GRIHASTHASRAM

Satsangh on 15-05-2005 :
Grihasthasram or Baba's advice to Married couple by
Sri Sai.Ba.Ni.Sa Gopal Rao Ravada

Sri Sai Baba has said in chapter 3 of Sai Sat Charita, " If a man utters My name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes, increase his devotion. And if he sings earnestly My life and My deeds, him I shall beset in front and back and on all sides. If anybody sings my leelas I shall give them infinite joy and ever lasting contentment.". Saibanisa Sri Gopal Rao Ravada is one of the very few fortunate devotees selected by Sri Sai Baba to spread His message through divine discourses. Named by Shirdi Sai Baba as Sai Ba Ni Sa, which means in telugu,'"Bhadyathalu Nirvarthinche Sanyasi".(the person who obeys the instructions of Sai and implements it), he is the founder member of www.saidarbar.org. He spreads the messages of Sai Baba through Internet through his email newsletter 'Glory of Shirdi Sai". He came into the fold of Baba in 1989 retiring voluntarily from the post of a scientific officer. In the year 1998,on Christmas day, Baba came in his dreams in the form of his English Lecturer and said , " today you cut my Spiritual cake and distribute it to the entire world". So to spread Sai Philosophy and Sai's teachings, Saibanisaji started Sai Darbar and from then has been touring throughout the world spreading the message of Sai through his divine discourses. All his discourses are unique and very interesting . He has compared Sai Baba's life with the Ramayan, Bhagavatham, and Dattavatar relating similar instances in Sai Sat Charita. Being a scientist by profession, he has also approached the Sai Sat Charita scientifically. He can talk about Sai and His leelas for any number of hours if the audience consist of a very few ardent Sai devotees. He answers questions and doubts in any chapter of Sai Sat Charita to the level to which the devotee can understand. Now he is compiling his dreams in which his Master Sai Baba has given him many instructions and this is published in his fortnightly newsletter "Glory of Shirdi Sai" .

The devotees of the Anna Baba Mandir Chennai are very fortunate to have had the darshan of many Mahaans and saints who have put their holy feet in our mandir . Guruji Kumar Baba always insists on the importance of Satsangh for spiritual advancement and whenever a Mahaan visits the temple , he arranges a Satsangh with the Mahaan for the benefit of the devotees of Anna Baba Mandir. We have already heard Saibanisaji's discourses on Sai in Ramayan and Sai in Bhagavatham and these discourses have been published in our monthly newsletter Baba Today. Sri Saibanisaji divine discourse on 15 5 05 on the topic' Grihasthasram" meaning Sai's advice to married couple and Children , quoting instances from Sai Sat Charita will be published this month and the next month .

In the 3rd chapter of Sai Sat Charita Baba has also said, "Listen to my stories with respect, think and meditate on them and assimilate on them. The pride and egoism of My devotees will vanish , the mind of the readers will be set at rest and if it has wholehearted and complete faith , it will be one with Supreme consciousness. This is the way of happiness and contentment". Devotees are therefore requested to read it carefully and follow the advice of Sad guru Sri Sai Baba and attain the Grace of Sai Baba.

Guruji Sri Kumar Baba and devotees of the Anna Baba Mandir, like to convey our heartfelt thanks to Saibanisaji for enlightening us on the Grihasthasram. Sai Ram.

Divine Discourse by Sri Sai.Ba.Ni.Sa Gopalrao Ravada.

Sri Ganeshaya Namaha, Sri Saraswathye Namaha, Samartha Sadguru Sai Nathaya Namaha.

My dear Sai brothers and sisters,
Today I will salute the land of Tamilnadu which has given birth to various saints and sages and the land which has given way for spiritual development.

I salute the Chennai City which has given birth and shelter to eminent Sai devotees like Sri Narasimha Swamiji

In Chapter 15 of Sai Sat Charita, Baba has said, " Go where ever, over the wide world, I am with you. My abode is in your heart and I am within you." He has also said' " I am a servant of My devotees". When my master is your servant , I Saibanisa is also your servant. Please accept my humble Pranams.

Today, I got an opportunity to speak and share my views on Sai Sat Charita mainly relating to Grihasthasram, meaning Sai's advice to married couple and children. Baba though not married, has advised through Sai Sat Charita, how a good householder should perform his duties. Our Hindu religion has prescribed four asramas for us. Out of these , Grihasthasrama or the stage of the householder life is the longest and the most difficult this is because the householder has duties towards his family, his children , parents, country, friends and relations. Sai has never asked us to give up our worldly duties and ties and renounce the world. He has taught us through small incidents and parables, how to live in this world , perform our duties and reach Sai. He has laid down the fundamental duties of husband, wife and child and said that married life can be happy if we follow His instructions.

Great rishis of yore, like Gautama Muni, Athri maharishi, , Valmiki and Viswamithra were married and they lead a happy life with their family. They were not sanyasis. Their life of Grihasthasrama was not a life of passion and lust only. Though married they lead a life of Dharma and hence could easily reach the feet of the Lord being a Grihastha. We have to keep them as our guide and tread on their path. We should understand that married life is not a hurdle to attain Mukti. By being a Grihastha and performing our duties we can still reach the Lord. Sri Sai Baba , though a Brahmachari has given advice to Grihasthas on how to lead a virtuous life and attain Mukti. We shall first look into the duties of a married woman or Wife. .
Duties of the married woman.

In the very 1st Chapter of Sai Sat Charita, Baba was sitting on the masjid and grinding wheat. Four bold women who saw Baba grinding wheat, pushed Baba aside and started grinding the wheat. They did not know that Baba was grinding wheat to throw the flour on the village border to prevent the Cholera epidemic spreading to Shirdi. After finishing their job, they divided the flour into four parts and were about to leave, when Baba said, "Ladies, are you mad? Whose father's property are you looting away? Have I borrowed any wheat from you so that you can take away the flour?"

Baba taught by this incident, "Do not aspire for other's property"
In the 47th Chapter , when Gauri attained the marriageable age which was 16 years in those days, Gauri's father, the priest who was very close to Baba prayed to Baba to find a suitable match for her. Baba said that, the groom would come shortly and one day Veerabhadrappa came. The priest liked the boy. The horoscopes matched perfectly and Baba asked the priest to perform the marriage of Gauri on an auspicious day.

Here Baba insists that the marriage for a woman should be performed as per the parents wish, after horoscope matching and on an auspicious day. He also indicates that the marriage should be performed only after the girl attains the marriageable age which was in those days 16 years. In this scientific age, we should understand that horoscope matching means getting information about the boy and his family.

In the 45th Chapter Baba was expecting the love from his devotees, just like the chaste women has to her husband.

Baba means here that ,a chaste woman with her sweet speech and conduct should regulate her activities by observing the prescribed rules and vows, wait upon her husband , derive joy in serving him, surrender her own will completely to her husband and look upon him as her Lord .She should be completely devoted to him and she should never think of any other man. Such a woman she is regarded as being truly righteous in her conduct.

In chapter 47 while the temple construction was going on , God appeared in Gauri's dream and said, 'Build the dome of the temple. I will give you hundred fold of what you spend".Her husband who was a miser, did not agree to this. Then again God appeared in Gauri's dream and said, " do not ask your husband for money. If you feel like, give anything of your own". She decided to give gold ornaments given to her by her father as Streedhan.

Baba implies that ladies should have financial freedom and security. When a woman is married she brings Streedhan from her parent's house. The parents give their daughter, Streedhan as financial security for their daughter. No one including the husband has any right over the Streedhan .

In chapter 12, when Mrs. Nimonkar was in Shirdi, her son fell ill at Belapur, which was her parent's house. She wanted to go to Belapur and spend some time with her parents and relatives. But, Mr. Nimonkar wanted her to come back the following day. But when she went to take Baba's permission to leave, Baba said to her, " go quickly, Be calm, stay comfortably in Belapur for four days. See all your relatives and then return to Shirdi" .

Baba means her that the woman should not forget her parents and relatives after marriage. She should visit them and maintain good relationship with them.

In chapter 13 Bhimaji Patel comes to Baba to cure his Tuberculosis. Baba cured him by two dreams. In one dream he saw himself as a boy , suffering from severe pain of flogging , which he received for not reciting his Sawai poetry before the class master. This Sawai poetry is not found in the English translation of the Sai Sat Charita. The verse runs thus word by word.

" She , to whom, stepping into any other house is like stepping on a snake's head;
The words from whose mouth are as hard to obtain, as wealth from a miser's hand;
To whom, her husband's company is the highest happiness, though there be no wealth in the house;
And, who acts calmly, with her husband's approval;
Only she is the true 'sati' amongst women."

