Upasani Baba

Upasani Baba , whose full name is Kasinath Govind Upasani Maharaj, was born in 1870 in an orthodox Brahmin family in satana village in maharashtra. Upasani baba who at one time was thought to be the successor of sai baba and was groomed by him with that purpose in view. Upasani baba decided to go to shirdi to meet saibaba in 1911. After staying for a day Upasani baba asked Baba for permission to return home. Baba said:'What! SO SOON! WHEN ARE YOU RETURNING?'' upasani replied it was not easy for him to return Shirdi . Baba said:'' then you had better stay . Do not go away ." seeing him undecided Baba said :"Well , go . I shall see what can i do." Upasani thought permission had been given to him to leave and left shirdi. While he was at Kopargaon and the priest at the Datta temple there told him to go back to shirdi and stay with Baba . Upasani said :"No". As they were talking some visitors , who said they were going to shirdi arrived and the priest told them : " Take this person with you But Upasani said no , i have been there already . The visitors said : That is the best reason . we have not been there . We want someone to be with us to guide us . So inspite protests Upasani was forced to accompany them to shirdi.
At shirdi baba welcomed Upasani and said : " So you have come back . You said you would not come back before eight days" . Upasani said :'' Baba I cannot understand this . I was eager to go home and i wonder how i did not. This must be your doing ." Baba said :" Yes i have been with you all these days dogging your heels ." There aftert Upasani Continued to stay in shirdi

Five Pranas

I want surrender of five senses, The five pranas Manas, buddhi and ahamkar (mind intellect and ego) allo of which involve vairagya, that is detachment . The road to brahmajana is hard to tread . All cannot tread it. when it drawns there will be light. one who feels unattached to things terrestrial and celestial is also competent to have brahmajana. He added : "To get atmajnana dhyana is needed , that is the atma anushastana (practice) that pacifies and carries the mind into samadhi. So give up all desires and dweell in your mind on God. I(f the mind is thus connected the goal is achieved."
Baba said :" For dyana meditate on me either as with form or as formless which will give more ananda . If such formless contemplation is hard then think of my form just as you see me here. with such meditation the mind dissoves into unity (that is attains laya) . The difference between su8bject and object (me and you) and the act of contemplation will be lost". He added :" The guru's glance is bread and milk to the pupil."

Rohilla The devotee

Devotees out of love for Baba used to do" pada puja" (offer prayers at his feet) daily. They also put sandalpaste on the hands and gave arathi with camphor. Though Baba had no desire for all this , he never objected to their actions. A muslim devotee of Baba , Rohilla, out of religious fanaticsm , wanted to kill Baba, because he was allowing ringing of bells, giving arathi, etc. ,in the mosque went against islamic doctrine. So , one night he waited for an opportune time ti hit Baba with a big stick . When Baba came out of the mosque for a stroll , Rohilla tried to hit him. Immediately Baba turned around and with his eyes wide open focused them on Rohilla. Two light raus came out of Baba's eyes and fell on the hands of Rohilla . Immediately , the stick dropped on the ground From his hands . Baba lifted his hands and showed Rohilla his palms . Rohilla saw Mecca medicine And the sacred Quran in the palms of Sai Baba . Saying " Ya Allah ", He fell at the feet of Baba.
Sai Baba never exhibited his superiority . He did not have any attachment for his body . He had endless love for his devotees. He used to tell the past, present and future for his devotees! Friendds and foes were equal for him. Though the villagers of shirdi did not have the required "Jnana" , they had endless love and devotion for him.

Guru marga

Guru marga may be defined as that form of bhakti marga in which faith in devotion to the guru is the only sadhana for achieving every end, Including salvation (mukti), conquest of samsar , all yoga siddhis and temporal welfare . Baba realised that a guide wass needed and mere talk with bookish knowledge was no use at all to help one to realise God. It was not an intellectual task. the problem was how a particular soul was to be helped towards self-realisation and that eas essentially a matter of moulding the mind and character of the sishya (disciple) . what was wanted was humility , respectivity and a powerful desire to reach the goal with the aid of the guru and therefore a readiness to surrender evrything to him . baba a result of the intense love he bore him. It was the Guru;s responsibilty also to help him his disciples achieve success in other fields