Where and How to keep Shri Sai Satcharita

Aum Sai Ram

Where to keep Shri Sai Satcharita

I have been receiving many mails regarding Where & How to Keep Sai Satcharita Book. Being Holy Sacred text, Shri Sai Satcharitra is advised to be kept in clean and tidy place.

The best way which i suggest and follow is to keep it in shrine of your home, so that along with worship of Baba and other Gods, this sacred text can also be worshiped as Holy like Ramayana, Bhagwad Gita, Bible, Kuran, Guru Granth Sahib.

No matter which place you choose it is highly recommended to wrap it preferably in red, orange or yellow cloth. I was asked to do so. But as of Now i'm not following it. Once my Parayan is over. I keep it inside the Book Shelf allocated for Sacred Books.

Students can keep it in their book shelves to increase their grasping power and make practice to read daily atleast one line.

It can be kept at your work place too to benefit yourself and surroundings.

Please note that, we must respect this Holy book and try to read daily and implement all the teachings in our life. In a nutshell, we must start living Sai Satcharitra.

How to read Sai Satcharita?

1. Reading of this sacred text produces desired results, so it is recommended to surrender all disturbances, ego, physical or mental affiliations at Sai Baba's feet and then start reading.

2. All senses must be directed to the reading so the reading produces long lasting effects on your mind and heart.

3. Although no specific seat or posture is recommended sacred text - Shri Sai Satcharitra can be read by sitting in shrine at your home, any Sai Baba temple or some peaceful place as per convenience.

4. Sacred text - Shri Sai Satcharitra can be considered as Holy as Bhagwad Gita, Ramayan, Kuran, Guru Granth Sahib. So it is not desired to underline words or sentences or write their own names for recognition.

5. For sick and old persons, sacred text - Shri Sai Satcharitra can be read by sitting at any comfortable place. If sitting while reading is not possible then it can also be read by laying down.

6. Girls and women should not touch or read sacred text - Shri Sai Satcharitra while going through menses.

7. It should not be given to small children to avoid possibility of damage.

8. Care must be taken to safe guard sacred text - Shri Sai Satcharitra from dust and unclean things.

9. One parayan of 51 days is also beneficial. This can be done by reading one chapter of sacred text - Shri Sai Satcharitra per day. Also parayan of 7 days/Saptaha can be done to get desired fruits.

10. If the above two points are not possible due to any reason at least one line or one paragraph must be read. It would be disrespect of sacred text - Shri Sai Satcharitra if it is kept in one corner of your home and never read.

Daily reading of 11th and 15th chapter is recommended.

Also it is advised to read sacred text - Shri Sai Satcharitra on Ramnavami, Gurupoornima, Gokul Ashtami and Dashera.

How to do parayan of Sai Satcharita

Parayan must be done with complete faith, devotion and surrender to experience its
divine magical effects within and outside.

Parayan/Saptah means reading of sacred text - Shri Sai Satcharita continuously for one week and finishing it at the end of the week i.e. seventh day.

1. First of all the place where you wish to do parayan must be cleaned and made tidy.

2. Lamp must be lit in front of Sai Baba's idol or photograph. Lighting a lamp marks Sai Baba's presence. Also it is desirable to light incense stick (agarbatti) and/or dhoop, thus purifying the atmosphere.

3. It is general practice that while doing any worship, devotee do not sit on floor directly. It is advised to first place a small mat or cloth on the floor to sit on it. The same applies here too.

4. It is upto devotee's discretion to offer any food as prasad.

5. In Hindi Sai Satcharitra published by Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi particular chapters are advised for each day of parayan as under :

Day of Parayan Chapters to be Read

1st day 1 - 6
2nd day 7 - 13
3rd day 14 - 22
4th day 23 - 28
5th day 29 - 35
6th day 36 - 42
7th day 43 - 51

6. After reading of each day (if devotee wishes) two coins can kept in Sai Baba's feet. Coins can be of any denomination, but they can be considered as "Shraddha" and "Saburi". At the end of parayan the amount thus gathered can be donated or kept in Sai temple's hundi (donation box) or prasad can be distributed which is purchased from the same money.

7. Every day's reading can be concluded by aarti in the evening. If it is not possible then at least aarti must be sung on last day.

8. If devotee wishes he/she can offer sweet dish or any desirable naivedhya to Sai Baba for all seven days. Otherwise naivedhya can be offered on last day of parayan. If this is not possible at least ready made sweets from market can be offered as prasad. Even if sugar or jaggery is offered as prasad, it will do.

9. It depends on devotee how he/she reads chapter allocated for each day. Chapters can be divided as per convenience. But every time you sit to read points 4 and 5 in this heading can be followed. Also lighting incense stick (agarbatti) and/or dhoop can be avoided.

10. It can be read out to sick or old devotees, if they are not in condition to sit by themselves and read. Also if it is read out before children and stories are explained to them in simple language, seeds of devotion can be sown in tender age only.