The Message of Navaratri: The Power of Mother’s Blessings

Everyone should consider it his foremost duty today to revere the mother as divine and serve her, regardless of country or circumstance. If a man cannot respect and serve the mother, who has borne him for nine months, brought him forth into the world and reared him over the years, whom else is he likely to respect? Maternal love is akin to that of the Creator who projects and protects this infinite cosmos in countless ways. One individual may elect to worship the Divine in the form of his favourite goddess. Another may worship God in a different form and derive bliss from such worship. Each one should note that the forms in which the Divine is worshipped by others are as important to them as his own chosen deity is to him. If, on the contrary, he criticises or casts a slur on the deities worshipped by others, he is committing a grievous sin, however well he may be performing his own worship. Likewise, a man should show equal regard and reverence for mothers of others as he shows for his own mother. 

There are several notable examples in daily life of the divine quality which motherhood represents. The cow converts its own blood into nourishing milk for man to sustain his body. The cow is the first example of the Divine as Mother. The Earth comes next. Like the Divine, the Earth bears man in its bosom and takes care of him in many ways. Hence the Earth also is the embodiment of the Mother. 

Principles that constitute the Role of Motherhood 

In the human body the Divine flows through all the limbs as Rasa (The Divine essence) and sustains them. This Divine principle is called Rasaswaroopini (Embodiment of Divine sweetness). Another name for the same is Angirasa. These Divine principles that permeate and sustain the physical body should also be worshipped as mother goddesses. Then there are the great sages, the Maharishis, who investigated matters relating to good and evil, fight and wrong, what elevates man or degrades him, and, as a result of their labours and penances, gave to mankind the great scriptures, indicating the spiritual and mundane paths and how humanity can redeem its existence. These sages have also to be revered as Divine Mothers. 

The cow, the earth, the presiding deities for the body, the sages and the guru are all worthy of worship as the embodiments of the Divine Motherhood. Although these five appear in different forms and names, they have one thing in common with the mother. They play a protective and sustaining maternal role for mankind and hence should be revered and worshipped as Divine Mothers. Conversely, the mother of every child displays in relation to the child the attributes of these five entities. The mother nourishes the child, provides the necessaries for its growth, teaches the child what it should know and what it should avoid and leads it on the path of righteousness.

The Divine Trinity - Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati 

The Powers of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati
The life of a man who cannot respect and love such a venerable mother, is utterly useless. Recognising one's mother as the very embodiment of all divine forces, one must show reverence to her and treat her with love. This is the true message that the Navaratri, the nine-night festival gives us. The supreme Shakti manifests herself in the form of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Durga grants to us energy--physical, mental and spiritual. Lakshmi bestows on us wealth of many kinds--not just money but intellectual wealth, the wealth of character and others. Even health is a kind of wealth. She grants untold riches to us. And Saraswati bestows on us intelligence, the capacity for intellectual enquiry and the power of discrimination. The Navaratri festival is celebrated in order to proclaim to the world the power of the goddesses. One's own mother is the combination of all these Divine beings. She provides us energy, wealth and intelligence. She constantly desires our advancement in life. So she represents all the three goddesses that we worship during the Navaratri festival. 

If the Pandavas were able to become so dear to Krishna and make their lives worthy by serving Him, it was not on account of their own merit or austerities. It was mother Kunti Devi's love for them that brought to them such a great fortune. Even when they had to live in a forest or in the House of Wax, she always stayed with them and prayed for their welfare. The Pandavas also reciprocated her love, and that accounts for their final victory. 

Lakshmana, likewise, was able to dwell in the forest with his brother Rama, serving him ceaselessly, only because of his mother Sumitra's blessings. She told her son that Ayodhya without Rama was like a forest, and that the forest in which Rama lived would be a veritable Ayodhya to him. It was on account of the hearty blessings of his mother that Lakshmana was able to while away fourteen years in the forest even without food or sleep 

Children require Mother's loving grace

All our epics and sacred books emphasise the power of the mother's love, her blessings and grace. Consider the story of Gandhari and the Kauravas. When Krishna visited Gandhari to console her after the Kurukshetra war, she accused him of partiality towards the Pandavas. “Though You are God, how could You be so partial? Why did You support the Pandavas in full measure, and allow the destruction of all my sons?” she asked Him. Krishna replied to her that she herself was to blame for the death of her children. He reminded her that though she gave birth to a hundred sons, she didn't cast her loving glance on even one of them at any time. As she chose to remain blindfolded, she never looked at any of her sons with great care, attention and affection. “How could such sinners who couldn't even enjoy their own mother's loving glance thrive and flourish?” He asked her. 

There is no need to propitiate Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati for energy, material prosperity and worldly knowledge. If we love and adore the mother, we shall be showing our love and devotion to all goddesses. 

Mother comes First 

One's mother is greater than heaven itself. Sri Rama Himself declared that one's mother and Motherland are greater than even heaven. The Navaratri festival teaches this profound truth. One must remember that reverence to one's own mother is one's paramount duty. If one's mother is unhappy, all the expenditure one incurs and all the worship one offers in the name of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati in the Navaratri festival will yield no fruit. 

Even in the ancient teachings about the persons who are to be revered as Gods--mother, father, teacher and guest--the first place is given to the mother, when it says, “Matru Devo Bhava.” Even in our casual talk we say mother, father, teacher and God. God is relegated to the last position but the mother is given the first place. This reveals the attitude of Bharatiya culture towards women in general and the mother in particular. 

It is the mother that holds the child with her hand and teaches it how to walk. It is the mother that feeds the child and teaches it how to eat. It is again the mother that teaches the child how to utter meaningful sounds and speak. Thus the mother is one's foremost teacher. Vemana observed that a son who does not care for his parents is no better than the worms that are born and die in an anthill.

