Kerala: A Land Sanctified by Three Avatars

Lord Narasimha

Bharat's culture is rooted in the Vedas. Music and literature have come from the Vedas. The Sama Veda is the primal source of music. Rig Veda is the source of all literature. Devotion, filled with music, is the form of the Divine. Hence, Lord Narayana declared: “I do not dwell in Vaikuntha or in the hearts of yogis. I am present wherever my devotees sing my praise, Oh Narada!” The Lord resides not only in the hearts of devotees, but also in the hearts of the evil-minded.

Once, the child Prahlada approached his mother, Lilavati, and told her, "Mother, there is only one difference between me, who is a devotee of Hari and my father, who hates Hari. Ever contemplating on the nectarine sweetness of the Lord, repeating His name, and constantly remembering Him, I am immersed in the bliss of love of the Lord, like one intoxicated. My father, in his hatred of Narayana, has turned his heart into stone and installed Him in it."

Live in faith to experience happiness

The Lord, who dwelt in the heart of Prahlada, who loved Narayana, and the Lord who was in the heart of Hiranyakashyap, who hated Narayana, was one and the same. Drinking deep the nectar of Divine Love, Prahlada quenched his heart's thirst and found bliss. Installing the Lord in his stony heart, Hiranyakashyap was unable to allay his burning thirst and experienced endless worries. Man has to live in faith to experience happiness. Where there is happiness there is peace. Realising that the Divine is omnipresent, the devotees make their lives sublime by singing the glories of the Lord and ever dwelling on His name.

The Divine is present everywhere and in everything. Prahlada declared in the Bhagavatha: “There is no room for the suspicion that the Lord is here and not there. He can be found wherever He is sought, because He is immanent in everything in the universe. Saint Tyagaraja said the same thing when he sang: "Where is your dwelling place, Oh Lord? Wherever I turn I behold you. You are present everywhere. You are omnipotent and all-knowing.” The Divine is present not only in human beings. He dwells in birds and beasts and in all living things. So Tyagaraja sang: “Did not a woman devotee (Aparanji) teach a parrot to recite the name of Rama and enjoy your glory?”

The knower of Brahman becomes Brahman Himself. Valmiki, who wrote the Ramayana, was so much immersed in the Rama principle that the inmates of his ashram noticed an effulgence in his face reflective of the splendour of Rama Himself. The face is a reflection of the inner being. Whatever thoughts and emotions fill a man, they are reflected, in his face. Moses,' who was ever dwelling on the glories of God, reflected in his face the radiance and splendour of the Divine. This is revealed in the Bible. Darwin, who was a devoted student of Henslow, followed his teacher's exemplary life and became, in later years, a great scientist recognizing the inextricable relationship between man and God.

The three Danava Devotees

The devotee is inseparable from God. When he is filled with the love of God and is totally forgetful of himself, he experiences oneness with God. Prahlada was such a supreme devotee. He was a Rakshasa by birth. His form was human. His heart was centered on God. Prahlada combined' in himself these three elements. He adhered to the culture of Bharat and shone as an ideal to his people. In following the four Purusharthas: Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha, Prahlada combined the pursuit of Artha (worldly interest) with Dharma and linked them to Kama (desire) for the attainment of Moksha. Because of this, Moksha itself sought Prahlada. 

Though born among Danavas (Asuras or Rakshasas), there are three notable figures who have achieved distinction in the pursuit of the Purusharthas and sanctified their lives. They are Prahlada, Bali and Vibhishana. As against these, there are countless persons, who, born as human beings, have forgotten Dharma and Moksha and, submerged in Artha and Kama, have wasted their lives.

Emperor Bali was the soul of goodness

Virochana was the son of the great devotee Prahlada. He was, however, different from his father. He was a staunch materialist. He followed the hedonistic philosophy of Charvaka. Emperor Bali, who was the soul of goodness and purity, was Virochana's son. He looked after the welfare of his people as if they were his own children. He earned the love and esteem of his citizens, whom he regarded as limbs of his own body. The people enshrined Bali in their hearts. There was complete harmony between the people and the ruler.

Bali once embarked upon the performance of a great sacrifice known as Viswajit (conquest of the Universe). This provoked the apprehension of Indra and the Devas. There have always been in all ages men who are envious of or antagonistic to those who are prosperous, eminent or extremely good. The latter have had to face troubles from such envious persons. Rama was subject to many hardships from evil-minded persons. Harischandra suffered many ordeals from a Rishi. The Pandavas, who were the very embodiment of dharma, had to endure numerous troubles caused by the envious Kauravas. Jesus, who was the personification of self-sacrifice, was a victim of the hatred of those who were envious of his popularity and resented his teachings. The Prophet Mohammed had to flee from Mecca because of the enmity of some people who were opposed to his message.

The Devas propose: The Lord disposes

Lord Vamana blessing Emperor Bali

Bali wanted to ensure peace and prosperity for the entire world under his beneficent reign and commenced the Viswajit Yaga for this purpose. The Devas became apprehensive and jealous when Bali was performing this Yaga. They approached Lord Narayana and prayed to Him: "Bali, who is Rakshasa by birth, is attempting to bring the whole Universe under his sway by performing the Viswajit Yaga. You must save the world from this danger (of the whole world coming under the rule of Rakshasas), by diverting his mind from this course.

