In Praise of Sadhguru Sai

By Rajesh R. Anand

Shirdi Sai Baba was a great Saint of 19th Century. He was omniscient, omnipotent and All pervading. He had magic in His words and cured even incurable maladies by His words. The book dwells on His grace and glory on His disciples. It also highlights the importance of Guru and how to cultivate self-realization. He had such a power that nobody came empty hands from His shrine. The same experience is being felt even now and more than one hundred thousand people visit every day to seek His blessings. His ash from Dhuni (ever burning fire) is a gift to mankind and its mere application absolves them from all sins and illnesses. The author is visiting His shrine over 40 years and had myriad experiences and His blessings which is also covered in the book. The mere reading of this book will stand any one in good stead in life. A must-read book!

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Jan 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781489731449

Rajesh R. Anand

Rajesh R Anand (The author) born and raised in India (Delhi) and had education in Bachelor in Arts. He is closely associated with Shirdi Sai Baba and had read extensively on Him. He is greatly influenced and blessed by His teachings. On moving to USA, he formed Shirdi Sai Dham, Inc and launched various cultural programs and organized social events to muster funds for the organization and the cultural center. He worked for many years and finally built a beautiful temple in New Jersey. Now on further inspiration, the author sums up the Sai Baba philosophy, miracles and His grace in the book.

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Copyright © 2021 Rajesh Anand.

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ISBN: 978-1-4897-3136-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3137-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3144-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020920034

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 03/09/2021

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Recitation of ‘Sai Sai’ is the only means for

liberation from this mundane world.

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CONTENTS

Foreword

Preface

In Praise Of Sadhguru Sai

Shirdi Sai Baba And His Philosophy

Sai Baba: The Miraculous Udi

Shirdi: The Holy Place

Sadhguru: The Highest Guru

The Greatness Of Sadhguru Sai Baba

The Importance Of The Guru

The Meaning Of Self-Realization

The Nine Forms Of Bhakti

Sai Baba’s Blessings

Sai Baba’s Miracles

Baba’s Darshan

Visiting Sai Baba’s Home

A Visit To Shirdi

Sai Baba’s Miracles: The Loss And Return Of The Locket

Sai Baba’s Miracles: The Stolen Sai Baba Idol

Construction Of The Shirdi Sai Baba Temple In New Jersey

Shirdi Sai Baba’s Eleven Sayings

Glossary

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FOREWORD

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Photo of Dr. Satpathy

I had the pleasure of going through the manuscript of In Praise of Sadhguru Sai. Shri Rajesh Anand appears to be an ardent devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba. This book is based on the experiences of the author for decades after he moved along the path of Sai devotion. His journey with Shirdi Sai Baba began with his chance encounter with a portrait of Shirdi Sai Baba in a doctor’s office.

Being drawn by the magnetic charms of the enigmatic Shirdi Sai Baba, he started visiting Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir, Shirdi, and other temples dedicated to him with his family. Thus, his entire family, consisting of his wife and two children, started worshipping Baba and accepting him as their spiritual as well as temporal guide in life. During this period, he met me in the Chhatarpur Shirdi Sai Baba temple in Delhi and sought my advice on his spiritual journey. Being enamored and influenced by the divine leelas of Shirdi Sai Baba, he has taken to pen down his feelings about the greatness of Shri Sai Baba.

It has been observed that hundreds of devotees in India and abroad have experienced and are still experiencing the direct and indirect influence of Shirdi Sai Baba in their lives—even after Baba left his mortal body in 1918. Being thus inspired, they get motivated to serve Baba in whatever manner possible. Beginning from the reading of Sai literature, they conduct Parayanam of Shri Sai Satcharita in groups (now even online), naam jaap, attend regular aartis and other events in the temples, donate money for Langar, donate clothes and medicine to the poor and needy, and engage in many other humanitarian activities in the name of Sai Baba. They set up institutions, temples, schools, hospitals, and other charitable centers in the name of Baba in India and abroad. They also write books and articles on Baba and enrich Sai Literature like what Shri Anand has done by writing this book.

A perusal of the manuscript indicates that Shri Anand has tried to comprehensively write about Shri Sai Baba. Chapters are written on various themes like Baba and His philosophy, the Holy Place of Shirdi, on the greatness and spiritual grandeur of a Sadhguru, the importance and need of a guru, the meaning of self-realization, Navadha (nine forms) Bhakti, Udi (sacred ash), and Sai Baba’s sayings, blessings, and miracles. Besides, he has also written an article on the construction of the Shri Sai Baba temple in New Jersey with which he has been associated for so long.

