Holy Pilgrimage - Hindu temples in USA
Sri Saibaba Temple Scoeity
of OHIO, Lewis Center,
OH
2596 Lewis Center
Road, Lewis Center,
Ohio 43035
Telephone : 614 – 799 - 8411
Dattaguru Parampara:
Sages and Seers Of Datta Guru Parampara Bharat and Bharatiyas have
a great common heritage. The heritage of perfection is called Guru Parampara.
The Siddha heritage has Lord Dattatreya as its pinnacle, being the Guru of
Gurus. Understandably, we never call Brahma, Vishnu, Shankara, Ganesha as
Gurudevas. But we call Dattatreya as "Sri Guru Deva Datta". Lord
Dattatreya is a "Smartugami". you "just remember Him. He is
there'. He is an ever living incarnation. In such an illustrious Guru Parampara
there have been great sages and seers who were all guided by this heritage.
Records of most of them are not available. But by the grace of Lord Dattatreya,
the life-stories of a few Siddhas/Mahatmas, are available. Shri Shripada Shri
Vallabha is the one, who is an incarnation of Datta Himself.
1 . Sri Sripada Shri Vallabha
We have already seen how the worship of Dattatreya developed with
the progress of time. Right from the Puranic age, kings like KartaveeryaArjuna
, Ayu Alarka, Yadu and Puranic personalities like Parasurama, Pingala,
Prahlada, and later even the historical personalities like Goraknath and
others, the name of Dattatreya hovered over the pages of spiritual history with
splendour of rare effulgence. Round about 1300 A.D. - A brahmin, learned and
well versed in sastras, in philosophy, by name Appala Raja, lived in
Pithapuram, a town on the east coast, in Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh.
His wife Sumati was a great Sati devoted and chaste, really a Sumati i.e. of
good and refined disposition. She used to adore her husband with great
reverence and follow the dictates of her husband meticulously and scrupulously.
Sri Kshetra Pithapuram is a town (a Railway Station) on the east coast in
Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. The holy place, Pithapuram, abounds in
temples of Shiva (Kukkuteswara) and Vishnu (Kuntl Madhava) and also famous for
Padagaya tank, where Shraddhas are performed with Pinda Pradana drawing people
from all over India.
According to the Puranic legend, the demon Gayasura was slained by Lord Vishnu
and his mortal remains were strewned all over in a number of places. Afterwards
these places came to be reckoned very holy. They are now famous Shiro-Gaya,
Nabhi Gaya and Padagaya. This Kshetra Pithapurarn is considered to be as
holy as Kashi (Benaras). Skanda Purana mentions that whosoever performs
Shraddha wiih Pinda- dana at this holy kund of Pada - Gaya where the feet of Gayasura are supposed
to be embedded the Jeevatmas of his forefathers in Pitru-loka get salvation.
This holy place is the birth place of Shree Pada Vallaba. Appalaraja and
Sumathi were an ideal couple of highest piety and purity. As misfortune would
have it, they had two children both of them handicapped one blind and the other
without legs. So the couple spent most of their time in looking after them.
Their piety, particularly Sumati's sublime minded service bore fruit one
day. It was a Shraddha day of the father of Appala Raja. Sumati woke up very
early before sunrise as usual and that morning got herself immersed in
preparing the food necessities, particularly required for the Shraddha Day. At
mid-day when the sun was at the apex, Appalaraja left home to fetch
Shraddha-bhoktas. Raja implies King not only in name but also in disposition
and behaviour. Though he had no worldly wealth, he was rich in piety and
righreousness. Sumati just finished the preparation of food requirements, when
she heard the words at the door-step "O please give me cooked food".
She found a hermit at the door-step with rare splendour of divine effulgence,
face, joyful beaming brighter than that of the sun-glow, Sumati reverentially
bowed down and felt that Lord Dattatreya came in that guise of a hermit. He
asked for alms and Sumati without hesitation or a second thought brought the food
she prepared for the Shraddha and offered in great reverence and saluted him
again and again. The hermit was extremely pleased and said Oh! mother, ask me
for whatever you wish". Sumati in great ecstasy, prayerfully said
"Oh! Lord of Lords, you, all – merciful have called me mother, let those
words come true. I wish to have a son like you, universally revered and
compassionate to all. The hermit, who is no other than Lord Dattatreya said Be
it so and in a twinkle disappeared. Sumati stood at the doorstep alone
bewildered and overwhelmed with indescribable joy shedding tears of joy. After
inviting, the Bhoktas to attend the Shraddha ceremony, Appala Raja returned
home. He was surprised to see Sumati standing at the door - steps in a
stupefied condition. After a while recognising her-Raja's return, she told him
all that happened and apologtically said "Oh ! my Lord, I have committed a
great mistake in giving away the Shraddha food to the hermit, who was just a
few minutes before, asking for alms. Please wait for a while I shall re-cook
for the Shraddha". Looking at Sumati, Appala Raja was intensely moved and
said "Oh ! you have been most lucky, you have done no wrong. To give food
to the hungry is the best and greatest of all donations, My forefathers must have
been amply and really satisfied with this dana of yours. I feel that you have
seen Shri Vishnu Himself in the form of Shri Datta, the incarnate of the
Trinity. Days passed on the Lord himself had entered into the body of Sumati
and her physical demeanour, day by day grew in divine lustre, She was spending
all her time in deep meditation of Sri Datta Prabhu. She couldsee all pervading
Digambara Datta in her heart and outside as well. She delivered in the tenth
month a divine son. A kind of heavenly delight filled the home. The whole
universe appeared to enjoy the sacred event. His Jataka was foretold. He was to
be a very great (Tapasvi) ascetic. The child was called Sripada as the emblems
of Chakra and Shanka were found in his feet. The splendour of his body so
beautiful, so charming with divine lustre his parents named him Shree Vallabha.
