Few Words from Singer’s Diary…

Jai Sai Ram to all Sai Baba Lovers,

Before proceeding to give download links and lyrics of bhajans of my album dedicated to Shirdi Sai Baba, SAI TERE HAZAARON NAAM, I would like to introduce myself through the medium of this blog. Introduction with regards to the album is already covered in previous two posts.

I am also a devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba like you all and this is the only reason which inspired me to make an album of bhajans. I dont think but strongly believe that Shirdi Sai Baba has chosen me to sing for Him. I was a simple devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba but He has given me a special place in the eyes of all other devotees. I did not have any such quality in me, but still today I stand before you. Even I did not think of releasing my Bhajans on a Blog. Thus the whole credit goes to Him. He is the only one who made me stand on this platform. He is the doer behind everything in my life. This has been experienced by me in every step. Not only making of the cd, even my meeting with Hetal was His wish. Shirdi Sai Baba gave her an idea to make this blog and we worked on it. Many miracles came to the surface after taking this decision. So I strongly believe that Shirdi Sai Baba has pre-planned everything and I am just going on accepting it. I used to feel that there are many devotees of Shirdi Sai Baba in the whole world, so how can He have personal attention on anybody? Now every moment I experience that I am the closest and loving child of Saima. He keeps His eyes on each and everybody equally.

My name is Rana Gill. I live in Richmond near Vancouver in British Columbia state, Canada. I left India in September, 1999 leaving behind my mother and elder brother. Basically I am from a small village of Patiala District, Punjab state, India. My father was a farmer and my mother is a housewife. My grandparents and my mother were very devout persons. But I never prayed or strongly believed God from deep within. Like this many years of my life thus passed away.

In the year 1996, when I was pursuing bachelor’s degree in Ambala Cantt Haryana, India, the name of Shirdi Sai Baba fell on my ears. Earlier I was totally unaware of Shirdi Sai Baba. My first meeting with Him is an unforgettable moment for me. It changed my life completely. I presume that day to be the turning point of my life and would also like to share with you. That day, Tuesday April 2nd, 1996, my cousin requested me to drop her to her friend’s house. So, I went there. Her friend welcomed me to visit her house and take darshan of Shirdi Sai Baba. They had a small temple of Shirdi Sai Baba in their home. There were many snaps and idols placed beautifully. The adjacent snap is of the same temple. When I bowed down, I felt as if Shirdi Sai Baba was asking me that where was I, why I took so much time to come and He was waiting for me since long. Though this feeling aroused in me from deep within, I tried to ignore it. At the time of leaving, my cousin’s friend invited me to visit again on Thursday for Arti. I replied with uncertainty. But somehow I reached the temple (I would prefer to call it temple rather than a house) on Thursday, April 4th, 1996. I had some strange and unknown feelings while sitting there and I cant express them even today. After that it became regular practice to go to the temple every Thursday and this continued untill I left India in 1999. In fact I used to wait for Thursday so that I can go there. I used to sing bhajans of Shirdi Sai Baba with all other devotees present there. Now I see Shirdi Sai Baba in every God and I feel His presence in everything. IN fact it is also a grace of Shirdi Sai Baba that you are reading this article.

Like every singer says that he was fond of singing since childhood, the same holds for me. I would also repeat the same thing here. I did not learn singing from anybody. Shirdi Sai Baba has blessed me with this talent, which I realise now. I never thought that I would be singing bhajans for Shirdi Sai Baba. Of course I want to go ahead in this field and this encouraged me to first record bhajans for my beloved Sai. Then only I wished to proceed further. This wish of mine has been fulfilled by Shirdi Sai Baba and you can see where I stand today. Today I come across many devotees who praise me in many ways, some say they like my voice, some like lyrics, some music, some try to feel my feelings, but I know that is only Shirdi Sai Baba who made it possible. This is Shirdi Sai Baba’s gift to me. The bhajans were recorded in India in 2006. I reserve other details of the album and how the lyrics were written for the next post.

Janam Janam Tere Das Bane Rana Aisa Do Vardan…

© SAI TERE HAZAARON NAAM