GREATNESS OF UDI - INTRODUCTION

SHREE SATCHITANAND SADGURU SAINATH MAHARAJ KI 

JAI!!!!

Dhuni, the sacred fire kindled by Baba still burns as brightly as ever in Dwarkamai. Baba used to call Her as affectionately as one calls his mother, and addressed Her as Dhuni Maa (Mother Dhuni). He fed Her sumptuously daily, not only log and firewood, but also some food from the dishes He collected from His round of Bhiksha (begging for food by saints). Even during the coldest winters and heaviest torrential rains, Baba made sure that Dhuni burnt in all Her glory. He has often said that Dhuni will burn till the descend of Prayala swallows the Earth. Before leaving for Chavadi, ever alternate night, Baba used to push a few logs into the Dhuni with his right toe and then only leave the Masjid. This is the sacred, holy Dhuni that indiscriminately provides life-giving ash (Vibhuti/Udi) to all who take refuge in Masjidamai. 

The Agni Purana stats that fire is the most holy and incorruptible of all elements that exist. This is justified by the reasons that I shall state below:

1)      Agni (Fire) brings the bright light of Wisdom and destroys the darkness of Ignorance.

2)      Agni Pariksha (an old Hindu tradition where a person walks through fire and comes out unharmed if not guilty) makes Flame the wisest and oldest judge.

3)      Fire ignites the warmth that helps all creatures survive.

4)      Agni has the capability of burning all Karmas (actions), making Him a great actor during Pralaya (Apocalypse).

However, Baba had a completely different lesson behind lighting Dhuni in Masjidmai. Firstly, it was to unite the Hindu and Muslim traditions and practices (Hindu tradition of Agnihotri and Muslim tradition of living in a mosque). Many people accept that this was His primary motive for His Avatar as well. Secondly, Baba taught of the vanity of material possessions, saying that everything will end up in ashes at the end of Prayala and nothing will come with us to the next world. Even this body will change to ashes (after cremation) and will mix with the soil. The ash from Dhuni Maa is called Udi or Vibhuti and is considered the most holy and infallible medicine. Baba also distributed it as His Prasad to all who came to Him. Applying Udi to a person’s forehead calmed all his anxiety, destroyed all doubts regarding spiritual matters and healed all diseases. In fact, it was the only medicine Sayeen gave to any ailing devotee, irrespective of the disease, and this ash cured it without delay.

Every day after aarti, or whenever a devotee came for His darshan, Sai Nath gave him a handful of this greyish ash and also applied some of it to his forehead with His hand, blessing the lucky one with all happiness. Devotees took as much of Udi as possible and distributed to their needy friends and relations. They also took some Udi in with water, sanctifying themselves like this. Even after Sai's Mahasamadhi, His Udi works without any problems, curing diseases ranging from fevers to even Cancer. 

In Shree Satcharitra (written by Hemadpant), the author has dedicated two chapters to explain the value of Udi in great details, but he was not able to describe its complete nature. When such blessed ones are facing such troubles, where do beggars like me stand? I think that me trying my hand it is itself a very risky affair. Let Baba control what I state here and what I omit…  allow me to continue this in the next posts. 

Hare Sai, Hare Sai, Sai Sai Hare Hare;

Sai Ram, Sai Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare!      

AARTI OF SAYEEN (WITH TRANSLATION)

SHREE SAYEEN NATH MAHARAJ KI JAI!!!

This post is the translation of a common Aarti for Baba. All you need to do this aarti is pure love and an incense or lamp. It is Marathi Language.

Arati Sai Baba.

Saukhyadatara Jiva. Caranarajatali

 Dyava dasa visava, bhakta visava

TRANS: Baba, You are the most kind of all. You give shelter to all who come to you. Please show me this kindness and save me like all your other devotees.

Aarti…

Jaluniya ananga. Sasvarupi rahe danga Mumuksa janan davi.

 Nija dola Sriranga. Dola Sriranga

TRANS: Sayeen, burn all my desires and give me salvation (mumukshu). You, who’s eyes are like that of Shriranga (Vishnu)

Aarti…

Jaya mani jaisa bhava. Tayataisa anubhava Davisi dayaghana,

 Aisi tuzi hee mava, tuzi he mava.

TRANS: Whatever expectations and desires people have in their minds, You quickly fulfil them all, such is Your way. Give me such experiences also.  

Aarti…

Tumache nama dhyata. Hare Sansruthivyatha

 Agadha Tava karani. Marga davisi anatha, davisi anatha.

TRANS: He who takes Your name always, no Maya can conquer him. You show him the right Marga (path) towards God.   

Aarti…

Kaliyugi Avatara, Saguna Brahma sachara Avatirna zalase

Svami Datta Digambara, Datta Digambara.

TRANS: You are the incarnate in this age of Darkness (Kali) who has come to save all souls who are pious. You are the Digambara, avatar of Dattatreya.

Aarti…

Athan Divasa Gurvari.Bhakta kariti vari.

Prabhupada Pahavaya Bhava Bhayanivari, bhayanivari.

TRANS: Devotees flock to Shirdi to get Your Darshan, especially on Thursday as it is Guru’s Day. Seeing Your Feet (Pada) destroys all worldly fears from the heart.

Aarti…

Maza nijadravya theva, Thava charana-raja-seva Magane hechi aata,

Tumhan devadideva, devadideva.

TRANS: The only wealth I desire is to be able to serve Your Feet, oh Lord of Gods.

Aarti…

Ichita Dina chatak Nirmala toya nijasukha Pajaven Madhava Ya

 Sambhala apuli bhaka, apuli bhaka.

TRANS: Just like the chatak bird is ever thirsty for water, I am also ever thirsty for Your divine love, grace and Knowledge.

