A Divine Journey with Baba

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Baba's Akra Vachnae or the 'Eleven promises of Baba' are cherished by every Sai devotee. They are most quoted and sung the world over.

In the first part of this book, the intrinsic, profound meaning of the eleven promises is given, replete with leelas and verses from the Shri Sai Satcharita. The second part of the book offers the 'Gems of Baba's Wisdom. Radha Krishna Mai's shala was the focal point and Baba sent numerous devotees to her shala. Mai taught and nurtured each devotee to perform Guru seva. The everyday conversations that Baba and Mai had with Swami Sharananand led to the process of 'Self-enquiry' and to realisation. This book is a 'moral and spiritual compass' that guides us in making the arduous journey to Shirdi and finally to the feet of Samartha Sadguru-Sainath.

Vinny Chitluri was born in Arvankadu (Nilgaris) and was educated in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. She did her post graduation in paediatrics from Kalavati Saren Hospital, Delhi. She then went to the U.S., and was conferred the 'Diplomat of the American Academy of Pediatrics' on passing the board examination.

While in the U.S., she reflected on the karmic bonds with her family. Her father worshipped Baba and she too has been doing so for over 60 years. Her relationship with Baba is that of a 'best friend' who loves her unconditionally. She retired from the medical profession at the age of 50 and went to Shirdi in 1994 and settled there. Then she set about trying to know more about Baba. She soon realised that 'the more she learned about him the more ignorant she felt.' It would take many lives to understand this incredible God, and so her quest is an ongoing one.

BABA SPOKE VERY LITTLE, AND REFRAINED FROM GIVING LECTURES and speeches. When he did speak, it was just a couple of simple sentences. However, these simple sentences had a deep spiritual meaning.

I have been singing Baba's arati and Akra Vachanae (eleven promises) from a very young age. At that time it didn't enter my consciousness to delve into the deeper meaning of his 'sayings' or Akra Vachanae, and in fact I was quite content with its literal meaning. In fact, I have been reciting the eleven promises for over 60 years, but it was only after reading the articles written on it in Marathi and hearing the discourses given by Dilip Pavar that I was able to grasp its deeper meaning.

Pavar Kaka, as he is fondly called, is invited to numerous functions to give discourses on the eleven promises and I try to attend most of them. It has become a mission of Kaka's life to make the devotees aware of its meaning. Then one day he asked me to translate into English what he had written, and I readily agreed.

In the first part of the book I have tried to translate the Akra Vachanae into English and explain their deeper spiritual meaning. It is a spiritual journey to be undertaken with the aid of our Karma Indriyas, Gyana Indriyas and Anthakarna Chatusthaya. The eleven promises are interspersed with apt and unique leelas that make the journey interesting as the devotee finally reaches his destination-Shirdi.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages

Baba's Akra Vachnae or the 'Eleven promises of Baba' are cherished by every Sai devotee. They are most quoted and sung the world over.

In the first part of this book, the intrinsic, profound meaning of the eleven promises is given, replete with leelas and verses from the Shri Sai Satcharita. The second part of the book offers the 'Gems of Baba's Wisdom. Radha Krishna Mai's shala was the focal point and Baba sent numerous devotees to her shala. Mai taught and nurtured each devotee to perform Guru seva. The everyday conversations that Baba and Mai had with Swami Sharananand led to the process of 'Self-enquiry' and to realisation. This book is a 'moral and spiritual compass' that guides us in making the arduous journey to Shirdi and finally to the feet of Samartha Sadguru-Sainath.

Vinny Chitluri was born in Arvankadu (Nilgaris) and was educated in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. She did her post graduation in paediatrics from Kalavati Saren Hospital, Delhi. She then went to the U.S., and was conferred the 'Diplomat of the American Academy of Pediatrics' on passing the board examination.

While in the U.S., she reflected on the karmic bonds with her family. Her father worshipped Baba and she too has been doing so for over 60 years. Her relationship with Baba is that of a 'best friend' who loves her unconditionally. She retired from the medical profession at the age of 50 and went to Shirdi in 1994 and settled there. Then she set about trying to know more about Baba. She soon realised that 'the more she learned about him the more ignorant she felt.' It would take many lives to understand this incredible God, and so her quest is an ongoing one.

BABA SPOKE VERY LITTLE, AND REFRAINED FROM GIVING LECTURES and speeches. When he did speak, it was just a couple of simple sentences. However, these simple sentences had a deep spiritual meaning.

I have been singing Baba's arati and Akra Vachanae (eleven promises) from a very young age. At that time it didn't enter my consciousness to delve into the deeper meaning of his 'sayings' or Akra Vachanae, and in fact I was quite content with its literal meaning. In fact, I have been reciting the eleven promises for over 60 years, but it was only after reading the articles written on it in Marathi and hearing the discourses given by Dilip Pavar that I was able to grasp its deeper meaning.

Pavar Kaka, as he is fondly called, is invited to numerous functions to give discourses on the eleven promises and I try to attend most of them. It has become a mission of Kaka's life to make the devotees aware of its meaning. Then one day he asked me to translate into English what he had written, and I readily agreed.

In the first part of the book I have tried to translate the Akra Vachanae into English and explain their deeper spiritual meaning. It is a spiritual journey to be undertaken with the aid of our Karma Indriyas, Gyana Indriyas and Anthakarna Chatusthaya. The eleven promises are interspersed with apt and unique leelas that make the journey interesting as the devotee finally reaches his destination-Shirdi.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages