Note: I am referring the original Marathi Ovi version of the Shri Sai Satcharita, beautifully translated by Mrs. Indira Kher. No copyright infringement is intended. These reflections and interpretations are drawn from my personal experience, devotion, and evolving understanding of Baba’s teachings and unceasing grace. I fully respect that others may hold different views or insights, and I welcome the diversity of devotion. However, I retain the creative and devotional agency to express myself freely on this blog, which is a heartfelt offering to my One and Only, Satchidananda Sadguru Sainath Maharaj of Shirdi.

With Love, Priyanka

Link to Shri Satcharita in all Languages

Gurur Brahmā Gurur Viṣṇur Gurur devo Maheśvaraḥ
Guruḥ sākṣāt paraṁ Brahma tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ

The Guru creates like Brahma, sustains like Vishnu, and dissolves ignorance like Shiva. Ultimately, the Guru is not separate from the Supreme Reality itself, Parabrahma, the formless Absolute. To bow to the Guru is to bow to the highest Truth, to the very force guiding us from illusion to liberation. Guru is God, indeed because He is the one who lights the path to realise our Godhood, to evoke love, compassion, and bring forth self-realisation in every devotee and disciple who is in His embrace.

Chapter One of the Shri Sai Satcharita begins as all sacred undertakings must, with invocation. The author, Shri Govind Raghunath Dhabolkar, opens with deep obeisance to the deities, the venerable Gurus, and the saints who have walked before us along with all others who helped his true becoming in his lifetime. He sets forth his humble intention to chronicle the divine leelas of Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi, beginning with the mysterious incident of Baba grinding wheat. As I begin this sacred reflection alongside him, I too bow with folded hands and a heart steeped in profound gratitude.

I bow to all living creatures. May it please the Sustainer of the Universe, who pervades it, through and through, and is completely one with it without any duality.

Ovi 76, Chapter 1, Shri Saisatcharita (Translated by Indira Kher)

I offer my salutations first to Shri Ganesh, remover of obstacles; to Maa Saraswati, who governs the flow of wisdom and speech; to all my ancestors, seen and unseen, whose tapas flows through my breath; and to the countless saints, rishis, and sages who sanctified this luminous land of Bharat with their penance and presence. To the author and translators of this Magnum Opus.To my parents, who let me be myself. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Born into this soil dense with dharma and ever radiant with eternal knowledge, I feel no less than a child cradled by eternity itself. Above all, I bow in complete surrender to my beloved Shri Sai Nath, the Nirguna who plays within the Saguna, the formless who took form for our sake, for my sake and for yours. He is my refuge, my source, and my Self. I am nothing and He is All. To you, who is reading these words, surely drawn here not by a whim, but by His grace like a bird, please accept my gratitude and pranam for being here, we are both blessed beyond measure to be in His fold. Forever.

You must’ve observed that whenever we begin any sacred work, especially one that can awaken others to their true Self, it is never without resistance. Whether it is the writing of a book, the sacred union of marriage, the birthing of a child, building a house, the unfolding of something trivial like a good habit, or any project that seeks to anchor the awareness of our real nature, that spotless Brahman, we find ourselves immediately met with hurdles. Energies of a lower vibration gather with urgency, almost as if in a rampage, attempting to prevent the work from beginning, let alone evolving and completing as destined. These forces do not always appear with red eyes and sharp claws. Sometimes they do, but mostly they wear the garb of small mishaps, prolonged ill health, misunderstandings, crippling fear, scattered emotions, procrastination, or the wild turning of our own thoughts. They rise precisely because they sense the gravity of what is about to unfold. They cannot imagine losing hold over our energy, because once that grip loosens and we begin to create or become something that brings even a glimpse of Brahm Gyaan (the sacred knowledge of the Self), the illusion which empowers them begins to crack.

Only after laborious efforts do rare privileges of guru-naam, sanidhya, kripa, charnamrit, guru-mantra, (His name, His holy company, His grace, the sweetened milk washed off His feet) and the opportunity to stay in guru’s abode come your way.

