Respected friends! At last, our
lives have certainly attained fulfilment. We are extremely fortunate.
Parandhaama Sathchidaananda Moorthy, who cannot be reached even after long
years of yogic austerities or the most rigorous dhyana, has taken human form
and we are all able to see him moving in our midst in flesh and blood. We
are able to meet him, touch him and talk to him in living person; we hear
his edifying speeches and discourses. This, truly, is the greatest good
fortune of our countrymen. There can be no happier event, indeed there is
none, one can ask for.
A number of people have personally
come into contact with Sri Sai Bhagavan and realised his identity with
Paramathma, the Supreme Being. Many of them have been writing books
enumerating their individual divine experiences, and recording their
admiration and love for Sri Sai. I too have written some books about his
divine life. But I believe that this particular book is singularly valuable.
This is by no means merely my belief but a matter of actual fact.
We come across innumerable
devotional books written by learned persons in the form of stories, puranas
and vrathams in praise of that Parandhaama, who is, however, not visible to
our physical eyes. We read those great works of devotion and derive
spiritual satisfaction. Notable among such works is Sri Sathya Narayana
Vratha Kalpam, a book of worship, available all over India in every major
language.
Lord Sri Sathya Narayana is the
presiding deity of the sacred temple standing on a hill in Annavaram, a town
in Andhra Pradesh. This deity is celebrated for his readiness to grant every
boon and every desire of his devotees; and lakhs of pilgrims throng to
Annavaram every year. It is a wonderful spectacle to see hundreds of
worshippers sitting peacefully on the ground in long orderly rows and ranks,
and simultaneously performing the rites of the Vratham with ardent devotion.
The point I beg to submit is that
the mahimas and powers of granting boons to lakhs of people are integral to
the image, the idol, the representation of Sri Sathya Narayana Swami. On the
other hand, what we are witnessing in Sri Sai is that Supreme Being come
down to us in person. He is physically moving among us, talking to his
countless devotees, fulfilling their varied desires, directing them into
ways and methods by which to attain their individual salvation. I need not
attempt to describe the boundless divine sakthi of Sri Sathya Sai Parabrahma.
Those who have seen it with their own eyes or experienced it personally can
vouch for it.
I must here refer to a true and
extraordinary fact. I dare say this is a secret which ordinary people may
never have even suspected. Devotees who throng to Sri Sai or persons who
repose unswerving faith in him, no matter whether they reside close to him
or far away, as and when their time comes, depart from life peacefully in
total repose. They suffer no death pangs or struggle or physical agony as is
common with most persons. Release of the soul from the mortal coil takes
place in a flicker - here one moment and gone the next. This is a wonderful
phenomenon witnessed not only by me but by every devotee resident here. I
can assert from housestops that this unusual phenomenon is undoubtedly due
to the mahima of our Sri Sai Rama Parabrahma.
The leelas, mahimas and celestial
powers (sakthis) of this all merciful Sathchidaananda Moorthy are unbounded,
unceasing and astonishing. I do not possess the capacity to describe every
one of them. So, I thought of taking recourse to the simple form of a
Vratham, which may bring out in a nutshell the sacred life story of Sri Sai
and the immense spiritual significance of his avatar in human form. I
sincerely believe that it all happened only at the instance of the Lord
Himself. There is no room for doubt that He was at the root of that tiny
flash of thought, which led in due course to this book's birth.
In the normal course, devotees
worship Sri Sai Bhagavan in their own way, do dhyan to the best of their
ability and obtain fulfilment of their desires. If these rituals are done in
a methodical manner, following the time-honoured framework of a Vratham, the
worship is bound to be more satisfying and fruitful. Vratham is a Sanskrit
word meaning a holy ritual of worship (pooja) of the Lord. Kalpam, also a
Sanskrit word, means a prescribed procedure, a step-by-step order which the
devotee follows while performing the Vratham.
Why do devotees go through this
Vratham and what exactly is its significance?
Simply stated, worship (pooja) is :
rendering obeisance to that Supreme Being, the Eternal Ultimate Reality that
pervades everywhere and transcends everything. To reach and to merge with
that Supreme Being is the spiritual goal of every aspiring soul.
For achieving that goal, great
sages of yore devised several spiritual disciplines and austerities. For the
benefit of those who are not in a position to undergo those rigours, several
holy rituals are also available. One of them is Vratham.
All over India, Sri Sathya Narayana
Vratham is performed. The presiding deity, Sri Sathya Narayana, is
celebrated for his readiness to grant every boon and fulfil every desire
seeking which a devotee performs the Vratham.
Sri Sathya Sai Vratha Kalpam is
patterned on the same lines. As is well known, Sri Sathya Sai, as a baby,
was named Sathya Narayana; and like that deity he is well known for
fulfilling every desire of his devotees. He Himself proclaimed that he would
ever protect and grant every wish of his devotees at all times. becomes very
convenient for one and all to perform. There is another aspect worthy of
note. Sri Sai Bhagavan is the avatar of Parabrahma Sathchidaananda Moorthy,
the celestial Supreme Being having no beginning nor end. Therefore I
consider that to perform this Vratham in the name of Sri Sathya Sai Bhagavan
would amount to worshipping that ultimate Supreme Being.
I beg of all devotees to bless this
my modest effort. Let lapses be ignored, and whatever is worthy be accepted.
May they all generously give their benediction to this humble sister.
Year : Krodhana Day : Gurupoornima, 2 July 1985,
The lowliest servitor at the Lotus Feet of Sri Sai
Bhagavan
Pedda Bottu