Man proposes, but God disposes. The Lord, who knew the greatness of Bali, his noble qualities and his devotion to God, formally acceded to the Devas' prayers but decided to confer the highest blessings on Bali. For this purpose He incarnated in Siddhashrama as Vamana and went to Bali's Yajnashala to ask for a gift. Pure-hearted as he was, Bali could instantly recognise the radiance on the face of the young Vamana. He asked Vamana: “Swami, what is it you seek at this Yajna? I have decided to renounce everything I possess to redeem my life.” Vamanamurthi was short in stature, but the whole universe was immanent in Him. He asked for an apparently small gift from Bali-nothing more than three lengths of ground measured by his feet. Bali felt that for a ruler of the vast earth, this was too small a gift and he agreed. That very moment, Vamana assumed the immeasurable form of Trivikrama, the Supreme Lord of the three worlds. With one step, He covered the entire earth. With the second step, He covered the whole of space and asked Bali where He should place his foot for the third step. Bali knelt before the Lord and said: “Oh Lord! What can I offer you except the body and heart which you have given to me? I pray to you to place your foot on my head.” Bali was thus the supreme embodiment of self-sacrifice, who did not hesitate to offer everything he had to the Lord.

Vamana's boon to Emperor Bali

Seeing the anguish of his loving people at this turn of events at the Yajna, Bali made one request to the Lord before he was sent to his heavenly abode by the Lord's third step. He said: "Oh Lord! I am indeed happy that I have been sanctified- by your divine feet and achieved the bliss of liberation. I do not, however, wish to leave my loving people in the agony that they are feeling.

Please allow me once a year, in the month of Shravan, to visit my people." He asked for this boon out of his boundless love for his people. The Lord granted this boon.

The Onam festival signifies the enormous love Bali had for the people of his realm. On Onam day, all the people of Kerala rise early in the morning, take a purifactory bath, put on new clothes, prepare a variety of delicious dishes, spread them on a plantain leaf and offer them first to Emperor Bali as a pious oblation. Then they celebrate the Onam festival in the company of their kith and kin and friends with great rejoicing. The new clothes worn on Onam day are known as ‘Onakkodi’. This name has a special significance. It refers not merely to the new clothes worn by Keralites, but to the new body which Emperor Bali acquired on that day. Bali, who appears on that day from the netherworld, is considered as appearing in the new garb of love of the people for whose sake he was coming.

How Kerala acquired the name Parasurama Kshetra

Lord Parashurama

Kerala is a land that has won the love of the Lord in a special way. In olden days, it was noted for its devotion and godliness. Kerala is also known as Parashurama Kshetra, the sacred land of Parashurama. How did it acquire that name? Parashurama is one of the avatars of Vishnu. When Parashurama’s father (Jamadagni) was beheaded by a Kshatriya king, his mother Renuka, cried in anguish: "Rama! Rama!" Parashurama, who was away from the ashram, could ethereally hear the cries of his mother from afar and rushed home. He counted that his mother had called his name twenty one times. On reaching the ashram he saw his father's head severed from the body. The horrible crime had been committed by Kartavirya’s sons. Parashurama took a vow to wage war against the vile Kshatriya rulers twenty one times and end their rule all over the earth.

Parashurama accomplished his mission by defeating the Kshatriya kings twenty one times and came to his ashram to pray to his ancestors for restoring his father's life. The sage Bharadwaja, to whose Gotra Jamadagni belonged, appeared before Parashurama and restored Jamadagni to life by placing the head and body together.

After this, Parashurama felt that the purpose of his advent had been achieved and as he had no desire to be a ruler, he made a gift of all the territories he had conquered to the Sage Kashyapa. He felt that having given away everything, it would not be right for him to remain on the land he had gifted. He decided to reclaim land from the sea and settle down on that territory for the rest of his life. It is this area that is known as Parashurama Kshetra, also known as Kerala. He performed penance on a mountain called Mahesa, which is situated in Kerala.

Kerala is uniquely blessed by Providence

Onam Celebrations in Kerala

Kerala is thus a land with sacred traditions. The Onam festival occurs in an auspicious period. Kerala goes through three months of heavy rains before Onam. Nature wears a sombre look. The skies are overcast and the sun is hardly visible during these months. After the rains, the sun shines in all its glory and it is green everywhere. Nature rejoices at the time of Onam. The entire population is filled with joy, sharing the glory of Nature and enjoying its fruits in abundance. The natural beauty of Kerala cannot be described in words. It has to be seen and enjoyed. Kerala has been uniquely blessed by Providence. 

In such a sacred and well-endowed country, the whirligig of time has wrought some changes. The passage of time and the vicissitudes of circumstances have affected the minds of people. Differences have arisen between man and man and hatred has grown among various sections. In spite of these changes, however, the spirit of devotion among the people has remained.

Onam is celebrated with joy in Kerala

Kerala is regarded as a communist-ridden country. But this is not wholly true. Even today the mass of the people are filled with deep devotion. On Onam day there is no Keralite who does not celebrate the festival with enthusiasm and joy. The temples are jam-packed with devotees on Onam day. Although political differences figure prominently on the surface, deep down there is a sense of unity in the hearts of the people.

"What is the difference between man and God?" it is asked. The answer is: the individual Jiva is a changing entity. God is unchanging and eternal. Faith in God has remained unchanged in Kerala despite the passage of centuries. This is the unique greatness of the Onam festival. Prahlada was a great devotee of God. Bali, his grandson, was a great emperor and devotee. In between, the father of Bali, Virochana, was a materialist and atheist. In the world, there are any number of persons who derive inspiration from Prahlada and Bali. There are also many who take the cue from Virochana. The Jagat (world) will not be what it is, if such variations did not exist. All through history, the devotees of God have had to endure many ordeals and privations, but they never lost their faith in God. They have stood out as ideals and examples to mankind. Bali was one such great exemplar. Onam is celebrated as the sacred day when Bali achieved liberation. It is also the day when Vamana was born. It is also the day when each year Bali visits the earth to experience the love of the people and participate in their rejoicings. Hence, people should not be content with enjoying food and raiment but should try to experience the bliss of the Spirit.