Mother Sita with Lava and Kusa

We should deem our parents as Ishwara and Parvati and serve them wholeheartedly. If we cannot please them, how can we hope to please God? Consider the story of Lava and Kusa. Sita gave birth to them in the hermitage of Sage Valmiki. They were taught various branches of knowledge by him. Sita also was teaching them many lessons and imparting to them many skills. What happened when Sri Rama Himself came to fight with them? Lava and Kusa remembered their mother with great reverence and aimed an arrow at Him. Rama fell into a swoon when the arrow struck Him. Such is the power of one's mother's blessing. 

Source: Divine Discourse on October 14, 1988 in the Poornachandra Auditorium, Prasanthi Nilayam

Sri Sathya Sai On: The Significance of Vedic Rituals and Scriptures

Sri Sathya Sai presiding over the Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yajna at Prasanthi Nilayam

The Bhagavata was the subject of the discourse by Kalluri Veerabhadra Shastry today, but do not think that it has no relevancy to the seven-day Vedic ritual of Sacrifice of Spiritual Wisdom for the Supreme Being of Veda (Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yajna); for the Bhagavata contains the essence of Veda itself. In hymn after hymn, the Veda speaks of the glory of God, known by various names as Indra, Varuna, Mitra, etc. It is all worship filled with devotion to God, whom the Veda itself declares as One, “though endowed with a variety of names”. The Bhagavata is the essence of Veda, made available for easy assimilation by all. It is just a limb of the Vedic literature, and as limb it is an inseparable part of the Vedic tradition. The same blood flows in this limb too; it makes the Veda beautiful and charming. 

Just as juveniles are shown pictures and made to learn names of the objects that they represent, the Bhagavata teaches the Imperishable through the perishable. You cannot attain the subtle without experiencing the gross, without the instrumentality of the gross. After rising to the heights of awareness (Chit) with a dull-witted instrument, you have to also make the instrument so suffused by Supreme Consciousness (Chaitanya) that the difference does not persist! In meditation, the picture first felt has to be transformed into the picture of the purified imagination, and that again has to be rarified into the subtle abstract principle only. Then only can the Form being meditated on be transcended and the highest vision of universal beauty, wisdom, and strength obtained. The Bhagavata helps in this spiritual education, taking the student through all the lessons from the primary to postgraduate levels. 

Look for the real meaning of Vedas

Most of you always bypass the real meaning of the legends, tales, and descriptions given in the ancient scriptures. For example, Brahma’s lotus is not a stalk that grows in mud and rises above the waters to catch the rays of the sun and blossom but the many-petalled lotus of the heart, each petal being the direction in which a particular tendency attracts the individual. The bull on which Shiva is said to ride is not the animal called by that name but the symbol of righteousness (Dharma), which has the four legs truth, righteousness, peace, and love. Gopala (Krishna) did not graze cattle but protected and fed living beings, known also as “Go”. 

In the study of the Veda, look for the meaning that satisfies the heart, and do not rest content if the meaning satisfies the head! A sentence may be quite right grammatically but may still be sheer nonsense! Ganapathy Shasthry, for example, while describing the reason the earth from ant-hills is recommended for the sacrificial mound, said that white ants are deemed to have powerful latent skill, which is put at the service of the Gods, for they once ate up the cord of Vishnu’s bow! When Vishnu’s bow was thus released from tension, its end hit Him under the chin, and the impact removed His head and carried it aloft into the sky! Now, if you take that story as applying to Lord Vishnu, who is also known as Narayana, then it is something that belittles the glory of God. But take it as applicable to the all-powerful, all-embracing Narayana aspect of the Godhead.

How can we accept the explanation given for the white ants eating up the cord? The reason given is that the Gods wanted to prick the bubble of Vishnu’s pride. Now, how can Narayana be accused of pride? How can the Gods conspire to depute white ants to manoeuvre in such a sly way to take off His head? No. The story obviously refers to a minor god, a Devata, one among the many in the Vedic heaven who bear the name Vishnu; that is all. There is no need to besmirch the grandeur of Narayana by identifying the minor God Vishnu with the Chief of the Gods. Prefer the meaning that elevates and you will always be right.

Be proud of your ancestry 

You have to trace your ancestry and be proud of it. From the Supreme Soul, i.e. the Source, nature descended with the emergence of illusion; and from the stuff of that illusion, space; from space, wind; from wind, fire; from fire, water; from water, earth. By a combination of the five elements, this tabernacle of the Divine (Paramatma), that is, you, was produced. The entire ladder has now to be climbed up in order to reach the Divine, the origin of all. There is a regular syllabus for the promotion of the spiritual aspirant, which is given in that form in the Veda and in an elaborate story form in Bhagavata. 

I will not accept it if you say that you are an atheist with no faith in the Lord. For what is the root of that faith in yourself? Who are you that you should believe yourself? No. You believe yourself because your Self is God, and you have an unshakable faith in God, deep down in you. Faith in yourself and faith in God are identical; you tap the strength of the God within when you stand at attention against an enemy without. That is why there is a persistent whisper, within to use that strength in the path of mercy, charity, helpfulness. 

Offer your bad qualities into Sacrificial Fire 

Sri Sathya Sai presiding over the Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yajna

Everyone has to go from here when the provisions they have brought or secured have been spent. But by that time, attain the purpose of all this bother of arriving, traveling, accumulating, and spending: the realisation of supreme happiness by ending this circle of birth and death. From this very moment, change your habits and conduct for the better. That is the measure of your sincerity.

