SAI-SATCHARITA
Shirdi Sai Baba's life story and miracles
Chapter XX
Das Ganu's Problem Solved by Kaka's Maid-Servant
In this Chapter, Hemadpant describes, how Das Ganu's problem was solved by
Kakasaheb Dixit's maid-servant.
Preliminary
Sai (Lord) was originally formless. he assumed a form for the sake of
Bhaktas. With the help of the actress Maya, He played the part of the
Actor in the big drama of the universe. Let us remember and visualize Shri
Sai. Let us go to Shirdi, and see carefully the programmes, after the
noon-Arati. After the Arati ceremony was over, Sai used to come out of the
Masjid, and standing on its edge, distribute udi to the devotees with very
kind and loving looks. The Bhaktas also got up with equal fervour, clasped
His Feet, and standing and staring at Him, enjoyed the shower of
Udi. Baba
passed handfuls of Udi into the palms of the devotees and marked their
foreheads with Udi with His fingers. The love He bore for them in His
heart was boundless. Then He addressed the Bhaktas as follows:- "Oh Bhau,
go to take your lunch; you Anna, go to your lodgings; you Bapu, enjoy your
dishes". In this way He accosted each and every devotee and sent them
home. Even now, you can enjoy these sights if you bring into play your
imagination. You can visualize and enjoy them. Now bringing Sai before our
mental vision, let us meditate on Him, from His Feet upwards to His face,
and prostrating before Him humbly, lovingly and respectfully, revert to
the story of this Chapter.
Ishavasya Upanishad
Das Ganu once started to write a Marathi commentary ont he Ishavasya
Upanishad. Let us first give a brief idea of this Upanishad, before
proceeding further. It is called a `Mantropanishad', as it is embodied in
the Mantras of the Vedic Samhita. It constitutes the last or the 40th
Chapter of the Vajasaneyi Samhita (Yajurveda) and it is, therefore, called
Vajasaneyi Samhitopanishad. Being embodied in Vedic Samhitas, this is
regarded as superior to all other Upanishads, which occur in the Brahmanas
and Aranyakas (explanatory treatises on Martras and rituals). Not only
this, other Upanishads are considered to be commentaries on the truths
mentioned briefly in the Ishavasya Upanishad. For instance, the biggest of
the Upanishads, viz, the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, is considered by Pandit
Satwalekar to be a running commentary on the Ishavasya Upanishad.
Profesor R.D. Ranade says:- "The Ishopanishad is quite a small Upanishad;
and yet it contains many hints which show an extraordinarily piercing
insight. Within the short compass of 18 verses, it gives a valuable
mystical description of the Atman, a description of the ideal sage, who
stands unruffled in the minds of temptations and sorrows; and adumbration
of the doctrine of Karma-Yoga as later formulated, and finally a
reconciliation of the claims of knowledge and works. The most valuable
ideas, that lies at the root of the Upanishad, is that of a logical
synthesis between the two opposites of knowledge; and work, which are both
required according to the Upanishad to be annulled in a higher synthesis".
(page 24 of the Constructive Survey of the Upanishad Philosophy). In
another place he says that "The poetry of the Ishopanishad is a Commixture
of moral, mystical and metaphysical (ibid, Page 41)".
From the brief description given above about this Upanishad, any one can
see how difficult it is to translate this Upanishad in a vernacular
language, and brief out its exact meaning. Das Ganu translated it in
Marathi 'Ovi'metre, verse by verse, but as he did not comprehend the gist
or essence of the Upanishad, he was not satisfied with his performance. He
therefore consulted some learned men regarding his doubts and difficulties
and discussed with them at great length. They did not solve them nor did
they give him any rational and satisfactory explanation. So Das Ganu was a
little restless over this matter.
