Om Sai Ram
It was Baba's 90th MAHASAMADHI DAY on 9th, October, 2008 i.e. VIJAYADASHMI DAY . The figure 90 ( ninety) is very important and effective : (9) means, Nava Vidhi Bhakthi. Nine Types of Devotion which Sai Baba always advocated to His Bhaktas (Devotees) to resort at least to one of these Nava Vidhi Bhakthi. And (0) zero means Shanti/Silence. Brahma is Silence. Shri Sai Baba gave Rs. 9/- only to Mrs. Laxmibai. HE first gave her Rs. 5/- and afterwards HE gave her Rs. 4/- totaling to Rs.9/-. The figure 9 is indicative of the nine types of devotion and Shri Sai is giving a reminder of the nine good qualities required of a disciple as told by SHRI KRISHNA to UDDHAVA of the Shrimad Bhagvat, in the eleventh Skanda, tenth chapter and sixth verse. There is marvelous description of how the disciple should behave to acquire spiritual progress. Earlier, in the first, half, five qualities are described and in the next half, only four. Sai Baba also followed this pattern, and that is what we think so. Since I have been blessed by Samarth Shri Sachchidanand Sadguru Sai Nath Maharaj, not only once, but on many occasions ( by riding the motor cycle as pillion rider with me on 7 times and disappearing after asking only Rs.3/- as MY dakshina / by asking a cup of tea at Shirdi and after wards disappearing/ and again appearing in original form in the month of November,2003 and asking Rs. 5/- as MY dakshina anddisappearing / and again on many times, coming to my house on many times and once talking with my wife (late-now). I am doing Charitable service of HEALING TOUCH to all, irrespective of cast/creed/ religion etc. at any place, any city, any country, face to face or over the telephone, and this service is FREE. During my free service of the healing touch, I ask the devotee/person, to chant Om Sai Rama- these 9 letters only, and, that too only 9 times. And what a Miracle ! The God Sai cures the devotee/person instantly. Now, what is secret behind this figure-9 ! I feel, that, there is a strong devotion to worship to the God. And there are 9 types of the devotions to worship the God. Without devotion one can not have a union with God and knowledge will not be acquired.
The nine ways of devotions are :
(1) Listening
2) Singing the Lords praises aloud
(3) Remembering Lord Vishnu
(4) Serving at HIS feet
(5) Offering Prayers
(6) Bowing down before HIM
(7) Being Humble
(8) Developing affection and
9) Surrendering the Atma. With full faith, even, if, one of these ways of devotion is practiced, Shri HARI, who longs for devotion will appear in the home of the devotee.
We can not reach or we can not have union with God by just practice of austerities, keeping of vows, practicing yoga, learning of Vedas and Upnishads, abundance of metaphysical knowledge and its various explanations. There is no need to be well versed in Vedas nor any need to be famous as a scholar. It is neither necessary to sing the praises of God without feeling. Only the loving sentiment of devotion is essential. So, a devotee can have one of the ways, as referred above, towards devotion which is practiced and see that, Shri Sai will be coming to the devotees soul.