The people of Kerala should be proud of the fact that their land is sacred in many ways. It was created by an Avatar of the Divine. It is the land where Prahlada and Bali were born. It witnesses the advent of the Vamana Avatar. Because of these sacred associations, I desire that the people of Kerala should lead pious and virtuous lives and I bless them on this sacred occasion.

Source: Divine Discourse on Onam Day – September 15, 1986 in the Poornachandra Auditorium

God is Beyond All Limitations – By Nishant Verma

Start the day with love,

Fill the day with Love,
Spend the day with Love,
And end the day with love,
This is the way to God.

- Sri Sathya Sai

This means every moment of our life should be filled with love. That is the only way we can reach God. Swami says, “My life is My message” and Swami’s message is Love. Swami wants His students to be filled with love, so that Swami can say, “My students’ life is My message.” Swami says, “Love all, Serve all; Help ever, Hurt never.” All the Vedas and Puranas are epitomised in these two sentences.

Swami says, “You worship any God, be it Rama or Krishna, Jesus or Allah, but follow His teachings.” He tells all not to blindly accept Him as God. “First test Me and then believe.” Here, I would like to mention a personal experience about how our family became devotees of Swami.

When I was in the third standard, my parents and I went to South India for a trip. One of my aunts had told my mother about Sri Sathya Sai Baba who was in Puttaparthi. We decided to go there. We sat in the Darshan lines and got the first token. One person who was sitting next to us in the first line told us that as soon Swami comes near, we should take Padanamaskar. When Swami came near, we did the same. We stayed at Prasanthi Nilayam for two days and then went to Bangalore from where we continued our trip. We were to go to Mysore the next day. Suddenly, my mother experienced severe pain in her stomach. We decided to take her to a hospital, but no vehicle was available anywhere. The pain was unbearable for my mother. My father then prayed, “Swami, if you are really God, then help us and cure her.” Immediately my father saw an auto rickshaw coming in our direction. The auto driver asked us where we wanted to go. We said we were new to that place and wanted to take my mother to a doctor. The auto driver said that he knew a clinic. He then drove through the lanes, streets for 45 minutes and stopped near a clinic. But that clinic was closed. He then drove further and took us to another clinic, which was fortunately open. There, a doctor treated my mother and gave some medicines due to which pain subdued. After travelling in that auto rickshaw for 4-5 hours we finally reached our hostel.

My father was very sure that the rickshaw driver would ask at least Rs.500. When we asked him how much to pay, he surprisingly said that he did not want anything, as he was happy that his sister was all right. Then after some time he told my father to give him Rs.20 and the banana in my mother’s hand. We gave it to him. Then he started to reverse the rickshaw and he disappeared. It was then we realized that it was none other than Swami, who had come to our rescue. This incident formed a bridge between Swami and us. After we came back to our house, a number of miracles started taking place in our house. Vibhuti and Amrit started flowing out of Swami’s photos. We began to have regular Bhajans in our house. Also, my mother became a Balvikas Guru and I began attending Balvikas classes.

Whenever Swami tells us something in our dreams, it comes true. This I experienced in my fourth standard. After my final examinations, the night before I got my results, Swami came in my mother’s dream. She also saw the prize distribution ceremony in which the first three prizes were given but I was not among the students to receive the prizes. Then Swami told my mother not to worry because I had secured the fourth rank. True to His word, when I went to get my result, I had stood fourth in the class. After my eighth standard examinations, my father had a dream in which Swami told him that I had done my Maths examination very badly and that Swami would take care. When the results came out I found that I had just passed in the Maths exam.

On January 7, 2001, Swami graciously consented us to give us an interview. In the interview room, my father asked Swami about the dream. Swami said that it was He who made me pass in that examination. That was the best day in my life. But, I was a bit afraid of Swami and so was standing a bit far away from Him. Swami saw this and pulled me towards Him saying, “Why are you afraid boy?” My face touched Swami’s hair and Swami kept His right hand on my shoulder. Then my father asked Swami for admission in this school in the eleventh standard. Swami asked me whether I was interested and I replied affirmative. Then Swami told me to apply to the eleventh standard. He enquired about my mother’s health and materialised Vibhuti and gave it to her.

Even though I did not get very good marks in my pre-final examination, I had full faith in Swami’s word and so I applied, After doing the entrance test and interview well, I finally got elected in this institution.

Swami loves His students more than anything else. He always showers His grace on them. We, being the instruments of His mission, should try to emulate Bhagavan and try to imbibe His teachings. Swami also has incarnated on this Earth, to disclose the ultimate secret to all of us, that Man is God. Let us all make efforts to realise this truth so that we can also become Divine.

- Nishant Verma
Student (2005-10), Department of Management Studies
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
Currently, Senior Financial Analyst, Accenture
Bengaluru

Source: Sai Nandana 2005 (80th Birthday Offering)

What is God’s Role in Our Life?

Are you capable of creation? You may be able to kill. But can you bring a dead man back to life? Every single thing is by the will of God. Men are unable to trust that will. Without faith man can never lead a peaceful life. 

