Chapter 1 - The invocation of Divine

My obeisance

to Shri Ganesh

to Shri Saraswati

and Shri Guru Maharaj!

To the family deity,

to Shri SitaRamchandra,

My most humble obeisance! I bow in reverence to the most venerable Guru Shri SaiNath!

Shree SatChitAnand Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai.
Aum SaiNathaya Namaha.

We bow to Shri Sai Baba  with reverence and invoke His loving grace to enable us to write the stories and His divine leelas from the verses of the sacred text Shri Sai Sat Charitra. Only Sai Baba’s grace can truly write the SatCharitra, It is the presence of Sai Baba’s grace that makes this book, so invaluable. It is not just a book, but Sai Baba’s form, bursting with Sai Baba’s grace and presence.

Hemadpant starts the work by invoking the divine grace, by invocation of Divine.

1. Because for a smooth and unhindered work, that has begun, the wise ones sings the praises of the tutelary deities, and thereby invoke their blessings.
2. By doing so, praising the deities not just with respect, but also with a submission, the hindrances are removed beforehand.

3. Prayer to Lord Ganesh. First He invites us to bow to Ganpati (Lord Ganesh) , lovingly called Ganesh. The kind and figure of Elephant God, with His twisted trunk, the protector of the meek and Master of the fourteen branches of learning.

4. Fourteen worlds are contained in your belly and hence you are called ‘Lambodara’. While in your hand is powerful sharp edged axe, with which you cut away the obstacles in the way of your devotees.
5. O Lord of Ganas, O elephant faced God, I bow to you, who lessens the intensity of severe grief and burdens. Pour your grace into my utterances, i pray.
6. You impart help and bring relief in difficult times, to your devotees. Under your anklets come rolling all the obstacles. Just one glance from you is enough to wipe out all wants and poverty.
7. In the ocean of worldly life, you are the one who safely carry the devotees, through the dangerous waves. You are the Light of Knowledge, in the darkness of Ignorance. You, O Lord, with your twin consorts, Riddhi (Prosperity) and Siddhi (Success), cast your gracious glance upon me, this is my earnest prayer.
8. Hail to You O Lord, who are the destroyer of woods of obstructions and hindrances, and whose vehicle is humble mouse. O son of Girija, with kind and compassionate face, i bow to you.
9. Hepadpant continues, Here i follow the customary practice of bowing with surrender, to tutelar deities, that i may complete the work unhindered, and be blessed with the good fortune.
10. And yet, is not Sai   Himself Gajanan and Ganpati. Who with the axe in His hand, will remove all hindrance to narration of His divine stories.
11. He is indeed Gajanan and Bhalchandra, with crescent moon on His forehead. And He boast of the single tusk, the elephantine ears. He is the terrible one of the broken tooth, terror and to the jungle of obstacles and hindrances. He is the annihilator of this jungle.
12. Most Auspicious and among the auspicious, O long bellied Lambodara, O compassionate Ganaraya! You are none other than Sai Himself.

May You lead me to Abode of Eternal bliss and peace!

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