A Diamond Necklace to Shirdi Sai Baba

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Qualifications:
The first question would be, am I qualified to compile this book. The short answer is NO, not at all. I am neither a Scholar in Sanskrit nor an expert in Scriptures. I am neither an expert in English nor in other languages. I am neither a Saint nor an advanced Sadhaka. I am just an infant Sadhaka. I make my living by working as a software professional. I am trying to win the grace of Lord SaiNath like millions. In this journey, I have been struggling with internal evil enemies and purva vasanas like several others. With all these, I am not at all qualified to do this. However, Sai Baba, the Incarnation of Love, does wonders. The only qualification I can cite is the ample blessings from Him. He is the force behind this Holy accomplishment.

Why this book?
Chanting of Sri Sai Ashtothra Sata Naamavali, the 108 names of Shirdi Saibaba, is the most chosen and popular way of Sri Saibaba worship. We do archana of Sai Nath with 108 names. How many of us know the meaning of these 108 names, keeping aside the deeper inner significance? I always had questions about the meaning and the inner significance of each nasme of 108 names of Lord Sai. The exploration led to the efforts of compiling this book. The meaning of 108 names have already been published. However, no attempt has been undertaken to peg and anchor the meanings to the glorious miracles of Sri Saibaba and make one to relate these sacred names to memorable stories of His grace and protection. This book is a humble effort towards that purpose.

Basis for the book:
The Ashtothara is compiled originally by Pujya Sri Narasimha Swamiji, an ardent Sai devotee. The chanting of 108 names is followed in Shirdi also and is listed in the Saibaba Sansthan's Sagunopasana. I don't claim anything in this book as my own. I am just an instrument of Baba in compiling the subject matter from various standard scriptures on SaiNath.

I have tried to put together a prayer book with the glorious miracles, stories, leelas, sayings and prayers attached to each name of the Ashtothara.

There are repetitions of the same miracles, teachings and prayers in this book. This is intentional as needed with each name. Some names have similar inner meaning. Recollecting the same leela and teaching in a different context another time enforces our love for SaiNath.

Limitations of the book:
Reciting the Ashtothara is the Hindu way of worshipping various gods including SaiNath. Also this book has only the Hindu flavour because of my lack of knowledge in other religions. I have limited knowledge even in Hinduism. This doesn't mean any way to mark or limit Baba to Hinduism. SaiNath is beyond all religions. Religion is just a vehicle to reach the final destination, Supreme Lord Sri Sai Nath. I hope that the spirit of this effort is seen beyond the limitation of religions.

How to do parayana (study) of this book?
There are no specific rules, regulations or restrictions for recitation of this book. It would be nice to have love and devotion for Sai, but not required. The intention of the prayer is to conquer the negative forces and enrich the positive within and around us. As part of the positive forces, love and devotion would increase through prayers. This book is an addition to standard Parayana books. Sri Sai Satcharitra has the highest place in achieving the grace of Lord Sai, no matter how many books come up.

Om Ganeshaya Namah, Om Saraswatyai Namah, Om Shri Sainathaya Namaha.

Is there a need to write a foreword for the creation of SAI? He is beyond our intellectual capacity. I feel truly blessed for the task that has been assigned to me, writing a foreword for one of His creations.

It is a mystery as to how and when Baba pulls His sparrows to His durbar and gets His work done. With Shri SaiBaNisa's references, I was requested by the author SaiBandhu Sai Giridhar Ari to review this book. At first, I was speechless and nervous about how I would complete this request, but then my inner Self was constantly cheering me that there is something He wants me to learn from this task. With His Blessings and Grace, I read every word of this book and was truly in bliss. I am blessed, privileged and thankful to be chosen to do this work and I know that it is Him who is getting this done.

We all know that Ashtothram is a form of archana or worship usually offered to the deity with a recitation of the 108 names of a deity. Many times, a thought would pass through me, if I had known the in-depth meaning and significance of each Ashtothram, how blissful would it be. Many Sai devotees would also have felt alike and agree with me. A Sadguru always listens to that inner desire of His devotee and arranges everything accordingly for His devotee's need.