As it is customary, in his seventh year he was invested with the sacred thread
(Upanayanam). Whatever words Shripada spoke had profound significance and he
was (Eka Santagrahi) able to memorise anything just by a single reading or on
hearing. In very shot time he completed learning Veda Sastras. His learning,
maturity of knowledge, erudition in all Vedas and scriptures was stupendous.
Thus he grew upto his sixteenth year, when his parents thought of marrying him.
Learning the intention of the parents, Sreepada Sree Vallabha, endearingly told
them, "1 am already married to renunciation". "1 am an ascentic,
I have to be in Nivrithi Marg and so I am not to marry. " Hearing these
words of her son, Sumati remembered the words of the hermit who blessed her and
thought to herself Yes, the hermit told me of this and it is coming true
now". The parents had an affectionate and kindly look at their son and
said "Oh ! hermit son . We are extremely fortunate to have you with us and
it was to be only for a short time of sixteen years. Whatever is Lord's design
it should be carried out. Shripada Yati embraced his mother who in tears of joy
and pure love bathed her godly son. The mother in anguish pointed towards her
two sons, maimed and blind, and looked appealingly to her son. Lo ! Sripada
Sreevallabha by a mere look at the blind brother blessed him with sight and the
legless brother endowed with legs. The joy of the parents knew no bounds to
find their hitherto, handicapped children, now physically fit and bright. Later
they became very learned too. Sreepada, bade good-bye to his joyful parents and
started on a pilgrimage. He went to Kashi, Badrinath, and Kedarnath in Himalayas, guiding and imparting Jnana to the Saints.
Then coming down visited all the pilgrim centres on the west coast, reached
Gokarna and finally retired to Kuruvapur, an island in river Krishna.
He was enlightening and giving solace to people wherever he went. His desire was
to dispense happiness to one and all, by freeing them from the shackles of
worldly attachment and disappointments. By his blessings he made a delinquent,
mentally retarded child quite normal and learned like the child's father (who
was a great scholar of Vedas) at the request of the widow-mother Ambika and
benevolently promised to born as her son in her next Janma. In another case,
one day a Muslim Nawab came to river Krishna
in a ferry boat with his wives for a joyful float.A washerman who was then washing
clothes in the river water seeing the grandeur of the Nawab, felt utter
contempt for his own poverty and miserable life. At the same moment Sripada Sri
Vallabha Yati happened to come to the river for taking his daily bath as usual.
The Yati who could easily read and understand the mind of the washerman and his
mental anguish said "Oh! washerman, your mind is yearning for a life of
luxury. You will get the same state as that Nawab in your next life."
True, the washerman later was born to the Muslim Nawab of Bidar, enjoyed all
the royal luxuries and also the grace of Sri Nrisimha Saraswati, who was a
reincarnate of Sreepada Sree Vallabha Yati. Sripada Yati fixed a day for his
Samadhi. It was on the twelth day of the dark half of month Ashwin, of Margasira
Constellation on Thursday, saluted mother Ganga
and sat for Samadhi on river-water and disappeared and got merged into Brahman,
wherefrom He came in human form on the earth as Sreepada Sree Vallabha. Desires
always come in the way of liberation and saints like Sri Sripada Sri Vallabha,
have pointed out the ways and process to be free completely from them. Guru
Charitha suggests the probable date of Sripada Vallabha as 1300 A.D. but it
cannot be taken with any definiteness. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the
condition of the country was in a great flux. It will be interesting to have a
glimpse of the contemporary conditions of the country in general and Maharashtra then, in particular, the rule of the
Mohammedans was not generally very popular. The Mohammedan rulers tried to
attract people towards them by offers of power and pelf. At this time in the
interest of humanity there was a pressing need of a powerful personality who
would not only wean them away from the prevailing powerful enticements, but to
put them on the right track. Sri Nrisimha Saraswati was such a
personality.
2 . Shri Nrisimha Saraswati Swami
Nrisimha Saraswati was born in a brahmin family at Karanjananagar
in the Varad district of Maharastra. His father's name was Madhav who belonged
to the Vajasaneyi branch of the Vedas, and his mother's name was Amba almost of
the same name Ambika, who got a boon from Sri Srivallabha to be born as her son
in next life. In that way Nrisimha Saraswati, whose original name was
Saligrama, is supposed to be the reincarnation of Sri Sreepada Sree Vallabha.
The boy Nrisimha Saraswati, strangely till the time of his sacred thread
ceremony (Upanayana) was uttering only "OM"
and nothing else. At the time of the thread-ceremony he further surprised the
people reciting the sacred hymns from Vedas. Promising his parents to return
after twenty years, he went away only to fulfil his lifemission. He came to
Benaras and was immersed in practice of Yoga and penance. It was Sri Krishna
Saraswathi an old Sanyasin of high spiritual attainments, belonging to a
venerable order of Sanyasins, gave diksha. He scrupulously observed the tenets
of Sanyasin, observing, never to stay for more than a couple of days in a
particular place, and kept on moving. Wherever he went, gave boons to
many explained the real meaning behind the external practices prescribed in the
scriptures in relation to mundane and spiritual life. He encouraged the
performance of Yagnas(sacrifices). The Bhasma and Rudraksha wearing were
highly recommended. The grace of God is always there for the good and it does
not discriminate between the rich and the poor. Nrisimha Saraswati placed
Sanyasamarga on a high pedestal and on solid foundation. Gurucharitra narrates
the story. Chandala with Bhasma obtained from His Guru, who defeated two
arrogant and learned Brahmins in discourses and of a Sati whose deceased
husband was brought to life by the grace of Guru Nrisimha Saraswathi. We see
during his life time, he not only stopped many a person changing his religion
for the sake of worldly benefits. He was a poineer in advocating the line of
thought put forward by Dattatreya in this Kali Age, like that of Rama worship
by Tulsidasa, flourished with great force, inspiring many personalities. The
worship of Dattatreya developed considerably with the advent of Nrisimha
Saraswai and inspired many saints particularly, in Maharastra.