Develop faith in God. God has neither wrath nor mercy. He plays by your ideas. Iron is inert but a magnet can make it move around by its power. So, it is important to understand the dual principles in human nature. Besides drawing goodness from Divinity, man is attracting punishments upon himself from the same Divinity! Let me tell you how: 

The axe cuts down the sandalwood tree but the tree leaves its fragrance on the blade of the axe in return. The tree did not hate the axe and abuse it. The tree resigned to fate thinking that let the axe face the results of its bad nature. Now, what is the bitter experience that the axe would face? It is an ordeal through the fire and heavy hammer strokes. Do you see that! Though the axe enjoys the sandalwood fragrance initially, it gets blunt and is sharpened by getting burnt in the furnace and getting hit with the hammer. Is this a punishment given by the sandalwood tree? No, it is a consequence of the axe’s bad nature. So, even though God reciprocates the bad with goodness, the bad beget bad finally. So, God need not cause bad things to happen to you. God need not punish you. You get punished yourself. Gold is very valuable. The goldsmith melts it by burning. But the precious gold, despite of the suffering feels happy for, it would soon get purified and become 24-carat gold. Its worth will enhance, so it is happy. It even says this to the goldsmith, “O goldsmith! Do realise your own suffering. Whatever you are putting me through only helps me grow in my purity and value. But in the process, the smoke from the furnace makes your eyes burn. The ash and the sparks form the fire spoil your clothes. Thus your clothes and eyes are ruined. This loss is yours and not mine.” Therefore, we should never ascribe any good or bad to God. He is just a witness. 

When you turn on the switch, the fan rotates spreading cool breeze or the lights go on spreading brightness. If you turn the switch off, you remain in suffocation and darkness. The lights lose nothing if you do not switch them on. The fan will not complain if you don’t use it. The loss or gain is all yours. So, it is required that you should learn to make the best use of this principle. Divinity is the basis of everything. Instead of relying on this basis we depend upon this body, which is itself based on Divinity and depends on it. This way, we are subjected to Moha (delusion). This leads us to anxiety. All our powers are drained out by anxiety. Man is mistaken to think that he is happy and comfortable because of luxuries and wealth. Greatly mistaken indeed, you don’t enjoy luxuries but the luxuries enjoy you! Consequently, your faculties weaken. If you enjoyed the luxuries why wouldn’t you become fresher and stronger? It is because the luxuries feed upon you, you become debilitated, old and fiddled with disease. So, it is said, “Janma Dukham Jara Dukham, Jaya Dukham Punah Punah. Antah Kaale Maha Dukham, Tasmat Jagrata Jagrata” (Birth is misery, old age is misery, disease is misery; the last moments of life are the most miserable, so be careful always.). 

Namasmarana: The Instrument To Realise God

Students! Worldly wealth and luxuries are not lasting; they are not real. We may seek them out and enjoy them on the way. But, our aim should remain fixed on Divinity. Hence, it is better to lead the worldly life with a spiritual view as the ultimate objective. When you live in this way, you will be successful in the worldly learning and attain the joys of the life here and hereafter. If we narrate and share with students, some good words and exemplary experiences each day, we would be doing a lot of good to them. This inspires them to read some good books. It is required that every day, two of the students share with the other students their thoughts on any spiritual topic or something they have experienced or perceived. It is to provide the necessary inspiration and encouragement to you and to introduce spirituality into your hearts that I have started this programme today. We should not waste our life in worldly matters. You are preoccupied with your studies and your chores all the time. But you must take to heart an hour at least some of the spiritual matters. Tomorrow onwards these meetings will take place between five and six in the evening. Sanctify your lives in this Satsang. 

As the first speaker said, we should try to find the sanctity of Namasmarana and the fruits of chanting God’s name. Tukaram said, ‘Nam Niroopana Mala Ratan Te’ (Only those who have discovered it will know the preciousness of the gems, which God’s name is). To those who are unaware, the name just seems to be normal words. Students! This age of yours is very sacred. Chanting of God’s name is an urgent need. You are taking it lightly and committing a blunder. There is nothing in this world that you cannot achieve through the name. The name can get you the One so named. That means, the form behind the name is revealed. If we want to buy something, what should we have in hand? With money in hand we can buy whatever article we want. Now, which, among the articles and money, is greater? Money of course, when we have the money we can own the article. Similarly, if we want to acquire the articles of this world like comfort, pleasure, happiness, profit and success, we should have the money of God’s name. We should accumulate that kind of money. With that kind of money we can sustain our character. Character is very important to man. You should develop the wealth of character at this age. 

Here is a small example! Our life is a tree. All our relations and friends are the branches. Our thoughts are like the flowers. The fruit of Ananda that grows on this tree has the sweetness of character. But what is the basis of the tree? The roots of course! Thus, we have the roots at the bottom and the fruits at the top. Without these it is just firewood, not a tree. However, sometimes the birds of desire, anger, greed, infatuation etc., perch atop the tree. What happens then? They create a lot of nuisance. They dirty the tree shade with droppings. How, then, do we drive them away? We stand under the tree and scare them away by shooting and clapping and they fly away. So under the tree of the body and positioned in the heart, when you deliberately shout ‘Rama, Krishna, Govinda’, all those birds will flee. After this, the three components of mind, speech and body get purified automatically. In Vedanta this is called ‘Trikarana Shuddhi’. The names Rama and Krishna should emanate from the mind and come out through speech. The hands should keep beat to what is voiced. The Raga of speech, the Shruti of mind and the Taala of hands – when all the three join up, ‘Trikarana Shuddhi’ is achieved. Some say that they sing mentally. Why should I sing aloud? That is total ignorance. Food cooked is ready in kitchen. Is it enough to mentally think about it? It should get served in the plate. What is in the plate should reach your stomach. Otherwise your hunger is not satiated. So it is of no use to have feelings only in the mind. What is on the mind should come out in words. What comes out in words is taken in through the ears. You should have this kind of a meal. 

