A couple of days ago I started rereading the book
“Self Realisation—The Life and Teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi” by B.V.
Narasimha Swami. This is a wonderful book, which is highly
recommended. Please do read.
Anyhow, today Guru Poornima is an excellent example of
the Divine synchronicity of Saints and Masters. This book on Ramana Maharshi is
written by a devotee who dedicated his life to Sri Sai Baba; who is my own Sadguru.
Sri B.V. Narasimha Swami came to Ramana Maharshi
around 1929 and during his stay was inspired to write the biography of Bhagavan
upon which all later biographies are solidly founded on. In addition while at
Tiruvannamalai, B.V. Narasimha Swami was also instrumental in collecting much
information on Sri Seshadri Swami which he handed over to Sri Kuzhumani
Narayana Sastri, who used it as the basis of a biography on that great saint.
Although endowed with a incisive mind (Ramana
Maharshi said Narasimha Swami was a “person of sharpened intellect”) he was
drawn to the path of devotion. He travelled north and settled at Shirdi and in
later years when he returned to the South visited Sri Bhagavan before going on
to live at Madras.
At Madras, B.V. Narasimha Swami worshipped a picture
of Sai Baba under a tamarind tree on the street where the Sai Baba Temple is
now located. Later,
he moved the picture to a small house in Nanjunda Rao Colony in Mylapore and constructed
the present temple with help from a Chettiar merchant. The Temple was completed
and consecrated in 1952 with its main object being the propagation of the life
and teachings of Sri Sai Baba.
This is the only Temple where devotees are allowed to
touch, garland and photograph the divine idol, which in this case is a marble
representation of Sai Baba. In actual fact it is the picture of Sai Baba (worshipped
for many years by B.V. Narasimha Swami) that is considered the moolasthana. B.V.
Narasimha Swami is entombed in Samadhi at the Sai Baba Temple, Mylapore.
This Temple at Mylapore, Chennai is a
wonderful, sacred space. If you are visiting or staying in Chennai, please
spend time there.
Blessings of Light to all readers and friends of Arunachala
Grace.
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| Outside Shirdi Sai Temple, Mylapore, Chennai |
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| Marble statue of Shirdi Sai, devotees allowed to touch |
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| Picture of Shirdi Sai Baba regarded as Moolasthana |
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| Paintings around the inside of Temple. The Master loved dogs! |
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| Puja conducted on the marble idol of Shirdi Sai Baba |
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| Aarti after a special function at Temple |