It is wonderful to see SaiBandhu Sai Giridhar Ari's passion to Sadguru SaiNath Maharaj. Unless one has true devotion and passion towards His Guru, such things are not possible. His contribution to the Sai community in the form of this book is a blessing. In this book, for every Ashtothram has a description, meaning and significance with reference to Shri Sai Satcharitam and from the collections of devotees' experiences penned by a blessed and a saintly soul His Holiness Pujya B.V. Narasimha Swamiji, who is also an originator of Sai Ashtothram. Thus, a reader will constantly be connected to Shri Sai and His leelas. After been read this whole book, one would feel that Shri Sai Satcharitam and His leelas have been read multiple times. The author has rightly mentioned in his introduction as Recollecting the same leela and teaching in a different context another time enforces our love for SaiNath."

Since it is an effort budding from the Lotus Feet of Shri Sai Baba, I am sure that this book which has an essence of Sai Tatva, would be an inspiration to every Sadhaka. I tender my humble pranaams at the Lotus feet of Shri Sai Nath Maharaj and pray to Him for His Blessings to author, every reader, to this humanity and to guide us through eternity.

Sai Baba of Shirdi doesn't need any introduction. He has become one among the Avatars like Rama, Krishna. There is no town without his temple. His temples are spreading to every village in India and even to the foreign countries. He has become an important deity in several homes across the world.

Nobody knows his birth place, parents, religion and Guru. There is no authentic information about his early history. He lived in Shirdi until 1918 probably since 1858. He made a dilapidated masjid as his residence. He didn't need any abode and the whole universe was his abode.

Those who are attached to Sri Saibaba will agree to the following observations to certain extent. He is the embodiment of all gods and forms (Sakala Devata Swarupa). He blessed devotees with the vision of their own chosen deity. Even today, he is blessing devotees with different visions to show the evidence that he becomes the deity we pray to. Nobody knows his complete glory and the secret of his divinity. He is beyond any body, words or thoughts. He is the Supreme God praised by Veda Sukthas like Purusha Suktha, Narayana Suktha, and other scriptures. He is the Supreme Self sought by Holy people, Saints, sages, devotees and Jnanis. He is the path of the realization as well as the ultimate goal of realization.

He is ParaBrahma swarupa, who has no form or attributes. He is both manifest and unmanifested. He is an embodiment of Prema, Ananda, Sathya, Jnana and Dharma. He is the Universal power which runs the entire universe. His will has no obstacles in the three worlds. All siddhis are the servants of this Maharaj of all Siddhis. He is the Raja of Yogis- the YOGIRAJ.

Sai's miracles reveal his divinity. He cured diseases and alleviated sufferings to instil faith in the Divine being. He made teachings simple and taught even highly complex philosophy in simple terms. He showed the practical way of integrated life with balancing of temporal and spiritual paths. He showed that he resides in every living being, with practical incidents.

He is Maha Kala who could control time and death. He is the Holy tirtha which can wash all our sins and bad karmic results. He is the guide in temporal life in fighting with bad habits, thoughts and actions and internal enemies.

He is the protector of the helpless, the unprotected, the poor, the orphans, the distressed and the afflicted people. Since prayers to him dispel any distress, trouble or suffering, there is no one who would leave empty-handed after seeking refuge at his feet. His love and affection for his devotees are boundless.

He is the Lord of the entire universe. But he is the loving mother, father of his true devotees. He is eager to serve them. He rushes to save them and guide them. He showers grace and blessings on them. He dispels all fears of the devotees who seek complete protection at His feet.

He is Annapurna Mata, who provides food and clothing. He is Mahalaxmi who blesses his devotees with wealth. He is Dhanvanatari, who provides health and welfare. He is Ganesha, who blesses His devotees with intellect and yogic powers. He is Subrahmaneswara dispelling all doshas. He is Mangala Gowri who blesses his devotees with all auspiciousness.

Baba is Dakshinamoorthi, the Guru of all Gurus, who teaches by silence. He is Dattatreya, who is the Guru of every yuga(age). He takes complete responsibility of his disciples, temporal welfare as well as spiritual welfare. He takes care of them not only in this life, but also life after life until they reach the final goal of self-realization. Only sadhana is the Guru and resorting to His feet is the only option in His school. No need of any other scriptures, hatha yoga, mantra and tantra etc. That is the path to Ultimate realization and uniting with the Supreme Self.