Source: Namasmarana: The Boat to Cross Samsara, Discourse 10, My Dear Students Volume 1, Divine Discourse on June 18, 1989 at Sri Sathya Sai Hostel, Prasanthi Nilayam

Sri Sathya Sai: Perfection Is Thy Name – By Ramakrishna Reddy

Sri Ramakrishna Reddy with Sri Sathya Sai at Kodaikanal - May 2007

Our dear Swami, who explains succinctly from the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Puranas various philosophical aspects needed for our spiritual upliftment, would talk to us about things that are necessary for our daily conduct. He told us how one should be in the society, at home, at school and College. Taking a seemingly simple example of the word WATCH, He explained the most profound truths in the simplest way. He never missed an opportune moment to impart an enchanting lesson to us. Once in Brindavan, Swami was talking to a small group of students in the dining room. After some time Swami got up from the chair, picked up a banana fruit and went towards the window saying, “Poor fellow, waiting for a long time”. We all wondered who that lucky person was. To our utter surprise, it was a small monkey. Happily it took the fruit from Swami’s outstretched hand and started eating it. Swami, after observing keenly the monkey eating the fruit uttered loudly, “Ah, look at that – how carefully it is eating! Boys do not know even that”. The monkey peeled the fruit bit by bit and ate it without dirtying its hands. 

On one occasion, the Hostel students of Brindavan invited Swami for a special dinner. Though Swami visited the Hostel daily after every evening Darshan in Sai Ramesh Hall, special visits by Swami for dinner or any music programme created a festive atmosphere in the Hostel. The students would participate in various activities to please Swami. In the evenings, much before the dinner time, Swami would visit the Hostel and enquire into various arrangements being made including the menu! Students looked forward to such unexpected visits with excitement because Swami moved freely, giving advice, cracking jokes, appreciating the work of one student at one place and teasing another at some other work spot when he lagged behind in doing the work. Swami’s presence always created an enchanting atmosphere. Students always flocked around Swami to watch that bewitching smile radiating from the lotus face. 

Some of us were given the duty to roll Puris. In those days not many facilities were available in the kitchen to roll Chapati or Puri. We had two rows of Kadapa stones in the Dining Hall. We cleaned the Kadapa slabs and tried to roll Puris on them while standing. None of us had the prior experience in preparing Puris. We tried our best to do the job, but the Puris were not round in shape. When we were struggling like this, Swami came, stood beside us and said “Can’t you roll a small puri? You should be good at everything”. He scraped the wet flour which stuck to the slab and made it into a ball. After two gentle strokes the wet flour ball got transformed into a perfect round Puri, round and perfect like a full moon! We all clapped our hands and said “Ah!” in appreciation. Swami was beaming with joy. Holding the Puri in His hand, He folded it into half and pressed the edges. Swami said that the people of Andhra make a particular variety of sweet (Kajjikai) by stuffing the inside with sweet. He told us to fry and eat it. Swami sent some of His framed photos the new Hostel in Brindavan to be fixed in the Dining Hall, where students do their morning and evening prayers. 

On one Sunday morning, Swami came to the Hostel to guide the students to fix those photos. Swami gave several instructions like: at what height the picture has to be placed, how deep the nails have to be driven into the wall, how the frame has to be tied to the nail without tilting towards right or left. We were amazed to see Swami moving backwards and again to the sides to make sure that the pictures were placed correctly. 

Sri Sathya Sai mentioning about the author to the students at Sai Sruthi, Kodaikanal

Sometimes Swami presented the visiting dignitaries books written by Him and written on Him. A carton of books was received at Brindavan Ashram from the Puttaparthi book stall. One day Swami noticed the box containing books in the Mandir safe room. Swami told me to arrange the books neatly on the windowsill. I started arranging the books vertically so that it would be easy to pick up any book. While I was doing so one senior student joined me and piled all the books saying more can be accommodated that way. Later Swami came in and said, “How can you take out the lower book when necessary? Have you seen in Puttaparthi how the books are arranged? Do properly”. Swami in His childhood days went to Bukkapatnam School, which is about two-to-three kilometers from Puttaparthi. Crossing Chitravati river, He had to walk all the way to the school. At Puttaparthi, Swami helped His grandfather Sri Kondama Raju in cooking their daily meals. Once Swami told the students, “I know cooking very well. People staying around Kondamaraju’s house would come and ask Me to give some Rasam to them, because of the sweet aroma of the Rasam, they were attracted like that. Anything can be cooked properly if the correct ingredients are added and special care is taken while cooking”. 

During the 50th Birthday celebrations, Swami purchased a variety of clothes like saris, dhotis, pant pieces and shirt pieces for distribution. One day some students were asked to open the boxes containing the clothes and rearrange them according to colour and size. While doing so we came across a box containing readymade shirts. When Swami came near us, we asked Him where to keep them. Swami said, “Keep them back in the box and close it. They are meant for somebody else”. Swami told us to hurry up with that work and went to look into some other work. We were quickly placing the readymade shirts back into the box. Then Swami came back and said, “Keep them neatly, take out each shirt, fold it properly and place them in the box. Otherwise they get crumpled”. Nothing misses His ever watchful eyes. As Rabindranath Tagore wrote, “tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection”. Swami, tirelessly, day in and day out tried to make us perfect. Let us remember one of His dictums, ‘Dil Me Ram, Hath Me Kaam…’ Do things perfectly remembering Him. 

