Ways of worshiping Shirdi Sai Baba
Om Sai Ram,
Since last few days a post on ways of worshiping Shirdi Sai Baba was knocking on the doors of the mind. In last post of Miracles of Sai Baba , it was mentioned about Sai Baba appearing in the dreams of devoted hearted people and guide them.
Today i received a mail from a Buddhist devotee from Sri Lanka. Below one can read the wonderful experience of the devotee in whose dream Sai Baba appeared.
Hi,
I am a 36year old male from Sri Lanka. I am a Buddhist. Couple of days back In my dreams I was worshiping a temple covered by huge trees by the ocean. There were my wife and few other friends. When I came closer to the temple I saw a statute covered with white material. So I lifted the material to see what is in side, then I saw Sai baba's statute in it ( Only couple of days after I realized it was Sri Sai baba coz I knew very little about him) so I was worshiping him with my wife while looking straight in to the eyes of the statue. In seconds, eyes of the statue opened and smiled at me, after that the statute got down to the floor and wanted me and my wife to follow him out of the temple. So, me and my wife followed him and went out of the temple.
Ever since then, i wanted to be a devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba. I came across your e-mail address while searching via google for Shirdi Sai Baba's information. Please let me know how I should worship him. Is it o.k if I keep a picture of Shirdi Sai baba next to Lord Buddha and worship him everyday in the morning and evening?
Awaiting your reply regarding my dream and ways of worshiping Shirdi Sai Baba,
there are many ways of worshiping Sai Baba and in this post we will read most popular ways of worshiping Sai Baba . The right way for you would be the one you are attracted to. The writer always pray before the picture of Sai Baba, meditate on Sai Baba, and ask Him or His grace to write through the writer. Few days ago, while the writer’s daily worship, he asked Sai Baba to write about the ways of worshiping Sai Baba, for many devotees are looking for it and the post could be of guidance to them. A story had struck in writer's mind or one can definately say that Sai Baba pointed to the story. It is a story about a female devotee 'Mahali'. Her name was Radhe and Sai Baba called her Mahali. Detailed story of Mahali will be written on Stories of Sai Baba in couple of days. Here it is worthy to mention that she had tremendous love and devotion for Sai Baba. She was very poor in material wealth. She survived on the alms given by the devotees that visited Shirdi. She would bless those who gave her alms. The blessings of her remained the same for all, "You will remain a married couple all your life. You will have 5 grandsons. You will be happy and my 'Shai Baba' will bless you. She used to call Sai Baba as Shai Baba.
Sai Baba accepted garland made by with love and devotion by her and would keep the garland around his neck whole day. At times she would collect wild fruits from forest and offer the fruits to Sai Baba as prasad or naividhya. Sai Baba would accept the same because of her intense love and devotion. Number of devotees visited Shirdi during that time and plenty of garlands, rich food and other things were offered to Sai Baba. Sai Baba would accept the offerings from those who had intense love and devotion for Baba. Materially rich or poor did not matter at all.
Once Sai Baba gave her a dream vision and said few things to her, of which see joyously told everybody she would meet. At the end of the dream Sai Baba stood in her front and told her
"Keep calling me Shai Baba Shai Baba all the time day and night."
This last sentence said to her by Sai Baba speaks volumes about ways of worship or devotion to Sai Baba. It points to the intense love and devotion towards Sai Baba. It does not matter even if you cannot pronounce His name in the right way. Spiritual journey with Sai Baba is not a dry one. It is a love affair. We feel a love relationship with Sai Baba. He is not just a guide on spiritual path. He is there with all His love and compassion, which we feel when we are devoted to Him. He is a Father, Mother, friend in whatever way we see Him.
A statement of Sri Ramakrishna in Gospel of Ramakrishna comes to mind.
It is enough to have yearning for God. It is enough to love Him and feel attracted to Him. Don't you know that God is the Inner Guide? He sees the longing of our heart and the yearning of our soul. Suppose a man has several sons. The older boys address him distinctly as 'Baba' or 'Papa', but the babies can at best call him 'Ba' or 'Pa'. Now, will the father be angry with those who address him in this indistinct way? The father knows that they too are calling him, only they cannot pronounce his name well. All children are the same to the father. Likewise, the devotees call on God alone, though by different names. They call on one Person only. God is one, but His names are many."Above we have seen most important factor of Worship. Now let us see some mode of worshiping Sai Baba of Shirdi, not forgetting that deep love towards Him.
You have asked, "Please let me know how I should worship him. Is it o.k if I keep a picture of Shirdi Sai baba next to Loard Budhdha and worship him everyday in the morning and evening?"
As stated above in the quote of Sri Ramakrishna. God is our inner guide. You have already been guided by Sai Baba. The answer is present in the question itself. You should be doing what your heart has said.
Keep a picture of Shirdi Sai Baba next to Lord Buddha and worship him everyday in morning and evening. Some points that might be helpful in worship of picture of Sai Baba. This points are just a guide and there should be no strict following in every one of them. Do what the heart tells, first we have look for the inner attraction, the inner love. Love is the most important aspect in worship. It should not be felt as daily core or duty.
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Sai Baba loved oil lamps and fire. So oil lamp lit during the worship would be great. Some devotees (including the writer) keeps an oil lamp lit day and night in front of Baba's picture, More important is the light of remembrance of Sai Baba or God in our heart. You may like to read Constant remembrance of God. - Lighting of incense stick.
Offering food (Prasad) to Sai Baba. Posts to refer for the same :
A story of offering food in worship to Sai Baba picture
One more Practical way of offering food to Sai Baba
Then do you offer me anything before you eat?” Sai Baba
3. Applying Chandan Tilak to Sai Baba's picture.
4. Offering flowers and garlands to Sai Baba picture.
5. Performing Aartis of Sai Baba.
Sai Baba's evening aarti done in most home
6. Sai SatCharitra Parayan
7. Chanting Sai Baba Mantra or Chanting Sai Baba name.
Reading of Sai SatCharitra if you don't have a hard copy we will be glad to send the Sai SatCharitra and Sai Baba's Udi to your home for free. All you need to do is send an email from the linked post. Even if you require a photo of Sai Baba mention for the same in the email and a good photograph of Sai Baba will also be sent to you.
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