Mar Complete For Web
Mar Complete For Web
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D E V E LO P E D BY
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& S.N. Informatics
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SPIRITUAL BLOSSOMS
COVER STORY
FEATURE ARTICLES
SERIAL ARTICLES
MANSION OF LOVE - The Revolutionary Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital at Rajkot 57
PRASHANTI DIARY
H2H SPECIAL
Heart2Heart - Radio Sai's e-Journal, March 2007 (Vol. 5, Issue 3) www.radiosai.org 001
Volume 54 Issue 34
Contents 1 March
1 May 2007
2006
SWAMI AND ME
TSUNAMI OF LOVE 98
PHOTO GALLERY
HEALING TOUCH
YOUR SAY
SAI INSPIRES
002 Heart2Heart - Radio Sai's e-Journal, March 2007 (Vol. 5, Issue 3) www.radiosai.org
BETWEEN YOU & US
It was three score and five years ago, India's could not be achieved with decades of deliberations and
independence was still in the womb of time. The state of thousands of confrontations since India's independence
Tamil Nadu never existed and most of South India was was happening that day. Pure love was flowing in
part of British India's Madras Province. In fact, both Chennai [see our Photo Album] and it was absolutely
Puttaparthi and Madras City (now Chennai, the capital of irresistible; it had submerged and soothed everyone with
Tamil Nadu) were part of the composite Madras. And for its coolness and sereneness.
Bhagavan, who was just sixteen years then, Madras was
almost like an extension of Puttaparthi, given the scores And it is not only Chennai, it is happening in various
of visits He made very frequently. Not many will know corners of India and the world in different forms - we just
that Swami visited this city as early as 1942, and what have to look around. If you thought Baba's Hospitals in
happened in those years is really fantastic. In the first year Puttaparthi and Bangalore, which provided the best
of His visit, He cured the asthma of Sri Parthasarathy, who tertiary health care absolutely free of charge, were role
happened to visit Him in a neighbour's house, by creating models only in theory and could never be replicated
an apple for him! And his mother's cataract was cured elsewhere, then you must visit Rajkot, a town in
amazingly in ten days when the young Sathya applied on Saurashtra, the least developed region of the state of
her eyes a bandage of jasmine petals! What happened in Gujarat. It is incredible how more than six hundred
1943 is even more astounding. Sri Lokanatha Mudaliar completely free premium cardiac surgeries have been
had become completely mentally challenged when an performed in the Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital of Rajkot,
illegal occupant of his land, who was also a notorious silently and selflessly. And they are now adding operation
occultist, cast evil spells on him. The doctor had, in fact, theatres, conducting Heart-Camps in the remotest and
advised his family to admit him in a mental hospital. And severely under-developed settlements in search of the
then, suddenly something wonderful happened. Swami most hapless ones to be operated upon, creating
appeared in Mudaliar's dream and gave him 'Thulasi hundreds of dedicated workers and inching towards the
(basil) water' saying, “Take this. You will be alright”. Next thousand-surgery-mark at great pace. When did this
morning, his madness had vanished. hospital start? Who is managing this 'fairy tale of a
hospital'? How did this miracle come about? Read our
Cut to January 19, 2007, after more than six decades, the story in the Sai Seva section and you will have a dozen
Lord played a similar drama, although in a totally myths about modern healthcare shattered by the time
different scale and dimension. Now it was not 'Thulasi you complete it. When pure love takes over, 'impossible'
water' for one Mudaliar, but the torrential flow of Sai becomes a redundant word.
Ganga for multitudes, which cured the “madness of
disunity and malaise of disbelief in God” that How else do you explain devotees dedicating their lives in
unfortunately had plagued this holy state. And the cure caring service in gratitude and love from a tiny triangle
came not via a 'dream' but a dream-visit of the Lord to this shaped country nestled in the shores of South Atlantic
'land of temples', after a hiatus of ten years. Now, to heal Ocean thousands of miles away from Puttaparthi? How
the current 'cataract of narrow vision', it was the 'jasmine Sai has entered Uruguay and brought about a U-turn in
of joy' that the divine enveloped the whole city with for the lives of hundreds of its citizens is truly fascinating.
ten days. Just as Mudaliar had then fallen at His Feet and This is our twelfth story covering Latin America in the
cried, “Lord, You are my all” when Swami visited his features section and there seems to be no end to His
house the next day of that dramatic dream, the Chief unfathomable ways.
Minister of the State was completely bowled over. While In the just concluded Shivarathri celebrations, Swami
his wife touched His Feet, Dr. Karunanidhi, casting aside said, “Consider love as your everything. It is only then that
completely his six-decade-long sworn atheistic image, you will have a fruitful life”. When you will read the
said, “The question is not whether God exists or not, but experiences of Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, world
whether our deeds are pleasing to Him." He continued, renowned Santoor Maestro, or the sweet anecdotes
“For me…the blessed Sai Baba…is equal to God.” And narrated by a little girl, Ms. Vaishnavi, from Chennai, in
Swami, the ever-compassionate one, referring to the SwaMi and Me section, you will see live examples of
Karunanidhi said, “I give him My heart”. Imagine the this. If you want more, there is the revealing interview
charismatic and outspoken Union Railway Minister Sri with Dr. Keki Mistry, an eminent orthodontist from
Lalu Prasad Yadav declaring, “He is not just Baba…He is Mumbai, in the H2H Special section. This will not only
Bhagavan.” In fact, the modern world needs no more startle you but also tell you how beautiful and blissful life
testimonies of the transmuting power of pure love. What can become when real love becomes its only pursuit.
happened on January 21, 2007 in the 40,000-seater
Nehru Stadium packed with the who's who of Tamil Nadu Dear reader, this is the month of March, and it's time for
and Chennai, is something which history will cogitate on us to march! As we see Sai's glory manifesting in a million
for years to come. ways every moment all over the world (incidentally, the
Chinese just finished their grand New Year celebrations at
Imagine four Chief Ministers, three Union ministers and His Lotus Feet; you will find reports and lots of pictures of
two governors all belonging to different political this in Prasanthi Diary), let us tune ourselves to this
affiliations with their party ideologies miles away from Universal Consciousness that is Sai, feel His love, plunge
each other, seated on the dais next to Swami in a rare into The Mission and redeem our lives. Opportunities
demonstration of bonhomie and talking about such as these come rarely in history and let us not let the
cooperation, sharing and unity to solve the country's diamond slip from our hands. Let us make our life His
problems! When you read our cover story you will not message. Let us become just that Pure Love; completely
only get a complete overview of the grand proceeding of in harmony with Him.
that day but also get a deep insight into the background
and the sequence of events that led to the landmark Loving Regards,
– Heart2Heart Team
occasion that the Chennai Citizens' Conclave was. What
Heart2Heart - Radio Sai's e-Journal, March 2007 (Vol. 5, Issue 3) www.radiosai.org 003
SPIRITUAL BLOSSOMS
Sita is also an epic personality. "Rama" is another name for Janaka decided that Sita should be given in marriage only
Sita. The Ramayana is thus a joint epic of Rama and Sita or to one who could handle Siva's bow and be worthy of
Sita-Rama Ramayanam. Sita's hand. With this resolve, he invited princes for Sita's
svayamvara (self-selection of a husband by the bride
Rarely in the world do we see married couples who are
herself). Rama arrived and lifted Siva's bow as lightly as
identical - man and wife - in their physical features, their
Sita had done. Janaka realised that Rama and Sita were
qualities, behaviour, thoughts and capacities. But in the
well matched in every respects - beauty, character and
case of Rama and Sita the similarity was complete in every
strength.
respect. There were no differences in features, qualities or
other aspects. The truth of this is evident from what Sita was no ordinary woman. She was the embodiment of
Hanuman experienced. Once Hanuman happened to look Maha Maya (supreme divine illusion). Rama acquired
at Sita when she was alone. He got a doubt whether Maha Maya as his consort. Sita, for her part, sought
Rama Himself had assumed a feminine form. Looking at oneness with the Atma principle represented by Rama.
Sita, he thought it was Rama himself. Hence Rama and The marriage of Rama and Sita represents the association
Sita should be regarded as one identical entity and not as of the Atma and the Maya. It is in this combined form of
when we consider the role of the three cities in the (sense organs) the five organs of action and the five
Ramayana. First comes Mithila. Emperor Janaka was its organs of perceptionhis chariot. Allegorically, this means
ruler. He was a Brahmajnaani (one who possesses that Dasaratha represents the body, with its ten organs.
knowledge of identity of individual self with the cosmic These sense organs are related to the three gunas
being) who had renounced everything. Like water on a (qualities) Satwa, Rajas, Tamas (goodness, passion,
lotus leaf, he was completely detached, with no concern ignorance). Dasaratha's three wives - Kausalya, Sumitra
for worldly things. Having no children of his own, he and Kaikeyi - symbolise these three attributes.
004 Heart2Heart - Radio Sai's e-Journal, March 2007 (Vol. 5, Issue 3) www.radiosai.org
SATHYA SAI SPEAKS - Seek Oneness and Bliss Through Ramayana
desires. Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Satrughna was in Chitrakuta, Bharatha came there to entreat him to
symbolise the four Vedas Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana. return to Ayodhya and reign as the legitimate heir to the
The Rig Veda figures in the Yajur and Sama Vedas to throne. Rama refused to return, saying that Bharatha
varying extent. It is the embodiment of Dharma. Yajur- should rule over Ayodhya in accordance with the promise
Veda embodies mantras (sacred formulae). Lakshmana given by Dasaratha. The argument between the two was
was continually engaged in contemplating about Rama ultimately resolved by Sage Vasishta who told Bharatha:
and immersing himself in the Rama mantra. Bharata was “Do not cause any pain to Rama, who is Divinity itself and
one who could not bear separation from Rama and who who has come down to protect the good and uphold
was ever dwelling on Rama's name and form. He was the Dharma."
embodiment of Sama Veda.
Bharatha pleaded for taking Rama's sandals and
Shatrughna was one who had mastered all the sciences administering the kingdom in Rama's name till he
and used his powers for protecting his brothers. He was returned to Ayodhya. There are a series of episodes in the
skilled in the use of all kinds of weapons. Thus the four Ramayana to show how deep was the love between the
Vedas, taking the form of the four brothers, were four brothers and how devoted were the younger
sporting in Dasaratha's palace brothers to Rama. Such fraternal love is an example to the
world for all time. The Ramayana is a guidebook on the
Ramayana is a guide on human relationships
ideal relations between mothers and children, between
Among the four brothers there was boundless love and
husband and wife, between brothers, between the ruler
regard for each other. When Rama went to the forest and
and the people, between the master and the servants and
many other human relationships. Rama showed
compassion to the dying eagle Jatayu, which had fought
with Ravana when he was carrying Sita away to Lanka and
Rama gave refuge to Vibhishana, even against the fears
expressed by Lakshmana. These are examples of Rama's
supreme benevolence and magnanimity towards anyone
who revered him or sought his protection. Rama declared
to Lakshmana: "Anyone who comes to me in a spirit of
surrender, whoever he might be, is mine and I am his. I
shall give him asylum. This is my vow." Rama was a man
pledged to one word, to one wife and to a single arrow.
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SPIRITUAL BLOSSOMS
Meditation on Light life force may rise up through the straight body and give
the quality of intense concentration to the mind.
SAI: (To a group of westerners) Any doubts or questions?
Moreover, just as a lightning rod attached to the roof of a
Spiritual questions only.
building attracts lightning, in like fashion, a perfectly
A Visitor: Why a lamp in meditation?
straight body provides a conductor, so to speak, for divine
SAI: Why a light? From the sand, if one takes, it will be power to enter the temple of your body and give you the
depleted. From the water tank, if each one takes, the tank strength to accomplish your task and reach your goal. As
will go dry. But a thousand people can take the flame of another example, the divine power is always here, just as
one candle to light their candles and the flame is in no radio signals are here. But to hear the radio music there
way diminished. must be an antenna. Further, if the tuning device is not
Light a lamp or a candle. properly adjusted, there will just be some sound but no
Gaze straight ahead at the music. In like fashion, the divine power, which is always
flame. Then take the present, may flow into you if the meditation is correct and
into your heart and see it A Visitor: How about the Brahma Muhurta meditation?
in the midst of the petals
SAI: Brahma Muhurta means early morning, between 3 -
of the heart. Watch the
6 a.m. It means that the senses are quiet, not yet agitated
petals of the heart unfold
by the day and mind is quiet from sleep. But the hour
and see the light illumine
should not be taken and changed around, taking one
the heart. Bad feelings
time today and another time tomorrow. A half hour in the
cannot remain. Then move the flame to the hands and
morning and a half hour in the evening is enough for
they can no longer do dark deeds. In turn move the
sitting meditation. If done all day along, it will lose its
flame in like fashion to the eyes and ears so they may
attraction after a couple of years. The spiritual practice
henceforth take in only bright and pure sensations.
should be varied for interest. Some bhajan, some
Then move the light outward and into your friends,
repetition of the Name of the Lord, some time spent in
relatives and enemies, and then into animals, birds
the company of spiritual people and so on. Just as in daily
and other objects so that all are illumined by the same
light.
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CONVERSATIONS WITH SAI - Part 30
life some variety makes the day interesting. good things. Everyone
SAI: First you are in the light. Then the light is in you. SAI: Yes, it is important.
Finally, you are the light and the light is everywhere. Enjoy The self-confidence is
for a while, then bring the light back to the heart and hold already there. If there is
it there for all the day. The form of God may also be the interest in the good
included. Krishna, Rama, Jesus, Sai, as you wish. The form things, the self-
of God selected may be seen in the centre of the flame confidence is already
wherever it is carried, and, then you are with God there to carry them out.
everywhere. People go to America
and charge various amounts for spiritual information
Other Meditations
which belongs to everyone and for which no charge
A Visitor: At the meeting it was mentioned, people
should be made. The information should not be sold and
doing other kinds of meditation should not join the
the Americans should not buy.
Sathya Sai Baba Centre.
SAI: This yoga and that yoga is not the answer. Yes, they
Liberation Through the Jyothi Meditation
may join even if doing other meditations. Let all unite in H: Swami, in the description of the light meditation, I
the one goal. God is reached only through love. was not quite sure how Swami said it had liberation as the
Pranayama subjects the heart and the lungs to strain and result.
pressure. The health must be good. Bhakthi yoga is best. SAI: You are the light. The same light is found in others
A big mixture will only create confusion. The meditation also. The body drops away and you are the light. That is
on light is safe and sure and leads directly to the goal. liberation.
A Visitor: But if one has been initiated into another H: Does Swami mean that by means of light one expands
meditation, Swami's book says it is a sin to change. through the entire universe and is no longer limited by
SAI: The goal remains the same. There is just some change body?
in the pathway, method employed. Meditation on light is SAI: 'My' falls away. There is no longer 'My'.
real meditation. Light is formless, eternal, divine. It is the H: Here is a meditation given by the Lord Himself and it
safe way and the sure way. But above all is love. Love is the takes one direct to liberation. Why would a person wish
royal highway to God. God is love. At the beginning we to bother with any other meditation?
should carefully consider and investigate the meditation
SAI: Some sensory pleasure, some body result.
or sadhana that we propose to adopt. Who is the guru?
What is the result? If then we have full confidence that it H: Yesterday, Swami, people got the idea that any kind of
will take us to our spiritual goal, then go ahead and stay meditation could be used at a Center.
with it. But it is a spiritual goal that we aim for, not a SAI: Don't worry about that. After a little while they will
physical goal, not a goal at the sensory level. feel how great is the 'light meditation' and change to this.
Do not force them. Give them some time.
How to Attain
Self-Confidence H: Swami says that it is a benefit of the highest order if an
A Visitor: But how can I get that self-confidence that I do
individual's life is such that he merits God's love. How to
not have?
directly experience that divine love?
SAI: To do the bad things, you have the self-confidence to
SAI: In the kitchen is a sweet. Now, you must come from
go ahead. The same self-confidence is also there to do
afar to the kitchen to enjoy the sweet. Only when you eat
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SPIRITUAL BLOSSOMS
the food is the hunger relieved. To enjoy the sweetness of When in meditation, concentrate on the form chosen
divine love, you must attempt to experience it direct. How by you, then pass into contemplation and then into
to get the ability to experience the divine love directly? meditation. Only by the three states will you get
Our ancient Rishis enjoyed bliss by going to solitude and there. From concentration, one must cross the field of
sitting with their bodies stiff and apparently lifeless. On contemplation to enter meditation. There are three
the other hand, people are all the time shaking their things: the meditator, the chosen form, and the
heads and bodies. Such people cannot get concentration. process of meditation. The three should merge and
The body is described as a temple containing the Lord. If become one, and this is the state of meditation. But, if
this part of our body keeps on shaking, the contents, the all the time you feel you are meditating, this cannot
mind, will also be shaking. That is why in meditation be called meditation. When there is complete
certain postures are described, and they must be attention on the form chosen, that will lead to
maintained. meditation. The attention of the mind is totally
When in meditation take the mind deep so as not to be removed from the body and totally concentrated on
distracted. The deeper the mind is taken, the less it is the form chosen as the object of your meditation.
disturbed by the surrounding noise. In the Gita it is said H: The other day, Swami, not only were the college boys
that concentration precedes wisdom. If in sitting for delighted at the return to Brindavan, but they were very
meditation, you keep on scratching your head or your much surprised. I also was, because Swami had said He
back you will not be doing the right kind of meditation. would definitely stay at the ashram.
Some people sit for meditation. They simply sit, but then
SAI: Baba made the decision to stay in Prasanthi Nilayam
they are wondering how soon they can move from that
through Sivarathri. That was His sankalpa. His will is as
posture.
iron. On the third day of the festival, the boys at
Brindavan decorated the cows and had a procession, and
their longing for Swami was so strong that Swami made a
sudden decision and came to Brindavan. It might be
asked, Swami's Sankalpa is as iron, how could that be
changed? Well, devotion is as fire. Fire will melt iron. God
is moved by devotion.
008 Heart2Heart - Radio Sai's e-Journal, March 2007 (Vol. 5, Issue 3) www.radiosai.org
CONVERSATIONS WITH SAI - Part 30
H: How about the help that is ordinarily available? Should ask if we are the body, the mind or the intellect.
a person try that first before calling to Swami? SAI: You are the witness of all these.
SAI: Some people have faith in doctors, and some have H: One notices other things. Every desire announces itself
faith in Swami. as "I" even though exactly contradicted by past and future
afraid that if they do anything except use vibhuthi they SAI: Really, there are only two “I”s. One is the ego; which
are demonstrating lack of faith in Swami. is always identifying itself as "I", and the other "I" is the
SAI: Actually, both can proceed together. The doctors can eternal witness, which is Swami. If there is awareness of
be consulted, and Vibhuti can also be used. But, the witness, the ego "I" will not bother, it does not much
Swami for His Grace. H: In self-inquiry, Swami, a person may notice that while
H: Some devotees go to the extreme. No matter how his idea is that he is a free agent, yet in fact he is pushed
serious the disease or trouble, they declare they will use around and made to act by all sorts of influences. Actually
vibhuti only and will never go to a doctor. one is not all free, he is like a prisoner, is he not?
SAI: If they wish to do that, they may. Swami's preference SAI: That you are not free is wrong. Only up to a certain
would be that ordinary means of help be given their due stage is one's life according to the influences that bear
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SPIRITUAL BLOSSOMS
But, even apart from that, people can and should try to
restrain these harmful emotions from outward
expression. There may be anger, hatred, depression
raging within, but the person's outward behaviour
should remain peaceful. His smile should be calm. With all
his strength he must resist any show of these harmful
emotions. This is a topic of the highest importance. Self- The Soul is One
inquiry, and this matter of emotions are of the greatest H: Swami, if one ant out of a colony of ants is killed, is
importance. When talking to devotees at centres you that killing an individual Jiva? Or, is there a sort of group
must deal with these two aspects of spiritual sadhana Jiva whose body is the colony of ants?
clearly and emphatically.
