Divine Leelas – Guide to Video
SRI SATHYA SAI ASHTOTTARA SHATA NAMAVALI
1. Om Sri Bhagawan Sathya Sai Babaya Namaha
Sathya Sai – One who reclines on the Plank of Truth
Aai – Mother; Baba – Father
Baba says that truth is the first and foremost prerequisite for spiritual development. To lead a noble life, we should follow the path of truth. If such a principle, the Truth, takes a human form, how glorious it would be; such a personification of Truth is Sathya Sai Baba. He is the one who reclines on the bed of Truth.
Bhagawan Baba was born, in response to the prayers of mother Easwaramma, on Monday the 23rd November 1926, with the birth star of Thiruvadhirai, in the month of Karthigai. Mother Easwaramma worshipped Lord Satyanarayana for the blessing of a male child, and Baba was christened Satyanarayana at birth.
The cloth on which the new born Satyanarayana was laid was moving up and down in a very strange manner. When the amazed women folk lifted the child to see the cause of the movement, to their surprise, they found a cobra circled under the cloth. Undoubtedly, this signified the announcement of birth of Lord Narayana to whom serpent Adisesha is the bed.
Sai! Who reclines on the bed of truth, to you I offer my salutations.
2. Om Sri Sai Sathya Swaroopaya Namaha
Sathya – Truth; Swaroopa – personified
‘Truth is His Form’. Sai is personification of truth; He is omnipresent.
One day, at Puttaparthi, Baba was talking to devotees seated around Him, making jokes and laughing. A devotee from Madras was struck with a novel idea. He wanted to take a photograph of Bhagawan sitting in the chair with a smiling face. He took out the camera from his bag. Baba rose up from His chair and asked for the camera. Taking the camera in His hand, Baba called the devotee to stand behind Swami’s seat; He also said that He would click the camera Himself. Two devotees who had come from Telengana did not like this idea, because they did not want to have a photo without Swami in it. Sri Kasturi (Formerly Editor, Sanathana Sarathi) who was in that group assured them that when Baba takes a photograph, His seat will not be empty. Baba also acknowledged this statement. Before the camera was clicked, Kasturi kept both his hands on the footstool under Swami’s seat, confidently expecting that his hands would be either above or below Swami’s feet in the photograph. But Baba asked Kasturi to remove his hands from the foot stool. Kasturi conceded to Baba’s command. While handing over the camera back after clicking, Baba told, “Be careful, I am in that picture”. What a wonder that when the prints reached Kasturi after ten days, he saw in it Baba seated centrally, himself by the side, with devotees surrounding Baba.
Sai, the personification of truth and omnipresent, to you I offer my salutations.
3. Om Sri Sai Sathya Dharma Parayanaya Namaha
Dharma – upholding dharma; Parayana – engaged in
While everyone talks about the value of the four cardinal principles Sathya (truth), Dharma (righteousness), Shanthi (peace) and Prema (Love), Baba alone strictly lives up to these principles.
At that time, Kasturi was living in Bangalore with his wife and mother. He pleaded with Baba to visit his house. “Oh! It is your house is it?”, Baba asked smilingly. Kasturi replied, “No Swami, It is your house; it should be blessed by your lotus feet”. In reply, Baba asked, “Who are you to invite Me to My house? I can be in and out of My house as I like”. Later, Baba agreed to come to his house on Ganesha Chathurthi day. But Kasturi came to know that Baba had assured few other devotees also that He would visit them on that day. Around a dozen devotees, who were thus assured, kept their doors and hearts, wide open, eagerly expecting the arrival of Baba until late afternoon.
Disheartened with disappointment, all these devotees came to Baba in the evening, stood around Him in dismay. Baba seemed to enjoy the scene. He told them, “I came to the house of each one of you. I never break My word. I had given the indications to you. Tell Me now, did not the garland on My portrait snap and fall into two pieces”. Indeed, each of the devotees had witnessed this phenomenon in their houses. On hearing this, their faces brightened up. They all prostrated in reverence at the lotus feet. Bhagawan Baba thus fulfilled the assurances He gave to the devotees.
Sai, who is engaged in living to the principles of Sathya and Dharma, to you I offer my salutations.
