Sri Saibaba Temple , Nashville , TN , Weekly News Letter Volume 89

[Sri Saibaba Temple - Nashville]

Sairam

 

5-in-1: Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Bihu, Lohri and Eid made it a festive Tuesday Jan 14 2014 .

 

 

Sai is not finite or limited. He dwells in all beings, from ants and insects to the God Brahma. He pervades all. Sai was well-versed in the knowledge of the Vedas,

as well as in the science of Self-realisation. As He was proficient in both these, He was well-fitted to be the Sad-guru. Any one, though learned, but not able to awaken

the disciples and establish them in Self-realisation, does not deserve to be called a Sadguru. Generally the father gives birth to the body, and death invariably follows life;

but Sadguru does away with both life and death, and so he is more kind and merciful, than any body.

 

 

 

 

 

On one Makar-Sankranti day, Megha wanted to besmear the body of Baba with sandal-paste and bathe Him with Ganges water.

Baba was first unwilling to undergo this operation, but at his repeated requests, He consented.

Megha had to traverse a distance of eight koss (going and returning) to bring the sacred water from the Gomati river.

He brought the water, made all preparations for the bath at noon and asked Baba to get ready for the same.

Then Baba again asked him to be freed from his bath saying that, as a Fakir He had nothing to do (or gain) with Ganges water;

but Megha did not listen. He knew that Shiva is pleased with a bath of Ganges water and that he must give his Shiva (Baba) that bath on that auspicious day.

Baba then consented, came down and sat on a pat (wooden board) and protruding his head said - "Oh Megha, do at least this favour; head is the most important organ of the body,

so pour the water over that only-it is equivalent to the full or whole bath." "Alright" said Megha and lifting the water pot up,

began to pour it on the head but in doing this he was so much overwhelmed with love that he cried out 'Har Gange' and emptied the pot on the whole body.

He kept the pot aside and began to look at Baba, but to his surprise and amazement he found that Baba's head was only drenched but the body quite dry.

 

 

Makar Sankranti(Sanskrit: मकर संक्रान्ति) or Sankranti or Sankranthi marks the transition of the Sun into Capricorn on its celestial path.

This is significant considering the Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the gradual increase of the duration of the day.

Remember actually the shortest day on the earth is December 21st, 22nd and from this point onwards day begin to increase.

Hence actual Winter Solstice begin on December 21st or December 22nd when the tropical sun enters Makara rashi.

Now because of the earth's tilt of 23.45 degrees and sliding of equninoxes ayanamasha occurs and causing makara samkranti to slide further. 1000 years back in 1000AD makar samkranti

was in Dec 31st and now January 14th and After 5000 years Makara sankranti will come in the end of february, begining of march. After 9000 years Makara sanranti

will come in the june (it will be the time when summer will be already there). Hence actual Uttarayana is December 21st when the tropical (Sayana) sun enters capricorn.

This is because at one point of time they were the same. Because of this precession of the equinoxes ayanamsa occurs and hence sliding of makara sankranti.

Traditionally, this has been one of many harvest days in India. Due to the geography and size of India, this festival is celebrated for innumerable reasons depending on the climate, agricultural environment, cultural background and location.

 

Some of the lessons from the Qur'an that apply to our day to day lives:

1. Respect and honour all human beings irrespective of their religion, colour, 
race, sex, language, status, property, birth, profession/job and so on 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/17/70

2. Talk straight, to the point, without any ambiguity or deception 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/33/70

3. Choose best words to speak and say them in the best possible way 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/17/53 , 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/2/83

4. Do not shout. Speak politely keeping your voice low. 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/31/19

5. Always speak the truth. Shun words that are deceitful and ostentatious 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/22/30

6. Do not confound truth with falsehood 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/2/42

7. Say with your mouth what is in your heart 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/3/167

8. Speak in a civilised manner in a language that is recognised by the society 
and is commonly used 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/4/5

9. When you voice an opinion, be just, even if it is against a relative 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/6/152

10. Do not be a bragging boaster 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/31/18

11. Do not talk, listen or do anything vain 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/23/3 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/28/55

12. Do not participate in any paltry. If you pass near a futile play, then pass 
by with dignity 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/25/72

13. Do not verge upon any immodesty or lewdness whether surreptitious or overt 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/6/151.

14. If, unintentionally, any misconduct occurs by you, then correct yourself 
expeditiously 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/3/134.

