Shri Sai Satcharitra-Chapter 39-Part I

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Baba's Knowledge of Sanskrit

His Interpretation of a Verse from the Gita - Construction of the Samadhi Mandir.

This chapter (39) deals with Shirdi Saibaba's interpretation of a verse from the Bhagawad-Gita. As some people believed that Baba knew not Sanskrit, and the interpretation was Nanasaheb Chandorkar's, Hemadpant wrote another chapter (50) refuting that objection. As the chapter No.50 deals with the same subject-matter, it is incorporated in this chapter.

Sai Ram. It is indeed strange that they accept Baba's miraculous powers, listen to His discourses on Vedanta etc., in fact praise Him as Satchidananda, ParaBrahma etc., and then doubt His knowledge in Sanskrit! Sai Ram.

Preliminary

Blessed is Shirdi and blessed is Dwarkamayi where Sai lived and moved until He took Mahasamadhi. Blessed are the people of Shirdi whom He obliged and for whom He came such a long distance. Shirdi was a small village first, but it attained great importance, on account of His contact and became a Tirtha, holy place of pilgrimage. Equally blessed are the womenfolk of Shirdi, blessed is their whole and undivided faith in Him. They sang the glories of Baba while bathing, grinding, pounding corn and doing other house-hold work. Blessed is their love, for they sang sweet songs which calm and pacify the minds of the singers and listeners.

Sai Ram. We are reminded of the Gopis of Brindavan, who had similar love for Sri Krishna. It is said that they were learned sages (Munis, Maharshis etc.) and were bewitched by the beauty of Lord Rama. He gave a boon that they would be born as women in His next incarnation. They wanted to experience pure love and bliss and took birth as unlearned Gopis. In Sri Satcharitra too, a devotee tells Baba that all his intellectual learning did not give him peace of mind and yearned for Baba's grace! Sri Ramanuja was a great scholar but enjoyed the divine bliss of God's grace. Thus intellectual mind has to merge with the love of heart for bliss. Sai Ram.

To be continued

About the author

S.V. Swamy

Swarna.Venkateswara Swamy, (also known as Venkateswara Swamy Swarna, S.V.Swamy or simply Swamy) is a physicist and a metallurgist by education. He considers Sai Baba of Shirdi as his Sadguru but respects all Gurus. He is an avid reader, a book reviewer and an editor. He has an abiding interest in holistic health systems..