4. Om Sri Sai Varadaya Namaha
Vara – boon; daya – bestower
Easwaramma is the mother of Baba. A mother of two daughters and a son, she was desirous of having another son. She prayed to Lord Satyanarayana and observed fast. The Lord bestowed her with the boon she asked for. Once Baba was seated in His chair surrounded by devotees. A pundit in that gathering expressed his desire to know about the birth of God, Bhagawan Baba on earth in human form. Mother Easwaramma was also seated in the group. Baba turned towards Easwaramma and said, “Narrate the experience you had that day near the well, subsequent to the caution you received from your mother-in-law”.
Easwaramma narrated “My mother-in-law told me that Lord Satyanarayana appeared in her dreams. She advised me not to be shocked if any miraculous things were to happen to me by the grace of god. That particular day, I was drawing water from the well. I observed a bluish glow, the size of a big ball rolling towards me. Looking at this strange incident I fainted. I could feel that the glow permeated into me”. Thus the divine soul entered Mother Easwaramma to be born as Bhagawan Baba. Thus He fulfilled the prayers of Easwaramma, by granting the boon she prayed for.
Sai, the bestower of the boons, to you I offer my salutations.
5. Om Sri Sai Sath Purushaya Namaha
Sath – Immortal; Purusha – Athma
God alone is immortal. God has reincarnated in human form and hence he is called Satpurusha. Venkamma Raju, the father of Baba, had admitted his eighteen year old youngest son into the hospital at Madanapalli for treatment of tuberculosis. He was operated in the right lung and the operation was a success. Venkamma Raju had written a postcard about this information to Baba. The letter had come in that day’s mail. Baba as usual kept all the letters on his lap, sifting them one after the other. He picked up the letter from Venkamma Raju, looked at it for a second and flung it towards Sri Kasturi who was seated there. Kasturi took the letter in his hands. Baba commanded Kasturi to read the letter. It was a letter written in Telugu. Kasturi started reading two lines from the letter; by that time Swami asked him to stop reading the letter and asked him, “From whom has the letter come?” Kasturi replied that the letter had come from Pedda Venkamma Raju. Swami nodded and said, “Yes, the Father of this body. You were very eager to know how he addresses Swami, weren’t you.” What was written in that letter? Pedda Venkamma Raju had written, “My humble salutations to Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba”. This is how the father had addressed his divine child in the letter. Pedda Venkamma Raju had realized well, that it was God who had descended in human form.
Sai! The immortal Atman who is embodied in human form, to you I offer my salutations.
6. Om Sri Sai Sathya Gunatmane Namaha
Sathya – Permanent at all times; Guna – attributes
Baba has declared that God, who has transcended duties and attributes, has come in human form with a specific duty to perform. That which does not change with time is the truth. Truth is God. That truth has taken the human form and come to earth. His thought, word and deed, all are Truth.
Seshammaraju, who was the elder brother of Baba, a Telugu teacher, could not realise the divinity of Baba. At that time Baba was a youth of twenty years. Seshammaraju was perplexed at the large crowds coming from big cities and far off places, waiting to see Sathya living in a small and remote village and often taking him in cars. He watched these happenings with fear and doubt. Out of the brotherly affection for Sathya, he wanted to forewarn Sathya. He wrote a lengthy letter describing the society, its shortcomings, fame and its consequences and advised Baba to be cautious. Swami wrote a reply to his letter. After replying to all the points in the letter in a convincing manner, he added further, “I have come to redirect and protect those who have trodden the wrong path in life. I will alleviate the sufferings of those burdened with grief, make them happy by bestowing the boon they ask for. Those who worship Me with faith, I will save at all times and give them realisation. If one looks beyond the dual attributes of rise and fall, praise and abuse, with faith and determination they can see Me as one without attachment and not affected by them. What I utter is truth; truth will triumph”.
Sai! Who has the attributes that does not change with time, to you I offer my salutations.
7. Om Sri Sai Sadhu Vardhanaya Namaha
Sadhu – Ascetic; Vardhanaya – to the protector On His sojourn to Himalayas, as He was returning from Vashista caves, Baba left His human body for some time and went somewhere. After His coming back to the mortal frame, He said that He had gone to save an old yogi from being drowned. Those around were eager to know what had happened. Baba summoned a devotee standing nearby and asked him to explain what he saw on his way. He said, “I saw the dead body of an aged yogi being carried away by the current of the Ganges. I did not want to tell anyone about it as it was inauspicious”. Baba smiled and said, “The body was that of a yogi. He was sitting in meditation on a rock standing in the middle of the river. Floods removed the sand from underneath and the rock fell down. Floods swept him away and he did not realise it as he was in trance. Because he was in meditation he was floating without being drowned. When he woke up from meditation, he realised that his life was in danger and prayed to God to save him. Baba heard that prayer. I lifted the body from the floods, carried it and deposited him on the shore near a hut a few miles away from Sivananda Nagar”.
