Loving Sairams dear fellow devotees in this spiritual journey.
By the Divine grace of Lord Sai and all your support and encouragement Sai Times is now into our 8th year. This is our humble effort to spread Lord Sai’s messages and glory through value-based stories, experiences and Seva activities.
Hope you find this meaningful in your spiritual path. Looking forward to your continued support.
Shirdi Sai Gayatri
OM Shirdi Vasaya Vidamahe Sachidanandaya
Dhimahi tanno Sai Prachodayath
Om, Let me meditate on the God who lives in Shirdi,
Oh, God who is the ethereal truth and happiness, give me higher intellect,
And let that Sai illuminate my mind
Sai Leela
For next few months we will bring back our memories of 2018 offering of our book Eternal Compassionate Master-our own sharing with Omnipresent Sai
The Excess Baggage Issue
The incident I am sharing is far too trivial but also goes to show that He is with us in the trivial things. I was flying to Mumbai and then to Shirdi. I had 2 suitcases packed, one for the Shirdi stay and one with stuff for wedding at Mumbai and things to take to Singapore later.
As my tickets were done at the last minute and I was travelling Economy class; I was a bit worried about exceeding my baggage allowance. My worst fears came true and when I checked in my bags, the weight came to 32 Kgs. I was entitled only 30kgs. Though it wasn’t a full flight, the staff at the counter insisted on payment and declined to help in anyway. I had no way to repack or take out excess as I had no spare bag or anyone to take the excess baggage home.
I tried explaining to him my situation, but the counter guy was unrelenting. Then suddenly he said he would waive 1 kg but I would have to pay for the rest. I was upset with myself for landing in such a situation. With a sigh and a prayer to Baba, I agreed. He then aligned my suitcases vertically to tag them and that very moment, the weight dropped by a kilo. His jaw dropped, so did mine. Luckily for me, he stuck to his waiver deal and checked me in without repacking or paying.
One mental prayer in total surrender and the situation got sorted. Jai Sai Ram!
-Shared by Padmini (UAE)
Sathya Sai Gayatri
Om Saieshwaraya Vidmahe
Sathya Devaya Dheemahi
Thanna Sarvah Prachodayath
We know Sri Sathya Sai as Supreme Divinity Incarnate
We meditate on this God of Truth
May Almighty God lead us to Liberation
Message on Tolerance- by Swami
Sathya Sai Baba taught that tolerance is a sacred virtue, a key tool for peace, and the basis for respecting all points of view and faiths. He emphasized that patience and forbearance must guide human behavior.
Core Teachings on Tolerance
Respect All Views: Be reasonable, considerate, and full of toleration for different opinions and perspectives.
The Lesson of Nature: Look to the tree as an example; it gives fruit and shade to everyone equally, even to the person cutting it down.
Control of Words: Do not cause hurt to others through your words, looks, gestures, or actions.
Unity of Faiths: Honor your own path while respecting the spiritual practices and beliefs of other people
Story time
Buddha and the angry man
Value- Peace
Sub value- Patience
One day Buddha was walking through a village. A very angry and rude young man came up and began insulting him. “You have no right teaching others,” he shouted. “You are as stupid as everyone else. You are nothing but a fake.”
Buddha was not upset by these insults. Instead he asked the young man, “Tell me, if you buy a gift for someone, and that person does not take it, to whom does the gift belong?”
The man was surprised to be asked such a strange question and answered, “It would belong to me, because I bought the gift.”
The Buddha smiled and said, “That is correct. And it is exactly the same with your anger. If you become angry with me and I do not get insulted, then the anger falls back on you.”
Learning
One must learn to control our anger. Our words and actions can affect others. Think before you speak. Also develop patience and tolerance towards someone who behaves angrily.
Podcasts–Sai Prem– Podcast for spreading the human value stories. We have over 400 plus podcasts now.
Akhand parayans– Sri Shirdi Sai Satcharitra, Sri Sathya Sai Satcharitra Tapovanam , Sri Sathya Sai Kalpadruma group parayans online as well as being part of the weekly whats app group parayans
Tapovanam Mahaparayans-Devotees from all over the globe are invited to join this parayan and also to help in coordination
LA CASA- (Home to Love All Care for All Serve All) helping out migrant workers for meals, medicines and other needs in Singapore and other education, medical and water projects in India
Translation Seva- Human value stories, Sai literature being translated in different languages.
Sai literature-Blogging on Sathya Sai Speaks, Sai Vahinis- essence of vedas and Upanishads by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Glory of Sai– Spreading of the message of Universal love through stories, interviews, articles- Seva- Administration of social media pages, blogs, IT help, audio visual, transcription etc
Experience Sharing- Devotees can share their written experiences on the parayans, transformations by different seva activities, Sai leelas especially after Baba’s Mahasamadhi.
Offering my most humble gratitude and salutations at the Divine Lotus feet of my beloved Master Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
There are no words to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to my 3G – Guru, Guide, and God. He has held my hand through many decades and continues to guide and protect me in every way, every single day. I would like to share a few learnings from this year, which, by His grace, I hope to implement in my life.
There are countless lessons to be learnt every day. However, in this post, I will share the learnings from my recent trip to South Africa.
Our family visited South Africa for a two-week vacation. Initially, I was not very keen, as it involved long hours of travel and safari drives over rough terrain. However, since my family was very enthusiastic, I did not want to be a spoilsport and decided to go along. Looking back after this wonderful holiday, I realise it has been one of the best vacations I have ever had, and I am truly grateful to have been part of it.
Our journey began with several safari drives, where we were amazed to see wildlife roaming freely in their natural habitat. As I watched the elephants, lions, leopards, and other animals, I noticed how calm they were. There seemed to be no hurry to run after anything or achieve something. They simply existed, peacefully enjoying their home. Every leaf they ate or every meal they had was consumed without haste or urgency. Some of them would simply remain in one place for hours.
In contrast, we humans constantly rush through life in a never-ending rat race, rarely living in the present or truly enjoying what we are doing at that very moment. This was a beautiful reminder for me to slow down, live in the present, and simply… be.