Baba's advice to a married woman was conveyed through the dream of Bhimaji, though this dream or poetry had no meaning with reference to Bhimaji's disease. Bhimaji was cured of his disease but at the same time, Baba used this dream of Bhimaji to convey a very important message to all married woman. This poetry is the very essence of Pativrata dharma which Hindu Sastras have laid down for the married woman. Baba has conveyed through this poetry, that a married women should be endued with self control and should never enter another man's house which is as poisonous as stepping on a snake's head, should speak only few words and should not argue unnecessarily, should enjoy the company of the husband even if he happens to be poor or diseased or weak or not able to support the family, should be able to maintain the family within the husbands' income, should serve the husband with a cheerful heart and should be humble. Such a woman is considered as a chaste woman and Heaven will be hers at her beck and call.
In chapter 33, Baba performs the Jamner Miracle. Mainatai, the daughter of Nana Sahib Chandorkar was pregnant and was about to deliver. Her case was very serious, and she was suffering from labour pains for the past two or three days. Nanasaheb and his wife tried all remedies but in vain. She was in a very serious condition. They prayed to Baba and invoked his aid. Baba who knew all this had already sent a person from Shirdi with Udhi and an aarthi. After drinking the water mixed with Udhi, Mainatai delivered a baby safely.

By this Baba indicated that the first delivery of a baby of a married woman should always be under her parent's guidance in her parent's house and the baby should be delivered in a very comfortable atmosphere with the blessings of her parents. During the first delivery, the woman will be in the grip of fear and in a confused state of mind. The parents' who know the character and problem of their daughter, can help her and give her support when she needs it most.
In chapter 6 , Amir Shakkar started the Sandal Procession in Shirdi to honour the great Muslim saints. Sandal paste is carried in thalis through the village to the accompaniment of band and music and after returning to the masjid, it is smeared on the walls of the masjid with hands. . Amir Shakkar organized and managed this for the first three years till his death and afterwards his wife managed this.

Baba tells us than when a woman is leading a happy life with her husband and if by some reason the husband leaves this world (dies) prior to his wife, then all the good charitable works done by the husband should not be discontinued by the wife. Even after her husband's death, she should continue to do the good religious work started by her husband, in memory of her late husband.
In chapter 30, When Shama was seriously ill, his mother prayed to her family deity Goddess Saptashrungi of Vani that if her son got well she would bring him and dedicate him at Her feet, and Shama got well.

In chapter 7 , the blacksmith's wife called out to Baba when her child fell into the furnace. Baba put his hands into the dhuni in Dwarakamayi and saved the child.

In chapter 26, Harischandra Pitale and his wife brought their son who was suffering from epilepsy and placed him at Baba's feet. No sooner did Baba set his eyes on him, the child fainted and on seeing her son son's condition, tears began to flow ceaselessly from the mother's eyes. She began to wail in front of Baba, crying that her condition was like that of a cow, fearing a tiger ran into the hands of a butcher and likewise. Baba , the affectionate mother, comforted her saying, "mother, do not wail like this. take the boy to your lodging and he will come to his senses within half an hour" . As Baba said, the boy became normal. The Pitale's went to thank Baba with their son and Baba looked at the mother and said, " have all your doubts calmed down now. God will protect one who has faith and patience" .

In chapter 29, Babu Tendulkar was studying hard and wanted to appear for the medical examination. But some astrologers on examining his horoscope told him that his stars were not favourable and he should appear for the exam the following year only. Mrs. Savitribai Tendulkar, went to Shirdi met Baba and informed about the gloomy and morose condition of her son and sought Baba's help. Baba said, " tell your son to throw the horoscope and predictions and ask him to write the exam. He is sure to pass this year". True to Baba's words, the son passed the exam.

In the same chapter, when her husband, Raghunathrao Tendulkar wanted to retire, Mrs. Tendulkar felt that the pension of Rs 75 that he would receive would not be sufficient for them. But Baba appeared in her dream and said, " I wish Rs. 100 should be paid as pension . Will that be sufficient. ?. She replied , "Baba why ask me . All care is yours." Mr. Tendulkar was given a pension of Rs. 110.