Aarti…

TRANS: For this, we do Your Aarti, Oh Lord.  

OM SHREE SAI NATHAYA NAMAHA!

DWARKAMAI (MASJID MAI) OF SAYEEN

SHREE SAINATH MAHARAJ KI JAI!!!

In this post I will try my level best to describe the Divine Mother of Shirdi, Sayeen's earthly abode, Dwarkamai. It still stands in Shirdi with all its fame and Masjesty, reflecting the old, golden days when Sayeen resided there in His physical form, walking and talking along with other mortals who were blessed enough to enjoy His divine company. However, the Masjid has been renovated and Her surrounding has undergone drastic changes. Never the less, SHe still blesses all the devotees who visit Her, on their visit to Shirdi.

Dwarkamai, or Masjida-Mai, as Baba would call Her, was actually a very old, dilapidated mosque, even before Sayeen decided to dwell there. This masjid stood a bit away from the then village center and other local folks houses. When Sayeen first came to Shirdi in 1854, this mosque had already half collapsed and had one missing wall and no roof. This building is made of rock bricks. Who would have imagined that this abandoned mosque would later serve a purpose of housing the greatest Avadhuta and the Divine Incarnate in a country under British Rule. The only house close by was that of a Nandaram Marwadi, who became a great Sai devotee in future, and the village school where Madhavrao Deshapnde, the closest devotee of Baba taught and lived. However, as known, God makes all the arrangements for His Incarnations to fulfill their duties easily. The mosque would have been very meritorious to be act as the Kailash of Lord Shiva who came to Shirdi to set things right.

It is stated in Satcharitra that Sayeen was ready to dwell under the Neem tree one can see now in Gurusthan forever, but close devotees like Mhalsapathy, Baija Bai, and others persuaded Him to stay under a solid roof for better security reasons (which He needed none). But even they are not at fault, afterall, who had heard of a young lad of 18 live under a tree during all seasons. However, Baba gave in to the requests of His devotees and began living in the dilapidated mosque. He named it Dwarkamai and made it the Shrine of All religions. It became the Harmandir-Sahib, the Dwarka, the Madina and Jerusalem for all who visited Him. Accordingly, He gave His Divine Darshan to all from here, as the four-arm Vishnu to some, as Jesus to some, as Nanak to some and as Mohammed to some, while as the old Fakir to others. Whomever the devotee loved as his favourite deity (Ishta Devata), or as his guru, he found that person, that incarnation in Him. All at the same time. All these wonderful leelas (divine acts) of His were witnessed silently by Dwarkamai.

The Divine Mother gained a physical form after Baba lit the sacred, ever-burning Dhuni, which blesses all of us with His holy Ash (Vibhuti/Udi). Sayeen great cared for Dhuni greatly and fed Her often, before taking food. He also took care to keep Her ever-burning, feeding here logs and other foods at the right times. He sat facing east, resting His back on the wall, as He stared and meditated upon Dhuni, conversing with Her about various topics, and called Her “Dhuni Maa”. Everyday, He took handfuls of Her Udi and distributed it to one and all after Aartis or while a devotee was taking leave, or after giving Darshan. The power within this ash will be discussed in details in next articles, but Sayeen has stated that Dhuni Maa can burn any problem or ailment, and even our karmas of our past lives, thus giving us salvation.

Sayeen has said many times that Dwarka Mai is a very kind mother and will give refuge to all those who take shelter in Her. She will protect Her children from any danger of this world or the next. He has even said that a devotee who asks protection from Her, Masjida Mai will even same him from death.

Sayeen has stated the importance of Dwarkamai many times, in many ways. Some of His nectar-like words are stated here.

“Let me see how death comes and gets you when you are in the care of Masjida Mai.” And

“This is not a mosque. It is Masjida Mai, the Divine Mother. You are welcome to stay here for as long as you want, so cast aside all fears.” And

“I do not take dakshina from one and all. I take dakshina only from those who have forgotten due debts, to free them of it. These people are pointed out to Me by Dwarkamai. I cannot take anything from any person the Masjida Mai doesn’t want to.”
And
"Any person in trouble, if he climbs the three steps of Dwarkamai, his sorrows will end."

It was also in this holy masjid that Baba celebrated all festivals from Ram Navami to Dussera to Eid. People suffering from various worldly troubles found solutions, who had lost all hope of life, found reasons and ways to live. People who had bothering pasts, made peace for a better future. Petty debts threatening to chain a person to samsara (cycle of life) were paid off. Diseases of all kinds, curable and incurable, met their ends here, being destroyed by the mere glance of the Fakir. Unfairly accused people had justice done. All this took place within the walls of the Masjid.  In this way, the patched up masjid became the very universe of Sayeen, who lived, talked, ate, danced, played, taught and slept here. Shyama (Madhavrao Deshapande) first bore witness to Baba’s divinity through the window of his school, which gave clear view into the mosque. Baba’s meditation and yogic practices were also within this mosque.

And lastly, His Samadhi was also here.

Today, if you go to Dwarkamai, you will find place as vast, with a huge photo of Baba, His used utensils, His rock, and an elevated platform atop 3 steps with Baba’s handmade portrait, and a covered Dhuni Maa. This elevated platform is the original Masjid, the lower portion was the front yard. Also, devotees can stay in Dwarkamai at night, helping the Sansthan employees to sweep and clean the place.  

This is the poorest quality and the shortest summary of Dwarkamai that you would probably find in the vast ocean of internet. But I sum it up here. You can read more on Masjida Mai in Satcharitra authored by Hemadpant.  

OM SAI! SHREE SAI!! JAI JAI SAI!!!