My next learning came from one of the staff members at our lodge. Every morning, he would be up early, full of warmth, enthusiasm, and positive energy, serving us tirelessly throughout the day with the same cheerful attitude. Along with the chef, he ensured that we were treated to sumptuous vegetarian meals every day. From them, I learnt the art of warmth, hospitality, and serving others with genuine enthusiasm. I will always cherish the time spent with them.
From there, we travelled to Cape Town, undoubtedly one of the most scenic places in the world. It almost feels as though nature has been especially generous to this city, blessing it with magnificent mountains and an abundance of beautiful water bodies.
By Swami’s grace, whenever we visit a new country, we always try to connect with a Sai Centre there. This trip was no different. We were blessed to visit the Sai Centre on a Sunday morning, where Laksharchana (chanting the Lord’s Name one hundred thousand times) was being conducted. We attended the bhajans and participated in a few rounds of chanting. It was truly blissful to see so many devotees participating despite the cold weather and rain.
It is always a joy to witness devotees across the world coming together for Sai activities with the same love, devotion, and fervour. My learning here was that being a part of our Guru’s mission is itself a rare blessing, and I should never take such opportunities for granted or miss them because of my own lax attitude.
My final learning came from the lady guide who drove us around Cape Town. Her commitment, dedication, and attitude were truly inspiring. Although our sightseeing usually began around 9:30 a.m., she would arrive by 8:00 a.m., ready to receive us with a smile and plan our day. She made the best use of every single day, taking us to breathtaking places and covering almost the entire city in just four days.
She was knowledgeable, cheerful, and always eager to ensure that we enjoyed every moment of the sightseeing. She drove hundreds of kilometres every day with the same level of enthusiasm and energy. We would usually return to the hotel around 5:30 or 6:00 p.m., after which she still had another one to two hours of driving before reaching home. Yet, not once did she complain.
She shared with us how important it was for her to continue working and how travelling outside her country even once in a while was a great luxury for her. She has no children of her own, yet her affection and concern for children were evident in the way she interacted with my daughter. Every now and then, she would lovingly ask if my daughter was happy, whether she was enjoying the places we visited, and what she would like to see next.
Even after a long day’s work, she would return home to cook meals for two student paying guests who stayed with her, as it provided some additional income.
Watching her made me realise how grateful I should be—for being able to travel frequently, for not having to work under such demanding circumstances, and for learning to maintain the same positive attitude, patience, and spirit without complaining about every small inconvenience. Hats off to her perseverance, resilience, and grit!
These are some of the lessons I learnt over the past two weeks. I sincerely hope that I continue to reflect upon them and, more importantly, put them into practice in my daily life. This trip turned out to be not just a vacation, but a true eye-opener for me.
It is indeed true that travel teaches us many lessons and broadens our minds.
With a heart full of gratitude for these invaluable learnings, I pray at the Lotus Feet of my Guru for the strength and grace to put them into practice in my daily life.
Loving Sairams dear fellow devotees in this spiritual journey.
By the Divine grace of Lord Sai and all your support and encouragement Sai Times is now into our 7th year moving to 8th year on this Guru Purnima month. This is our humble effort to spread Lord Sai’s messages and glory through value-based stories, experiences and Seva activities.
Hope you find this meaningful in your spiritual path. Looking forward to your continued support.
Guru Purnima Special
Shirdi Sai Gayatri
OM Shirdi Vasaya Vidamahe Sachidanandaya
Dhimahi tanno Sai Prachodayath
Om, Let me meditate on the God who lives in Shirdi,
Oh, God who is the ethereal truth and happiness, give me higher intellect,
And let that Sai illuminate my mind
Sai Leela
For next few months we will bring back our memories of 2018 offering of our book Eternal Compassionate Master-our own sharing with Omnipresent Sai
Sai saves us from fire
We had just moved to Singapore and were shifting to a new apartment. We had a small puja and I had only Baba’s picture stuck on to a cardboard which we offered the prayers to. We had lit a very small lamp before the picture.
Traditionally, after the prayers, we were supposed to sleep that night in the new home. So, we decided to do it and stay the night in this unfurnished apartment. I remember that we went to bed at around 2am. In the night, I was woken up by someone. I got up sleepily to see that Baba’s picture was on fire!! Right next to it was the curtains which would have caught fire if I hadn’t been woken up.
I know that it is my Sai who woke me up on time and He took the fire on Himself to save us from a calamity. Jai Sai Ram!
-Shared by Aashoo (Singapore)
Sathya Sai Gayatri
Om Saieshwaraya Vidmahe
Sathya Devaya Dheemahi
Thanna Sarvah Prachodayath
We know Sri Sathya Sai as Supreme Divinity Incarnate
We meditate on this God of Truth
May Almighty God lead us to Liberation
Message on Guru Purnima- by Swami
Sathya Sai Baba’s Guru Purnima message centers on realizing that the true Guru is the Divine within.
He emphasized that the auspicious day is not for external rituals, but for dispelling ignorance, conquering the ego, and practicing unwavering love, truth, and service in daily life.
Guru Purnima, which traditionally falls on the full moon in the lunar month of Ashad (June/July), is a time for deep spiritual reflection and gratitude.
The core tenets of His message on this day include:
The True Meaning of Guru: A true Guru is one who removes the fundamental darkness of ignorance (Avidya) and body-attachment. True guidance is about looking beyond forms and recognizing the Divine indweller in all beings.
Oneness and Love: Sai Baba urged devotees to see every living being as a temple of God. His overarching call was to replace ego and attachment with unconditional love, compassion, and selfless service.
Unity of Thought, Word, and Deed: He frequently stressed that spirituality is not just theory; devotees must practice what they preach. Our words and actions should be perfectly aligned with purity and truth.
Story time
Importance of a Guru
Value: Truth
Sub-value-Wisdom, Guidance
In the early years when Swami Vivekananda first visited Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda asked “I have read the Bhagavad Gita and other scriptures several times, I lecture and give discourses on the Gita and Ramayana. Do I still need the harbor of a saint; do I still need a guru?”
Ramakrishna didn’t reply to Vivekananda’s question.
