Sai SatCharitra and Baba's grace - couple of experiences

Om Shri Sai,

Reading Shri Sai SatCharitra or going through Sai SatCharitra parayana  is one of the most loved activity of mine. It all started with my first experience with this sacred book, which is mentioned in my first experiences with Shirdi Sai Baba.

It was an experience amazing, while i was not reading this sacred book. Would like to quickly share it here again. It was real tough time on my consciousness. My heart and complete self was in real pain (not physical). Was spending the days lying on the bed, with often burst of silent tears rolling out of eyes. There was nothing else to do but to go through this pain with inner chanting of the name Sai Baba. The pain was accepted as a part of karmic happening and so there was no complain towards anything or anyone, according to the teachings of Baba Sai.

Only things that i got of my bed were, to complete the needed gross rituals like brushing teeth, answering nature's calls, taking bath etc. Little food was taken to sustain the physical body as a help to go through this pain. Then, at a point the pain in the heart got real wild. The painful energies started rushing madly starting from the heart towards the brain and it felt this will make this person insane. Somehow with a miracle of Sai Baba. My hand moved itself and grabbed the copy of Shri Sai SatCharitra that i used to read often. The sacred book placed itself on the left hand side of the chest. There was a rush of Baba's grace or Baba's love from the sacred book towards the heart.

The pain was still there. But a far more powerful force called Baba's grace was holding and supporting the heart.  The maddening rush of energies in the head, condensed at a single point on the third eye. The fear of getting mad was over. The pain was there, but the support was far greater, and slowly and gradually in few days the pain had to leave.

I was reading this sacred book few moments ago, like to share a story of Sai Baba from it as i saw it. So started writing.  At this point it seems Baba wants the above and the more recent experience with this sacred book of Shri Sai to appear on this blog. So shall do this.


I was reading a wonderful book on Shri Shirdi Sai Baba named 'Sai Baba the Master', by Pujya Acharya Sri Ekkirala Bharadwaja, you can read Sai Baba the master online. This book is also on my list of good books on  Sai Baba. While reading it i came to an incident where Guru Sai Baba asked a devotee to do 108 parayans Guru Charitra. This evoked my love for Sai SatCharitra. As reading it is always an experience to being very close to Baba. The grace constantly flows through my hands holding the sacred book and filling my body from within. 

I started doing it and was able to finish 108 Sai SatCharitra parayans. On request, a devoted singer and a good friend of mine Vikram Hazra  visited my home and sung Bhajans for Baba, as a part of spiritual ceremony of the completion of these 108 Sai SatCharitra parayans. Below you can see a video snippet recorded on normal digital camera. 



This sacred book i prefer to keep near me always. Often in my hands, as i feel the flow of Baba's grace. I keep it beside the pillow and keep one hand on it and go to sleep with mental chanting of Sai Baba's name.  

One night in deep sleep i had a dream. Somebody pulled me gently and showing me a well, told me, "Something very valuable has fallen in the well. Pull it out quickly." 

So with the help of pulley and a rope i pulled up that valuable thing out of the well. I leaned forward and grabbed it. It was a kind of box in a gift wrapping. I removed the wrapping and moved the wrapping and tried to feel the content with both the palms of my hands. It was a small plastic cuboid, with small door. I opened those small doors and saw Baba's picture, sound of chanting of name "Sai Baba" along with soft music was clearly herd. 

"Oh, This is Baba." i said to myself. Then in a split of second the dream or the vision was over. Since it was real deep sleep even in the vision it took a while and much efforts to open my eye lids to have a look at Sai's picture again, while my hands and fingers tried to open the plastic doors of that slim cuboid to have another look at Baba. 