15. Do not be contemptuous or arrogant with people 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/31/18

16. Do not walk haughtily or with conceit 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/17/37 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/31/18

17. Be moderate in thy pace 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/31/19

18. Walk with humility and sedateness 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/25/63

19. Keep your gazes lowered devoid of any lecherous leers and salacious stares 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/24/default.htm#024_030 -31 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/40/19

20. If you do not have complete knowledge about anything, better keep your mouth shut. You might think that speaking about something without full knowledge is a  trivial matter. But it might have grave consequences 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/24/15-16

21. When you hear something malicious about someone, keep a favourable view  about him/her until you attain full knowledge about the matter. Consider others  innocent until they are proven guilty with solid and truthful evidence 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/24/default.htm#024_012 -13

22. Ascertain the truth of any news, lest you smite someone in ignorance and 
afterwards repent of what you did 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/49/6

23. Do not follow blindly any information of which you have no direct knowledge. 
(Using your faculties of perception and conception) you must verify it for 
yourself. In the Court of your Lord, you will be held accountable for your 
hearing, sight, and the faculty of reasoning 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/17/36.

24. Never think that you have reached the final stage of knowledge and nobody  knows more than yourself. Remember! Above everyone endowed with knowledge is  another endowed with more knowledge 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/12/76.

Even the Prophet [p.b.u.h] was asked to keep praying, "O My sustainer! 
Advance me in knowledge." 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/20:114

25. The believers are but a single Brotherhood. Live like members of one family,  brothers and sisters unto one another 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/49/10.

26. Do not make mockery of others or ridicule others 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/49/11

27. Do not defame others 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/49/11

28. Do not insult others by nicknames 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/49/11

29. Avoid suspicion and guesswork. Suspicion and guesswork might deplete your  communal energy 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/49/12

30. Spy not upon one another 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/49/12

31. Do not backbite one another 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/49/12

32. When you meet each other, offer good wishes and blessings for safety. One  who conveys to you a message of safety and security and also when a courteous  greeting is offered to you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous or (at 
least) of equal courtesy 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/4/86

33. When you enter your own home or the home of somebody else, compliment the  inmates 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/24/61

34. Do not enter houses other than your own until you have sought permission;  and then greet the inmates and wish them a life of blessing, purity and pleasure 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/24/27

35. Treat kindly Your parents, Relatives, The orphans " And those who have been  left alone in the society 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/4/36

36. Take care of the needy, the disabled, those whose hard earned income is 
insufficient to meet their needs, And those whose businesses have stalled, And  those who have lost their jobs. 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/4/36

37. Treat kindly Your related neighbours, and unrelated neighbours, Companions  by your side in public gatherings, or public transportation. 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/4/36

38. Be generous to the needy wayfarer, the homeless son of the street, and the  one who reaches you in a destitute condition 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/4/36

39. Be nice to people who work under your care. 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/4/36

40. Do not follow up what you have given to others to afflict them with 
reminders of your generosity 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/2/262.

41. Do not expect a return for your good behaviour, not even thanks 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/76/9

42. Cooperate with one another in good deeds and do not cooperate with others in 
evil and bad matters 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/5/2

43. Do no try to impress people on account of self-proclaimed virtues 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/53/32

44. You should enjoin right conduct on others but mend your own ways first. 
Actions speak louder than words. You must first practice good deeds yourself,  then preach 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/2/44

45. Correct yourself and your families first Trying to correct others 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/66/6

46. Pardon gracefully if anyone among you who commits a bad deed out of 
ignorance, and then repents and amends 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/6/54 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/3/134

47. Divert and sublimate your anger and potentially virulent emotions to 
creative energy, and become a source of tranquillity and comfort to people 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/3/134

48. Call people to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful exhortation. 
Reason with them most decently 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/16/125

49. Leave to themselves those who do not give any importance to the Divine code  and have adopted and consider it as mere play and amusement 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/6/70

50. Sit not in the company of those who ridicule Divine Law unless they engage  in some other conversation 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/4/140

51. Do not be jealous of those who are blessed 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/4/54

52. In your collective life, make rooms for others 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/58/11

53. When invited to dine, Go at the appointed time. Do not arrive too early to 
wait for the preparation of meal or linger after eating to engage in bootless 
babble. Such things may cause inconvenience to the host 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/33/53

54. Eat and drink [what is lawful] in moderation 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/7/31.

55. Do not squander your wealth senselessly 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/17/26

56. Fulfil your promises and commitments 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/17/34

57. Keep yourself clean, pure 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/9/108, 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/4/43, 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/5/6.

58. Dress-up in agreeable attire and adorn yourself with exquisite character 
from inside out 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/7/26

59. Seek your provision only by fair endeavour 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/29/17 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/2/188

60. Do not devour the wealth and property of others unjustly, nor bribe the 
officials or the judges to deprive others of their possessions 
-- http://islamawakened.com/Quran/2/188

Editorial Team

Temple Seva Committee

Sri Saibaba Temple of Universal Oneness

Nashville , TN

www.srisaibabatemple.org