SadGuru only competent and Qualified to Explain
As we have seen, this Upanishad is the quintessence of the Vedas. It is
the science of self-realization, it is the scythe or weapon which can rend
asunder the bondage of life and death, and make us free. Therefore, he
thought, that he who has himself attained self-realization, can only give
him the true or correct interpretation of the Upanishad. When nobody could
satisfy Das Ganu, he resolved to consult Sai Baba about this. When he got
an opportunity to go to Shirdi, he saw Sai Baba, prostrated himself before
Him, and mentioned his difficulties about the Ishavasya Upanishad and
requested Him to give the correct solution. Sai Baba, blessed him and
said- "You need not be anxious, there is no difficulty about the matter,
the mind-servant of Kaka (Kakasaheb Dixit) will solve your doubts at Vile
Parle, on your way home". The people who went present then and heard this,
thought that Baba was joking and said, "How could an illiterate
maid-servant solve the difficulties of this nature", but Das Garu thought
otherwise. He was sure, that whatever Baba spoke, must come true, Baba's
word was the decree of the Brahma (Almighty).
Kaka's Maid-Servant
On fully believing in Baba's words, he left Shirdi and came to Vile Parle
(a suburb of Bombay), and stayed with Kakasaheb Dixit. There the next day,
when Das Ganu was enjoying his morning nap (some say when he was engaged
in worship), he heard a poor girl singing a beautiful song in clear and
melodious tones. The subject matter of the song was a crimson coloured
Sari, how nice it was, how fine was its embroidery, how beautiful were its
ends and borders etc. He liked the song so much that he came out, and saw
that it was being sung by a young girl, the sister of Namya, who was a
servant of Kakasaheb. The girl was cleaning vessels, and had only a torn
rag on her person. On seeing her impoverished condition, and her jovial
temperament, Das Ganu felt pity for her and when Rao Bahadur M.V.Pradhan
next day gave him a pair of dhotars, he requested him to give a sari to
the poor little girl also. Rao Bahadur bought a good Chirdi (small Sari)
and presented it to her. Like a starving person getting luckily good
dishes to eat, her joy knew to bounds. Next day she wore the new Sari, and
out of great joy and merriment, whirled, danced round and played `Fugadi'
with other girls and excelled them all. The Day following, she kept the
new Sari in her box at home and came with the old and torn rags, but she
looked as merry as she did the previous day. On seeing this, Das Ganu's
pity was transferred into admiration. He thought that the girl being poor
had to wear a torn rag, but now she had a new Sari which she kept in
reserve and putting on the old rag, strutted herself, showing no trace of
sorrow or dejection. Thus he realized that all our feelings of pain and
pleasure depend upon the attitude of our mind. On thinking deeply over
this incident, he realized that a man ought to enjoy whatever God has
bestowed on him in the firm conviction that He besets every thing, from
behind and before, and on all sides and that whatever is bestowed on him
by God must be for his good. In this particular case, the impoverished
condition of the poor girl, her torn rag and the new Sari, the donor, the
dance and the acceptance were all parts of the Lord and pervaded by Him.
Hence, Das Ganu got a practical demonstration of the lesson of the
Upanishad - the lesson of contentment with one's own lot in the belief
that whatever happens, is ordained by God, and is ultimately good for us.
Unique Method of Teaching
From the above incident, the reader will see that Baba's method was unique
and varied. Though Baba never left Shirdi, He sent some to Machhindragad,
some to Kolhapur or Sholapur for practising sadhanas. To some He appeared
in His usual form, to some He appeared in waking or dreaming state, day or
night and satisfied their desires. It is impossible to describe all the
methods, that Baba used in imparting instructions to His Bhaktas. In this
particular case, He sent Das Ganu to Vile Parle, where he got his problem
solved, through the maid-servant. To those, who say that it was not
necessary to sent Das Ganu outside and that Baba could have personally
taught him, we say that Baba followed the right or best course, or how
else could Das Ganu would have learnt a great lesson, that the poor
maid-servant and her Sari were pervaded by the Lord.
Now we close the Chapter with another beautiful extract about this
Upanishad.