Baba indicates from the above incidents that the main responsibility of caring and protecting her children and the household rests on the married woman The women in all the above incidents, have taken ultimate steps to care and protect her householders. They can never tolerate their children being unhappy and they take all necessary steps to protect their children and husband. The married woman knows the wants of her children and husband and if she is not able to solve their problems , she prays to God on their behalf for their welfare. Moreover , the love of a mother is extra ordinary ,unconditional and self less and it is equal to none in this world. Because a mother's love is unconditional, her prayers are answered by the Lord.

In chapter 29, a Chennai Bajan Mela went to Shridi, with a view of performing before Baba as they heard that Baba distributed lots of money to His bakthas. The wife was a very devoted lady and she loved Baba. Baba who was pleased with her faith, gave her the darshan of her Ista Devatha Sitanath. But when she narrated this to her husband, the husband did not believe this and teased her. Though the man was not as devoted as his wife and was greedy for money, Baba came in his dream and gave him darshan of his Guru Ramdas.

From this incident Baba makes us understand that even if one person in the family is devoted to Him and surrenders to Him wholeheartedly, He Baba will take care of the whole family and protect them birth after birth.

So far , I have narrated the duties of a married woman in Grihasthasrama. Dear, Sai Sisters, please do not feel that Sai Baba has only mentioned about the duties of married woman. Baba has also shown us through various incidents and parables in Sai Sat Charita, the duties of a married man. In our Hindu Dharma, it is the husband's duty to protect and provide everything for his wife and children. The husband is the head of the family and he is responsible for making his family materially and emotionally secure. Let us now see the various incidents in which Baba has elucidated this.

In chapter 27, we come to know of the Khaparde family. Mr. Khaparde was a very learned person and a very humble and modest devotee of Baba. He was proficient in Panchadasi and also English but he never opened his mouth before Baba. He came with his wife to Shirdi. His wife was also a faithful devotee of Baba. They stayed in Shirdi for four months, serving Baba everyday and offering Naivaidya. After four months, Mr. Khaparde wanted to go home. When he asked Baba for permission to leave, Baba asked Mr. Khaparde to go home and made Mrs. Khaparde stay in Shirdi for another three months. Pleased with Mrs. Khaparde's sincere service, Baba gave her a mantropadesa .and asked her to chant "Rajaram" daily.

By this incident, Baba teaches us two important lessons. Firstly, the husband must love his wife and should be affectionate. But he should not have too much attachment for his wife and use her to only to share his physical intimacy. Enjoyment of marital pleasure is permissible, but one should not be enslaved by it. Secondly, the husband should not restrict his wife's progress and she should be left free to progress in her own way spiritually within the rules of our sastras. She should also be allowed to spend time with her parents whenever time permitted., Baba wanted both the husband and the wife to climb the spiritual ladder. A man can share all his material wealth with his wife and children but he cannot share his spiritual wealth. Each individual has to work on their own to achieve their spiritual goal. Baba by this incident implies that man should treat his wife as his co practioner of Dharma .He should allow his wife to participate in all acts of righteousness and help her also gain spiritual progress.

In chapter 43 ,Bapusaheb Jog came to Shirdi in 1909 and served Baba. After Megha's death he performed the aarti ceremony daily . He once asked Baba, " Baba I have served you long single mindedly. My mind is not yet calm and composed. When will you bless me?. Jog wanted to take sanyas . Baba said, " In due time, all your delusions created by Maya will vanish, You will renounce all your attachments and you will conquer lust. Then you can resort to your begging bowl".

Here Baba implies that it is the duty of every husband to protect his wife and take care of her. So Baba did not allow Mr. Jog to take Sanyas when his wife was alive. Here Baba makes it very clear that the husband cannot take sanyas when the wife is alive or without her permission.
In chapter 49, when Nana Saheb Chandorkar was sitting in Dwarakamayi with Baba, a Mohammedian gentleman came from Bijapur with his family to see Baba. On seeing the veiled ladies , Nana Saheb wanted to go away, but Baba prevented him and made him sit there. When one of the ladies removed her veil to salute Baba's feet, Nana Saheb who saw her face was smitten with her indescribable beauty. He wished to see her face once again. Baba knew Nana's restlessness of mind and after the ladies left Baba slapped Nana on the thigh and said, ' Nana why are you getting agitated? Let the senses do the allotted work . Think that God has created this beautiful world and it is our duty to appreciate this beauty. Look at them with pure love and not with lust. Then your mind will get calm and steady.