- Sri Ramakrishna Reddy

Alumnus, Sri Sathya Sai College, Whitefield

Currently, Senior Teacher, Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School

Prasanthi Nilayam 

Source: Sai Nandana 2015 (90th Birthday Offering)

The First Lady of Kazhakhstan in Prasanthi Nilayam

Sunday, August 27, 2000 

The morning Darshan was at 7.00 am. After the first interview, Swami blessed the First Lady of Kazakhstan along with other members of her entrouage with interview. 

The evening Darshan was at 2.45 pm. 

Swami : (To the students) Where is Anil Kumar? 

Students : (Pointing to Prof. Anil Kumar) Swami, he is there. 

Swami : He must have gone for eating. (Swami went inside and came outside for giving Padanamaskar to devotees from U.K. While going to the gents side, M.B.A. boys asked Swami to come for their drama.) Where is your Tyagaraja? (The student who was acting as Tyagaraja, knelt down. One student showed a sketch of Swami.) Daily same photo. (A student got up and said that his parents have come. Jokingly to the student) Your marriage? Good. 

(Swami spoke to the M.B.A. students, went inside and came out after sometime. Swami called five students and asked them to distribute chocolates to all the students. When one boy was serving, Swami told him to give two each. To a Hospital boy (H. Boy), about Dr. Bhat who was recovering from heart attack) How is he? 

H. Boy : Swami, he is alright. But last night, B.P. went down. 

Swami : Normal B.P. is 80/120. His B.P. is very low, 44/80. 

Prof. A. K. : Swami, little abnormal. 

Swami : Chala Abnormal (Very abnormal). 

H. Boy : Swami, we are giving fluids. 

Swami : Give water with salts. Doctors have a disease, they will not listen to others. They will tell, ‘I know’. Ego. (Pointing to Prof. Anil Kumar) This Bioscience people are also like that only. 

Prof. A. K. : It came in The Hindu newspaper that the First Lady of Kazakhstan is going to stay here for three days. 

Swami : Ayyo Papam! (How sad!) Whether they stay for three days or thirty days, you are going to have your idli and dosa! You will have your own routine. The First Lady came directly to Puttaparthi without any stopping, anywhere in the journey. (After sometime, Swami went inside.) 

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

Teachers Day Celebration and Message from Sri Sathya Sai

Thursday, September 5, 1968

Sri Sathya Sai at Sri Sathya Sai Women's College, Anantapur

Special classes on Indian Culture were inaugurated at the Sri Sathya Sai Women’s College, Anantapur by the Maharani of Jind on this day. 

Swami blessed the participants with His Divine Discourse. He said: 

"The culture of India is the oldest and yet the most active even today. It is ever fresh, for, it is based on beginning less and eternal truths concerning human nature and the external world which impinges on human consciousness. This culture has emphasised that human activity is best done as dedication to God, the Sat-Chit-Ananda (Existence-Awareness-Bliss Absolute), that pervades and envelopes the Universe. It has taught man to work with reverence and humility; then it draws out the full potentialities of the faculties, with which God has endowed man. 

The name Bharati means, Bha (God) Rati (love), Love towards God, which enthuses man to consecrate every little effort of his for His Glory. That love (Rati) will awaken the compassion of man towards all God's children, human or animal; it will make him blind to the failings and faults of all others, and aware of his own; it will render him responsive to the pain and the joy of everyone around him. It will fill him with wonder and amazement at the handiwork of God and he is able to see Divinity everywhere and in everything. 

You must be told, during these years at College, the grandeur and glory of this unique heritage, for, it is your right, the duty the elders owe you. But, most of the students pass through the portals of schools and colleges without securing the priceless treasure left by the sages of the past. I am glad the members of the staff of this College have planned a course of lessons on Indian Culture, to supplement the curriculum, and to give you the sustenance the sages have laid in store for you. 

Indian culture removes the dross of animality 

They call the course, 'Bharatiya Samskriti'. Samskriti means culture which cleanses the metal, shapes in the mould, melts in the crucible to purify, brightens and straightens. Indian culture removes the dross of animality thereby enabling man to devote all his time towards the pilgrimage to God within him. It is a double process, this Samskriti; the plucking out of weeds and the sowing of seeds. And, it starts in India, right from the cradle. It has to be continued through kindergarten, school and college. 

This College has to set an example, by providing opportunities for the rising generations to practise the disciplines in order to purify and promote these ideals. That is the reason which prompted its establishment. You have been influenced in this direction already by the homes in which you have spent the formative years, and by the society in which you have learnt your attitudes, habits and prejudices. Here too, you influence each other by your conversation and behaviour. All this will help you in understanding and benefitting from the culture of India. 

The mother-country is not a map or an extent of soil, or a collection of names; it is the mother, which feeds the body as well as the mind; that sings lullabies and presents pictures for the eye and the spirit; it teaches the art of moving towards the goal of life, namely Self-realisation. It gives every child knowledge of its potentialities and its limitations. It is thus both Lakshmi and Saraswati. 