After a few days, Ramakrishna called upon Vivekananda and handed him a parcel to be delivered to a nearby village a few hours away by the sea route. Early morning the boat and sailor would be ready and all he needed to do was to go to the village and deliver the parcel to the designated person.
Vivekananda agreed and decided to start early.
He found the boat and the sailor ready to put out to sea. While seated in the boat, Vivekananda suddenly realized that he didn’t know the road to the village. He checked with the sailor to find out if the sailor knew the way to the place, but the sailor had no clue either.
Vivekananda decided to go back to his guru to ask him the shortest way to the village.
Upon this Ramakrishna said, “Narendra, this is my reply to the question you asked me when we met the first time: Today, you have the medium (the boat), you have the resource (the sailor), you have the road (the sea), you know what to do (deliver the parcel) and you also know where to go but you don’t know the way……”
“……..likewise you have read all the scriptures, and you can conduct wonderful discourses on them. However, to realize the wisdom of scriptures one needs a guru, someone who has already traversed that path so that he can guide you through the journey and encourage you to not give up.”
Learning
A teacher or a guru especially, who has traversed or experienced life, is the one capable of teaching and guiding us. If we find such a guru we must hold on to Him so that we can face our life in a better and more easier manner.
Akhand parayans– Sri Shirdi Sai Satcharitra, Sri Sathya Sai Satcharitra Tapovanam , Sri Sathya Sai Kalpadruma group parayans online as well as being part of the weekly whats app group parayans
Tapovanam Mahaparayans-Devotees from all over the globe are invited to join this parayan and also to help in coordination
LA CASA- (Home to Love All Care for All Serve All) helping out migrant workers for meals, medicines and other needs in Singapore and other education, medical and water projects in India
Translation Seva- Human value stories, Sai literature being translated in different languages.
Sai literature-Blogging on Sathya Sai Speaks, Sai Vahinis- essence of vedas and Upanishads by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Glory of Sai– Spreading of the message of Universal love through stories, interviews, articles- Seva- Administration of social media pages, blogs, IT help, audio visual, transcription etc
Experience Sharing- Devotees can share their written experiences on the parayans, transformations by different seva activities, Sai leelas especially after Baba’s Mahasamadhi.
Loving Sairams dear fellow devotees in this spiritual journey.
By the Divine grace of Lord Sai and all your support and encouragement Sai Times is now into our 7th year. This is our humble effort to spread Lord Sai’s messages and glory through value-based stories, experiences and Seva activities.
Hope you find this meaningful in your spiritual path. Looking forward to your continued support.
Shirdi Sai Gayatri
OM Shirdi Vasaya Vidamahe Sachidanandaya
Dhimahi tanno Sai Prachodayath
Om, Let me meditate on the God who lives in Shirdi,
Oh, God who is the ethereal truth and happiness, give me higher intellect,
And let that Sai illuminate my mind
Sai Leela
For next few months we will bring back our memories of 2018 offering of our book Eternal Compassionate Master-our own sharing with Omnipresent Sai
Omnipotent Sai
In the year 2011 February, my mother was very sick and was admitted in the hospital. Doctors gave up and advised and that all the near and dear ones should be called as there was no hope of her surviving. I was at that time in Singapore and was very worried. In this difficult time, I knew no other refuge other than Divine Feet of Lord Sai. So, I went to my Puja room and held on to Baba’s Feet, chanted Shirdi Baba Gayathri 3 times. I started crying and pleaded with him to save my mother and be with her. I continued to chant OM SAI RAM as I left for Bangalore the same night, clutching onto Satcharitra throughout my journey and went straight to the hospital from the airport.
Seeing my mother in the ICU, rigged up to all equipment was very tough for me, but my chanting continued, I was mentally telling Baba; “Please be with her and give her the strength to undergo this situation”. Next day morning, the doctor came for the rounds to check on her. Shortly he came to us, as we were waiting eagerly to know her condition. He said she was improving and encouraged us to hope for the best. We continued our prayers. The following day was Shivarathri.
As the day progressed, her condition kept improving. She was being continuously monitored and miraculously the next day morning she was taken off all the medical support and shifted from ICU to the normal ward. My mother was almost normal. The first sentence my mother spoke was, “Sai has brought me back to life, My Namaskarams at his feet”. My mother then shared her experience with us.
“Yesterday being Shivaratri, I was mentally praying to Lord Shiva. I have been fasting and coming to your temple all these years, but this year I am lying in the hospital. I am only able to chant ‘OM NAMAH SHIVAYA’. Baba, you are my everything, please accept my prayers. I was chanting continuously with my feeble strength.
I felt somebody near my bed and opened my eyes to see Shirdi Baba and Sathya Sai Baba standing on either side of the bed and blessing me, I could not believe my eyes and with the little strength I had, now and then, opened my eyes to see the presence I was continuously experiencing. The Divine lord SAI (SHIVA) was beside my bed the whole night, and I could feel my energy gaining steadily, and by morning I was feeling normal. So today I have come back alive is only by the Grace of Baba”.
She was back to normal and lived another 2 years going to temple and doing the Seva she could, though she had complications off and on. She finally reached the Divine Feet of Lord Sai in June 2013. So, from this experience, I learnt that when we call him with love from the bottom of our hearts; He is there instantly.
Jai Sairam!!
-Shared by Vasanthi (Singapore)
Sathya Sai Gayatri
Om Saieshwaraya Vidmahe
Sathya Devaya Dheemahi
Thanna Sarvah Prachodayath
We know Sri Sathya Sai as Supreme Divinity Incarnate
We meditate on this God of Truth
May Almighty God lead us to Liberation
Message on Surrender- by Swami
Sri Sathya Sai Baba taught that true surrender is not about passive idleness or an empty declaration, but the total offering of your mind, body, and actions to the Divine.
It involves recognizing that God resides within everyone and everything, replacing duality with complete oneness.
Unconditional Offering: Surrender requires dedicating all thoughts, words, and deeds—along with their consequences—to God
Surrender requires dedicating all thoughts, words, and deeds—along with their consequences—to God, leaving no room for the ego.