In this incident, Baba inculcated the moral : Restrain lust. Never be a slave to your sense organs. He taught this moral through Nana Chandorkar, a very educated and respectable man of good character. In spite of his excellent qualities of self restraint Nana Sahib lost his mental balance because of a bad thought which lasted only for a second. Baba taught an important lesson that a married man should look upon all other woman as his sister. He should enjoy sensual pleasures within the limits of the moral law. If the beauty does not belong to him, he should not aspire for it. It should be noted here that when Baba lived in Dwarakamayi, many women came to have his darshan. There were dancers and gazal singers among them. But Baba used to address everyone as only "Maa" and treated everyone as His mother. He wants the married man to give up all sinful acts arising out of lust and treat all women other than his wife as mother or sister.
One day as I was reading this chapter and thinking about it seriously, Baba told me a parable, " Wife is sugar, Why do you want extra sugar and invite diabetes?".

In chapter 8 , it is written that Tatye Kote Patil used to sleep with Baba and Mhalsapathy in the masjid. But when he attained the age of 16, and when his father passed away , Baba never allowed him to sleep in the masjid with him.

Baba has indicated that the best age for a Bhramachari to become a grihastha is 16 years. So, when Tatya reached the age of 16, and when his father died Baba wanted him to marry and become a grihastha and take charge of the family. In those days, men were allowed to marry at the age of 16, but now, the best age for a Brahamachari to become a Grihastha is 24 and not 16. Only at this age, he would have settled down in his life and hence can raise a family.

In chapter 47, in the story of Chennabasappa and Veerabhadrappa, the rich miser did not support his wife's wishes to build a temple. Even when she told him about the dream in which God asked her to build the dome of the temple, he was agitating and tried to cheat her.
Baba here teaches us that, a married man should spend a part of his money to support his wife's wishes, because at the time of a Hindu marriage, the husband promises the wife that he would cherish and provide everything for the welfare and happiness of his wife. So it is the duty of the husband to fulfill his wife's genuine wishes.

In chapter 26, Mr. Gopal Narayan Ambadekar, who was in the Akbari department, quit his job at a very early age, during the 10th year of his service, before his children settled in life. He did not get any other job after that and so. he spent all the money he has earned.. He passed seven years in this condition and since he did not get a job, he came to Shirdi to end his life. But Baba saved him . With Baba's blessings, he learned astrology and gained proficiency in it. He was able to earn sufficient money with that and could take care of his family.

Again Baba explains the Purusha Dharma of the married man towards his wife and children. It is his duty to protect and provide for his wife and children .The husband must earn money through honest means. He cannot retire or quit the job till the children are well settled. He has to make sure that his family is materially and emotionally secure and then only he can retire. Till then he has to earn money to the best of his ability to provide the necessary economic resources needed for the family.

In Chapter 29, there is a story about a Bajan party from Chennai which visited Shirdi in 1916. They had heard that Baba collected money from his devotees and distributed it everyday to his bakthas. They had come with the greed for money, but the chief lady was very devoted to Baba. So Baba gave her darshan of her beloved deity Sitanath. When she reported this incident to her husband, her husband made fun of her and did not believe it. Baba then gave the husband also the darshan of his Guru Ramdas and only then he believed his wife's devotion.

Baba teaches a moral through this story that the husband should respect the sentiments of his wife. He should not tease her or make fun of her. Spiritual communion is possible for both only if each one respects the feelings of the other.

In chapter 34, When Shama's Sister in law was attacked by plague, Shama's brother, Bapaji, came running to Shama at the middle of the night to invoke Baba's blessings for curing her Plague.

Baba reminds the married couple about the oath taken during the Saptapathi ceremony during marriage. The Hindu marriages are complete only after the Saptapathi. While taking the seven steps and circumambulating the agni(sacrificial fire) the bride and the groom promise to share the joys and sorrows, material prosperity and be truthful to each other. Shama's brother Bapaji followed this purusha dharma. He could not see his wife suffer in pain and ran at the middle of the night to Shirdi to eradicate her sorrow. Baba teaches us by this story that the husband must be caring and it is his responsibility to take all necessary steps to protect his wife when she is in need.

