Devotees Celebrate Guru Poornima at Jalarama Saibaba Temple

HOUSTON: Guru Poornima celebrations were performed with much gala and fanfare at the Jalaram Saibaba Temple located in Little India on Hillcroft.

Guru Poornima is the full moon (Poornima) day in the auspicious period of Ashadha (July-August). This year it fell on July 10 and 11 and was celebrated joyously by devotees who performed pooja and made offerings to Sai Baba of Shirdi.

Sai Baba of Shirdi, also known as Shirdi Sai Baba, was a spiritual master who is regarded as a saint, fakir, avatar (reincarnation of God) or Sadguru according to their individual beliefs. Sai Baba stressed the importance of surrender to the guidance of the true Sadguru, or the True Master, who having gone through the path to consciousness himself, led the disciple through the jungle of spiritual training. He taught a moral code of love, forgiveness, helping others, charity, contentment, inner peace, and devotion to God and Guru. He made no distinction based on religion or caste, and his teachings combined elements of Hinduism and Islam.

Shirdi Sai Baba has devotees, in India and all around the world, who come from different backgrounds, financial status, caste, religion, and so on. One of the most significant and purposeful teachings Sai Baba stressed is, “sabka malik ek,” which means that everyone has only one God. This saying is epitomized in all his devotees’ feelings and thoughts.

At the Hillcroft Jalaram Panchamrita Saibaba Temple, volunteers and devotees got together and participated in Sai Baba’s Abhishekham. His Holiness’s Abhishekham was performed using Panchamrita (milk, ghee, yoghurt, honey and sugar) to which tulsi leaves were also added. The, also called Charnamrit, it is used for offering to gods as well as to bathe them. Abhishekham was performed using coconut water, sugarcane juice, rose water and Ganga Jal (holy water from river Ganges) and Udi (Vibhuti or sacred ash). Baba used to distribute Udi to devotees for treatment of all ills and worries.

After Abhishekham, Sai Baba was dressed in new clothes and Pagri (a spiracle type of head dress from India). Sandhya (dhoop or evening) Aarti was performed and Prasadam was given to devotees as dinner. Palkhi Seva of Sai Baba was also performed for the first time at the Hillcroft temple. All the devotees heartily took blessings of Baba. The evening ended with Shej (night) Arti performed for Sai Baba.

The event was managed and organized by volunteers with overwhelming support of devotees who sponsored with heart and soul and helped make this event, a moment to remember and cherish.

Jalaram Sai Baba Temple is located at 5645 Hillcroft Ave, Suite 104-105, Houston, TX 77036. The temple is open every day from 10am to 7pm. Thursday evening (Dhoop/sandhya) arti is at 8pm and night (Shej) arti is at 10pm. Dinner is served as Prasadam at 8:30pm. Volunteers are always welcome by contributing their time towards the service of Baba, as well as community programs like bone marrow drives, yoga and meditation classes in the temple