A good character is essential for the realization of the Atma. In other words, all evil propensities have to be uprooted. Just as the army becomes dispirited and surrenders when its commander falls, so too, the army of evil qualities will surrender its arms as soon as ahamkara (egotism) is destroyed. The evil qualities are all natives of the realm of anger, so if that region is destroyed, the soldiers can never again raise their heads. It is enough to accomplish this alone, for what can ‘commander-in-chief’ egotism achieve without a single soldier to march under his orders? So, all efforts must be directed to destroy the realm of anger so that no general can venture to let loose the hounds of war. Let each spiritual aspirant preserve the region of his mind in peace, by putting a stop to the rise of this commander and his soldiers. Let each spiritual aspirant bask forever under the smile of the ruler, the Atma.
– Dhyana Vahini, Chap 5, “Cultivate the Blissful Atmic Experience.”
Jesus said that the bread taken in the “last supper” was his flesh, and the wine, his blood. He meant that all beings alive with flesh and blood are to be treated as he himself and that no distinction should be made of friend or foe, we or they. Every body is his body, sustained by the bread; every drop of blood flowing in the veins of every living being is his, animated by the activity that the wine imparted to it. That is to say, every man is Divine and has to be revered as such.
( Sathya Sai Baba – 25 December 1978)
Cross manifested by Swami for Jack Hislop
When Jesus reached the stage of unity with God, he had no suffering at all. He was blissful and was prepared for anything. Even at the time of crucifixion, Jesus was smiling, because he realised that he was not the body. Body is bound to perish, but the in-dweller has no birth and death. Truly speaking, the in-dweller is God Himself. Jesus understood that his body was merely a vesture, and that God was the in-dweller.
(Sathya Sai Baba – 25 December 1998)
I and the Father are one. I am in My Father and you are in Me and I am in you.
(Jesus – John 10:30 ; 14:20)
The Christian cross is a symbol for the elimination of the ego. Let us pay attention to the sacrifice that Jesus made while free, out of his own volition: he sacrificed his happiness, prosperity, comfort, safety and position; he braved the enmity of the powerful; he renounced the “ego,” which is the toughest thing to get rid of. You too have undertaken this birth for this very mission: the mission of crucifying the ego on the cross of compassion . Crucify it and be free.
(Sathya Sai Baba – 22 November 2000)
I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
(Jesus – John 5:24)
Bring to mind the words Jesus uttered, the advice he offered, the warnings he gave, and decide to direct your daily lives along the path he laid down. Have sacred vision. Speak good words. Hear only what is good. Entertain noble thoughts. There is no greater spiritual practice than this. This was the teaching of Jesus.
(Sathya Sai Baba – 24 December 1980)
You are in God and God is in you. Understand this truth and act accordingly. You should be able to say with conviction that you are the spark of the Divine. You should say with courage and conviction that God is everywhere. You must fill yourself with the feeling that God is in you, beside you, around you, and with you wherever you go…Baba
What is the resurrection, really? It is the revelation of the divinity inherent in man. That is the result of contact with the Godhead; that can come only after years of contrition. Man is led into the wrong belief that the accumulation of material possessions will endow him with joy and calm. But Divine Love (Prema) alone can give that everlasting joy. Divine Love alone will remove anger and envy and hatred. (28 February 1964)
Hanuman Jayanti (Birthday of Lord Hanuman) is celebrated to honor the birth and memory of Lord Hanuman. Hanuman is worshipped for his unsurpassed devotion to God (Lord Rama) and embodies supreme intelligence, strength and courage.
Devotees of Lord Hanuman worship Him on this day by going to temples and reciting various prayers such as Hanuman Chalisa and reading from holy Indian scriptures such as the Ramayana.
Sri Rama Navami is the festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Sri Rama, the Avatar of the Treta age. It falls in the ‘Chaitra’ month in the Shukla Paksha Navami (ninth day of the bright fortnight) of the Hindu lunar calendar. Lord Rama is revered as being the very embodiment of Dharma (righteousness) and one whose life serves as an ideal for all mankind. The Ramayana, an epic poem composed by sage Valmiki on the life of Lord Rama, is one of the sacred scriptures of the Hindu religion.
Sita Rama Kalyanam – 27th March 2026
The world, today, is in dire need of the message of the Rama story. For one thing, sons today do not follow the instructions of their fathers. Fathers do not set the right example to the children. Disciples do not respect the preceptors. Preceptors do not treat the disciple with affection. There is no love even between friends. Relations are estranged among themselves. In all fields of life—in administration, in agriculture or in business or in politics—discord is rampant. Divisions and conflict prevail in social, political, and even spiritual fields. If you enquire into the causes for this situation, you find that selfishness is at the root of it all. The basic elements are common to all mankind. The world itself is one family. All men are brothers. Rama preached to the world this basic truth. He taught the world the duties of one’s everyday life, one’s social and family obligations. This triple stream of duties is the message of the Ramayana. Whoever bathes in this triple stream is absolved of his sins and is redeemed.