Ovi 58, Chapter 1, Shri Saisatcharita (Translated by Indira Kher)

The moment you align with that inner ground of Being – where there is no difference between you and God – the samsaaric matrix or the Maya, that feeds on cycles of unconscious birth and rebirth starts to lose its grip on you and the lineages you come from, both physically and spiritually. And that, for these energies, is intolerable. So they fight. Because you are close to tearing the veil, the illusion of separation between Me and You, Baba and You, Purusha and Prakriti, Creator and Creation, Shiva and Shakti, Pran and Gati and everything else, even what appears as non-living, animate and inanimate, object and subject. You begin to remember that there is no second. That all is One. That Baba is not somewhere far, not even merely in the heart, but is the very substratum of all phenomena. And this awakening, this piercing of the veil, is what those resisting forces fear the most. Because in that moment of true seeing, their dominion ends. And self-realisation is the true purpose of all spiritual practice, for ALL beings, alive or not.

Hence, whenever we begin anything aligned with the soul, it becomes essential to invoke the presence of higher beings, those luminous forces that operate from subtler, more refined energy planes. We do not call upon them merely to assist us, but to guard, guide, and light the path as we move through the timeline of that sacred work and deeper into our own journey toward Self-realisation. Until we evolve enough to directly experience not just understand that all energies, whether lower or higher, reside within us, we walk with the help of those who walk before us, within and with us, regardless of their existence on physical plane. These energies, whether obstructive or supportive, play out their roles in alignment with our karmas, prarabdha, rinanubandhas, and many other subtle threads that we will explore together in due time, as per Baba’s grace and will.

‘Brahman does not like to be alone’ and ‘desires to be many’, so says the Shruti. Though the company of other is desired and liked, yet they all become One. In the state of Pure Brahman, there is neither Purush nor Prakriti. Where the sun shines perpetually, can there be night and day?

Ovi 67-68, Chapter 1, Shri Saisatcharita (Translated by Indira Kher)

One force, however, that must be recognised and uprooted early is fear. Fear is the most paralysing emotion of all. It weakens the root chakra, the foundational energy center that anchors us to this Earth and stores the accumulated fear of countless lifetimes. Because fear is so deeply embedded and so thoroughly disruptive, it must be addressed first. This is why, in my view, Lord Ganesha, the guardian of the root chakra and the remover of obstacles, is always invoked at the beginning of any sacred undertaking. He clears the path not just externally, but internally, helping us dissolve fear so we may be steady in our centre.When fear arises, it often signals a lapse in faith. We fear only when we are not fully anchored in the truth of our divinity and the protective grace of the Guru, who for the true disciple, is none other than God. If we had complete faith, there would be no space for fear. Fear and faith cannot coexist. So ask yourself, each time fear grips you: do I truly have faith in my Guru? And if I do, then what is there to worry about?

Once you become completely devoted and surrendered to your Guru, you begin to see Him everywhere, in every being, in every experience. Judgements begin to fade, because you no longer see through the lens of separation. Especially in the case of our Satchidanand Shirdi Sai, whose presence permeates time and space, this becomes unmistakable. Thousands of books have been written about His leelas, yet millions more occur silently every single day, even in this very moment as I write these words. Perhaps they’ve happened with you too. If you love Him, and love His love for you, you will begin to notice how intricately He weaves every detail of your life, from the food you eat, the journeys you make, and the hospital visits if needed. He is there, always, in every turn, in every breath, never out of sight. What better example of this divine orchestration than the incident in this very chapter, when Baba began grinding wheat, and the village women tried to divide it into four parts. He, a Fakir with no family, no kitchen, no need for flour, forbade them from taking it. Why? Because the act itself was not about food. Though Baba lived on bhiksha and rarely cooked for Himself, this grinding was a mystical act, charged with protective intent. He was creating a kavach, a subtle shield around Shirdi, to safeguard His devotees from the approaching plague. What appeared to be a mundane task was in fact a powerful ritual, filled with sankalpa and siddhi. Oh my Baba! I love Him so much, it brings tears to my eyes talking about Him!

