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Karunakara Rama Who protected the Lake at Madurantaka

Ramanavami day is most sacred to the devotees of Sai Baba, as once when devotees pestered Him to tell His birthday He casually said “Let Ramanavami be celebrated as My birth day. Baba showed Himself as Rama to several of His devotees which proves the fact that Baba is Sri Rama.

Once a Doctor who was a Rama Upasaka said that he would not bow to anybody else other than Lord Rama. The Mamlatdar who came along with the doctor went inside the mosque to have Baba’s darshan, while the doctor was at a distance from the arati proceedings. Suddenly he changed his mind and fell at the feet of Sai Nath. The mamlatdar was astonished and enquired the doctor why he suddenly changed his mind. The doctor replied that Sai Baba appeared to him as Sri Rama so he ran and bowed to Him. He said that Sai is ‘Yoga Sampoorna Avatar’.

Baba advised His devotees to do namasmaran. Baba approved any namajapa including ‘Sai’ namajapa. He instructed Mrs. G. S. Khaparde to repeat the name of Rama. “Always say Raja Ram, Raja Ram. If you do so your life will be fruitful. You will attain peace and infinite good.”

Once a Madrasi Bhajan Mela (Party of the Ramadasi Panth) came to Shirdi, on the way to the holy city of Banares, to have darshan of Sai Nath.

The mela did very good bhajan but at the same time all members of the mela except the head of the mela, a lady were avaricious and wanted to get money from Baba. The chief lady of the mela had a great regard and love towards Baba. Hence Baba decided to give darshan to her as her Ishta Daivam Lord Rama. As the noon arati was going on, in the place of Sai Baba she saw her Beloved Deity Lord Rama. She was immensely happy and tears flowed from her eyes. While all the others in the crowd saw only Sai Nath there, the lady alone has sakshatkar of Lord Rama because of her true devotion.

From the above illustrations it is proved that Sai Nath and Sai Rama are one and the same Eternal Supreme. Anybody can pray to this Eternal Brahman in any form or name, He is ever with us to bless us by fulfilling our wishes.

As mentioned above Lord Rama gave darshan to Mr. Colonel Lional Place, the collector of Changlepet. Madurantakam, is a small town about 70 k.m. from Madras city. It is one of the famous Abhimanasthalas of Lord Vishnu. There is a temple here, the Presiding Deity is named as Karunakara Perumal (one full of mercy). He is also called Eari Katha Perumal (one who protected the lake of Madurantakam). There is a separate, shrine for Goddess Sita Devi named as Janakavalli Thayar (Mother Janakavalli). It is a common saying that one who lays his foot on the land of Madurantakam is sure to reach Heaven. This Kshetra is also called ‘Vakularanya Kshetram’ as it was once full of Vakula trees. About 950 years before Sri Ramanuja, renowned as Ethiraja, the exponent of the doctrine of Visishta Dwaita got his initiation, Vaishnava Diksha or Pancha Samskara Diksha from his Guru Peria Nambi, in this temple under the Vakula tree, the Sthala Vruksha.

An incident which occured in 1795 at Madurantakam gives ample proof that Lord Rama or Sai Rama’s presence is everywhere and His ever watchful eyes are on those who pray to Him and He protects His devotees at critical situations and imminent danger.