Shirdi Sai Baba Stories,Leelas and Teachings.: Inner Voyage To Explore Sai-Introduction.

Inner Voyage To Explore Sai .

Dear All,
Wish you Happy Thursday and Happy Baba's day .

It gave me immense pleasure to introduce " Biography of Pujya Sri B.V.Narashima Swami Ji” on the Sai Kripa website. This was the first Endeavor of its kind on Internet. Today ,I am equally elated to share with all Sai readers a magnificent book Titled-"Inner Voyage To explore Sai ",written by a staunch and ardent devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba, Sai Ananda(Shri.Natrajan).This is another wonderful book, a complete source of information and inspiration for all devotees who wish to know each and everything related to Shri Shirdi Sai Baba.

This book is shared and contributed by a Sai devotee who do not wish to have the name published ,as she strongly believes that nothing is ours and it is all Baba's ,so without having any name she continues her seva. I would personally like to thank her from bottom of my heart for making this book available by typing it and sharing with all the Sai devotees to collect the jewel of Saism from this book as they keep reading it .

Dear readers!

The chapters from the book will be posted on daily basis and hence I request readers to visit website regularly to maintain continuity of the book reading and follow the links given at the end of the post if they miss any chapter .

Today, I start with introduction of this book as penned by the anonymous devotee, followed by her introduction how this work was initiated and blessed by Baba and took the final shape to be shared by all through this blessed site of Baba.

I thank Baba, who is the controller and wire puller of each movable and immovable thing for making us worthy of carrying this work across the globe and spreading this treasure.

I prostrate in reverence to my Sathguru Sai Baba and lay all this doer ship of work at His Holy feet and seek forgiveness for any ignorance or error occurred while carrying out this seva .The complete doer ship is of the Almighty Sathguru Sai which continues with HIS inspiration and His grace alone.

Jai Sai Ram Manisha.

Introduction By the Anonymous Contributor Of The Book:

This book titled "Inner Voyage To Explore Sai" is a jewel.

As rightly said in Sai Satcharita, to know about Baba is infinite, as wide and deep as the infinite ocean. All can dive deep into the same and take out precious gems (of knowledge and bhakthi) and distribute them to the aspiring public.

When one carefully concentrates on the writing related to our Sai Baba, he will get peace and undiluted happiness.

This book, "Inner Voyage To Explore Sai" is one such literature, which when carefully read, gives us strong insight on Bhakthi, Guru Bhakthi and Philosophies of Sai leelas.

It is written by one ardent devotee, titled Sai Ananda, (Name.Shri.Natrajan), who identifies himself as a devotee of his Guru, Shri.Radhakrishna Swamiji.

The author touches many high-end topics like defining moksha, mumukshus, liberated soul etc with frequent references to Vedas, Yoga Vashista, etc. This shows the author's proficiency in the Vedas and Upanishads as well. The reader might as well find many leelas quoted from Shri Sai Satcahrita.

This book, a jewel as it is, is studded with brilliant diamonds (in the form of poetry in between). The author seems to be lost in Sai Marga, that poetry simply flows.

There is an interesting conversation between the Master (Shirdi Sai Baba) and a disciple, which sprang out of author's imagination, we could say, out of Baba's inspiration, which when listened carefully, gives us precious knowledge and heals the reader's mind and offers solace. This is most interesting.

A humble request to the readers to read carefully and pay full attention, to reap the rich harvest in the form of 'spiritual knowledge'.

Picture Of B.V Narsimha Swami Ji

Our sincere thanks (thanks would never suffice) prostrations to Sai Ananda (Shri.Natarajan) His atma-guru, Sai Padananda Shri.Radhakrishna Swamiji, His guru- Shri.Narasimha Swamiji and His atma-guru-God- Shri.Shri.Shri.Shirdi Sai Baba.

The Work Initiated and Got Blessed:

Dear Devotees,
Before you begin to read the wonderful book, “Inner Voyage to Explore Sai”, let me briefly state here, the “moments” behind this book being presented to you here.

I had been to Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, at Thiagaraja Nagar, Bangalore, attended the Madhyan arati and visited the temple office to purchase the book, Guru Charita. As I was browsing through the list of Sai Literature arranged in the racks there, my eyes landed on this book – whose very title “Inner Voyage to Explore Sai” caught my heart.

Why.. Exactly that was what my heart was searching for. I need to be taught to search for Baba who dwells in my heart as well as in the hearts of all. I need to love Baba more, to trust Baba more, to know more about Baba.. eventually get more closer to Baba. To sum up, I need to be taught to seek Baba through a voyage which goes inwards. Now, you know, why without a second thought I decided to get this book.

