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Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is in Dharmakshetra, Mumbai.
He will be in Mumbai from 31st Oct to 2nd Nov 0ct. 2009



"Sai Baba's Center at Mumbai is called Dharmakshetra. Dharmakshetra, sometimes called Sathya Deep, is one of three special spiritual centers established by Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the others being Sivam in Hyderabad and Sundaram in Madras. These three spiritual centres are visible manifestation of his mission to revive spiritual India. Sathyam, Sivam, and Sundaram are the attributes of Divinity within and without.
 


Dharmakshetra (somewhat difficult to translate) translates to the human body, which is kshethra, (the place) where Dharma (right conduct) occurs.

Dharmakshetra was established in May 1968, on the eve of the First World Conference of the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation.

It is on the top of a small hillock in Andheri, a suburb of Bombay. As one enters, the first thing to meet the eyes is a mural of the Sun God Savitri, riding a celestial chariot, drawn by seven horses.
 


Over the years a complex of buildings has grown up in Dharmakshetra, of which Sathya Deep is the main focus. It is a circular building somehat like Trayee Brindavan, and is the place where Sai Baba stays whenever he comes to Bombay.

Inside Sathya Deep are five big murals depicting Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa. Bordering Sathya Deep are idols of the Ten Avatars. The statues of Gayathri, Ganesha and Saraswathi are located in the neighbourhood in attractive locations.

There is a congregational hall known as Shanti Deep, and an auditorium known as Gyan Deep. Public functions are held in Gyan Deep. Near Sathya Deep is a Sarvar Dharma pillar, somewhat different in style from the one at Prashanti Nilayam.
Right at the entrance is Jalan Mandap, which is where the regular darshans take place when Sai Baba is in Bombay. Adjacent to Sathya Deep is a small lodge named Anand Kutir, with a few guest rooms, kitchen, and a small dining hall.
 


click to enlarge


Enveloping Sathya Deep and Anand Kutir is a small, attractively laid out garden, immaculately maintained.

Other buildings in Dharmakshetra include a Medical Center, an Eye Care Unit, a Technical School, Legal Aid Center, Tailoring Class, a School for slum children, etc.

Spiritual Activities include Bhajans every evening, Nagasankeertan twice weekly, study circles, etc, etc.

Free Transit Accommodation is also provided to overseas groups on their way to Prashanthi Nilayam or Brindavan.
Visitor Contact
 


1968 - Sai Baba's Visit to Dharmakshetra, Mumbai


Normally accomodation (transit accomodation for one or two nights) is given to overseas devotees at Dharmakshetra, who are going to Puttaparthi or coming from Puttaparthi(i.e, the devotees who are coming from abroad and going to Puttaparthi via Mumbai or returning back from Puttaparthi/Brindavan to their destination abroad via Mumbai).

For temporary transit accommodation, you should have to a letter from their res
pective Sthya Sai Center Organisation head stating you and your party are going to Puttaparthi, and needs transit accomodation at Dharmakshetra in Mumbai.

There is Dormitory type accomodation separate for Gents and for Ladies each room having about 8-10 beds.

There are No Charges for same.

About half an hour taxi drive from the Mumbai airport to Dharmakshetra...."
Source: saibabaforbeginners.com

Add/email etc:


Dharmakshetra,
Mahakali Caves Road,
Andheri East,
Mumbai 400093,
Maharashtra, India.
Telephone : +91 (22) 2837 7999
Fax: +91 (22) 2831 2211

Email:
contact@dharmakshetra.org
or
contact@isseindia.org

Web:
www.dharmakshetra.org
or
www.isseindia.org

---

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Power over Nature

The Skies at His Command
How Baba cleared the cloudy skies over Bangalore with one wave of His hand

Sri Indulal Shah, formerly the Chairman of the International Sathya Sai Organization, recounts his first Darshan of Bhagawan in his book “Sixteen Spiritual Summers”:

In the summer of 1965, which, to me, was the first of my sixteen spiritual summers, I was in Bangalore once to visit a friend. During an informal conversation one morning, my host asked me whether I would like to see Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who was to address a meeting at Malleswaram, in the heart of Bangalore city, the same evening.

I had heard about Sri Sathya Sai Baba and also read about Him in some Bombay newspapers, but had never seen Him before. I had, till then, no particular urge to read either His biography or discourses. My immediate response to the question from my host, therefore, was somewhat casual and uncertain.