SAI: There are no individual Jivas. Jiva is one only. Only
(On previous occasions, Swami has said that dangerous one. Jiva is never injured, never killed. Bodies are many.
and harmful impulses and emotions will vanish Minds are changeable and may be affected. Bodies may
automatically in the Presence of God; that evil forces are be killed, may die. But Jiva is unaffected. Jiva is one and
products of grief, and cannot exist where there is Ananda, eternal.
the happiness that arises when one loves God with all
The rule for spiritual life is to be cautious. Start care fully,
one's heart and sees Him everywhere).
drive carefully and arrive safely.
H: Another puzzling thing that may be observed is the
(On a previous occasion, Swami said, "Be steady; be
falling away from one's goal. For example, a person may
resolved. Do not commit a fault or take a false step, and
show the most steadfast determination to hold to the
then repent! Have the deliberation, the decision, the
Lotus feet of the Lord. Then a year or so later, that person
discipline first; that is better than regret for the mistake
has left Swami.
made".)
SAI: The reason for this is a weakness of mind in the initial
stage. In the first perception of his goal, the person's mind (To be continued)
was wavering. Had he been one-pointed and clear at first,
he would not fall away from his goal. The fault lies in a
010 Heart2Heart - Radio Sai's e-Journal, March 2007 (Vol. 5, Issue 3) www.radiosai.org
CHINNA KATHA - Baratha's Adoration of Rama
Let the Love for the Lord grow in you, as it did in Bharatha.
Let that sense of adoration, which discarded even a
throne, flourish in you. Then, you can be of great use to
your country, your culture, your society, your religion and
your community. Or else, all this bother that you have
undergone, to attend Sathsanga (good company), to
listen to spiritual discourses, study spiritual texts, etc. will
be a colossal exercise in futility.
- Baba
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COVER STORY
012 Heart2Heart - Radio Sai's e-Journal, March 2007 (Vol. 5, Issue 3) www.radiosai.org
THE CHENNAI CITIZENS' CONCLAVE... DIVINITY DIFFUSES ALL DIFFERENCES
attempt to deal with this was to erect a small dam across solutions, and soon it became clear that the only way to
a river known as Kosasthalayar. This was not much of a solve the drinking water problem was to somehow bring
river in the sense water flowed in it only when there were water from the Krishna river flowing up north in Andhra
rains, which usually came during the North East Monsoon Pradesh. This realisation came quite early, even in the
[generally during October to December]. Unlike the South fifties. Conceptually, there was no difficulty in solving the
West Monsoon [June to September], the NE Monsoon problem all it needed was a good long canal. As
does not always deliver that much rain, at least in the mathematicians would say, a solution existed. In fact a
Tamil Nadu [TN] region so, water was always a problem. statement was made in Parliament many, many years ago
The water from the dam across Kosasthalayar was taken that the Government would do something to solve the
via a canal to a tank known as Red Hills Lake. By the way, problem of drinking water for Madras by taking Krishna
in the very early days, Swami often used to go with His water to the city.
hosts for a picnic to the Red Hills area. But then the human Mind that is so very capable of
The Basic Problem of Water finding solutions to problems is equally capable of
In due course other water storage tanks were added, and obstructing solutions. What I mean is that the three
they were all inter-connected. Initially, the water was States through which Krishna flows, had an argument
used both for drinking and for agriculture. Later, most of among themselves as to who has rights over Krishna
the water was reserved purely for supplying drinking water. The States concerned are: Maharashtra where
water, even as the city began to grow. As early as the Krishna rises, Karnataka through which Krishna then
fifties of the twentieth century, it became clear that flows, and Andhra Pradesh [AP] through which Krishna
growing as it was, and with no major source of water then makes its way to the sea, namely the Bay of Bengal.
nearby, Madras was going to face a huge drinking water
Water Rights
problem. Indeed, every time the rains failed, this problem The issue of sharing river waters is always a very sensitive
became a harsh reality, the problems getting one. A tribunal was set up to address the issue of how
compounded as the city grew bigger and bigger. Krishna water should be shared and fix the quantum of
Concerned citizens and officials did try to think of water to be made available. The Tribunal gave its verdict.
...And now the booming metropolis - Chennai The three southern states with
the perennial water sharing problem
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COVER STORY
Known as the Bachawat Award after the Chairman of the decades, it was his duty to come to its help in its hour of
Tribunal, it was agreed that together, the three riparian distress.
States would contribute 15 TMC of water from the
An Agreement is Reached
Krishna river to Madras city to meet its need of drinking Thanks to the bonds created by the tinsel world, MGR and
water. One TMC by the way stands for a thousand million NTR came to an agreement regarding the details of the
cubic feet, a term used by the British to quantify water supply of Krishna water to Madras. At that time, NTR was
supply for agriculture purposes. It is roughly equal to 30 engaged in launching an ambitious scheme to make
million cubic metres of water. massive use of Krishna waters to enhance enormously
One million cubic metres can be visualised by imagining a agricultural production in his State. He was seeking to do
tank that is 100 metres long, 100 metres wide and 100 this via a grand scheme known as Telugu Ganga, a
metres high. One TMC is equal to 30 such tanks, and network of canals that would carry Krishna waters to
Madras was to get 15 TMC. every nook and corner of the State. As a part of the larger
By the way, it was felt that of the 15 TMC released at the and grand Telugu Ganga scheme, NTR agreed to build a
source, about 3 TMC would be lost in transit and the city canal from a reservoir in AP, known as Kandaleru reservoir
would end up with 12 TMC which was good enough for to the border of Tamil Nadu, for bringing Krishna water to
meeting its needs. Well, that was what was decided way Madras.
back in the sixties or seventies, I do not remember exactly.
As everyone knows, there is always a huge gap been
intensions and implementations. The Tribunal had given
its verdict but now it was up to the administrations in the
various States to come together and get going. As is to be
expected, there were many hiccups, even as governments
came and went, thanks to uncertainties of election
politics. Meanwhile, the TN Government floated a big
scheme called the Veeranam Project, intended to bring
water to the city from the river Kaveri flowing in the
South. There was a lot of fanfare, and I was serving then
in the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research in
Inauguration of the Krishna Water Supply
Kalpakkam this was in the early seventies. The Veeranam Project in May, 1983 at the Nehru Stadium
Project was a high profile affair but it died in a scandal
without a whimper. So, the cloud of uncertainty over the
water supply situation in Madras remained as dark as
ever.
Finally, several years and many discussions later, in 1983,
an agreement was reached to bring Krishna waters to
Madras. This was largely through the personal initiatives
of the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and of Andhra
Pradesh, both of whom happened to be famous film stars
before they entered politics. In Tamil Nadu, the man at the
helm was the charismatic M.G. Ramachandran, popularly The then Prime Minister of India,
known as MGR, who played Robin Hood in all his films Mrs. Indira Gandhi with Sri NT Rama Rao,
and endeared himself to the masses. In Andhra the top and Sri MG Ramachandran
man was N.T. Rama Rao who too was quite popular as a
cine star, and absolutely unorthodox where politics was This canal was to serve a dual purpose; on the one hand, it
concerned. Interestingly, NTR as the Andhra Chief would bring 12 TMC of water to Madras, and on the
Minister [CM] was known, had started his career in other, it would serve as a major irrigation canal for the
Madras, because in those days Madras was the only major southern Districts of AP. Of course, NTR was not doing it
film city in the South. He thus had a soft corner for the for free; TN had to shell out a hefty five hundred odd
city, and declared that having drunk the water the city for crores of rupees for the execution of this canal as its
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THE CHENNAI CITIZENS' CONCLAVE... DIVINITY DIFFUSES ALL DIFFERENCES
share. At that time, the exchange rate was roughly thirty was the paucity of rain, but the real culprit was the canal
rupees to the dollar, and five hundred crores translates itself. It was substandard and it simply could not carry the
roughly as $ 160 million, not a small amount by any water released without losses all the way to Madras. It
means. was essentially mud work and therefore there were losses
In the NTR/MGR scheme, the canal from Kandaleru to due to leakage and seepage. In addition, in many places,
Poondi would cross the inter-State border at a point the canal walls had eroded badly. In short, the canal was
called the Zero Point, and from there the TN Government no canal at all; at best, it was one long, lousy ditch!
was to construct a 25 km link canal to take the water to Meanwhile, the NE Monsoon failed repeatedly, and
Poondi. So, on May 25, 1983, amidst much fanfare, the Madras, by now renamed Chennai, was really reeling. I
construction of the Kandaleru-Poondi canal, was formally believe that H2H has graphically described all this and so I
inaugurated by Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of shall not repeat the painful details here. But this much I
India. have to say; the rich and the middle class managed to
Years passed, and after many crores were spent, on survive by purchasing water but the poor were left high
September 29, 1996, the Kandaleru Poondi canal was and dry. They had to scrounge as best as they could and
deemed to have been formally completed and this was often had to use gutter water in sheer desperation. That
recognised with a formal function at the Zero Point with was the stark reality of a city that had recently become a
Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu, CM of Andhra and Mr. M. big destination for IT.
Karunanidhi, CM of TN doing the honours. God Decides to Dismiss the Distress
Man thinks it is God who sends trouble, but God is not
Long Canal, But No Water
The shouting and the cheering was over and all was set like that. He does not add to man's burden; rather, He
for water to flow from Krishna to TN. However, in helps when man is in distress. Where Chennai residents
practice, the water that flowed to Chennai was much less were concerned (by this time, Madras had become
than what everyone hoped for and what the Bachawat Chennai), on January 19, 2002, something dramatic
accord had awarded. Where was the problem? In part, it happened. It was the first anniversary of the Super
Speciality Hospital in Bangalore and Swami went to
Bangalore specially to attend the Health Meet arranged
to mark the occasion. There were of course speeches
galore and at the end of it all, there was as expected a
Divine Discourse. In the course of the Discourse, Swami
made a most unexpected announcement. He declared,
“Today I have made a new
resolve. Madras is
suffering from acute
shortage of drinking
water. The rich can buy
water sold by the tanker
services but what about
The poorly functioning canal...
the poor? They have to
depend on rain water that
has collected in puddles
and ditches, thus spoiling
Divinity thunders, their health. I have
"I have willed to therefore decided to work
give drinking water towards bringing
to the city of Madras."
drinking water to Madras,
no matter how difficult and costly the task is. This
wish of mine will fructify without fail. Success always
springs from deep conviction.”
The result... No water...
By the way, January 19, is the anniversary of Sundaram
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...Finishing touches
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Himself had asked to be performed. However, it was Doctor Kalaignar [a reference to the fact that he is a
widely expected that when Swami does go to Chennai, distinguished writer and honoured with a doctorate,
the city would for sure find a suitable way of expressing honoris causa]. Mr. Karunanidhi, now eighty plus, started
gratitude. Many leading citizens came together, and one off fifty years ago as not only a firebrand activist in the
thing led to another. Soon, the Government entered the Dravida Kazhakam, a party with a strong anti-caste, and
act. The first indication we had of that was when Mr. anti-Hindu stance, but also as a gifted author and screen-
Durai Murugan, Minister for Public Works in the DMK play writer. Karunanidhi shot to instant fame and became
Government of TN came to Puttaparthi for Swami's a household name in the early fifties, thanks to the
Darshan. He not only had Darshan but also went to the powerful dialogues he wrote for the film Prashakti, that
Hospital to look around personally. He was bowled over. It became a blockbuster, aided by superb acting of Shivaji
looks like when he went back, he told his boss, the Chief Ganesan, who too shot to fame via the same film. It
Minister about it. At this point, I should say something almost seemed that Karunanidhi wrote the film for Shivaji
about this Chief Minister, because he has contributed his and that Shivaji was waiting for Karunanidhi to give him
own share to make this recent visit of Swami a historic 'The Film' he wanted to start with.
one. I make this digression because it would help not only The Dravida Kazhakam, started by social activist E. V.
the younger generation but also people in places Ramaswamy Naicker, popularly known as Periyar, was
elsewhere to appreciate the background of the Chennai very popular, since it gave many angry young men a
Citizens' Conclave better. platform to ventilate their feelings of dissatisfaction with
The Dynamic Karunanidhi many aspects of society. But Periyar, for reasons of his
and the Rise of DMK own, stayed out of politics; this, however, did not please
People in South India are very familiar with the Chief the young Turks, that included Karunanidhi. At one stage,
Minister [CM] Mr. M. Karunanidhi, popularly known as when Periyar, then seventy plus married a young woman
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in her mid twenties, it gave a chance for the young Turks unobtrusively shifts gears and effects changes in a subtle
to breakout and form their own party, though Periyar manner.
continued to be their father figure. This party, known as
The Story Behind the Exceptional Conclave
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or DMK for short, entered You will recall, the meeting in Chennai was really
politics and in 1967 created a sensation by not only supposed to be a gathering where grateful citizens of the
sweeping the polls in Tamil Nadu, but, in the process, city expressed gratitude to Bhagavan. The question is:
edged out the Congress which for decades had ruled the “How come the TN Government came into the picture?”
State. Since then, Congress has slipped into oblivion That is an interesting question. At a higher level, the
while the DMK and its splinter group ADMK took turns in answer is obvious; the time had come, and Swami
ruling the state of Tamil Nadu. I should at this point
mention that Ms. Jayalalitha leads the ADMK. In
earlier times, she was a well known film star, and was
the protégé of another famous film star, M.G.
Ramchandran, whose name I have already referred
to.
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Government extended not only much courtesy but also national profile rather that the stature of a mere state
made elaborate police arrangements both to manage politician. Astute, shrewd, very calculative in his moves,
vehicle movement and for crowd control, is sufficient and never given to rabble rousing, he is widely seen as
indication that Swami has won the hearts of the so-called one who would not have any truck with anything that
non-believers, a clear demonstration that Love can and even remotely smacks of religion or spirituality. Yet here
does always triumph. he was, playing the leading role in expressing thanks to
To get back to the story of the Conclave, soon after the Swami, almost three years after water started flowing
Tamil Nadu Government got wind of Swami's visit to into the parched lakes of Chennai. He was daring to do
Chennai, it entered into the act and the Conclave took a something his predecessor, the actress-turned politician
sharp turn, acquiring an altogether new complexion. and mercurial personality Ms. Jayalalitha, refused to do,
Firstly, the people who were invited to speak were almost namely express gratitude to a towering benefactor, but
without exception all drawn from politics. In fact, there for whose help at a critical moment, Chennai would still
were only Chief Ministers, Governors, Ministers from be in trouble. So it is no surprise that there was a great
Delhi and Ministers from the States who gathered on the interest in the Conclave. Attendance was strictly
stage to honour Swami! This was hardly expected in the regulated, partly on account of the limited seating
beginning and yet it happened! capacity and partly on account of security reasons with
so many VVIPs gathering on one stage in one hall, one
The Attractions at the Conclave should not underestimate the headaches the security
As far as the proceedings themselves are concerned, they
people were having.
took place in a large completely air-conditioned indoor
stadium named Nehru Stadium built and owned by the The Indecisive Hours Before the Conclave
Government. Interestingly, this stadium is located not far Commenced
from the place where in 1983, the construction of the With that background, I am now ready to start describing
Kandaleru Poondi canal was inaugurated with much the events of the January 21, 2007 morning. All of us in
fanfare, and 13 years later was a huge flop, after much Swami's party were staying in Sundaram, which is where
expenditure, of course. Prior to the event, I have been Bhagavan also was staying. Our daily routine was roughly
hearing from many weeks, all kinds of reports about the as follows. We would all get ready early and await
hectic preparations for this event, and it became clear instructions from Swami's room. When the word was out
that it would be a star function attracting attention not that He was going to the dining hall, all of us would go
only in Chennai and Tamil Nadu but indeed in the whole there too. We sort of had our places earmarked I shall tell
country. you all about that later and we would take our seats
when given the signal.
There were three important reasons for this. First, of
course, was the fact that the gathering included such a After that, breakfast, in silence, of course. That morning,
wide spectrum of political celebrities belonging to all the daily newspapers had been duly lined up at
political parties with
diverging views on almost
everything. Secondly, there
were at least two charismatic
figures on the stage, each a
celebrity in his own right; we
had the ever ebullient Mr.
Lalu Prasad Yadhav of Bihar,
who never failed to be the
centre of any event he
participated in, with his
unique style of speaking and
inimitable personality. Then
there was Mr. Karunanidhi,
Do your duty... The press
once a firebrand and now an Duty is God expresses their gratitude
elder statesman with a
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Swami's table, since they were full of news and pictures to follow Swami to the Conclave later that morning.
about Swami's historic visit to the residence of Mr. Meanwhile, Swami enquired about the morning
Karunanidhi the previous evening. People tried to program, which was His way of getting things into
compete with each other in drawing attention to the motion. He was respectfully informed that it being a
exciting news, but Swami did not show much interest; in Sunday, there was, as expected, a huge crowd awaiting
a way, that was to be expected. the Lord in the Yagna site. Accordingly, Swami decided to
Breakfast was soon over and we were all wondering what go to Yagna site first; after all, He had come to Chennai for
next. The Conclave was due to start only at 11 am and the the Yagna, had He not? When Swami came out to go to
big question was: Would Swami visit the Yagna Salai (the the Yagna site, there was a huge crowd in front of
Yagna site) first and then go or simply go direct from here. Sundaram and thus, a jam. While Swami's car managed
Meanwhile, Mr. Venu Srinivasan, the CEO of TVS Motors, to speed away, most of us got caught in the jam and were
who was to deliver the welcome address at the Conclave, thus left behind. Later we made our way to Yagna site;
came to Sundaram to seek Swami's blessings. Having however, it was a difficult exercise since there was no
received that, he pushed off. Meanwhile, Mr. Shiv Raj police escort for us! And the Home Minister of India who
Patil, the Union Home Minister, and of course a long-time normally gets a lot of attention from the Police was in our
devotee and Mr. Gokuldas of Bombay showed up in “left-behind” party and he too had to struggle through
Sundaram, and Swami asked them also to have breakfast. traffic lights and all that, as we did! Democracy at work!
It was interesting that Mr. Patil, a lead speaker in the Anyway we finally caught up with Swami and reached the
Yagna site.
The Saguna with the Nirguna... For the first time in this trip, we were driving along roads
close to the beach. It being a Sunday, a holiday, traffic was
generally light. As we drove towards the site, I saw many
morning function, chose to come to Sundaram rather
sights familiar to me; at the same time, I also saw how
than go to the Governor's residence, which he was
much things had changed. Soon we were driving along
entitled to do according to protocol.
the road adjoining the famous Marina Beach of Chennai.
Swami invited both Mr. Patil and Gokuldas and spoke to
Near the Madras Medical College, which I guess must be
them for a few minutes. These two were apparently asked
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IN QUEST OF INFINITY - Part 3
inwards, the cloud does try to diffuse due to gas pressure driven by high temperature, it is often called thermo
like all clouds do. I am sure you have seen fluffy clouds in nuclear fusion. The important and interesting thing
the sky becoming bigger through diffusion caused by about this nuclear fusion is that it is accompanied by the
outward gas pressure and then sort of melting away. release of a lot of energy. This energy then flows outwards
However, this gas pressure is peanuts and gravity simply towards the outer surface which is cooler I guess you are
overwhelms it. Gravity is really amazing. It appears weak aware that heat always flows from a region of high
and insignificant but on the scale of the Universe, it calls temperature to a region of low temperature. From the
the shots because its reach is so long! surface of the cloud, the energy is radiated into space as
OK, so the big hydrogen cloud is getting squeezed more heat and light.
and more. What happens? Does it get crushed into a To repeat, first there is gravitational compression of the
point? Not really, because something starts happening hydrogen gas cloud. This leads to heating, especially at
when the cloud really begins to shrink. You see, the the centre. When very high temperatures are attained,
shrinking process is accompanied by a heating process there is thermo-nuclear ignition. This is a process where
also, the heating being greatest at the centre of the small nuclei fuse to form bigger nuclei, and in the process
cloud. Now when I say the cloud is getting hot, do not heat is also released. This process is sustained and a star is
imagine temperatures like what we experience during a born. This sequence of events is schematically illustrated
hot summer day. Believe it or not, at the centre of the in Fig. 1.
cloud, the temperature can become as high as a MILLION Question: Initially, there was compression that then led
degrees! WOW!! Now that is some temperature, is it not? to thermo-nuclear ignition. Does compression continue
Of course it is, and sure enough things start happening. after the ignition is triggered?