No one can fully understand Him. Not even Hemadpant (Shri Dhabolkar), who, baffled by Baba’s acts, felt compelled to write this very text. And for us, this Satcharita is no less than Baba Himself. Living, breathing, guiding us quietly, leela by leela. But it is upon the devotee to cultivate the vision that sees only Baba. To train the heart to seek Him, no matter where one is. And I can say with certainty, whether in the deep forests of Scotland, the airports of Dubai, or the corners of India, I have found Him. Or perhaps, He has revealed Himself. Often in places and forms the rational mind would dismiss, but Bhakti is not bound by reason. Bhakti does not ask for logic, only love. Baba takes a thousand steps toward you the moment you take even one toward Him. And when He does, He washes over you with such grace that it overwhelms everything you thought you were. In that flood of grace, He begins to help you shed the coats of Maya, one by one. He carries some of your karmas, dissolves others, and forgives much more than you dare to ask. All this while staying by your side, unwavering.

Hiranyagarbha or the golden egg of the Brahman, from which comes the earth, its seven islands and nine continents, the seven heavens and the seven netherworlds, is itself, the well-known Brahmanda. The Sadguru dwells far beyond the cosmic illusion, which created this Brahmanda and which is known by the name ‘Maya’ or the unmanifest (unreal which appears to be real because of this illusion).

Ovi 46-47, Chapter 1, Shri Saisatcharita (Translated by Indira Kher)

In this first chapter, we see how Baba did just that for those blessed souls of Shirdi who lived in His direct company. How lucky were they? Maybe you are I were there too, in our past lives, who knows? It feels good to think about it, doesn’t it? He protected them from death itself by a simple act of grinding wheat which was verily their hatred, disease, enmity and karma, as He would continue to do, time and again. And even now, He does the same, unseen but never absent. A devotee touched by such boundless grace cannot help but feel unworthy of it. We sing, Maili chaadar odh ke kaise dwaar tumhare aaun? (How do I face you with a tainted clothes?) because somewhere we believe we are not pure enough, worthy enough, clean enough to come before Him. Yet Baba comes anyway. ALWAYS. As a guru, a mother, a father, a sibling, and a friend, reminding us that His love does not need to be earned. We only need to walk the path He shows. His love remains, untouched and undiminished, no matter what. Our love, complete faith and impartial surrender is all He asks of us.

Once that love permeates every part of your being, and you offer your panch-pran as author mentions, you begin to see Him everywhere, in everyone and everything, including your own Self. Your mind, body, and soul become consumed by His divine presence, and slowly, all the impediments associated with them begin to dissolve. The deeper you drown in this blissful surrender, the more everything that is not Him begins to fall away. Oh, how I could keep speaking of Him endlessly and yet, it will not be sufficient. He has all attributes, yet without them. Once you see through this lens of love, you begin to recognise how all sages, saints, gods and goddesses, family members, friends, strangers, each and every one, dwell within Him, and He dwells within your own heart. All names, all forms, all divisions begin to dissolve. At that point, whatever you speak becomes His speech, whatever you hear becomes His song. Your thoughts become His chintan, your dreams become His instruction manuals, lovingly dropped into the unconscious, and everything you do becomes His doing. Because He is the true doer, always was, and always will be.

So while this chapter is primarily an invocation and expression of gratitude to the divine pantheon and venerable ones, it also gently reminds us that none of them are separate from Baba Himself. He is the entire manifested world, the animals, the birds, the trees, the insects, all living and non-living forms, playing their roles exactly as He wills, for the upliftment and wellbeing of His devotees. He draws us gradually, with great care and compassion, toward our original state, the Param Dham.