Have Faith and Steadfastness 

I cannot be deceived by mere play acting. Folding arms and shedding tears will not make Me take you as a devotee. If you try devious paths pretending to be what you genuinely are not, the punishment will be greater in order to cure you of that trait also. Tomorrow, between eight and nine in the morning the valedictory offering in the sacred fire (Poornahuti) will take place. That is a precious moment in every sacrificial rite (Yajna); the full and final offering is considered the fulfilment of the ritual. But here, you must keep one fact in mind. I am not getting this Yajna done; I am He who receives the offerings of the Yajna. I observe many of you are getting active to procure from Bangalore or Anantapur, in time for the Poornahuti, articles like sandalwood, gold, precious stones, etc. to be put into the sacrificial fire when the final invocation is made. I am not permitting anybody to do that. It is easy to throw away a few rupees and purchase a few material objects from some shop and bring them here and throw them into the fire and go about saying that you have done a great big act of sacrifice. I am going to set you a more difficult task; you cannot escape by doing the easy thing. I want that you should all, when the valedictory offering is offered into the fire, stand up and reverentially offer into the same fire every one of the bad qualities that you have — the faults, the failings, the temptations, the transgressions. Search for these today, unearth them from their hidden places, bring them with you here tomorrow, nicely packed, and with one final heave of mental exertion, throw them in when the flames of Poornahuti rise aloft. That is the share you have to secure in this sacrifice (Yajna). That, nothing more and nothing less. 

Sri Sathya Sai with the Vedic Pandits at Prasanthi Nilayam

These Pandits have done you a great service. You must be grateful to them for it. They have given you a clear picture of the glory and splendour of Vedic Mother, which is the real form of motherland. I shall tell them just one thing: when they have given Me bliss (Anandam), they have given you bliss also, for I am in every one of you. 

Source: Divine Discourse on October 7, 1962 on the penultimate day of the first Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yajna in Prasanthi Nilayam 

The Revelations of Sri Sathya Sai - By Dr. Deepak Anand

 

Dr. Deepak Anand with Sri Sathya Sai

Swami blessed me with the wonderful opportunity of pursuing MBA in 1997, and drenched us in His love as He appointed my father the editor of Sanathana Sarathi in 1998. My mother, however, was still living alone in Delhi and we were afraid as the locality was quite notorious. One day, I decided to give a letter to Swami to call my mother also to Puttaparthi. As I offered the letter, the Lord said, “Write the address, put stamp and send to Delhi”. I said, “Lord, this is for You”. The Lord did not find the answer correct and said, “Not for Me”. He looked deep into my eyes and asked, “You have a prayer?”“Yes Swami”, I said. “Where am I?” asked the Lord. “Everywhere”, I replied with confidence. “Yes, but I install Myself in the depths of your heart. So keep your prayers with Me in the depths of your heart and if you have to pray aloud with your lips, only pray ‘Samasta Loka Sukhino Bhavantu’ (May all the beings in all worlds be happy). Then it becomes the easier for Me to answer the prayer in the depths of your heart as I am the Universe and when you say ‘Samasta Loka Sukhino Bhavantu’, I also reflect and respond ‘Sukhino Bhavantu, Sukhino Bhavantu’ (May you be happy, May you be happy). But that does not mean that the prayer in your heart will be answered. It means that it will be answered if it is good for you and at a time when it is good for you”. 

I was amazed at the revelation and subtlety of His reply. The letter in my hand now remained an irrelevant piece of paper and I slowly kept it back into my pocket. “Never will I need a letter or a word to communicate with Him”, I thought. But contrary to this, we have seen the Lord encouraging writing of letters by devotees and collecting several of them during each Darshan. Even before this instance, I have always had the faith that the Lord always knows perfectly well the contents of all our letters, but wondered why He encouraged us to write to Him, leading to all the indiscipline and confusion during Darshan time, with people walking and falling over others, just to give Him a piece of paper the contents of which He was aware of even before the thought of writing originated in that person’s mind! The inner purport of this became clear, when once I was reiterating one of my experiences to the driver of Bhagavan, after Bhagavan had taken a large group into the Interview Room. He also was a witness to a similar experience and I would like to narrate this interesting instance. Swami had blessed a few of us to participate in the making of a few schools around Puttaparthi. 

After the project, which gave us many chances to serve and interact with Him, we were overwhelmed with a great sense of love and gratitude. Hence we decided to offer Him something with love. After discussing various options, we decided to get a robe made for Bhagavan with a prayer that He wears it on the Christmas or the Sports Meet day when He usually puts on a white velvet robe. After some effort, the white robe made of velvet became ready. I was designated to go to His residence in Poornachandra and offer the same at His Lotus Feet. I stood there with the box in my hand and a prayer in my heart. And lo! The Lord called me inside! I showed to Him the offering of our love, which He gladly accepted. As I started sitting on the floor at His Lotus Feet, He insisted on my sitting on the sofa, along with some other officials who were in His presence at that time. He spoke to everyone for a while and then started reading letters from a big basket present in front of Him. Now I witnessed the different treatments that the Lord meted out to various letters present in front of Him. I saw that some letters were not even read, some others were read only up to the covering envelope, some others opened and read in two seconds, while some were read and some others read and re-read again and again, occupying the prime space of His Divine lap. 

I was amazed by this phenomenon and was wondering what could be the reason for such a varied treatment of these letters. The Omniscient Lord looked towards me and just said, “Different feelings”. I understood that the Lord was responding to each letter depending on the feelings with which they were written. When I narrated this to Bhagavan’s driver, he said that he also was amazed at the phenomenon and had asked Bhagavan the reasons behind the differential treatment meted out to different letters. Bhagavan had explained, “See, some letters are written with a distant faith that anyway Swami would not read, so I also will not read. Some others are written with a distant feeling that I may read, so I also read them from a distance; there are some other letters that are written with the faith that I will read them and I respond accordingly. But there are a few letters that a devotee writes and re-writes as a Sadhana, with the faith that I will certainly read and I also read and re-read those letters, keeping them on My lap”. 

