SAMARPANA
AUM SRI SAI RAM
I would just like to briefly give the details of how I conceived the idea of Digest. 11th January 1974, is the turning point in the lives of the Tumulurus, when we had the Darshan of the Divine Lord, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in Brindavan, Whitefield. There was no interaction between Baba and us, except that I took a photograph of his and I understood from the neighbours sitting in the room that he put his hand on my head. In Brindavan, there was a big banyan tree with a covered shed, and Baba came from his mandir, to the open spaces up to the banyan tree to give Darshan. On the 24th January 1974, Bhagavan saved me from the coming up of cerebral hemorrhage by miraculously operating on the head of my wife Smt. Tumuluru Prabha who was having a nap in the afternoon, by pressing her head to the size of a roti and the blood in my head had suddenly come down to my feet and becoming completely free of the physical and mental struggle I had. This was the first miracle.
In 1974, the entire family was at his call as it appears. We visited Puttaparthi, staying in Kottacheruvu because there was no accommodation in Puttaparthi. We stayed all the 10 days of Dasara. Subsequently, I went to Puttaparthi for Bhagavan’s birthday celebrations in 1975, I was there between 4th November and 28th November. On 23rd November of 1975, Bhagavan released Sai Avatar – a pocket book compiled by Sri C.L. Gandhi which contained 365 passages of Bhagavan, a passage for each day. On return to Calcutta, I joined the study group and by His grace, supported by Sri C.L. Gandhi, prepared Sai Avatar, Volume 2, collecting 1,380 passages in 679 pages while also giving a caption for each passage and an index, providing a reference to each passage. The 1,380th passage “Sai Declares: ‘I shall be ever with you, wherever you are, guiding you, and guarding you. March on…have no fear.’” This second volume, became very popular, and several reprints were made. My desire to learn more and to share with other devotees and others was increasing day by day. As such Sai Avatar Volume 3 was prepared and the late Sri TS Sadashivam, husband of Srimati M, S, Subbulakshmi printed it and offered it to Bhagavan on the occasion of the inauguration of Trayee Brindavan in Whitefield.
HISTORY
How the Word “Digest” Was Conceived.
In one of the functions in Prashanti Nilayam, I was sitting in the Poornachandra auditorium reading ‘Conversations with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’ by John Hislop waiting for the arrival of Bhagavan for Darshan. While reading, a thought occurred to me, that I should compile Bhagavan’s saying in an alphabetical order and was initially thinking of christening it as a dictionary. But it occurred to me that “dictionary” is not the correct word, as it does not necessarily give the meaning of any word. The messages compiled are what Bhagavan has spoken, “discoursed, and declared” and every syllable and word, spoken and uttered by Bhagavan is a mantra. These sayings have to be ruminated by Shravana, Manana and in Nididhyasana, that is to be digested and put into practice.
Volume 1
Having conceived the thought to compile a Digest, I started with right earnest collecting and culling the sayings of Bhagavan as it appealed to my mind, impelled by him only and I copied it in a manuscript, and as I was supposed to go to Bangalore, I took it to Bhagavan in Whitefield and Bhagavan put his hand on it, in one of the Darshans. Returning to Calcutta, I continued copying from the books available, the sayings of Bhagavan. In those days of late 70s, there were no computers, and the manuscripts had to be typed by eight typists purely out of love. Typed matter was of about 500 pages, all stored in a box-files.
I had to go on official work to Bangalore on a Thursday. When I reached, Ramnik Vithalani, my colleague in Brooke Bond, suggested that, this being an auspicious day, I should go to Whitefield, and offer it to Bhagavan. I took his advice, and went to Whitefield, fortunately got a front seat and had with me the two box-files, one of which, I thought I would offer to Bhagavan. The person sitting next to me was Narasimha Murthy, working in Sathya Sai Press, Whitefield but suggested that I should write a letter, and keep it ready to offer it to Bhagavan.
Bhagavan majestically came to the Banyan tree shed, where people were sitting round the tree. At that time, Bhagavan gave me a Darshan with ‘Triputi’ that is three vibhuti rekhas on the forehead. Shining like silver lines and making me wonder and question whether he was Shiva or Subramanyeswara. For a couple of minutes, the dazzling lines shone into my eyes, and I was mystified. After speaking to the other devotees, Swami turned to where I was sitting. I stood up with the two box-files in the left hand, shaking due to the weight. Swami came, quickly created vibhuti, poured into my right hand. My mouth was shut, I was unable to utter a word. Swami literally snatched the letter and moved away. Sri Narasimha Murthy offered a piece of paper to fold the vibhuti. Two days later when I met Kasturi, he said that he had not approved the book, but had given the vibhuti for my illness, and asked me to swallow the vibhuti with a glass of water. He appreciated the work, and told me to sit on Sunday with the book for Baba’s Darshan. Fortunately, I was sitting in the front row with the book, I stood up, and he asked me “What is this?” When I told him, that I had complied Swami’s quotations in alphabetical order, He took the box-file, and signed “Blessings, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.”
