Shri Sainatha Mahimna Strotrama

Sadaa satswaroopam chidaananda kandam 

Jagat sambhavasthaana samhaara hetum 

Swabhaktechhayaa maanusham darsayantam 

Nameeswaram Sadgurum Sainaatham. 

   Let us bow down to the God Sadguru Sainath, who is Truth Incarnate and is always in Consciousness and Bliss; the God who is the cause of creation, existence and destruction of the world; and, who has come in to this world in a human form for the sake of his own devotees. 

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Bhavadwaantha vidhwamsa maarthaanda 

meeddyam manovaagateetam munir dhyana gamyam 

Jagadvyapakam nirmalam nirgunam twaam 

Nameeswaram Sadgurum Sainaatham. 

Let us bow down to the God Sadguru Sainath, who is the bright sun whose light destroys the darkness of worldly desires; who is beyond the realm of speech and mind, but accessible to the sages who are engrossed in Thy meditation – One who pervades the whole world, pure and devoid of all attributes. 

Bhawaambhodi magnaarthitaanaam lanaanaam 

Swapaadaasritaanaam swabhakti priyaanaam 

Samuddhaaranaartham kalow sambhavantam 

Nameeswaram Sadgurum Sainaatham. 

Let us bow down to the God Sadguru Sainath, who has manifested in this kaliyug (The dark and the troublesome age of present) for the salvation of those who believe in devotion to Him and those who have taken refuge at his feet as they are drowning and tormented by the ocean of worldliness. 

Sadaa nimba vrikshasya mooladhivaasaat 

Sudhaasravinam tiktamapya priyantam 

Tarum kalpa vrikshaadhikam saadhayantam 

Nameeswaram Sadgurum Sainaatham. 

Let us bow down to the God Sadguru Sainath who, By His constant abode under the margosa tree, whose juice though by nature is bitter and distasteful, has turned it nectar-like sweet, because He has exalted the tree above the legendary Kalpavriksh (the wish-fulfilling tree) 

Sadaa kalpavrikshyasya tasyaadhi moole 

Bhawadbhava budhyaa saparyaadisevaam 

Nrinaam kurwataam bhukti mukti pradantam 

Nameeswaram Sadgurum Sainaatham.

Let us bow down to the God Sadguru Sainath, whom people go to worship and render devotional services, knowing Him to be Himself the kalpavriksh always; for those people he satisfies their worldly desires and grants them salvation 

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Anekaashrutaa tarkya leelaa vilaasaeih 

Samaavishkruteshaana bhaasvat prabhaavam 

Ahambhaava heenam prasannathma bhaawam 

Nameeswaram Sadgurum Sainaatham. 

Let us bow down to the God Sadguru Sainath, whose innumerable and wonderful Leelas(divine play), unheard of and unimagined, have displayed His divine splenderous glory; yet who is devoid of ego and is happily absorbed in the Self. 

Sataam Vishramaaraama mevaabhiraamam 

sadaa sajjanaih samsthutam sannamadbhih 

Janaamodadam bhakta bhadrapradantam

 Nameeswaram Sadgurum Sainaatham. 

Let us bow down to the God Sadguru Sainath, who is the perennial abode of rest, repose and refuge for the virtuous people and to whom praises are directed by good and pious persons- He who is the bestower of happiness and welfare to His devotees. 

Ajanmaadhyamekam param brahma saakshaat 

Swayam sambhavam raamamevaavateernam 

Bhawadharshanaathsam puneetah praboham 

Nameeswaram Sadgurum Sainaatham. 

Let us bow down to the God Sadguru Sainath, who is the Self-manifested, the Absolute Brahman, verily the Supreme Creator Incarnate, the Being without beginning or end, who has descended on this earth in the Ram avatar (Incarnation). O lord, I have been sanctified by your darshan. 

Sree Sayeesa kripaanidhe akhilanrinaam sarwaartha siddhi prada 

Yushmatpaadarajah prabahavamatulam dhaataapi vaktaakshhamah 

Sadbhakthyaa saranam kritaan jali putah samprapthithosmi prabho 

Shrimath Sayi paresa paada kamalaa naanya ccharanyam mama 

O Lord Sai, treasure-house of mercy, the bestower of all wealth, success and inspiration, even the creator is unable to describe the incomparable power of the dust of your feet. With my folded hands and true devotion, I surrender to you O Lord. There is no refuge for me, except the lotus feet of Shrimat Sainath, the Lord. 

Sayiroopadhara raaghavottamam, Bhakta kaama vibhuda dhrumam prabhum 

Maayayopahata chitta shudhayae, Chintayaamyahamaharnisam mudaa 

Lord Sai is the avatar of Raghav (Incarnation of Ram), the Lord who fulfils the desires of His devotees for the purification of their infatuated and deluded hearts and minds – to whom I pray, day and night, untiringly and blissfully. 