It took a while an some struggle to open up that plastic cuboid. As it was opened, the struggle to open the eye lids also ended. "Hey, where is Baba!" i said to myself. I had a closer look and could see marking which i did with the pen for each completions of Sai SatCharitra Parayan, on the first inner page of this sacred book. It was a marked record that i kept. "Oh, this is Sai SatCharitra.",  i said to myself. Then i realized that, it had fallen down from bed on the other side. I put back the sacred book where i generally put it while i sleep, besides my pillow. Placed my hand on it, in less then a second i was in sound deep sleep again.

In the morning i remembered everything and wondered how the book travelled all the way from one side of pillow to the other side. I still wonder about it! But most important thing is, with the incident Baba showed me of how valuable this book is for me, and also for other devotees who love Him. It is not just a book. Baba's grace flows through it!

Om Sai Om Sai Om Sai.

Shri Sai SatCharitra Chapter 11 – Short Summary

Recently the videos of Shri Sai SatCharitra narrated in Hindi by Sai Devotee Shri Shailendra Bharti are being posted on Sai Baba videos. Also summaries for each posts will be written. However the summaries are more suitable for this blog dedicated to Shri SaiNath Maharaj. So below is the same.


The chapter 11th of Shri Sai SatCharitra starts with the formless nature of God and the nature of God with form. In Hinduism and also Bhagwat Gita it is mentioned that the goal is to be one with the formless nature of God that is infinite, consciousness, truth and bliss. But for the people with limited from, limited mind and who has never tasted the divine bliss, it becomes extremely difficult to conceive this. It’s not extremely difficult but impossible. How can a limited mind and body conceive the unlimited? So the right way is to get  consumed by the unlimited. Let the petty mind get consumed in the divine infinite bliss.


So, with the limited form and limited mind the good start is with meditation or devotion to form, which ultimately leads to the formless, infinite bliss.
It also mentions the greatness of Shri Sai Baba that just as the cool waters of a river provides many lives with coolness and satisfaction, Sai Baba also provides the same to many many lives.
Shri Sai Baba always allowed the devotees to be devoted to Him or divine according to their own bahvana (feelings).

Sai Baba’s acceptance of prayers

As stated above Sai Baba accepted each devotee’s prayers and devotion according to their individual prayers. One devotee Dr. Pandit visited Shirdi for Sai Baba’s Darshan. People were amazed when Sai Baba allowed him to worship Him with the application of Chandan on His forehead, as no one but devotee Bhagat Mahalsapati. Later on when asked about this Sai  Baba replied that, Dr. Pandit applied the sandal paste or chandan to His forehead considering it as His guru Puranik, as he always does. So I could not prevent it.

Later on anger of Sai Baba, He said that He can never get angry at His beloved devotees. One could see Sai Baba’s  getting angry with red eyes and dangerous forms at time. Sai Baba even beat the devotees. It was not the devotees, that He gets angry, but it is the result of their bad karma and calamities that He gets angry on. So even after the anger Sai Baba rightly says He never gets angry on His devotees. Shri Sadguru Sai Baba, the form of formless infinite bliss, is the compassionate mother. Om Sai Ram.

Vanity of Worship

When we go to Sadguru it should be without the vanity. If we go with the vanity that, Oh i am a very good and pious person. I have done this many chanting of God’s name, I have done Parayans of Sai SatCharitra, i have studied so many spiritual or religious literatures. I have done pilgrimage to so many spiritual places, it does not work. To Sadguru or God we must go with humility, we must go empty, then they can fill us with their bliss or what is good for us. We seldom go that way. Either we are filled with our own desires and our own good ideas and leave no place for what Sadguru has to give or we are filled with the so called goodness of our own selves. There is no room for goodness of Sadguru or divine. A story of one such devotee Haji Siddik Falke is given where Sai Baba gets angry and says,
"Who do you think you are that you boast vainly in my presence? You are flaunting the wisdom of your old age! Is this how you read your Quran -- that a pilgrimage of to Mecca has made you so proud and haughty? But do you know me yet!"