Sai, Who is the protector of sadhus and ascetics, to you I offer my salutations.
8. Om Sri Sai Sadhu Jana Poshanaya Namaha
Sadhujana – Ascetic; Poshanaya – Nourisher
“I have reincarnated in human form in response to the prayers of sadhus and rishis”. Baba has said, “I shatter and remove all obstacles like poverty and illness that come in the way of your spiritual development by coming closer to you”, says Baba.
On His tour to the Himalayas, Baba visited the Vasishta caves, where Purushothamananda was residing with his disciples. Purushothamananda always enjoyed meditating in the form of Lord Padmanabha, who is enshrined in the southern end of India in Trivandrum. While in Vashista cave, Baba once asked the people to go outside the cave and asked them to close the opening. Then He reclined on the lap of the seventy year old Purushothamananda. What a great sight! The physical frame of Baba grew in size filling up the entire cave and a bright glow had emanated from all over His body illuminating the entire cave. The sadhu and his disciples were wonderstruck at the sight of this divine miracle. Baba told later that He had blessed the sadhu with the vision of Padmanabha who was in his heart. Further, He recollected the incidents during the initial days of their coming to the cave and how they struggled to light a fire. They were surprised to find a pack of matches in a corner of the cave. Baba revealed that He was the one who kept the matches. Baba also reminded them of the various troubles and trials they underwent when they first came to the caves. He also reminded them that He had been with them all the time and saved them from wild animals and poisonous snakes. Thus, Baba always clears all obstacles and nourishes the sadhus and rishis.
Sai! The protector of sadhus and rishis, to you I offer my salutations.
9. Om Sri Sai Sarvagnaya Namaha
Sarva – everything; Gna – to be aware of
Sai is omniscient, omnipresent and the indweller of every being. He knows the origin of every thought. Once the secretary of the Hindi Prachara Sabha in Bangalore, went to see his friend at his house. Only after reaching there, he came to know that Sri Sathya Sai Baba had come to that house. A large number of devotees were gathered there. AII the devotees fell at Baba’s Feet and took His blessings. The secretary of the sabha was reluctant to do so. He thought that when everyone was paying respects, and he alone were to stand aside, others might think of him as an egoist. Induced by that thought he also knelt down and touched Baba’s Feet. As he was a follower of a Guru at a place called Mathoor, while prostrating at Baba’s Feet, he mentally prayed that this namaskar should reach his guru at Mathoor. As he was rising up after prostration, Baba patted on his back and said, “Your namaskar has reached your guru at Mathoor”, in a melodious voice, looking at him smilingly. There is nothing that God is not aware of. Baba says, “I know of your past and future births also. Hence I know the cause for your grief and also the way for liberating you from these trials”.
Sai! The omniscient! To you I offer my salutations.
10. Om Sri Sai Sarva Jana Priyaya Namaha
Sarva Jana – all people; Priyaya – Loving
Baba is loved by one and all. He knows the illness of the poor. His abode is the place where everyone is welcomed without any differentiation. He is loved by everyone alike, the rich and poor, the elite and common, the young and the old and people from all the countries. He relieves the suffering of mankind and cures the illness of both the body and the mind. He assumes the role of a mother, father, friend, guru, protector and god, the way each one looks at Him and that is the basic reason why everyone loves Him.
In the year 1957, the ninth convention of the Divine Society took place. Bhagawan Himself was to preside over the conference and hence a large number of sanyasis had assembled from places like Kalahasti, Rishikesh, Rajamahendram and Madras. The Raja of Venkatagiri had arranged a flower decked palanquin to take Baba in a procession to the venue of the convention. Baba came out of the palace. Inspite of repeated requests from the Raja of Venkatagiri, Bhagawan politely declined to come in the palanquin. He said, “So many sanyasis have assembled here. I like to walk down along them”. Thus He walked in the procession along with the sanyasis. Baba was glittering like a diamond amidst the sanyasis.
Sai! Who is loved by all alike, to you I offer my salutations.