Devices for Thermo-Nuclear Fusion No! What happens is that while gravity tries to compress
I must clarify that when I say that the temperature in the the gas cloud, radiation flowing outwards exerts an
compressed gas cloud can go as high as a million degrees, outward pressure that tries to expand the gas cloud. So
what I mean is that it does so at the core of the cloud. As there is a tussle between the inward force due to gravity
one moves away from the centre, the temperature starts that tries to compress the gas cloud and the outward
falling. However, the fact that the temperature rises to a force due to radiation [that is substantial] that tries to
million degrees and above near the centre, makes expand the gas cloud. A balance is reached, then we then
interesting things
happen. Basically, the
astronomically high
temperature makes
hydrogen nuclei to fuse
together to form the
nuclei of helium. I will
skip the details, which
belong to the realm of
nuclear physics; but this I Fig 1. This shows a schematic of a huge gas cloud in the Universe when it was about a million years
must say this coming old, and how the cloud shrinks due to the force of gravity. True even as the cloud shrinks, there is a
tendency for gas , especially in the outer regions to diffuse away due to gas pressure. But soon gravity
together of hydrogen
simply overwhelms outward acting gas pressure, and the cloud shrinks and shrinks. In the process,
nuclei to form helium the core becomes astronomically hot. When that happens, nuclei of hydrogen atoms (read protons)
nuclei is called nuclear come together and FUSE to form helium nuclei (this is a complex process that involves several
stages). Nuclear fusion triggered by extreme heat is called thermo-nuclear fusion. In this process, heat
fusion, and because this
is liberated which flows towards the outer, cooler surface of the cloud from where it is radiated into
fusion of light nuclei to space. Thus, a star is born! In the case of the Sun, while the surface temperature is about 6000
become bigger nuclei is degrees, the temperature in the core is around a million degrees or more!
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have a gas cloud of stable size that is hot at the centre and there is some wood left, so also a star would burn as long
radiates energy into space. as there is fuel. When the fuel supply starts running
So that is how a star is born out of a gas cloud that is large down, the temperature starts coming down and cooling
and cold to start with. By the way, in a hydrogen bomb, starts. Then a whole new ball game starts. That story next.
enormous energy is released via thermo-nuclear fusion. The Stellar Cycle: Birth, Death And Rebirth
However, in the bomb, it is all over in less than a millionth I said that when the fuel gets exhausted, burning or
of a second, whereas a star keeps releasing thermo- thermo-nuclear ignition stops and the star starts cooling
nuclear energy for millions if not billions of years. Our Sun down. Two things happen then. First in the inner regions
is thus nothing but a self-sustaining thermo-nuclear of the burnt out star, where density is high, gravity begins
device! to dominate and a contraction process sets in. The outer
OK, a star is born. Will it burn forever or does it have a layers on the other hand try to diffuse away like a cloud.
finite life? If the latter is indeed the case, then how long So the net result is that the cloud as a whole appears very
does a star live? The answer to that is simple. A star is like large from the outside; however, the inner region starts
a burning fire; just as a log of wood would burn as long as contracting and getting hot once again. By the way, when
Fig 2. Various stages of the formation of Red Giant. When a star with a mass similar to our Sun starts burning hydrogen at
the centre and finally runs out of fuel to burn, it enters an interesting phase. The object as a whole begins to cool. And while
this is happening, in the inner regions, gravity asserts itself and starts crushing the core. The outer regions on the other
hand, expand since gravity is weak out there. For an observer outside, the object as a whole would look like a giant object,
dell red in colour. Such an object is called a Red Giant. One day, our Sun would end up as a Red Giant and when it does, it
would become so huge as to swallow even the Earth! Stars go through stellar cycles of birth, death, rebirth, death again and
so on. Astronomers track the successive evolution of a star through a diagram called the H-R (short for Hertzsprung-
Russell) diagram. The birth and death recycling does not go on forever, and there is an end point as discussed in the text.
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You might wonder: “But on earth we find silver, gold, 1996, that has provided spectacular images and insight
uranium etc., all of which are much heavier than the iron into stellar physics.
nucleus; where from did they come?” That is a very The story of the discovery that young Chandra made goes
interesting question to which we shall return may be in as follows. In the late twenties of the twentieth century,
the next issue. By the way, I hope you would have noticed Chandra was a Physics Honours student in Presidency
how nuclear physics is helping astrophysics. All this College in Madras. His uncle, Sir. C.V. Raman, who had
understanding of stellar physics through the injection of studied earlier in the same college, had become world
nuclear physics that I am now describing started famous with his discovery of the Raman Effect for which
happening in the period between 1930 and 1940. This is he won the Nobel Prize in 1930. Chandra was clearly out
one remarkable aspect of the development of modern of the ordinary, and even when he was a student, he had
physics. Different specialisations often come together in already published a scientific paper, unusual in India then,
an amazing and unexpected way to push forward the and indeed even now.
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IN QUEST OF INFINITY - Part 3
ChandraTelescope
Schematics of X-Ray Telescope
Solar Array Spacecraft
module Sunshade Door
Aspect Camera
Stray Light Shade
High
Resolution
Camera
(HRC)
High Resolution
Intergrated Science Cylindrical X-Ray
Instrument Mirror Assembly
Module (HRMA)
(ISIM) Transmission Thrusters (4)
CCD Imaging Gratings (2)
Spectrometer Low Gain
(ACIS) Antenna (2)
Eddington's stature would stopovers was Madras, and there in the Presidency
Sir. C.V. Raman be to say that he was then College, Sommerfeld gave a lecture on the newly
emerging quantum physics and its implications. Chandra
of course was present in the audience, but one wonders
whether anyone in the audience, Chandra being the
exception, followed what Sommerfeld spoke about.
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25 Elephants
One
Tennis Ball size
sphere of
White Dwarf
Material
Fig 4. This schematic is intended to show how dense the matter making up a typical White Dwarf is.
One sphere of White Dwarf material of the size of a tennis ball would weigh as much as 25 elephants!
The very first White Dwarf to be discovered was the companion of Sirius, a bright star in the
constellation Canis Major. The arrow in the figure identifies the White Dwarf companion of Sirius.
Thanks to the Hubble Telescope, we now have identified a number of White Dwarfs. The small circles
in the Hubble image Globular Cluster M4 represent White Dwarfs.
kept himself busy thinking about what happens to stars Chandra was interested in the physics of White Dwarfs.
when they finally end their lives. The interesting thing about a White Dwarf is that matter
Now there are a class of astro-objects known as White there is very dense. You want to know how dense?
Dwarfs. They are supposed to be dead stars, that is, stars Imagine taking a small piece of material from the White
where thermo-nuclear ignition has totally ceased; in Dwarf, about the size of a tennis ball. That small piece
other words, a White Dwarf is really a stellar corpse. would weigh as much as 25 elephants! That is some
density, is it not?
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What Chandra did on board was to think hard about the Now words like a geometrical point, infinity, etc. are OK in
physics of White Dwarfs, and this he did via his favourite mathematics, but in physics, they are not good words.
way, writing down complex mathematical equations and After all, matter is made up of atoms and atoms have a
cracking them. In the process, Chandra made a discovery. finite size. What then does it mean to say that all atoms
It was kind of weird, and Chandra was not too sure. He are crushed together to be reduced to a point? Physicists
would have to analyse more carefully, and then check and were not at all comfortable with the idea of matter
cross check; all that was going to take time. getting crushed to a geometrical point. But then, if one
accepts classical physics, that fate is inevitable. It was
The Problem of White Dwarfs
around this time that quantum mechanics had been
discovered [1925-1930], and people said, “Ah, we cannot
trust classical physics entirely when it comes to physics in
small scales of length. We have to look to quantum
physics. Maybe, quantum physics would somehow save
White Dwarfs from being crushed to a geometric point.”
Guess what? It did and the way that happened was
pointed out by Fowler of Cambridge. Fowler used Fermi-
Dirac statistics [that Sommerfeld explained to Chandra in
Madras] to argue that quantum physics did intervene and
save the dead star from the fate of being ruthlessly
crushed to a geometric point. By the way, the term Fermi-
A white dwarf slightly smaller than Jupiter Dirac statistics is shorthand for the mathematical
next to the Earth description of how electrons in large number behave,
when huddled close to each other. Fowler pointed out
Chandra landed in England and enrolled in Cambridge as
that thanks to the quantum nature of electrons and their
a student. In between his regular work as a student,
allegiance to Fermi-Dirac statistics, when matter is
Chandra kept himself busy with his obsession,
crushed to very high densities [as happens in a White
constructing a proper theory for White Dwarfs. Now
Dwarf], a pressure is generated due to the electrons in the
White Dwarfs are not fictitious objects. Astronomers had
White Dwarf. This quantum mechanical pressure is called
detected such objects in the sky, and they suspected that
degeneracy pressure and acts outwards. In other words,
these White Dwarfs were the corpses of stars that had
in the dead star, while gravity pulls inwards, degeneracy
finally come to rest. There arose a question. From the
pressure pushes outwards, and there is a tussle.
classical physics point of view, when a star finally dies and
Eventually equilibrium settles in, and the dead star
there is no burning of any sort within, then, given the
assumes a finite size; it is saved from being reduced to a
mass of the star, gravity ought to dominate. If it does,
point - see Fig 5. That was Fowler's finding, and everyone
then the star would slowly get crushed more and more
breathed a sigh of relief. Except young Chandra!
and start shrinking. This shrinking would go on
relentlessly till the star is crushed to almost a point with Chandra began having doubts about the total validity of
infinite density. It seemed as if there was nothing to stop Fowler's theory, even when he was a student. Remember
the dead star from shrinking to a point. But the White his discussions with Sommerfeld as a student of
Dwarfs, which everyone agreed represented stellar Presidency College? Chandra essentially asked
remains, did not have point size. So clearly, something Sommerfeld: “In a White Dwarf, the density of electrons is
was stopping gravity in its relentless crush. What was that very, very high. At such densities, the electrons no doubt
force and how did it operate? That was one of the major obey Fermi-Dirac statistics. But since the density is high,
problems of the day. the electrons must also obey Einstein's Relativity;
however, Fowler's analysis ignores the relativistic aspect
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FEATURE ARTICLES
Fig 5. This figure shows schematically the two pressures acting in a White Dwarf, according to Fowler's theory. First
there is the force of gravity, crushing the dead star. However, when the electrons in the stellar corpse come very close
together, they generate a quantum mechanical pressure called 'degeneracy pressure' that pushes outwards. Initially,
degeneracy pressure is low and gravity wins, but when the dead star is crushed too much, degeneracy pressure
begins to assert itself. Thereafter, the White Dwarf stops shrinking, and settles down to a finite size. It is through the
quantum degeneracy pressure that Fowler was able to explain the first time why White Dwarfs had a finite size, as
observed experimentally.
of electron behaviour. Should not the application of was that he also was going to speak, and about Chandra's
quantum statistics be combined with appropriate theory!
relativistic considerations?” It would seem that The day was January 11th, and Chandra went to London
Sommerfeld said yes, adding that such an analysis would fully charged up. He spoke, a young unknown Indian, and
be worthwhile. That was the line of investigation Chandra sat down. I suppose there was just a smattering of polite
started and kept at for years, even while he was going applause, though the discovery was phenomenal. I must
through the mill, to meet his routine obligations as a now say a few words about Chandra's discovery before I
student. go on the rest of the drama surrounding the London
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IN QUEST OF INFINITY - Part 3
himself anticipated this question in his lecture and said, America where he said, speaking in Harvard,
“A star of large mass cannot pass into the White Dwarf “All seemed well until certain researches by
stage, and one is left speculating on other possibilities.” Chandrasekhar brought out the fact that the relativistic
At this point, the physics of dead stars becomes mighty formula put the stars back in precisely the same difficulty
interesting, but let me put that on hold, till I finish with from which Fowler had rescued them. The small stars
the great drama of 11th January, 1930. cooled down alright and ended their days as dark stars in
Opposition to the Theory Grows a reasonable way. But above a critical mass, …heaven
After the “kid” finished giving his paper and sat down, knows what becomes of it [the star]. That did not worry
Eddington, the “giant” stood up with much relish, and Chandrasekhar; he seemed to like stars to behave that
started to tear down the “stupid” theory. Actually, way, and believes that that is what really happens.”
Eddington relied on his stature and rhetoric rather than Let us get back to the rest of the story of the fateful
on hard science. But people listened to him because he January 11th meeting. As I told you, after the meeting,
was a top shot. Mercilessly he tore down Chandra's young Chandra felt utterly demolished, with a few
theory, cracking many jokes in the process. The audience sympathising with him, some very critical, and most
roared with laughter. Along the line, Eddington even cast astronomers totally indifferent. Let us hear Chandra recall
aspersions on quantum mechanics. He could get away those moments. He says:
with it then, because quantum mechanics was still new
“I had gone to the meeting thinking I would be
and even Einstein was suspicious of it at that time.
proclaimed as having found something very important.
Getting back to Chandra, he was completely shattered by Instead, Eddington made a fool of me. I was distraught. I
the experience. He simply did not expect that Eddington didn't know whether to continue my career.
would demolish him down like that in public. They had
I returned to Cambridge late that night, probably around
met so many times back in Cambridge; why did he not
one o'clock. I remember going to the common room.
discuss his reservations then? Where was the need to
There was still a fire burning, and I remember standing in
humiliate a young student like that in public?
front of it and repeating to myself, “This is how the world
ends, not with a bang but with a whimper.”
A True Frontiersman
The story does not quite end here, though round one
certainly went to the giant, Eddington. Chandra got his
degree and had to decide what to do next. He wanted to
stay in England and work perhaps as a lecturer
somewhere, but the shadow of Eddington would stretch
everywhere and he was not sure if he would get a job. So
he decided to leave England and go to America, where he
was offered a position at the University of Chicago. There
he stayed for the rest of his life, and rose to become a
Sir Arthur Eddington with
Sir Albert Einstein at Cambridge Distinguished Professor. Later, the University actually
created a Chair named after Chandra. Reflecting on his
After the meeting, Chandra talked to a few who had
migration, Chandra later said,
attended the meeting. Some sympathised, while some
“I had to make a decision. Am I going to continue the rest
others preferred to side with Eddington; few cared to
of my life fighting or change to other areas of interest? I
examine the scientific merits of the two arguments.
said, well, I will write a book and then change my interest.
Chandra then wrote to many big shots all over Europe;
So I did.”
most sympathised privately but refused to come out in
the open and do so. Meanwhile, Eddington went to In fact, this became Chandra's style throughout his life.
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FEATURE ARTICLES
He would enter an admiring the medals. She then asked, “General! How did
unknown area, literally you win all these?” The General smiled, pointed to a tiny
create a new subject, medal in the middle and said, “Do you see this medal? I
write a scholarly book was awarded this by mistake, and after that, all the others
on his research, and followed!” That was Chandra, very focussed on his work
move on to discover a and making light of his awards.
new field. He did this Chandra lived to eighty plus and worked hard till the very
time and again, blazing end, preoccupied with frontier problems in astrophysics.
trails all the time. He Almost single handed, he built up the famous journal,
A young
was basically a loner, Astrophysical Journal, a peer journal in the field of
Subramanyan
very disciplined, very Chandrasekhar Astrophysics. When he stepped down from the
meticulous, very Editorship, there was a small party at which the man in
thorough in everything he did, including in the way he charge of the Press [a typical, no-nonsense, hard-core
dressed, the way he ordered meals in a restaurant [he was American] said, “We have printed many papers dealing
a vegetarian till the end], and in the way he “enjoyed” with the so-called Chandrasekhar limit. I do not know
music. Martin Schwarzchild, an astrophysicist at the what that means, but as far as I am concerned, this Prof
Princeton University says: has no limits where work is concerned.”
“Chandrasekhar's concentration is unbelievable. He
The Birth Of A New Physics
combines sheer mathematical intelligence and So much for the interlude about the great drama
phenomenal persistence. There is not one field in which involving Chandra and what followed. Let us get back to
he has worked where we are not now daily using some of the science before we wrap up this segment of our joint
his results.” quest. To understand this, we must take a look at Fig. 6
Chandra collected innumerable awards, and about how that places Fowler’s result and Chandra’s results together.
he got them, he once narrated a story. It seems there was There are two graphs, both showing how the radius of
a General who had won many awards and medals. As you the final object varies with the mass of the collapsing
know military officers wear their medals over their object. We start with a star that is dead; there is this
uniform; so did this General. Once when the General corpse and it has a certain mass. It now starts shrinking in
went to a party, a young lady came by and started size, crushed relentlessly by gravity.
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IN QUEST OF INFINITY - Part 3
Question: “What would be the radius of the final Getting back to our young hero who was badly bruised
object?” Classical physics said zero, a result when he made his shy debut, way back in 1930, few
unacceptable. Then came Fowler of Cambridge who said believed in Chandra and those who did, did not dare or
that quantum degeneracy pressure would save the care to speak out openly because of Eddington's stature.
corpse from the fate of vanishing to a geometrical point. When the Pope says NO, who can stand up to the Pope
True, the larger the mass, the smaller would be the size of even if he is wrong? But TIME proved that the Pope was
the end object, but beyond a certain mass, the final size utterly wrong and that Chandra had actually opened a
would be more or less the same, irrespective of the mass new door leading to a fascinating vista [all that next
of the collapsing object. Everyone breathed a sigh of time]. Before I conclude, I must get back to the
relief. And then along comes a young upstart from India, relationship between Chandra and Eddington.
and sitting there in Cambridge, right under the nose of You will recall, when Chandra was still a mere college
the famous Eddington, he dares to say, “Ah, but you see, student, he won Eddington's book as a prize which did
Fowler forgot to build relativity into his analysis. If that is much to stir his interest in astronomy and astrophysics.
included, we get a different story altogether.” Later in Cambridge, Eddington actually stood in the way
Chandra's finding was, yes, the star starts shrinking to a of Chandra's research and literally drove him out of
smaller and smaller radius, once “it runs out of gas.” The England. However, Chandra and Eddington continued to
larger the mass, the smaller is the radius of the final exchange letters, mostly of a personal nature and when
object/corpse. That was the finding of Fowler too; but Eddington died in 1944, Chandra said, speaking in a
here is where Chandra and Fowler differ. Whereas Fowler memorial meeting in the University of Chicago:
said that beyond a point, all dead stars, no matter what “I believe that anyone who has known Eddington will
their mass is to start with, settle down to more or less the agree that he was a man of the highest integrity and
same final radius. character. I do not believe, for example, that he ever
Chandra said NO! thought harshly of anyone. That was why it was so easy to
When the dead star has disagree with him on scientific matters. You can always
1.44 solar mass to start be certain that he would never misjudge you on that
with, the final radius account. That cannot be said of others.”
actually becomes zero. In 1982, Cambridge University invited Chandrasekhar to
Maybe Nature will not deliver a series of lectures on the occasion of Eddington's
tolerate a zero radius centenary. Chandra titled his lectures: Eddington: The
corpse and many other Most Distinguished Astronomer of His Time. Isn't that
things might intervene amazing that the very person who suffered most at the
to prevent the corpse hands of Eddington was asked to give these lectures? But
from having that fate. it is not surprising that Chandra praised Eddington
But Chandra asserted handsomely; for him, the disappointment of the past was
Chandra’s investigations
opened the door to a that Fowler's version is over and done with a long time ago.
new age of physics not the end of the story,
Well this is where we must part company until we meet
that relativity has a role
again. Meanwhile I invite you to reflect on the wonderful
to play and that his version of the story of stellar corpses is
mysteries the Lord has packed into our beautiful
the first chapter in a new and exciting story in the life and
Universe. I am sure you would agree that the Lord is
death of stars. I shall reserve for later narration what
stunningly beautiful and so also is His Universe, every bit
happens to stars with large mass when they die. But this
of it. Jai Sai Ram.
much I can say at present Chandra's investigations
started a whole new and most exciting ball game; watch
out for all that in the next issue!