Sai Baba’s control over nature

Two stories of Sai Baba’s control over the nature are given to end the chapter 11 of this grace bestowing sacred work. Sai Baba’s divine love flows this sacred book, and that is the reason so many devotees who love Sai Baba reads and reads this book Sai SatCharitra again and again. It enhances the love between the devotees and the Sadguru Parabrahma Sai Baba. The formless nature of Sai Baba flows through this sacred work and the book becomes the form of the formless. So when we read this sacred book if we consider it as the reflection of infinite divine, the form of divine, we surely get the divine love. Jaisa jaisa bhava, taiya taisa anubhava. What ever feelings we have, we have such experience.
Once Shirdi was attacked by great storms, thunder and rain. It was really scary and people flocked to Dwarkamai to the holy man living there for help. Sai Baba came outside, hitting his short stick (Satka), with a thundering voice He said, “Stop, stop your fury, and let the villagers live at calm.” The thunder and storm and rain instantly calm down.
The dangerous clouds and thunders which seemed to stay much longer instantly cleared. Our inner chita (consciousness) also get’s attack by cloud and thunderstorms according to our karma. Best way is to take shelter of our Sadguru Sai Baba and let Him get angry, thunder at those clouds and thunderstorms. Those moments we should know that the consciousness weakened under the attack would find only wrong ways, so leave it to the One who has control over it and can command them.
Other similar incident of Sai Baba asking  the fire of Dhuni Maa in Dwarkamai is given.
Om Shri SatChitAnand Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai!
 Download Sai SatCharitra audio Hindi narrated by Sai devotee Shri Shailendra Bharti.

Spiritual Energy - Male and Female

Shri Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai !
Bow to the holy feet of Shri Sai Baba !

There was a very unusual experience i went through about a year ago. I was doing intense sadhana of Shirdi Sai Baba. Sadhna in the sense intense love towards Sadguru Sai Baba.

• Watching his picture (form)
• worshiping Sai Baba, 
• reading Shri Sai SatCharitra
• chanting his holy name. 

Most of the time was being spent in such manner; the body, mind and heart passed through intense blissful moments and also intense painful moments.

Once i felt that my whole chit (consciousness) was attacked by darkness. Attacked by the heavy darkness, everything from the toe to the head, was in intense pain. i laid on the bed chanting the name of Sai Baba. I was in half dozed state going through this undesirable experience, when suddenly i felt that Baba shake my back and said, “Do the Sadhana of Kaali Maa, she is your Kuldevi.”


I wake up look behind, found no one. My head went back to it’s original position, the mind was talking with Baba, "Baba i know only You,  and i am dedicated to You. So i will continue chanting Your Name." Mental chanting of His sacred name continued. So did the heavy darkness on the consciousness. After few moments again i felt the shaking with Baba’s hand and herd, “I tell you to do the sadhna of Maa Kaali.”

Few days prior to this, i was reading two sacred books every day. One, the dear one Shri Sai SatCharitra and other The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. Both the books are not ordinary books, they are also the presence of divine energy. While reading the Gospel, sometimes i could feel Shri Ramakrishna right by my side. I recommend this book Gospel of Ramakrishna to devotees as i do for Sai SatCharitra.


One devotee friend to whom i recommend this book and had told him some stories  from it, was going to Kolkota. He told me to accompany him to the Kali Maa’s shrine of Dakhshineshwar, where Shri Ramakrishna Paramhamsha lived and talked with the Divine Compassionate Mother Kali, and drove many to the path of bhakti and He still does. 

This picture was clicked few hours my friend left Surat for Kolkota, It was clicked on the request of an online friend Shastrix, who posted the same on Shastrix Flickr.

I have this deep desire to visit Maa Kaali’s Temple of Dakhshineshwar and also Arunachala since last 20 years. So i had agreed to go with him. Somehow the call to this divine place was not for me, so the person to whom i asked to book my train and flight tickets at the last moment told me that he had not done the same.

