Swami holding materialized image of Krishna
on the beach near Dwaraka, May 1968
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Sai's Messages On Krishna Janmashtami "Today (September 4,1996), the day celebrated as Krishna's birthday. But it is not this celebration that is important. What is important is the adherence to Krishna's teachings. Krishna cannot be separated from his teachings. The Gita is Krishna and Krishna is Gita." Sai Baba, SS, 10/96, p. 258 "Devotees today have some form of divinity in their mind, but they perform rituals in a mechanical way without any consistency. All your charity and worship are of no significance to the Lord. Show your charity and wealth to the income tax department. God needs only your love. There is no tax on love. You may face any number of difficulties or hindrances. The Lord Himself may subject you to test. You should not waver because of these. All is for your good only. Do not grieve over any loss and exult over gain. Equal-mindedness in loss and gain is true Sadhana. There are some who sit in Dhyana (meditation), but their minds are in the market or in the hair dressing shop. Is this Dhyana or Japa? The mind must be immersed in Krishna. Instead it is filled with Trishnas (desires). Krishna will fulfill all your Trishnas. Mere chanting of the Lord's name is not enough. Otfer your love to God. Love is not your property. In fact, it is the property of God. Surrender to God what is His. What is the use of a long life without this offering? You have no right to offer your love to anyone other than God. When you offer all your love to God, He will look after your needs. There is nothing that he cannot do in this world." Sai Baba, SS, 10/99 (3 September 1999 on Krishna Janmashtami)
"Today people worship God as God, but do not try to understand the ideal human qualities displayed by an Avatar. It is only when the human ideals exemplified by Sri Krishna, when he incarnated as man and lived and moved amongst men, are recognised, then human life can be rendered meaningful. It is worth examining in what manner Krishna displayed these marks of human excellence." Sai Baba. SS, 9/87, p. 233 "Lord Krishna has said that Karma (action) is responsible for man's birth as well as death. Man is bound by action in his daily life. Right from birth to death, man spends his time in performing some activity or the other. The path of action is very dear to God." Sai Baba, SS, 10/99, p. 553 "The supreme message of the life of Krishna is the uniqueness of Love Principle (Prema Tatwa). This message is all that the world needs. Krishna is the embodiment of love. This love can be understood only through love. This love is strong, brilliant and unbreakable like diamond. If there is any defect in your love, it should be removed only through love. Love begets love. Hatred can only beget hatred, not love. Jealousy begets jealousy. Anger breeds anger. Therefore, if you want to foster love, you have to get rid of hatred, jealousy and anger." Sai Baba. SS, 9/89. p. 232 Glimpses Of Krishna Janmashtami Celebrations At Prasanthi Nilayam - 1998 "The holy festival of Krishna Janmashtami was celebrated at Prasanthi Nilayam in Sai KulwantHall on 14 August 1998 in the Divine Presence ofBhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Bhagavan came to Sai Kulwant Hall, the venue of the celebrations, at 7.00 a.m. and blessed the vast gathering of devotees with His Darshan. After taking a round of the Hall, Swami came to the dias and permitted the starting of the programme. The programme started with the chanting of Omkar and Krishna Vandana by the students. The devotees were immersed in devotional fervour when students chanted Sanskrit Shalokas melodiously with music to pay homage to Lord Krishna on the auspicious occasion of Lord's birthday, so that 'Krishnam Vande Jagatgurum' became the echo of each heart. After Vandana Shalokas and Sanskrit Bhajans, the students started the Hindi Bhajans beginning with "Giridhara Gopala, Hey Giridhara Gopala" in praise of Lord Krishna. While the Bhajans were going on, all eyes turned towards the main gate of the Hall from where exquisitely decorated Sai Geeta heralded by musicians entered the Hall at the head of the procession of cows from Gokulam escorted by students dressed as cowherds. Bhagavan also proceeded towards the gate to bless and feed Sai Geeta and the cows. He showered His love on them again and again while feeding them. The devotees were filled with delight when Sai Avatar took the role ofDwapara Yuga Avatar of Lord Krishna as Gopala
Bhagavan then blessed the Prasadam for distribution. Though the programme concluded with the offer of Mangala-arati to Bhagavan, yet Bhagavan kept moving between the rows of devotees to supervise the distribution of Prasadam which continued until 8.20 a.m. While Prasadam was being distributed, an announcement was made that Bhagavan would deliver His Divine Discourse on this auspicious occasion in the Sai Kulwant Hall at 4.00 p.m., in the afternoon. In the afternoon, Bhagavan came to the Sai Kulwant Hall at 3.30 p.m. and delighted the eagerly awaiting devotees with Divine Darshan. There was a spontaneous loud applause from the devotees when at about 3.45 p.m. Bhagavan came to the dias and sat in His chair. With the permission of Bhagavan, the programme started with the chanting of Mantras pertaining to Ganesh Vandna, Surya Vandana, by six students. Thereafter, Dr.Sandipan Chatterji introduced the first speaker of the afternoon. Prof. G. Venkata-raman, eminent scientist and ex-Vice Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. After offering his salutations at the lotus feet of Bhagavan, Prof. Venkataraman emphasised the great significance of this day's celebrations, when the birthday of Pooma Avatar, Lord Krishna, was being celebrated in the Divine Presence of Pooma Avatar of Kali Age, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Dwelling on the concept ofAvatarhood, he said, "God is formless, yet once in a while He assumes a form. He descends to the level of man, so that man may ascend up to the level of God. This act of compassionate Lord was analogous to a mother's act of bending down to lift her child. But this did not, in any way, diminish the divinity of God. After this. Dr. Sandipan Chatterji made a brief speech. He pointed out that India the child form of Bhagavan had received extraordinary attention, which was particularly true about the divine character of child Krishna. Dr. Chatterji recalled the teachings of Bhagavan. After these two brief speeches, Bhagavan g.;.vs His Divine Discourse at 4:15 p.m and concluded it at 5:20 p.m. with the Bhajan "Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare" "Govinda Krishna Jai, Gopala Krishna Jai". The programme came to a close with the offering of Mangala-arati to Bhagavan. Before departing for His residence, Bhagavan raised both His hands to shower His blessings on the devotees." Editor. SS, 9/98, pp. 242-244 CONCLUDED AUM SAI RAM
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