The lesson that I have learnt from this episode is that every action can become a Sadhana if it is done with faith that it is an offering to Bhagavan. Hence we can never complain of lack of time as an excuse in this respect. In fact I would like to narrate a beautiful experience in this regard. Once, I was listening to an experience of a student of the MBA class of the University who said, “Swami, the schedule of the Hostel and the College is such that we do not get any time to think of God or to be able to meditate on God. Then how are we to reach the Spiritual goal of life?” The Lord smiled and said, “After all the engagements in pursuing your worldly responsibilities, you still have twenty four hours left for your spiritual practices”. The boy was obviously surprised. The Lord continued, “When you get up in the morning, offer the day ahead to Me, just think of Me for a second. When you go to bathe, think you are cleansing the temple of God and offer the act of bathing to Me. When you go for meals feel that you are feeding My mouth, not yours and thence you think of Me; when you study, feel that I have come as your teacher to the class and you study for Me, when you go to play, play with love and fairness as you would play from Swami’s team and thence you offer your sports to Me, and at the end of the day, when you go to bed, think that you are now laying your head on My lap and that I am putting you to sleep. Thence you offer the twenty four hours of your day to Me, instead of saying that I am busy, and come to Me”. 

There are innumerable experiences and instances which prove that the Lord is Bhava Priya (lover of the feelings more than anything else). I am reminded of another instance that reinforces this faith. It was the year 1998 and at that time I was pursuing my MBA. Being a former national player in Table Tennis, I had the opportunity to take a card for blessings before starting the Table Tennis Inter-House matches as part of the Annual Sports and Cultural Meet. In fact, there were seven captains for various other events, who were given the opportunity to sit in the front row and seek the blessings of the Lord. As the Lord came, He looked towards us with a broad smile. The Lord, with hands full of letters, stopped and enquired why such a crowd had accumulated. Before we had even finished replying, the demand of Padanamaskar arose in the background, much to my annoyance. The Lord accepted immediately. Oh God! The excited sports captains were too impatient and started using their athletic skills to goal or net a Padanamaskar, much to my dismay. 

Sitting in the first line, my only thought while taking Padanamaskar from Bhagavan was to kiss His Lotus Feet and get out of the way, lest I should be crushed. As I took the Namaskar and looked up to His face, I saw a dissatisfaction writ large and the Lord said, “No feelings, no use”. A lesson was driven home that very moment – whatever be the circumstances, if an action is done without the feeling of love and devotion, it is actually of no use in our spiritual progress and is not acceptable to the Lord, and even mundane actions done with love and devotion have a great use for our spiritual progress towards The Lord. 

- Dr. Deepak Anand

Student and Research Scholar (1997-2004); 

Currently, Assistant Professor, Department of Management Studies 

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus

Source: Sai Nandana 2015 (90th Birthday Offering)

An Eventful Day at Prasanthi Nilayam during Navaratri Celebrations

Saturday, November 4, 2000 

Today after morning Darshan, most of the students went to Kothacheruvu town for the distribution of Prasadam and clothes. In the evening after the interview, Swami came to the Ganesh portico and enquired from the teachers about the Seva activity. When the Warden mentioned the name of a village… 

Swami : It is Parvathamma’s (Swami’s sister) in-laws village. Her grandson, Shravan Kumar studied M.B.A. in our College. (While discussing about the Grama Seva, Swami said) Some villagers explain, some others inspire and some complain. (Contrasting the educated with the uneducated village folk, Swami said) Educated people have spoiled mind. They have doubts from head to toe. 

Brindavan Warden : Swami, because of desires. 

Swami : Desires. Monkey desires. They don’t have humility. 

Prof. A. K. : They have the feeling: ‘I am special’. 

Swami : Ahamkaram (ego). (Then Swami went on to describe the story of Chanakya, an Indian teacher, philosopher and royal advisor belonging to the second and third century BC, he authored the ancient Indian political treatise called ‘Artha Shastra’ and is considered to be the pioneer of the field of Economics and Political Science in India.) Educated people do not have Pavitrata (purity). (Prof. Anil Kumar asked a question whether all educated people are like that. For this Swami said) A truly educated man behaves well and does not have ego. But those who are partially educated (half-knowledge) have ego. Because of that they become low. 

Prof. A. K. : Swami, they have the ego of being educated. 

Swami : A fully educated man would have Sama Darshanam (equanimity). But a partially educated man will have Vakra Darshanam (crooked vision). 

There was a Vyakarana Pandit (scholar in grammar). 

Prof. A. K. : Swami, Panini. 

Swami : Yes, Panini. He wrote grammar. Bhaskara wrote Ganita-Shastra (Mathematics). (Then Swami narrated the story of Ashtavakra, a sage mentioned in the Bharatiya scriptures, he is described as one born with eight different deformities of the body. He was the author of the work ‘Ashtavakra Gita’, a treatise on the instruction by him to King Janaka about the Self.) He got the bent body because of the Shapam (curse) given by his father. It is not due to Papam (sin). There is difference between Shapam and Papam. Tell boys what I have told. 

Prof. Anil Kumar repeated aloud (in English) whatever Swami spoke, the story of Chanakya and Ashtavakra. Swami then gave a talk. It resembled the experience that students have in Trayee Brindavan. The English transcription of the talk is given below: 

Divine Discourse in Sai Kulwant Hall 

One day, Ashtavakra’s father was reciting Mantras (sacred syllables). He was chanting them with wrong intonations. At that time, his wife was lighting a lamp. Within her womb, Ashtavakra criticised his father, telling that his intonations were wrong. Hearing this, his father was annoyed and said, “If he is criticising from within the womb itself, tomorrow, when he grows up, he will criticise me further.” Therefore, he cursed him to be born with bends in his body. Not one, but eight bends. Hence he got the name Ashtavakra. Once, Ashtavakra went to the king’s court. Noticing the bends in his body, everyone laughed at him. Ashtavakra scolded them saying that they were all cobblers and not scholars. Ashatavakra explained that scholars should have Sama Darshanam (equal vision) and not Charma Darshanam (focus on the physical vision; Charma literally means leather, thereby indicating the physical body). They must not have Vakra Darshanam (crooked vision). A scholar sees a person’s intellect while a cobbler sees the skin. 