11. Om Sri Sai Sarva Sakthi Moortaye Namaha
Sarva – All Sakthi – ability; Moorthi – form
Baba had visited Jamnagar in Gujarat in response to the prayers of the devotees. With the entourage of devotees, He went to Dwaraka. A large number of the local population and Sai devotees had gathered well ahead of Swami’s visit at the Krishna temple. While the entourage had gone to have darshan of Dwaraka Krishna, the people of Dwaraka surrounded Sai Krishna eagerly. Due to the large crowd the devotees who accompanied Swami could not see Krishna properly. Baba took pity on them.
On His way back, Baba stopped the car at a place called ‘Goranka’ a seaside village and got down. He gently walked amidst the waves of the sea. After a while, He sat on the sands and started forming a big heap of sand in front of Him. The devotees got ready eagerly to witness a miracle. Baba flattened the top of the heap, and then He drew three inclined lines on it. He drew a circle on top of it; also, He made a cross line on the circle, Then He said, “Everything is ready” and He pulled out with His divine hands a golden idol of Lord Krishna about 15 inches tall. None of those around could visualise that the circle He drew was transformed into the head of Krishna, the triangle into a peacock feather and the cross line as the flute. He then said, “You didn’t see lord Krishna in the temple properly; didn’t you! Now see Lord Krishna well” and showed the idol to all the people. God alone can do anything. He is omnipotent.
Sai! who is omnipotent, to you I offer my salutations.
12. Om Sri Sai Sarvesaya Namaha
Sarva – for all; Esaya – Lord
Baba has said that He assumes appropriate forms in pIaces of worship and He accepts all the prayers and offerings made during yagnas. He has given the vision of Brindavan Krishna and Lord Narasimha to some of the devotees. He has also shown the vision of Dasavathar to His mother. Once He told those around Him, “Look! there is Shirdi Baba”. Mother Easwaramma could hear the sound of the wooden chappal worn by Shirdi Baba. As the first sound of steps was heard Easwaramma spontaneously questioned, “who is that walking inside with chappal”. Such are the experiences of devotees.
An advocate, by name Krishnamachari, who was practising at Penukonda blamed Venkamma Raju that he was a fraud and that he was cheating laymen with his son. Father Venkamma Raju pleaded with Baba to reveal His divinity, in order to silence the adverse comments from people. Baba was calm; He called the devotees around.
He asked Subbamma, “Do you want to see Shirdi?” She said, “Yes Swami!”. He took them all into a room and asked them to see. What a great sight! They saw the shrine of Shirdi with incense sticks spreading perfume around, a priest sitting at a corner chanting mantras and Shirdi Samadi in front”. Krishnamachari was wonderstruck with the vision and stood in ecstasy. He then apologised to Venkamma Raju for his false allegation.
Sai! the Lord of all gods, to you I offer my salutations
13. Om Sri Sai Sarva Sanga Parityagine Namaha.
Sanga – attachments binding; Parityagine – one who has sacrificed
Seshammaraju was keen on educating Sathya up to the school final to make Him eligible for government jobs. Hence, he admitted Him in the high school at Uravakonda. On the 20th of October 1940, Sathya went to school as usual. However, in a short time He returned home and said, “I am no more your Sathya. My devotees are calling Me. I am going”. He then proceeded to the bungalow of the excise inspector and sat in the garden. AII the efforts by His sister-in-law to recall Him back to the house were in vain. Seshamma Raiu was non-plussed. He summoned his parents.
Mother’s love is supreme. There cannot be any one not bound by mother’s love and affection. However, even as mother Easwaramma was approaching, Swami said, “Maya has come”. The repeated requests of the mother and her tears could not shake the determination of Sathya. Baba Sai negated, “Who is related to whom?” He then asked Easwaramma to bring food. He mixed all the items of food together, took three balls of it from the mother and then said, “Now the veil of illusion has cleared. This is true; there is no reason for worry henceforth”, and engaged HimseIf in bhajan.
Sai! who has discarded the shackles of attachment, to you I offer my salutations.
14. Om Sri Sai Sarvantharyamine Namaha.
Sarva – everything; Anthar – from within; Yamine – activate
In the year 1972, a group of devotees from Assam had come to participate in the birthday function. Swamy gave exclusive darshan and prasad to these devotees inside the Mandir. After giving prasad to a lady, He moved on; He again moved back to the lady, gave two more packets of vibhuti to her and added, “These are for the cat”. For a moment the lady could not understand the meaning of Swami’s words. Little later, she could recall an incident that happened months ago and she could realise the significance of Swami’s message. She was overwhelmed with joy and shed tears.
