Date: November

Akhandabhajana means that it should not be just a twenty-four hour affair or even a seven-day affair; it must go on, from birth to death, this contemplation of the Source and Goal of things. The procession to the cremation ground starts immediately on birth and the beating of the heart is the drumbeat for the march towards that place. Some take a longer route, some reach quickly, but all are on the way. Therefore, Bhajana has to start in childhood and has to continue. It must be the constant companion of man, his solace and strength. Do not postpone it to old age, for it is the essential food for the mind.

You must dive deep into the sea to get the pearls. What good is it to dabble among the waves near the Shore and swear that the sea has no pearls in it and that all tales of its existence are false! So also if you must realize the full fruit of this Avathar, dive deep and get immersed in Sai Baba. Half-heartedness, hesitation, doubt, cynicism, listening to tales, all are of no avail. Concentrated complete faith - that alone can bring victory. This is true of any worldly activity, is it not? How much more true must it be, therefore, in the spiritual field? But if you have already attached yourselves to some one Name and Form, do not change it, do not choose another in place of the Premaswarupam. A hundred people might come to your house and even treat you with affection, but you do not address them as Papa. Have your mind fixed on One; do not now and then allow clouds of doubt, like "Is He Great? .... Is He God?" to dim your faith. Be bold. Acknowledge the glory that you have witnessed; proclaim the joy that you have experienced; confess to the Grace that you have earned. When people ask you whether you are going to Puttaparthi, for example, and whether you too are doing Bhajana, say "Yes" proudly, for there is no shame in walking on the right path!

Discourse, Akhand Bhajan, 10-07-1959

Well, that day when I came out publicly as Sai Baaba, that first song I taught the gathering in the garden to which I went from the Telugu Pundit’s house was:

"Maanasa bhajare guru charanam
Dhusthara bhava saagara tharanam"

I called on all those suffering in the endless round of birth and death to worship the Feet of the Guru (spiritual preceptor), the Guru that was announcing Himself, who had come again for taking upon Himself the burden of those who find refuge in Him. That was the very first Message of Mine to Humanity. "Maanasa bhajare", "Worship in the mind!". Discourse, Vijayadhashami, Prashanthi Nilayam,1953

An Akhand Bhajan (singing the Names of God continuously for 12 or 24 hours) was arranged on 25th July by the Bhajan Mandalis of Bangalore at the famous Lal Baug gardens in the Glass House. The inscription at its entrance "The garden of flowers is the temple of God" appeared so apt during the singing of Bhajan in the Divine Presence of Baba. Baba lit the lamp to mark the inauguration of the Bhajan, and when it came to an end, He sprinkled on the heads of the thousands attending, the water sanctified by the holy hymns.

Sathyam, Shivam, Sundaram