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THE SAI MOVEMENT IN URAGUAY
inhabitants in the National Historic Museum in people has shifted its focus into the IT sector and now has
Montevideo, the country's capital. One of the noteworthy become an important software exporter and outsourcing
facts about this nation (officially called the Eastern hub in Latin America. On the education front, in 1875
Republic of Uruguay) is that since 1825, when it gained itself, it had public schools which offered free, secular
independence from Brazil, the country has remained a education for the first nine years, a program which
democratic republic, apart from a very small intermission continues even to this day. Between 1965 and 1985, the
of few years. By far, it is the most politically stable republic enrollment in secondary school grew from 44% to 70%.
in Latin America. Today its universities are known for their high quality of
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THE SAI MOVEMENT IN URAGUAY
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FEATURE ARTICLES
felt.
Today we have legal standing and twenty three people
are being served by the teachers; there is a technical team
to provide help in the areas of sociology, social assistance,
physiotherapy, singing, physical education, yoga,
handiwork and painting - all by His grace.
In the year 2001, the Sai Group in Juan Lacaze was formed
after my return from seeing the beloved Avatar in my
Centre for Disabled in Juan Lacaze, third trip to India, and today the people who form the
learning to live and create...
group, work with me in the Centre for Help to the
help of Zulma, a Sai devotee from the Sai group of Juan Disabled. With the help of the Sai Centre we attend to
Lacaze (a city in the Colonia department of Uruguay), she the needs of the physically and mentally challenged
lovingly obliged. And in the process she was greatly based on the teaching of Sai: Service to Man is Service to
rewarded. Recounting her experience, she says, God. And the activities received greater momentum
“In 1990 a priest saw the need of a centre for the when, in 2006, the Sai group gained official status.”
physically and mentally handicapped in our community. I
was called with three other people to select those who
really needed to be served and would remain as the users
of the Centre. We started to face all the difficulties one
generally encounters in such work from monetary
constraints to lack of specialised expertise in handling
such type of disabilities.
Thanks to three institutions
who gave us all possible
help, we realized that we
would have to rehabilitate
the disabled persons at the So happy with what they have done
In 1996, I had a meeting with Sai Baba in my first trip to Another important initiative taken up by the Sai devotees
India, at a time when the work had receded a lot due to was the setting up of the Sathya Sai Baba Blood Donors
various circumstances. But at the end of my trip, I had Club in February 2004. Done in arrangement with the
become transformed with love and energy flowing National Blood Service in Montevideo Sai Centre, this has
towards the need to serve. It is then that my life-force played a great role in saving many lives and has provided
was turned towards the Centre for Help for the Disabled. a beautiful opportunity for the volunteers to offer “Liquid
For me, it was the third time that the Divine presence was Love”.
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THE SAI MOVEMENT IN URAGUAY
EHV Takes Roots, Ennobles Minds We know, one of the principal theories on which the EHV
While the Seva activities were gathering momentum in programme's work is 'practice and then preach'. It invites
the late eighties and early nineties, the Education In the teachers and EHV trainers to first live the message
H u m a n Va l u e s ( E H V ) p r o g r a m m e t o o g r e w before advocating it to others, because Youth and
simultaneously. The earliest introduction to EHV for the children learn more from what they observe than what
Uruguayans was in 1987, when a Sai brother from they hear. And Swami is always there guiding the teachers
Argentina came to Montevideo and presented the Sri and goading them to perfection in His own inimitable
Sathya Sai Human Values Programme. There were many way. Sharing her inner transformation steered by Sai, Ms.
teachers, directors and supervisors who were very Maria Delia, says,
interested then in the Program, but at that time there was
Transformation from Within
no possibility to have a course for them as there were no “I remember the month of March 1990 as something a
trained devotee-teachers for the Program. But their long time ago. I was immersed in a profound depression,
enthusiasm was high and it found expression in seemed like drowning in a never ending well of thoughts.
conducting Bal Vikas classes for small children. In the I questioned myself many a time, what was my role in this
early nineties, there was a cohesive Bal Vikas Group in the life? Why did I exist? Who needed me and who cared
Centre of Montevideo. This program gradually expanded about me? I had lost my self-esteem and was seeking, but
through presentations and workshops in various with my heart closed. One day, I pleaded 'for a sign' to
institutes and everywhere the program went it received something superior - and that is when Sai Baba appeared
an encouraging response. In the meantime, the divine in in my life.
His own incredible way was preparing personnel who at Surprisingly enough, a
the right time would steer this programme to its glorious handout of the Sai Baba
heights. Centre landed in my
hands. One Sunday I
decided to visit that place.
The devotional songs in
Sanskrit and Indian
languages touched my
heart profoundly and even without understanding a
word, I knew a lot of positive energy vibrated around the
devotees who had so lovingly revived me that day. I
discovered that here was 'the sign' that I had asked. I just
wanted to be there, and then return again and again to
that vibrant energy which was so loving and sublime -
and till today I enjoy the same.
The Sai Centre at Montevideo Since then, feeling that divine nectar that is the presence
of God, knowing little by little about my own errors, my
In her first trip to India, one Uruguayan devotee was mistakes, working on them and eradicating them has
listening to a Divine Discourse in Prasanthi Nilayam. As been my way. Now I know that discipline, order,
usual, Swami's discourse was in Telugu. But, this devotee responsibility, being non-violent, and having love for all,
could understand Bhagavan's golden words. It was a real blesses us to transform for the better. These qualities
miracle! And she was so amazed and inspired by this expand our consciousness internally to receive benefits of
blessing, that from that moment on, she dreamt of great peace and harmony.
accomplishments in Sai Education, which were finally Many years passed and sharing in the activities of the
organized in Uruguay and benefited several South Centre I learnt a lot. But there was something that I had to
American countries. work on and that was my anger. I spent a lot of years
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FEATURE ARTICLES
trying to eradicate it from my life, I suffered, cried and since then many teachers have been qualified in the EHV
after various intents of trying to surmount this defect, programme.
when I believed that I had overcome it, Swami had a test
ready for me and 'zap' there it would re-appear.
When I said, 'Swami, I give You my anger', my temper
went on disappearing; I hurt many and repented later. I
thought I could control this weakness, but nothing
worked until I gave it away to Swami. In His messages,
Swami says 'Give me all your miseries and doubts'. I
realized that until I understood this and practiced the
same, I wasn't going to be without my anger.
In another period I had be operated upon and risked
losing my life. I dedicated my life to Him and said, 'Lord,
You know why this is happening to me, what you decide
will be the best for me, whatever be the result.' It so An EHVworkshop session in progress...
happened that my recovery was a total success, nobody The experience of the educators who have contacted the
ever wanted to believe that I had been operated and SSSHVE has been universally positive. They say, “We are
successfully sent home. During all of the treatment of able to live in their own lives the truth of Baba's words
three and a half months, I would repeat the Gayatri that we can transform ourselves only by the practice of
mantra and after five years the medications were human values.”
stopped. Ten years have passed since this incident and I
But 'who gives and who receives?' This is the question the
am hale and healthy. Remembering Him at all times, let's
egoless brothers and sisters who facilitated the course
always be happy.”
ask. Their inner growth is so intense that it is difficult to
Creating Human Values Endowed Teachers discern who is the giver and who is the receiver. The
As such personal transformations were taking place in the
whole concept of EHV is based on love, unity and service,
minds and hearts of people, it only created the right
and the trainers were 'living examples' of these principles.
people the EHV program needed to take it to the next
As the EHV movement grew on the shoulders of such
level. The quantum jump in EHV development came in
inspired souls, the need for EHV teachers increased
2000, when a group of motivated devotees decided to
manifold. It was therefore decided to have a sustained
prepare themselves to instruct various teachers in the Sri
two year course on Human Values Program training for
Sathya Sai Education in Human Values Program. And
teachers, which was conducted in the Montevideo Centre
in the year 2000. In the same year, when information
arrived about a Human Values Conference being held in
Prasanthi, the Uruguayan Sai Organization sent a well
known school teacher, Mr. Héctor Florit, to attend the
Conference.
It would be interesting to mention that it was also the
year when Swami inaugurated the Sri Sathya Sai Mirpuri
College of Music and contributions of typical instruments
for the Music Museum were welcome from all countries.
Uruguay took this opportunity and sent three different
drums (Afro-Uruguayan) for the Museum. Not only that,
one of the musicians from Uruguay, a symphonic
percussionist, was also part of the Worldwide Orchestra
SSSEHV Teacher Training Programme
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THE SAI MOVEMENT IN URAGUAY
- Heart2Heart Team
Time for refreshments after a
Sai Centre meeting ...
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SERIAL ARTICLES
ACT VI - SCENE 4
One day, as the boys are walking to School, they decide to have a splash in the river.
BOY 2: In that case, You look after our books while we go swimming.
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SHIRDI SAI PARTHI SAI - Part 27
Sathya watches, while others enter the water and start having fun. Meanwhile, another gang of boys come there. These
ONE BOY IN THE GANG: [to Sathya] Raju, all those boys are swimming. Come let's join them.
ANOTHER BOY: [irritated] He is always like that, different from us. Spoilsport.
BOY: [to Sathya] Today also we could not answer the Teacher's questions. Why did You have to answer when we could
not?
SATHYA: I knew the answer and I gave it. What's wrong with that? You couldn't answer and that's why the Master
scolded you.
ANOTHER BOY: Listen, in future if the Teacher asks a question, You should say that You don't know the answer.
BOY: What will I do? I'll push You in the sand and drag You!
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The rowdy gang start flinging thorny nuts at Sathya. Meanwhile, Sathya's friends who are in the water, see what is going
on.
SATHYA: [to the attackers] By throwing these at My head, only your arms will ache! I don't feel any pain. The nuts are very
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SHIRDI SAI PARTHI SAI - Part 27
THIRD BOY: This is strange! The nuts hurt us but Raju finds them soft like a cushion! ……Yes, it is true it hurts!
BOY: Hey! What do you think? Raju is not just another student like us. There is Divine Power in Him.
ONE OF THE ATTACKERS: Raju, I did something wrong. Forgive me please! I'll never again do such a thing.
SATHYA: You were not the one who did wrong; rather, it was the bad qualities of anger and jealousy in you that did it. If
you want to get rid of those bad qualities, you must cultivate Love, Forbearance, and the spirit of Sacrifice. Since I'm one
of you, I love every one of you. Not only that I'll never get angry with any of you. To err may be a human tendency but real
humanness consists in correcting oneself. That is the essence of the Love Principle. Try and understand it!
- Heart2Heart Team
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Part 26
(Continued from previous issue) 53. 'Let Me now explain why I created man. Consider a
tigress. You know how fiercely the tigress protects its
cubs. That protective instinct is born of motherly love. But
Chapter 13 the tigress cannot know anything about the original
source of this love. So, in My Creation, I decided that there
46. Arjuna says, 'Krishna, please may I ask You a few more should be one species that is capable of higher
questions? Why did You create the Universe in the first consciousness. A monkey may love its kids but it is not
place? Why did You create man? What is the purpose of evolved enough to be aware of Me, and to Love Me as the
human life? I hope You would be kind enough to explain.' Supreme Creator. That is why I created man. In fact, I
created him in My own image, blessing him with
innumerable treasures, making it easy for him to
47. Krishna replies, 'Arjuna, at last you are beginning to
recognise Me.'
think! Let Me start with the question about why I created
the Universe. I have already told you that I exist even
when the Universe does not. I am then in a state of sheer
oneness and absolute bliss. It is not easy for ordinary
mortals to understand that state but elevated souls can,
especially when they go into a trance.'
48. 'Arjuna, you may not believe this, but like humans, I
also enjoy sport. Devotees refer to My sport as Leela.
Creation is a Leela of God! I created diversity so that I
could play with Myself, appearing in numerous forms!
' 49. 'You might have sometimes seen children play with
dolls. They hold the doll and talk to it. And they speak as if
the doll is talking back to them. They try to feed and even
spank the doll if they think it is misbehaving. My Leela is
similar!'
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GITA FOR CHILDREN - Part 26
56. 'People, may shake their heads and declare, “This is the battle and cannot be chanting My Name
impossible! How can one make God the only object of continuously. But no problem. Just think of Me for a
life? What about family and relatives? What about work moment before you start. Say a small prayer like, “Lord, I
and relaxation? Should life become one long, dull and am going to be busy for a while. But it is Your work I shall
monotonous pilgrimage to something we do not be busy with. Please bless it and accept that as a humble
understand?” Let Me answer this doubt.' offering from me to You.” After that short prayer, you can
go about your business.'
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66. Arjuna responds, 'Krishna, I have a little problem with be rapid progress. And when there is progress, tests
Your observation that we should think we are working for would also become less frequent.'
You. Let us say there is a farmer who has employed a
servant. The farmer pays the wages and therefore the
74. Arjuna is not ready
servant is working for the farmer and not You. How can
to give up and raises a
the servant think he is working for You? This point is not
new question. He says,
clear to me.'
'Something is still
missing. I can think of
67. Krishna laughs and says, 'Arjuna, if you understand many noble souls who
what the Cosmic Drama is all about, you would not be in spite of being very
asking this question. True, the servant is working for the pure face a lot of
farmer but that is so only in a worldly sense. In reality, suffering. How do You
who is that farmer but Me in disguise? That is the feeling explain that?'
of Oneness that you ought to have.'
69. Krishna replies, 'Arjuna, if you look merely at the 76. A shocked Arjuna asks, 'Your give them suffering as a
surface, you would only see a mean and wicked person as part of Your Master Plan? What on earth for?'
you describe him. But go a bit deeper and what do you
find then? You will discover that the so-called wicked
77. Krishna replies, 'Arjuna, you must remember that
farmer is indeed God in disguise giving you a test! Test is
everything that God does has a purpose. In this world,
taste for God, you know!'
there are any number of bad guys who keep on setting
the wrong example. Don't you think the world also needs
70. Arjuna is unconvinced. He shrugs and says, 'Krishna at least a few good role models for Kshama or
this is just too much! You are supposed to be God. You forbearance? Once again, God does everything with a
know everything. Then why must You test a person and purpose. If a blade of grass moves, that too is a part of My
make him suffer in the process? Just why do You have to Master Plan. You must have that deep faith.'
do that?'
(To be continued)
71. Krishna says in reply, 'You have got it all wrong. When – Heart2Heart Team
did I tell you that I test a person in order to find out what
exactly he is like? I know for sure everything about every
person of the past, the present and also the future. When
I test you, it is merely for helping you to know where
exactly you are on the spiritual ladder.'
72. 'A smart devotee would say, “This is a test that God
has given me. And I have done just the opposite of what
He expects from me, which means I have flunked! Let this
be a lesson. Next time, let me get my act together
properly and not fail like now.”'
73. 'If people introspect like this all the time, there would
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MANSION OF LOVE - The Revolutionary Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital at Rajkot
Mr. Kanubhai Patel - the Lord's instrument referred her to the leading surgeon in Ahmedabad. Even
he gave up, seeing the risky situations involved. But, God
and were completely dependent on outside support. But
had not given up on her. During this time, Dr. T. Lebroy, a
we never lost hope. Swami's golden assertion: 'If anyone
British Surgeon, was in Ahmedabad for a day to address a
tries to do good to others with a selfless motive, take this
conference on the latest surgical practices offered
assurance from Me, all his needs will be taken care of,'
abroad. The Ahmedabad based prominent surgeon
always rang in our ears and we had rock-like faith.” And
referred the case to Dr. Lebroy. After studying the case
what happened later might be an extraordinary
carefully, Dr. Lebroy said, “I will do the operation,
coincidence for a casual observer, but they knew it was
provided it can be done tomorrow.” And so, immediately
the divine working as ever in His mysterious ways.
arrangements were made. On call, the devotee from
“One day in the morning when the hostel was being London provided the financial assistance of Rs. 75,000
cleaned,” Mr. Kanubhai recalls, “a gentleman from within 24 hours, which took care of the hospitalization
Singapore came in and had a look at the center. He was expenses, valve costs, etc. Moved by the selfless motive of
flabbergasted to know that all the medical services in Sai volunteers who were helping the hapless lady out, Dr.
here were offered absolutely free, with good intentions Lebroy did not charge a rupee for the operation. The
and no expectations. He was surprised, and at the same surgery, by the Almighty's grace, was a success. With her
time sad because it did not have adequate equipment. He values replaced and repaired, Kalpanaben now was
immediately offered to donate machinery worth Rs.1.2 ecstatic. She could now lead a normal life. It is amazing
million, and in no time the centre saw itself in a how so many events connected themselves so beautifully
completely new visage. The doctors could now treat more to rewrite Kalpana's destiny, who did not know anybody
people with less trouble.” Miracles in every sphere of even within the range of 40 kms of the city of Rajkot,
work of this diagnostic centre was nothing unusual, it where she lived. Somebody has rightly said,
was there everyday for people to see. Just consider “Coincidences are occasions when God chooses to be
Kalpanaben. anonymous.”
The Case of Kalpanaben The Divine Exceeds Expectations
Kalpanaben was diagnosed to be suffering from twin Everyday experiences of such 'divine designs' only raised
problems; she needed valve replacement as well as valve the devotees' zeal to its zenith. They wanted to do more
surgery. Rajkot, at that time (early nineties), had little but what they had was still a small diagnostic centre. They
assistance for such problems. Hailing from a very poor wanted a bigger and better equipped health centre for
background and living with her two kids, aged two and diagnosis. They waited for the opportunity to present
four, there was no way she could afford the surgery. But their desire before Bhagavan. And the breakthrough did
finance was not really an issue because a London-based come shortly, in a manner and scale they had never
Sai devotee had promised to cover whatever the expense. anticipated.
The main concern was the complexity of the case. She
It all happened in 1994 when Mr. Kanubhai Patel on a visit
needed the surgery urgently but no surgeon was
to Puttaparthi, offered to Bhagavan three crores in
prepared to take the chance. Nothing could save her
reverence and gratitude for the three sons that God had
except prayer, it seemed.
blessed him with. The merciful Bhagavan, who only
Dr. Rajesh Teli, one of the doctors at the diagnostic centre, knows to give, told Him He does not need his money but
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more time, in fact, he removed all the burden from The Hospital - A Testimony to Selfless Love
Mohammed's head. He told him, “Go to the Sri Sathya Sai Where selfless love is, there God is. The hospital today
Heart Hospital in Rajkot. All operations there are stands as a testimony to the whole world what pure love,
conducted totally free of cost and there is no when expressed in service, can do. Over the years, many
discrimination of any kind.” Mohamed for a moment felt distinguished personalities, national and international,
as light as a feather, but slowly doubts started unsettling have stepped into the portals of this 'mansion of love';
him. “How is it that the operations are done totally free? some came as curious visitors, some as willing-to-learn
There must be a catch.” His mind was never at rest. social workers and some as inquisitive investigators. All of
On the next Thursday Mohamed and his wife took Rabiya them witnessed the unbelievable and left humbled
to Rajkot, a distance of 216 kms from their home-city, paying homage to this 'savior of the poor'. When the
Ahmedabad. Rabiya again went through a multitude of former Chief Minister visited the place a couple of years
tests and the hole in the heart was confirmed. She was ago, he left with the hospital a cheque with a generous
advised medication to increase her weight and the amount from his relief fund. Very recently, the Rajkot
hospital informed them that they would soon receive an Municipal corporation, as a mark of gratitude,
intimation giving them the date of operation. contributed a large sum to the hospital's coffers.
