Sai Ram!

Attached herewith is a very stirring tribute to Swami by the Divine Life Society, a socio-spiritual organisation started by Swami Sivananda at Rishikesh. Swami had physically visited the Sivananda Ashram twice - once in 1957 and again in 1982. I have shared the photos of the visits in an earlier email.

Please share this wonderful write up... It speaks volumes of the adoration that so many socio-spiritual organisations have for our beloved Swami.

Exclusive scanned pages and pdf files..attached...
Attached pdf file

or

See the May 2011 issue of the magazine - page 24 and 25:
http://www.sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displayrightsection&section_id=1711&parent=1709&format=html

A Tribute to Swami by the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh

IN MEMORIAM

"To Live in the Hearts We Leave Behind is not to Die"

Sri Sathya Sai Baba, born as Sathyanarayana Raju in the year 1926 in Puttaparthi in the then Madras Presidency, passed away on 24th April, 2011 at the age of 85. Puttaparthi now falls under Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. He was listed by Watkins Review as one of the 100 most influential spiritual leaders in the world.

Babaji left behind a sprawling empire estimated to be worth Rs. 40,000 crores, managed and run by Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. He also left behind millions of grief-stricken, ardent devotees and fans who were inconsolable when Babaji left his body in the Sathya Sai Institue of Higher Medical Sciences where he was admitted on March 28, 2011 for cardiac problems. Despite the best available treatment provided by the team of hospital doctors, his condition grew from bad to worse. Multi-organ failure set in sending a wave of panic amongst the team of experts treating him. The government of Andhra Pradesh sent in a team of its own experts to provide advice and assistance to the doctors attending on Babaji. When the Sathya Sai Institue of Higher Medical Sciences formally announced the passing away of Babaji, millions of his incredulous devotees thought there had been a mistake. Babaji, their sheet anchor, could not leave them. Some, however, bore the news stoically. His devotees included people from all walks of life. He was as much of a godman to the man on the road as he was a guide and mentor to the high-profile professionals, bureaucrats, politicians and international figures. His following spanned the whole of India as well as many other countries but interestingly, Babaji himself travelled out of India only twice.

It is well nigh impossible to define Babaji who rose to touch the dizzy heights of spirituality. Or, perhaps, it would be better to define him as a born saint. His devotees look upon him as an incarnation. He was a philanthropist and an educator who founded several educational institutions providing free education. These institutions aim at character building, imparting quality education. Moral study, social service and fitness are at the core of these educational institutions. Babaji also contributed to healthcare in a substantial way by starting two state-of-the-art super-speciality hospitals in Puttaparthi and Bangalore. These hospitals MAY 2011 NEWS AND REPORTS 16-A cater to the needs of the poorest of the poor by providing quality medical treatment at no cost.

Apart from these philanthropic activities, Babaji was at the helm of a series of water projects. In 1995, the Trust began work on a project to cater to the arid Rayalaseema region. River water was tapped and an extensive network of pipelines was laid in order deliver drinking water to villages through a network of reservoirs and pipes. In Medak and Mahabubnagar districts of Andhra Pradesh, water was provided to 320 villages. Over and above these water projects two other water projects were undertaken and completed to serve the city of Chennai.

His physical remains were interred in the Sai Kulwant Hall in Prashanti Nilayam where he used to give Darshan to his devotees. Anticipating large crowds, the government made appropriate police arrangements to avert any unpleasant situation. Large crowds of devotees thronging the town of Puttaparthi is a testimony to Babaji's popularity as a Spiritual Guru. The road leading to Prashanti Nilayam looked like a sea of humanity. The chaotic crowds seemed unmanageable in spite of the large number of policemen present.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba had a connection with the Sivananda Ashram also. He visited the Ashram accompanied by a large entourage in the year 1956/57 and was put up in Shiva Kutir. He enjoyed Sri Gurudev's hospitality for about one week and attended Satsang on all days of his stay at the Ashram. Gurudev accorded special status to Babaji by providing a special seat for him. Babaji used to speak in Telugu which was interpreted for the benefit of non-Telugu speaking audience by one Sri Kasturi and Sri Swami Chaitanyanandaji of our Ashram. Besides, Babaji was an excellent singer and a composer of poems. During the day time, Babaji used to meet people in his room and distribute holy ash. He had the power to materialize things such as ash, trinkets, watches and lockets out of thin air. Babaji visited the Ashram twice again after Gurudev had attained Maha Samadhi.

Babaji has left the physical plane but he will continue to live through all the myriad social welfare schemes that came into being under his direct guidance. He will continue to live in the hearts of millions of his devotees and others who have come to revere him. His teachings will be there to guide millions across the world. Babaji has left his physical body but his spiritual presence is more palpable than ever.

Asked for a message for mankind, Babaji replied, "My life is my message." Again, asked why he preferred not to advertise his work, Babaji said, "Every man who walks out of the hospital fit and capable of fending for himself and his family again is an advertisement."

When such a spiritual personality passes away, we do not pray for their Satgati (divine beatitude) or Atma Shanti (Supreme Peace). On the contrary, we pray to them for our peace and happiness, for they have attained all that and more even when they are in their physical bodies. Mankind will be ever grateful to Babaji for making their lives more beautiful and worth living. May Babaji's blessings continue to shower on one and all alike!

—THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY

Posted on 27.05.2011

Given below is a write up on Swami that was published in the New York Times dated May 24, 2011.

New York Times is the largest local metropolitan newspaper in the United States continuously in publication in New York city since 1851. Its website is the most popular American online newspaper website, receiving more than 30 million visitors per month.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/25/world/asia/25guru.html