Shri Anand, like many other devotees in the past, has admitted the great change that he has undergone after his sojourn in the path of Sai devotion. Possessing a flair for writing, Shri Anand started writing different articles on Sai Baba. The intense urge to sing the glory of Shri Sai Baba has resulted in the creation of this book. Like a true Sai devotee, Shri Anand has declared that the revenue generated through the sale of this book will go toward the construction and maintenance of a temple of Shri Sai Baba. It is a noble thought indeed.

He has begun the book with an invocation to Shirdi Sai Baba in form of a prayer. He has referred to a number of references from the Sufi literature and Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta, which shows his extensive reading of the available literature on philosophy, religion, and saints. Baba’s Leelas are beautifully depicted with poignance and lucidity. Thematic expositions through anecdotes make the reading rather attractive and comfortable. I think that this book is the magnum opus from among the writings of Mr. Anand. The details of the facts to which he has delved to establish the authenticity of the statements are praiseworthy. The author has narrated many anecdotes pertaining to Shirdi Sai Baba that he has experienced in his life. Some of them are interesting reading and will strengthen the faith of the readers in the existence and divine roles of Shri Sai Baba even today, as promised by him before his Mahaprayana.

I am assured that Sai devotees and other readers will love to read this book containing anecdotes pertaining to Shirdi Sai Baba and other themes contained in the various chapters. I would expect Mr. Anand to continue writing on the Sadhguru for the benefit of the readers. I pray to Shri Sai to help him in this noble act.

—Jai Shree Sai

Dr. Chandra Bhanu Satpathy

Gurugram

October 16, 2020

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PREFACE

Sai Baba has said that when your evil actions come to an end, God arranges a meeting with a saint who further guides you to attain and realize the meaning of life. Similarly, I had the fortune to see Shirdi Sai Baba for the first time in the form of a portrait in a doctor’s office. The reason for my visit to the doctor’s office was my wife’s illness. It was said that the doctor had a blessing of Sai Baba, and whoever went there got cured.

During our first meeting, we were both made to stand before the portrait of Sai Baba, and the doctor assured us that we were in the right place and our malady was over. While he was seeing my wife, he also mentioned Shirdi and asked us to visit when she was cured. We did not know at that time that it was only due to Sai Baba’s wish that we were there. We also did not know that Sai Baba dawned his mercy on my wife, and she was cured within a few months. I have written about my experience later in the miracle chapter. Ever since our first visit to Shirdi, we visit Shirdi every time we visit India and get new experiences and blessings from Sai Baba.

Over these years of association with Baba, my love and affection for Baba grew infinitely. He guided us at every step of life. The recitation of his name became a passion for my family and me. We started visiting Sai Baba temples in New Delhi. We also came in contact with Guru Ji Revered Shri Hon’ble C.B. Satpathy Ji, a great devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba and a living guide on Sai Baba for Sai Baba devotees all over the world. My contact with Baba grew closer and closer after days, months, and years elapsed, and at every stage, I was greatly influenced by the greatness of Sai Baba. Now, he is a member of our family and nothing is done without first remembering him. My life has changed to a greater extent, and I really feel elated, happy, and blessed when I see my past.

At one point of time in my life, I wanted to sing Baba’s leelas (glory) through the length and breadth of this universe. At the time, the medium was limited and was not as wide and as big as it is today.

In the meantime, Baba sent us to the United States. I came across many Sai devotees who were working to have Baba’s temple in New Jersey. I joined them and started working for a noble and divine cause. We worked very hard toward this saintly mission. My wife, Arun Anand, is a big supporter and guide in this mission. We both worked very hard and finally built a beautiful temple of Sai Baba in the heart of New Jersey.

At times, I broke down, and it looked that the mission would never be accomplished. However, my wife’s encouragement and patronage until the end was highly commendable. She is a woman of grit and determination, and her continued support to the mission inspired me to continue the work unabated.

My two daughters, Dimple and Priyanka, extended their digital knowledge, monetary support, and experience in providing day-to-day help and designing many colorful flyers to celebrate many events for the temple. It goes without saying that without their help, the events to the cause for more than eighteen years would not have been as memorable and extraordinary. The contribution of members of Shirdi Sai Dham are also praiseworthy. Their contributions and involvement will be remembered for a long time.

From the very beginning of life, Baba blessed me with a flair for writing. On one occasion, my wife asked me why I do not write about Sai Baba, who I love the most. For a minute, I could not answer her, but I did say, How can I, who is ignorant and illiterate, write about he whose life is as deep as the sea and has no beginning or end? He is pervading everywhere and can know the limitless.

I bowed to Sai Baba and prayed to annihilate my ego and allow me to write his infinite and untold stories and parables to distribute among the aspiring devotees. My aim and mission were to sing and write his miracles. I implored him to hold my pen to guide and direct me to sing his life and teachings and chant his name for the remainder of my life.

I started writing and worked on different articles. My wife and