– Divine Discourse, Apr 16, 1997
“The Ramayana teaches the principles of Dharma and the path of duty to every individual. Though ages and aeons have passed by, the Ramayana remains ever-fresh guiding humanity on the path of truth and righteousness. Even today we think of the characters of Ramayana with respect and reverence. You can very well understand its greatness. There is no morality higher than what is depicted in the Ramayana. The Ramayana should be the subject of our Parayana (worship). You should install the principle of Rama in your heart and experience bliss. Practise the teachings of Ramayana in your daily life. Obey the command of Lord Rama. It is to understand and assimilate the principle of Ramayana that we are celebrating the festival of Rama Navami today. It is not enough if the celebration is confined to merely partaking of sweet pudding and other delicious items.
– Divine Discourse: April 11th, 2003
The Ramayana is a guidebook on ideal relations between mother and children, between husband and wife, between brothers, between ruler and the people, between master and servants and many other human relationships. Rama showed compassion to dying eagle Jatayu, which fought with Ravana when he was carrying Sita away to Lanka and Rama gave refuge to Vibhishana, even against fears expressed by Lakshmana. These are examples of Rama’s supreme benevolence and magnanimity towards anyone who revered Him or sought His protection. Rama declared to Lakshmana: “Anyone who comes to Me in a spirit of surrender, whoever he might be, is Mine and I am his. I shall give him asylum. This is My vow.” Rama was a man pledged to one word, to one wife and to a single arrow. Devotees should install Rama in their hearts and celebrate Ramanavami for achieving Atmic bliss. Going through the epic Ramayana, they should reach the state of “Atma-Rama” (oneness with Universal Spirit). In such a state there is no Ahamkara (ego-sense)!
– Divine Discourse, April 07, 1987
“The Ramayana, the story of Lord Rama, teaches two lessons: the value of detachment and the need to become aware of the Divine in every being. Faith in God and detachment from objective pursuits are the keys for human liberation. Give up attachment to sense objects, and you gain Rama. Sita gave up the luxuries of Ayodhya so she could be with Rama during His exile. When she cast longing eyes on the golden deer and craved for it, she lost Rama’s proximity. Renunciation leads to joy; attachment brings about grief.
Be in the world, but not of it.
Rama is the in-dweller in every body. He is the Source of Bliss (Atma-Rama) in every individual. His blessing, surging from that inner spring, confers peace and bliss. He is the very embodiment of Dharma, of all the codes of morality that hold mankind together in love and unity”.
– From ‘Ramakatha Rasavahini’ authored by Bhagawan Baba
On the occasion of Ramanavami a discourse delivered by Bhagawan on 11 April 2003 at Brindavan. In this profound clip, Bhagawan explains what is the essence of Ramayana and why we must not look up to Lord Rama merely as an Avatar and worship Him. It is important to understand that each individual is Lord Rama and live life drawing inspiration from the idealism portrayed in the Ramayana.
Rama is the indweller in every body. He is the Atma-Rama, the Rama (Source of Bliss) in every individual. His blessings upsurging from that inner spring can confer peace and Bliss. He is the very embodiment of Dharma, of all the codes of morality that hold mankind together in Love and Unity. The Ramayana, the Rama story, teaches two lessons: the value of detachment and the need to become aware of the Divine in every being. Faith In God and detachment from objective pursuits are the keys for human liberation. Give up sense objects; you gain Rama. Sita gave up the luxuries of Ayodhya and so, she could be with Rama, in the period of ‘exile’. When she cast longing eyes on the golden deer and craved for it, she lost the presence of Rama. Renunciation leads to joy; attachment brings about grief. Be in the world, but, not of it. The brothers, comrades, companions and collaborators of Rama are each of them examples of persons saturated with Dharma. Dasaratha is the representative of the merely physical, with the ten senses. The three Gunas – Sathwa, Rajas and Thamas – are the three Queens. The four goals of life – the Purusharthas – are the four sons. Lakshmana is the Intellect; Sugriva is Viveka or discrimination. Vali is despair. Hanuman is the embodiment of courage. The bridge is built over the ocean of delusion. The three Rakshasa chiefs are personifications of the Rajasic (Ravana), Thamasic (Kumbhakarna) and the Sathwic qualities (Vibhishana). Sita is Brahmajnana or the awareness of the Universal Absolute, which the individual must acquire and regain undergoing travails in the crucible of life. Make your heart pure and strong, contemplating the grandeur of the Ramayana. Be established In the faith that Rama is the reality of your existence.
