Do You Know?

By Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The Bhagawan Uvacha series brings to devotees the world over, a compilation of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's teachings in the form of quotations, skilfully compiled and woven together by Shri. N. S. Venkatesh, the compiler.

In this book in the series, Do You Know?, Shri. Venkatesh says, “It is only when the inner meanings of various aspects relating to the divine are understood that worship can be offered to the Divine meaningfully. So says Bhagawan to His devotees in one of His addresses. Unfortunately, as only the superficial and worldly meanings of the scriptural texts are expounded these days, men’s devotion is growing weaker continually. It is essential for everyone to understand the inner meaning of the vedantic texts. In this book, Bhagawan beautifully expounds the inner messages behind rituals we perform each day. It provides rare insight into Indian culture and tradition and to the little known aspects of our lives."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust, Publications Division
• Release date: Sep 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9789350691939

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born as Sathyanarayana Raju on November 23rd, 1926 in the village of Puttaparthi, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in South India. Even as a child, His spiritual inclination and contemplative nature set Him apart from other children of His age, and He was known as 'Guru' and "Brahmajnani' among His peers and others in the village. On October 20th, 1940, He made the historic declaration of His Avatarhood and the world at large learnt of this divine phenomenon. Today, millions of devotees worship Him as an 'Avatar' and an incarnation of the Sai Baba of Shirdi.Revealing the purpose of His Advent, Sai Baba has said that He has come to re-establish the rhythm of righteousness in the world and repair the ancient highway to God, which over the years has systematically deteriorated.Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is an integral manifestation who combines two very significant roles. Firstly, He is a great spiritual Master, famed for His simple and sweet exposition of the greatest and most intricate of spiritual truths which form the fundamental teachings of all the religions of the world. His formula for man to lead a meaningful life is the five-fold path of Sathya, Dharma, Shanthi, Prema, and Ahimsa. Love for God, fear of sin and morality in society - these are His prescriptions for our ailing world.Secondly, He is an inexhaustible reservoir of pure love. His numerous service projects, be it free hospitals, free schools and colleges, free drinking water supply or free housing projects, all stand testimony to His selfless love and compassion for the needy and less privileged. True to His declaration - "My Life is My Message", He has inspired and continues to inspire millions of His devotees worldwide by His personal example to live the ideal that service to man is service to God.Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is a beacon of hope in the world. A devotee said, "Bhagawan Baba is nothing but Love walking on two feet."

Book preview

Foreword

"It is only when the inner meanings of various aspects relating to the divine are understood that worship can be offered to the Divine meaningfully, so says Bhagawan to His devotees in one of His addresses. Unfortunately, as only the superficial and worldly meanings of the scriptural texts are expounded these days, men’s devotion is growing weaker continually. It is essential for everyone to understand the inner meaning of the vedantic texts." In this book, Bhagawan beautifully expounds the inner messages behind rituals we perform each day. It provides rare insight into Indian culture and tradition and to the little known aspects of our lives.

1

Lord Ganesha

Vinayaka is described as Prathama Vandana (the first deity, who should be worshipped). As everyone in the world desires wealth and prosperity, everyone offers the first place for worship of Vigneshwara. Another name for Vinayaka is Vigneshwara. Eshwara is One, Who is endowed with every conceivable form of wealth, riches, knowledge, health, bliss, beauty, etc. Vigneshwara is the promoter of all these forms of wealth and removes all obstacles to their enjoyment and He confers all these forms of wealth on those, who worship Him.

(BSSB. Vol.IV p.317)

2

Lighting Lamps On Deepavali Day

This Amavasya day (new moon day) is the day of liberation for the Gopikas. It is a moonless day when the night is utterly dark. The gopikas prayed that since they got the light of freedom on this day, it should be marked by the illuminations. It is for this reason that the day, which is a new moon day, is illumined by lamps and fireworks and turned into full Moon Night. There is a scientific reason for this. With the end of the rainy season, water stagnates in many places and the surrounding areas team with mosquitoes, the smoke from the crackers and fireworks destroys these insects and disinfects the atmosphere.

(SSS. Vol.XXI p.246)

3

The inner meaning underlying the Bharatiya festival should be rightly understood. Note for instance, the fact that whole arrays of lamps are lit by the light from one lamp. This one lamp symbolises the supreme effulgent Lord. The others symbolise the light in individual selves. The truth of the vedic saying Ekoham Bahushuam (the one willed to become many) is exemplified by the lighting of the lamps by the flame of one.