Maa Kaali's Chunri

The other friend of mine had his booking done and so he reached there. I had asked him to bring something from the temple. He did, he brought a couple of chunris from the abode of Divine Mother’s Shrine.
I had put the chunris from Maa Kaali’s Shrine in my home’s Sai Baba’s temple. Somehow i dragged myself to the home temple. I told Maa Kaali, that Shri Sai Baba is my Sadguru and according to Him, i will be doing your saadhana, and took one of the the chunris in my hand. As i held it in my fist, something really amazing happened. The intense darkness on my consciousness was instantly gone. It was something like you switch on the light and the darkness goes away instantly.  And that night i kept chanting Maa Kaali Maa Kali until the sleep took over. And till the sleep took over along with the chanting i also asked Maa a question, many times. I asked her, "Darkness cannot stand in your presence for a moment. Then why is your name Kaali?"

Indeed i got the answer while reading, ‘The Gospel of Shri  Ramakrishna.’ Somewhere in the sacred book, Shri Ramakrishna explains. When we see sky from far we see it as blue. Similarly when we see the vast ocean from far we see it as blue or black. But going very close we see it as colorless. With divine Mother it is the same. Look at Her from far you will see Her as dark. Look closely and you will see Her as Compassion, love and light.


As a Sadhna, i put a picture of Kaali Maa near Sai Baba’s picture that i worship and chanted Maa Kaali every day for 2 hours, for days. During that time Maa Kaali’s chunri would be tied on my head along with a scarf that had been worn on the Sai Baba’s idol in Shirdi. The body covered with other huge cloth consecrated With divine love at Shirdi Sai Baba’s Samadhi Temple.

Then i thought that the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna makes me feel the presence of Shri Ramakrishna Paramhamsha and Shri Ramakrishna Paramhamsha was one with Maa Kaali. So i continued it with reading of Gospel of Shri Ramakrishna, for the following days.

Avdhoot Baba Shivanandji

Few months ago on Sanskar television channel a program of Shivyog was on. Avdhoot Baba Shivanandji, was narrating his experience. He said that in spirituality there are two energies one is male the other is female. If sadhna on one energy is done more it creates an imbalance. Shiv and Shakti should be balanced within. He was doing the sadhana of nine forms of divine mother. After a long time it created an imbalance in him, he said.

I was just casually listening and it became more intense as he said that Shirdi Sai Baba appeared to him and told him to chant “Om Namah Shivay” as Shiv Saadhna. Hair stood on my body as i thought look Sai Baba has appeared and the showed the way to many renowned saints ( i would like to share some here on this blog dedicated to Sadguru Sai Baba), and here He has appeared and guided this modern day sage who attracts many and put them on path of devotion, to the divine. He said that it was difficult to change the love from Mother to Lord Shiva, eventually He did as Shirdi Sai has guided him and found a balance within and without.

Am intensely dedicated to complete the 108 parayans of Sai SatCharitra. It has already been delayed by heavy physical sickness an a couple of travels. Again since 2 days am drawn towards Maa Kaali’s sadhana and doing it, taking some breaks from daily Parayans.

I am not sure why Sai Baba guides me to also do Maa Kaali Sadhna. Whether it is related with male and female spiritual energies or not. And can we understand Sai Baba’s activities? So i don’t care for the same and do as the Master says.
Speak from the bottom of your heart Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai !



Other similar post on Sadguru Sai Baba that you might like to read :

8 types of Spiritual ecstasy
Sai Baba shows Trilok (Three divine worlds) to Shama
The honor of the house is revealed by the dweller.
Don't look down or talk down of any Saint or SadGuru
When others are present, we keep off the children
God or Guru (Sai Baba )grace
The Vanity
Dev Baba - A spiritual Devotee of Sai Baba
What's The Meaning of "Om Sai Ram"?
The essence of Sai Baba’s teachings
Sai Baba of Shirdi a Unique Spiritual Sadguru

Sai SatCharitra Parayan or Parayanam

Aum Sai Ram,


There are many questions regarding the reading or Parayan of Shri Sai SatCharitra. First let us take a look at What is Parayanam and why Sai SatCharitra Parayan?

