SAI - SAMPOORNA DATTAVATAR:

My dear Sai brothers and Sisters,

My humble Pranams to this gathering of elderly and learned people. Today I would like to dwell on the subject titled “ Lord Sainath of Shirdi as the fifth incarnation of Lord Dattatreya”. Most of you must be aware that the origin of Guruparmapara traces itself back to Lord Dattatreya. At the outset let me offer my salutations to Lord Dattatreya and proceed with the topic. After Lord Dattatreya, the tradition of Guru parampara continued with Sri Sripada Srivallabha, Sri Narasimha Saraswathi, Sri ManikPrabhu, Sri Akkalakota Maharaj and Sri Shirdi SaiBaba. It is worthwhile to ponder and understand that the last three incarnations have happened during the Nineteenth century. Lord Dattatreya has taken incarnations in various personalities but the main aim and objective remained centered around to protection of HIS devotees from miseries and drive towards Spiritualism. Today I would like to confine my deliverance to the Gurus – ‘Sri Sripada Srivalabha, Sri Narasima Saraswathy and Sri Shirdi Sai Baba’

To dwell on the subject, I would draw my references from Guru Charitra written by Sri Gangadhara Saraswathy compiled in the 6540 Slokas and Sri Sai Satcharitra written by Sri Annasaheb Dhabolkar in 9000 Ovies. I would like comparing the similarities between Sri Sripada Srivallabha Sri Narasimha Saraswathy and Sri Shirdi SaiBaba from The Guru charitra and Sai Satcharitra. At the end of my speech, if I am able to convincingly conclude that all the incarnations of Lord Dattatreya have taken place on this earth with the same mission, then I shall feel that I am blessed by the Lord.

Please refer Sai Satcharitra – Baba has indicated indirectly that He is the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya in various chapters. In the story of Goa Gentelman, He has taken Rs.15/- from a Datta Devotee, which he owed to Lord Dattatreya. When Nanasaheb chandorkar, a Datta devotee arrived at Shiridi along with his co- son in law, Shirdi bypassing his normal visit to the Datta Mandir at Kopargaon, Baba warned him not to repeat such things in future.

On a Guru Poornima day, Baba advised Dhadha Kelkar to worship the ‘Pillar’ at Dwarakamai, indicative of telling to worship Lord Dattatreya – considered as the pillar of Datta Parampara. At the request of all the devotees, Baba finally allowed His devotees to worship Him. With this, Baba confirmed that He is incarnation of Lord Dattatreya.

Baba instructed Hari Vinayak Sathe to read Guru Charitra twice and Kushabhavu 108 times. With this Baba has indirectly told His devotees His origin and the connectivity with Sri Sripada Srivallabha and Narasimha Saraswathy.

We should make a note that Baba never told that He is God. He always used to say that He is the servant of the God. Precisely I feel that must be the reason why HE never expressed directly that He is the incarnation of Lord Dattatreaya.

Now let us compare the incidents from Guru Charitra and Sri Sai Satcharitra:
In 5th Chapter of Guru charitra -Sripada Srivallabha has given vision and ability to walk to his two brothers born physically handicapped. We all know that in Sai Satcharitra, Baba has given vision to blind persons and walking power to crippled persons.

In 8th chapter Guru Charitra, due to poverty, a Brahmin lady along with her son tried to commit suicide by jumping in to the river Krishna. Sri Narasimha Saraswathi not only stopped them from that act of committing sin but also blessed them with wealth.

In the similar way, in 26th chapter of Sai Satcharitra, Baba averted the suicide attempt of Gopal Narayan Ambedekar and blessed him with wealth.

When we go through the 12th chapter of Guru charitra, we can very well understand that a great saint named Krishna Saraswathy in Kasi discloses Sri Narasimha Saraswthi’s greatness to the World.

In the similar way, Lord Sainath’s greatness was disclosed to the World by saints like Anandnath Maharaj and Gangaghir Maharaj.

We will come to know that in the 12th chapter of Guru Charitra, Sri Narasimha Saraswathy accepted Sri Krishna Saraswathy as his Guru. In the similar way, in Sai Satcharitra, Sai Baba also told that He has a Guru and HE served during HIS childhood.

