Introduction – Fragrance of Sai Bhakti

Preface

When my book ‘Sai Aatm-Chintan’, in Hindi, came out in August 2009, I was very apprehensive whether a book of this sort which talked of neither the life and leelas of Sai nor devotee’s experiences, nor Baba’s miracles but contained only the outpourings of a devoted heart would find any readership at all? My fears were soon allayed when several devotee readers from far off places rang me up and in choked voices expressed their sentiments pertaining to the book. The stimulus to bring out a similar book in English was provided by a telephone call from a lady Doctor from Chennai (Tamilnadu) who told me that she had read my book, “Scribblings of a Shirdi Sai Devotee” and would like to read more of my books in English. A little later, one Professor Mishra from Bhuvneshwar (Orrisa) also made a similar request.

With considerable labour by an old man that I am, whose body wouldn’t support his mind and the constant fear lurking in his mind whether or not he would be able to complete the work, by Baba’s ever raining ‘Kripa’, the book has reached in your hands. It has been given the little “Fragrance of Sai Bhakti”. I am confident that every reader shall have the feel of fragrance of Sai bhakti oozing out from the pages of this book. The under-mentioned devotees, to whom I owe heartfelt gratitude, have contributed tremendously in making this book take its present shape:

1. Shri Vijay Raghvan of ‘Sai Security Printers Pvt. Ltd.’ for the printing and publishing of the book absolutely free of all charges.
2. Shri Pradeep Mehrotra for digging out and providing the material in the chapter on Bhakti from ‘Sree Sai Samartha Satcharita’ of Smt. Zarine Taraporewala.
3. A devotee, who does not wish to reveal his identity, but whose contribution in giving the book a proper shape for publication has been tremendous. I have no hesitation in accepting that, without his selfless help it would have been extremely difficult for the book to have seen the light of the day. In typing, he also received help from a lady devotee from Baroda (Gujarat) – Ms. Hetal Patil, which I acknowledge thankfully.

I consider myself blessed for having received the support of the above named devotees. I pray to my Baba to continue to shower His Grace on these devotees and provide them the will and the strength to serve Him and continue treading miles and miles onto the path of Sai Bhakti.

I shall fail in my duty as a humble devotee of Baba, if I do not mention the name of my co-devotee – friend, philosopher and guide, Shri Kewal Krishan, who has stood by me constantly in the thick and thin of my ‘Bhakti’ ever since he came into contact with me in 1972. May Baba bless him and his family.

Related: Scribblings of A Shirdi Sai Devotee by Suresh Chandra Gupta

It is for the readers to judge, if this book has helped them in anyway in nurturing their Bhakti and bringing them closer to their Baba. There would seem to be repetition of an idea in certain thoughts. It is so, I agree. But each thought has been scribbled in a different mental state and should, therefore, have a different impact on the mind of the readers. The book carries a number of poems. Every poem, in my view, conveys a feeling and a purport which must touch the heart of the readers and take them nearer Baba.

I humbly request my readers not to seek in my writing and thinking the wisdom of a seer, the depth of knowledge of the scriptures or the language, its flow and usage of a well-read person. I am merely a struggler on the path of Sai bhakti and whatever I have written or attempted to convey are my deep feelings arising at that particular moment in my heart and which are being shared with my fellow devotees solely with the aim of enabling them to make them enjoy the Grace of Baba.

May the Fragrance of Sai bhakti spread to every nook and corner of the universe and Baba’s devotees continue to stick to the ‘Pure’ and ‘Satvik’ path of Sai bhakti!

At the Lotus Feet of Sai,

1st July 2010

(Suresh Chandra Gupta)

‘Sai Sadan’
F – 5, Green Park Main,
New Delhi – 110 016
Mob: +91 – 9871009043
Ph: 011 – 26536864
Ph: 011 – 26865450

Foreword

I deem it a great privilege to have had the opportunity of writing a few lines as foreword to show how I have been enjoying the Divine fragrance through the pages of the book: ‘Fragrance of Sai Bhakti’. In one’s life, I am of the view, that one should go through a book like this to realize the existence of Atman in one’s self and dedicate oneself to the cause of service with love and humility. If one has to have an idea about the great Incarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba, one should go through this book. Our Bhismapitamah, Shri Suresh Chandra Gupta Ji, is one of the real devotees of Shirdi Sai Baba, who has had the Divine experience of seeing through the eyes given by Baba himself to have darshan of Shirdi Sai Baba. This is not given to many. The deep concern for the people by Shri Suresh Chandra Gupta Ji is evident from the language employed by him. As expressed by him in his preface, he has always been doing something for the benefit of the society and his book ‘Sai Aatm Chintan’ in Hindi is proof of his benign intention. In this book, it is highlighted that our Baba’s nature is divine, pure, peerless and full of all blessed qualities. Baba also took pains to pass Himself as an ordinary person, Divinity in human form. Gupta Ji is well aware that the senses, the mind and the intellect cannot comprehend the subtlety and magnitude of Brahman and the same applies to Baba’s Divine dimension. Therefore, to appreciate and get the blessings of Baba, it is a must for all people religiously inclined to go through this book and imbibe the messages culled out from the life of Baba to justify our existence on this planet.

