Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

We use the appellation Sri for denoting sacredness to all things which need to be sanctified. The appellation of Sri is affixed to human bodies which are temporary and made up of five material elements to denote our respect. We also use this appellation even in the case of the Lord because the body in which he appears is temporary. In the case of Rama or Krishna, we use Sri because the names refer to the bodies which were impermanent. Thus, for giving sacredness to a destructible body, we use Sri. In the case of Siva, Sankara and Easwara—names which denote permanency — we do not say Sri Siva or Sri Sankara. This appellation has no meaning because the Siva Thathwa has no body and no form. It is eternal and does not take a body. The word Sri means Mangala or prosperity. Because Mangala is permanent, He who is the husband of such Mangala is referred to as Sripati. The Sri here signifies that divinity is permanent, unchanging and indivisible, and can be worshipped in any form of the Lord.