The Ethics of the Ishavasya Upanishad
"One of the main features of the Ishavasya Upanishad, is the ethical
advice it offers, and it is interesting to note that the ethics of the
Upanishad are definitely based upon the meta-physical position advanced in
it. The very opening words of the Upanishad tell us that God pervades
every thing. As a corollary from this metaphysical position, the ethical
advice it offers is, that a man ought to enjoy whatever God bestows on him
in the firm belief, that as He pervades everything, whatever is bestowed
on him by God must be good. It follows naturally, that the Upanishad
should forbid us from coveting another man's property. In fact, we are
fittingly taught here a lesson of contentment with one's own lot in the
belief that whatever happens, it is divinely ordained and it is hence good
for us. Another moral advice is, that man must spend his life-time always
in doing action, specially the karmas enjoined in the Shastras, in a mood
of believing resignation to His will. Inactivity, according to this
Upanishad, would be the canker of the soul. It is only when a man spends
his life-time on doing actions in this manner, that he can hope to attain
the ideal of Naishkarmya. Finally, the text goes on to say that a man, who
sees all beings in the Self and sees the Self as existing in all beings;
in fact, for whom all beings and everything that exists have becomes the
Self - how can such a man suffer infatuation? What ground would such a man
have for grief? Loathfulness, infatuation and grief verily proceed from
our not being able to see the Atman in all things. But a man, who realizes
the oneness of all things, for whom everything has become the Self, must
ipso facto, cease to be affected by the common foibles of humanity. (Page
169-170 of The Creative Period by Messrs. Belvalkar and Ranade).
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XXI
Stories of (1) V.H. Thakur (2) Anantrao Patankar and (3) Pandharpur
Pleader.
In this Chapter, Hemadpant relates the stories of Vinayak Harishchandra
Thakur, B.A., Anantrao Patankar of Poona, and a pleader from Pandharpur.
All these stories are very interesting which if very carefully read and
grasped, will lead the readers on to the spiritual path.
Preliminary
It is a general rule, that it is our good luck in the form of accumulation
of merits in past births, that enables us to seek the company of Saints
and profit thereby. In illustration of this rule, Hemadpant gives his own
instance. He was a resident Magistrate of Bandra, A suburb of Bombay, for
many years. A famour Mahomedan Saint named Pir Moulana was living there
and many Hindus, Parsis and many others who followed different religion
used to go to him and take his darshan. His Mujavar (priest) by name Inus
pressed Hemadpant many a time, night and day, for going to see him, but
for some reason or other he was not able to see him. After many years his
turn came and he was called to Shirdi where he was permanently enlisted in
Sai Baba's Darbar. Unfortunate fellows do not get this contact of the
Saints. It is only the fortunate ones that get it.
Institution of Saints
There have been institutions of Saints in this world, from time
immemorial. Various Saints appear (incarnate) themselves in various places
to carry out the missions allotted to them, but though they work in
different places, they are, as it were, one. They work in unison under the
common authority of the Almighty Lord and know full well what each of them
is doing in his place, and supplement his work where necessary. An
instance illustrating this is given below.
Mr. Thakur
Mr. V.H.Thakur, B.A., was a clerk in the Revenue Department and he once
came to a town named Vadgaum near Belgaum (S.M. Country) along with a
Survey party. There he saw a Kanarese Saint (Appa) and bowed before him.
The Saint was explaining a portion from the book "Vichar-Sagar" of
Nischaldas (a standard work on Vedanta) to the audience. When Thakur was
taking his leave to go, he said to him, "you should study this book, and
if you do so, your desires will be fulfilled, and when you go to the North
in the discharge of your duties in future, you will come across a great
Saint by your good luck, and then he will show you the future path, and
give rest to your mind and make you happy".
Then, he was transferred to Junnar, where he had to go by crossing Nhane
Ghat. This Ghat was very steep and impassible, and no other conveyance,
than a buffalo was of use in crossing it. So he had to take a buffalo-ride
through the Ghat, which inconvenienced and pained him much. Thereafter, he
was transferred to Kalyan on higher post, and there he became acquainted
with Nanasaheb Chandorkar. He heard much about Sai Baba from him and
wished to see Him. Next day, Nanasaheb had to go to Shirdi, and he asked
Thakur to accompany him. He could not do so as he had to attend the Thana
Civil Court for a civil case. So Nanasaheb went alone. Thakur went to
Thana, but there the case was postponed. Then, he repented for not
accompanying Nanasaheb. Still he left for Shirdi and when he went there,
he found that Nanasaheb had left the place the previous day. Some of his
other friends, whom he met there, took him to Baba. He saw Baba, fell at
His Feet and was overjoyed. His eyes were full of tears of joy and his
hair stood on end. Then after a while the omniscient Baba said to him -
"The path of this place is not so easy as the teaching of the Kanarese
Saint Appa or even as the buffalo-ride in the Nhane Ghat. In this
spiritual path, you have to put in your best exertion as it is very
difficult". When Thakur heard these significant signs and words, which
none else than he knew, he was overwhelmed with joy. He came to know, that
the word of the Kanarese Saint had turned true. Then joining both hands
and placing his head on Baba's Feet, he prayed that he should be a
accepted and blessed. Then Baba said - "What Appa told you was all right,
but these things have to be practised and lived. Mere reading won't do.