Alignment with Divine Will: It means having no aim other than understanding God’s command and translating it into action.
Overcoming Duality: True surrender means relinquishing the notion of “I” and “Mine.” It is recognizing that the individual soul and the universal soul are one.
Selfless Action: You may perform your daily duties, but you do so while constantly reminding yourself that everything belongs to God.
Story time
Value: Surrender
Sub-Value: Faith
Once upon a time, a cow went out to graze in the jungle. Suddenly, she noticed a tiger racing towards her. She turned and fled, fearing that at any moment the tiger would sink his claws into her.
The cow desperately looked for someplace to escape and at last, saw a shallow pond. Barely evading the tiger’s reach, she jumped into the pond, and in the heat of the chase, the tiger blindly leaped after her.
To the surprise of them both, the pond was extremely shallow yet filled with deep recesses of mud. After toppling over each other, the cow and the tiger found themselves a short distance apart, stuck in the mud up to their necks. Both had their heads above water but were unable to free themselves no matter how much they writhed.
The tiger repeatedly snarled at the cow and roared, “I am going to enjoy the sound of crunching your bones between my teeth!”
He thrashed about in a fury but soon became fretful as he found no prospect of escape.
*The cow thoughtfully laughed as the tiger struggled to free himself and asked him, “Do you have a master?”*
The tiger disdainfully replied, “I am the king of the jungle. Why do you ask me if I have a master? I myself am the master!”
The cow said, “You may be the king of the jungle, but here all your power has failed to save your life.”
“And what about you?” Retorted the tiger. “You are going to die here in this mud too!”’
The cow smiled mildly and said, “No, I am not.”
“If even I, the king of the jungle cannot free myself from this mud”, snapped the tiger, “Then how can you, an ordinary cow?”
The cow gently replied, “I cannot free myself from this mud, but my master can. When the sun sets and he finds me absent at home, he will come looking for me. Once he finds me, he will raise me up and escort me home sweet home.”
The tiger fell silent and coldly glared at the cow.
Soon enough, the sunset and the cow’s master arrived. He immediately recognised the plight she was in and lifted her to safety. As they walked home, the cow and the master both felt renewed gratitude for one another and pitied the tiger they both would have been happy to save if only the tiger had allowed them.
Learning
The cow represents a surrendered soul, the tiger represents a proud person, and the master represents almighty God who is known as the loving protector of the cows and the world. The mud represents the material world, and the chase represents the struggle for existence therein.
The surrendered soul relies upon the Lord rather than themselves for all the necessities of life. No matter how many troubles appeared to be created by the proud persons of the world who reject the guardianship of the Lord out of the false ego of considering themselves capable of fending for themselves, the surrendered souls know that everything is really in the hands of the Lord, the all-loving. They are fully confident in His protection, though they know sometimes they just need to wait a little while until sundown.
Akhand parayans– Sri Shirdi Sai Satcharitra, Sri Sathya Sai Satcharitra Tapovanam , Sri Sathya Sai Kalpadruma group parayans online as well as being part of the weekly whats app group parayans
Tapovanam Mahaparayans-Devotees from all over the globe are invited to join this parayan and also to help in coordination
LA CASA- (Home to Love All Care for All Serve All) helping out migrant workers for meals, medicines and other needs in Singapore and other education, medical and water projects in India
Translation Seva- Human value stories, Sai literature being translated in different languages.
Sai literature-Blogging on Sathya Sai Speaks, Sai Vahinis- essence of vedas and Upanishads by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Glory of Sai– Spreading of the message of Universal love through stories, interviews, articles- Seva- Administration of social media pages, blogs, IT help, audio visual, transcription etc
Experience Sharing- Devotees can share their written experiences on the parayans, transformations by different seva activities, Sai leelas especially after Baba’s Mahasamadhi.
Loving Sairams dear fellow devotees in this spiritual journey.
By the Divine grace of Lord Sai and all your support and encouragement Sai Times is now into our 7th year. This is our humble effort to spread Lord Sai’s messages and glory through value-based stories, experiences and Seva activities.
Hope you find this meaningful in your spiritual path. Looking forward to your continued support.
Shirdi Sai Gayatri
OM Shirdi Vasaya Vidamahe Sachidanandaya
Dhimahi tanno Sai Prachodayath
Om, Let me meditate on the God who lives in Shirdi,
Oh, God who is the ethereal truth and happiness, give me higher intellect,
And let that Sai illuminate my mind
Sai Leela
For next few months we will bring back our memories of 2018 offering of our book Eternal Compassionate Master-our own sharing with Omnipresent Sai
Baba saves my baby daughter
I consider myself extremely lucky and blessed that Baba has given me a place alongside, with his myriad devotees and disciples. One thinks of Baba only by His Grace and it’s my personal experience that anyone who calls out to Baba from the depths of their hearts; Baba always responds and that too with unmatched love. I am convinced that HE is always with me; the scriptures say that not a blade of grass can move without His will. I consider Baba as my dear friend and share everything with Him. There have been so many miracles which reiterate this fact that He is always there with me. Amongst all those miracles, I share one which has deeply impacted me.
Baba always reminds us “Why fear when I am here?” and this is the basis of my experience. It was in the beginning of the year 2007, when my 2nd pregnancy was confirmed. This fact terrified me witless. My first pregnancy was extremely difficult. I was on bed rest for the entire duration of it, as my blood pressure would shoot up, because of which many other issues and complications arose during the first pregnancy. Thinking about the whole experience gave me nightmares.
My 2nd pregnancy was not a planned one, so I wasn’t mentally prepared to go through the whole thing again. I had planned to meet the gynaecologist, confide my worries and anxieties and if possible terminate the pregnancy. The doctors were of the opinion that abortion was not a good option; also, the intense emotional and family pressure came from the home front to retain the pregnancy. And soon my worst fears began to unfold!!
From the 2nd month itself my BP started shooting high and with all physical issues and pressures I was having to face; my health deteriorated very much.
