User:VishalBoda/Sri Sainathuni Sarath Babuji

Sri Sainathuni Sarath Babuji (07th October, 1954 - 13th November, 2010) whom people affectionately called Guruji, was for countless Sai devotees in India and abroad a living paragon of the beatific path of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi. “Baba is both the Path and the Goal” he would say.

Guruji was born on holy Vijayadashami, 07th October, 1954. Vijayadashami is one of the grandest festivals celebrated in India. It is the most significant day of the calendar for devotees of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi, as on the day of Vijayadashami in 1918 this unique saint took Mahasamadhi. This day is made more memorable as it was on holy Vijayadashami, 07th October, 1954, the stunning marble statue of Sri Sai Baba was installed in the Samadhi Mandir in Shirdi. The way in which the course of Sri Babuji’s life unfolded makes this a typical Sai-Incidence rather than a simple coincidence.

Sri Babuji who dedicated every moment of his life to Sri Sai Baba and lived in the fullness of Baba’s grace, took Mahasamadhi on Saturday 13th November, 2010 at 09:21AM (Germany Time) (01:15PM IST) in Murnau, South Germany.

Sri Babuji was born on Vijayadashami, Thursday 07th October, 1954 at 05.30AM in St.Isabel’s Hospital in Mylapore, Madras. He was the eldest of the five children of Surendra Babu Garu & Venkata Ratnamma Garu.

Chance Meeting
Sarath Babu’s interest was ignited when he visited Sri Bharadwaja at his home to receive feedback on a speech about Mahatma Gandhi that he had prepared for Independence Day. Although Sarath Babu was skeptical at first, he became attracted to the Satsangs conducted by Sri Bharadwaja and their close association soon fanned and channeled his thrust for spiritual knowledge and experience. Sarath Babu served his spiritual guide with unflagging love and devotion for 14 years. Sri Bharadwaja master requested him to take care of weekly Satsangs in Vidyanagar. Sarath Babu did this without fail for 6 years. Regardless of poor health and bad weather he would cycle or walk the distance from Kota every Thursday. Later when Babuji was studying in Tirupati, he continued to travel weekly to Vidyanagar to attend the Satsang and also often he used accompany his master to conduct Satsangs throughout Andhra Pradesh.

Inspirations and Influences
"Babuji once said “Sri Ramana Maharshi made me see the vessel of my being, Sri Pondi Swami emptied it clean and Sri Sai Baba filled it”.

Visiting Arunachala, Tiruvannamalai (1972-1974)
A major inspiration in early years of Sarath Babu’s spiritual quest was the life of Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi. His biography touched the young seeker deeply and awakened him to the possibility of realization in his human life. He spent various periods of time in blessed solitude at Arunachala in Tiruvannamalai engrossed in depths of spiritual enquiry. During that time he was inspired to do a thorough study of Sri Bhagwan’s life and teachings, resulting in a fascinating manuscript, full of revealing and endearing details which throw light on aspects of Sri Bhagwan’s life.

Visiting Sri Pondi Swamy (August 1974)
Sri Babuji spent a uniquely fruitful month in the presence of the great Avadhuta Saint, Sri Pondi Swamy, as a renunciate, though he did not take any formal sanyaas. His perseverance and one-pointed quest for fulfillment were answered during this, the most transformative period of his life.

Time in Tirupati & Tirumala during his Post Graduation
Instead of leaving the world, Sri Babuji rejoined it. He began working to earn a living and took up post-graduation studies in Sociology at Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. During that period, he would often visit Tirumala, the sacred temple site of Lord Venkateswara and spend time there in the forests of the sacred hills.

Visit to Shirdi (1977)
It was not until 1977 that Sri Babuji got his first opportunity to visit Shirdi, the home of his beloved Sai Baba. Sri Babuji said “it is to the grace of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi that he attributed every nuance of his fulfillment, and each facet of his existence. It was the life and teachings of Sri Sai Baba which, above all, served as the catalytic backdrop for all his spiritual endeavors and their fruition. In the same year he embarked on a journey to various holy places in North India including Pandharpur and Ganagapur and visited Tajuddin Muhammad Badruddin’s dargah in Nagpur, Ansuya Mata in Paradasingar near Nagpur and the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad.

Returning to Venkatagiri (1977-1980)
Upon return from North trip, he moved to Venkatagiri where his father was then working as the headmaster of a school. There, Sri Babuji set up a Primary School called Sai Baba English Medium School which he closed after 3 years when he entered a period of Solitude. Throughout his time in Venkatagiri he held daily Satsangs. These lively satsangs forged a loving bond among the people associated with him and kindled their fire of devotion and enthusiastic commitment to the path of Sai. In 1981, Sri Babuji attended the Sai Baba Mandir inauguration in Vidyanagar. During that time, he was the editor of Dattatreya (English) & Sadguru Darshanama (Telugu) souvenirs. Both these souvenirs were released for the occasion of the inauguration.

Marriage of Sri Babuji & Smt.Anasuya (27th May, 1982)
It was Sri Babuji’s wish to remain without any household entanglements so he had not given any thought to the questions of marriage. However his guru, Sri Bharadwaja, advised him to marry and become a householder like himself. He had even chosen a bride befitting his disciple’s spiritual way of life. Sri Babuji followed his guru’s advice without a second thought. The chosen bride was none other than Sri Bharadwaja’s sister-in-law, Anasuya, who was then living in his household attending and assisting her ailing sister, Sri Bharadwaja’s wife. The wedding took place in Pongola in 1982, as it is customary to perform the marriage at the bride’s location Sri Bharadwaja assumed the role of the bride’s father and did the ceremonial Kanyadan (giving away the bride) at the wedding ceremony. It was indeed, a rare gift for a disciple to receive from his guru.

Farewell to Venkatagiri (November 1982)
After their marriage Sri Babuji and Anasuya ammagaru stayed in Venkatagiri for 6 months. They then moved to Ongole to take care of the Sai Baba magazine as requested by Sri Bharadwaja who resided there.