You have to think and carry out what you read, otherwise, it is of no use.
Mere book-learning, without the grace of the Guru, and self-realization is
of no avail". The theoretical portion was read from the work `Vichar
Sagar' by Thakur, but the practical way was shown to him at Shirdi.
Another story given below will bring out this truth more forcibly.
Anantrao Patankar
One gentleman from Poona, by name Anantrao Patankar wished to see Baba. He
came to Shirdi, and took Baba's darshan. His eyes were appeased, he was
much pleased. He fell at Baba's Feet; and after performing proper worship
said to Baba - "I have read a lot, studied Vedas, Vedants and Upanishads
and heard all the Purnas, but still I have not got any peace of mind; so I
think that all my reading was useless. Simple ignorant devout persons are
better than myself. Unless the mind becomes calm, all book-learning is of
no avail. I have heard, from many people, that you easily give peace of
mind to so many people by your mere glance, and playful word; so I have
come here; please take pity on me and bless me". Then Baba told him a
parable, which was as follows:-
Parable of Nine Balls of Stool (Nava-vidha Bhakti)
"Once a Soudagar (merchant) came here. Before him a mare passed her stool
(nine balls of stool). The merchant, intent on his quest, spread the end
of his dhotar and gathered all the nine balls in it, and thus he got
concentration (peace) of mind".
Mr. Patankar could not make out the meaning of this story; so he asked
Ganesh Damodar, alias Dada Kelkar, "What does Baba mean by this?" He
replied - "I too do not know all that Baba says and means, but at His
inspiration I say, what I come to know. The mare is God's grace and the
nine balls excreted are the nine forms or types of Bhakti, viz., (1)
Shravana (Hearing); (2) Kirtana (Praying); (3) Smarana (Remembering); (4)
Padasevana (resorting to the feet); (5) Archana (Worship); (6) Namaskara
(Bowing); (7) Dasya (Service); (8) Sakhyatva (Friendship); (9)
Atmanivedana (surrender of the self). These are the nine types of Bhakti.
If any of these is faithfully followed, Lord Hari will be pleased, and
manifest Himself in the home of the devotee. All the sadhanas, viz. Japa
(vocal worship), Tapa (penance), Yoga practice and studying the scriptures
and expounding them are quite useless unless they are accompanied by
Bhakti, i.e., devotion. Knowledge of the Vedas, or fame as a great Jnani,
and mere formal Bhajan (worship) are of no avail. What is wanted is Loving
Devotion. Consider yourself as the merchant or seeker after the truth and
be anxious and eager like him to collect or cultivate the nine types of
devotion. Then you will attain stability and peace of mind".
Next day, when Patankar went to Baba for saluation, he was asked whether
he collected the 'nine balls of stool'. Then he said that he, being a poor
fellow, should first be graced by Baba, and then they will be easily
collected. Then Baba blessed and comforted him, saying that he would
attain peace and welfare. After hearing this, Patankar became overjoyed
and happy.
The Pandharpur Pleader
We shall close this Chapter with short story showing Baba's omniscience
and His using it for correcting people and setting them on the right path.