The ego in me ballooned, but none was prepared to publish it, as the cost was prohibitive. Indulal Shah suggested that I should prepare booklets on various subjects costing about two rupees. As suggested I did two or three booklets which were printed and published for birthday celebrations. Slowly the balloon was punctured and the air of ego was coming down. Ultimately, I was wondering what to do with the Digest. Not for the voluminous work I has put in, but I wanted people to read Swami’s messages. One day I had the occasion to show this manuscript to Sri VK Narasimhan, Associate editor of Sanathana Sarathi, who said “this monumental work should be printed, no good work would ever go waste.” Fortunately, two days later, on the way to Darshan, we met Mr. Antonio Craxi and then, Sri Narasimhan suggested that he should of print the Digest. He replied, “if Bhagavan approves, I will do it.” Two or three days later, Sri Narasimhan saw me sitting in the lines ready to go into the mandir, and suggested I write a letter and offer it to Bhagavan. I wrote a letter, and that day I got a seat in the first row. Bhagavan came out and called Mrs Craxi and family for an interview. Then without talking to me, he took the letter and went away. In the interview with the letter, Craxi asked “Digest,” Swami said “Print.” This was printed in Italy and offered to Bhagavan as ‘Digest’ on the 60th birthday. These books were given to the publication division.
Subsequent Volumes and Amalgamated Digest
Digest, Volume 2 was prepared, the DTP of which was initially done by my first daughter, Gowri and edited by a Computer professional and it was printed in Hyderabad by Mr. Craxi and was offered to Bhagavan on 24th May 1994.
Digest, Volume 3 was prepared and it had much more material of Bhagavan’s sayings. This Volume was also printed by Mr. Craxi in Italy It was offered to Bhagavan on 4th January 2000. For all the three volumes, Sri VK Narasimhan wrote the preface.
Subsequently, the Volume 4 of Digest was prepared but was not printed. It then occurred that we should prepare a CD as the Electronic age was setting in. Sri G Srinivas, assisted by his colleagues put it on CD which was offered to Bhagavan on 6th July 2006, the Guru Purnima Day and released by Bhagavan. The cover page has been designed for the CD by Mr. B.V Satya Murthy, an artist and a great devotee of Bhagavan. Mr. V Srinivasan, the All India president wrote the introduction.
We have prepared several books from 1976 which were printed by late Shir C L Gandhi of Calcutta and Shri Kasturi had written the preface. Sri Sathya Sai Suktulu (a compilation of sayings of Bhagavan in Telugu) were presented to Bhagavan by C L Gandhi in Delhi. Baba took away the book, signed it and sent it to us later on. This book was published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publication Trust.and it contains 920 quotes printed in 260 pages It has been very well received by the Telugu People. The quotes from this book have been included by Dr. G V Subramanyam in his book “Velugu Bathu” for Study Circle.
Telugu Digest-- Probhodamrutam
Probhodamrutam was edited and prefaced by Late Dr. G V Subrahmanyam, Vice-chancellor, Telugu University had also given a number of suggestions and Late Shri G V Subbarao of UNO wrote an appreciation.
Trustees Sri and Srimati M Panduranga Rao - Sri Shirdi Sai Publications, Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Incorporated USA Trustees M published and donated books to Book Trust.Shivam ,Hyderabad.It had been widely circulated and distributed by Shivam Hyderabad Book Trust at Prasanthi Nilayam sold more than 200 books sent by Book Trust Shivam Hyderabad Sri BR Prasad and Sri VSR Murty and helped us. The books are in Book Trust Library and Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning and also sent to Ananthapur College.
Website Free and Non-Commercial
Subsequently, Volumes 5 and 6 of the Digest were compiled from Sanathana Sarathi and many more books. These have now been prepared as a Digest for the Web, www.srisathyasaidigest.com . This amalgamates all the six volumes. In addition, this contains a number of Sanskrit words which have been quoted in the various Vahinis, thus integrating the Glossary of the Vahinis. We have also put in a number of books, pictures, audios and videos – Samarpanas by many Devotees, Music, Bhajans by Devotees, Burrakathas etc to make the content more informative, attractive and to cater to the varied interest of the people at large. However, the emphasis is on the DIGEST. We are planning to continually update the matter.
The Telugu Digest- Probhodamrutam has also been slowly added to the Website under a separate tab.
The object of this Website is to carry the Message of the Lord to all nooks and corners of the world. My second daughter, Desaraju Sri Sai Lakshmi has edited the Digest (also bringing uniformity to the spellings of the Sanskrit words for ease of search) and uploaded the entire content to the website providing hyperlinks to the various keywords and has undertaken to add new paragraphs and words in the Digest.
We are ever grateful to Bhagavan for allowing us to prepare ‘Ramayana – A Divine Drama: Actors in the Divine Play as Scripted by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’, 5 Volumes, which were offered to HIS DIVINE LOTUS FEET at His Samadhi, and the quotations from the Ramayana have been copiously incorporated in the alphabetical order as ‘Digest The five Volumes were given to Sri K S Rajan, Convener Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust and Sri Prahlad. They went through these volumes with great interest and sent to the Trust Library. Each and every character from Ramayana has a chapter and their characteristics as stated by Bhagavan are mentioned. These have been put in the Library. I must add that a number of people have helped us in preparing these volumes.
Each member of the Tumuluru family has participated in this yajnyam. I once again offer my grateful prayers to Bhagavan to give us more and more opportunities to realise Him and be in His Service. I pray that He blesses all those who participated in this yeoman service.
Always in the service of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
Tumuluru Krishna Murty
Hyderabad