Once, Chanakya’s mother was crying. When Chanakya asked her the reason, she replied, “Since you have a handsome body, you may become egoistic. In addition, you also have well-arranged teeth, which means that very soon in your life, you will reach an exalted position and then you may not respect elders or even your own mother.” Hearing this Chanakya said that he never wanted to become such an egoistic person. He even took a stone and broke two of his teeth in the front. Even the limbs of the body indicate the personality of a man as described in the Angashastra (science of the limbs). His mother had studied it. 

It is not enough if one studies well. He should have obedience, discipline and humility. Ego is expressed in many ways, it manifests in one’s sight, speech and even laughter. Each limb of the body shows traces of ego. Every limb of the body should act according to Dharmashastra (the righteous scriptural injunctions). Sometimes we talk in excess. Too much talk will lead to criticising others. Criticising others will cause disorderliness of lips. At the time of birth, one’s nose may be good, but later it may get bent. Hence, even if one is born with a perfect body, his egoistic actions will lead to physical deformities.

Einstein (1879-1955 AD; a German-born theoretical physicist, he developed the General Theory of Relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics, and received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics) was never egoistic. He respected all equally. Once someone asked him, “What is the secret of your greatness?” To this he replied, “I will show you the secret”. He then took him to his room. He lived in a very small room. There he pointed to a cupboard. In that, there was a copy of the Bhagavad Gita. Showing that he said, “This has brought me success and reputation”. He had full faith in the Gita. His unique quality was his forgiveness. He was married at a very young age to an illiterate woman who happened to be his uncle’s daughter. She used to keep waiting for him at the dining table. But he would keep on writing. One day she got very angry. She would tell him, “You keep fasting and don’t listen to me. You and your useless studies”. But Einstein wouldn’t react impulsively. Though his wife would feel very hungry at times, she never ate her meals before her husband had eaten. It was the culture of those days. One day, however, in her frustration, she poured a pot full of water on his head. Still he was very calm. He said, “My dear wife. Be peaceful. Till now, you were ‘thundering’. Now it is a ‘heavy downpour’!! I am not feeling bad that you poured water on me, but the letters have got spoilt. All the matter which I had written has been erased.” In those days, people would dip their pens in inkpots and then write. When Einstein told his wife that everything was erased, she replied, “This means that the ‘intelligence’ was not within you. You got it from outside, and hence you are feeling sorry. If it were inside you, you wouldn’t have felt sorry.” From that day, Einstein reasoned that everything outside was just reaction, reflection and resound; not reality. He accepted his wife as his Guru and began to explore within. 

Tulsidas was also the same. (Tulsidas was a poet-saint, reformer and philosopher renowned for his devotion to Rama. A composer of several popular works, he is best known as the author of the epic ‘Ramcharitmanas’, a retelling of the Sanskrit Ramayana in the vernacular Awadhi language. He left his mortal coil in the year 1623 AD.) He composed the Tulsi Ramayan. Once, when he was in Chitrakoota, many people went to have his Darshan. One day his wife also went there. But she didn’t have the feeling that he was her husband. Previously, his name was Ramabrahmam. He used to water the Tulsi plants, and hence he was called Tulsidas. Just like everyone, his wife also prostrated before him. Seeing her he asked, “Why did you come here?” She replied, “I heard people say that you are a Jnani (one of wisdom). But now, you are behaving like a Moorkha (fool). You still entertain thoughts of me being your wife. How can you be great then?” This opened his eyes and he immediately fell at her feet. He told that from that day onwards, his wife was his Guru. 

Some may look innocent. But then, one must not infer anything merely from looks. Einstein might not have forgotten what he had written, if it were original. But he had borrowed the knowledge. His wife showed him the reality. Everyone reads. But it is not from within. If it is from within, it will not get erased. If one forgets something, it is because of the fact that it is not original. People may seem to be ignorant, yet they have wisdom. Educated people have only borrowed knowledge. They are full of doubts. They even doubt their mothers and think, “Am I really her son?” When they doubt their own mother, they will surely doubt their wives even more. True education is knowledge that is within, not the outside scholarship. The latter is simply an educator and not educated. Hence, Educare is essential. People pronounce ‘edju-cated’. It is actually ‘edu-cated’. 

Teacher : Swami, by doing Grama Seva, we are getting true education. 

Swami : Yes, real education. Children are working whole-heartedly. (Again about pronunciation) When students do some mistake they say that they have committed a mistake. Actually it is not mistake but ‘miss + take’. Boys do not have good pronunciation. But they say Swami does not pronounce properly. 

Prof. A. K. : They never think like that, Swami. 

Swami : They also pronounce the word ‘Master’ wrongly. It is ‘Maaster’ and not ‘Mas-ter’. (Swami articulated the right pronunciation.) Master the mind, be a mastermind. When does one become a master? When one has total control of senses. If there is no control, he will not be a master. He becomes a slave. Only such a Master (the one with sense control) is a man. 

Others have no right to call themselves to be a man. 

Prof. A. K. : Swami, I was thinking that by wearing this kind of dress we are masters. 

Swami : No. Not by dress or by collecting information or by form (physical appearance) one becomes a master. He is not at all a man, who doesn’t have control over his senses. He is an animal. Einstein also said the same, “I am not an animal. I am a man.” (Swami looked at His wrist) Why has the music not yet begun? 

B. Warden : Since Swami was talking, they didn’t want to disturb. 

Swami : No. Let the Bhajans begin. 

It was already past 5.30 pm. After Bhajans Swami retired to His Poornachandra residence. 

Source: Students with Sai: Conversations (2000-2001)

Sri Sathya Sai Addresses UGC Golden Jubilee Seminar of Vice-Chancellors

Tuesday, October 28, 2003 to 

Thursday, October 30, 2003 

The Inaugural Session of the UGC Golden Jubilee Seminar of Vice-Chancellors at Prasanthi Nilayam

The University Grants Commission (UGC) Golden Jubilee Seminar of Vice-Chancellors on the them ‘Values Education and Ethics’ was hosted at Prashanti Nilayam at the request of the University Grants Commission, between 28th to 30th October 2003. Bhagavan, the Revered Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL), inaugurated the seminar on 28th morning with His inaugural Address. The inaugural function was addressed by Dr. Arun Nigevekar, Chairman, University Grants Commission, Sri S.V. Giri, Dr. G. Venkatraman, and Justice Ranganath Mishra, former Chief Justice of India.