Later on and even at the time of Nrisimha Saraswati, the worship
of a Guru, gained prominece. Guru Charitra speaks very highly -about the
glorification of Guru and Guru-Gita as a part of the same. Gradually, thus the
prefix Shri Guru Deva gained popularity before the thought of Sri Datta Prabhu.
From vedic times, it can be gleaned that faith itself formed a part of
reasoning from "Acharya Devo Bhava" mentioned in Taittiriya
Upanishad, we find that Svetaketu, very highly well-versed in all the
scriptures lacked spiritual knowledge, and had to approach a Guru to obtain it.
It is rightly said that Guru, Vedanta and Iswara the trinity of spiritual
Sadhana is of utmost importance. God's incarnation in Datta and Shri Guru is
one and the same, "God is Trinity is Guru". Nrisimha Saraswati
elevated this principle highly, reminding the sloka "Guru is Brahma,
Vishnu Maheswar and Guru is nothing but really Parabrahman" Dattatreya is
Guru Avatara and later times, invocationJai Guru Dev Datta became an essential,
in the Datta worship. A guru is Brahma though he has only one face, instead of
four of Brahma; he is Vishnu with two hands instead of four hands and he is Siva
with only two eyes, instead of three eyes of Siva. The grace of Sadguru is the
primary necessity of life. The yati marga initiated by Sree Pada Sree Vallabha
gradually underwent a change into Guru-marga, considering it synonymous with
yati marga, in contrast to Vaidika marga which had a firm hold, previously.
Nrisimha Saraswathi, with his yogic powers and penance,
represented himself as one who had come, for mankind, to save it from clutches
of narrow mindedness, ignorance, who wrongly considered "body" as god
and "eating" as prayer. Before the advent of Nrisimha Saraswathi,
Karma kanda had its predominance in every religious aspect of a Hindu. There
was high stress on Vratas, Prayaschitta, etc., even though tall talks on higest
highest philosophical doctrines were conspicuous without any Chitta Suddhi.
Behind each and every miracle associated with the name of Sri Nrisimha
Saraswati, one thing was emphasized that the pleasures and pains of life are
inevitable and are of no value but only the real value lies in attaining the
ultimate goal of life, self-realisation, the final emancipation. The self alone
is real and all actions are meant for purifying mind. Gradually due to his
influence, people's minds got broadened and difference between different
sections of the people were bridged over.
3 . Manika Prabhu (1817 -1865 A.D.)
Manohara Nayaka Harakude, a Srivatsa gotra, Desastha Brahmin and
Baya Devi of Ladavanti were the parents of Manik Prabhu, their illustrious son.
Harakude and Baya Devi were very pious and they did
Parayana of Guru Charitra for over sixteen years continously
with rigid observance of the rules of worship indicated in Guru Charitra.
Afterwards Lord Dattatreya appeared in a dream gave darshan to Harakude and
Baya Devi and asked them to choose a boon. Both like Atri and Anasuya, desired
to have a son like the Lord and nothing else. Thus the birth of Manika Prabhu
came into existence in the world in the year 1817A.D. From the very childhood
Manika Prabhu was known for his worth in yoga, enrapturing his mother Baya Devi
like Yasoda Devi, the mother of Lord Krishna by his divine nature. When on
Thursdays people flocking together and approaching the child for something or
other and their wishes being fulfilled was an exciting scene. Child Manika Prabhu,
though he never attended a school, learnt many languages like Kanarese, Urdu,
Marathee, Persian, Sanskrit by himself and even acquired proficiency in them.
Baya Devi was widowed just when Manika Prabhu was ten years old and so his
maternal uncle was his guardian. Manika Prabhu was found wandering here and
there doing things quite contrary to the sacred traditions of Hindu religion.
For instance, once Manika Prabhu was found putting all his clothes and his
chappals on the head of Maruti idol in a temple. His settlement at Manikanagar
is quite interesting. Once a certain Brahmin family started for Darshana of
Manika Prabhu. On their way at Humnabad there was a temple and there they were
resting for the night without knowing that it was the meeting place of thieves.