In Chapter 6 and chapter 25 of Sai Sat Charita, we come across stories of Sri Gopal Rao Gund and Damu Anna Kasar. Since, the first wife could not bear a child they remarried . Even then they were not blessed with a child. So they went to Shirdi to invoke Baba's blessings for a child and finally both were blessed with children.

A marriage is not complete without the birth of a child. In olden days, man used to earn for his family and woman looked after the house. In those days gynecology was not developed. So it was the duty of the man as Griheswara to seek the blessing of God or Guru for the birth of a child.
In these days, gynecology is developed. So it is not necessary for a man to marry another woman. He can seek a doctor's help for the birth of a child along with prayers to his guru and God.

Duties of Children:
Let us now look at the duties of the children towards their parents. The parents have given life to the child. They have given them good education. There are also sacred duties of children towards their parents. It is the duty of every child to be a humble servant to his parents. Baba has emphasized the duties of children towards parents in Sai Sat Charita. He has said that the children's prosperity in this world depends on how he takes care of his parents . Children should do only what pleases their parents and avoid doing anything which gives them pain. A few incidents from Sai Sat Charita.

In chapter 13, a gentleman from Harda by name Dattopant suffered from acute stomach pain for about fourteen years. None of the remedies gave him relief. On hearing Baba's fame , he went to Shirdi, fell at Baba's feet and cried, "Baba, this colic has pursued me relentlessly for fourteen years. I have reached the limit of my patience. I have never shown disrespect to my father and mother. Then why should I endure so much suffering?"

From this incident, we know that, if the children disrespect their parents, they will suffer. Children should not scold or abuse their parents. None of their deeds or words should make the parents sad . Instead, they should constantly strive to keep them happy.

In chapter 4, the father of Bhagwant Rao Khirsagar was a devotee of Vithoba and he used to make annual trips to Pandarpur. After the death the son stopped this vari, the pooja at home and the offerings to Vittal. Even the annual rites and ceremonies for the dead ancestors were forgotten. When Bhagwantrao came to Shirdi Baba said, " His father was my friend. So I dragged him here. His father used to do regular pooja and make food offerings. But after his father's death , he(the son) never performed pooja and never offered naivedhiya and so he starved me and Vittal. I brought him here to remonstrate and set him to worship."

In this incident, Baba explains that after the father's death, the son should continue the good works of the father. He should not stop the family traditions. He should perform Deva Yagna of offering oblations to Gods. Also he should never forget his dead ancestors. He should perform Pitru Yagna , which consists of Tarpana or ablutions to departed souls and Shraddha or annual religious rites for his parents and ancestors. Baba wants every child to honour their parents and pay homage to them.

Baba devotees worship Baba as Sai Rama and Sai Krishna. There are lots of incidents in Sai Sat Charita showing the similarity of Baba's leelas with Ramayan and Bhagavatham, proving that Baba is none other that Lord Rama and Lord Krishna. I have also given lots of similarities in my previous lectures on topics "Sai in Ramayan and Sai in Bhagavatham". Sri Dasganu and Sri Bhishma who have written the aarthis sung in Shirdi have addressed Baba as Panduranga and sung, "Uta Panduraga" , Krishna Datta Sai and Shirdi Maze Pandharapura Sai Baba Ramavara"
I shall narrate one incident from Krishnavathar and one from Ramavathar to illustrate that " Serving parents is nobler than serving the Lord."

Lord Krishna pleased by the devotion of one of His devotees, Pundalika, went to meet him at his house at Pandarpur. When the Lord arrived, Pundalika was busily engaged in serving his elderly parents and so asked Lord Krishna to wait. He gave a stone slab to Krishna asked Krishna to stand on it and wait till he finished his service. The Lord waited for him with his hands on His waist admiring Pundalika's service to his parents. Krishna is called as Vitthala at Pandarpur meaning, " One who stands on a brick". So respecting the parents and service to parents the foremost duty of every child.

Similarly, in Ramayan we come across the story of the ideal son Shravan Kumar. Shravan Kumar's parents were blind. But Shravan Kumar made a kavadi ( a long stick with two baskets suspended on both ends) for them to sit and carried his blind parents on his shoulders to all the temples. When they reached Ayodhya, his parents felt thirsty. Shravan Kumar went to fetch water for them from a river nearby. When he was taking water, King Dasaratha who mistook the gurgling sound caused in the water , for a wild animal struck an arrow from behind and killed Shravan Kumar. The last words Shravan Kumar spoke to King Dasaratha before dying was, " please give water to my thirsty parents ".Shravan thus died while performing his duty towards his blind parents. Even on his death bed he was sad that he could not quench the thirst of his parents. If a child is given a choice to choose between the opportunity to render service to God and service to parents, he should choose to serve his parents. God will surely bless a child who honours his parents thus.

