34. Wonderful Leela of Shri Sai

Few months back, I was reading one of the chapters in Shri Sai Satcharitra - the wonderful life and teachings of Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi. At one point, there is a story of how a devotee starts reading the Guru Charitra - which describes the wonderful incarnations of Shri Dattatreya and the beautiful relationships between Guru and Disciples.
A desire awakened that I should also read the Gurucharitra and benefit from the nectar of the sweet words therein. At the same time a small thought came into my mind that I should read it only when some instruction comes from Shri Sai. I thought that if someone were to give me a copy of this holy book - without my asking for it - I will surely start reading it. At the same time, I also thought that it is a bad sign of ego on my part that I want my Sadguru Shri Sai to come and make it available to me - as a pre-condition to reading it. I silently prayed that it should not be considered so and somehow Baba should acknowledge my desire and strengthen my faith.
I half-expected that when I visit my home in Mumbai my mother - who usually reads and keeps such holy books - would give me a copy of the Gurucharitra, which would be my signal to start reading it. I also worried that my mother would give me a Marathi copy and I would have to read it. (Although my mother tongue is Marathi, my near and dear ones know how much I find difficult even to read some simple text in Marathi - so I was worried how I would read it). As it turned out, my mother did not give me any such book and as per my desire I did not want to ask for it. So I was sorely disappointed.
But Shri Sai Baba is all knowing and his ways are also such that he gives his devotees exactly what they need and in his own ways.
A few days back as Ashada month started, He first ensures that I had a Vitthal Darshan and a view of the Warkaris heading towards Pandharpur. Then He awakened a desire to search online for some pictures of Shri Sai Baba. In this quest, I also discovered the online version of Shri Sai Satcharitra which I posted in my previous blog post.
In the above mentioned search I also came across the online copy of the GuruCharitra in English. Exactly as I wanted ! Further the timing of this was just perfect. I came across this on the day of Ashada Ekadashi - a few days before Guru-Pournima. I was so thrilled by this occurrence that last few days I was just reading it and only managed to finish the first reading today - on Guru Pournima.

I know it sounds such a coincidence and luck maybe. But I believe there was some divine coincidence and Shri Sai Baba has not only understood the small desire that arose in my heart - He has also ensured that the reading is completed in the days before Guru Pournima.

I was just so thrilled with this set of events that I had to blog about it and hope that this experience also provides some joy to other Sai Bhaktas who chance upon this post.
!!! Shri Satchitananda Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai !!!

33. Link to Online SaiCharitra

Since I posted last year about Guru Pournima, I noticed a stream of visitors on this blog who were referred through searching Google for the words "Guru Pournima" or were searching the web for images of Sadguru, Shri Sai Baba. Knowingly or unknowingly if this blog entry has been of use to Sai-bhaktas around the world, I can only consider it my good fortune.


Following are some more links which may be of use to Sai-bhaktas who come up to my blog:

• The Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan Trust in Shirdi which is doing a very good job of facilitating devotees to reach their everything - Sadguru Shri Saibaba.
• The Sai Satcharitra - the English version of the holy book for all Sai devotees. This is not just a book but it is the lifeline holding which we shall float across the sea of all joys and sorrows, all excitements and disappointments and finally be reunited with the One.
• Apparently also there is a Shirdi Sai Temple in New York in the one and only US of A. This site has taken a lot of efforts and pains to set up the Sai Sat Charitra on the online version. Besides they have a nice download center and other useful resources for Sai Bhaktas.

I have tried to include here some resources which may be of use to the Sai Bhaktas who have been visiting this blog. If there is anything specific I can add, please feel free to request through a comment here and with the will of Shri Sai, I will try to do so to the best of my ability.

Best Regards

Gautam