Baba was my only confidante, and I heard myself telling Him, if this is happening by your will, then my request is, please be with me and let not my worst fears come true. All this happened, when I was in a city called Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. With my health deteriorating, we consulted more doctors to manage the health and BP issues. Some consulting doctors very openly said that due to all these health complications my child’s mental growth could be affected! What can be more devastating for a mother than this!!
Due to the increasing complications with my pregnancy and health, my family decided that I should be moved to Delhi and my treatment was to be at Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi. The capital city had better medical facilities to offer than Gwalior ; was the thought process at that time.
I began to live in Delhi with my brother and his wife whom I call Bhabhi. My unstable BP and its effect on my unborn child’s mental and physical growth was my constant fear and worry. The senior doctors in the hospital encouraged me to maintain a positive attitude to life and have faith in the Lord. I was always mentally praying to Baba – my only prayer being the safety of my unborn child and soon the months went by. In the months that went by, I would always do my prayers to Baba, apply the Udi on my belly; and though my BP and health would go crazy time to time; it always did resolve and this I strongly feel is Baba’s grace.
I was 3 days short of my 8th month of pregnancy, when my brother had to go to Agra for work. He assured me saying that my due date was far away and I shouldn’t panic, that he would back within a day. That day is etched in my heart, it was the 10th Sep 2007. We had 2 cars at home; one was a SUV and other was an old car which had starting trouble. The day began peacefully with my brother leaving early for Agra in the SUV; Bhabhi and I did our morning chores and had a leisurely lunch.
But suddenly after lunch, my health took a turn for the worse; my BP shot up again and I couldn’t feel the baby’s movements either. I panicked!! Bhabhi also got worried and after chat with the doctor in the hospital it was decided that we go there as soon as possible. As we got in the old car , which was temperamental to start; our minds were running. Bhabhi on one hand, was worried about the car stalling enroute to the hospital and reaching me to hospital on time. Believe or not, the old car sprang into life with the first turn of the key and another miracle was that there was no traffic all the way to the hospital. All through the drive, I was praying and chanting His name; and strangely I felt fearless; I had full Faith on my Sai. At the hospital, on examination, the Doctors said that my high BP had slowed down the child’s heart rate and that it was imperative that an immediate surgery be done to save the child.
My Bhabhi was speechless with fear; she was alone in the hospital with no family support. I was soon wheeled in to the operating room (OR) and next issue was that of giving anaesthesia. The medical staff couldn’t administer it due to my high BP, I could sense panic in the OR, lying there in that bed. As I lay on the operating table amidst all the panic, I saw my Sainath standing in the far corner. As soon as my eyes feasted on His divine form, my eyes started closing slowly, probably the anaesthesia had started working on me. Though my eyes were closed, I could see my Baba very clearly. He was now right in front of me. Soon I slipped into oblivion.
When I awoke much later, I was in my ward on my bed, I had no recollection of what happened after. I was told that that I had delivered a beautiful little baby girl at 5.15 pm on Sep 10, 2007. My baby girl was 1600 gms, underweight but with Baba’s grace her mental growth was normal!! My baby was in NICU- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for about a fortnight. The doctors said that the child’s weight would improve within a few months and there was nothing to worry as she was a normal baby.
Today my beautiful daughter is 10 years old and she is healthy. That fateful day of my life has sealed my faith and conviction that when you trust Baba; He doesn’t let you down. Everything during the pregnancy was against me; except for Him who was with me all the time. My heartfelt prayer and wish for all is that- May Sai Baba’s blessings and Grace always be on us, guiding us, leading us and helping us walk the path of righteouness.
OM SAI RAM!!-
Shared by Chitra (Singapore)
Sathya Sai Gayatri
Om Saieshwaraya Vidmahe
Sathya Devaya Dheemahi
Thanna Sarvah Prachodayath
We know Sri Sathya Sai as Supreme Divinity Incarnate
We meditate on this God of Truth
May Almighty God lead us to Liberation
Message on seeing Divinity in all- by Swami
Unity in Diversity: Baba emphasized that humanity is one family and that the same divine principle exists in all, regardless of creed, color, or country. He often urged devotees to visualize unity rather than focusing on differences.
Service as Worship: Helping others is viewed as helping oneself, because the divine is present within everyone. Therefore, service rendered without ego is equivalent to worship.
Correction of Vision: Baba taught that it is unnecessary to search for God elsewhere. Instead, one must correct their “defective vision” to see the Divine in every person and object.
“See God in Everyone”: Devotees are encouraged to treat all beings with respect, as saluting others is actually a way of bowing to the divinity within them.
The Indwelling Witness: Divinity functions as a “witnessing consciousness” in every human heart, seeing all actions, whether good or bad.
Nature as Divine: God is not separate from creation; nature is a manifestation of divine unity and purity.
Story time
Seeing Divinity in All
Value: Love for all
Sub-Value: Compassion
One devotee of Om Swami narrated this incident to him.
“Swami,” he said, “The first thing I do immediately after taking a bath in the morning is to light a lamp at the altar and say my prayers. Other than incense and lamp, I also offer fresh flowers. I have a small fenced area where I grow these flowers with great care and love because they are offered to God. I water them every morning and evening.”
“While you’ve just come from the mountains, it’s been extremely hot here in the plains,” he continued. “Due to the intense heatwave, people have been staying as much indoors as possible. Even dogs and cows run for shade and shelter during the day and the heat is already scorching soon after sunrise. If you step outside, you start sweating even at seven in the morning.”
“It was a Sunday and I had barely slept the night before because of a power cut, so I started my day later than usual. At around 9 a.m. I went outside to gather flowers for my morning prayers. Much to my annoyance, a street dog had made its way through the fence and was sitting on my little lawn. A hedge of flowers was partially destroyed. The dog had dug a pit creating a mound of earth nearby.
“With his tongue lolling out of his mouth, he was resting in the cool earth. I was as sad as furious to see the state of the lawn. Plus, I thought about how would I offer fresh and pure flowers at the altar now. He could have peed in any corner of the lawn and I wouldn’t know. I got really mad and yelled at the top of my voice and the dog ran away.”
