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Page 1: HARI RAYA HAJI/ONAM - · PDF fileSri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown CONTENT •Significance of Hari Raya Haji •Onam •Ancestry •Surrendering to God •Lessons •The Devotees

Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

HARI RAYA HAJI/ONAM SURRENDER

DATE: SATURDAY, 17TH SEPTEMBER 2016

Page 2: HARI RAYA HAJI/ONAM - · PDF fileSri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown CONTENT •Significance of Hari Raya Haji •Onam •Ancestry •Surrendering to God •Lessons •The Devotees

Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

CONTENT

• Significance of Hari Raya Haji

• Onam • Ancestry

• Surrendering to God

• Lessons

• The Devotee’s Surrender

• Swami’s Message

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

SIGNIFICANCE OF HARI RAYA HAJI

Page 4: HARI RAYA HAJI/ONAM - · PDF fileSri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown CONTENT •Significance of Hari Raya Haji •Onam •Ancestry •Surrendering to God •Lessons •The Devotees

Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

SIGNIFICANCE OF HARI RAYA HAJI

• Eid al-Adha also called the "Sacrifice Feast", is the second of two Muslim holidays celebrated worldwide each year, and considered the holier of the two.

• It honors the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son, as an act of submission to God's command, before God then intervened sending his angel Jibra'il (Gabriel) to inform him that his sacrifice had already been accepted.

• In the Islamic lunar calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah and lasts for four days until the 13th day.

• In the international (Gregorian) calendar, the dates vary from year to year drifting approximately 11 days earlier each year.

Page 5: HARI RAYA HAJI/ONAM - · PDF fileSri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown CONTENT •Significance of Hari Raya Haji •Onam •Ancestry •Surrendering to God •Lessons •The Devotees

Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

SIGNIFICANCE OF HARI RAYA HAJI

• Story of Abraham, in the Old Testament, progenitor of the Hebrews and founder of Judaism. God tested his loyalty by demanding he sacrifice his son, Isaac. He is esteemed by Muslims who regard him as the ancestor, through his son Ishmael, of the Arabs.

• One of the main trials of Abraham's life was to face the command of God to sacrifice his dearest possession, his son.

• The son is not named in the Quran, but Muslims believe it to be Ismail.

• Upon hearing this command, Abraham prepared to submit to will of God.

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

SIGNIFICANCE OF HARI RAYA HAJI

• During this preparation, Shaitan (the Devil) tempted Abraham and his family by trying to dissuade them from carrying out God's commandment, and Abraham drove Satan away by throwing pebbles at him.

• In commemoration of their rejection of Satan, stones are thrown at symbolic pillars during the Stoning of the Devil during Hajj rites.

• When Abraham attempted to cut his throat, he was astonished to see that his son was unharmed and instead, he found a dead ram which was slaughtered.

• Abraham had passed the test by his willingness to carry out God's command.

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

ONAM

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

ANCESTRY

In making such an offering, Emperor Bali was supreme. He was the grandson of Prahlada. Emperor Bali was dedicating his entire life to God. He was a great devotee. Moreover he excelled in acts of charity. He made his subjects rejoice. He never went back on his plighted word. He was full of such great virtues. Emperor Bali took good care of his people, promoting their welfare and endearing himself to them.

Bali's father, Virochana, was also a godly ruler. Thus from Prahlada to Bali the whole line of rulers were filled with love of God. They were influenced by the Divine power. Originally Prahlada's father, Hiranyakasipu, was Lord Vishnu's gatekeeper. Whatever their differences in behavior and attitudes, all three (Prahlada, Virochana and Bali) were equally inspired by devotion to God.

- Onam, 5TH September 1995

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

SURRENDERING TO GOD

On seeing Vamana, Emperor Bali stood up and extended a reverent welcome to him and seated him in a proper seat and enquired, "Sir! May I know on what purpose you visited us? What can I do for you?"

The young Vamana replied, "Oh Emperor Bali! I just need three foot step length of land. I don't need anything more."

Emperor Bali was taken aback and spontaneously agreed to His request saying, "Oh! Is that all? All right, take it."

Vamana expanded in His stature and with one foot reached out over the entire skies. When he set his second step, the entire earth was transcended. He then enquired of Bali, "Where do I put my third step?"

Page 10: HARI RAYA HAJI/ONAM - · PDF fileSri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown CONTENT •Significance of Hari Raya Haji •Onam •Ancestry •Surrendering to God •Lessons •The Devotees

Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

SURRENDERING TO GOD

Emperor Bali replied, "Swami! You asked for just three foot steps of land. But you covered the entire sky and earth with just two steps. All my domain is already exhausted. Please bless me by putting your third step on my head." Vamana then placed his foot on Emperor Bali's head and sent him down to the netherworld (patala).

