Fwd: Glory of the Divine Names of Sri Sathya Sai - OM SRI SAI BHAKTI JNÄNA PRADEEPÄYA NAMAH - (73)
Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2024 10:10:57 AM
To: The Sathya Sai Center of Norwalk <saicenterofnorwalk@gmail.com>
Subject: Fwd: Glory of the Divine Names of Sri Sathya Sai - OM SRI SAI BHAKTI JNÄNA PRADEEPÄYA NAMAH - (73)
From: Ramya Sethuratnam <devotion.region9@sssgc-usa.org>
Date: Thu, Mar 21, 2024 at 5:02 AM
Subject: Glory of the Divine Names of Sri Sathya Sai - OM SRI SAI BHAKTI JNÄNA PRADEEPÄYA NAMAH - (73)
To:
OM SRI SAI BHAKTI JNÄNA PRADEEPÄYA NAMAH - (73) Salutations to Sri Sai, who kindles wisdom & devotion
Bhagawan Baba has shown us that the three paths that lead to liberation – work, worship, wisdom are interrelated. Bhagawan says, "Let all your work be based on wisdom. Let your bhakti be permeated with humility, love, compassion and non-violence. Karma is like a passenger train, which moves slowly. When you mix bhakti with it, it picks up speed and moves like an express train. Karma and bhakti together develop the knowledge of the true Self and this enables you to start the real journey towards your Inner Self."
Here is a story from Sai's Shirdi incarnation.
On 04.03.1912, Mrs Laxmibai Khaparde, an ardent devotee of Sainath, went to Dwarakamayi in the afternoon with a food platter to offer 'naivedyam'. Usually at noon Sainath did not give permission to ladies to enter Dwarakamayi, but He did not stop Laxmibai and even partook the 'naivedyam' lovingly. After the meal, Sainath took His seat and purposely stretched His legs. On seeing this, Laxmibai was very happy and she started massaging them.
Everything seemed fine up to now. But later something unusual happened. Sainath held Laxmibai's hands which were massaging His legs and started pressing them with His own hands. On seeing this Madhavrao Deshpande remarked, "Deva! What a remarkable sight we are seeing! We are witnessing the actual expression of love between God and His devotee. This is wondrous!" Sainath was very pleased with Laxmibai's attitude of seva and He whispered in her ear, "Keep chanting 'Rajaram, Rajaram constantly." Sainath who normally did not give a 'mantra' to anybody, being pleased with Laxmibai's devotion, lit the lamp of wisdom in her heart in order to guide her on the path to liberation.
Here is a story from the life of the present Sri Sathya Sai avatar. According to the Hindu calendar, every four years there is an 'adhik maas' (an additional month). This period, considered very auspicious, because it is very dear to God, is also known as 'Purushottama Maas'. There is a custom that during this month, 'an akhand deep' (lamp that burns continuously) is lit and kept burning in front of God's idol and a lamp is also offered to Him in the name of 'Purushottama'.
Once a devotee of Swami was travelling to Puttaparthi for Bhagawan's darshan, during this month. His wife gave him a silver lamp and asked him to offer her pranams and give it to Swami. The devotee went to Baba, offered Him pranamas, and took the lamp out to give it to Him. Swami asked, "What is this?" The devotee replied, "This is a lamp offered to You by my wife on the occasion of Purushottam maas." Swami accepted the lamp but did not seem very pleased about it. He said, "Tell her, there is no need for
these external rituals. She has the eternal flame of devotion in her heart, let her always keep that burning bright." The couple remembered this instruction always and reverentially followed it throughout their lives.
OM SRI SATHYA SAINATH ARPANAM ASTU
With pranams at the lotus feet of our dear Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai baba,
Devotional Wing, SSSGC USA