However, on second thoughts, I felt that I should attend the meeting and so, later in the day, accompanied by my wife, Sarla, I went to Malleswaram where a mammoth gathering was listening to Baba with rapt attention. We sat in a remote corner of the big maidan (ground). I was swayed by a nameless feeling, a strange inquisitiveness or curiosity, as though I was adventuring into the unknown.

Then suddenly, the sky became rather dark with thick clouds fast gathering overhead. The large crowd became visibly restless, as people feared an impending rain. We ourselves were in a quandary and my host hastened to take us back to his car.

Just then, we saw Sri Sathya Sai raising His hand and saying something aloud to the crowd in the local South Indian language which, however, I could not grasp.

My friend said that He was asking the crowd to sit down and that He was assuring them that it would not rain. As He said this, we saw that the rain clouds started disappearing and the gathering darkness was giving way to bright sunshine. I remained spell-bound!

I could not believe that anyone could disperse moisture-laden heavy clouds by a mere wave of the hand. And yet, our eyes were a witness to this strange phenomenon, the likes of which I had read about only in Puranic (Hindu legends) stories.

The clouds are sent away in Mumbai

While the previous incident happened in Bangalore, Sri Indulal Shah was a fortunate witness to a similar and equally astounding event, but this time it in Mumbai (then Bombay) and the year, 1967.

This time, it was in Dharmakshetra in Bombay. The month was July, the monsoon time in Bombay, and Baba was paying a visit to Maharashtra State. The Bombay Samithi had arranged a public meeting of devotees in honour of Baba at Dharmakshetra.

I remember that it was a Sunday evening. In Bombay, in the month of July, a heavy downpour can be expected any time. That being a Sunday, a large crowd was expected to attend, regardless of the possibility of rain. The Samithi had taken all precautions to provide shelter to the devotees from showers. The large pandal at Dharmakshetra was packed with people to the full. The meeting was to commence at 6 p.m.

But at about 5.15 p.m., the sky was overcast and we feared that the rains would lash down any time. We were anxious to save the devotees from getting drenched in heavy rains. Some of the office-bearers felt that we should request Bhagavan Baba to start the meeting a little early, say at 5.30 p.m. I felt that Baba might not accede to this as there was 'Rahu Kal' (inauspicious time) upto 6 p.m., but my colleagues insisted that there was nothing like 'Rahu Kal' for Bhagawan.

Accordingly, I went up to Bhagavan and prayed: "Baba, could we start the meeting a little early?"

"Why?" asked Baba in a tone, which, by itself, was an answer to the question. But we did not understand this then, as our mind was also clouded like the overcast sky that evening.

I pleaded: 'Bhagavan, it is likely to rain, the meeting may be disrupted, the devotees may suffer'.

In answer to this Baba smiled and that benign smile remains imprinted in my mind even to this day - as bewitching as the smile that we see in the picture of Lord Krishna.

He then held my hand and took me to the nearby window where I saw that a drizzle had already started. Those who have seen Dharmakshetra know that Baba lives in a lotus-shaped mandir on top of a hillock and that the windows from His room open out westward. So, we could see through them the entire crowd gathered below and the dark expanse of the cloudy sky above.

Standing near the window, Baba said: 'Yes, yes, it will rain, and it will rain very heavily'.

This statement put me out completely. I could see from the window, devotees holding open umbrellas in an effort to protect themselves from the impending showers. I was searching for words to pray to Baba.

Meanwhile, Bhagawan raised His hand through the window and, in a moment, we saw the drizzle stopped and clouds dispersed in the sky!

In that moment of anxiety, the full import of what Baba had done did not strike me. Baba said that the meeting should commence as scheduled and I rushed out to convey Baba's decision to my colleagues outside.

The meeting started at 6 p.m. and, by then, the sky had brightened enough to dispel all our fears about the rains. It was during the meeting that I realised what a great blunder I had made in praying to Baba to commence the proceedings a little early. During those few minutes, I had forgotten that Baba is God and that He had absolute command over 'Prakriti' (nature).

When the meeting concluded and my colleagues were saying happily that the meeting went off very well, I shed some tears of joy and rushed to see Baba and fell at His Lotus Feet.

Baba, then, smiled and said: 'You forgot'.

When the heart is full, words are few. I had no words to convey my gratitude. I was in an ecstatic thrill. That was an unforgettable moment and I cherish the thought that it was Bhagawan Himself who reminded me that I had forgotten that He is God!

This incident is a conclusive proof that Baba is Omnipotent, that He can control nature and that He is an Avatar, God come in human form to bless all mankind.

Reference: “Sixteen Spiritual Summers” by Sri Indulal Shah. Page: 1-2 and 16-18. Published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam in 1980.