Mathru Devo Bhava

Sai Dharmam: May 2025

SaiDharmam

May 01, 2025

Table of Contents:

Divine Discourse
SSE Corner
Devotee Speaks
Bhajan
Game

The Chosen Mother

Divine Discourse

Who is Easwaramma?

She is the mother of Easwara. This was not the name given to her by her parents. But after her marriage, Kondama Raju (Swami’s grandfather), being one of wisdom and blessed with a vision of the future, started calling her Easwaramma (mother of Easwara). She was christened as Namagiriamma at the time of her birth. But Kondama Raju told her that Easwaramma was the most appropriate name for her, as he knew that she was going to become the mother of Easwara.

Easwaramma was born in such a poor family that she did not even have proper food to eat. All that she had to eat was ragi sankati (gruel prepared from a coarse grain). Even I too eat ragi sankati only. Many people in Karnataka eat ragi sankati. I like it very much. I do not relish rice, kurma (curry), etc., Ragi sankati with groundnut chutney is My favourite food. Both ragi and groundnut are available in our village. When I come here from Puttaparthi, I bring ragi flour with Me. Easwaramma was illiterate. When I see the egoistic attitude, perverted mentality and ostentatious behaviour of the present-day educated people, I feel it was better that Easwaramma did not have any schooling.

When I was seven and half years old, I used to teach Pandhari bhajans to small children in our village. Easwaramma and Subbamma used to feel ecstatic watching Me sing Pandhari bhajans and dance to their rhythm. Sometimes, her husband Pedda Venkama Raju would give Easwaramma some money for the household expenditure. Once two annas (1/16 of a rupee) were remaining with her out of this money. One could buy two bags of puffed rice for two annas those days. So, Easwaramma bought two bags of puffed rice with the two annas and distributed it to the children. She always used to give away whatever she had with her. She was the embodiment of sacrifice."

She used to talk lovingly to all those who came to her. When devotees would feel sad that Swami was ignoring them, she would console them saying, “Whatever Swami does is for your own good.”

Easwaramma’s Kind-Heartedness

When I was being taken to Uravakonda for further education, all those children whom I used to teach many good things in the evening felt very dejected. At the time of leaving, ten of those children came to Me and offered one battu (three paise) each as Guru Dakshina (an offering of gratitude to the teacher). When I gave this money to Easwaramma, she was moved to tears. She held My hand and exclaimed, “What a spirit of sacrifice at such a tender age!” Till she breathed her last, she kept those coins with her.

Initially, I was staying in Subbamma’s house. But when the number of devotees increased, a new mandir was constructed. One day Easwaramma came in when I was having My food. When others tried to follow her, she told them not to come. She held both My hands and pleaded, “Swami, there is no hospital in our village. Consequently, when the children become sick, mothers are forced to carry them to Bukkapatnam. I am unable to see their suffering. My children and others’ children are one and the same for me. So, kindly construct at least a small hospital in our village.”

I promised her that I would fulfil her wish and accordingly I built a big hospital, which was inaugurated by the then Central Minister, Bejawada Gopala Reddy. Easwaramma’s joy knew no bounds. The whole day she did not feel the need for food and water as she felt highly contented and overjoyed. She caught hold of My hands and expressed her happiness as her wish was fulfilled in a big way.

I told her, “Be happy.” After some time, she approached Swami again and wanted a school to be built in the village. As desired by her, I got a school constructed. Initially, it was a small one. Later on, I made it into a big building. She was very happy. She went to the school, kissed the children and showered her love on them. She was extremely happy and said, “In this Age of Kali, it is my good fortune to have a son like You, who has done whatever I wished.”

How does Mother Easwaramma’s life of simplicity, sacrifice, and kindness challenge the 21st century, modern ideas of success and education?
In what ways can we all embody Easwaramma’s spirit of selflessness and compassion in our own communities today?

Please share your thoughts, using the comment button at the bottom of the page.

Discourse link

SSE Corner

Comic Strip by Taneesh Medabalime (Group 3)

Sai Dharmam Poem by Maaran Anand (Group 3)

I walk with Swami every day,

He shows me love, He shows the way.

To speak with truth, to help and share,

To show the world how much I care.

To draw for Him, or write a song,

To do what's right, not what is wrong.

To serve with joy, to smile and give,

That is the way I choose to live.

Sai Dharmam is kind and true,

It lives in me, it lives in you.

With Swami's love in all I do,

I follow Him the whole way through.

The Love of a Thousand Mothers: Honouring Our First Gods

Devotee Speaks by Prasaanthan G.

The love of our Sai Maa is that of a thousand mothers. This has been told to me and in fact Bhagawan Himself has said this, and yet why a thousand? Why not a hundred or a million? These are questions I had as a child years ago. I would often ponder how it is possible to have a love so strong in general (let us assume infinite love) for a devotee. To understand this, it is important to see how Bhagawan describes the importance of mother. He has said plainly that the way a child treats their parents has karmic consequences of a special kind - the fruits of this karma return to the child in this life itself. This has a special potency as it reminds us that we must primarily, from as early an age as possible, tend to the needs of our parents. There is no “I will take care of them later” or “I can talk to them in the future”. Once I knew this from Baba’s teachings, it was clear to me that mother and father have a special priority in my life.

What does it mean to honour our parents as our first Gods? In my experience, I saw them as key investors in my life and wellbeing from a young age. I spoke to them always with respect and love and shared with them my goals and ambitions. We may not have always agreed completely, but I approached any disagreements or differences in opinion with an open mind and with a clear respect for them as representatives of Swami in my life. This allowed my relationship with them to grow deeper and stronger over time.

My love for my parents made me seek opportunities to stay close to them physically. I prioritized seeing them at least weekly after my marriage and receiving their blessings on all major milestones in my life. I not so long ago lost my father. I pray I served him the best I could.

In 2007, at the International Youth Conference, I heard Baba telling us to talk to our parents regularly. It was a wake-up call that the relationship with parents is not something to take lightly. Now, I have my mother. She is my cherished one. Every moment I have with her means a lifetime to me. I regularly feel the love my mother has for me and all of her children and grandchildren. When I think that even this single mother’s love is so comforting and blissful, I still cannot fathom the love of 1000 mothers, let alone infinite mothers. Treating one’s parents with the highest regard is one of the easiest ways to win God’s grace.

To whomever reads this, take not for granted your time with your parents. If, like me, you have lost one or both of your parents’, then there is yet our Mother Sai - a parent whose presence and love know no bounds. Hold on tight to that loving relationship and let us find our duties fulfilled therein.

Bhajan

Mangala Kaarini Jai Sai Ma

Jai Sai Ma Jai Sai Ma [ Mangala Kaarini ... ]

Bhagya Pradayini Sai Ma

Bhava Bhaya Haarini Sai Ma

Tribhuvana Palini Jai Sai Ma

Mata Maheshwari Sai Ma

Jai Jai Jai Sai Ma (3)

Meaning: Victory to Mother Sai who bestows auspiciousness and wealth, who is the destroyer of fear (worldly attachments) and who is the ruler of the three worlds.

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