Eight months ago, at Gauhati, she had arranged for a dinner at her house. All items were kept ready on the table. At that time, her pet cat jumped on the table, ate something and spilled the rest. Out of anger, the lady took a stick and beat the cat heavily. In a few moments, there were a few explosive sounds akin to that of an earthquake quite natural to Assam. When she looked around, she found that all the photographs of Baba hung in the hall had fallen down one after the other. And to her surprise, she found that there was a shower of vibhuti on the pussy cat. It had the same scent as the vibhuti materialised by Bhagawan. The wound of the cat was thus healed. She then realised her mistake, that her anger was wrong. It was for that cat Swami had given vibhuti.
Sai! who is the indweller and activator of all, to you I offer my salutations.
15. Om Sri Sai Mahimatmane Namaha
Mahima – glory; Atmane – to that atma
It was the day of Krishna Jayanthi. Baba was on a visit to Madras. Devotees had made all arrangements to celebrate the festival in a grand manner. The hall in the bungalow where Baba was staying was decorated tastefully. All the devotees were invited personally. Bhajan was on and Baba went up to the dais and sat on His seat. A little before Mangala Aarathi Baba stood up with both His hands stretched above His head. Those in the hall watched Bhagawan without a wink. Never before had they seen Swami like that. In a split second, they saw Baba holding a glass bowl, descended from somewhere. The bowl was glittering in the light and was decorated with the sculpture of a bird flying, one at each end. Baba told the devotees, “here are the sweets from Brindavan”. There were around forty three different varieties of sweets in that bowl. They all had an exclusive taste, totally new to the people of the south.
Sai! who reveals his glory through simple acts of play to you I offer my salutations.
16. Om Sri Sai Maheswara Swaroopaya Namaha
Maheswara – Divine; Swaroopa – form
Even after the declaration of Sathya, that He was the same Sai Baba of Shirdi, brother Seshamma Raju had no mind to accept it. He thought that an excursion to a tourist spot might be a panacea to His illness and he took Him to Hampi, the capital of the Kingdom of Vijayanagaram.
They went around the palace of the princes, the Vijayadasami festival courtyard, the elephant carvings, the stone chariot and the Narasimha idol carved out of a single stone. They went to the temple of Viroopaksha, the family deity of the dynasty. Sathya was going around the monuments, the whole day disinterestedly. When the party went into the inner courtyard of the temple, Sathya also went in. But He did not go into the sanctum sanctorum. Others did not want to compel Sathya and hence they went inside leaving Sathya there. When the camphor was waved at the idol, the priest asked them to have darshan of Viroopaksha; to their astonishment, they saw Sathya in place of the Linga inside the shrine. Seshamma Raju could not believe his eyes. He wondered how Sathya could have come in without being noticed. His ways, he thought, were mysterious. However, to get his doubt cleared, he quickly came out. He saw to his surprise, Sathya standing outside, leaning on the wall and gazing at the sky. The news of Baba appearing as viroopaksha spread around and thus the belief that Baba was an embodiment of God was further strengthened.
Sai! who is Maheswara, to you I offer my salutations.
17. Om Sri Sai Parthi Gramodbhavaya Namaha
Parthi Grama – parthi viltage; Udhbhavaya – One who has taken avathar
God preselects His place of birth even while He selects His parents. Baba had predetermined that He will reincarnate at Puttaparthi, which will be famous at all times. Young Sathya told His grandfather Kondamma Raju, “I incarnated in your family in response to the prayers of Venkavadhuta, your guru”. Venkamma Raju was surprised at this statement. However at the utterance of the name of Venkavadhuta by young Sathya, Kondamma Raju was overjoyed and thrilled.
Once Kondamma Raju holding Kasturi by his hands narrated, “One afternoon, I was sitting by the side of Venkavadhuta under the peepal tree. Then Venkavadhuta told me, “Devi is worried. Hence, Lord Narayana is going to reincarnate. You can see Him. He will be very kind to you. He repeated these lines again and again into my ears. He also took a promise from me that I believed his words”. Kondammaraju added further, “I never even dreamt that I would hold Lord Narayana on my laps in my own house in human form”.