Mohammed and family returned home, relieved and
happy. But friends and relatives took away his peace. One
of them said, “There should be some kind of 'underhand
dealing' to get the operation done”.
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Sri Uday Kotak of Kotak Mahindra Bank Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, renowned
and Sri Parimal Nathwani, Head of Reliance Santoor maestro, sharing God's love during a
Industries, Gujrat taking a tour of the hospital recent visit to the hospital
from all over the state of Gujarat. At times, you will even
find patients from the far-north of India. Pandit Shiv
Kumar Sharma, the world renowned Santoor maestro, on
his visit to the hospital, was surprised to find a patient
from his home-state of Jammu and Kashmir. Selfless love
has become so scarce in the present times, any amount of
distance or ordeal is welcome once you are convinced it is
assured.
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completely unfounded. Immediately a wave of guilt The Gowdas, today, are a changed family. When H2H
gnawed his entire being. He felt, “I am responsible for my visited the Gowdas on the eve of Bhagavan's Swami's 81st
daughter's pathetic situation.” He could barely speak to birthday, they were in a great mood, celebrating the
his wife, Lila. His transformation was immediate and occasion distributing sweets to the neighbors. They have
repentance was paramount on his mind. In no time, he never seen Swami physically; they just know His ashram is
managed to get a photo of Baba and decided to pray till in Andhra Pradesh. Nevertheless, for them, now Sai Baba
He did something to improve Jyoti's health. is all. When asked about visiting Puttaparthi, the
Something interesting happened now. Within a few days, enthused and energetic Jyothi says, “Mai Zaroor Jaongi" (I
the unemployed Ramesh got a small job. They had now a will surely go) with a smile and the spirit of somebody
means of living. In another two months, there was a beyond her years.
bonus: additional part-time work supplementing his The Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital Stands as a
income. The family was getting fed now, but Jyoti's heart Beacon of Love
was still left to its creator's grace. As they prayed and If this not a miracle, then what is! The Sri Sathya Sai Heart
cursed themselves of the missed opportunity, a wave of Hospital has not only healed the physical hearts of
joy swept out all the melancholy when Ramesh noticed hundreds but also allowed them access to that 'colossus
the date of another Heart Camp to be held in his area. His store of positive energy and inspiration' by awakening
only worry now was whether he will be given another and enlivening each one's spiritual hearts. While these are
chance. The doors of pure love are always open. In fact, the individual effects on each patient and their near and
they say, God is waiting like the early morning warm rays dear ones, on the global level, it has magnificently
of the Sun to enter our beings if only we make at least a demonstrated what many medical administrators and
tiny hole in the wooden door of our heart. other health professionals think is far-fetched or utopian.
The general conclusion
w h e n p e o p l e
contemplate on
Swami's Super
Specialty Hospitals,
both in Bangalore and
Puttaparthi, is that,
“These hospitals are
running completely
free because of Swami's
physical involvement
and to replicate these is simply unthinkable in current
times.” Sometime ago, when the editor of SWISSMED
(Swiss Review for Medicine and Medical Technology), Mr.
With Jyothi smiling - happiness has Felix Wust, asked Dr. Safaya, the Director of Swami's
returned to the family, thanks to His grace Hospital at Puttaparthi, the same question - if such 'free
hospitals' can be replicated in the West - he said, “Why
Jyoti's New Life Shines
So without any objections, Jyothi was registered and even not? I do not think Westerners are devoid of sympathy for
given the date of operation then and there. The Gowdas people. I do not think the West is lacking in the type of
reached Rajkot from people who think serving man is serving God.” There lies
Ahmedabad, a day the key. Before the developed world has even
earlier to the operation. contemplated on such an idea, it is there for the whole
The next day Jyothi was world to see in one of the poorest regions of developing
operated upon and the India! With pure love anything is possible. There is
day after she was nothing in the world that selfless love cannot achieve and
discharged. The ailing if anybody wants more proof, the resplendent Sri Sathya
heart had found its Sai Heart Hospital at Rajkot stands as a beacon,
Swami now rests perm- embracing one and all into its bosom of love.
anently in their hearts and solace and Jyothi, a new
in the family shrine life. - Heart2Heart Team
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CHRONICLES OF Adilabad
HEAVEN ON EARTH
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swollen feet and when enquired, they all said, 'We love the multitudes that thronged to Him. Many of them,
our Swami and we want to stage a drama in His presence.' referring to these youth said, 'He came to us through you
These fiery youth of Adilabad mobilzed hundreds to and called us to Him. Today we came to Him.'
undertake seva activities. With an able support of the Sai filled their hearts and minds with His Darshan on
district elders, they served 405 villages of the district. On February 12 and all of them left for their homes in the
the particular day of grama seva, each village would rise evening. As they walked out of the mandir, some were
early in the morning with the name 'Sai' being echoed by choked with emotion, some dug their faces in their palms
the youth. Sai sevaks would then conduct high quality and wept, some were lost in the thought of Sai. One
veterinary and medical camps. These camps are attended amongst them remarked, 'We are carrying Prashanthi
by the reputed medical wizards of Andhra Pradesh. They Nilayam in our hearts and Sai in our breath. None can be
would then hold an awareness camp for all the children ever separate us from His breath and His heart.'
and their parents. Later they would undertake strenuous One day prior to their arrival, Swami called the authorities
physical labour cleaning the drains, building water tanks and said, 'My devotees are coming from Adilabad.
and schools, laying roads and much more. They built Give them proper accommodation and food. Take
three elementary schools and connected eight highly good care of them.' Later Swami called the district
inaccessible hilly areas to the main stream of economic president and enquired about the status of drinking
life. Evenings would witness a grand procession of Sai in a water and the number of rivers that flow in the district. He
palanquin. Almost each of the households, irrespective of said that a direct train to the district would be provided
their religion would receive Him with Aarthi and offer very soon.
their heartfelt prayers. In the night the youth would stage
After the music programme, He called the music director
a drama entitled 'Maarpu Raavaali - We should Change'
of the group and said, 'These are My children. Teach
and thus subtly but powerfully conveying the message 'Be
them good music.' He called a kid and patting his cheek
good, Do good and See good. This is the way to God.'
said, 'Learn music well. Visualize me always in your
Hundreds of these innocent villagers too were seated in
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PRASHANTI DIARY
eyes. In your next trip you will sing very nicely' and Now just think for a moment how fortunate you would be
immediately the whole group was excited for there if you happen to visit the nearby Shiva temple to sing
would be another trip to Puttaparthi!” bhajans and are blessed by a vision of Lord Shiva Himself.
Well, this is exactly what every devotee in Prasanthi
Shivarathri Celebrations: 16th February
The eve of every new Nilayam experienced on this blessed night of Shivarathri.
moon night is Tears rolled down the eyes of many a devotee as they saw
considered an their Lord Sai Shiva amidst them blessing them with His
auspicious night for darshan while they sang His glory. As Puttaparthi
Lord Siva and is known metamorphosed into the mystical mount Kailasa and the
as Sivaratri. The new ashram donned a festive look, huge crowds of devotees
moon night in the from all parts of the globe were pouring in to actively
vedic month of Magha participate in singing the glory of God all night long.
(February-March), The Master of Blessed indeed are the devotees who stood for hours
however, is more Mount Kailasa - Lord Shiva together in long queues to enter the Sai Kulwant Hall to
auspicious because as legend has it, Lord Siva performs witness the festival of Mahasivarathri. Their long wait
the Cosmic dance of creation, preservation and was over as Bhagavan graced the Sai Kulwant hall in the
destruction, and hence, is known as Mahasivaratri. The morning at around 8 a.m. When the first rain lashes
temples perform Rudra Abhisekham (chanting sacred across the dry lands, the Earth expresses its joy by
hymns in praise of Lord Shiva) starting in the evening and spreading the fragrance of its soil far and wide. The same
all through the night. Devotees fast all day and the night was true on that beautiful morning. Parched hearts which
of Mahasivaratri and break the fast the next day morning. lay hard and dry received the shower of His love as He
People gather together and sing praises or bhajans of moved amongst His devotees.
Lord Siva. Some take the opportunity to chant the mantra
"Om Namah Sivaya" all night. It is also common to
congregate at the nearby Siva temple and perform
abhishekam (worship) with water and milk upon the
Lingam. Many women worship Siva for the welfare of
their husbands and the unmarried women make
offerings in the hope of getting a good husband.
In His Shivarathri discourse of 1969 Baba explained the
following details about the Lingam:
“The Linga is just a
symbol, a sign, an
illustration, of the
beginningless, the
endless, the limitless - for It's a cake! - Can you believe it?
it has no limbs, no face,
The Nadaswaram and the chantings of Vedic hymns
no feet, no front or back,
seemed further to electrify the atmosphere. As Bhagavan
no beginning or end. Its
entered the verandah the overseas devotees and the
shape is like the picture
students stood eagerly awaiting His presence to cut the
one imagines the
specially made “Shivarathri cake” they had prepared with
Niraakaara (Formless) to
great care and affection for Bhagavan. After cutting the
be. In fact, linga means -
The Lingam - cakes, Bhagavan went to the dais for the morning
leeyathe (that in which all
a symbol of divinity proceedings.
forms and names merge)
and gamyathe (that towards which all names and forms The senior students rendered a musical programme that
are proceeding, to attain fulfillment). It is the fittest lasted for nearly fifty minutes. Songs that glorified
symbol of the All-pervasive, the All-knowing, the All- Eashwara were offered at the Lotus Feet of the same
powerful.” Eashwara who is now in the form of our Saishwara. The
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everyone.
Speaking on the acronym of the word Hindu, Bhagavan
said that the five letters represent five sheaths and five
human values. " H – Humility...... I – Individuality..... N –
Nationality.... D - Divinity.... U – Unity."
When once there is Unity, you can develop Divinity. We
should uphold Nationality. So, it is the individual who
safeguards Nationality.
On the free education being given to students, Bhagavan
said that not a pie is taken from students with respect to
their education, be it examination fees or library fees.
"Everything originates from Truth " - Baba
Enrapturing one and all with His sweet voice “You are no longer Russians,
you belong to Bhagavan" - Baba
Truth and Righteousness come together Peace emerges
Bhagavan made an announcement that very soon He
and this is followed by Love. It is Love that brings
would go on trips round the world and that there are lots
everyone together. From Love comes Bliss. With Love,
of devotees in Africa and Russia. “You are no longer
there is no room for hatred and this makes way for Non-
Russians, you belong to Bhagavan. Russians, Japanese,
violence”, said Bhagavan. Exhorting the students to
Americans, Italians, all belong to Me. We have to learn
follow the culture of Bharat, Bhagavan declared that very
many things from them. These overseas devotees go to all
soon all would recognise the culture of Bharat.
places that Bhagavan goes. They even came to Chennai in
Acknowledging the devotion of devotees from overseas
spite of all difficulties and expenditure.”
countries, Bhagavan resounded, “All are one”. The
Bhagavan left for Yajur Mandiram at 7:15 p.m. and then
Russian blocks, both men and women in the
Prasanthi Nilayam became suffused with the joyful
congregation were the recipients of a special Divine
appreciation and the group cheered back with raised
hands in reverence to the Divine remark.
Pointing to the array of bulbs in the Hall Bhagavan said,
“Bulbs are many, but current is one.” Speaking on the
manifestation of Linga, Bhagavan said that He had
received many letters from devotees and the doctors
were also of the view that the manifestation of Linga
strains His body and that His body was very important for
everyone. All have prayed to Bhagavan to save His energy.
They were all of the view that Bhagavan should not strain
His body to give this temporary joy to the devotees and
that Bhagavan should retain this energy to confer bliss on The Russian devotees raise their hands...
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“Think of Mother and Father Bhagavan retired to Yajur Mandiram at 9:50 a.m. leaving
with gratitude” - Baba His children overwhelmed with His love-filled blessings.
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Tera Pyaar Teri Yaadein - A presentation by “Bhagavan, lessons learnt at Your lotus feet are lessons
X and XII class students on February 21st. that remain etched in my heart. One of the most
This joyful and touching occasion was staged by the tenth important lessons that I have learnt is that irrespective of
and twelfth standard of the Sri Sathya Sai Higher my age at every step you are always there, caring for me
Secondary School who presented a programme entitled and guiding me.
Tera Pyaar Teri Yaadein, a combination of songs and
It was after the sports meet in my second standard that I
speeches through which the students expressed their
fell seriously ill and in spite of all medications, my health
love and gratitude to Bhagavan.
showed no sign of improvement. I used to repeatedly
Bhagavan arrived in the Sai Kulwant hall at 4:15 pm and vomit and was very weak. My parents and teachers were
straight away came to the portico. He called one of the
boys and enquired about the programme, giving His
permission for it to start straight away.
The programme lasted for about fifty five minutes and
was a moving experience for one and all. Speeches were
made in different languages such as English, Sanskrit,
Telugu, Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, Malayalam, Oriya,
Bengali and Nepali. In their own style through poetry,
speeches or conversations, boys expressed their love and
gratitude to Bhagavan. The boys shared with the
audience the intimate moments they had with Bhagavan.
Bhaskar Sai Krishna, a student of the twelfth standard
said, Sharing his experiences...
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very anxious and asked me to pray to you. It was a few The songs, speeches and poems were all drenched with
days later that one morning You blessed us all with this theme. Their education, their health, their life…
Padanamaskar. While giving Padanamaskar You asked me everything they attributed to His love. Recounting a
how I was and I spontaneously replied, 'I am fine'. But, all miraculous incident when Swami gave him a new life, Sri
knowing that You are, You, with the love of a thousand, Chakra Sai, said, “When I was a little boy barely 5 years
nay, infinite mothers looked into my eyes and said, 'No, old, I was extremely sick. I was always running with a
you are not fine.' Creating vibhuti for me You asked me to fever and cough. No ice creams, no fruits, no sweets. My
take it. life was terrible. Then one fine day, our family came to
I took the vibhuti and my health took a 'U'-turn for the Brindavan for Swami's darshan.
best. Bhagavan, I am so grateful to you, for all that You He blessed everyone, except us. That day was Narayan
have done for me, for all that You have taught me and, for Seva day. Swami again came out and walking straight to
all that You are To Me.” me picked up a fistful of chocolates and showered them
on me. One chocolate touched my chest and lo! My heart
boosted. I was absolutely fine from that moment
onwards. No fever. No cough. Added to it, that year I was
blessed to join the Primary school and the first special
item I got was an ice cream! Swami you miraculously
cured me and you saved my mother's life too. On a solitary
night when my mother was all alone, You came in the
guise of an auto driver and brought her home safely. In
every step our family has taken we have always felt Your
presence. We are ever grateful to You Swami.”
Sri Chakra Sai then sang a poignant couplet that reflected
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The festivities began on the evening of 23rd February. to pay their obeisance to Lord Sai Buddha. After
On this holy occasion, 36 Buddhist monks from the four Bhagavan granted darshan, He permitted the
major sects of Tibetan Buddhism namely Nyingma, programme to commence. Two children offered flowers
Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug assembled in Prasanthi Nilayam to Bhagavan. Then, a monk from each of the sects
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presented 'Kata' to Bhagavan. The Kata is a sacred cloth The mantra seeks to have an eternal vision of the
and an auspicious symbol that is presented to Lord beautiful form of Lord Sai. This was followed by recitation
Buddha praying for His grace in successful chanting of of the Gayathri Mantra. At the end of the chanting
mantras. They also presented other sacred and auspicious session, as is the Buddhist custom, the merits accrued by
symbols like 'Dharmachakra' (symbolising the wheel of the chanting of all the mantras and all the good deeds
transformation wrought by Buddha Dharma), 'Amitayu involved in the holy activity were dedicated for the
Tanka' (a painting of a deity who bestows long life), greater health and happiness of all beings in the universe.
'Stupa' (a replica of the religious monument that is in the
shape of Lord Buddha seated in a meditative posture) and
'Chenrizig Mandala' (a three-dimensional geometrical
representation of the universe).
Then the monks commenced the chanting of the sacred
mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum”. This six-syllable mantra
is supposed to contain all aspects of the 84,000 sections
of Lord Buddha's teachings and is believed to generate
love, compassion and positive feelings that will uplift the
world.
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The procession begins... selected stanzas from “Di Zi Gui” that lays down the code
of conduct for children and students. Each of those
Chinese stanzas was followed by its meaning in English
and depicted through dialogues from day to day
happenings in our lives. The sweet voices of the little ones
and the catchy melody were a treat to everyone's ears.
This was followed by a choir presentation by the youth
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man faces in his daily life the conflict between the age-
old wisdom of profound ancient cultures and on one
hand and the modern convenient material lifestyle on the
other hand. At the end of the drama, Bhagavan granted
photographs to all the participants. The evening
concluded with Bhajans and Arati.
Bhagavan's love brings people together in the spirit of
unity. The month of February witnessed this in the form of
Maha Shivarathri and Chinese New Year where devotees
from different parts of the globe gathered at the lotus
Feet. This serene ever-flowing saga of love will continue
... with Prasanthi Mandir bhajans in Chinese
to flow in all its grandeur, month after month, sanctifying
members. They sang traditional New Year Day songs and the entire year. As we march into the month of March, we
also some Bhajans in Chinese language. shall see for ourselves how devotees, like honeybees get
attracted to the eternally blooming flower that is Sai to
The afternoon programme consisted of a drama titled
cherish the nectar of bliss. The pages of the Prasanthi
'My Parents, My Treasure'. The story revolved around a
Diary will be extremely joyous to share with you a
businessman Mr. Chin Keong, a widower with four young
complete account next month. Till then, Sairam. Jai Sai
children and an aging father, and how each day he
Ram!
struggled to attend to their needs in addition to his
professional responsibilities. One day he feels that he will
no longer be able to devote his time and energy to all of – Heart2Heart Team
them and so decides to send his aged father to an old age
home. Apart from the loneliness and isolation that he
would have to face, Keong's father is shocked that his son
is going against the age-old Chinese practice and
fundamental virtue of filial piety. Kim Leng, one of his
grandsons, realises the trauma that his grandfather is
going through, and the conversation between them
beautifully brings out the importance of upholding filial
piety through epic tales and the folklores of Chinese
tradition and culture.
The drama concludes on an emotional, yet happy note
where Kim convinces his father to keep his grandfather at
home. The drama vividly captured the dilemma that every
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H2H SPECIAL
HOW I BECAME Every time I lay down I could not breathe properly, neither
could I talk. The lump was so big that it interfered with
FASCINATED WITH SAI -
my speech. I have been in practice since 1957, thought
A Conversation With
from 1961, I practiced as specialized orthodontist. When
Dr. Keki Mistry - Part 1 this happened in 1965, it meant the end of my
professional life. Because every parent who brings their
This is the transcript of the conversation between Dr. child for treatment wants to ask me questions and I just
Keki Mistry, an eminent consultant orthodontist and a wasn't able to answer them. The very fact that I am
long standing devotee from Mumbai, and Prof. G talking to you is a miracle of Baba.