Our Hindu Dharma says "Maatru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava, and then only Acharya Devo Bhava." So it is the duty of every child to respect the mother and father who have brought them in this world and made them useful to society.

So far we have been discussing the duties of a child. There are also duties which the parents jointly have to perform. Their foremost duty is provide them good education,, teach them our tradition and moral values and make them understand that education and character are their two eyes. They also have to teach them to love and respect all human beings and see divinity in all creations. Baba has mentioned a few of them in Sai Sat Charita.

In chapter 35 , a Kayastha Prabhu gentelman of Bandra was not able to sleep peacefully at night. The moment he closed his eyes his deceased father would appear in his dream and start cursing and scolding and fire at him a volley of stinging abusive words. This happened every night and his sleep was disturbed. He developed insomnia.

Baba says that the parents should love their children and not punish them severely. There is a proverb , " If your son reaches the height of your shoulder treat him like a friend.". The abuses which the son received from his father when he was young had cast such a bad scar in his heart that the son could not forget it even in his sleep. Baba does not want the parents to be very severe. Love begets love and so the parents should not curse and abuse their children. Instead of enumerating their bad deeds, they should reason out to them the bad effects of their acts in a polished way and try to correct them.

In chapter 40, on the day of Holi in1917, Baba came in Sri Hemadpant's dream and said, ' Today I am coming for a meal". Hemadpant was celebrating this Holi festival in a very grand manner. All his daughters, son, daughter in law, son in laws' and grand children were present in his house. A grand feast was made, rangolis were drawn and everyone wore new clothes. And true to his words Baba came in the form of a picture.

Baba describes the live of Vanaprastha here and how it should be lived. Hemadpant had completed all his responsibilities. He had given education for his children, got them married and also had grandchildren. For the Holi festival all his family members had assembled in his house and he was celebrating it in a very grand manner. Baba says that Vanaprastha does not mean going out to the forest with the wife and spending the rest of the life in seclusion and meditation. . Instead, he advises them to spend time with the family and also take part in divine acts. A vanaprastha can spend 50% of his earnings for pilgrimages and charity and the remaining 50% he should spend for the family. On important occasions devotion should be combined with socializing with the family.

Before I conclude my speech, I would like to narrate Baba's beautiful message to devotees of Anna Baba mandir. Today morning when I was in meditation, Baba said to me, "Anna Baba mandir is like the pomegranate tree. It will give thousands of fruits every year. Sri Kumar Baba is the gardener. He will water this Pomegranate tree and collect the fruits. He will peel open the fruits. Each fruit will contain thousands of seeds inside.. He will distribute one seed to every devotee. So in years to come thousands of devotees will throng to this Anna Baba Mandir".
You must all be aware that Sai Baba while at Shirdi used to go to Rahata and bring with him small flowering plants. He planted them and watered them daily by drawing water from a nearby well and carrying pitchers of water on His shoulders. A beautiful flower garden came up due to Baba's labour. In is on this garden which was watered by the gardener Sai Baba that the Samadhi Mandir of Baba, which gives solace and peace to millions of Sai devotees is built. Baba is bestowing His grace and blessings only from there.

Similarly Kumar Baba is the gardener, cooly. I do not think I am working in calling him a cooly as Baba himself has said that He is the slave of His devotees. He is watering the Pomegranate tree, which will be giving thousands of fruits. He will collect the fruits cut it and distribute one seed to all of you. I will also collect one seed from him. This is Baba's message through me to the devotees of the Anna Baba Mandir and I am very happy that my younger brother Kumar Baba has been allotted this work. Baba allocates work for everyone according to their capabilities. I have been assigned the work of spreading Sai's messages through my lectures. Serving Baba devotees gives us immense satisfaction.

I thank my brother Kumar Baba and the devotees of the Anna Baba Mandir, who have assembled here to listen to my discourse. May we all sing the glory of Lord Sai Nath together. Samartha Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai.

Sai Banisa's Mission:
"To help Sri Shirdi Sai devotees in realising that Sai lives in their Heart."