Shirdi Sai Picture is equivalent to His Darshan

SaiBaba’s devotees often experienced that seeing baba’s picture is equivalent to seeing him in person. This story illustrates the statement. A saint of Bombay named Balabuva Sutar, who was very devotional and respected Sai baba came to shirdi for the first time. When he bowed before Baba, Baba said that “ I know this man since four years” Baluva wondered how could that be possible as that was his first trip to shirdi. But thinking about it seriously he recollected that he had prostrated himself four years ago before Baba’s portrait at Bombay and was convinced about his significance of the baba’s words. He said to himself,”How omniscient and all pervading are the saints, and how kind are they to their bhakthas? (Devotional devotees)!” He merely bowed to his photo, this fact was noticed by Baba and in due time he made him realize that seeing his photo is equivalent to seeing him in person.

Aum sairam

Baba taught not one but nine forms of devotion...

Anant Rao Patankar of Poona was a Vedic scholar; though he read Vedas and puranas he had no peace of mind. He came to visit Baba. He fell at Baba’s feet and pleaded with him to show compassion and bless him. Then Baba said,” Once a merchant came to me. He wanted to put some questions to me but could not do so. He was looking straight at me. Just then a mare in front of him passed stools in the shape of nine balls. The merchant collected all the nine balls and put them in his upper cloth by which he was able to concentrate his mind and thus have peace. ”baba, explained the significance of the story as follows.

“Merchant means a person having special qualities not found in ordinary people, a jnani. A mare means god’s grace Nine balls of horses excretion means nine kinds of devotion. The devotee in search of god should fix his mind on the Sadguru, and serve the guru sincerely. The devotee can choose any one of the following nine ways and reach god-

1. Shravan – hearing the divine stories and reading the puranas
2. Kirtan - Singing devotional songs in praise of the greatness of god
3. Smaran - To recollect what one had heard through sravan, and always remembering them
4. Pada seva – Worship of the feet and prostration
5. Archana – Different kinds of rituals performed daily
6. Namaskar – Bowing the head in respect, and salutations
7. Dasya – Doing service to god like a servant
8. Sukhyatva – Considering God as a friend and making friendship
9. Atma nivedan- Surrendering one’s life and Atman to god

Devotion is of nine kinds. As progressive and the mind begin to settle down, we can worship God in all the nine ways”.