Venkataraman aired on Radio Sai a few weeks ago. I was brought up in a scientific environment; most of my
Prof. Venkatraman (GV): Sai Ram Doctor. It is very nice relatives were doctors, scientists, professionals, lawyers,
to see you here in the studio, which is a new Avatar of the some of them leading lawyers in the city of Mumbai. The
building you have been used to long ago, when it was background in which I brought up had taught me that
first constructed. [Earlier the Studio building was the EHV anything to do with any Baba or any person like that was
centre] It is a wonderful Studio, blessed by Swami and a crutch. That was the bane of India. This was my
from this Studio, we have brought the experiences of so thinking.
many devotees to people all over the world. It is now my In 1964 somebody gave me a picture of Baba and some
pleasure to have you chat with us here. Could you vibhuti. I was ill then. This was six months prior to my
introduce yourself briefly, tell us all about yourself, your meeting Baba. I respectfully turned it down and said, “I
professional career and how you came to Swami? All our don't know who he is”. In 1965, I read Prof. Kasturi's book
listeners would be very happy to learn that. “Sathyam Shivam Sundaram” and I read it with a lot of
“To Be Able to Speak is Itself a Miracle” interest. In fact, I read it through the whole night. I was
Dr. Keki Mistry (KM): thinking I was really grasping the stories.
Sai Ram to all of you. At
'Baba is Calling You'
the outset can I start by I said to myself, 'maybe I
saying how I am very should meet Baba, maybe
proud and privileged to that miracle can happen
be here with you to me.' Then I heard that
Professor and in a He was in Mumbai. And I
program that bears was walking down the
Swami's name. I am really honored to be here. My name Hanging Gardens in
is Dr. Keki Minochia Mistry. I am an Orthodontist Malabar Hills, when a
practicing in the city of Mumbai for the last 45 years. I am young boy came and told
in practice, I am in teaching, and I am in research. I have me, “Baba is calling you.”
been Professor and Head of the Department at the I said, “Who, Baba?” Just
Government Dental College, Mumbai. I have also been before that I must tell you
Dean and Director of Dental Studies of the D. Y. Patil six months ago when somebody gave me the picture of
University. Somewhere in 1965, I suddenly found I was Baba, I had said to myself, “Who is this man with the red
losing my voice and I developed a very bad cough. I was dress and fuzzy hair?”
coughing almost every second. I just couldn't sleep or lie So when this boy said to me, “You know that Baba with
down. I had to spend nights sitting up just like this. Then that big hair and red dress.”
I got myself examined, because a dry cough like that can
I said, “Yes, I know Him.” The he told me, He says to you,
be scary! They found that I had a lump in my throat the
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HOW I BECAME FASCINATED WITH SAI - A Conversation With Dr. Keki Mistry - Part 1
“Come to me.” I went there and it was in the house of Mr. actually a flow of water,
P. K. Savant. This was around 12 o clock in the afternoon. like a river. Swami was
And it was a Ministers House, so police were there. standing and looking at
I had no knowledge of Baba or His routine. Baba had me sweetly. Tears fell at
already given darshan and retired there. Police stopped His feet. I felt very
me from going. I said, 'Baba has called me.' They said comfortable with Him.
“Who?” I turned around and said, 'this boy…' I turned He was at the verandah,
around and looked, there was no boy! at a height of 3-4 feet,
I told the policeman, “Please let me go inside.” The police and I was on the
looked at me and said, “You look like an cultured man, downstairs.
why are you doing this? Everybody wants to go inside.” And then He takes a look
Somehow I wanted to stay. Half an hour passed and at me, talks to me and
some policemen came to me and said, “You look like an says “Kal Ma ko Leke Aana Maa ka thabeeyath teek nahi
educated person, why are you waiting here? Baba will hai. [Get your mother and come tomorrow. Her health is
not come out now. You go to Gwalior garden darshan at 4 not good].” My Mother has not been well, being a chronic
o-clock. Baba is not going to come here just now, before 4 asthmatic. So I said, “OK.”
p.m.” “Tomorrow 9 o'clock, please come,” he said again. I said,
Still I waited. It was May, very, very hot. And it used to be “Swami nobody is allowing me to come.” He, then, spoke
very hot in Mumbai. I waited, somehow or other. About to someone and they gave me permission for two people
at quarter to 2, I decided that I will wait till 2 p.m. If - myself and my mother. I went home and Mother was
Bhagavan Baba doesn't come out, then I will go back very happy. She was spiritually very involved all the time.
home. So if Swami had called me, he had called 200 other people
It was too hot then and I stayed in the sun for almost two too. And it was a huge gathering of 200 other people all
hours, and I wasn't keeping well. About 5 minutes to 2 in stages of sickness.
p.m, Baba came out of the window on the first floor. He “He is my boy” - Swami
looked directly at me and said, “Come.” Now, the I distinctly remember one girl of 11 or 12, moaning away,
policemen's back was to the window and I was there because she is supposed to have a tumour in her head.
across the road. I rushed. Around me there were two We were all sitting down. When Swami came out in a
other ladies. I thought they were widows because they room and He called us inside, like in the interview room, I
had white sarees on. They also came. They also saw had no knowledge of all this. I thought it would be like a
Baba. I didn't know whom Baba called me or them? But I doctor's room. I was called in fourth and I went with my
went. mother.
The policemen again told me, “What is this nonsense?” I Swami stood there
said, “Baba really called me, from the window.” But Baba and He talked to my
was no more there. I looked around. Again no one! But mother and said,
The ground floor was on a level, slightly higher than the difficulty in
floor of the compound wall. And I stood there, when I breathing.” Anyone
saw Him for the first time, I was not crying. But then tears looking at Mummy
coming down my eyes, just flowing. I was embarrassed. could tell she had
There were those ladies who followed with me inside and asthma. She had the
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H2H SPECIAL
gasp for breath and everything else. But she wasn't you that some of the leading cancer specialists had all
interested about herself at all. seen me and it was documented that they should get this
So she said, “Swami, What about him?” Now look, I was lump out. “It will interfere with your breathing.” “We
looking normal. The throat wasn't showing anything. But don't know if it is cancer.” “We can tell that only after the
He said, “I know Ma. Upar Lump hai. (yes, there is a lump biopsy.” “It is getting bigger.” “You must get it out.”
on the top). Negative, Positive thoughts. Operation kare, I didn't show myself to any doctor after Swami left. Six
na kare? (whether to do operation or not?)” months passed, I was completely cured, symptoms had
So mother asked Him the million dollar question: “Does all disappeared. I had no physical checkup, no
he have cancer or not?” authenticity whether that tumor was there or not.
With great authority Baba said “Cancer? He cancer? He is Approximately six months later, I had a severe coughing
not your son, He is my boy. He has only come through bout. I spat blood. I was very scared. I went to the ENT
you. No Cancer. He cannot have cancer.” surgeon, who is still alive at the age of 90 plus. I said, “Dr
Then Swami waved his hand and materialized a lot of ash Heeru, Please see me.”
in mother's hand. She said, “What should I do?” We have He said, “You are very tense, I can't examine you. Have you
never seen anything like this sacred ash before. He said, had anything since the morning?” “No, I just woke up and
“Kha Jao.” (“Eat!”) She gulped all of it. He took me aside came here. I haven't even had a cup of tea.” After that he
and said, “Do not worry. You go and pray, in 3 days you administered me anasthesia, a small induction, and then
will be alright.” said, “Tell me what has happened? This is beautiful.
I was very spiritual that way. I used to believe in prayers There is nothing there, there is no tumor. How did you
and divinity a lot, except that I could not believe in any get it removed? What did you do? Who did you show
human being divine. to?”
GV: When you say you pray a lot, you mean you prayed in Then I told him the whole story. He listened to this very
the Parsi way? intently and said, “Yes, I have heard cures about him. You
KM: Yes, according to the faith I was brought up. I had a are very lucky. I have seen cures like this. Go, you are a
thing about going to the fire temple. I used to go 3-4 very blessed man!”
times a week even as a school boy. This was my nature. So, that was my authenticity.
When I say prayer, I didn't really know any formal A Change Occurs Both Inside and Out
language nor the Avestan language, and I didn't like to GV: At that point you believed it was a sort of
pray in a language which I didn't know. I used to just go psychosomatic phenomena, how did you change your
to the temple and communicate. view? How did the full faith and confidence come to you?
praying. Then He saw Baba, I went to the temple after I went to Baba. I
I didn't show myself to a doctor. At this stage I must tell Swami was looking like a
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HOW I BECAME FASCINATED WITH SAI - A Conversation With Dr. Keki Mistry - Part 1
tiny speck and I was hoping that He would come towards my son was born.
me. But I was almost at the last row and in a place where GV: Amazing!
Swami would normally not come. And Swami came KM: I went to visit my son in the hospital on the 3rd day
almost half way into the crowd and then He turned back and my son's bilirubin had shot up to 10-11. If bilirubin
towards the podium. But suddenly He turned. And made shoots up, it can cause the brain to be damaged. They
a beeline towards me. There was a rock there towards the were taking the blood from the skull of the infant and
end of the ground and I was sitting on the rock. He came seeing the count. My wife almost fainted watching this.
very near me, put His hand on my shoulder and said, She didn't know what was wrong and in her mind she
“Don't push too hard.” I did not know what that meant said, “They are taking blood from the skull”. It upset her
but I took it as a sign. I said, “Why among the entire huge but at the same time she was strong. The bilirubin
crowd He asked me?” All the other people started asking sometimes went up to 10-13, but she said, “Don't worry.
me, “Does he know you? Do you know him?” I said, “It Swami told you Chiranjeevi (Long life). He will live.”
was my first time.” Whatever that incident meant, I took When Swami had said Chiranjeevi, I had thought it was a
it as a sign! kind of casual blessing. Now I knew the significance. So
From then on, many things happened. My wife was we kept the confidence and he recovered. They found
pregnant with my first child, nobody in the family knew that in Parsis, the G6PD blood deficiency is common. He
about it, except her mother and my mother. And with was born with the blood deficiency. This incident almost
only three months into the family way, she wasn't strengthened our faith quite a bit.
showing. I went to Puttaparthi. Sometimes He used to My wife was no way near Swami and she was 700 miles
call doctors (1965-66) and speak to us. Swami used to away, no one knew that she was pregnant. We did not
ask few questions. I normally listen. He looked at me and discuss this with anyone. But He said everything. I wasn't
asked, “Aapko kuch bolna hai? Kuch poochna hai? (Do even thinking about her pregnancy during that interview.
you want to ask or say something?”) GV: Your narration is so fascinating, I have to ask you for
I said, “Nothing”. But I must tell you, my wife had more.
developed a funny problem of spitting. Every second she
Life-Giving Sai
used to spit and that used to drive her crazy. She had KM: I have seen so many
tremendous salivation and it used to flow. So suddenly I things now, being with
remembered about my wife and said, “My wife…” Swami for 40 years. I
Swami cut me immediately and said, “Malum hai, Sir, saw a person, a Sindhi
Garbh” (I know, Sir, she is pregnant) Mind you, she was gentleman, who was a
700 miles away. He said, “Do not worry, August 22, you printer from Madras,
will have a son.”I didn't ask Him anything. Then He said being declared dead.
something else. “Chiranjeevi - Long Life!” Swami used to ask me to go and work in the general
Then all the doctors went away. I went home and my wife hospital in Puttaparthi whenever I used to come here.
said, “I want to tell you something. I am not spitting, One night, Dr Bhaskar Rao from Andhra Pradesh and
salivating.” I asked her went did it stop and I traced out myself were sleeping, as part of our duty near the bed of a
that exactly at the moment I talked to Swami, she patient. This person was almost declared dead. The whole
stopped. family was called from Madras (now Chennai). At about
To cut a long story short, I got a son. Swami did 12 o clock in the night, Dr. Bhaskar Rao wakes me and
materialize a fruit during that conversation. It was a dry says, “Did you smell something very fragrant?”
date. “A few hours before your wife goes for the hospital, [Incidentally, this incident has been written about in
you make her eat that fruit,” He had said. We religiously Sanathana Sarathi, in the late 1960s.]
did that for her and on August 22, just as Baba had told, Dr. Bhaskar Rao woke me up. It was a very strong
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H2H SPECIAL
fragrance of vibhuti - it was very fascinating. This was the her death was extremely peaceful, but not before that.
man almost dead! But nothing happened, we just got She was neither here nor there. She wouldn't allow
the smell. The next morning we went for our bath. And anyone to touch her, except me. She kept on saying, “My
when we returned it must be about 6 o'clock in the Prince,” and asked me all funny things. She asked,
morning - we saw this man sitting up on the bed and “Without a dog, can a man enter the kingdom of
singing Raghupathi Raghava Raja Ram! I almost fainted. heaven?” I told her the vedic story of how the king and
It was so funny, it was so fascinating. This man who is the dog were refused entry. It was completely out of blue.
almost dead, singing Raghupathi Raghava Raja Ram! She used to sing, say some hymns and things like that,
The Divine Blesses The Dutiful which completely befuddled us. She had no knowledge.
Now, to tell you another interesting tale, my mother had She was talking in tongues, which was totally new to us
absolute devotion to Baba. For her, Baba was 'the thing'. and completely new to her as an individual. I remember
Nothing was in between her and Baba. One day while I during her last moments, I was standing at the foot of her
was talking with her, she stood up and turned to go to the feet. She was lying there, raised her hands and then
kitchen. I saw a big red blob on her backside. It was blood. waived as if she was bidding goodbye and then closed her
I said, “What is this?” “I have been bleeding often,” she eyes. She had a peaceful death.
said. I got very upset. “You don't even tell me, how would I told later to Swami about her end. I said that Mother was
I know you are bleeding from your rectum?” We found talking in all kinds of languages and her end was very
out that she had cancer of the rectum. She told me, “Go peaceful. Swami took it as a matter of course. But let me
and tell Swami”. So I went to Baba. I went to Whitefield tell you, Swami had visited Bombay during her illness. She
but Baba was in Kodaikanal. I said, “OK, I will stay here for was admitted in the Parsi General Hospital. And I was one
a while and then go back”. But Mr. Ramabrahman, the of those persons Swami asked to be with Him whenever
caretaker of Whitefield ashram, told me, there was a He came to Bombay (now Mumbai). There were a few
phone call from Swami. “Dr. Mistry is there, tell him not to others like Inamdar and Satheesh, and Swami used to
go, I will come in the evening” that was the message allow us to be in His room. We did everything - draw His
from Him. So I stood by. When He came, I told Swami water, take out His clothes, serve Him food, etc. all things
about mother's cancer. Swami then looked at me directly an attender would do. We were on duty and I was staying
in the eye and said, “What doctor, should people live in Dharmakshetra (Swami's residence in Mumbai) itself,
forever?” I, then, realized that it was His way of saying she full 24 hours. I didn't go anywhere.
was going to die. Other people used to ask me, “What about your
Then I said, “Swami, as a son, I would request you that she practice?” But I used to feel very happy doing this and He
should have a peaceful death.” “Peaceful death mangtha used to allow me to do this. Now, one night - it was a
hai? Jao Milega,” [You want for her a peaceful death? Go, Friday, I remember at 8 o clock - mother was very ill and
you will get that] He said, as if it was something He was she was in the hospital. A call came from my father that
giving out. the doctor says she is very serious and may not live
You should know through the night. So I asked my father, “Is she asking for
how to talk to me?” He said, “No. She is not conscious at all.” I said, “If
Bhagavan Baba. We she is not asking for me father, do you feel that I should be
ask him what we there with you, because I am on duty.” Swami retired at 8
think we need. I just pm. I cannot leave without Swami's permission. I don't
asked for a feel like leaving, I haven't spoken to Baba and I can't knock
peaceful death. I on the door now. I wouldn't do that.
should have asked My sister came on the phone and she said, “What,
for a peaceful whole life towards the end. The last week of nonsense?” I got a firing from her. I said, “Fine, give the
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HOW I BECAME FASCINATED WITH SAI - A Conversation With Dr. Keki Mistry - Part 1
the front and Sri Indulal Shah would sit next to Swami at Please tell us more stories.
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SAI WORLD NEWS
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LOVE OF SCIENCE AND SIGNS OF LOVE
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SAI WORLD NEWS
NOTEWORTHY EHV
WORKSHOPS IN ABU
DHABI, U.A.E
'EDUCARE' is that holistic education for all Abu Dhabi - properous and beautiful
It is a must to learn from early per divine call
Abu Dhabi is one of the most modern cities in the world. EHV in Abu Dhabi -
With headquarters of most of the emirates oil operating An Educational Inspiration
companies as well as other national embassies based In Abu Dhabi, we find Education in Human Values classes
here, this city is, truly, the center of government and imparting value instruction and inspiration to more than
business life in the UAE. The architecture of its modern 150 children by scores of Sai teachers every week at eight
buildings and skyscrapers is the finest in the Middle East. centers; training workshops for Bal Vikas teachers;
Located in the oil-rich and strategic Persian Gulf region, seminars on 'Dynamic Parenting' for school teachers and
the majority of the inhabitants of Abu Dhabi are Parent's Contact Programs held in the Sai centers
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NOTEWORTHY EHV WORKSHOPS IN ABU DUBAI, U.A.E.
The Chancellor of
Swami's blessings for the centre
Abu Dhabi University lights the lamp
regularly; a two-day discussion on Human Values in 2000
attracting 350 teachers besides leading local luminaries
like H.E .Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister
of Higher Education and Scientific Research and
Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, and
Indian ambassador HE. K. C. Singh.
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SAI WORLD NEWS
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NOTEWORTHY EHV WORKSHOPS IN ABU DUBAI, U.A.E.
But the icing on the cake was the message of Prof. into human values which are intrinsic in every one of us,
Reynold Macperson, Chancellor Abu Dhabi University, and which I am now trying to put into practice every day.
Abu Dhabi, who said, “Education in Human values is The methods of teaching that were used were especially
the ultimate in education and the future of the world. efficient as they were geared for people from all walks of
I will readily give my auditorium in the newly coming life. How can I admit my children?” This was what a
up campus to hold EHV seminars in the future and Muslim lecturer from the Higher College of Technology
also I will involve all my teaching faculty and enquired.
students.”
Delegates including
Prof. Macperson in the front row
Counselor Reema Menon
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SAI WORLD NEWS
Commencement of workshop -
Master of Ceremony
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NOTEWORTHY EHV WORKSHOPS IN ABU DUBAI, U.A.E.
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SWAMI AND ME
TSUNAMI OF LOVE
By Ms. Vaishnavi Nair
surprise.
Being the last quarter of the academic year my school was
not ready to grant a week of leave of absence at a stretch.
But the Lord took care. My duties were arranged on week-
ends. As an ex-balavikas student, I was fortunate to be
The ritwiks performing the asked to serve in the balavikas stall set-up near the ARMY
Athi Rudra Maha Yagna in Chennai site. Many parents along with their kids visited our stall.
On 19 Jan 2007, the city of Chennai was hit by another When they realized that even these teachings are
tsunami. But this time around, with a huge difference! It imparted absolutely free, they were blown off their feet.
left a trail of inexplicable happiness and indescribable joy. Several of them wanted to enroll their children
Such was the impact of the torrent of love. immediately.
When Swami declared that the second Athi Rudra Maha Meanwhile, news of the Yagna spread like wildfire. The
Yagnam (ARMY) will be performed in Chennai, the gathering crowd swelled in numbers. People from far off
hundreds of thousands of devotees in Tamil Nadu were towns, cities and villages began thronging the Yagna site
elated. The last time Swami graced the city was nearly ten as well as Sundaram (where Swami was residing). They
years ago. All of sudden, ARMY became the buzzword realized that this Yagna is not a common occurrence.
everywhere - be it at the ex-Balavikas conference or the Conducted after a few millenniums for the prosperity and
Sevadal meeting. peace of humanity, only an Avatar can manifest such
abundant blessings.