That night a batch of dacoits visited the temple as usual and finding the
family resting therein, wanted to loot them. The Brahmin family startled by
their presence began crying out "Hei ! Manika Prabhu, Manika Prabhu"
for helping them out of the great danger they could sense. Soon a miracle
happened and the thieves saw a. great yogi, bedecked with gorgeous jewellery in
front, standing at the threshold of the temple. The thieves preferred to loot
the person with plenty of jewellery over his body than the humble brahmin
family. When the thieves ran after him he disappeared and they found
'themselves benumbed completely, and slowly they sneaked out away, lest
something more harm should happen to them. In fact, Manika Prabhu appeared in
person there soon after and made the place his permanent abode. The forest
surounding the temple was cleared and soon a township sprang up. The place
became in a little time, a centre where people saw both renunciation and
enjoyment harmoniously blended. Manika Prabhu never ate the rich food prepared
for the devotees thronged, but always lived on Madhukari food brought by his
disciples, begging from house to house. Some times he went for alms in that
way. The paradox was people could see a rich beggar with all his royal pomp was
full of simplicity and humility. In him one could see, the effulgence of a
saint with the halo of worldly luxury, completely detached. An unbroken
celibacy even amidst women and wealth was conspicuous in him strictly avoiding
association with ladies in loneliness. He showed tothe world that even ladies
with proper direction could attain the highest knowledge of Atman the Absolute,
if the director is careful about his ownself. He could freely mix with non
Hindus, specially Mohammedans, for he evinced equal care and interest in the
welfare of one and all. Thus like Nrisimha Saraswati he influenced both the
Hindus and Mohammedans alike. The founder of Sikhism has considered Manika
Prabhu as "an incarnation of Dattatreya", while Col.Alkot. of
Theosophical Society, Basaveswara the founder of Lingayat sect, gave glorious
accounts of Manika Prabhu, as an incarnation born in the world for the good of
the people. His wisdom, catholicity and foresight in handling different kinds
of people under one banner, is strikingly, significant. In fact his whole life
passed in such activity of longing in a fusion of so called opposites in faiths
and cults. It is (Sakalamata sthapana) universally of religions, his seeing no
conflict between activity (Pravitti) and inaction (nivritti) was his greatest
contribution to the society and mankind.
Manika Prabhu had many contemporaries. Of course the followers and
disciples of each saint consider them as different Avataras of Dattatreya. For
instance, Sri Baka Prabhu among Lingayats, Sri Alam Prabhu among Yavanas, Sri
Swami of Akkalkot were all illustrious in their own way.
These saints who were contemporary always considered the worth of
one another and never talked of their own greatness. They never cared for fame.
Though, inspite of their dislike for it, it came to them and clung to their
names even after their departure from the world. They were born for a
particular mission and they accomplished it in their own way by giving things
to the needy and enlightenment to those who sought for it. For instance, Manika
Prabhu in the task of enhancing the power of Sidhas, helped Hamsaraja Swami in
his pursuit of self realisation. Manik Prabhu's connection with Sidhas, like
Alam Prabhu, Revana Siddha, Suraja Sadananda was mysteriously startling. Manika
Prabhu wrote a book called kalpataru which contains the knowledge he desired to
impart. Moreover many padas, Artis were composed by him. The subject of Gopi
Krishna's equisitively inter-woven in many of his padas in great depth. Manika
Prabhu took Samadhi at Manikanagar in 1865, at the age of 48, the news of which
was kept a secret at the behest of Manika Prabhu at the time of his taking
Samadhi, to allow the people gathered for Datta- Jayanthi to celebrate without
marring their joy which would have been upset if the news of his passing away
was made public. Manikanagar has become place of pilagrimage, where people
throng from all parts of country for the fulfilment of their cherished desires.
4 . Swami of Akkalkot
Lord Dattatreya is an incarnation of the Trinity, the three
highest Gods. Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. Their Shakti, Saraswati, Lakshmi and
Parvati, being highly chaste women follow their husbands and shower their grace
(Anugraha) on the devotees of their Lords. Thus the grace of goddess Saraswati
as regards knowledge is fully showered upon as soon as a call is heard from the
Guru Dattatreya. Thus we find that devotees of Lord Dattatreya were blessed by
Saraswati and they produced monumental works. For instance, Gangadhara
Saraswati's Guru Charitra, Dasopanta's Gitarnava, Niranjana's commentaries,
Vasudevananda Saraswati's Dattatreya- Mahatmya, inspiring works have been the
result of Saraswati's blessings and they contributed considerably to the
literature dealing with the process of liberation (Mumukshutva). In the same
way Goddess Lakshmi always remained at hand to bestow inexhaustible mines of
wealth for advancement of Bhaktas towards their spiritual goal. The life of
Manika Prabhu is an instance. The same is the case with Goddess Annapurna
(Parvathi) in the role of mother of Universe (Uma) provides food unlimited by
her divine grace without knowing wherefrom it comes and how it is managed. The
prominence of the three Goddesses varies according to the needs of time and
place. Yet all the three are one and the same. Just like the grace of the
Goddess of the three principal deities, we often come across the characteristic
features of one or theother of three Gods in the lives of these saints. In Sree
Pada Sree Vallabha the Avadhuta aspect, in Nrisimha Saraswati the paramahamsa
aspect, in the Swami of Akkalkot the child-like (Bala) aspect and mad life
(Unmatta), and in Shirdi Sai a peculiar synthesis of all these aspects of
Dattatreya are discernible. Various different accounts evolved out of the
biographical versions about the birth of the Swami Samartha as pronounced by
him at several times. Firstly he told a Pujari of Ganagapur that his name was
Nrisimha-bana and that he was born 450 years ago. Secondly, he told a Parsi
gentleman that he was from Kadalivana moved to various places, Haridwar.