Once a pleader from Pandharpur came to Shirdi, went to the Masjid, saw Sai
Baba, fell at His Feet and, without being asked, offered some Dakshina,
and sat in a corner eager to hear the talk, that was going on. Then Baba
turned His face towards him and said - "How cunning the people are! They
fall at the feet, offer Dakshina, but inwardly give abuses behind the
back. Is not this wonderful?" This cap (remark) fitted the pleader and he
had to wear (take) it. None understood the remark. The pleader grasped it,
but kept silent. When they returned to the Wada, the pleader said to
Kakasaheb Dixit - "What Baba remarked was perfectly right. The dart
(remark) was aimed at me, it was a hint to me, that I should not indulge
in reviling or scandalizing others (calling by names). When the subjudge
or munsiff of Pandharput (Mr.Noolkar) came and stayed here for the
improvement of his health, a discussion about this matter was going on in
the bar-room at Pandharpur (as it ever happens in many a bar-room). It was
said or discussed there whether the ailments, from which the sub-judge
suffered were, ever likely to be got rid of without medicines, by merely
going after Sai Baba, and whether it was proper for an educated man, like
the sub-judge, to have recourse to such methods. The sub-judge was taken
to task, i.e. he was ciritisied, as also Sai Baba. I also took some part
in this affair; and now Sai Baba showed the impropriety of my conduct.
This is not a rebuke to me, but a favour, an advice that I should not
indulge in any scandal or slander of others; and not interfere
unnecessarity in others' affairs".
Shirdi is about 100 Koss (Koss=3 miles) distant from Pandharpur; still
Baba by His omniscience knew what transpired there in the bar-room. The
intervening places -- rivers, jungles and mountains - were not a bar to
His all-perceiving sight and He could see or read the hearts of all. There
was nothing secret or veiled from Him. Everything, far or near, was plain
and clear to Him as broad as daylight. Let a man be far or near, he cannot
avoid the all-pervading gaze of Sai Baba. From this incident, the pleader
took the lesson that he should never speak ill of others, nor
unnecessarily criticize them. This his evil tendency was completely got
rid of, and he was set on the right path.
Though the story refers to a pleader, still it is applicable to all. All
should, therefore, take this lesson to heart and profit thereby.
Sai Baba's greatness is unfathomable, so are His wonderful Leelas. His
life is also such; for He is Para-Brahman (Lord God) incarnate.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XXII
Rescues from Serpent-bites - (1) Balasaheb Mirikar (2) Bapusaheb Booty (3)
Amir Shakkar (4) Hemadpant - Baba's Opinion Regarding Killing of Serpents.
Preliminary
How to meditate on Baba? No one has been able to fathom the nature or the
form of the Almighty. Even the Vedas and the thousand-tongued Shesha are
not able to describe it fully; but the devotees cannot but know and look
at the form of the Lord, for they know that His Feet are the only means of
their happiness. They know no other method of attaining the supreme goal
of life, except meditating on the Holy Feet. Hemadpant suggests an easy
way of devotion and meditation as follows:-
As the dark fortnight of every month wears out gradually, the moonlight
also wanes in the same degree and on the newmoon day, we do not see the
moon at all, nor do we get her light. Therefore, when the bright fortnight
begins, people are very anxious to see the moon. On the first day, the
moon is not seen and on the second day also she is not clearly visible.
Then the people are asked to see the moon through an opening between the
two branches of a tree, and when they begin to see through this aperture
eagerly and after concentratedly, the distant small crescent of the moon
comes, to their great delight, within their ken. Following this clue, let
us try to see Baba's Light. Look at Baba's posture, how fine it is! He is
sitting with His legs folded,the right leg held across the left knee. The
fingers of His left hand are spread on the right-foot. On the right toe
are spread His two fingers-the index and middle ones. By this posture Baba
means to say, as it were-if you want to see My Light, be egoless and most
humble and meditate on My toe through the opening between the two
branches-index and middle fingers-and then you will be able to see My
Light. This is the easiest means of attaining devotion.
Now let us turn for a moment to Baba's life. Shirdi had become a place of
pilgrimage on account of Baba's stay. People from all quarters began to
flock there, and both the rich and the poor began to be benefited in more
ways than one and in some form or other. Who can describe Baba's boundless
love and His wonderful natural knowledge and His all-pervasiveness?
Blessed is he, who could experience one or all of these. Sometimes Baba
observed long silence which was, in a way, His dissertation on Brahman; at
other times He was Consciousness-Bliss Incarnate, surrounded by His
devotees. Sometimes He spoke in parables, and at other times indulged in
wit and humour. At times, He was quite unambiguous (clear) and at times He
seemed enraged. Sometimes He gave His teachings in a nut-shell, at other
times He argued at length. Many a time He was very plain. In this way, He
gave varied instructions to many, according to their requirements. His
life was, therefore, inscrutable, beyond the ken of our mind, beyond our
intellect and speech. Our longing to see His face, to talk with Him and
hear His Leelas was never satisfied; still we were overflowing with joy.