It goes without saying the Lord's mission moves on with
clockwise precision as per His sankalpa. But to be a small But apart from participating in the Yagna, the milling
instrument in the divine scheme of things, one needs to crowd prayed for a glimpse of the Lord. And Swami in His
be really blessed. For all us in Chennai, especially the Sai infinite love knows the yearnings of His devotees. To the
youth, this was a tremendous opportunity to participate great delight of all the devotees He went around the
in His work and partake divine grace. And participate we entire stretch of the hall. Thousands who witnessed this
did. With divine guidance behind us this is no great experienced a unique happiness. Even long-time
devotees of Swami confessed to have experienced a
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SWAMI AND ME
This is the transcript of a talk delivered by Sri Sanjay And what do we seek from Her?
Mahalingam in the divine presence of Bhagavan Baba Annapurney, Sadaapurney, Shankara Prana
during the Dasara celebrations on October 1, 2006. Vallabhey
Jnana, Vairagya, Sidhyartham; Bikshamdehi Cha
Parvati
From that Mother I seek the boon of Renunciation and
Wisdom.
It was about three years back in His Gurupurnima
Discourse, Bhagavan said:
“I am willing to grant anything to anybody; but
nobody asks! And even those who ask; ask for grass;
but don't ask for Grace!”
In His second Discourse; during these celebrations
Bhagavan said so poetically and mentioned such a
sublime and profound Truth! He said:
“You all breathe impure air! But I breathe the Pure air
Sri Sanjay Mahalingam speaking in His presence
which consists of the prayers of My devotees. I inhale
Offering my loving salutations at the Lotus Feet; the air of the aspirations of My near and dear ones;
revered elders, sisters and brothers. and what do I exhale? I exhale Blessings! 'Yes! Yes!
Yoganandakari Ripukshayakari Yes! Tathastu! Tathastu!' - What you ask; I will grant!”
Dharmarthanishthakari When we are in association with such a Benevolent
Mother; it is all that much more important for us to know
Chandrarkanala Bhaasamaonanalahiri
what to ask? What to ask from Swami?
Trayalokyarakshakari
Sarveshwarya Samasthavaanchithakari 'Grant Me Renunciation and Wisdom'
Kashipuradhishwari Jnana, Vairagya Sidhyartham; Bhiksham Dehi Cha
Parvati
Bhikshamdehi Kripaavalambanakari Mata
Annapurneshwari Oh Lord of Lords! Grant me if anything Renunciation and
Wisdom!
Drishyaadrishya Prabhoota Vaahanakari
Bramhaandabhaandodari What is Vairagya? Many
great seers describe it in
Leelananatakasutrabhedhanakari various ways - let me quote
Vigyanadeepankuri from Swami's Discourse
Shri Vishweshamanaprasaadanakari Swami says: “Vairagya is
Kashipuraadhishwari the ABC of sadhana. It is
Bhikshamdehi Kripaavalambanakari Mata the very first sign of a
Annapurneshwari spiritual life.”
These scriptures declare the most Benevolent Mother as What is Vairagya? Vairagya
the one who grants the bliss of yoga. is the absence of raga or
attachment. It is
The destroyer of foes - Ripukshayakari;
detachment from the
The protector of all the three worlds - pleasures of this world and
Trayalokyarakshakari; also from those obtainable in heaven after attaining the
The one who grants all prosperity and auspiciousness; the firm conviction that they are evanescent and fraught with
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After a desperate struggle, the instinct of self- For a man who turns away from objects; the objects also
preservation gained the better of his greed. He let go of will turn away from him that is the law. But the essential
the vessel and with both his hands and with a Herculean craving still remains, which too vanishes when 'Param
effort, he swam back to safety. On reaching the land he Drishtva Nivartatey', when the Supreme is beheld!
looked back and saw the shiny object floating away from Bhagavan mercifully commanded me just now to say
him. He couldn't bear the anguish and burst out into tears something on Ramatatwa the essence of Lord Rama. Just
and wept and wailed: “Oh! I lost my silver vessel!” a thought that comes to my mind and let me think aloud
A real sage a man of genuine dispassion and in Telugu 'Ra' means to come. Ra Randi. And in Tamil
renunciation - was seeing all this panorama, all this which happens to be my mother tongue 'Ma' is a word
drama. He came to him and said: “Friend! That vessel was used to connote Love. What I understand of the word
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SWAMI AND ME
What is the mark of an others? What is their opinion? Attachment to the world,
enlightened man? How to the society to the opinion of others.
does he walk? How does The second they say is attachment to the body.
he stand? How does he
And the third it is said is attachment to intellectual
smile? How does he sit?
knowledge. In the New Testament it is said that a camel
The Lord replies in the can go through the eye of a needle you know that a
next seventeen verses needle has a small hole at its head, through which we put
and He says: the thread. The New Testament says that a camel can go
Prajahati Yada through the eye of a needle but a wealthy man cannot go
Kaaman Sarvaan through the gates of heaven. In one of His Discourses
Paartha Manogataan Swami quoted this and then said: “Even the rich man can
Atmanyevatmana go through the gates of heaven, but a scholar cannot!”
Tushtaha Stithatpragnyastadochyatey The most difficult attachment to give up is the
attachment to intellectual knowledge.
One who has given up all desires of his heart, and is able
to satisfy himself totally by the joy of his own Self, he is a Attachment to the opinion of others: A very famous
real man of established wisdom! story is told of Mullah Nassirudin - he was moving along
with his son on a journey. The son was sitting on a mule
Kurmonganeeva Sarvashah and he was walking by its side. A passerby came and he
Like a tortoise who is able to withdraw his limbs, the man said: “Mullah! What is this? This is real kali-yuga! The son
who is able to withdraw his senses and fix his mind on the is comfortably sitting on the mule, and you're walking by
steady current of God, he is a man of renunciation. its side. What irreverence! What disrespect!”
He further adds that he, in whom all the desires enter, but The Mullah told the son
make no difference like all the rivers flow into an ocean to get down, and he got
he is the man eligible for Supreme Peace. None else! on the mule. As they
But what is this established Wisdom? The scriptures say p r o c e e d e d f u r t h e r,
three words: The Knowledge of the Self! another passerby came:
“Oh my God! This is real
There is a very paradoxical verse in the Kena Upanishad. It
kali-yuga! Look at those
says, 'He who says that he knows Brahman, doesn't know!
small, tender feet of that
He who says that he doesn't know Brahman, doesn't
little boy! You're making
know! But he who says that he knows not, but yet he
him walk on this rough
knows; he alone knows!'
road and you're
So what is the Knowledge of the Self? Anybody - for that comfortably sitting on
matter even a Sadguru can never tell us what is the Truth! the mule! You're the Mullah Nassirudin
For, it cannot be known because it is the final Ultimate father who's supposed to
Absolute Knower of all that is known! It cannot be seen take care of him. Very bad!”
because it is the final, Ultimate Absolute Seer of all that is
The Mullah said, “Neither of us will sit!” They both started
seen! It cannot be heard because it is the final Ultimate,
walking - each on the either side of the mule. A few
Absolute Hearer of all that is heard!
minutes later another passerby came and he said,
How can the fire ever feel its heat? How can the water “Mullah! What is this foolishness? For what did you buy
ever feel its own dampness? How can the eye ever see this mule? To give it a walk? It is walking happily and both
itself? How can I ever know myself? I can only be myself! of you are walking by its side!” So both of them sat on the
And to subjectively experience that state of Pure Being, mule! They went a few meters, another passerby came
where there is nothing known, nothing heard, nothing and he said, “What is this Mullah! You want to kill this
seen but there is only Pure Being that alone is Wisdom! mule? I agree you bought it, but so what? Don't burden it
And the only thing that prevents us from reaching that so much!”
state is attachment.
The Upanishads say, what can a thousand tongues do to
The Chains of Attachment you? Seek the Inner Voice, hear it clearly, and follow the
Attachment it is said is of various types. But there are Inner Guidance. Let the world say what it has to say and
primarily three strong fetters that bind a man. enjoy Itself!
Attachment to the society: What will they say? What will Finally - the attachment to the body. There is Swami's
the world think? What will this action have an impact on chinna katha again. An orthodox Brahmin lady who set
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WHAT TO ASK FROM SWAMI?
about on a journey, and was very particular about the My presence!” The presence is presence; existence is
purity of the water, the food that she consumes, who existence!
cooks it, etc. All said and done, brothers and sisters, about Vairagya,
It was a very dry area and in those areas, bags were made Jnana, Self, Brahman - they really have their place; but
of animal skin - they were very clean - they were well what we have to understand is that there is nothing
washed; but they were made of animal skin. And water greater than the Love for Swami.
used to be given to thirsty people from those bags. So If we were ever to see an experience, even for a fraction of
when the man came, the lady asked, “Is that bag clean?” a second the Love that Bhagavan feels for all of us - this
The man was a man of real wisdom. He said, “Madam! body will fall away like a dry leaf! We will not be able to
The bag which contains this water is far cleaner than the even bear the Love that Bhagavan feels for all of us - each
bag into which it will be poured! The so called body - and every second!
which you are so fond of - if only you could see the inside,
Bhagavan says, “Day and night I think of My devotees!” -
all your fondness will disappear! Because the mirror only
and it is not a mere statement!
shows the face, it doesn't show what is inside!”
“Day and night I'm thinking of you how can I help you;
The amount of time that we spend before the mirror,
how can I alleviate your misery; how can I show you what
watching our own face - if only half that time was spent
is Real joy; how can I wean you away from these
watching our soul, God will be our constant companion!
ephemeral, transient attractions that take away your
That is the third most difficult attachment to give up.
mind? How can I get your mind to My Lotus Feet and
Aham Mameti Bhavodehakshaadaa Vanatmani show you what is true contentment?”
Adhyasoyam Nirastavyo Vidusha Swatmanishtayah Santushtah Satatam yogi - A real yogi is a man of
Gyatva Sam Pratyagatmaanam Budhitat Vriti contentment!
Sakshinam “How do I show you I am the Prince of Dancers; I alone
Soham Ityevya Sadvritya Anaatman Yatmamatim know the pain of teaching you each and every step!” says
Bhagavan.
Foolish people identify themselves and get this feeling of
Aham Mameti - 'I' and 'Mine' in this body and these Ramana Maharishi used to say that there are only two
organs, etc. Put an end to it! ways to God: “Either inquire into the Self with entire
concentration and with a completely Integrated Being
'Your presence is My presence' - Baba find the Self and destroy your mind; or give me your mind
How?
completely and I will destroy it for you!”
Adhyasoham Nivarstabhyo
I have heard Swami say something to this effect:
How? “Complete self-surrender is the end to spiritual
Vidhusha Svatmanishtaya sadhana!”
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IN TUNE WITH THE DIVINE - Incredible Experiences Of Santoor Maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma
'My Home is in Your Heart' - Baba thoughts, this had happened. Thoroughly disappointed
Manorama and I After a while, I looked down at the parapet and I could see
early in the middle of the terrace, the golden bust of Baba that I had
appointed day. seen before going to sleep could have come off my ring
After the Bhajan and landed on the parapet. I retrieved the golden bust
and Darshan, we from the parapet with great difficulty and tried to fix it
were asked to go up to His residence and wait there. After back on the ring, but it did not work. I kept it with the ring
a while, Baba called us inside His room. We were sitting in in a small silver container and used to take it with me
front of Baba with no one else in the room. Baba started wherever I was traveling.
talking! He told us everything about our lives, about my In 1971, when I was
career, my struggle, the difficulties I was facing and then, in Sweden for some
he blessed us. Then, suddenly Baba asked, ''What do you concerts, I saw Baba
want?'' I said, ''Baba! I just want your blessings.'' in my dream telling
Immediately, my wife said, ''Baba, give him something.'' me, ''Why don't you
With a wave of his hand Baba materialized a ring with a put on that ring?''
golden bust of Baba embossed on it. He put the ring on When I woke up in
my finger and said, ''From today, this is your home; come the morning, I took
to me any time you want and my home is in your heart.'' I out that silver container from my bag and tried once
cannot express in words the feelings I experienced at that again to fix the golden bust on that ring with an adhesive.
moment. It was love personified in the form of Baba, the To my amazement this time it fixed! I came back to India
kind of love that I had never experienced before. We came after the concerts. A few months later, Baba came to
out of that room quite dazed with that experience. Mumbai and I received a message that Baba would like
From then onwards, a new chapter began in my life; I had me to play at Dhamakshetra next evening. I was very
many experiences of Baba's omnipresence, and above all, happy to have this invitation, but, the problem was that I
His divine love which He always showered on us like a had earlier already accepted a concert at Churchgate in
Divine Mother. After Baba gave me the ring, occasionally Mumbai for that same evening and also, there was no
people would ask me, ''After getting this ring, have you tabla player available to accompany me. After a while, I
experienced a change for the better in your life?'' One got another message from Dharmakshetra, that Baba
night, when I was visiting Jammu, my birthplace, before would like me to come even late and to play without a
going to bed I told myself, ''Actually speaking, there is not tabla player.
much change in my life.'' With this thought, I went to bed. I was very happy. After finishing my concert at
In the morning, when I woke up, I touched the ring to my Churchgate, we directly drove to Dharmakshetra. Baba
forehead, and my eyes, as I used to do every morning. To was sitting in the hall with some devotees and I played
my dismay and shock, I noticed that the golden bust of santoor without any tabla accompaniment. After I
Baba was missing from the ring. Naturally, I was very finished my performance, Baba asked the other devotees
upset. Since I was sleeping on the terrace of my house, I to leave. Now, only my wife, Dr. Shukla, my elder son
started searching for the missing bust of Baba in my bed, Rohit, a couple of my friends and I were there. Baba
under the cot and all over the terrace, but, it was not asked, ''how was your tour abroad?'' I said, ''Baba, with
found anywhere. your blessings the tour went off well, but my ring.... ''
Suddenly, I realized that, because of my doubtful Before I could even finish the sentence, Baba said, “Yes,
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SWAMI AND ME
could not take it. I was unable to get up or move. I could gone to Dubai for a concert. My wife was also with us,
not believe my ears, for in all these years Baba had never along with Shafat Ahmed Khan, our tabla player. A day
called me by my name. This was the first time I was before the concert our hosts planned to take us for a sand
hearing my name in the divine voice of Bhagavan. With dune safari. We left Dubai in two cars, my wife and I,
great effort, I could get up and go on the stage. accompanied by three other people, while my son Rahul,
Emotionally I was in no position to play. Baba, who was Shafat, our host, as well as a couple of people were in the
already on the stage, put His arm lovingly on my shoulder. Land Cruiser, a brand new car. The Land Cruiser was a few
That had an electrifying effect on me and I became totally cars behind us as we made our way on the highway. After
normal and started playing. After the concert, Baba a couple of minutes there was a call on the mobile phone
materialized a diamond ring and put it on my finger. in our cars, asking us to go back. We drove back not
knowing what had happened, till we arrived at a spot on
It is not possible to understand Baba's Leelas. I have also
the highway where the driver stopped the car. Then, we
undergone a period where, for a few years, Baba did not
realized that the car in which my son Rahul and others
pay any attention to me. He just gave me blessings from a
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IN TUNE WITH THE DIVINE - Incredible Experiences Of Santoor Maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma
were traveling, was lying upside down in the middle of me, "Where is son?" Rahul was sitting next to me and so I
the highway and was totally smashed. There was an said, "Baba, he is here." Baba asked again, "Where is son?"
ambulance and a few police vehicles surrounding the Baba kept on repeating the same question. Suddenly I
smashed land cruiser. My wife had become hysterical and realised and said, "Swami gave him a new life." Swami
it was difficult to control her. Looking at the condition of said, "Yes, I know," and then left. On the morning of
the car, it was obvious that nobody would have survived. November 24, during the interview, Swami narrated the
Suddenly, we saw Rahul standing on one side along with entire episode, how the accident happened, how Rahul
the other passengers. Later, we came to know that their shouted 'Baba... Baba, Baba, Baba,' and Swami said, "That
car was traveling at 135 km/hour when one of the tyres time somebody was sitting with Me here, and I told him
burst. The driver tried his best to control the car, but it hit Shiv Kumar's son has met with a very serious accident but
the railing on the side and flipped upside down and he has been saved."
started spinning. Rahul, who was sitting next to the “We Always Feel His Presence”
driver, shouted, "Baba.... Baba, Baba, Baba," while the car Thirty years have passed since I had my first Darshan of
landed with a thud on its roof. For a few minutes, there Bhagavan Baba at Dharmakshetra, Mumbai in 1969 and
were no vehicles coming from behind, as if somebody had the opportunity of giving a Santoor recital in His
had stopped all of traffic. After a while, some cars came presence. Since then, hundreds of Santoor recitals have
and stopped. The people helped the passengers out of been given in the presence of large audiences at several
the smashed car. Nobody could believe that all the places in India and also abroad. By Baba's Grace, my son
passengers traveling in the car were unharmed through Rahul too had joined me in giving Santoor recitals with
this entire ordeal. Some of them had little bruises, but me in the Divine presence as well as at other places. We
Rahul, who was in the front seat was without any bruises! can count ourselves among the few fortunate ones, who
They were all taken to a doctor's clinic in Dubai for a check have had the opportunity of giving vocal and
up. As soon as they entered the clinic, they saw a big instrumental music recitals in the presence of Baba at
photograph of Baba smiling and looking at them! Baba Prashanthi Nilayam, where the audience is in thousands
gave the message that He had saved the lives of my son belonging to various parts of India and several other
Rahul and all the other passengers. countries. Everywhere, in India and abroad, we have
On 21 November, 1998, we went to Puttaparthi to attend always felt the presence of Bhagavan Baba and His Grace
Bhagavan's Birthday celebrations. The first day Baba did and Blessings pouring on us in abundance.
not talk to us. But on November 22, Baba came and asked Courtesy: “Baba Is God”
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GET INSPIRED PPPPPPPPPP
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and
and a four-year old grandson. The old man's hands mama to eat your food from when I grow up." The four-
trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so
The family ate together nightly at the dinner table. But struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears
the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word
made eating rather difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening
onto the floor. When he grasped the glass often milk the husband took grandfather's hand and gently led him
– Heart2Heart Team
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SWAMI AND ME THE SMALL HOUSE
The donkey and horse were used to plough the land. His
wife kept a small vegetable garden. Mr. Cohen was not
rich, but the family always made enough money from
selling milk, cheese, eggs, and vegetables.
You would think that
M r. C o h e n w a s
content. However, Mr. Mr. Cohen and said, "You have chickens, do you not?"
Cohen's neighbour "Yes, Rabbi, we have chickens," said Mr. Cohen. "Well,
was very rich. He lived then, bring them into your house this evening."
in a great big house Mr. Cohen just stared at the Rabbi. Then he thought to
with his wife and himself, "The Rabbi is the town's most learned man. If the
children and maids Rabbi thinks that bringing the chickens into the house
and servants. He had will help, then I will not question him."
horses, but these
So Mr. Cohen returned home and told his wife what the
horses were not
Rabbi said. Then he brought the chickens into the house.
working houses. They were only for riding. Mrs. Cohen
The chickens proceeded to squawk and complain, and
was jealous of the neighbour's large house, of the maids
flew around the house. Chicken feathers were
and servants, and of the horses that were only used for
everywhere! And in the morning, there were chickens
riding. She nagged Mr. Cohen constantly. She wanted a
everywhere, scrambling this way and that. Mrs. Cohen
larger house, she wanted maids and servants, she wanted
complained, "I don't understand how bringing the
fine horses which were only used for riding. With all this
chickens into the house will get us a bigger house. Maybe
nagging, Mr. Cohen had no peace of mind.
you misunderstood the Rabbi. Go back and ask him
Mr. Cohen knew he couldn't afford a larger house, but he again."
was tired of his wife's constant nagging. He decided to
So that evening, Mr. Cohen went to the Rabbi's house.
consult the Rabbi, the learned man of his village. "I am
"Good evening, Rabbi," he said.
going to speak to our Rabbi," Mr. Cohen told his wife.