On going through the book, I had a strange and interesting feeling that all my system is aligned and restructured into an orderly configuration so that my mind always thinks of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba and is always in a state of bliss. This is really a gift to us from a gifted personality. I wish that we all emulate the life of Shri. Gupta Ji and get the blessings of Shirdi Sai Baba and enjoy the free way of life, which we have been having from time immemorial and India becomes one of the leaders in the International Arena.

With most humble salutations at the Lotus Feet of our loving God Sri Shirdi Sai Baba

Om Sri Sai Ram – Jai Hind –

21st July 2010

Justice K. Ramamoorthy (R)
High Court of Delhi
‘Prashanth’
D – 17, G. K. Enclave – I,
New Delhi – 110 048
Mob: +91 – 9810529889
Ph: 011 – 26241780
Ph: 011 – 41630065

A Devotee Speaks

Reproduced below is the English version of a letter addressed to the author of this book by Smt. Ila Ben Desai of Gujarat containing her observations on the book, “Fragrance of Sai Bhakti”.

Smt. Desai has had the opportunity of going through the manuscript of this book. She is an old and eminent Sai devotee who has distinction of translating into Gujarati several books on Baba. She has devoted her whole life to the cause of upliftment of the tribals in Gujarat, working on the platform of ‘Bharatiya AdimJati Sevak Sangh’ – started by Late Shri Thakkar Bapa in 1948. She happens to be a niece of Late Prime Minister Shri Morarji Bhai Desai.

---

I have gone through your book: ‘Fragrance of Sai Bhakti’. I am writing my observations regarding this book. I seek your pardon for not scribbling my views in English language owing to an oath taken long back. Writing in ‘Rastrabhasha’ and ‘Matrabhasha’ is my oath. I, therefore, although read English, do not correspond in this language.

It is your desire that the fragrance of Sai bhakti should spread to every nook and corner of the world and the devotees take to the ‘Satvik’ and pure path of Sai Bhakti. I am confident that this book will show the true path of bhakti to many a devotee. On attaining faith in Sai, a bhakta starts doing ‘Puja’, ‘Archana’ and other religious ceremonies but later, at some stage, these religious acts turn into mere rituals and the feelings within get watered down. What is left are mere rituals!! Later such feelings and aspirations again grow up but again die down as before. What to do? I myself many a time participated in religious functions; joined ‘Katha-Kirtans’; attended devotional gatherings, took part in ‘Mantras’, ‘Tantras’, ‘Yagnas’ and ‘Naam Jaaps’; even touched the feet of Gurus but never could know what true bhakti is!!! On reading each and every paragraph of your book I have come to know what bhakti is and what is its way. We try to return to God the wealth and other things bestowed on us by Him. What sort of bhakti is it? To me it seems that the deep feelings within one’s heart is bhakti. You have explained this truth in a very simple language in your book.

On page 118 of this book, you have quoted, “Let my tears of Joy…” from the Shri Sai Satcharitra. In fact the whole of this paragraph shows the way of real Sai bhakti. Having delved deep into Shri Sai Satcharitra you have presented every aspect of Sai bhakti in an extremely commendable manner, e.g. Bhakti, Upasana, Omnipresence, Naam-Jaap, Satsang, Sai Leelas, Surrender etc.

Baba’s assurances to devotees have also been depicted admirably well. The attributes of a devotee have been presented in an extremely simple and easy to understood language and in Bhakti Sutras, it seems as though a whole ocean has been compressed into a pot.

I am having a strong feeling that the devotee, who studies this book, shall have no need to read any other book. The answer to each and every problem concerning Sai bhakti confronted by a devotee would become available to him in this book. In the end, it is my prayer that Sai Baba’s ‘Kripa’ and the affection of Shri Suresh Chandra Gupta may remain available to all Sai devotees.

9th July 2010

(Ila Ben Desai)
‘Shabri Ashram’
Jhalod, District Dahod,
Gujarat
Mob: +91 – 9825098972

A Thought…

When the currents of joy float all around me and the deep within is filled with bliss, in those moments of consciousness, what relevance could you have O’Death to me. Leave me alone and disturb not the tranquility of my being. I am pure ‘Sat-Chit-Aanand’ – away from the bounds of Birht and Death. Forget not, I am an Ansh (Part) of Sai – The Master Absolute…

The Author

In the next post, we shall read what the author wants to share in the moments of ecstacy.

---

© Author – Late Shri. Suresh Chandra Gupta – Explicit Rights To Publish To Shirdi Sai Baba Books.com (Member of SaiYugNetwork.com)