Shri Saibaba Sansthan,Shirdi                                                                         Shri Saileela Main Page

SADGURU SAI ASKS

TO READ THE DIVINE BOOKS FOR THE SPIRITUAL BENEFIT

OF THE PEOPLE

If the devotees desired casually to read some religious book, they placed the book in Baba’s hands and received it back as ‘prasad’.

Then, when that book was read, it would be most beneficial. It would achieve the highest welfare of the orators and the listeners, as it would be full of prasad.

Some offered the pictures of the Dashavatar, some the stotras of the Dashavatar, some the Panchratni Gita and other holy books and pictures.

Das Ganu’s ‘Sant Leelamrut’ and ‘Bhakta Leelamrut’, also ‘Vivek Sindhu’ were offered and Baba gave them to Shama.

“Shama these books are for you’’, he would say. “Keep them, at home, properly protected.’’ Shama bowed and obeyed the orders and kept them tied in a piece of cloth.

With this thought, the devotees also bought books from the shops to place in Baba’s hands and to receive them back as prasad.

Though Baba’s nature was kind and generous, to do this also needed courage, so they took Madhavrao along with them, to tackle the situation.

At the opportune time, he would put the book in Baba’s hands. Just as Baba knew the importance of the book, he also knew about the devotee’s abilities.

Who could know Baba’s intentions ? But reading and listening to this collection of books were a means of purification for his devotees.

Now Shirdi has become a sacred place and Baba’s disciples would come from different and distant places, and gather from time to time to celebrate, gain wisdom and praise the Lord, in a series of sessions.

These books would prove useful then. Shama would show them after taking them out from their wrappings. We will no longer be there; but these books will embody the knowledge.

Whenever the devotees would read these very holy books, whether at Shirdi or elsewhere, they would recollect (Baba and his teachings). This seems to be a reason for making the collection.

Whether it be the Ramayan or the Bhagvat, or any other book dealing with spiritual matters, or reading the life stories of Ram, Krishna and others, it is only Sai who comes before the mind’s eye.

It seems as if Sai himself is playing the part of the great characters in these books; and the narrator and the listeners see Sai’s image before them, every time.

According to the Shastras, if a book is offered to the Guru or given as a gift to a Brahmin, therein lies the welfare of the donor.

  EKNATHI BHAGVAT

Once the devotee Kaka Mahajani, who liked reading the Bhagvat, carried with him a copy of it and came to Shirdi.

Madhavrao came to meet him. He picked up the book to read it and went with it to the Masjid. Baba casually asked him.