“I prayed in haste because I couldn’t focus at all, and spent the next one-hour fixing my lawn. I was in a bad mood throughout the day. Later that afternoon, I had to see a cobbler to get my shoes repaired. He was sitting on the footpath of a wide road. A faded and patched umbrella was tied to an old stick that was strategically stuck in the seat he sat on. A smutty and tiny workbench, that looked almost vintage, had countless engravings from weathering numerous cuts from various tools over the years.”
“Alongside an awl and other implements, a whetstone lay nearby. And next to it was a soiled bowl with water. This is where he would regularly dip his sole knife and rub a bit on the stone to sharpen the blade. Sitting on my bike, I was feeling hot and restless while the cobbler worked slowly and patiently. He seemed unaffected by the heat or the noise.
“He was about to dip his sole knife in water when a stray dog sauntered in and started drinking from the bowl. The cobbler stopped and smiled. One moment I was looking at the dog and the next moment at the shoemaker. He was watching the dog with unearthly serenity and contentment on his face. Soon the water was finished and the dog was licking the bowl.
“Without saying a word, he reached in his bag, pulled out an old plastic bottle, and poured more water in the bowl. The dog was drinking again. The shoemaker too took a few sips from the bottle and put it back in his bag. Given the soaring mercury, the water must be more than warm if not nearly hot.
“After drinking some more the dog looked at him, wagged his tail, and sat nearby. The cobbler gazed at him lovingly out of his beady and compassionate eyes set in his dark and grimy face. The concrete pavement was too hot for the dog though. He got up, drank a bit more water, wagged his tail again, and quietly left. As for the shoemaker, he dipped his knife in the same bowl and went about his business.”
“I can’t even begin to tell you, Swami,” he continued, “that how ashamed I felt. There I was an educated man who had been listening to your discourses for years and reading your posts, and yet I could not see any God in the dog that spoiled my lawn. I chased him away like a mad man. I was upset beyond words. And here was an illiterate cobbler who probably never read scriptures, nor prayed at an altar, yet he was far more spiritual than I could ever hope to be.
“I hear you say so often about seeing God in everyone and treating them like that, but when I actually had the opportunity to do so I failed miserably. A shoemaker, on the other hand, was living your words, he was adhering to the scriptures. I feel so guilty and terrible, Swami.”
“Don’t worry,” Swami said. “At least, you learned a lifelong lesson.”
“No Swami,” he cried. “Please tell me how do I repent.”
“Your awareness is your penitence.”
“Still, Swami,” he persisted, “give me something to do.”
“Okay then,” Swami said. “Put a bowl of water just outside your home for dogs and birds. And, keep three chapatis or slices of bread next to the water. Everyday. For as long as you can.”
Learning
When we realize God, we become humble naturally. Arrogance and ego flee us like thieves do in the light. We become an embodiment of goodness and we choose our words carefully. We weigh our actions meticulously. We check our thoughts artfully and act mindfully. It all happens effortlessly for we see the same Divine in everyone.
No matter how learned or religious we may be until we feel the pain of other sentient beings, we are all alike — self-centered and self-concerned. And when the truth dawns, we realize that we still are all alike — eternal and divine.
Only the perspective changes. Before realization, we see bodies, differences, and outer appearances. After realization, we see souls, similarities, and the inner essence.
Akhand parayans– Sri Shirdi Sai Satcharitra, Sri Sathya Sai Satcharitra Tapovanam , Sri Sathya Sai Kalpadruma group parayans online as well as being part of the weekly whats app group parayans
Tapovanam Mahaparayans-Devotees from all over the globe are invited to join this parayan and also to help in coordination
LA CASA- (Home to Love All Care for All Serve All) helping out migrant workers for meals, medicines and other needs in Singapore and other education, medical and water projects in India
Translation Seva- Human value stories, Sai literature being translated in different languages.
Sai literature-Blogging on Sathya Sai Speaks, Sai Vahinis- essence of vedas and Upanishads by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Glory of Sai– Spreading of the message of Universal love through stories, interviews, articles- Seva- Administration of social media pages, blogs, IT help, audio visual, transcription etc
Experience Sharing- Devotees can share their written experiences on the parayans, transformations by different seva activities, Sai leelas especially after Baba’s Mahasamadhi.
By Bhagavan’s immense grace, we have been blessed to host Ekadasha Rudram every year for the last 12–13 years. This year, when the dates were announced and we were asked to choose one, I noticed that one of the dates was 23rd May — a very special day for us. However, that day had been taken up.. all the other dates were available. I felt a little disappointed and chose another date in early July.
I forgot about it for some time, but somehow, in February/March, I checked with the person who had taken 23rd May and requested if it might be possible to swop the date, unless it was especially significant for them. Some family event in India had also come up for early July for us. The kind sister readily agreed and mentioned that it might actually be difficult for them to host in May. Though they too had an important family function in May, her son would only be able to attend in July, and she was happy to swop the dates.
Swami’s leela He made both of us happy and did what was best for us.
By His immense grace, the Ekadasha Rudram went off very well on a very significant day in our lives. Swami also showered another blessing by ensuring, through His divine plan, that my father could be here as well.
My husband had been mentioning that for Dad’s 90th year, we should perform Ekadasha Rudram in India in December. However, the Divine Will was for it to happen in Singapore in his 90th year, with so many devotees attending and participating in the sacred occasion.
Only gratitude to Bhagavan for His immense grace and love.
It was 10th May 2026, and we were just getting ready to leave for the Gayathri Mahayagnam held in Singapore. It is conducted every year around Swami’s Aradhana time. It was a Sunday morning around 8:45 am, and as we stepped out of the house, I noticed a missed call from my father, who lives in Parthi. It was only 6:15 am in India, and he never calls so early.
His love and faith in Swami are amazing. He has been managing independently in Parthi, with an attendant helping him for a few hours daily. Every morning, around 11 am Singapore time, he would send me an assuring message: “Sairam… all fine.” This had been continuing for more than a year or two.
So I wondered whether he had called accidentally that morning or if he was unwell. When I returned the call, he mentioned that he had been having high BP for the past two days and wanted to know whether he should continue the medication. Earlier, during another call, he had also mentioned that the cook had not come, but he somehow managed to cook lunch for himself.
