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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Avatar

  Shirdi Sai and Sathya Sai are One and the Same
By Arjan D. Bharwani

48. SMALL - YET BIG!

i) Embodiments of Divinity, that is both the Sais dissuade, discourage and disallow devotees from incurring monetary debts to undertake pilgrimages for darshans at Shirdi or Parthi.

ii) The current 'Oneness' is also edified by the fact, that Shirdi Sai was born in 'Pathri' and Sathya Sai in 'Parthi'. They were both recipi­ents of affectionate guardianship by a Muslim in their respective childhood.

iii) In response to prayers of their devotees, both the Sais are well-known to advise the adherence to one's chosen Form of worship. Needless to say that once the devotee followed the advice, with heart-felt and sincere prayers, the response was invariably positive. Once a disciple of Ramakrishna had come to Sathya Sai, praying for the cure of an acute ailment. Baba's advice to him was to hold fast to his Ishta and to pray him. He even tutored him on the technique of meditation on one's guru.

iv) There exists an obvious oneness in the performance of miracles. Perhaps to suit contem­porary times, the present Avatar performs them in greater perfusion, whereas these were some­      what limited to the fewer devotees that He had as Shirdi Sai.

v) Both are 'Trikaal-jnanis' -possessing knowledge of the past, present and the future.

vi) Incidents deny enumeration of the two Babas, manifesting themselves in their own or even other forms, in response to ardent calls of devotees.

vii) 'Bhakta Samrakshana' features prominently as a common phenomenon between the two.

viii) To these can be added the common avowed purpose of 'Yogakshema Vahamayam'.

ix) Then there is the oft-witnessed cure of diseases, even the ones that are beyond the ken of contemporary medical science.

x) Shri H. Sunder Rao writesin the Sanathan Sarathi of March 1966, in conclusion to his article, "So Pathri and Parthi are the two Points which a single miracle of Divine Manifestations has spanned, thus releasing into the world In our times a power at once unique, potent, and irresistible"

xi) Thousands thronged to Shirdi to the easily accessible, responsive and remunerative Sainath. One sees the celestial scene once again enacted at Parthi - the only difference being that what was a steady trickle of a river of devotees at Shirdi, has become a surging sea of humanity at Parthi, often in tidal proportions. The communication between the Divinity and the devotees, however, remains the same now? as it was then ,deeply heart-felt with no artificiality.

xii) In the days of Sainath of Shirdi as well as currently at Parthi, the pilgrimage of the devotees is culminated in a physical and direct live contact with the Embodiment of Divinity!

xiii) Bhaktas today off-load the cargo of their worries, fears, anxieties, tensions, stress and strain on the Lotus Feet of the Lord at Prasinthi Nilayam. Devotees used to walk out from Shirdi leaving the load of burdens there (even do so now).

xiv) To the Sainath of Shirdi the devotees went as the affectionate progeny of a 'Loving Father'. The bhaktas today go to the 'Siva-Sakthi Swarupa (Sathya Sai)' - the one who represents a combined manifestation of the beloved mother and father. The boundless and allÄencompassing love, that is bestowed by Bhagavan at Parthi, defies description and can only be experienced. Calling it a love of a thousand mothers put together; is only at best an infinitesimal mention of His Grand Glory!

xv) I here has been an abundant flow of Divine Grace at Shirdi and one experiences a manifold quantum expansion of the same at Parthi. The bestower of this celestial and provid­ential gift remains the same.

xvi) Many devotees have testified to _le fact of similar experience and feelings in the presence of both the Sais. A Shirdi devotee writes, "When I was in the presence of Baba, I felt so strongly moved as if God Himself was before me". Another one says, "When Shirdi Baba looked at me, it seemed as though His eyes burnt all the evils and hatred in my heart". One of ten hears Parthi devotee narrating that they felt in the presence of Bhagavan as if they had gone out of this world and experienced being lifted to an ecstatic and charming feeling of Supreme Peace and profound Bliss.

xvii) Harassed by problems and depressed by difficulties, Shirdi devotees used to run to Baba, who by a glance or a touch or a few solacing words, would provide much needed solutions and assuage difficulties. Disheartened, dejected, disappointed and disillusioned devotees with the vicissitudes, trials and tribulations of their lives, run to Parthi Sai for solace. In the same vein with deep compassion and by an understanding look, assuring 'abhayahasta' Divine blessings, encouraging words or by giving of materialised precious vibhuti and other gifts, Bhagavan provides the much needed and lasting relief .

xviii) Internal transformation of the devotee to the path of goodness and righteous behaviour remain the most potent influence in case of both the Sais. The change was effected at the Dwarkamayee in Shirdi and in the interview room at Prasanthi Nilayam or Brindavan. There is also the subtle and imperceptible spiritual influx which brings about the change of innate nature of the bhakta, even though there may not have been any physical contact or even darshans.

xix) Both the Sais have always kept the promise given to some devotees of physical darshan at the time of their exit from earthly habiliment.


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