Celebrating 500th expression of Devotion inspired by Shirdi Saibaba

Sairam friends,

Aum Sai Ram

I am happy to dedicate 500th article expressing my devotion on Shirdi Saibaba.

It all started on December 23rd 2004 when I wanted to make a website for Shirdi Saibaba. When ever I go to Nagasai mandhir, I used to have a vision or I imagine a Star and as if there are 8 Sai’s beautifully giving darshan from each corner of the Star. I decided the name to be “StarSai” and launched my Sweet little Sai site.

I can still remember that a month before creating StarSai, I was really depressed and I knew something wrong and Sai wants me to spread good messages and inspire people in the path of devotion. I printed 1000 Posters of Shirdi Saibaba with following quotes

“Give food to the hungry, Water to the Thirsty and clothes to the naked. Then God will be pleased” – Shirdi Saibaba

On December 25th 2004, I started coming around holy Dhuni in Shirdi Saibaba temple at Coimbatore and gave these posters to few devotees. Next day, there was a Tsunami and I felt really painful. I went to Sai mandhir and when I gave posters to few devotees they realized how many victims of Tsunami were in need of all the above.

I had few visions and wanted to dedicated prayers to Goddess of Nation. The next couple of years,  I used to give few Sai posters to devotees who come near holy Dhuni. I don’t give to all. If I see someone praying Sai with devotion and if anyone looks Sad, I give them a poster and make them happy.

Every single evening, I used to come around the holy fire of Sai for around 3 to 4 hours and dedicate my prayers to Sai. My parents never stopped me. Those days I was a freelancer and Google helped me earn a living for few month. When I failed in my career and all my plans to make it big online,I used to be dejected. Nothing stopped me from serving in Saibaba temple in little way possible.

Some used to tease me, make fun of me that I always come around dhuni. Since I come around dhuni and give photos and they don’t know my name, they call “Photo kudukura payyan” . Some used to say I am there to look at girls. Some gave complaint about me. I bear it all because, It was Sai who was making me do it. I was in my own world of Sai devotion and my stupidity of telling few devotees how good it is to light lamps.

Those days very few devotees light lamps in the Sai mandhir. Today there’s so much lamps lit on Thursdays that you can’t keep count on it.

How Sai inspired me to work for him and gave me opportunity to do good deeds through StarSai?

I used to tell from the beginning of 2014 that its the 10th year of StarSai. Now I realized 10 years are not yet over. As of May 14th 2014, StarSai is 9 years and 141 days old.

From early days, Sai devotees has been landing on StarSai for Sai Vrat Pooja

Honestly, I must have replied at least 1000 mails for enquires regarding Sai Vrat Pooja and my suggestions has always been very casual. I ask devotees have little Veg food as Sai don’t like his children to Starve. I ask them not to follow the rules as it is and do it as they feel comfortable. Many ask me about distributing Sai Vrat books and I tell them simply read few chapters in Sai Satcharitra instead of the story found in Sai vrat pooja.

One of the early articles I wrote that guides Sai devotees even today are

Reasons for Sufferings in life

Ways to solve problems in life

Mean while, my first visit to Shirdi happened on March 30th/April 1st 2006. I took a bus from Mumbai and attended Kakad Aarti of Saibaba. I loved Shirdi heart and soul.

Somtime later, I wrote below article

What shirdi saibaba expects from his true devotees during their shirdi trip ?

Until 2007, I never posted a single photo on StarSai.com like a stupid thinking it will consume more bandwidth and my Hosting company will charge more from me. he he.. In August 2007, I went to Shirdi once again and bought a beautiful Saibaba statue. I asked my Father to stitch dress for Saibaba. He did that and I did some photography for Sai children to feel happy.

I had been to Tirupati in 2007 when I got few vision by Lord Venkateswara’s grace

Sri Venkateswara – The God who opened eyes for chanting his holy name

A week later I had another vision at night where I saw a divine white light.

I realized Sai wants me to do little sites for Hindu Gods and and for separate issues

In 2009, One of my Sai friend in Indore told me Ganesha came in her dream and told her “Venkat is writing about all Gods but not me”.

When I was in Mumbai working in a Film school, I used to go Lord Dattatreya temple regularly and my devotion lead to DattatreyaLotus

I don’t want to wrote in detail about the recent sites I created as I am in hurry to go office now.

Story of how Sai inspired me to write  regularly in StarSai

More than 2000 devotees come to StarSai everyday only to see Shirdi Saibaba Speaks from Dwarakamai

I thought devotees must come out of it and focus on Sai practically. Sometimes, life doesn’t changes so easily. We have to go through sufferings. I write about my worries in StarSai because devotees must realize Sai is not a miracle worker ever moment of your life. At times, You must hold on to Sai’s holy feet even when nothing seems to happen.

I started writing a Book which I never seem to complete

Shirdi Saibaba Book of Love

For 10 years, 500 articles are too little as I started writing regularly only from 2013.

So every night or Morning, I try to allot some time and express what ever is happening in my life. I know I loose my privacy in doing so but it has served its purpose of inspiring hundreds of Sai devotees.

Pooja for Shirdi Saibaba

Honestly, There’s no pooja specific for Saibaba at all. We all created Sai vrat pooja and other pooja for our liking. I thought devotees are too busy and hence must do a small pooja quickly.

StarSai Shradha Saburi Pooja

Many devotees used to tell me that they are doing this pooja and it makes me feel good though I want to say that you can worship Sai as you wish. In Sai’s universe there are no rules. Show devotion on Sai happily. Thats enough

There’s more to the story of StarSai but I am getting late now friends.

All I can say is its a journey with love in the path of Sai bhakti.

Many used to wonder why I write about my parents often. StarSai would have not been possible without my parents. No parents allow their son to do all this.  I started it when I was 25 when every other guy will be busy growing in his career, get married and make a family.

I made my Sai children as my Family.

I made Sai as my universe.

After all these years, My parents just worry about my life but they have never stopped me from being devoted to Sai and the Gods I love.

I thank Sai my sweet guru, friend and love.

I thank each and every devotee who has supported me in my journey with Sai.

I thank all who have been coming to StarSai

I thank you all because you have been an inspiration too.

I wish to do little good deeds all my life writing about Sai. Not all my writings are devotional in nature. I have expressed what ever comes to my mind.

Sai, forgive me for the little mistakes I have done so far.

Forgive me because I am not perfect

After all, I will call my self as “Little Servant of Shirdi Saibaba” even when I grow old.

Because I just do little and the Little I do is “StarSai”

So this is a silent celebration of 500th expression of devotion inspired by Shirdi Saibaba

Hugs to all my friends.

Love

C.Venkatraman