I felt very bad and asked him to come to Singapore and stay with me for a while, especially during the peak summer. I felt guilty that at the age of 90, he had to cook for himself. What could I do to help him? But he rejected both options — either coming here or my going there. He simply said he would manage and that Swami was taking care.
However, that morning, as I reached the Gayathri Yagnam venue, my heart was not really into it. My father’s health was constantly on my mind, and I was also having a backache. So I participated only minimally in the yagna. But Swami had a different plan.
I was one of the ladies asked to carry the Purna Ahuti items to the temple next door, pray there, and bring them back to the yagna mandapam. As I was returning to the mandapam, my husband clicked a picture of me. Later, when he shared it with me, he asked me to carefully notice the picture. I was not in the right frame of mind and merely glanced at it without paying much attention. Over the next two days, he reminded me several times to look at it again, but I really didn’t bother.
Then, on 11th May, the next day, I once again requested my father to come to Singapore. Again, he said he was fine and could take care of himself, asking me not to worry. Around the same time, I also happened to speak to my dear brother Murali, who has always helped take care of Dad in Parthi. I mentioned the situation to him as well.
Within three-four hours that afternoon, my father called and said he was ready to come to Singapore. Brother Murali had convinced him. Now I wondered how he could travel immediately unless I personally went there to bring him. But Dad said Murali had assured him that he would ensure Dad safely boarded the aircraft, and once he landed in Singapore, we would take care of the rest.
We immediately booked the tickets and arranged all the wheelchair assistance. Within three days, Dad was on his way here. The kindness and support of Brother Murali and Sister Ranjani can never be expressed enough. They gave him a hearty breakfast, comfortably dropped him at the airport, arranged for someone to assist him in a wheelchair right from the entrance until he boarded the aircraft, and kept updating me constantly. They are truly among those rare gems who still live Swami’s message in every aspect of life.
Meanwhile, we arranged wheelchair assistance in Singapore as well. I had checked with a few people regarding their experiences, and the feedback was mixed — delays, shortage of wheelchairs, lack of staff during peak hours, and so on. I was slightly worried about how Dad would manage the journey. But soon I realised that without Swami’s will, even the tickets would not have been booked. His first leg from Parthi to Bangalore airport had already been taken care of. Surely, here too, He would ensure everything went smoothly.
Dad landed on Thursday evening, 14th May. I had finished Baba’s prayers and dhoop arati and reached the airport around 7:10 pm. The flight had landed at 6:40 pm, and since wheelchair passengers are usually among the last to disembark, with baggage collection also taking time, we expected him to come out around 7:30 pm.
To our utter surprise, by the time we parked the car and walked towards the arrival hall near the baggage belt, Dad had already called saying he was out! And just as we reached there, a staff member wheeled him out at that exact moment.
I thanked the young Chinese boy and told him we would take Dad to the car from there. I was pleasantly surprised to see this cheerful young man speaking a few words of Tamil and Hindi with my father. He addressed him lovingly as “Appa,” collected his baggage from the belt, took him to the washroom, and ensured he was cared for all the way till the car park. This was the least we expected. I had never heard of service like this before.
And then came Swami’s unmistakable stamp. As the young man was helping Dad into the car, he turned to me and said, “Madam, take care of Appa properly.”
Can one believe it? Why would a completely unknown young man say something like that? It was all Swami’s unseen hand working through these beautiful souls.
Finally, as we were driving back home, my husband once again reminded me about the photograph. And oh my God — can one believe this too? When he had taken my picture earlier that day, he himself had not noticed what had appeared beside me in the frame. There was a bag belonging to someone nearby, and on it were the words: “Everything will be ok.”
Amazed at His timing and plan.. i had to see this photo only after everything had happened..to make me realise He was always there and planned it long back.. now it was a confirmation,, His signing off in this episode
I have no words to express my gratitude to Bhagavan and to His divine instruments who once again made yet another journey of life comfortable and safe for us.
Through this experience, Swami has once again reassured His presence and blessings, especially for those who completely surrender to Him. It is my father’s faith, trust, conviction, and total surrender to Swami that protects and guides him every single moment of his life. Dad chose Swami and Parthi over his children and worldly comforts, and Swami, in turn, ensures that everything is taken care of for him.
And in the next post, I will share another beautiful plan Swami had for Dad during this trip.
Anyatha Sharanam Naasti…
Gratitude and koti pranams at Your Divine Lotus Feet, dearest Swami.
Its been a while since I shared some posts. Though I have been saving these experiences, I didn’t find the time to post them here yet.
Every year, Paduka Puja is held here on 1 May, and for quite a few years since Covid, I haven’t been participating. This year, somehow, there was a calling to attend, and I registered at the last minute. The experience was totally blissful.
The program was arranged meticulously, with all the proper puja procedures. The bhajans were spiritually charged with strong divine vibrations — one of the best sessions I have attended in recent times. The bhajan, especially “Saibaba Geeta Sudha,” brought back memories of my childhood days when we heard it directly from the singer, Sri Raja Reddy garu, in Dharmakshetra. And the final icing on the cake was “Karunanidhe Bhagavan,” sung with such devotion that I could not control my tears while expressing gratitude to Bhagavan for everything He has done for us.
The photo placed there was not just a picture… Swami Himself was verily sitting there. It was such a powerful presence. I was going through some minor mundane issues and inner confusion regarding a few things. As I kept looking at Swami’s picture, I could hear Him within me saying, “Why fear when I am here? I have taken care of much bigger problems for you. These are such trivial matters, and yet you have so many questions and confusions. You are emotional. When you are not happy, how can I be happy?”
“A tear in your eyes… and then you will see Me tearing too.” And that is exactly what I could see in His photo!!!
What a loving Guru, Guide, Sakha, and most merciful Divine Mother I am blessed with.
On the auspicious occasion of the 15th Sai Aradhana Mahotsavam we a small Sai family from Singapore offer this little gratitude note at His Divine Lotus Feet.
