Shirdi Sai Baba Stories,Leelas and Teachings.: B.V Narsimha Swami ji-Efficient System For Sai Prachar-Part 2.

Sairam dear all,

In this part we shall read in continuation to Swami ji's efficient system for Sai Prachar .Readers who have missed earlier parts of biography can read by clicking on the links which are given below at the end of post , chapter by chapter.Jai Sai Ram.

CHAPTER -4 PART VII
EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR SAI PRACHAR-Part 2

In January 1945, he published the ‘Glimpses of Sai Baba’ with the Foreword by Justice Sri.C.N. Kuppuswamy Iyer. In this work, Narasimha Swamiji corrects the popular notion about Sai baba that he is only a miracle worker who delights in granting material favours to his devotees. The author has brought out how in every one of his actions and dealings with his devotees; Sai Baba was always having prominently in his mind the spiritual welfare of those devotees. In this book, Narasimha Swamiji has been able to throw a flood of light on the inner meaning of Baba’s sayings and doings’.

In the midst of his lecture tours and turning out Sai literature, Narasimha Swamiji also attended to his official duties. He disposed of correspondence, granted interviews, presided over committee meetings and annual general meetings and directed the daily activities at the headquarters. Some idea can be had of how much he was handling from the following extract taken from page 6 of ‘Sai Sudha’-April 1945;-

“The President finds himself unable to cope with the increasing pressure of work…..organization of the Upasmajams and Mandirs and supervision of the matter for Sai sudha are quite enough to keep all his time and energy…The institution suffers no less than the individual by concentration of all work on an old pair of shoulders’.

Narasimha Swamiji was doing everything-travel, correspondence,writing etc,-all by himself. Had it been a Government activity, a separate department would have been created. A separate University would not have undertaken the writing work he had completed. He used to direct the activities of Upasamajams himself. He used to send them messages periodically. He used to reply each and every letter addressed to him. On an average he used to work for 18 to 20 hours in a day. Though his body had worn out, he was a dynamic young man at heart.

In January 1946, the idea of holding an All India Sai Devotees convention was mooted by Narasimha Swamiji. The movement grew out of the local Upasamajams, which in turn looked for inspiration and guidance from Narasimha Swamiji and his group of volunteers. It became necessary therefore for a conference to be held between the delegates of Upasamajams and Narasimha Swamiji or a body of volunteers deputed by the headquarters. This conference was planned as an annual feature to discuss problems of organization and concert measures to strengthen and expand Sai movement.

Accordingly, after careful preparations the first All India Sai Devotees convention was organized on 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th May 1946 at the P.S. High School, Madras. Two hundred delegates registered from outside and several local devotees attended. The proceedings opened daily, with prayer and service in the forenoon at the All India Sai Samaj. The afternoon sessions were held at the Convention Hall in P.S. High School, Mylapore.

Narasimha Swamiji as President of the All India Sai Samaj was elected President of the Convention and also Chairman of the Reception Committee. The Convention opened in the afternoon of the 16th may 1946 after prayers in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. It is interesting to note that Narasimha swamiji while welcoming the delegates, referred to shortages of foodgrains, fuel, electricity, petrol and paper. He requested the delegates to accept whatever plain food was offered to them. He exhorted them to include ‘Narayana Seva’ (feeding the poor) in the activities of their Upasamajams and to work for communal harmony and brotherhood.

Among the messages of greetings received from those were from Rao Bahadur M.W.Pradhan and Justice Sri M.B. Rege, who had personal contact with Sai Baba. Das Ganu Maharaj, Marthand Mhalsapathy and swami Keshavaiah participated actively in the convention. Delegates discussed the activities of their samajams and problems narrated their experiences.

Resolutions were passed in line with the Presidential address. As started in Coimbatore by the Sai Baba Mission, it was also resolved that each Upasamajam should think in terms of starting Sai baba Gurukulams, Kanya Vidyalaya and Narasimha Ashramams to extend educational facilities and medical relief for the destitute, poor and needy. The Convention also noted with appreciation the working of the Sai Baba High School started by S. Adinarayana Rao at Ananthapur in Andhra Pradesh in 1944. Narasimha Swmaji outlined his plans of starting a free dispensary and a School at Samaj premises for the use of slum dwellers and other poor and down trodden people.