The seminar was attended by 25 Vice-Chancellors from reputed universities across the country from Himachal Pradesh in the north to Kerala in the south and from Orissa in the east to Maharashtra in the west. Notably, the participating Vice-Chancellors represented women's universities, universities of distance education, deemed universities, agricultural universities, central and state universities spread across the length and breadth of India. Justice Malimath, former Chief Justice of Kerala High Court, Prof. V.S. Prasad, Director, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), senior officials of the UGC and the Higher Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, were the other invitees. 

On the morning of 28th, Sri S.V.Giri started the proceedings with his address where he touched upon the concept of integral education at the SSSIHL which incorporates values in all aspects of learning. After Sri S. V. Giri, Dr. G. Venkataraman, former Vice-Chancellor of the SSSIHL addressed the audience on the crisis facing modern education and how to overcome it. He said that the power of morality was greater than any other power and that one need not feel diffident in talking about it and practicing it. The next speaker was Sri Arun Nigevekar, Chairman of UGC. He pointed out the inadequacy of mere Higher education and stressed the need for Values and Ethics. Sri Ranganath Misra, Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, speaking on the occasion agreed with the earlier speakers on the importance of values in education, right from the primary school level and prayed for the Grace of Bhagawan in bringing about this transformation. 

Giving his inaugural address, Bhagavan said that the most important of all values is love and that the fundamental knowledge lies in asking oneself “Who am I?”. He said that contrary to popular belief spirituality is easy and one just needed to have faith to start with. He said:

"Today, a number of discussions and deliberations are being held in the field of education. First and foremost, we must try to recognize the true meaning of education. One may read all the available books and elucidate the meaning contained in these books. But, that does not entitle one to be called an educated person. There are several highly educated people today in the world. But, what transformation and discriminatory power have they achieved on account of their education? What benefit has accrued to the world on account of these so called educated people? None tries to understand and evaluate this aspect. It is only when an educated person looks inward that he will be able to realize the true meaning and philosophy underlying education. In contrast to this situation, people are applying their intelligence in worldly matters.

There are, however, some who enquire into the nature of Atma Tattwa. Realising the importance of an enquiry into the nature of Atma Tattwa, we have introduced this concept in the M.B.A. course in Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. The letters M.B.A. stand for understanding the nature of the mind (M), the physical body (B), and the Atma (A). It is easier to understand the nature of the mind and body. But, to understand the nature of the Atma is not that easy. No one can understand what Atma is. It has no form. It is pure consciousness. Even the educated people are unable to understand that the Atma Tattwa is consciousness.

Most of them are able to go up to the stage of conscious. Some others are able to reach the next stage of conscience. The sum and substance of all this is that man today is unable to understand the Atma Tattwa, The pure consciousness. It is only when one is able to understand the conscious, he can understand what conscience is. Again, it is only when, one is able to understand conscience, he can really understand the principle of consciousness. Thus all the three categories of conscious, conscience and consciousness are interlinked.

Dear Students! You may feel that spirituality is too abstract and not easily understandable. The Atma Tattwa cannot be understood and realized by merely developing material knowledge. In fact, Atma Tattwa is beyond the scope of material knowledge. It is transcendental. It is fundamental knowledge. It is at the base of all physical, material and secular knowledge...

You encounter several appointments (expectations) and disappointments in life. When you have an appointment, you will have a disappointment also when it is not fulfilled. Therefore, do not have appointments (desires) at all. Then, there is no scope for disappointment. Do not give importance to the form. In fact, your Atma Tattwa represents your true form. Do not confine Divinity to a particular name and form. The names like Rama, Krishna, Govinda are only names attributed by man to God. They are not innate. Not much of importance can be attached to them. However, one has to take a particular name in the initial stages of his spiritual quest. For instance, it is necessary to acquire different types of education. It is also necessary to realize the essence of all the education. That is, of course, the Truth. But how long? Until you experience that essence. Once you experience the essence of knowledge, even that vanishes. Hence, do not depend upon the name and form. Truth is Truth. That is the only Truth. It has no form. Love is God. Love has no form. Cultivate such Divine Love. God exists. There can be no doubt about it. If God does not exist, there is no scope for nature to exist. From an experience of Prakruti (Nature) emerges apprehension of Paramatma (the supreme self). From Paramatma, the realization of Para Tattwa (Supreme Reality) springs. That Para Tattwa is Atma Tattwa. Therefore, always love that Para Tattwa. Do not confine your love to the particular, which is always susceptible to change. Time permitting, I will delineate on this Prema Tattwa (Principle of Love) in greater detail. When students are able to understand the nature of this Divine Love, there can be no scope for disappointment. They are always engrossed in appointment and disappointment. Love has only a name, but no form. You can direct that love towards any form...

There is Divine Love in you which has neither birth nor death. You direct your love towards that Divine Love. That love is always with you. If you cultivate such love, you will always remain as embodiments of love. Have firm faith in this Divine Love. Do not believe the worldly love, lest you should be deceived. The worldly love is like passing clouds. Such clouds come and go. They are not permanent. Love the eternal love. That is the Atma Tattwa. Love that Atma Tattwa. People who wish to enter the spiritual field and to know the path that leads to Divinity, please come to Me. I will explain. Do not be deceived by worldly love that causes only disappointment. Cultivate such type of love that will not cause disappointment. Pursue any type of education; but, understand the inner meaning of education. Then put it into practice, experience and enjoy that essence of that education. Do not be disappointed by directing your love towards all and sundry. Several students are being disappointed in that manner. In the end, they are unable to love anybody. That is not the right way. Love the principle of Love itself, which is Divine and Eternal. The more you love that Divine Love, the more it grows."