Kedareswara, Pandharpur and finally settled at Akkalkot. Thirdly, he told a
devotee Shri Darve that his caste was a Brahmin of Yajurveda branch Kasyapa
Gotra. Fourthly, he told a wine merchant that himself an originator having his
bed on a leaf of a banyan tree at Dattanagar, and another time told that he was
an outcast (Chamar) and his parents belong to the caste of Mahar. Just as his
statements regarding his name and caste are varied, his behaviour and
daily-life actions happened to be strange and even at times transcending bounds
of decency. But nobody ever reported that he behaved against the common rules
of the society. Every body in fact respected him as a great saint of
unfathomable behaviour and absolutely unconcerned and unattached attitude to
the objects, men or environment around him. The life of Swami Samartha was full
of miracles and thousands of people gathered around him solely for fulfilment
of their worldly desires, while none went to him for spiritual progress. Each
utterance of the Swami was regarded to contain some deep secret meaning or
reference to a certain incident of the future. According to Swami Shivananda
Saraswati, "These sages are absolutely free from selfish desires, They
simply witted at times to do good to humanity and every thing came to pass
instantaneously". In this aspect, a saint differs from a juggler who
performs magic with a selfish motive of earning for his livelihood, and
moreover, the action created is an illusion created by him while in the case of
a saint it is distinctly different. Swami Samartha discriminated between a
righteous desire and an unrighteous one. His refusal of his grace to bless, the
revolutionary design of V.D.Phadke, to the Gaeckwad of Baroda who tried to
tempt him with wealth and position and so many others who approached him
with mundane motives illustrates the sublime consideration with
which he bestowed his anugraham. His life inspired and led many disciples on
the path of liberation. Nrisimha Bharati of Alandi, Baba Sabnis are some of
them. The highly spiritual life of Samartha was conspicuous in his daily
routine. He did each and every work only when he had a mind to do it. Numerous
people were miraculously cured by the grace of Swami. The medicines he
prescribed varied with the faith of the patient from the juice of a lemon to a
remedy prescribed of putting a hand bitten by a scorpion inside a shoe for
relief. Many a devotee connected with places sacred to Dattatreya such as
Ganagapur, Narsoba Wadi got mysterious calls from their deity to go to the
Swami at Akkalkot for his blessings. By his grace he brought about a
fundamental change in the lives of many (Hridaya Parivartan) by influencing
their minds and hearts to get over their weaknesses and blemishes. In short
Swami emphasised the essentiality of purity of mind. He had love and compassion
for all cretures without any distinction. Such a personality remarkable both
from physical and spiritual aspects, passed away in April 30, 1878 A.D. The Swami
wrote nothing yet his whole life inspired many works in this school. While
residing both at Akkala (Buddhi) and at kot (Avarna) as a mere witness of both
mind and environment around, he dispelled ignorance and showed a clear way of
envisioning the reality behind and beyond all things.
5 . Samartha Sadguru Sai Baba
In the unbroken line of sages and saints of Bharat Varsha,
who held aloft the torch of spirituality in all climes and ages, the sage of
Shirdi, occupies a very significant position. He is a very mysterious
personality whom everybody interprets in his own way but no interpetation could
give a complete picture of the saint. This is perhaps the reason why he is
Rama, Krishna, Hanuman, Sankara, Ganpathi, Dattatreyaall rolled in one
according to the Samskar and desire of different devotees. To comprehend the
divine nature of Sainath in its entirety is a stupendous exercise in the subtle
realm of intuition, experience and realisation. His birth is shrowded in great
mystery for no one knew his parentage nor the place of his birth. Possibly, the
view held by some that he is a "Ayoni Sambhav" (not born from human
womb) be the case, like Lord Dattatreya. Rightly SaiBaba, a Sampurna Avatar of
Lord Dattatreya, has his centre every where without a limiting circumference
anywhere. When he was asked about his parent-hood, he said "The world is
my village, Brahma the father and Maya the Mother". His effulgent
complexion was said to be strikingly captivating and endearingly charmful. It
is said that particularly, the lustrous golden-hued-body and brilliantly
beaming face were remarkably arresting one's attention and they were considered
to be the significatnt features of a Tapasvi observing the Mahavrat comprising
of Ahimsa, Satya, Astheya, Brahmacharya and Aparigraha, Another distinctive
feature was Sai's most brilliant and enchanting eyes beaming out cascades of
love compassion and solace. Lo! just a glance of his was enough to dispel all
baffling doubts and distressing problems. Significantly, Sai was easily accessible
equally to the pauper and the prince, the illiterate and the learned, the young
and the old, the atheist and the theist. Sai the arch-alchemist could in the
crucible of his irresistible and incissive look and words of divine wisom,
transmute the faulty and the fallen, the base metals into precious ones, using
the chemical of his grace endowed with compassion and love. The sublime concept
of 'Vasudhaika Kutumbam" one world one humanity has been the cardinal
principle of the glorious heritage of spirtual and social culture of Bharat
Varsha all through the millenniums of the past. In this aspect "Tat-Twam
Asi" "Thou Art that" represents the fundamental identity of
macrocosm and microcosm and having the same natural characterstics, which are
in constant dynamic contact with each other. Sai laid stress on constant faith
(Nista) and patience (Saburi) as he demanded always these "two coins"
from his devotees. Performance of one's own duty and worship of one's own
family deity with pure heart had his appreciation, though at times Sai gave
rude shocks to narrow-minded orthodoxy. Yet he never encouraged nor approved
anybody changing his religion or his traditional mode of worship. This way of
handling the two divine influence over them. His catholicity of outlook,
harmonious synthesis of univarsal religion which is as much, Hindu, Muslim,
Christian, Buddhist, Zorasterian, even the monism derived from the 19th and
early 20th century scientific and technological development, storming the
intellectual world, is akin to his tenets. Many great Mahatmas from time to
time effected changes in the mode of thinking, worship and ways of life. As a
result of their teachings new traditions, new concepts and perceptions have
sprung up. Unfortunately, certain aberrations too have crept in. But the life
-teachings of Sai are singularly free from these defects.