Parayan is reading of a sacred or holy book in a set number of days. Mostly Sapthah (completing the reading of book in a week) is done. More or less period of time can also be devoted.

Normally books are source of information. When ever we need any information, books has been and is a very reliable source. Though today another alternative internet is also used much for gathering or obtaining information. Websites and blogs are also in the list to obtain any information we need.


There are certain sacred books or holy books which have a totally different quality. These holy or sacred books are not just information providing books. These books have a quality of grace in them. You might read two post already on this subject about Sai SatCharitra and Gospel of Ramakrishna on this blog for the same. These sacred books awakens the spiritual consciousness within us or what is called chaitanya shakti in Sanskrit or Hindi. That is the reason this books have to reread again and again. If we talk about Sai SatCharitra. Every time we read the book is like spending time with Sai Baba or Sai Baba's divine love and grace. So let's keep this in mind and make it a love affair or devotional affair with Sai Baba, rather than getting the sense of heaviness or duty. Words are like heaviness and duty are purposely used as lot of devotees gets themselves burdened for parayan of Sai SatCharitra. It's ironic to make this topic a burden while it is there for removing the burden.

Mostly Sai SatCharitra parayan is done to get free from troubles. Once we have taken this human body, problems, troubles and trials are inevitable. Even Sai Baba, went thorugh troubles and goes through troubles, who is well known for removing troubles and burdens. So mostly when people find themselves in some sort of problem or trouble, when some kind of insecurity gets hold on to them. They read Sai SatCharitra or some devotee recommends the parayan of Shri SaiSatCharitra to get free. So many devotees has found that this remedy works. Just give your problems to Sai Baba and to the parayan of Sai SatCharitra. Suppose some problem is getting on your head and heart. It troubles a lot. Just start a parayan of Shri Sai SatCharitra, surrender your problem to Sai Baba (Do follow this link on left side). Just give your problem to Sai Bab or divine ,and don't suggest a solution from your side. Sai Baba or divine grace knows more about the problem and it's solution. Our solution may not be the right one. So leave it to the divine intelligence rather than using our own limited intelligence, which is in trouble any way. And how can a troubled mind have a right answer or solution to a problem?

Now it is a common fact that we human do not like to go through agony, insecurities, disturbances. So in adverse condition, to seek the freedom from all of the above things we seek refuge in Sai SatCharitra parayan.

Should we forget the parayan of sacred book or holy book, once we are free form the problem? As stated above Sai SatCharitra is one of the few rare books on earth that has the quality of divine grace. When read again and again it gives new meanings of life and devotion. Our spiritual understanding reveals itself when read again and again.

While we read this book certain words and messages penetrate our mind and heart. That particular message is what we need most at this stage. Many devotees unaware of the quality of the sacred book and getting overwhelmed by the needed message underline those messages. This is a mistake. We are in procces of evolution of understanding. So do not underline sacred or holy books. After a year there will be new messages which you don't notice now, but will have much significance at that time. So leave the book as it is, the divine grace underlines the needed message at different times and different points of life.

So it should be done on regular basis. Even reading of Sai SatCharitra's one chapter a day (parayan in 51 days) should at least be done. As we read it, the love towards the book increases. Then the grace from the book itself acts as a magnet and we read it and enjoy the company of the book.

Also when everything seems to right in our life. There is joy and festivity. In this time we should read the Sai SatCharitra and share and surrender our joys to Baba's grace. We should seek freedom from these enjoyments as we seek freedom from the pains. Because the divine joy is beyond both the worldly joy, joy of senses and worldly pain, pain of senses and mind. And seek for the divine Bliss.

I have been getting many mails asking questions about Sai SatCharitra parayan.

Few of them are stated below

please tell me the correct procedure of doing parayans and after its completion can we start again if yes then how much time duration required for next start?