Please refer Chapter 13 from Gurucharitra, we can find that Sri Narasimha Saraswathy cured the Leprosy of a lady. In the similar way, in Sai Satcharitra, Sai Baba has cured the Leprosy of Bhagoji Shinde.

In the 13th chapter of Guru Charitra, a Brahmin whenever he took food, he suffered from stomach pain. To avoid this pain, he used to take food once in a while. Finally he decided to commit suicide. Sri Narasimha Saraswathy made him to eat full meals with rich food and thus cured him of his stomach pain once for all.

In the similar way, in Sai Satcharitra, when Govind Mukund Booty when suffering with Cholera, Saibaba has offered him rich milk dish made out of dry fruit Badam and Akrote and cured the disease. In Chapter 18th of Gurucharitra, Sri Narasimha Saraswathy has told in the eyes of Parameswara, the both rich and poor are all equal. In Sai Satcharitra, Baba has demonstrated this statement by treating the multi millionaire Sri Govind Mukund Booty and poor devotee Mahalsapathy alike.

In the chapter 20th of Guru Charitra, Sri Narasima Saraswathy has shown the importance of Audambara a tree which will remove the sins of his devotees.

In similar way, in Sai Satcharitra, Baba told that the Neem tree in Gurusthan would remove the sins of His devotees.

With the above statements, these great saints told us that God is present in plants too.
In Gurucharitra 21st chapter, Sri Narasimha Saraswathy has given life to the dead son of a Brahmin lady, after seeing the pitiable condition of the mother.

In the similar way in 1916, Sri Sai Baba has given life to the dead daughter of His devotee Kirandekar.

In the 22nd chapter of Guru Charitra, Sri Narasimha Saraswathy has told that Holy Rivers flows from the feet of the Guru. In Sai Sathcharitra, Lord Sainath had demonstrated to Dasganu that Ganga, Yamuna were flowing from His feet.

In chapter 25th of Guru charitra, it was clearly mentioned that the Saints will not have any difference in feeling between the victory and loss. In Sai Sathcharitra, it was practically demonstrated by Baba when he lost the wrestling bout with Mohinuddin Tamboli.

In Guru charitra chapter 28th, Sri Narasimha Saraswathy has told that a person should not Renounce without fulfilling his moral responsibilities towards his wife and children.
In Sai Satcharitra, Baba told the same in 1910 to Bapusaheb Jog, a retired P.W.D supervisor.
In chapter 30th of Guru Charitra, with the blessings of Sri Narasimha Saraswathy, the poor people became rich, the leprosy effected people were cured and childless couple were blessed with children.
The Same incidents were performed by Baba.

In Guru Charitra, chapter 37, it was clearly mentioned by Sri Narasimha Saraswathy that even a sinner, who has murdered his parents, comes to your house for food, you should not refuse him.
This is demonstrated by Baba. He used to cook food in Dwarakamai and used to perform Annadhanam.

In Guru Charitra, Chapter 38, a poor Brahmin was having a desire to perform Annadhanam to nearly 4,000 people in that village. But he was only having one pot full of rice in his house. With the blessings of Sri Narasimha Saraswathy, he has cooked the food in the same pot and served to all the 4,000 people in the village.

In the similar way, in Sai Satcharitra, Baba has blessed the wife of late Balaji patel nevaskar on the annual ceremony day, where she has prepared food for only 100 persons, but the gathering was more than 400 persons.

It was clearly mentioned in the chapter 48 of Gurucharitra, that Sri Narasimha Saraswathy has visited a poor farmer’s paddy field and blessed him with a rich crop. In the similar way, in Sai Satcharitra, Baba used to allow all the people irrespective of caste, creed or color into Dwarakamai and blessed them.

In light of the above comparisons, I am fully satisfied that Lord Sainath of Shirdi is the fifth incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. I hope brothers and sisters in this gathering will also join me in accepting that Lord Sainath as the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya.

Jai SaiRam

Jai Gurudatta.

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