Sai Satcharitra-Epilogue-Part I

Thursday, August 18, 2011, 18:13

In this chapter Hemadpant gave his concluding remarks and promised to give an index, giving the contents of all the Chapters in verse as is given in Marathi sacred books, but unfortunately that index was not found in Hemabdpant's papers. It was therefore, composed and supplied by an able and worthy devotee of Sai Baba, Mr. B.V. Deo (Retired Mamlatdar) of Thana. As we give in English books an index in the beginning and contents of each Chapter at its top, we need not consider the last index Chapter here; and so we consider this Chapter as the Epilogue. Unfortunately Hemadpant did not survive to revise the manuscript of this Chapter and made it ready for the press. When it was sent to the press Mr. Deo found it to be incomplete and unintelligible in certain places; but it had to be published as it was found. The chief topics dealt therein are briefly given below.

Greatness of Sadguru Sai

We prostrate ourselves before and take refuge in that Sai Samarth Who besets all animate and inanimate things in the universe-from a post to God Brahma, pots, houses, mansions and even sky, Who pervades all creatures equally without any differentiation, to Whom all devotees are alike; and Who knows not honour and dishonour, like or dislike. If we remember Him and surrender to Him, He fulfills all our desires and makes us attain the goal of life.

Sai Ram. Here, the author of Sri Sai Satcharitra is clearly establishing the SAI principle – that Sai Samarth is one with Sri Swami Samarth of Akkalkot, and thus with Lord Dattatreya, Paramatma, Para Brahma, Brahman, Supreme Self. SAI stands for Spiritual, Absolute and Infinite principle. Sai Ram.

This ocean of mundane existence is very hard to cross. Waves of infatuation beat high there against the bank of bad thoughts and break down trees of fortitude. The breeze of egoism blows forcibly and makes the ocean rough and agitated. Crocodiles in the form of anger and hatred move there fearlessly. Eddies in the form of the idea "I and Mine" and other doubts whirl there incessantly and innumerable fishes in the form of censure, hate and jealousy play there, Though this ocean is so fierce and terrible, Sad-guru Sai is its Agasti (Destroyer) and the devotees of Sai have not the least to fear of it.. Our Sadguru is the boat, which will safely take us across this ocean.

Sai Ram. Our Sadguru, or better still, His feet and His Padukas (Slippers / Sandals / footwear) are the best boats for us to catch hold of and easily cross the ocean of samsara with all its dangers described above. The surrender to the feet / Padukas of Sadguru removes our egoism and purifies the mind, thus enabling us to see our inner nature stripped off of all the layers of avidya (ignorance) and see our real nature, which is not different from that of the Supreme Self. Just as Ganga (which started from the toes of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu) purifies all the worlds, just as the dust from the feet of Sri Rama purified Ahalya, the feet, the padukas and the dust / teertha of Guru's feet purify us. This is well established in the Bhakti, Saranaagathi, Prapatti margas. Sai Ram.