You may have a doubt in this context as to how Bali could be pushed down to the netherworld by Vamana simply by placing his foot on Bali's head. When the entire sky and earth could be covered with one step each, you can imagine how powerful and gigantic Vamana's steps were! The third step was equally powerful and gigantic. Its impact could therefore push Emperor Bali down to the netherworld.

There are other reasons too! Emperor Bali was no doubt a great devotee with humility. However, there was an element of ego in him. God will tolerate anything but not anger and ego. He does not appreciate these qualities.

- Divine Discourse, 5th September 2006

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

LESSONS

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

LESSONS

Onam Eid Al-Adha

Supreme Sacrifice Obedience & Submission

Keeping One’s Word Life is a test

Nothing belongs to anyone Complete Faith

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

THE DEVOTEE’S SURENDER

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

THE DEVOTEE’S SURENDER

• Prof Raghunath Safaya was a Master in Philosophy and History and lecturer in Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning.

• His greatest passion were astrology and palmistry which was inherited by his ancestors.

• He was the owner of a set of heavy books on the subjects which was delivered to him as a heirloom.

• He perceived Swami as a wonderful and evolved human being who was spreading goodness to society.

• Swami was very happy with him and gave him a lot of interviews as well.

• Swami called him once for an interview.

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

THE DEVOTEE’S SURENDER

• Swami asked him how things were going.

• Then Swami out of the blue told him “You seem to have great faith in the predictive sciences of your forefathers. That overpowers even your faith in God’s strength! Do you believe that commensurate your surrender, I will take care of everything for you?”

• The professor was taken aback.

• It was not easy for him to transform his reverence for swami into implicit faith.

• He was confused because Swami had given him an emerald ring which was a planetary talisman.

• Swami continued to taunt him.

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

THE DEVOTEE’S SURENDER

• “Professor, your sciences can only predict. Can they help you intervene, if something is unfavourable?”

• Professor knew what Swami said was true as the remedial measures given are never foolproof.

• Slowly Swami brushed his palms over the professor’s upturned palms and told him “Tell me, what does life hold for you?”

• The professor looked down at his palms.

• The lines in which he was very familiar with by heart was not there.

• The palms were wiped clean of the lines

• Swami stood smiling in front of him apparently enjoying the professor’s discomfiture and Swami lovingly patted him.

• “Don’t worry about anything. Once you surrender to Me, I shall take care of everything.”

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

THE DEVOTEE’S SURENDER

• The professor fell to his knees and touched Swami’s feet saying “Yes Swami ! Yes Swami! I believe that commensurate with our surrender, You take care. Complete Surrender means a life completely taken care of!”

• Swami smiled at him and touched his palms again and all the lines came back.

• Swami said “ You have nothing to worry, when I am shouldering your lives. Just surrender, that is enough.”

- Page 38, Living With God

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

SWAMI’S MESSAGE

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

SWAMI’S MESSAGE To experience divine love there is no need to practice any kind of meditation, worship or rituals. Selfless love (Prema) can be obtained only by complete absorption in spirituality. It was for this reason that Sri Krishna declared in the Gita: “Surrender unto Me, transcending all rules (Sarva Dharman Parityajya)". Likewise, Jesus also declared: "I am the Path." Buddha, conveying the same meaning, declared, "Surrender everything" (Sarvam Sharanam Gachchami). These statements clearly convey that the essence of all religions, the root of all scriptures, the goal of all virtues, is the experience of spiritual oneness and unity (Sarvatmika Bhavam). The Gopikas exemplified such a spirit of surrender and oneness. Gopikas symbolise thoughts. Radha symbolises the combination of all thoughts in the mind. So all our thoughts, desires and aspirations and our mind should merge in Krishna, represented by Prajna in a human being. Constant Integrated Awareness (Prajna) of the Divine is the significance of the Vedantic declaration, ‘Prajnanam Brahma.’

- Divine Discourse, Aug 21, 1992.

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

REFERENCES

WEBSITES

• Eid Al Adha - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_al-Adha

• Sai Darshan - http://saidarshan.org/baba/index.html

• Eid Al-Adha: A Symbol Of Obedience - https://www.missionislam.com/knowledge/eidahaobedience.html

BOOKS

• Living With God, Aravind Balasubramanya

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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown

END OF PRESENTATION

A Presentation By,

Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre Queenstown


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