Do we need to fast during the Sai SatCharitra parayan?

Can I read Sai SatCharitra in office ?

Should Sai SatCharitra parayan be done in temple or in front of Sai Baba's image or picture?

Which are the auspicious days and or times we should read Sai SatCharitra?

For procedure of Sai satcharitra first reading about Sai SatCharitra and ways of worshiping Sai Baba will be of much help.

Basically there is no super highway or one correct procedure for the prayan of Sai SatCharitra. If we consider it as time spent with Sai Baba and we are reading it for the divine love. Divine love does not have any procedure. Do a mother asks a procedure to love her child? Do a lover asks a procedure for spending the time with beloved? No love itself guides. So let the love guide.

Below however are some points that may be helpful in beginning, as love develops those things might fall away on their own.

1. Since the book is sacred and should be considered as Sai Baba himself. We can worship Baba and the book (Sai SatCharitra) before starting the parayan. Light the oil lamps and aggarbatti (incense stick) Ask for the divine love and grace to remove the obstacles.

2. Reading the book at the place of worship. In the temple. In Shirdi prayan hall, is better as the divine vibrations in that places gives additional force. But these opportunities have to grabbed when we have them. Otherwise reading the book wherever we are also has great significance.

3. Fasting during the parayan. In Sai SatCharitra Sai Baba himself never suggested to fast(remaining hungry or eating specific food like fruits and faral) . If the hunger of stomach is knocking on the doors of mind, how can we put our awareness on divine energy. The Sanskrit word for fast is upvaas. If we look for the meaning or explanation of upvaas, it consists of two words. Up (pronounced oop) meaning near and vaas meaning staying or residing. So when one is near God or divine or one stays near the God or divine grace, it means upvaas. So reading of Sai SatCharitra itself is upvaas. When one is in deep love or even deep pain (eg when some close relative or loved one dies) there is no apptitude for food. One does not feel like eating. So if we are looking for upvaas or fasting let it be through deep love. Let us pray for the divine love so deep that thought for eating food does not come to our mind for long periods of time. In chapter 32 of Shri Sai SatCharitra Sai Baba himself describes this state.

"All my sense-organs, including the mind, had left their places and and come to stay in my eyes alone, for the purpose of meditating on Guru."

"When thus meditating on the form of Guru, the working of the intellect ceases. Therefore ultimately, only make an obeisance to Him, observing speechless silence."

So this is the state of upvaas. Not just the hunger but all sense-organs with the help of grace leave their places. Even the most subtle sense organ the mind is stunned and ceases to the bliss of divine presence. It is a state that can never be described. We have to reach that state of speechless silence. And prayans of Sai SatCharitra and asking for Sai Baba's grace for that Sat Chit Anand will certainly help.

About remaining hungry and not real upvaas in the same chapter 34 of Shri Sai SatCharitra it says.

" If the bodily organs do not receive morsels of food they become enfeebled and forget to function efficiently."

"Unless the hunger is appeased with food, how can the eyes find God? How can the tongue sing His praises? And the ears hear them?"

" In Short, only when all the bodily organs have the strength can God be worshiped properly. But when they become emaciated for the want of food, they cannot progress towards the spiritual goal."

And soon a warning follows

" But eating in excess is not beneficial, either.Eating in moderation is what benefits truly. Fasting immoderately always brings on great sufferings."

There are certain days on which the spiritual activities gets a great wind. So auspicious days suggested in Hinuism like RamNavmi, Gurupoornima, Dassera, Shivratri and such should be spent in as much reading as we can. Also early morning hours (sunrise time) and evening (sunset time) are more ideal. But that does not mean we should wait for these days and times. Like a true lover anytime is best to be with the beloved.

After the parayan is complete Aarti of Sai Baba is done. The prasad is distributed. Many a times poor and hungry or hungry animals are fed which so dear to Sai Baba.

Any question left out. Kindly put your questions in the comments of this post.

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