Flower -85. “Om Shri Sai Bramacharya Tapascharya Suvrathaya Namaha.”

Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Ashtotra Sada Namavali

Flower -85. “Om Shri Sai Bramacharya Tapascharya Suvrathaya Namaha.”

Ashtotram is (praise) offering our prayers to the Divine, through"OM", and the attributes of the Divine.

There are 108 attributes of Sai Baba in Ashtotra Sada Namavali. Each one is an everlasting flower of divine fragrance.

Flower-85: “Om Shri Sai Bramacharya Tapascharya Suvrathaya Namaha”.

Meaning: Humble salutation to Him, who is chaste, celibate, disciplined andascetic. (Shirdi Sai Trust).

Reflections:

Of the four stages of life broadly classified by the Sages namely Brahmacharyam, Grahastham, Vanaprastham and Sanyasam, Brahmacharyamis the stage in which the Self is closest to its own nature, the Brahmam. For the new born, the concepts of” I” and” My” are yet to set in. That is the reason except for its physical needs, the child is always happy cheerful, blissful, capable of inducing kindness and love even is animals with which it may not be able to communicate Gradually it acquires the possessions and relationships of this world and the concepts of” I” and “My” set in. The process of acquiring and accumulating knowledge starts with amazing speed and interest and diversity. Brahmacharyam till the stage of adolescenceis the period in which the Self eagerly absorbs the basic inputs which are essential to experience the manifestation for which it has taken birth. Like a traveller who seeks the experiences and knowledge of an earlier traveler, the Self of the Brahmachari seeks the Acharya or Guru in any or many fields of knowledge in a structured or unstructured format. The true Brahmachari, undisturbed by any other desire, focused and propelled by the desire of knowledge, shows the greatness of Self with the true understanding of the manifestation of Brahmam.

With the advent of adolescence in teenage, the body prepares itself to complete the material objectives of the birth, and the Self moves away
from its original identity, the Brahmam. The one who chooses not to move away chooses to continue to be Brahmachari, truly practices the celibacy with chastity, and tries to identify himself with the Brahmam God or Guru. He is in the midst of attractions and distractions of this world, but retains his brilliance in his chosen path or field and continues his association with Knowledge. Adi Sankara’s immense philosophical, literaland structural contributions in a short period make us wonder at the power of the Guru who is a Brahmachari tapasvi! So are the contributions of Swami Vivekananda as a philosopher and creator of institution. They are just but a small manifestation of the infinite knowledge of the Brahmam, God or Guru.

Discussing the signs of Sadguru Hemadpant writes in Sai Satcharita:

“He who teaches us Ved and Vedanta or the six Shastras(systems), he, who controls the breath or brands his body with Mudras (metallicmarks of Vishnu’s weapons) or gives pleasing discourses regarding Brahma; he,who gives Mantras (sacred syllables) to the disciples and orders them to chant the same as certain number of times, but does not assure them any result in a definite time, he, who, by his lengthy gross knowledge, explains beautifully the Ultimate Principle; but has himself got no experience or self-realization, is not a Sadguru. But, he, who, by his discourse, creates in usa distaste for the enjoyments of this world and the next, and gives us a taste of self-realization, who is well versed in both the theoretical and practical knowledge (self-realization) deserves to be called a Sadguru. How can he, whois himself devoid of self-realization, give it to the disciples? A Sadguru doesnot, ever in his dream, expect any service or profit from his disciples. On the contrary he wishes to serve them. He does not think that, he is great and the disciples small. Not only, he loves himas his son but regards him as equal to him or as Brahma. The main characteristic of a Sadguru is that,he is the abode of peace. He is never restless nor ruffled. He has no pride inhis learning. The poor and the rich, the small and the great, are the same to him.

Hemadpant thinks that, on account of the store or accumulation of merits in his past births, he had the good fortune of meeting and being blessed by such a Sadguru as Sai Baba. Even in full youth, he hoarded nothing(except chillim perhaps). He had no family, no friend, no home, nor any support. Since He was eighteen, His control of mind was perfect and extraordinary. He lived fearlessly insecluded places and always abide in His Self. On seeing the pure attachment of His devotees, He always acted in their interests, and hence, he was in a way dependent on them. What experience He gave to His devotees while He was living in flesh, are felt even today, after His Mahasamadhi, by those who attach themselves to Him. What the devotees had to do is this-they have to trim their heart-lamp of faith and devotion, and burn in it wicks of love, and when this is done, the flame of knowledge (self realization) will be lit up and shine bright. Mere knowledge without love is dry, nobody wants such knowledge. Without love there is no contentment, so we should have unbroken and unbounded love. How can we praise love? Everything is insignificant before it. Without love our reading, hearing and the study are of no avail. In the wake of love come devotion, dispassion, peace and liberation with all their treasures. Where there is real yearning, God manifests Himself. It include love and it is the means of liberation.” (Shri Sai Satcharita Ch: 48)
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Without any attachment, without any family or material possession, He lived as a Brahmachari Sadguru in His body for the devotees and still lives there in His Samadhi for them, loving them, taking care of them. He is Bramacharya Tapascharya Suvrathaaya.

 

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Dear Usha Sister,

Thank you for joining me in offering the Flower-85- Om Shri Sai Bramacharya Tapascharya Suvrathaaya Namaha to Baba this week also.

Baba's greatness lies in His simplicity, poverty and accessibility to the poorest of the poor. He shared His food even with stray dogs and cats. The One who commanded the nature, the One who bless a childless woman with many children after 20 years of marriage, just gave nine rupees to the Laxmibai who fed Him for years, searching Him in jungles. That is Baba- the Brahmacharya Tapascharya as you rightly mentioned.

Going to Shirdi is only to feel the place where He manifested Himself in Human form. He is there within your heart when you feel so close to Him at all times.

I also was so much moved by the sheer coincident of reading the chapters-43 & 44 this week of Maha Samadhi! It is all His infinite Grace!

May Baba bless you, your DH, your son and all members of your family in abundance.

Om Shri Sai Bramacharya Tapascharya Suvrathaaya Namaha.

 

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Dear Bhuvisrini-DD,

Thanks for joining me in offering the Flower-85- Om Shri Sai Bramacharya Tapascharya Suvrathaya Namaha to Baba this week also.

I am so glad that you enjoyed Flower-85 which shows us one more dimension of our beloved Baba. He is so great and yet so simple and close to the poor.

May Baba bless you and your DH with a lovely child soon.

Om Shri Sai Bramacharya Tapascharya Suvrathaya Namaha.

 

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Dear Rekha Menon,

Thanks for joining me in offering the Flower-85- Om Shri Sai Bramacharya Tapascharya Suvrathaya Namaha to Baba this week.

May Baba bless you and your family in abundance.

Om Shri Sai Bramacharya tapascharya Suvrathaya Namaha.