Sai's grace is like the sea-wind, always blowing from the sea,
fresh and envigouration. The Ahimsa aspect of Jainism, the renunciation aspect
of Buddhism, the Dharmic aspect of Lord Rama the Nishkama-Karma aspect of Lord
Krishna, the universal-love aspect of Jesus, the universalbrotherhood aspect of
Islam-all are found harmoniously blended in Sai Nath's way of life, Strikingly
in him, the qualities of an Avadhuta and Sanyasin the salient features of
sufism, of a hazrat, a parvardigar, a bhikku are easily discernible, Sai is
like an oasis in a desert, which provides cool shelter and a refreshing drink
to parched souls treading the scorching sands of sansaric life. Truely, there
can be no better healing balm than Sai's grace for bleeding hearts badly mauled
and wounded in the battles of life. Sai incessantly emphasised the fundamental
oneness of all religions. Sai never prescribed a particular mode or method of
worship nor initiated with mantra to any one, nor asked to perform any creedal
religious rituals. He wrote nothing though his thoughts and flashy sayings are
divine in nature and prophetic in result. He is rightly considered to have
incarnated in Kali Age as an Avatar of redemption. Even the refuse and the
reprobate looked down by the society readily received his Anugraha equally with
the righteous and the high. There was no exclusive-ness in His benign concern
for the suffering. His grace, was magnanimously pervasive and captivatingly
persuasive. "If any child gets covered with mud and dust, is it not my
duty like a mother to cleanse him and take him on my lap" typically
illustrates the trait of Shri Sai Baba's mercy and concern for the penitent and
defaulter, In all the known Avatars of the yore. "Sistha Rakshana and
Dustha Sikshana" prevailed as the specific mission of the Avatar. But,
singularly Sri Sai, a unique Avatar of Redemption of Kaliyug, redeemed in his
own uninimitable way, the faulty the perfidy and even the felon by curtailing
their innate tendencies and propensities and effected a complete transformation
in the course of their lives. He considered every one without distinction as
his child and as mother to her children, to correct, protect and enliven, was his
mission. He finished his work left his corporeal body, (which he assumed of his
own volition) on Vijaya Dasami, and entered into Mahasamadhi in 1918 a day
which significantly happenened to be Bhagawan Buddha's Nirvana, Muharam and
Dassarah important and significant to Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists alike. His
samadhi at Shirdi acquired importance next to Tirupathi, the abode of Lord
Venkateswara in the aspect of huge concourse of devotees ever increasing in
number day after day, flocking to Shirdi for solace and fulfilment of their
desires, temporal and spiritual as well. In the words of Swami Abhedananda,
"Sai Baba is the one great ever bright luminary, still having unparalleled
existence, ever shedding his resplendent rays to illuminate every nook and corner
of the world". The significant nature of Shirdi Sai's manifestation, at
once draws our attention to the distinctive feature of the emergence of
numerous temples with Vigraha of Sai installed and worshipped with usual agamic
rites and rituals observed in the temples of all Hindu pantheon, Vishnu, Siva,
Rama, Krishna, etc.. From all over India and abroad devotees are found flocking
at Shirdi in thousands and thousands visiting His Samadhi in the Mandir and
Dwarakamayi where he stayed mostly. Sri Sai is a beacon light, a prophet not to
proselytise but to help, not to concert but to transform, not to subdue but to
elevate, not merely to preach but to live accordingly. His cosmic message of
universal brotherhood and endearing humanism and love for all beings, is
eternal.
"Pranamyam Deena Bandho Praseeda Mama Rakshaka Namo, Namo Sai
Natha Sai Baba Saranam Mama".
Mandir Timings:
9:00 A.M - 12:30 P.M (Weekdays except Thursday)
6:00 P.M - 8:30 P.M (Winter Weekdays except Thursday)
6:00 P.M - 9:00 P.M (Summer Weekdays except Thursday)
Thursdays:
9:00 A.M - 12:30 P.M
6:00 P.M - 10:00 P.M
Weekends:
9:00 A.M - 8:30 P.M (Winter Weekends)
9:00 A.M - 9:00 P.M (Summer Weekends)
Aarathi Timings (All days except Thursday)
Kakad Aarathi : 9:00 AM
Madhyan Aarathi : 12:00 Noon
Dhup Aarathi: 6:00 PM
Shej Aarathi: 8:00 PM (Winters), 8:30 PM (Summer)
Thursday
Kakad Aarathi: 9:00 AM
Madhyan Aarathi: 12:00 Noon
Dhup Aarathi: 6:00 PM
Bhajans: 7: 30 - 8:30 PM
Shej Aarathi: 9:00 PM (Winters), 9:30 PM (Summer)
9:00 A.M - 12:30 P.M (Weekdays except Thursday)
6:00 P.M - 8:30 P.M (Winter Weekdays except Thursday)
6:00 P.M - 9:00 P.M (Summer Weekdays except Thursday)
Thursdays:
9:00 A.M - 12:30 P.M
6:00 P.M - 10:00 P.M
Weekends:
9:00 A.M - 8:30 P.M (Winter Weekends)
9:00 A.M - 9:00 P.M (Summer Weekends)
Aarathi Timings (All days except Thursday)
Kakad Aarathi : 9:00 AM
Madhyan Aarathi : 12:00 Noon
Dhup Aarathi: 6:00 PM
Shej Aarathi: 8:00 PM (Winters), 8:30 PM (Summer)
Thursday
Kakad Aarathi: 9:00 AM
Madhyan Aarathi: 12:00 Noon
Dhup Aarathi: 6:00 PM
Bhajans: 7: 30 - 8:30 PM
Shej Aarathi: 9:00 PM (Winters), 9:30 PM (Summer)
Priest Services (@ Mandir or Outside Mandir)
- For all In-Sri Saibaba Mandir and Outside- Sri Saibaba Mandir religious/devotional Services, please contact Sri Saibaba Mandir @ 614-799-8411 or priests directly. Priests would be only schedule services to be performed in Mandir. Any outside Mandir services, priests will get back to the requestor after getting approvals from Sri Saibaba Mandir Management. For any special needs, please consult EC President .
