through the crowd and the feeling reaches its peak when Swami gives darshan. This is because the simple act of darshan fills the hearts of all with Swami's divine love.
On Gokulashtami, devotees gather in Prasanthi Nilayam to celebrate Lord Krishna's birthday. In the earlier days, on this occasion even cattle and other animals were brought for Swami's darshan. Sai Geeta, the beloved elephant pet of Swami, was beautifully adorned and brought to the mandir for darshan. The expression of love in the eyes of all these animals towards Swami and Swami's love for them was very evident.
Here is a touching story about how even animals have love and devotion for Swami. Long ago Swami kept some dogs as pets. Their names were amusing; Jack and Jill. One of them, a pomeranian, especially loved Swami. Once while wandering in the village of Puttaparthi, this dog met with an accident and a car ran over him. In that wounded condition he dragged himself to Prasanthi Nilayam, threw himself at Swami's lotus feet and then breathed his last.
A few years ago, there were some deer in the Brindavan Ashram. Swami used to feed them apples and tend them lovingly. Once when Swami came out for darshan, He saw some students running towards him and from the other side the deer too, scampering to Him. He said, "These are four-legged deers and those are two legged dears ! Both are dear to Me."
Swami's students love Him so intensely that whenever Swami travels from Prasanthi Nilayam to Brindavan or vice versa, they are unable to hold back their tears. No wonder, Swami says, "My real wealth is My students."
OM SRI SATHYA SAINATH ARPANAM ASTU
With pranams at the lotus feet of our dear Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai baba,
Devotional Wing, SSSGC USA