Sai! who has reincarnated in the village of Parthi, to you I offer my salutations.
18. Om Sri Sai Parthi Kshetra Nivasine Namaha
Parthi kshetsra – At Parthi Kshethra; Nivasine – the dweller
Mother Easwaramma had clearly known Sathya who said, “I am not yours. I have come for My devotees”, will not stay with her anymore. The first song that Swami sang that day after leaving the house was, “Manasa, Bhajare Guru Charanam”. Devotees were seated with Him in the garden throughout the night. Easwaramma also was seated all through the night. The affection of mother did not allow her to leave Sathya alone in the cold weather.
Easwaramma pleaded with Baba, “Sathya! We know that we are none other than illusion and that you have transcended the illusion. We will not engage ourselves in argument, nor interfere in your activity. You may be anyone but do not leave us alone and go to the far off Himalayas caves or hills. You have to take a pledge that you will live here in Puttaparthi only”. Swami responding to her request said, “I give you this promise not because of your request; but because, I have chosen Puttaparthi as the centre of My mission for the welfare of the world.”
Sai! who has chosen Parthi as His abode, to you I offer my salutations.
19. Om Sri Sai Yasahkaya Shirdi Vasine Namaha
Yasa – fame; kaya – body; Shirdi Vasine – Iiving in Shirdi
Whenever Baba mentions about Shirdi Baba, He used to refer to Him as His earlier incarnation. He used to narrate the various questions the devotees asked Shirdi Baba and the detailed explanations given by Him. He used to elaborate on the answers He provided for the doubts raised by Mahalaspathi and Dasganu.
In the state of Nizam, Raja of Chincholi was an ardent devotee of Shirdi Baba. Every year, he used to spend a few months with Baba at Shirdi. Subsequent to the demise of the Raja, the queen was pleased to know that Sathya Sai Baba is the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba, Her eagerness to have His darshan doubled; Baba was at that time a young lad of fifteen. She visited Puttaparthi and extended an invitation to Sathya to visit Chincholi.
Young Sathya visited Chincholi, honouring the invitation. He enquired the queen about an age old neem tree that was no longer existing now, about a well that has been levelled up now and the shops that have sprung up in their places and thus surprised the queen. He also made enquiries about an idol of Hanuman which was given by Him in his earlier incarnation, to the Raja. The queen knew nothing about it. Baba Himself took out the idol from the store and confirmed the faith in them that He was the reincarnation of Shirdi Baba.
Sai! who lives by your name and fame at Shirdi, to you I offer my salutations.
20. Om Sri Sai Jodi Adipalli Somappaya Namaha.
Jodi Adipalli Somappa – One of the names
In the year 1958, November 26, a devotee was returning with his family to Bangalore after participating in the birthday festival at Parthi. As they were approaching Bagepalli, their two year old daughter had a stroke of fits. Unable to bear the pain the child fainted. An old man in the typical attire of village folk came by that way along with two other men. He noticed the helplessness of the parents. He came near them and summoned the parents to place the child in his arms. The accompanying villagers also said, “Give the child to him. He has cured incurable diseases of many. He will definitely cure your child”. Helpless as they were, they hesitantly placed the child in the hands of the old man. The old man said, “Last three days I had a lot of work and only now l am a little free. I came to know that there was a child seriously ill on the road and hence I immediately rushed to this place”. So saying, he took the child and placed it on his lap. Even as he touched the child, it opened its eyes fully recovered from the stroke. He then handed over the child back to her parents.
Greatly relieved from their agony, the parents gave a rupee coin to the old man which he refused to accept. Then they took out a fruit which was given by Baba and gave it to him. When his name was asked, he replied, “jodi Adipalli Somappa’, and soon he disappeared from the scene. On a subsequent visit to Puttaparthi, Baba made a mention of the incident to the devotee; the devotee was dumb founded with gratitude. It was Baba himself who appeared in the guise of a village old man in multiple forms. When the devotee asked for the explanation of the name, ‘Jodi Adipalli Somappa’, Baba smilingly explained, “Jodi, Somappa means Shivashakthi, Siva and Shakthi, Adipalli is the abode of Shiva, the Kailash”.