- All outside services are to be scheduled at least 2 days before of actual day of service. To schedule the services please consult Priest or EC President. Priest Service requests outside 40 Miles away from Sri Saibaba Mandir, Dublin, Ohio, SHALL BE approved by the EC President.
- Temple Society Members will be given preference in scheduling these services.
- Sponsors will be required to pay $0.48/per mile to priest beyond 30 mile radius of Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mandir.
- It is Sponsors (service requestors') responsibility to arrange either personal transportation (rental car, air ticket etc) for the services being provided by Sri Saibaba Mandir priests beyond 40 Miles from Sri Saibaba Mandir. Mandir Priests are prohibited to use their personal vehicles to attend the services approved by Sri Saibaba Mandir. For details, you may consult EC President/Temple Manager or Priest.
- All service donation amounts do not include Priest Dakshina. Sponsors (devotees) are encouraged to provide Dakshina to Priest at your will and satisfaction. This Dakshina directly goes to Priest. Devotees are requested to pay Sri Saibaba Mandir service fee using personal check or use on-line Paypal.
- Devotees are encouraged to contribute for Sri Saibaba Mandir construction fund.
- Devotees are requested to complete the Feedback Form and return to priest or send to Sri Saibaba Temple Society in sealed envelop.
- Sponsors should contact Priest for various Pooja Items required for various services, and are responsible to get them ready for service.
- If you are willing to serve as a volunteer, please contact EC committee. Sri Saibaba Mandir always needs various levels of  volunteer service.
- Society Management reserves the right to change the services donation guidelines without notice.
- Please contact priest at 614-799-8411 for any recent changes for the Donations.
Sri Sai Koti Nama Japa Yagam
Please kindly participate in SriSai Koti Nama Japa Yagam program. Koti Nama Japa Yagam log book can be downloaded from here. Devotees and Volunteers can write their Sai Nama Japa entries along with details being asked in the log. This Sai Nama Japa Yagam can be done anytime with cool mind either at home or at the temple.Sankalpam for Sri Sai Koti Nama Japa Yagam.
Om Sri Sairam
Ohio Scioto nadi madhye Lewis Center
pattana sthitha Sri Sainatha Kshetra abhivrudhyarthamSRI SAI KOTI JAPA YAGNAM karishye!
“Om Sri Sai Nathaya Namaha”
Every first Saturday of the month, the devotees of Sri Saibaba
Temple Society of Ohio serve in the Mid Ohio Food Bank.
Date: Every 1st Saturday
of each month.
Time: 9 am to
12:00 noon
Place: Mid Ohio Food
Bank, 3960 Brookham Dr; Grove City, OH 43213
Tel: (614) 274-7770
For more details on food
bank: http://www.midohiofoodbank.org
Please note that the food
bank has moved to Grove City as of Oct 2009. It is no longer in
the Mound Street location in downtown.
Seva Details: A lot of food and
cosmetics, household items are donated to the Mid Ohio food bank by major
stores in the city. Our job is to sort the non perishable food, check the
expiry date and put it in appropriate bins provided. The non perishable food
items are then packed and distributed to the needy across central and
eastern Ohio. The food bank depends on volunteers to help sort the food.
Please note that if you are coming for the first time, there will
be a mandatory training session for approx 10 minutes before you are allowed to
sort the non perishable food.
Children below the age of 18 are strongly discouraged in the food
bank due to safety reasons.
Here are some tips for you:
- Please wear comfortable dress and shoes as you will be standing and sorting the items.
- Please do not bring any thing to donate there.
- Please do not bring any valuables or expensive stuff with you. There is no place to store them during the seva activity.
Please consider donating a few hours of your time to serve
those in need.
If need more information please contact me through email: seva@srisaimandir.org or raonanduri@hotmail.com or
cell phone: (614) 209-0911.
cell phone: (614) 209-0911.
Sri Sainatha
Stavana Manjari Parayana
(Group Chanting -
Fortnightly Event) 06:30-07:30PM
Every Ekadasi day evening, devotees are participating in group chanting of Sri Sai Stavana Manjari at Sri Saibaba Mandir. Devotees are encouraged to take this opportunity and join this group. There is no sponsorship for joining this group chanting. For specific details, please contact Sri Ravi Puranik (rspuranik@gmail.com).
