Shirdi Sai Baba
Sri Shirdi Sai Baba (1838 – 15 October 1918) practiced multi religious philosophy advocating oneness of God. It is unknown when and where Shirdi Sai was born and who his birth parents were. Sai Baba arrived at the village of Shirdi, when he was about 16 years old. He led an ascetic life, sitting motionless under a neem tree and meditating while sitting in an asana. He sanctified Shirdi and made it one of the holiest places in India and a shrine of devout pilgrimage to countless people. Sai Baba of Shirdi, also known as Shirdi Sai Baba, regarded to be a manifestation of Sri Dattatreya, as a saint, fakir, Sadguru and God according to their individual proclivities and beliefs. Sai Baba remains a very popular Master in India, and is worshiped by people around the world. He had no love for perishable things and his sole concern was self-realization. He taught a moral code of love, forgiveness, helping others, charity, contentment, inner peace, and devotion to God and Guru.
Sai Baba opposed all persecution based on religion or caste. Sai Baba’s life is a message of the secular nature of God. He is a physical form of the culmination of various religions in him. He was revered by both his Hindu and Muslim devotees, it remained uncertain if he was a Hindu or a Muslim even to this day. Sai Baba's teaching combined elements of Hinduism and Islam: he gave the Hindu name Dwarakamayi to the mosque he lived in, practiced Muslim rituals, taught using words and figures that drew from both traditions, and was buried in Shirdi. He is a living example of the ultimate philosophy that it is immaterial as to what road you take as long as you reach the goal.
He used to always utter Sabka Malik Ek Hai, which means God is one, but he manifests in this world in different forms and names. He celebrated the Hindu festival of Rama-Navami with all due formalities and at the same time permitted the ‘Sandal’ procession of the Mohammedans. He told Muslims to study the Qur'an and Hindus to study texts such as the Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, and Yoga Vasistha. He was impressed by the philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita and encouraged people to follow it in their own lives.
He advised his devotees and followers to lead a moral life, help others, love every living being without any discrimination, and develop two important features of character: devotion to the Guru (Shraddha) and waiting cheerfully with patience and love (Saburi). All that Sai expects is devotion-Shraddha and patience-Saburi.
Dakshina
Donation or giving, is nothing but sowing seeds, only to reap a rich harvest in future. So, the best way to receive is to give.
It is well-known that Baba collected Dakshina from his devotees. He used to distribute most of the collected amount to some of his disciples and purchase fuel (wood logs) for the Dhuni with the balance amount. Though he collected a lot of money as Dakshina, he never kept any amount with him. He would distribute the whole amount the same day and the next morning, he would become a poor Fakir as usual. The ash from this fire is called Udhi and it was freely distributed to the devotees for their wellbeing as Udhi cured many physical and mental maladies. The Udhi was believed to have healing and apotropaic powers. The Udhi taught us discrimination and the Dakshina taught us non-attachment.
Baba asked for Dakshina to remove people’s attachment to money and purify their minds. It was not Dakshina, which he collected, but their sins to make them happy and free from this mundane existence. Baba said, “He had to give back a hundred times more of what he received”. Donation or charity induces Vairagya – non-attachment to money and other worldly affairs to speed up man’s liberation from this world.
Sai Baba encouraged charity and stressed the importance of sharing. He said: "Unless there is some relationship or connection, nobody goes anywhere. If anyone or any creature comes to you, do not discourteously drive them away, but receive them well and treat them with due respect. If anybody wants any money from you and you are not inclined to give, do not give, but do not shout. Other favorite sayings of his were "Why do you fear when I am here" and "Baba has neither beginning nor end’’.
Sai Baba made eleven "assurances" to his devotees:
- Who so ever puts his feet on Shirdi soil his suffering would come to an end.
- The wretched and miserable would rise to plenty of joy and happiness as soon as they climb the steps of this Dwarakamayi Mosque.
- I shall be ever active and vigorous even after leaving this earthly body.
- My tomb shall bless and look to the needs of my devotees.
- I shall be ever active and vigorous even from my tomb.
- My mortal remains would speak from my tomb.
- I am ever living to help and guide all those who come to me, surrender and seek refuge in me.
- If you look to me, I look to you.
- If you seek my advice and help it shall be given to you at once.
- If you cast your burden on me, I shall surely bear it.
- There shall be no want in the house of my devotees.
Sarve Janaah Sukhino Bhavanthu, Sai Ram!