Sharat sudhaamsu pratrima prakaasam, kripatapaatram tava 

Sainaatha Twadeeya paadaabja samaashritaanaam, 

Swachhaayayaa taapamapaa karothu 

Lord Sainath, the canopy of your mercy is like the intense lusture of the autumn moon. Grant the cool shade (from that canopy) from the blazing heat of the three-fold calamities of life to those who have taken shelter at your feet. 

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Upaasanaa Daivata Sainaatha, Sthavairmayopaasaninaasthu sthatwam 

Ramenmaromne tava paadayugme bhrungo, Yathaabji makarmda lubdhah 

Lord Sainath you are my God, whom I worship. I extol your praises. Let my mind dwell lovingly at your lotus feet, just as the bee hovers over the lotus flowers enticed by the desire of honey. 

“Aneka janmaarjita paapasamkshayo, Bhavet bhawatpaada saroja darshanaat, Kshamaswa sarvaanaparaadha poonjakaan, praseeda Sayeesa Sadguro dayaanidhe”

 Lord Sai, Guru Ocean of compassion, bless me and pardon me for all my innumerable faults. May my boundless sins which have accumulated over several cycles of life be destroyed by the darshan of your feet 

“Sri Sainatha charanaamrita putachithaah, Sthwatpaada seva natrataah satatamcha bhaktyaa, Samsaara janya duritaagha vinirgataaste, kaivalya dhaama paramam samavaapnuvanti”

Those whose minds become purified by the nectar of tirth (Water deemed to be Holy from the washings of Lord’s feet) of Shri Sainath, those who are constantly absorbed in His service with – devotion they get freed from the distress caused by worldliness and attain salvation. 

Strotrame tatpatte bhakthyaa yonara athanmanaahsadaa 

Sadguroh Sainaadhasya kripa paatram bhaveddhruham. 

Whosoever always recites this hymn with devotion and absorption will certainly be the recepeint of the grace of Sadguru until he lives. 

Karacharanakritam vaakkaayajam karmajam vaa 

Shravananayanajam vaa maanasam vaaparadham 

Viditamaviditam vaa sarvame tatshkamasva 

For the sins done by the hands and the feet, by the toungue and the body, or by the ears and the eyes, or those done in thought, or any other follies, known or unknown - for all these, forgive me. 

Sadaa satswaroopam chidaananda kandam 

Jagat sambhavasthaana samhaara hetum 

Swabhaktechhayaa maanusham darsayantam 

Nameeswaram Sadgurum Sainaatham. 

Let us bow down to the God Sadguru Sainath, who is Truth Incarnate and is always in Consciousness and Bliss; the God who is the cause of creation, existence and destruction of the world; and, who has come in to this world in a human form for the sake of his own devotees. 

Bhavadwaantha vidhwamsa maarthaanda meeddyam manovaagateetam munir dhyana gamyam Jagadvyapakam nirmalam nirgunam twaam 

Nameeswaram Sadgurum Sainaatham. 

Let us bow down to the God Sadguru Sainath, who is the bright sun whose light destroys the darkness of worldly desires; who is beyond the realm of speech and mind, but accessible to the sages who are engrossed in Thy meditation – One who pervades the whole world, pure and devoid of all attributes. 

Bhawaambhodi magnaarthitaanaam lanaanaam 

Swapaadaasritaanaam swabhakti priyaanaam 

Samuddhaaranaartham kalow sambhavantam 

Nameeswaram Sadgurum Sainaatham. 

Let us bow down to the God Sadguru Sainath, who has manifested in this kaliyug (The dark and the troublesome age of present) for the salvation of those who believe in devotion to Him and those who have taken refuge at his feet as they are drowning and tormented by the ocean of worldliness. 

Sadaa nimba vrikshasya mooladhivaasaat 

Sudhaasravinam tiktamapya priyantam 

Tarum kalpa vrikshaadhikam saadhayantam 

Nameeswaram Sadgurum Sainaatham. 

Let us bow down to the God Sadguru Sainath who, By His constant abode under the margosa tree, whose juice though by nature is bitter and distasteful, has turned it nectar-like sweet, because He has exalted the tree above the legendary Kalpavriksh (the wish-fulfilling tree) 

Sadaa kalpavrikshyasya tasyaadhi moole 

Bhawadbhava budhyaa saparyaadisevaam 

Nrinaam kurwataam bhukti mukti pradantam 

Nameeswaram Sadgurum Sainaatham. 

Let us bow down to the God Sadguru Sainath, whom people go to worship and render devotional services, knowing Him to be Himself the kalpavriksh always; for those people he satisfies their worldly desires and grants them salvation 

Anekaashrutaa tarkya leelaa vilaasaeih 

Samaavishkruteshaana bhaasvat prabhaavam

Ahambhaava heenam prasannathma bhaawam 

Nameeswaram Sadgurum Sainaatham. 