The cultural programme of the convention included music, Sai Harikatha in Tamil and Telugu and a Telugu drama based on the life of Sai Baba.

The session closed in the afternoon on 19th May 1946 with ‘Narayana Seva’ organized at the backyard of the choultry at 136, Brodies Road. More than one thousand persons were served with food.

A copiously illustrated Souvenir, printed on art paper of the size of ‘Sai Sudha’ and priced at 8 annas a copy was brought out. Publishing Convention Souvenirs of larger size has come into practice ever since.

The first All India Sai Devotees Convention set the pattern for other conventions held in later years. Narasimha Swamiji’s age and declining health precluded him from attending subsequent conventions, which were held far away from Madras. But he sent messages to all these conventions. The impetus given to the movement by these Conventions is beyond description. It became popular year by year and the network of Sai devotees widened.

The Convention of Sai Devotees, which started in 1946, became an annual feature. At Coimbatore in 1947, at Madurai in 1949, at Calcutta in 1950, at Dharwar in 1951, at Pune in 1952, at Mumbai in 1953, at Baroda in 1954, the conventions were a great success and devotees were looking forward to these conventions eagerly. These conventions have enabled millions to join the Sai marg. Narasimha Swamiji was happy that the movement he started has taken gigantic proportions and is continuously growing.

By then at the Alamelu Mangapuram sector of Venkatesha Agraharam in Madras, a plot was purchased and a temporary shed was built. By donations from generous devotees, due to a powerful appeal in Sai Sudha and sale of Sai literature, funds were raised to complete the building of the front hall. Here Sai Baba’s picture was installed and worshipped on ‘Guru Poornima’ day on 7th July, 1952. By October 1953, construction of the temple with a tower on the model at Shirdi was completed.

On 9th September 1953, the Maharaja of Mysore, H.H. Sri Jayachamraja Wodeyar visited the Sai Mandir and donated Rs.5000/- which helped the samaj to buy a printing press.

The ‘Maha Kumbhabhishekam’ of the temple was fixed on 18th October 1953 during the ‘Mahasamadhi’ celebrations. The programmes started with Sri Sai Laksharchana and several homas. On 17th and 18th ‘Guru Aradhana’ was held by feeding many devotees and fakirs. The ‘Kalasa Stapana’ was performed on the 18th and the function closed with procession of Sai Baba with music and fire works.

The joy of the celebrations was marred by an accident. Earlier to the ‘Kumbhabhishekam’, Narasimha Swamiji had instructions around 7.30 a.m. from Sai Baba. “You won’t be able to perform Kumbhabhishekam. So do Kalasha Pooja now itself’. Devotees were surprised to see Narasimha Swamiji climbing the ladder to do ‘Kalasha Pooja’ at 7.30 a.m. itself, when the actual muhurtham fixed was at 11 a.m.

Around 8.30 a.m. Narasimha Swamiji slipped in the bathroom and broke his thigh bone. He was admitted to the Madras Medical College Hospital for treatment. His right thigh was in plaster cast for over eight weeks.

As already indicated to him by Sai Baba, Narasimha Swamiji could not perform ‘Kumbhabhisekam’ and on his behalf Radhakrishna Swamiji performed it and also other rituals connected with it.

In spite of agonizing pain and immobilization in plaster cast for eight weeks, Narasimha Swamiji did not express this pain on his face. He welcomed this accidental fall as “Sai Baba’s will and a way to alleviate past Karma”. Sai Baba’s Nama Smaram’ was constantly on his lips. In fact, he had converted his ward in the hospital to a miniature Sai Mandir.

Narasimha Swamiji’s untiring efforts had put the Sai movement on a strong pedestal. By 1956, All India Sai Samaj had grown by leaps and bounds. It had good revenue. Swamiji had groomed a band of dedicated volunteers.

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