Sai! the Shiva Shakthi Swaroopa, to you I offer my salutations
21. Om Sri Sai Bharadwaja Rishi Gotraya Namaha
Bharadwaja – A rishi associated with Rama; Gotra – lineage
On the 28th June 1963, Swami informed that there will be no personal interviews for a week. In the evening around 6:30, He fell down and fainted. The left leg and fingers became stiff and paralysed; the fingers of the left hand clenched itself, face turned black and the mouth had strained to the left. The eyesight in the left appeared to have been impaired. The pulse had risen from 84 to 100, the teeth were locked together and He lay unconscious. Helpless as they were, devotees were praying in anguish that Swami should cure himself soon, as they were confident that Baba had taken upon Himself the stroke of some devotees. A doctor was summoned by one of the devotees. Though Baba was in a state of ‘Coma’ His hands pushed aside the injection when the doctor attempted it. Three days lapsed in this condition. On the fourth day, there were signs of recovery. Baba spoke through gestures. He conveyed that the stroke will remain for five more days. He disclosed that He had had three heart attacks. He said that He needed no medical treatment and that doctors can come for His darshan only. He said that none else could have withstood this stroke.
It was Thursday, the 6th day of the attack, the day of Gurupoornima, Baba told that devotees be informed about His darshan in the prayer hall. Devotees had assembled at the prayer hall eagerly and anxiously. Baba was brought to the hall, seated in a chair and lifted by three persons. Even the strong willed of the devotees, shed tears at the physical condition of Baba, after the stroke. Baba signalled for water. The water in the silver jar was brought. Baba dipped the fingers of the right hand into the water and sprinkled the water on the left hand and the leg. He stroked His left hand with the right hand; then the left leg with both the hands. He then rose up from the chair majestically. He started His discourse in His usual divine voice.
He started, “Premaswaroopalara! Bharadwaja Rishi came to Kailash, the heavenly abode of Shiva to invite Shakthi to preside over a yagna. But Shakthi was indifferent to the rishi and did not see him for eight days. Because of this, Bharadwaja rishi fell unconscious and one side of his body was paralysed. Shiva cured him by sprinkling water on him. Due to her indifference Shakthi earned the displeasure of Shiva. Now, today Shakthi, the left side of Baba had to suffer that pain of Bharadwaja and she was cured by Siva the right side. The promise given to Bharadwaja and the suffering undergone by Shakthi is the indirect reason. That a devotee was saved from the stroke was the direct reason”. Thus Baba declared, “I have not disclosed a secret of Mine till date, the time has come to reveal it. Today is an auspicious day and I am Shiva Shakthi Swaroopa”.
Sai! who belongs to the lineage of Bhardwaja Rishi, to you I offer my salutations
22. Om Sri Sai Bhakta Vatsalaya Namaha
Vatsa – affection
The entourage of Bhagawan departed for Badrinath. They reached Sri Nagar via Haridwar and Rishikesh. From Srinagar they reached Joshi Matt by vehicles. The road from there to Badrinath was to be covered on foot. Baba talked to everyone of the team and encouraged them as the route was a difficult one. It was full of ups and downs, rocks jutting out at random, bends, slopes, warning boards, peaks covered with snow and breathtaking climbs. Bhagawan was so merciful that He made some people to ride on the horses, a few on thandis carried by men; He used to give water to the thirsty, materialise viboothi for some and thus maintained the tempo.
A few kilometres away from a place called Lambazzar, Swami sat on a rock and was narrating stories from epics. This was to give them the boost to cross-over a steep climb through a rocky face. A group was returning from Badrinath at that time. A lady from that group could recognise Baba, came to Him and prostrated at His feet.
Knowing that Baba was on His way to Badrinath, she requested Baba to permit her to join the group, to go to Badrinath again. Baba replied, “It is to give darshan to you. I was sitting here. What are you going to get at Badrinath superior to this? Take prasad and return with your team satisfied”.
Sai! who loves His devotees, to you I offer my salutations.
23. Om Sri Sai Apantaratmane Namaha
Apam – Water; Tara – transcended; Atmane – to the Paramatma
One evening Bhagawan took Swamy Sadananda and some other devotees to a natural spring on the hills just behind Prashanthi Nilayam. Sitting by the side of the spring, Bhagawan explained the principle of divinity hidden behind all the mortal manifestations like the men, animals, vegetation and the rocks. Sadananda narrated a few slokas from Upanishads and said that these concepts were known even from the good old days.
To that Bhagawan replied firmly, “You may say these are old. But for Me, there is neither past nor present. I transcend the time also”.