Let us bow down to the God Sadguru Sainath, whose innumerable and wonderful Leelas(divine play), unheard of and unimagined, have displayed His divine splenderous glory; yet who is devoid of ego and is happily absorbed in the Self. 

Sataam Vishramaaraama mevaabhiraamam 

sadaa sajjanaih samsthutam sannamadbhih 

Janaamodadam bhakta bhadrapradantam 

Nameeswaram Sadgurum Sainaatham. 

Let us bow down to the God Sadguru Sainath, who is the perennial abode of rest, repose and refuge for the virtuous people and to whom praises are directed by good and pious persons- He who is the bestower of happiness and welfare to His devotees. 

Ajanmaadhyamekam param brahma saakshaat 

Swayam sambhavam raamamevaavateernam 

Bhawadharshanaathsam puneetah praboham 

Nameeswaram Sadgurum Sainaatham. 

Let us bow down to the God Sadguru Sainath, who is the Self-manifested, the Absolute Brahman, verily the Supreme Creator Incarnate, the Being without beginning or end, who has descended on this earth in the Ram avatar (Incarnation). O lord, I have been sanctified by your darshan. 

Sree Sayeesa kripaanidhe akhilanrinaam sarwaartha siddhi prada 

Yushmatpaadarajah prabahavamatulam dhaataapi vaktaakshhamah 

Sadbhakthyaa saranam kritaan jali putah samprapthithosmi prabho 

Shrimath Sayi paresa paada kamalaa naanya ccharanyam mama 

O Lord Sai, treasure-house of mercy, the bestower of all wealth, success and inspiration, even the creator is unable to describe the incomparable power of the dust of your feet. With my folded hands and true devotion, I surrender to you O Lord. There is no refuge for me, except the lotus feet of Shrimat Sainath, the Lord. 

Sayiroopadhara raaghavottamam, Bhakta kaama vibhuda dhrumam prabhum 

Maayayopahata chitta shudhayae, Chintayaamyahamaharnisam mudaa 

Lord Sai is the avatar of Raghav (Incarnation of Ram), the Lord who fulfils the desires of His devotees for the purification of their infatuated and deluded hearts and minds – to whom I pray, day and night, untiringly and blissfully. 

Sharat sudhaamsu pratrima prakaasam, kripatapaatram tava 

Sainaatha Twadeeya paadaabja samaashritaanaam, 

Swachhaayayaa taapamapaa karothu 

Lord Sainath, the canopy of your mercy is like the intense lusture of the autumn moon. Grant the cool shade (from that canopy) from the blazing heat of the three-fold calamities of life to those who have taken shelter at your feet. 

Upaasanaa Daivata Sainaatha, Sthavairmayopaasaninaasthu sthatwam 

Ramenmaromne tava paadayugme bhrungo, 

Yathaabji makarmda lubdhah 

Lord Sainath you are my God, whom I worship. I extol your praises. Let my mind dwell lovingly at your lotus feet, just as the bee hovers over the lotus flowers enticed by the desire of honey. Aneka janmaarjita paapasamkshayo, 

Bhavet bhawatpaada saroja darshanaat 

Kshamaswa sarvaanaparaadha poonjakaan, 

praseeda Sayeesa Sadguro dayaanidhe 

Lord Sai, Guru Ocean of compassion, bless me and pardon me for all my innumerable faults. May my boundless sins which have accumulated over several cycles of life be destroyed by the darshan of your feet 

Sri Sainatha charanaamrita putachithaah, 

Sthwatpaada seva natrataah satatamcha bhaktyaa 

Samsaara janya duritaagha vinirgataaste, kaivalya dhaama paramam samavaapnuvanti 

Those whose minds become purified by the nectar of tirth (Water deemed to be Holy from the washings of Lord’s feet) of Shri Sainath, those who are constantly absorbed in His service with – devotion they get freed from the distress caused by worldliness and attain salvation.

Strotrame tatpatte bhakthyaa yonara athanmanaahsadaa 

Sadguroh Sainaadhasya kripa paatram bhaveddhruham. 

Whosoever always recites this hymn with devotion and absorption will certainly be the recepeint of the grace of Sadguru until he lives. 

Ruso mama priyaambikaa majavaree pitahee ruso 

Ruso mama priyaangana priyasutaatmajaahee ruso 

Ruso bhagini bandhuhee swasura saasubayee ruso 

Na datta Guru Saayima majavaree kadheenhee ruso 

My darling mother, my father; my wife, my son, my daughter, my sister, my brother, my father-in-law, my mother-in-law, all may be annoyed with me but never my Dattaguru, my mother Sai, be annoyed with me. 