This was shared on Sri Sathya Sai Official..If not for Swami..?? We share our thoughts…
I would feel orphaned in this vast world- Vidya D
The real source of energy behind all my efforts- Sanjeev
My reminder that my back is never against the wall, the way will come with faith and patience- Karan
If not Him, then who🙏🏻🩷. Don’t ever want to know- Lucky
I would just be existing, not living—drifting in the world’s mire. It is only in Him that I find my anchor, my direction, my life. Immense gratitude- Nandini
Who would be my complaint box?? My always go to person to vent out and who always responds and guides.. Ramesh
If not for Swami, I would be lost. He is my light, my direction, my everything. Words fall short, only gratitude, Swami- Gayathri
I wouldn’t find my authentic Self- Sneha
My faith that God Himself in the form of my Sadguru is within me, always guiding, correcting, blessing and protecting me every second, in every place and always- Nagaratna
Swami has been my mentor,teacher and saviour ever since I started the Bengali blog and with His grace 🙏🙏,I am able to walk through the good and difficult situations of life in a balanced way- Sinchita
I am not what I am today if not for Swami❤️🌻- Sri Priya
Gratitude to Swami for guiding and guarding me all the time. His presence with me at every breath is my sustenance. Truly blessed to have Him protecting us. I am now here because of Swami. Otherwise I will be nowhere. Gratitude to him for all that he has done, doing and will do for me.- Ranjani
Swami , You are the ONE who made me experience divinity within and around .Life is not as complicated as I tend to make it. You made it so easy for me by teaching importance of contentment , zero expectations & letting go regrets from past & worry of future .You taught me to be happy with the way I AM .. just BE. Gratitude is the key to happiness ! Keep giving best in everything I do , offer it to you as Naivedyam and accept the results as Prasadam .I learnt prayer is talking to God & meditation is listening to God.You proved to me again and again that ,Faith can move mountains .It’s just that one step of blind faith we need to take to feel you around .We all love you dearest Sai Ma- Prashanti
Swami- You are my only resort – Sangeeta Mishra
If not for Swami….Thank you Swami for i can feel His invisible hands guiding me in every step 🙏🙏🙏- Vassanthi
Dearest Swami, You are my inspiration and strength. You only taught me patience and how to balance myself in every odd situation. Because of you only I agreed to learn accepting people as they are and still learning too. If not for swami I would never be what I am today .I trouble you so much & you never gave up on me , Swami 🙏So grateful to you ! Gratitude to My constant guide and support Bhagavan Sri Satya sai baba 🙏- Visala
Happy Aradhana day. Swami has blessed me to be the part of this wonderful team. Hope and pray to carry on this journey.- Sairam- Shanta Hariharan
Sairam. Koti pranams at the lotus feet of our dearest Swami for what I am today. 🙏🙏- Saraswati
Dearest Sai Ma… lead us from external to within.. let us see You within us and in all around us. Let our lives be Your message and may we make You proud and see Your beautiful smile of approval blessing us with ‘Chaala Santosham Bangaroo”
Hum Ko Tum Se Pyaar Hai.. we love You dearest Sai.. we love You❤️
Offering my most humble salutations at the divine lotus feet of my beloved Master Bahgavan Sri Sathya Sai baba
As I begin the offering of premaarpanam- my journey from sai to sai I give a brief introduction of how I was initiated and inspired by my parents in my spiritual journey
Introduction-The seed of spirituality sown from childhood
I consider myself deeply fortunate… truly blessed…
to have been born into a family rooted in spirituality. (pause)
My parents lived a life anchored in faith. I was raised in the Hindu tradition, where daily prayers were not a ritual, but a way of life… and where every festival was celebrated with devotion and joy.
My mother was a very humble, loving, and kind soul.
She had a deep inclination toward Carnatic music and spirituality—both flowed naturally through her being. (soft pause)
My maternal grandfather was a wise and deeply disciplined man. Every single day, without exception, he recited the Rudram and various sahasranama chantings. He was a staunch follower of Sri Chandrasekhara Swami of Kanchi… lovingly known as Mahaperiyava.
I still remember my grandfather’s altar so clearly.
Large pictures of Hindu deities lined the space… and one image, in particular, left a lasting impression on my young mind—a majestic picture of Adi Shankara. (pause)
My mother shared a very close bond with her father, and she naturally imbibed many of his qualities. So, our home reflected the same spiritual priorities.
We lived in a modest 500-square-foot home in Mumbai.
And yet… (gentle emphasis)
the largest room in that house was dedicated entirely to God.
Our puja room was bigger than the other two rooms we lived in.
That one detail speaks volumes.
It showed how my parents instinctively knew—and deeply believed—that everything belonged to the Divine… and that the Divine must be given the most important place… not just in our home, but in our lives. (pause)
In the first four to five years of my life, I watched my mother light the lamp every single day, her soft chanting filling the home with peace. My father was devoted to Lord Krishna, worshipping Him in the form of Guruvayoorappan, while my mother’s beloved deity was Lord Shiva.
So, we grew up simply absorbing their love for the Divine—
for Shiva, Krishna… and also for Ganesha, Devi, Rama, and Hanuman.
Interestingly, until I was about seven or eight years old, there were no pictures of living gurus in our home. (pause)
My grandfather carried yet another quiet blessing.
His classmate was Swami Chinmayananda. During one of Swamiji’s visits to Mumbai, he came to our home. And we were fortunate enough to experience his close presence during that visit.
In many ways, through my grandfather, our family received the early blessings of great Gurus—Sri Shankaracharya and Swami Chinmayananda—right at the very beginning of my life’s journey. (gentle pause)
During all this time, my mother’s health remained fragile. She was diagnosed with heart issues while she was expecting me. Despite visiting many doctors, there was little improvement. And naturally, this long struggle drew my parents even closer to prayer… and deeper into faith.
And then… (slow, reflective pause)
when it became almost too much for my mother to bear…
our Divine Master chose to enter our lives.
In 1974, we heard the name Sri Sathya Sai Baba for the very first time. My father received a picture of Swami from a colleague.
That single moment…
changed everything.
From then on…
our lives were never the same. (pause)
This is my first offering in the series Premaarpanam —
Premaarpan 