A child should not be denied the mother's love 

A Women's College has an added responsibility to practise and preserve the essential values of Bharatiya Samskriti. Motherhood is the most precious gift of God. Mothers are the makers of a nation's fortune or misfortune. They should teach two lessons, fear of sin and fondness for virtue. Both these are based on faith in God, being the inner motivator of all. If you want to know how advanced a nation is, study the mothers; are they free from fear and anxiety, are they full of Love towards all, are they trained in fortitude and virtue? If you like to imbibe the glory of a culture, watch the mothers, rocking the cradles, feeding, fostering, teaching and fondling the babies. 

Mothers must assume this responsibility and not throw it on aayahs or governesses. Of course, aayahs and governesses are industrious and sincere. I have nothing to say against them. But, the child that is brought up by the aayah loses an essential fertiliser for growth, Love. The child is denied the most health-giving vitamin, Love. The home where the fragrance of this love has to be inhaled has now lost its sacred atmosphere. Harmony amongst the inmates of a household is fast receding. 

There is no shrine for God in most houses; even if there is, it is in a corner of the kitchen, where no one can sit and spend some time in meditation; or, the worship of God in that shrine is performed by a paid priest, as an empty and enforced ritual. The great temples of this land, built by devoted hands through the toil of decades of dedication, are neglected and allowed to fall in ruins. The inspiration of group singing and group worship is forgotten and even ridiculed! 

The art of living should help to attain liberation 

You must in this College emphasise cultivating physical health and mental equanimity, as well as scholarship and proficiency. A healthy mind is pre-requisite for a healthy body. There is an example of Indra Devi of Mexico, who learnt yoga in India, with a view to derive physical and spiritual benefits. See how active, energetic, and happy she appears to be in spite of her age! 

Atma Vidya (science of the Self) is the only Vidya that can save and sustain, when man is tossed about on the sea of life. The art of living should help to attain liberation. This Vidya is a special feature of Bharat, and that is why Bharat has been considered as a teacher of Humanity. She has to take up that ancient role, in spite of the apathy of the people and the shortsighted attitude of the rulers. The God who dwells in the dewdrop and the star, in the scientist as well as the atom he studies, can be visualised only by a purified inner consciousness. The tongue alone can taste sweetness, and that too, when it is healthy. So too, only a pure consciousness can recognise the grandeur and glory of God. Purify this through the constant repetition of the idea of Soham, (He is I, I am He), so that He and I will merge and only He remains.  

Dwell on these Divine thoughts, engage yourselves in activity for the sake of His adoration, then, you will earn 'marks' in plenty; I appreciate your efforts to secure such 'marks', not the 'remarks' from the Principal and Professors." 

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam (1926-1985)

How Should We Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi?

Lord Ganapati

The essential purpose of the Vinayaka Chaturthi festival is to teach a person to avoid the company of bad people and cultivate the company of the good. What does the term Ganapati signify? "Ga" means Buddhi (intellect). "Na" means Vijnana (Wisdom). ‘Ganapati’ means one who is the Lord of the intellect and of wisdom. He is also the Lord of all Ganas (spiritual entities). Ganas also symbolise the senses. Ganapati is thus the Lord of the senses. ‘Vigato Nayakah Iti Vinayakah’ (Vinayaka is one who is without a Master above him). 

All festivals of Bharatiyas are full of transcendental significance and are not related to worldly phenomena. The first thing which is done on a festival day is to hang a festoon of green leaves on the front doors of the house. A festoon of green leaves is a sign of auspiciousness. By having such a festoon, the householder indicates that he seeks auspicious happenings. This custom has also scientific significance. The green leaves hung at the door serve to absorb the Carbon dioxide exhaled by people and they release Oxygen which is inhaled by them. Thus scientifically the green leaves serve a vital purpose.

Importance of inner and outer purity

On a festival day every person in the house takes an oil bath early in the morning. Personal cleanliness is conducive to good health. Moreover, as the Divine dwells both inside and outside the body, external purity is also important. To achieve inner purity one has to get rid of all bad qualities and cultivate good qualities. The significance of wearing new clothes on festival days is to replace the dirty linen in the mind by good thoughts. The heart is called Vastra, which is the term used for cloth. Hence, inner purity has to be achieved by purifying the heart. The wearing of new clothes is intended to serve as a prelude to purifying the heart within. Thus the different festival practices have an inner significance, apart from the external observances. 

In connection with the Ganesha festival, Prasadam (food offering) is dedicated to the deity in the form of Kudumulu and Undrallu. What are the kinds of edibles that should be offered to the deity? The preparations should not involve the use of oil or fire. They have to be cooked by the use of steam. Using rice flour and some pulses and til, one kind of offering is made for Ganesha. In this preparation no oil or fire is used. The significance of this offering is: During the month of Bhadrapada, the farmers bring home the harvest of til seeds. Til seeds have medicinal properties for curing lung and eye diseases. When the til seeds and pulses are cooked by steam, the preparation becomes easily digestible. In offering such food to the deity two purposes are served. The offerings are tasty and wholesome (giving pleasure and promoting good health). These were the reasons for the observance of various festivals by our ancients.

It is only when a man is pure that the intelligence blossoms. It is only with the blossoming of intelligence that Siddhi (the spiritual goal) is attained. Vinayaka presides over Buddhi and Siddhi (the intellect and spiritual realisation). Siddhi signifies the realisation of Wisdom. The scriptures say that Siddhi and Buddhi are the consorts of Vinayaka and Kshema and Ananda are his two sons. Siddhi and Buddhi symbolise the powers of attraction of Ganapati. 

