Sai Baba, one of the foremost sadgurus of India, lived in Shirdi for 60 years and elevated it to the status of a great spiritual center. Shirdi is located in the western state of Maharashtra, India. He never preached, toured or discoursed. He shunned unnecessary publicity. Yet by the sheer brilliance of His spiritual fire he drew innumerable devotees to him from all over the country, irrespective of their caste or creed. He took Samadhi in 1918 (i.e, cast off his physical body). Yet his power to mould and develop his devotees is such that, even more than 96 years after his samadhi, Sai Baba is still a dynamic spiritual force that countless devotees invoke for their spiritual and material welfare.
Sai Baba stressed the importance of surrender to the guidance of the true Sadguru who, having gone the path to divine consciousness himself, will lead the disciple through the jungle of spiritual training. He had no love for perishable things and his sole concern was self-realization. He taught a moral code of love, forgiveness, helping others,charity, contentment, inner peace, and devotion to God and guru. He showed no distinction based on religion or caste. He also said, “Trust in me and your prayer shall be answered”. He always uttered “Allah Malik” (“God is King”).
We urge our readers who are new to the Sai Philosophy to read Sai Satcharitra – the wonderful life and teachings of the supreme master of our age.
Sri Sai Koti Naama Japa Yagnam
OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI
What is Sri Sai Koti Naama Japa Yagnam?
With our baba’s grace Shirdi Sai Mandir have started Sri Sai Koti Naama Japa yagnam (Chanting of Baba’s Tharaka
Mantra “OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI” by devotees one crore or ten million times) in our temple. Our goal is to
complete the koti naama japayagnam by early 2018 before our prathistapana of the main temple.
Shirdi Sai Mandir is proud to start the divine chanting of Baba’s Taraka Mantra to seek his blessings as to complete our mission (construction of bigger temple) without any obstacles, for loka kalyanam and to all Shirdi Sai Mandir devotees to get blessed by Shirdi Sai Baba.
Why Naama Japa?
When Arjuna asked Lord Krishna “Oh Lord, how can I perceive when I am engaged in worldly activities (samsaram)?” to which Lord Krishna replies “Oh Arjuna, you can always do my namajapam by which you will remain in my pure consciousness (Bhagvadgita)”.
Our Lord Sai asked an ardent female devotee, Radha krishna Aayee, to do Nama Saptaha/Japa during Srirama Navami festival in 1913. He asked Shri Das Ganu Maharaj to do Nama Saptaha and blessed him. Baba’s dictum is “If a person utters my name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes, increase devotion”. So in this Kali age there is no easier way to attain salvation than Nama japa. Wherever Nama Japa Yagna/Saptaha are performed, Lord Sai manifests in some form or another and blesses the devotees.
Why we choose this Taraka Mantra?
Many devotees do “Nama Japa” without knowing the meaning of that Nama (Name). But, if we know the exact meaning of that Name and do Japa of that Name it will be easy and smooth to concentrate on it and attain salvation (self realization). Sri Ramana Maharishi says, “If you do Nama Japa constantly of your Ishta Devata (Beloved God/Guru), you become yourself that Nama Japa, i.e.,you merge in that Nama (God).”
Let us now know the Mmeaning of the Taraka Mantra “OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI” and chant the same constantly to finally merge with him.
OM means, God is creator, protector and destroyer. For ordinary mortals “destroy” means death, but for God’s/Guru’s ardent devotees, it is Sadgati, liberation from the body. Jeevatma merging with Paramatma (Mukti), and there is no birth for them.
SAI: Sa-means Satva guna or good natured. Ayi means mother in Marathi. God is omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient and Sadguna Sampanna with six attributes, namely, Jnanam (Knowledge), Aiswarya (Wealth), Balam (Power), Shakti (Energy), Veeryam (Potency), and Tejas (Effluence).
SRI SAI: Sri means Goddess of wealth (Lakshmi). SAI means as defined above, so SRI SAI means Lakshmi Narayan.
JAYA JAYA SAI: Jaya means victory. JAYA JAYA SAI means double victory, i.e., great victory of Lord Sai, who is residing (all pervading) in all hearts. The whole world (Universe) is pervaded by God Sai.
So by uttering/chanting BABA’s Taraka Mantra, “OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI” the Sai Devotees invoke His (Sai’s) Blessings for temporal and spiritual welfare of the whole world.
Shirdi Sai Mandir iskindlyrequesting all devotees to take part in chanting of Baba’s Taraka Mantra “OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI” in our temple as many times as possible and be part of this divine yagnam.
We will be performing the nama japa on every Thursday and every 4th Saturday of the month.