Sai! who has transcended the laws of birth and death, to you I offer my salutations.
24. Om Sri Sai Avatara Moortaye Namaha
Avatara – one who has descended; Moorti – God
The descent of the divine in human form on earth in response to the prayers of the pious men for the Establishment of Sanathana Dharma is called Avatar.
‘Venkavadhootha’ was regarded as Guru by all in Puttaparthi and in the villages around. He was a great Pundit and a person of noble discrimination. He was a great Yogi. Once, Seshammaraju asked Baba to explain the meaning of claiming Himself as Sai Baba. Baba was a young lad and had not known ‘Venkavadhootha’ who lived years ago. Baba replied to His brother, “I have come in response to the prayers of Venkavadhoota that I must be born in your family”. What Sai does not know! He is omniscient.
Sai! who is the omnipresent avatar, to you I offer my salutations.
25. Om Sri Sai Sarva Bhaya Nivarine Namaha
Bhaya – fear; Nivarine – dispel
Baba always used to talk about the philosophy of destiny. If someone were to receive His grace He used to attribute it to his good fortune. He used to advise, “If you do selfless service with a disciplined life, you can receive My grace”.
Bhimayya was a ryot; subsequent to the differences he had with his brother in sharing the produce, he left the village and came to Puttaparthi. He used to take help from the pilgrims and spend some days there. Swami called him once and advised, “lf only you had exercised a little restraint and patience, you could have lived peacefully and amicably with your brother in the village. To live on the kindness of people instead, is not the right thing. Hence go back to your village”. Bhimayya thought that Baba did not want him to stay at Parthi anymore and hence He was asking him to go away to the village. Overwhelmed by grief and disappointment he decided to commit suicide and fell across the rails in front of a train. But he had the grace of Baba. Baba appeared in His subtle form, pulled him out of the rails and rolled him down the slope of the embankment. At Parthi, Baba was seen making a gesture as though He was pushing a heavy object and soon went into a trance. A little later Baba rose up from trance, scolding Bhimayya for his foolish act.
On a subsequent visit to Puttaparthi, Bhimayya was overwhelmed with gratitude and with tears in his eyes, shared with all the devotees how Baba saved him from the suicidal attempt and corrected him.
Sai! who dispels ignorance and removes the fear, to you I offer my salutations.
26. Om Sri Sai Apastamba Sootraya Namaha
Apastamba – Name of a rishi
It was on the 28th of May 1940, young Sathya woke up from bed as usual. A little later, He called all those in the house to come near Him. He materialised by His divine power, sugar candy and flowers and gave them to all. On seeing this, people living nearby also gathered around. To them also He gave the sweets and flowers. Someone sent word to Sathya’s father Venkammaraju. He came there soon.
Thinking that Sathya had hidden these articles somewhere and bringing them out by tricks, Venkammaraju decided to put an end to these pranks on that day. He took a stick and commanded, “Who are you? A mad cap or God! Tell me now. You have to stop all your magic henceforth, if not, I will beat you with this stick”.
Sathya then decided to reveal His identity. He said, “I am Sai Baba! I belong to Apastamba Sootra”. Venkammaraju became speechless. The stick which he was holding in his hands slipped down automatically.
Sai! Who is born in Aapastamba Sootra to you, I offer my salutations.
27. Om Sri Sai Abhaya Pradaya Namaha
Abhaya – Fearlessness, courage; Pradaya – Giver
Baba has said, “Wherever I may be, in whichever activity I may be engaged, when My devotees raise their voice for help, I will have to go to their rescue.”
On the 24th of November 1958, subsequent to the birthday festival, Baba had consented to the request of devotees for the jula programme. Baba came and sat on the jula. Bhajans were on in full tempo. Probably Swami heard the cry for help from some devotee. He leaned on the side pillow and became unconscious. After a few minutes, having regained consciousness, He woke up and enjoyed the Bhajans. Subsequently Swami while mentioning about the incident, said, ‘A devotee from Hyderabad, who was suffering from chronic diabetes had a sudden heart attack. He cried out for Me. He was taken to the hospital by car. I went there, gave darshan to him, gave viboothi and came”.
Sai! who blesses all with fearlessness, to you I offer my salutations
[Source: Pearls of Devotion: compiled by Smt. S. Subbulakshmi / Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust, Maharashtra]