A few days later, (that time, I had not even properly started reading this book), one early morning, as I awoke, I had this feel – strange to say that ‘that’ was the first thing I thought of in the morning as soon as I woke. To get this book, a rare jewel as it is, made available online, on the web so as to let it be accessible to one and all. And I decided, that very instant, that I am going to type the contents of the entire book down.

And that very moment, I had a vision of Baba’s Padukas just as it is in Samadhi Mandir at Shirdi. It was a vision, when I was not sleeping, but with my eyes closed. I decided, this was divinely ordained probably, and that I should work to accomplish it.

I started typing them, a day or two later. And just before I started, I thought within, as to if it was really divinely ordained? But that very clear form of Baba’s Padukas, which I had in my vision, was a reason enough to support my plan of typing this book down. A humble seva as I could.. and I knew, definitely it will be worthwhile.

And then, after these thoughts, I started typing, with the book open on my desk. That day, that very instant, I was blessed with another vision. Just beneath my monitor is a picture of our Baba and a Shiva Linga. Besides this, on my desk, in the empty space as it was there, right in front of me, besides my keyboard, I saw for a very brief moment, Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji smiling.

Picture of Radhakrishna Swami Ji.

The color of the robe He wore, was a little more light pinkish. There was a smile.That is it. It took time for me to gather myself, wondering if it was all a mere imagination. But it was again too strange to be imagined. And as you begin to read the book, especially page 5 (under Dedication) of this book, you will know why!

Strange are His deeds.. He pulls the wires in such a subtle manner at times.I have tried to write, rather copy as it is in the book. I am leaving all at HIS Feet.

“The Lord entrusts different works to different devotees. Some are given the work of building temples and maths, or ghats (flight of steps) on rivers; some are made to sing the glories of God; some are sent on pilgrimages…..”

-- Shri Sai Sat Charita, Chapter – 3
Why I mention this here is that I can’t help but get reminded of this very line in the 3rd chapter of Sat Charita. When I decided to type this book down, I mentioned this to my friend and when she offered to help me by typing down the last five chapters, I so gladly consented. This meant, I had lesser chapters to type as she was sharing and that was welcome. She is very devout, she adores Baba. I know she has little time to spare compared to me, as she has more responsibilities and obviously, she was stretching her day to type the five chapters down.

And later she told me, she doesn’t know why, she said, it can’t just happen without His will, and that she found it extremely strange, that whenever she took her laptop to start typing this down, her machine unusually crashed. Not once, but this happened consecutively for five times and she decided, it was some sheer sport of HIM alone, as it had never happened at other times. I was surprised to hear this and slowly thinking about it, I was reminded of Shri.Hemadpant’s words.
JAI SAI RAM

Getting back to the context of this book.

The author whom I understand to be honorable Shri.Natarajan, with the given title (Sai Ananda) has proved himself to be the “Ideal Devotee” as he seems to have forgotten that he has a name and a form. He is lost in Sai Identity. He prefers to identify himself as the ‘devotee’ of his Guru, whom he sees as God Himself. Hence, in Radhakrishna Swamiji, his atma Guru who inspired him to write this book, he sees Lord Shri Sai Baba Himself.

He addresses his own self, as “the devotee”. The readers might come across at several or all places in the book; he never uses his name, nor the word “I”, nor the word “my”. They are all obstructions in the path to the ultimate – Divine!! While addressing himself, he doesn’t say, “me or my or I”. You can see him referring to himself, as “this devotee”.

Such is the faith. It seems to have been most aptly rewarded for!

And that reminds me, Honorable Shri Narasimha Swamiji, inspite of having collected, and compiled several devotees’ experiences and having written several other books, not one is protected under the copyright law. He plainly refused to let them be protected under Copyright laws. “All are Sai’s” – that was his firm belief.

He is the ultimate. No wonder, Baba chose him.
Now in front of such great Gurus, I shall fade away.. and to the extent I can, I am not giving my name nor any other detail along with.
Most Dearest Shri Shirdi Sai Baba,
You inspired me, You got it typed through me.. Now this is all at YOUR Feet.
Love YOU loads Mother Sai..
JAI SAI RAM

Afterword:

Got this book ready and mailed it over to a Sai Literature website on Thursday morning.
Deep in my mind, I had this wish. If this work was being done as per Baba’s order, to kindly bless me with a dream.

That very night, was blessed with a wonderful vision, which was not very clear.
But I go to Mylapore Shirdi Sai Temple and in a hall which is very beautiful, wonderful with soo many light and splendorous, I feel I see the pictures of our Shirdi Sai Baba, Sri.Narasimha Swamiji and Sri.Radhakrishna Swamiji.

I felt most blessed. I sincerely hope devotees dive into the sea of Sai’s excellence and take away jewels in cartloads.
JAI SAI RAM

Coming up in Next post :

Foreword By R .Sheshadari ji and Introduction By writer Sai Ananda.

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