Sri Raja Rajeswari -
Kumkumaarchana
with Lalita Sahasranama Paryanam (group)
Monthly Event ( 06:45 - 8:15PM)
with Lalita Sahasranama Paryanam (group)
Monthly Event ( 06:45 - 8:15PM)
- Omkaaram
- Kalasaaraadhana
- Sri Mahagapati Pooja
- Devi Praardhana Sloka Pathanam - Sri Devi Khadga Maala, Sri Ambaashtakam, Kanakadhaara Stotram
- Sri Rajarajeswari Devi Kumkumaarchana with Sri Lalita Sahasranama Parayana (group)
- Mantra Pushpam
- Teertha Prasada Viniyogam
Every third Friday evening of the month, a special
(group) samoohika kukumaarchana is conducted with Sri Lalita Sahasranama
parayana. Devotees are encouraged to take this opportunity to join this group
kumkumaarchana , and join the group chanting of the Sri Lalitha Sahasranama
Parayana. For this special event, the yearly Sponsorship is $58 and per
event Sponsorship is $11. No sponsorship is required to participate in
chanting Sri Lalita Sahasranama Parayana. . If you would like to participate in
this holy event, please contact – event coordinators Smt. Kavitha Vatti (kavithavatti@yahoo.com, 614-791-1106), Smt
Subhadra Pamidighantam (saikittu@yahoo.com,
614-798-9076), Saritha Buddha (412-596-1214 saryu73@yaho.com), or Sri Sai Baba Mandir
priests at 614-799-8411. For schedules,
Sri Abhaya Anjaneya
Swamy Visesha Archana ((Nagavalli) Aaku Pooja)
6:45 PM - 8:00 PM
6:45 PM - 8:00 PM
- Omkaaram
- Kalasaaraadhana
- Sri Mahaganapati Pooja
- Sri Abhaya Hanuman (utsava moorthy) Abhishekam
- Alankarana - Sri Hanuman Chaleesa Parayana (group)
- Astottara Archana with Nagavalli (pawn leaves)..Aaku pooja
- Mantra Pushpam
- Teertha Prasaad Viniyogam
Visesha (special) Archana with Nagavalli (aaku) pooja is performed
to Lord Sri Abhaya Anjaneya Swamy on every 4th Saturday evening with
group chanting of Sri Hanuman Chaleesa. If you would like to participate in
this holy event please contact Sri Sai Baba Mandir priests at
614-799-8411.
2596 Lewis Center Rd Lewis Center, OH 43035 (map)
Hari-Haraatmaka
-Sri Veera VEnkata Rama Sahita SatyaNarayana Swamy Vratam
( Monthly Event - on
Full Moon Day)
Sravana Pournima
Sravana Pournima
- Omkaaram
- Kalasaaraadhana
- Sri Maha-Ganapati Pooja
- Navagraha-panchaloka paalaka - Indraadi Astadikpaalaka Pooja
- Sri Rama Sahita Sri Satyanarayna Swamy Pooja
- Sri Sainatha Astottara Nama Pooja
- Mantra Pushpam
- Sri Satyanarayana Katha (by devotees)
- Teertha Prasaada Viniyogam
Sri Satyanarayana Vratam is performed on every FULL MOON-DAY (Pournima
Day). The yearly (Twelve months) sponsorship for this
event is $151.00, and one time (month) sponsorship $25.00.Sri Satyanarayana
Vrata Prasadam will be sent by post for all paid sponsors, who are 40 miles
away from Columbus, Ohio. If you would like to participate in this holy
event please contact event coordinators: Vinatha Pattisapu (vinathap@yahoo.com 614-446-0536), Smt.
HariPriya Alukanti (alukanti@yahoo.com,
614-218-5341), Sri Sai Baba Mandir priests at 614-799-8411.
Sri
Saibaba MasOtsavam:
Special
Abhishekaarachna to Lord Saibaba
(Monthly Event) 10:00AM-12:00PM
(Monthly Event) 10:00AM-12:00PM
- Omkaaram
- Kalasaaraadhana
- Sri Maha Ganapati Pooja
- Sri Saibaba (ustava moorthy) Panchaamruta Abhishekam
- (with Rudra Prasna, Chamakam, Purusha Sooktam)
- Alankarana - Sri Vishnu Sahasranaama Parayana
- Archana
- Mantra Pushpam
- Teertha Prasada Viniyogam
Visesha (special) Abhisheka Archana to Lord Sai (with Namakam, Chamakam, Purusha Sooktam Veda Chanting, and Sri Vishnu Sahasranama parayana) is performed on every 2nd Saturday morning at 10:00AM.
If you would like to participate in this holy event please contact Sri Sai Baba Mandir priests at 614-799-8411.
Sri Sai - Ekavaara
Rudraabhishekam
(Maasa Sivaratri - Monthly Event)
(Maasa Sivaratri - Monthly Event)
- Omkaaram
- Kalasaaraadhana,
- Sri MahaGanapati Pooja
- Laghunyaasa Poorvaka Sri Sai Ekavaara Rudraabhishekam
- Sri Sai-Siva Nama Pooja
- Mantra Pushpam
- Teertha Prasad Viniyogam
Sri Maha Ganapati Abhishekam & Sahasranama Archana
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
2596 Lewis Center Rd Lewis Center, OH 43035
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
2596 Lewis Center Rd Lewis Center, OH 43035
Address:
2596 Lewis Center Road, Lewis Center, Ohio 43035
Telephone : 614 – 799 - 8411
New Temple Directions :
From I-270
- Take US-23N, Exit 23/N High St towards Delaware
- Continue to follow US-23 North for 6 miles
- Turn right onto Lewis Center Rd
- Drive 2 miles and 2596 will be on your right
From I-71
- Take Exit 121 towards Ohio 750/Polaris Parkway
- Turn right onto County Rd 10/South Old State Rd
- Turn left onto Lewis Center Rd
- 2596 will be on the left
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My
humble salutations to the great devotees
, wikisources and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the
collection )
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