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GET INSPIRED
"Good evening, Mr. Cohen," said the Rabbi. "Can I help happy which made Mr. Cohen even more unhappy.
you with something?" "Go back to the Rabbi," Mrs. Cohen said, "and ask him
"Yes, Rabbi," said Mr. Cohen. "Yesterday I asked you to again. I am sure that you are misunderstanding what he is
suggest a way I could please my wife's wish for a bigger saying."
So the next evening Mr. Cohen went up the hill to see the
Rabbi.
The Rabbi told him to bring the cows into his house! And
the next night he brought in the sheep, and the next night
the donkey, and the next night the horse!
The house was so crowded that the family couldn't find a
place to sit or sleep. It was so noisy that they couldn't hear
themselves think! And you can imagine how it smelled.
Mrs. Cohen was beside herself, and Mr. Cohen didn't
know what to do. The Rabbi had never given them bad
advice before!
So Mr. Cohen went up the hill back to the Rabbi. "Rabbi,"
he said. "Far be it for me to question a man of your
knowledge and learning, but it has become impossible to
live in our house. And the noise - Rabbi - you can't imagine
how noisy it is! Please Rabbi, you have got to help me!"
house and you told me to bring the chickens into the
The Rabbi thought for a moment. Then he said, "Tonight
house. Now we have chicken feathers everywhere and my
take the horse out and put him back in the field. "Thank
wife is not happy. Rabbi, can you help me please?"
you Rabbi," said Mr. Cohen. And he bounded down the
The Rabbi thought for a moment. Then he said, "You have hill and let the horse go back outside. But of course the
goats, don't you?" house was still crowded. So the following night Mr.
"Yes, Rabbi" we have goats." Cohen went back up the hill to the Rabbi, and again asked
"Well then, bring them into the house tonight," Mr. Cohen for his help. And the Rabbi told him to take the donkey
stared at the Rabbi for a minute, then proceeded down out of the house. The next night the Rabbi told him to
take out the sheep, and the next night, the cows, and the
next night the goat, and finally the next night the
chickens.
After the chickens were gone, Mrs. Cohen looked around
at her large house. "How peaceful it is,” she said, “and
how nice and roomy." And she proceeded to clean up her
large, peaceful house and never again complained to her
husband about her life!
Swami says, “Contentment is the most precious treasure”
and “He who has greatest satisfaction in life is the richest
man”. Let us be grateful to the Lord for what we are
bestowed with and make the most of it rather than
compare ourselves with others and feel ever miserable.
When we trust Him completely, He will provide us with
the right things at the right time.
the hill to his home and brought the goats into his house. Illustrations: Ms Vidya, Kuwait
And the goats started whining, which made the chickens
complain. Then the goats started to chew on everything, – Heart2Heart Team
making a real mess. Needless to say, Mrs. Cohen was not
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SWAMI AND ME PACKED BLESSINGS
wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and
thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen
PACKED BLESSINGS him since that graduation day. Before he could make
arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his
father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions
A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For to his son. He needed to come home immediately and
many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a take care of things. When he arrived at his father's house,
dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well sudden sadness and regret filled his heart.
afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.
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TEST YOUR SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT
5 In Sikhism, what is a sakhi? 9. 31st March is the birthday of Mahavira, the last
of the Jain teachers, who lived 2,500 years ago.
a. The place where the holy book of the Guru
The followers of Jainism are called Jaina what
Granth Sahib is kept.
does this word mean?
b. The lead singer of the kirtans or bhajans.
a. Disciple
c. A traditional story.
b. Sadhaka
d. The free food kitchen operated by Sikh
c. Servant
temples.
d. Conqueror
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SWAMI AND ME MULTI-FAITH QUIZ
10. With which analogy does Bhagavan illustrate the Bhagavan informs us about this event as follows:
Mahahvakya, or profound saying, of Tat Twam Garga was highly respected
Asi, which means 'I Am That'? by both the Pandavas and the
a. The river and the ocean. Kauravas. He was the Kula
b. Milk is one colour, compared to the many Guru (family preceptor) of
colours of the different cows. Nanda and the Yadavas. He
was a great scholar replete
c. The seed and the tree.
with knowledge and
d. The honey bee and the flowers.
wisdom. He went to the
house of Nanda and Yashoda
ANSWERS TO QUIZ for the naming ceremony of
the two babies. There are a few esoteric matters that are
1. ANSWER A:
not widely known. Incarnations generally occur in three
Procuring some mangoes in the market. categories of Shukla (white), Aruna (orange) and Pita
Swami explains that knowing God can be compared to (yellow). But here was a baby who was black. Hence,
first finding out that there are sweet mangos in the Garga considered and found the name Krishna (black) as
market. Seeing God is akin to the joy of buying them and most appropriate. After the naming, Garga narrated
having them in our hands. Lastly, mergence is analogous several episodes that were to take place in the life of the
to tasting and enjoying the fruits. child and, after staying on to experience and enjoy some
of them, he departed.
2. ANSWER B:
Divine Discourse 11.08.2001
It was there that Prophet Muhammad received
the Koran. 4. ANSWER B:
Filial Piety
During the
Chinese New Year
festival there
were many
human value
sayings on
display in the
ashram which
carried the words 'Filial Piety the Cornerstone of Chinese
Civilisation and Progress'. Another saying by the ancient
Chinese sage, Confucius, who influenced countless
Chinese people over many centuries is as follows: 'Behave
The Cave of Hira lies about three miles away from Mecca, in such a way that your father and mother have no
and is found on the Mount of Hira. It was there that concern about you, except for your health.'
Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) used to pray in solitude and
where the first revelation of the Koran was made to him
5. ANSWER C:
by the angel Gabriel. At first, Prophet Muhammad was
A traditional story
fearful of the angel who showed him the verses of the
Koran; moreover he protested that he was illiterate. After A sakhi refers to accounts of historical events in Sikhism. It
a short time, he found that he was given the ability to is a tale usually from the era of the times of the Gurus
read and thereafter the revelation of the Koran continued which often have a moral lesson and highlight important
with the angel Gabriel revealing the Koran to Sikh principles. An example of a short sakhi is as follows:
Muhammad. Baba Amar Das served Sri Guru Angad Dev with utmost
devotion and dedication. Besides fetching water from the
3. ANSWER D: River Beas for the Master's bath every day, he would serve
Sage Garga in the free food canteen. Every year the Guru
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TEST YOUR SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT
8. ANSWER A:
Shirdi Baba refused to accept the food.
Shirdi Baba told
her that the dog
that came to her
begging for food
acknowledged his services by conferring upon him the had been Him in
robe of honor which the Great Guru wrapped around his another form.
head. Baba Amar Das was decorated with the Siropi seven Therefore,
times. Seva is one of the main tenets of Sikhism, having been
exemplified through the lives of Gurus. refused the food
one time He did not want to accept it now. Thus, Shirdi
6. ANSWER B:
Baba taught a valuable lesson on the oneness of all beings
Lord Rama sent Hanuman in disguise to and how we must show universal compassion to all of
Bharatha to inform him of His arrival. God's creation.
Swami tells us about Hanuman's meeting with Bharatha
9. ANSWER D:
in the following passage:
Conqueror
Hanuman was thrilled at
the condition of Bharatha. Jaina is derived from the Sanskrit Jina
His body had been very which means conqueror and refers to
much reduced, he was the overcoming of our inner foes and
worn down by anxiety. His advancement on the spiritual path
hair had become matted. towards nirvana.
His eyes had become
10. ANSWER C:
perennial streams of
The seed and the tree
tears. He was repeating
the name of Rama Bhagavan describes how the seed looks at the tree from
without intermission. which it came and declares 'I am that'. Just as the different
Hanuman was full of joy parts of the tree such as the branches, leaves, flowers,
at the sight of such a seeds, trunk and roots are all born from the single tree so
dedicated soul. The hairs of his body stood on end the entire universe is one though it seems to contain an
because of the ecstasy. His thoughts ran in several infinitude of parts.
directions. But he remembered his mission and poured
the nectarine news he had brought into the thirsty ears of
Bharatha.
Ramakatha Rasavahini II p,271-272
7. ANSWER C:
Zoroastrianism
Noruz is an ancient Zoroastrian festival going back
thousands of years. It begins on the vernal equinox (when
the day and night are of equal length) and the celebration
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SWAMI AND ME QUIZ ON HEART 2 HEART
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TEST YOUR SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT
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SWAMI AND ME PHOTO GALLERY
Love Flows...
In Chennai
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PHOTO GALLERY
Love Flows...
In Chennai
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SWAMI AND ME PHOTO GALLERY
Love Flows...
In Chennai
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PHOTO GALLERY
Love Flows...
In Chennai
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SWAMI AND ME HEALING TOUCH
Gift of life…
In the Viveka chudamani by Sri Adi Shankaracharya the
opening verse begins with the phrase “Jantunam
narajanama durlabham…” Of all forms of life, it is most
difficult to attain that of a human being….The word
Durlabha generally connotes rare or difficult to attain.
'Health is wealth' is an aphorism that we are taught right
from kindergarten but how many of us honestly take it
seriously? The onslaught of globalization and the
opening up of economic frontiers have revved up the
speed of life to levels where parents have to be taught by
counselors how to bring up children and couples meet Gift of God…
consultants to know how to be man and wife. In this age Monirul Haque Khan and Ashrafun Nahem were a happily
of frenzied rat racing…it does not come as a surprise that married couple blessed with a daughter. Their joy
good health has been reduced to the level of a increased manifold when they were blessed with a son.
commodity and has been commercialized. Since he was a gift from God they valued tremendously,
they named him Durlabh Khan. Life seemed to be on track
for the family of six that included the couple, their two
children and the grand parents. But pleasure is an interval
between two pains. For this family, the shock came when
they found that their little boy Durlabh was born with a
heart problem. They learnt about the illness when the
child was one year old.
It did strike an ironic note that the child named 'rare gift of
God' suffered from a disease while being blessed with a
human birth that is 'difficult to attain'. That is why
philosophers who don't question the ways of the Lord say
Durlabh khan and Ashrafun Nahem in distress 'Inscrutable are the ways of God.'
With money (read income) becoming the deciding factor,
They Came from Bangladesh…
quality medical care is beyond the reach of common man.
Hailing from the Rajbari district of Bangladesh, the family
It becomes Durlabha difficult to attain. To add insult to
was from the lower income group. Mohammad Khan ran
the injury were one to be born into the cold cruel world
a small private business while his wife, Nahem was a
with a malady…life definitely becomes bitter and every
gifted seamstress. She would beautifully embroider
dawn brings with it another day of sorrow and suffering.
sarees which her husband would arrange to be sold at
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HEALING TOUCH
solution. When the child was four years old they traveled
to Calcutta in search of medical help. With the kind of
economic background they came from, they found it
really difficult to stretch their resources to cover
expenses.
domestic and international efforts to improve economic India that offered free medical care. They could hardly
and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains an believe their ears but when the news was confirmed by
underdeveloped and overpopulated nation. The country many others, they made bold to come down to Bangalore
has made impressive progress in human development by their resources were already at dangerously low levels
focusing on increasing literacy, achieving gender parity in when they came to the SSSIHMS at Whitefield.To their
schooling, and reducing population growth. utmost surprise they found that what they had heard at
earnings also comes from the Calcutta was absolutely true and indeed all the facilities at
remittances sent by expatriates living in other countries. the SSSIHMS were provided to patients free of cost.
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SWAMI AND ME 'GIFT OF LIFE' TO THE 'GIFT OF GOD'
bowed her head in gratitude to “Baba”. “He knows that on their lips are the ones that are dear to god. Gold is
he is more special than all his friends to be blessed by purified only when it passes through flames. Likewise all
Baba in this hospital. I am eternally grateful to Baba for of us in different ways are refined by our maker. But to
having given my son a new life.” The son was far more in those that come to the home of their 'Father', their '
command of himself. Firm of voice and eye; “I want to Baba'…the lyrics of a song in praise of Sai Baba of Shirdi
come back here as a sevak”, said Durlabh. His voice come to mind…
steady with conviction. “I loved the food and the way Tere Ghar pe jo bhi aaya
This is just one example that goes to prove that love, with ultimate happiness.
service and devotion are not limited to the privileged few.
Just as every saint has a past and ever sinner a future. The – Heart2Heart Team
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YOUR SAY
Thanking You,
READERS
[Dear Shanmukha, we now have two quizzes every
month, one on multi-faith and the other on H2H H2H
Team]
Responses to the Cover Story in
February Issue, “Sanathana Sarathi -
Recreating A Prashanti in Every Home” Sai Ram,
When I first looked at this article I thought, "Oh no, this
Sai Ram, physics stuff is way over my head." But Prof.
We read with interest all Venkataraman's mix of storytelling and science is a
articles in the current delight to read, and I look forward to more by him. As
issue of the web journal. always, I love your H2H daily quotes and links.
Of special mention, I Sai Love, Christiane, Santa Barbara, Calif.
would talk of the article
related to the history of
Sanathana Sarathi. It was Sairam,
amazing to read about I recently sent you writing about Sai Baba as a teacher. I
Sri. Kasturi and his team just finished reading the excellent article about Bolivia
going from Puttaparthi and I remembered my favourite Baba-teacher story.
and back to make the
magazine ready for I was isolated twenty-five years ago from Baba devotees.
mailing to the readers. Yet I expected Vibhuti to be sent to me whenever I ran
Once again we are out. I prayed and I received packets somehow. However,
indebted to H2H team for at the beginning of one semester no Vibhuti arrived. The
bringing Bhagavan to our doorstep. first day of classes I needed to fix a student enrolment
problem at the Registrar's Office. The Office was
Regards, Kartik crowded. A student waved her computer punch card.
Her name was, "Vibhuti." I wanted tell her that although
enrolled in another class, she belonged in my class, but I
Thanks for the wonderful article and beautiful pictures of
didn't. Instead I found her in my class later that day. The
Swami and the history of Sanathana Sarathi. It's a great
ash arrived that week, but I learned sacred Vibhuti was
informative and interesting publication.
my students and my duty as their teacher. Baba was
Sairam, Karur Krishnan teaching as always.
Mary Hoffman
Responses to the February Issue Articles
General Responses
Sai Ram!
Again I have been touched by a new article "Rays of Virtue Sairam,
and Grace" by Mataji Indra Devi, who was my Yoga I think I haven't adequately expressed how thankful and
teacher after she moved from the States to Argentina till grateful I am to the Radio Sai, H2H and Sai Inspires
her death. Thanks very much for bringing us the beautiful services. Only last year I came to know about Radio Sai
stories. and since then it has been a joy to sit at the computer. It is
Nora, Argentina like having satsang everyday. It was wonderful to listen to
all the interviews in the 'listen again' section- the good old
days of Mrs. Geetha Ram with Swami, the enlightening
Sairam, talks of Dr. Sandweiss, Dr. Hislop, Prof. Venkataraman,
The quizzes which have been in the Radio Sai website are the students of Swami who went to the US and the like. I
very good and I know some new things from that benefited immensely from the Bhagavad Gita chants as I
wonderful spiritual quiz. Please post some more had to take a balavikas class for the students of Sri Sathya
questions and update that quiz once in a week or twice in Sai school near my town.
a month. The Sai Inspires service is our daily tonic and the h2h
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SWAMI AND ME FEEDBACK FROM OUR READERS
articles and stories are a grand feast. Spiritually Ignore all comments,
undernourished as we were all these years, with the lead a life full of bliss
advent of Radio Sai we are bubbling with spiritual energy and tranquility and
or Sai energy. Wonder why no one thought of all this love. Hate none for his
years before? lack of knowledge, as
My heartfelt thanks to all your team members. With the he has not been
blessings of Bhagavan may you live long and continue fortunate to know
your priceless service to humanity. Swami in this lifetime!
Sairam, with love and regards, Latha, TN , India. Sairam, Maistry, Nerven
Dear Sir,
Responses to Sai Inspires
What a soothing and
convincing article
Dear H2H,
dispelling the clouds of
I have just read your hostile criticism against
most inspiring article Swami. Thanks for the
about the Sai timely messages of this
movement in kind given by H2H
Guatemala and it
Sai Ram, Badri
really gladdens my
soul to know how
Baba is spreading his
love throughout the
world. I am Vasigaren
Pather of South Africa and am truly inspired and look
forward to the daily messages that you send out from
H2H. The daily inspirations from Swami really have the
power to uplift our souls and guide us along the spiritual Responses to the Sunday Special Article Jan
path to Him. I would like to see every school in the world 21st 2007 - “Mastering The Art Of Living”
practice the EHV programme of education that Swami
has instituted. I believe that it is the only way that we will Sai Ram dearest friends,
begin to realise that we are all one. My wish is to come to
Thank you so much for that lovely - and very pictorial
Puttaparthi and meet Swami or at least be in his presence
speech from the student. I enjoyed reading it very much,
this year. Please keep up the good work that you are all
as it teaches a lot in the practical sense of the world on
doing. Sai Ram.
'how to create our own happiness and success in daily
life', and also the colourful story of the father and son,
teaching us all about the richness in our hearts and
Responses to the Sunday
everything around us, but that we don't realize,
Special Article Feb 11th 2007
sometimes...Lovely! Definitely a very illustrative and
simply told story to remind us all how to really put into
Sairam,
practice what Swami is teaching all along!
Thank you for the discourse. I appreciate what your team
has aimed to do, and it is clearly accepted. However, we Thank you very much. I would love to read more...
the Sai devotees around the world are not affected by Sincerely, Prema Ram
these comments and remarks of the ignorant and less
informed. It is our task as the Sai organization to reinforce
continuously the teachings of Bhagavan until we Sairam,
understand at a deeper and deeper level, until nothing Thank you. Just as I sat and wondered about some things,
(no remarks, comments, insults or stones) thrown at the poems in this note of -'mastering the art of living' was
Swami or ourselves can harm us. My request to all Sai so beautiful - If God in person came to spend some time
devotees: Draw from the Master, look deeply and yearn with us too. Discipline in one's life is to do the things we
for a deeper and better understanding and Swami will do, knowing that God is watching us all day long and
teach you how to become stronger, to the point that night too. This poem was an answer to my question.
people will start seeing the force within the different
nations, the force that is the Sai Force within ourselves. Love and Gratitude, Srilatha
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YOUR SAY
I just read the above titled article and I am so spellbound. I Sincerely, Sandhya Mirmira,
love it so much and I am aspiring to also master the art of SSE Coordinaor W Suburb Chicago Sai Center
living. Please continue to send us such beautiful articles.
Thank you so much.
Om Sai Ram!
Regards, Tilaka
The article is so inspiring...(I have to take time to reflect...)
Swami's students are indeed Golden. And yes, I would
Sairam, very much like more such contributions from students of
I read this article written by a Student of Swami. It was Swami's University. Thank you for all your efforts.
excellent. In fact I was not happy and was worried after I Om Sai Ram, Tina Hribar, Trifunovic, Slovenia
had some arguments with an individual in our housing
society. I was unable to "let it go" and this was bothering
me. After I read this article, I thought that it is sent by
Swami just for me. Thanks a ton to that student who
made it possible for me to "let go" a past event.
Jai Sairam, Varadharajan (kumar)
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SWAMI AND ME SAI INSPIRES
a daily inspirational
e-mail service from the
One’s body is derived from the flesh and blood of the mother. How much sacrifice
is involved in giving birth to a child and rearing that child with continuous care
and love beyond description. The food you eat, the clothes you wear, the life you lead
are all the gift of your parents. One’s primary duty, therefore, is to please one’s
parents – only thus can one’s debt to them be discharged. Nor is that all, for the
debt to one’s parents can also only be fully discharged by rendering service also to
society.
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Love all Serve all