First correct your own faults

The Ganapati festival is an occasion for people to purify their minds. People generally tend to see in others the faults which they themselves have. Thereby they try to cover up their own defects by attributing the same defects to others. This is a bad quality. A man can improve only by recognising his faults and not by seeing the same faults in others. You must see what is good in others and look at your own defects. Only such a person can improve. Man does violence to his human nature by ignoring his defects and magnifying the faults in others. This trait is widely prevalent among students today. Students should aim at achieving harmony in thought, word and deed.

Harmony in the Lord's family

The Shiva Family

Men today are too much immersed in selfish pursuits. Animals and birds display less selfishness than man. The purpose of festivals like Ganesha Chaturthi is to remind men of their inherent divinity and awakening in them the sense of oneness of all mankind. Easwara’s family consists of Shiva, Parvathi, Ganapati and Subrahmanya. When you consider the vehicles of the four, you find that by nature they are antagonistic to each other. Shiva's vehicle is Nandi (the Bull). Parvathi's vehicle is the lion. By nature the bull and the lion are inimical towards each other. On Easwara’s head there is Ganga. In His forehead He has fire. There is natural antagonism between water (in the Ganga) and fire in the Lord's forehead. Ganapati has the elephant's face and His vehicle is a rat. There is a natural antagonism between Parvathi's lion and Ganapati’s elephant-head. Likewise there is natural enmity between the serpent around Easwara’s neck and Ganapati’s vehicle, the rat. There is also enmity between Shiva's serpent and Subrahmanya’s peacock. In spite of the natural enmity of these different vehicles of Easwara’s family, there is no discord at all among them. Perfect harmony prevails among the members of the family and their different vehicles. This harmony and unity is an example to the world.

Unity is essential for achieving good things. There should be no unity for evil purposes. Whether a person achieves eminence or goes down depends on the kind of people with whom he associates. However, students should not associate with fair-weather friends. The only true friend is God. All others are friends only for their own selfish purposes. God is always with you, in you and around you. He will not give you up in any circumstance. But if your heart is polluted, God will leave you. There is no room in a polluted heart for God. 

The inner significance of the elephant head

Vinayaka has the head of an elephant. What is its significance? No human being has an elephant's head. It is against the order of nature. How then did Vinayaka acquire an elephant's head? This has an inner significance. Vinayaka is known for His supreme intelligence. The elephant is also known for its high intelligence (Gajathelivi). The elephant will not trust anybody except its master. Because Vinayaka is endowed with exceptional intelligence, His elephant face is symbolic of supreme intelligence.

Those of you who are staying in the hostel notice cars going up and down the road. On the other side of the hostel is Sai Gita (Bhagavan's elephant). Sai Gita takes no notice of the innumerable cars going on the road. But, without any notice, it smells, as it were, the passing of Swami's car and immediately comes out with a roar to greet Swami. That is the devotion of Sai Gita to its Lord. The faith of the elephant is as strong as its intelligence. His love for the master is equally strong. It is steadfast love. These qualities of devotion, faith and intelligence are associated with the elephant. Whoever has these qualities can be regarded as endowed with the head of an elephant.

Students who may be inclined to entertain doubts regarding the reasons for Ganesha having the head of an elephant, should understand the inner meaning of this appearance, apart from what is seen on the surface.

Sacred ritual reduced to ludicrous practices

Unfortunately, people attach more importance to external forms than to the inner meanings of these festivals. As a result, meaningful festivals are often reduced to superstitious practices. And often sacred rituals are reduced to ludicrous observances. In olden days there was a practice of confining the cat in the house in a basket during the performance of the Satyanarayana Vrata so that the cat would not go after the various offerings kept for the deity. The cat was maintained in olden days when there was the fear of rats eating up the grains stored in the house. Even though there are no rats any longer in houses today and there is no need to keep a cat, the practice of confining a cat in a basket is being observed as a part of the religious ceremony. This is how a practice, which was relevant in the past, is observed though it serves no purpose.

Students! You should realise that for every action there is a consequence. The results of each action depend on the nature of the action, just as the nature of the tree depends on the seed which is sowed. The consequences of one's actions are inescapable and it was for this reason that the Emperor Manu laid down that all should observe Dharma. The consequences of actions may appear sooner or later but they are bound to occur. Students like to worship Ganapati. They pray to Ganesha to confer on them Buddhi (intelligence) and Siddhi (the capacity to realise their aspirations).

In the name Ganapati, Ga stands for Guna (virtue) and Na for Vijnana (wisdom). When Ga and Na are joined we have the combination of Vijnana (worldly wisdom) and Prajnana (Spiritual wisdom). It is out of the combination of Vijnana and Prajnana that Sujnana (Supreme knowledge) emerges. Sujnana is the distinguishing mark of a true man. Ajnana is the sign of ignorance. Ganapati is the Lord of Vijnana and Prajnana (worldly knowledge and spiritual wisdom). Therefore, when a devotee prays to Ganesha, he asks for the conferment of Vijnana, Prajnana and Sujnana. 

Education today lacks all the three types of knowledge Vijnana, Prajnana and Sujnana). You have only bookish knowledge and superficial knowledge. They are of temporary value, perhaps no farther than the examinations! If the value of education is to last all through life, students have to cultivate faith in God. They should realise that when they constantly think of God and perform all actions with Divine feelings, they will experience the full blossoming of their human qualities. Consider every action as dedicated to God. You cannot avoid actions. You must transform work into worship. You have to perform work in this spirit. You cannot substitute prayer for work. You have to combine both work and worship.

Source: Divine Discourse on Ganesh Chaturthi Day at Prasanthi Nilayam – August 31, 1992