The deliberations of the seminar were spread over seven business sessions in addition to the inaugural session on 28th October morning. Various themes related to the main topic were discussed. They included: Policy framework and operational model, integral approach to education and educational philosophy, science technology and value inculcation, management education and value orientation, service orientation and responsible citizenship, etc. 

During the Evening Sessions in Sai Kulwant Hall

Every evening, all the delegates of the conference would assemble in the Sai Kulwant hall in the Divine presence when the summary of the day's deliberations would be read out to the vast gathering. On 28th and 29th, the Institute students gave presentations based on the curriculum of the Institute. 

The Grama Seva Presentation by the Students

The presentation on 28th focused on the Grama Seva projects, was made by Sri G.S. Srirangarajan, Sri Jaipreet Singh, Sri Deepak Anand and Sri Sanjay Mahalingam. The 29th afternoon witnessed a multilingual presentations by Sri Shashank Shah, English; Sri Ranganath Raju, Telugu; Sri Jagannadan, Sanskrit; Sri Jagadish Chandra, Hindi; and Ms. Deepti Bhagya, English; all highlighting the glory of the Institute under the benign grace and guidance of Bhagavan, the Revered Chancellor of the Institute.

With Students from the Multi-lingual Presentations

On the evening of 30th October, the concluding day of the seminar, all the delegates once again assembled in the Kulwant hall in the Divine Presence. Prof.V.S.Prasad, the director of National Assessment and Accreditation Council, placed before Bhagavan the recommendations emerging out of the seminar deliberations. All the delegates felt that imparting human values in higher education was the need of the hour and came up with various suggestions on how to do it. Above all, they were unanimous in their appreciation of the SSSIHL and expressed gratitude to Bhagavan for giving them an opportunity to come to be in His Divine Presence. They said that the SSSIHL was a practical and ideal example of successfully imparting value education to students and recommended that it be declared as a 'National Centre for Excellence' in value education. 

Prof. Jaya Shankaran, the Vice-Chancellor of Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Mahavidyalaya summed it up all in his eloquent speech when he said that it is from institutions like SSSIHL, that the country looked forward to future leaders. He said that the only solution of transforming all the 300 Universities was for Bhagavan to take those many multiple forms and guide each one of them personally. The Vice Chancellors expressed their unanimous view that the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning should be recognised as the National Centre of Excellence for Values Education. 

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam (1986-2005)

Lessons Learnt From Sri Sathya Sai – By Pratim Banerjee

Pratim Bannerjee (kneeling in front to Swami's right) with Sri Sathya Sai

The year 2003 was a very crucial year in my life. That was the year when I wrote my tenth standard Board Examinations; the year when I came face-to-face with a Divine Being, about whom, I had heard a lot from my grandmother and parents, but never had the opportunity to see or speak to, and Who later became my mentor, guide, guardian, and my everything! It was May 2003. I remember sitting outside the Whitefield Ashram, waiting for my parents to sort out accommodation, all the while wondering, “What life would be like behind those light pink walls!” Coming from a boarding school of great renown, I was not aware of what it would be to stay in an Ashram, see a Guru, or for that matter sing a Bhajan. I was pretty much like any other 17-year old, carefree, curious, energetic, enthusiastic, short-tempered and perhaps a bit arrogant. 

When I was a school student, I was heavily into sports, having represented my school in football, cricket and hockey at various national level championships. And the possibility of being allowed to continue doing so was perhaps my biggest concern about joining Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School. Even before appearing for the entrance examination for XI Standard at Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School, this concern persisted, and the picturesque Hill View Stadium was the bait which Bhagavan chose to put that concern to rest, and to draw me closer to Him. 

Strangely, when I look back, I remember a photograph of Bhagavan in His usual Abhayahasta pose (blessing posture with the hand raised), in the common-room of the Hostel in my earlier boarding school, which now makes me realise that He always had an eye on me, and therefore knew about all my mischief and fun. Not just that: I am also quite sure that He had decided to draw me closer to Him. That is the reason why, I did not want to go back to the same school after my tenth class, even though I was happy there and the quality of education was quite good.

Sri Sathya Sai Darshan at Brindavan 

My first Darshan of Bhagavan was during the same visit, in Brindavan. I remember sitting with my father to have His Darshan, wondering what ‘Darshan’ actually meant. This was a different world to me! ‘Sairam’ as a replacement for ‘Hello’, ‘Welcome’, ‘Please’ etc. was entirely new. So were the words ‘Darshan’, ‘Interview’, ‘Blessings’, ‘Prasadam’, ‘Bhajans’, and ‘Prayers’. I remember sitting next to a boy who was disabled and was having a tough time sitting quiet in one place, just like me, though mine was more a case of being un-used to this sort of environment or gathering. The big difference between the two of us was that he was crying out to Swami for help, and I was crying within to get out of that place! But when the door opened and Bhagavan stepped out, the atmosphere of the entire gathering changed. People sat up straight, there was a sudden hush, and beautiful music filled the atmosphere. The crying of the boy mellowed down. Visibly he was in pain, but something had brought him peace. When I craned my neck, for the first time I had the Darshan of the most beautiful being in orange hue that sent shivers down my spine. And immediately a thought ran through my head, more of a feeling: a feeling of having known that form since a long time, of not having seen Him, yet having known Him since ages. It was a strange feeling for me as a teenager of seventeen! It was one of happiness, surprise and confusion. And that day after many years I sang aloud the songs that were being beautifully rendered by the young boys sitting in front of the dais. I had nearly stopped singing after my voice broke as an adolescent and I had moved more towards sports than music, which I was quite good at since childhood. It seemed as though the lyrics were not important, for I had eye-contact with the person in orange, and He seemed to be pleased with my singing! 