Rama Katha Rasavahini – The Sweet Story of Rama’s Glory
Manasa Bhajare Guru Charanam Dusthara Bhava Sagara Tharanam
Guru Maharaj Guru Jai Jai Sai Natha Sadguru Jai Jai
Om namah Shivaya Om Namah Shivaya Om Namah Shivaya Shivaya Namah Om
Arunachala Shiva Arunachala Shiva Arunah Chala Shiva Aruna Shiva om
Omkaram Baba Omkaram Baba Omkaram Baba Om Namo Baba
O! mind without worshipping the Lotus Feet of Guru Sai Nath, it is not possible to cross the ocean of life and death. Victory to Noble Teacher, Lord Sai Natha.
Chant “Om Namah Shivaya”. Chant the name of Lord Shiva, Who resides in Arunachala. Chant the name of Lord Baba, Whose form is OM.
Lord’s Footprints
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The festival of Maha Shivarathri is one of the most important festivals in India. It falls on the 14th day of the (Krishna Paksha) dark fortnight of the Magha month of the Hindu calendar. The very word ‘Shivarathri’ means auspicious night. All over the country, people throng Shiva temples and spend the night in worship and contemplation of the Divine. According to Hindu belief, the moon is the presiding deity of the mind and the 16 phases of the moon represent the 16 aspects of the mind. On Shivarathri, which falls a day prior to the new moon, only a streak of the moon is visible. This is symbolic of the waning influence of the mind, when 15 aspects have already merged in the Self and only one aspect remains. Hence on this day, it is easier to control the mind and direct it towards God. Therefore, the night is spent in contemplation and adoration of God, so that the vagaries of the mind can be totally subdued and transcended to attain realization of the Atman.
“The lesson of Shivarathri is that devotees should foster good and sacred thoughts. They should be filled with godly thoughts. They should seek to become one with the Divine by reflecting on their inherent divinity. If you constantly chant the name of God, God realization will come in due course.
15th February 2026
16th February 2026
Whatever other things they may possess, men suffer from lack of peace and bliss. These two can be obtained only from God. It is for these two that men should pray to God and not for anything else, because God alone can give them. When these are secured, all other things will come of their own accord by the grace of God. People should yearn for God. All other desires are worthless”.
At the Shivalayam Temple (Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Birthplace) Puttaparthi, India on Maha Shivaratri – 7th March 2016 (Morning) Five pujaris (priests) performed abhishekams to Lord Sai Shiva.
Maha Rudrabhishekam
Special offerings were made to the Lord Shiva. The offerings included milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar, fruits, tender coconut water, flower, yellow rice, sandalwood paste, vibhuti, bilva leaves, sugar, rudraksha, turmeric, kumkum, with each individual offering bearing great spiritual significance.
These offerings are meant to appease the Indweller within, Who is verily Sai Shiva. Lord Shiva Who is hailed as Abhisheka Priya is mightly pleased with such sacred offerings.
“Makara Sankranthi marks the movement of the Sun from the southern horizon to the northern horizon. This northward movement of the Sun has immense spiritual significance. The north is symbolised by Himaachala. Hima means snow. It is pure, untainted and soothingly cool. All these endow it with the quality of Prashanthi (perfect peace). Achala means that which is steady and unshakeable. Himaachala does not refer to the physical Himalayan mountains. It represents that which is cool, peaceful and steady. From this day the Sun is said to move towards such a state. The Sun symbolises the vision of man. The northward movement of the Sun is a call to human beings to turn their vision towards that which is cool, peaceful and unchanging, i.e. towards the divinity within.
– Divine Discourse: 14 January, 1994
The astronomical Uttarayana comes to you whether you strive for it or not; it is part of the law of nature. But for the real Uttarayana, you must make efforts, tremendous efforts. Know that there are only two entities: the substance and the shadow, (or, rather, only One and its appearance, produced by ignorance), the atma and the anatma, the seer and the seen, the rope and the snake. When this knowledge becomes part of the mental make-up, it liberates you from delusion, and you see Kailas (Siva’s mountain abode) at the end of the northward journey. Like Kailas, that stage is all light, all white. The path is straight and hard but the goal is glorious; it is nothing less than Illumination. It is when people forget this goal that the Avatar comes to save them.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 2 Ch. 29, January 14, 1962
Years come and go, so also pleasure and pain. Nothing confers permanent bliss except the experience of the Atma (Self). Man cannot attain peace and happiness from his actions unless he has sacred feelings within. Many people expect the New Year to confer happiness and prosperity on them. But in fact, New Year only confers on you the results of your past actions. In order to atone for your past sins, you have to cultivate sacred qualities and involve yourself in sacred activities more and more in the New Year. In fact, Bliss is within you, it originates from your sacred feelings. So, you have to manifest bliss from within – it cannot be bestowed on you by others. None can take away the bliss from you and you cannot obtain it from outside.
