Guruvaar Prarthna
Our Beloved Sadguru Sainath, please accept our humble prayers on this Holy Day of Guruvaar. Baba, many of us wonder whether there is a secret technique that can assure us of a happy, peaceful and contented life. A few of us are seeking to find the key by living a spiritually fulfilling life. Baba please bless us to realize the path to peace and pleasant life is detachment, cultivation of good practices and the spirit of acceptance. On this holy day we start our prayers by reading your divine guidance in Shri Sai Samartha Satcharitra.
If people have doubts about why Baba preferred to beg for alms, for years together, then get the doubts cleared, and bear in mind the clarification.
If we look at Baba's life-style, it seems that it was the right thing for him to do to beg alms; because it gave pleasure to the people, and would do good to them to fulfil their duties as householders.
The one who surrenders body-speech-mind-wealth at Sai's feet, such a devotee is deeply loved by Sai.
The householder is in charge of whatever food is cooked in the home. He has to offer the food to a mendicant and a brahmachari6 in the first place.
The householder who partakes of food without giving it to them has to perform the Chandrayan Vrat, (A religious observance starting from full-moon day and ending sixteen days later, taking only sixteen mouthfuls on the first day and then reducing by one every day till he takes nothing on the last day.) which is advocated by the Shastras as a means of three fold purification8.
It is forbidden for the mendicants and the brahmacharis to cook. If they do they will have to forcibly observe the Chandrayan Vrat.
Therefore the Shastras have placed the onus of taking care of their needs on the householder. Mendicants never exert themselves to fulfill their hunger.
Baba was never a householder and did not become a 'Vanaprashthachari' (Taken to the jungles leaving society ). He was only a brahmachari from his youth and also a sanyasi. Therefore, to beg alms was the rightful thing for him to do.
"The whole universe is my home. I am myself Vasudev and all pervading God. I am myself the Parabrahma ". One who has such firm conviction, has the fullest right to beg alms. He believed in the philosophy that the whole world is one family. The others make a mockery of this philosophy, as can be seen, on all crossroads.
At the outset, one should give up the wish for a son, (That is, for spouse and progeny ) then lust for wealth and status. One who has given up these three desires, he only has the right to beg for alms.
Otherwise, as Tukaram quotes: "Fie upon that life depending upon charity and begging ", because it is useless without understanding the meaning of such a life.
The great Sai is a very great Siddha (or yogi). That is known to all, young and old. But we, who are full of worldly ties, do not devotedly attach to his divine feet.
Without the five sacrifices (Brahma Yagna is reciting of Vedas; Pitru Yagna – offering food by encircling with water; Dev Yagna – offering food to the deities; Bhoota Yagna – offering food to all creatures. Attithi Yagna – offering food to the uninvited guest who may come to the doorstep), the householder is advised against eating of food. But Sai would perform these sacrifices (For the sake of his devotees) and get the food cooked and daily purified the meals.
Everyday he would go to five houses and remind the hosts about the Attithi Yagna. So the persons were really fortunate who could sit at home and earn the 'punya' (Merit of a good deed).
I bow down to Sree Ganesh
I bow down to Sree Saraswati
I bow down to the Guru
I bow down to the Family Deity
I bow down to Sree Sita-Ramachandra
I bow down to Sree Sadguru Sainath.
Sarveshaam Svaastir Bhavatu
Sarveshaam Shaantir Bhavatu
Sarveshaam Poornam Bhavatu
Sarveshaam Mangalam Bhavatu
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanteeh
-(from Shri Sai Samartha Satchrita, Chapter 9, Ovi 39 - 53)