For me, Baba is the source of all knowledge, and also the faculty within you that grasps that knowledge. He is the pure intelligence that receives, the intuition that deciphers, the memory that retains, and the inner silence that understands without words. He is the womb from which all creation emerges. He holds the pen, He guides the hand, and He sings His own divine stories through Shri Dhabolkar. He becomes our very gunas: sattva, rajas, and tamas, as instruments through which He teaches us, disciplines us, humbles us, and finally liberates us. Even these tendencies, often seen as obstacles, are under His loving command. They rise and fall as He wills, to bring the soul to its destined realisation.

He is also the One who ferries us across the ocean of samsara. And in that act, He becomes everything: the boat, the oar, the river, and the ferryman. He is the current that carries us and the wind that pushes us forward. To surrender to Baba is to place yourself completely in His vessel, trusting that He knows not just the direction but also the pace and purpose of your crossing. This realisation alone can liberate a devotee from suffering. He is what was before the universe began, the unseen substratum as I mentioned before. He is all-pervading in this manifest creation, immanent in every particle, every breath. And if one day all this collapses, the galaxies, the forms, the names, He will still remain, untouched and eternal. So too will His love, which is undivided, unconditional, and unaffected by our mistakes or merits. It is a love that simply is. Not earned, not withdrawn, only experienced by those He chooses.

I feel immense gratitude that, like ‘Hemadpant’ Dabholkar ji, we too have the merit of past lives that has granted us access to the internet, the capacity to read, reflect, and relish Baba’s leelas, an unearned yet sacred opportunity. Often, we forget how extraordinary these “ordinary” blessings are: the gift of understanding, the ability to engage with His katha, and the time and inclination to turn within. These too are His prasād. As I close this reflection, I bow to our All, Shirdi Sai Baba, our redeemer, protector, eternal guide, and invoke Him to establish His radiant seat within our hearts, illuminating us from within, as He wills. May our indriyas, our senses, mind, breath, speech, hands, and feet become completely absorbed in His smarana without distraction. Let our eyes see only His form in all beings, ears be tuned only to His name and stories, tongue chant His name and serve, mind dwell only in His chintan, heart pulse only with His love, hands act only as His instruments, and feet walk only the path He lights.

This guru-bhakti is a sacred, rare blessing. Let us cherish it every moment through every breath, every thought, every interaction. Let us also rejoice in the holy company of fellow devotees across the world, a growing family drawn together not by coincidence but by Baba’s infinite pull. May we be wise enough to embrace true satsanga, to keep good company inwardly and outwardly. May His name become our mantra, yantra, and tantra. May there be no second, no division, between us and Him. Just the One.

O Gururaya! O Bliss Incarnate! You are my ultimate destination.

Ovi 74, Chapter 1, Shri Saisatcharita (Translated by Indira Kher)

Lastly, Baba is the fruit of my karma, the fulfilment of my dharma, the essence of my yoga, the receiver of my penance, the subject of my chanting, the center of my contemplation, the silence of my meditation, and the worthiest recipient of every offering, if at all I am worthy enough to offer Him anything. Baba, You are the doer of all my actions. There is nothing else to seek.

In the next reflection, we’ll explore the deeper purpose of this divine book and the significance of Baba Himself naming its author “Hemadpant.”

By singing His praises, by listening to His leelas and His stories, one can please God. Sorrows and sufferings caused to us by threefold afflictions are also warded off.

Ovi 107, Chapter 1, Shri Saisatcharita (Translated by Indira Kher)

|| OM SAI SHRI SAI JAI JAI SAI ||

|| SHRI SATCHIDANANDA SADGURU SAINATH MAHARAJ KI JAI ||

Note: Since the chapters are long and stretch across many ovis, I will be breaking them down in a way that allows us to go deep without losing track. Each reflection will cover either a single concept, a leela, or at most 50 ovis – whichever completes a thought fully. This way, we can sit with every aspect of the Satcharita as carefully and reverently as possible, without skipping a single detail, guided always by Baba’s grace. I’ve also chosen this approach because very long posts can feel heavy or overwhelming for some devotees. Keeping them snack-able and focused will hopefully make it easier for everyone to read, return to, and reflect on in their own pace. All rights reserved.