Shiri Satchidananda Sadguru Sainath Maharaj ki Jai!!

It was the evening of New Year’s Day, just around the Dhoop Aarti, when all the devotees, volunteers, children, whoever was in the temple, were asked to gather around in the main hall, for an important announcement. As a total surprise, the whole group was informed that a small set of devotees had pledged $ 1.7 million (and yes there are 6 zeroes when you write the figure). Huge applause, loud cheering, even a tear or two, for joy. Suddenly the whole hall was filled with excitement, everyone talking, no one listening, Some people counting, how much we have, how much more, when is the inauguration etc.

A couple days later, on a quite morning, I was trying to complete my Satcharitra Paaraayan, when a devotee came and asked where he could get a copy of the Satcharitra book. I pointed in the direction of the desk and informed him that he could pick up one.

“How much does it cost?”

“Oh, the book itself invaluable sir, and the temple team is privileged to share the Satcharitra among devotees.

But if you are asking how much you owe us, there is no charge set. You may make a voluntary contribution of any amount which you wish. It is just a suggested donation, and NESSP has NEVER specified any amount for such donations.”

“But sir, I want to pay something, so please tell me how much. I cannot afford a huge amount and at the same time, I don’t want to donate a too tiny sum.”

“We will never charge Baba’s devotees for any such offerings in the temple. God never put a price tag to his own story, who are we to put one sir?

If you really want to donate, you can donate any amount you want. This is again just a suggestion. Not a charge. Lot of people come to this temple. Among those who donate, some people donate money, some people donate provisions, some others their time, skill, labor, effort etc. And the amounts are interesting too. $ 51, $ 101, $ 116, $ 1001, etc., Some children drop just change in the hundi.”

No contribution is big or small. The Lord almighty has always sought help from human beings and lesser mortals. Lord Ram could have easily destroyed the whole world with just one arrow. Instead, he sought help from monkeys, several hundred monkeys. That is God’s strange way of giving us an opportunity to serve Him.

Lord Hanuman could have carried the whole army on his shoulders, in one gigantic leap from Rameswaram to Mannar Island (literally the port of entry, at Sri Lanka). Every man (or monkey) has a karma to fulfil, an axe to grind, an account to reconcile. This was probably Lord Ram’s way of making each soldier of the Vaanar Sena, fulfil his karma.

Coming back to the question, from the gentleman on whether his few dollars’ contribution would be of any meaning, in the $ 10 million magnum opus, the largest Sai Temple in America, my answer would just be:

Hundreds of Mighty apes built the Rama Sethu, or the Ramayana Bridge. We don’t know their names, we don’t know the numbers, we don’t know how heavy were the boulders that they lifted. We don’t know how long and how deep, the magnificent structure ran.

But, millenniums later, one thing shall remain clear in memory. The handful of pebbles which the squirrel scurried over to the great lord, when it heard his story. Can never be a more classic example of “my two cents”.

We will always remember the little squirrel as long as we remember the Ramayana. So, my dear sir, never wonder on whether your donation is big or small. Just like the squirrels’ two pebbles, that’s how great your few dollars’ contribution will be, in making our dream come true.

Come on, be a monkey or be a squirrel, lets together build our Baba’s home.

Jai Sai Ram!

Sri Satchidananda Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai!

New England Shirdi Sai Temple
290 Littleton rd, Unit # 4, Chelmsford, MA 01824
www.nessp.org e-Mail maildrop@nessp.org
Ph - 978-528-1985

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