Puso na sunabayee tyaa maja na bhratrujaayaa puso 

Puso na priya soyare priya sage na gnateen puso 

Puso suhrida naa sakhaa swajana naapta bandhu puso 

Paree na Guru Saayima majavaree ksdheenhee ruso. 

My daughter-in-law, my brother’s wife; my dear ones, kith and kin may turn away from me or even people from my own caste; my selfless friend or any friend may turn away from me, or even my own people or my relatives; but never my Guru, my mother Sai, be annoyed with me. 

Puso na abalaa mulen tarun vriddhahee naa puso 

Puso na Guru Dhakute maja na thor saane puso

Puso nacha bhale bure sujan sadhuheen naa puso 

Paree na Guru Saayima majavaree ksdheenhee ruso 

Women, children, young and old may turn away from me. The elders, the youngsters, the venerable and the tiny ones may turn away from me. The virtuous and the wicked may turn away from me; 

Philosophical Significance of Grinding

Apart from the meaning that the people of Shirdi put on this incident of grinding wheat, there is, we think, a philosophical significance too. Sai Baba lived in Shirdi for about sixty years and during this long period; He did the business of grinding almost every day - not, however, the wheat alone; but the sins, the mental and physical afflictions and the miseries of His innumerable devotees. The two stones of His mill consisted of Karma and Bhakti, the former being the lower and the latter the upper one. The handle with which Baba worked the mill consisted of Jnana. It was the firm conviction of Baba that Knowledge or Self-realization is not possible, unless there is the prior act of grinding of all our impulses, desires, sins; and of the three gunas, viz. Sattva, Raja and Tama; and the Ahamkara, which is so subtle and therefore so difficult to be got rid of. 

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This reminds us of a similar story of Kabir who seeing a woman grinding corn said to his Guru, Nipathiranjana, "I am weeping because I feel the agony of being crushed in this wheel of worldly existence like the corn in the hand-mill." Nipathiranjana replied, "Do not be afraid; hold fast to the handle of knowledge of this mill, as I do, and do not wander far away from the same but turn inward to the Center, and you are sure to be saved."

Significant and Prophetic Title

 I began to think why Sai Baba should call me by the name Hemadpant. This word is a corrupt form of Hemadripant. This Hemadripant was a wellknown Minister of the kings Mahadev and Ramadev of Devgiri of the Yadav dynasty. He was very learned, good-natured and the author of good works, such as Chaturvarga Chintamani (dealing with spiritual subjects) and Rajprashasti. He invented and started new methods of accounts and was the originator of the Modi (Marathi Shorthand) script. But I was quite the opposite, an ignoramus, and have dull, mediocre intellect. So I could not understand why the name or title was conferred upon me, but thinking seriously upon it, I thought that the title was a dart to destroy my ego, so that, I should always remain meek and humble. It was also a compliment paid to me for the cleverness in the discussion. 

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Looking to the future history, we think that Baba’s word (calling Mr. Dabholkar by the name Hemadpant) was significant and prophetic, as we find that he looked after the management of Sai Sansthan very intelligently, kept nicely all the accounts and was also the author of such a good work "Sai Satcharita", which deals with such important and spiritual subjects as Jnana, Bhakti and dispassion, self-surrender and self-realization.

Sai Baba’s Sanction and Promise

As described in the previous chapter, Sai Baba gave His complete assent to the writing of the Sat-Charita and said, "I fully agree with you regarding the writing of Sat Charita. You do your duty, don’t be afraid in the least, steady your mind and have faith in My words. If My Leelas are written, the Avidya (nescience) will vanish and if they are attentively, and devoutly listened to, the consciousness of the worldly existence will abate, and strong waves of devotion, and love will rise up and if one dives deep into My Leelas, he would get precious jewels of knowledge." 

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Hearing this, author was much pleased, and he at once became fearless and confident, and thought that work was bound to be a success. Then turning to Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande) Sai Baba said. "If a man utters My name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes, increase his devotion. And if he sings earnestly My life and My deeds, him I shall beset in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees, who are attached to Me, heart and soul, will naturally feel happiness, when they hear these stories. Believe Me that if anybody sings My Leelas, I will give him infinite joy and everlasting contentment. It is My special characteristic to free any person, who surrenders completely to Me, and who does worship Me faithfully, and who remembers Me, and meditates on Me constantly. How can they be conscious of worldly objects and sensations, who utter My name, who worship Me, who think of My stories and My life and who thus always remember Me? I shall draw out My devotees from the jaws of Death. If My stories are listened to, all the diseases will be got rid of. So, hear My stories with respect; and think and meditate on them, assimilate them. This is the way of happiness and contentment. The pride and egoism of My devotees will vanish, the mind of the hearers will be set at rest; and if it has wholehearted and complete faith, it will be one with Supreme Consciousness. The simple remembrance of My name as ‘Sai, Sai’ will do away with sins of speech and hearing"