Pratim singing in the Divine presence at Prasanthi Nilayam

Bhagavan out of infinite compassion, blessed me with numerous experiences which I cherish throughout my life. I wish to narrate in this article one of the thrilling experiences. In my second year of under graduation, during the year 2006-07 Annual Sports and Cultural Meet, I had the good fortune to be a part of the Para-Motors event. It is basically paragliding, but using a motor engine propeller which weighs a good 25-30 kg when filled with fuel. This was the highlight of that year’s sports-meet presentation, and Bhagavan showed a lot of interest in it! On the morning of 9th January, 2007, He came to the Sri Sathya Sai Airport, which was our takeoff point to oversee the practice session. After that morning’s session, He showered a lot of grace on the entire team including me! He enquired about our families, the learning process, ideal flying conditions etc. I was determined and focused on performing well and making Him proud. When He asked me what I wanted, I asked for “Acchi Hawa” (Ideal winds). I asked so, as para-motors are very much governed by wind conditions and cannot be performed in adverse wind conditions. He then replied smilingly, “Dega” (Will give). 

That morning He also directed us to start practicing landing in the stadium, saying that it would be an altogether different ball-game as compared to landing in an open airport runway. He also stressed that safety was of paramount importance. Very much so, as explained by our instructor later, landing in the stadium was not so easy. The big hill on one side of the stadium creates a lot of turbulence which makes landing very difficult. Therefore, practicing landing was very much important. That very evening Swami arrived at the stadium to see us land. But, as the wind condition was unsuitable, our instructor, as directed by Bhagavan, delayed our takeoff till the conditions became ideal. Finally, after waiting for a long time Bhagavan left the premises to receive Aarti in Mandir. 

We took off once the wind conditions became better. I was the first of the two, who went in circles above the airport, waiting for my fellow flying partner to join-in. In doing so, I went quite high up and realised the height only when my instructor asked me to locate the Hill-View Stadium where we were to land. The seriousness of the situation hit me hard only when I saw the entire stadium appeared just the size of a saucer, and the 65-feet high statue of Hanuman, only a few inches tall! The instructor made me perform structured manoeuvers to come down to a reasonable height. But then my youthful exuberance kicked-in again and instead of sticking to the flight path, and flying over Sri Sathya Sai Primary School, I took a shortcut, and headed straight towards the globe-like structure in front of Chaitanya Jyoti Museum. My mind went numb, but by using extra acceleration I averted a collision. But even before I could breathe a sigh of relief, I realised that I was heading towards the mighty Chaitanya Jyoti Museum itself! On the instruction of our guide, I did an emergency 360-degree turn, which can prove fatal in the sport, but again managed to avoid a collision. Even before I could catch my breath it was time to land. The wind in the stadium was so turbulent that I was getting tossed around like a feather! But through some good piloting and guidance from the instructor, I could get the canopy under control. And as I thought I could land well at last, a strong gust of wind threw me flat on the ground! Everything around me froze; there was pin-drop silence, and my vision seemed to fade. 

All that I remember just before hitting the ground was “Sai Ram” which instinctively came out of my lips! And I guess that did the magic! With nearly 30 kgs behind my back and the hard ground in front, the crash could have been fatal, to say the least! But when my instructor, teachers, and other support staff came rushing to help me, they surprisingly found that I had escaped with only minor injuries! I couldn’t thank Swami enough, not just for saving my life, but for giving me a life-changing experience, teaching the miraculous power of His Divine Name. The following morning, Bhagavan came to see our practice again. By landing fearlessly, better than yesterday, I went to Him to receive His blessings. The first thing He asked was, “You did not get hurt, did you?” To which all I could say with utmost gratitude was, “Aap Hai Na Swami!” (Aren’t you there Swami!) His affection flowed in plenty in the ensuing next few days! 

Keeping up with His promise of ‘good winds’, He came half an hour early on the Sports Meet morning, ensuring that the wind conditions were ideal for us to perform the feat! Not just that, He also blessed us with trophies from His own hands, for which I had thirsted since my school days because He had stopped giving individual championship trophies since my eleventh standard. When I had worked hard and won the Athletics Championship two years in a row, only with a desire to receive something from His hands, He fulfilled that desire also in the best possible way. The best part of our time with Bhagavan was that through every interaction, through every glimpse, through every Darshan, He taught us some important lesson for life. 

In the year 2009, just a few days after the Convocation and Birthday festivities, we got a message from Swami saying that we were to prepare a drama for an intellectual who was visiting Puttaparthi the following week. Swami wanted the drama to convey deep, sublime messages from our ancient scriptures. To get the entire drama up and running, we had less than three days’ time. As it was His Will, we could stage the drama with His direct guidance for the intellectual guest who was none other than Mr. Ratan Tata, then Chairman of Tata Sons. 

Pratim (right) shows the card before the programme 
in honour of Mr. Ratan Tata (to the left of Swami) begins

That day was special in the lives of all the participants because of the immense grace that Bhagavan showered on each one of us after the play. He blessed us all with watches and personally guided most of us on the next steps in our career and academics. I was assured by Bhagavan of a seat in the MBA programme that day, and when I prayed that He stay in my heart forever, He said a thing which I will cherish life-long. He touched my heart and tapping it thrice said, “I am always there, there, there”. I pray to Bhagavan to guide us always by residing in our hearts and by making His unseen hands, visible once in a while, so that we realise our good fortune time and again, and stay connected with Him, by doing our best to make Him proud. Let us pray that He gives us all the ‘Acchi Hawa’ so that we may rise and shine in whatever we do, and the world recognizes the values of life that He taught us. We may then graduate to become His students, rather than just being students of His University! 

Sri Sathya Sai with Students after the drama

- Pratim Bannerjee

Student (2010-2012), Department of Management Studies

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus

Currently, Business Development Manager, 

Tata Technologies, Detroit, USA

Source: Sai Nandana 2015 (90th Birthday Offering)