Mera Sai Prayan

Jai Sai Ram 

I actually don't particularly remember when, how I was inducted to Sai Baba worship , but as Luck and Destiny would have it , Sai Baba mixed into my Life without me noticing him entering . But ever since he has never ever left me . I lived in a simple rented home in Mylapore for a good 20 plus years and as you may or may not be aware, there is a famous Shiridi Sai temple . They provide really tasty prasad there, which is one my fondest memories of the place , apart from the main attraction , Swami himself , seated there in his trademark pose . With a smile , that defeats you the very instant you lock your eyes with him , one can only experience this if they are meant to be. Otherwise, what lies in front of you would be just another Deity's statue . My blessed parents , and my sibling , are all Sai devotees . We may be one family , but we have our own personal connections with Swami for ,we are all not one and the same. The Sai prema binds us even more . I am indebted to my blessed parents , as they had the habit of taking me to temples and this temple/mandir in particular often , when i was a kid. See , what one gets to see and hear often somehow penetrates the internal psyche and that's how, the thought of worshiping Swami somehow won me over. The temple used to be very simple , in contrast to how well and prosperous it has become now and it will become. There were no other big chambers, except Swami's concentrated gaze on his devotee , the revered Dhuni ( sacrifical Fire ) , a Krishna idol , Some hundis and a meditation place . In fact, even as I am trying to recollect now , I have lost the vision of the Old Mandir's Layout. It has changed so much now, as devotees, come and contribute out of their own will and desire for improving the mandir. 

The Mandir grew and grew , with many facilities, lighting and water arrangements, sound systems, decorations, newer chambers , prayer hall , anna daan hall and much more. It is as though, the old devotees kept watering this Love Tree, for the future devotees who will be coming to the mandir seeking comfort in the presence of his Lotus Feet .  For a keen eye , one might notice that people who have taken to sai prema, or the act of worshipping swami Sai ram wholeheartedly bear this peaceful contented look in their face. Their face would not give away any sign of human desire, discontentment with one's lot. Another characteristic feature since old days is the presence of the poor people who sit in front of the temple in lines, with their begging bowl , wearing torn clothes, asking people for food, money , resources. The devotees would sometimes acknowledge by offering some cash, coin or food to them , sometimes they pray to the swami himself for their welfare. The whole temple is a beautiful adaptation of Swami's Shiridi Home , where he enacted all the Leelas in his mortal form . Blessed are those , who got to experience Swami's physical love , for people like me, can only experience his invisible love, enveloping me every second , every step and every breath . I sometimes used to wonder , if I was intelligent enough to recognize Swami , if he walked in front of me, whether the so called human intelligence would permit me to believe his Divine aura . 

But I leave it to him , in the hope, he drags me by the ear and makes me realize he has been looking at me all this while, while I was looking elsewhere , lost in my own thoughts. Then we moved on to a new home in Chromepet , a place near Tambaram ,where by our sheer luck and Blessings of Swami , right behind our home , in the parallel street , there is both a Shiridi Sai Mandir and Sathya Sai Bhajan Hall . What more do I ask, than this persistent Love of Swami , his constant attention on me . Words can only describe as much,  what I feel for him . But I will try , and conjure our my Hridaya Bhava through my god gifted craft of Creative Writing  .

sabka malik ek hai - allah malik