We can count the showers of rain, encircle (tie) the wind in a leather
bag, but who can gauge or measure His Leelas? Now we deal here with one
aspect of them, viz. how He anticipated or forestalled the calamities of
His devotees and warded them off in time.
Balasaheb Mirikar
Balasaheb Mirikar, son of Sirdar Kakasaheb Mirikar was Mamlatdar of
Kopergaon. He was going on tour to Chitali. On the way he came to Shirdi
to see Sai Baba. When he went to the Masjid and prostrated himself before
Baba, usual conversation regarding health and other matters commenced,
when Baba sounded a note of warning as follows:-"Do you know our
Dwarakamayi?" As Balasaheb did not understand he kept quiet, Baba
continued - "This is our Dwarakamayi, where you are sitting. She wards off
all dangers and anxieties of the children, who sit on her lap. This
Masjidmayi (its presiding Deity) is very merciful, she is the mother of
the simple devotees, whom she will save in calamities. Once a person sits
on her lap, all his troubles are over. He, who rests in her shade, gets
Bliss". Then Baba gave him Udi, and placed His protecting hand on his
head. When Balasaheb was about to depart, He again said- "Do you know the
"Lamba Bava" (long gentleman), Viz. serpent?" And then closing the left
arm like fist He brought it near the right elbow, and moving His left arm
like the hood of a serpent, He said- "He is so terrible, but what can he
do to the children of Dwarakamayi: When the Dwarakamayi (its presiding
deity) protects, what can the serpent do?"
All who were present there, were curious to know the meaning of all this
and its reference to Mirikar, but none had the courage to ask Baba about
this. Then Balasaheb saluted Baba and left the Masjid with Shama. Baba
called Shama back and asked him to accompany Balasaheb, and enjoy the
Chitali trip. Shama came to Balasaheb, and told him that he would go with
him according to Baba's wish. Balasaheb replied that he need not come as
it would be inconvenient. Sharma returned to Baba and told Him what
Balasaheb said to him. Baba said, "Alright, do not go. We should mean well
and do well. Whatever is destined to happen, will happen".
In the meanwhile Balasaheb thought over again, and calling Shama asked him
to accompany him. Then Shama going again to Baba and taking His leave
started with Balasaheb in the tanga. They reached Chitali at 9 P.M. and
encamped in the Maruti temple. The office-people had not come; so they sat
quiet in the temple, talking and chitchating. Balasaheb was sitting on a
mat reading a newspaper. His Uparani (upper dhotar) was spread across his
waist and on a part of it a snake was sitting unobserved. It began to move
with a rustling sound which was heard by the peon. He brought a lantern,
saw the snake and raised an alarm- 'serpent, serpent'. Balasaheb was
frightened and began to quiver. Shama was also amazed. Then he and others
moved noiselessly and took sticks and clubs in their hands. The snake got
down slowly from the waist and it moved away from Balasaheb; it was
immediately done to death. Thus this calamity, which was prophesied by
Baba, was averted and Balasaheb's love for Baba was deeply confirmed.
Bapusaheb Booty
A great astrologer named Nanasaheb Dengale told one day Bapusaheb Booty,
who was then in Shirdi, "To-day is an inauspicious day for you, there is a
danger to your life". This made Bapusaheb restless. When they, as usual,
came to Masjid, Baba said to Bapusaheb- "What does this Nana say? He
foretells death for you. Well, you need not be afraid. Tell him boldly
"Let us see how death kills." Then later in the evening Bapusaheb went to
his privy for easing himself where he saw a snake. His servant saw it and
lifted a stone to strike at it. Bapusaheb asked him to get a big stick,
but before the servant returned with the stick, the snake was seen moving
away and soon disappeared. Bapusaheb remembered with joy Baba's words of
fearlessness.
Amir shankar
Amir Shankar was a native of the village Korale, in Kopergaon Taluka. he
belonged to the butcher caste. He worked as a commission agent in Bandra,
and was well-known there. He once suffered from Rheumatism, which gave him
much pain. He was then reminded of God, and so, he left his business and
went to Shirdi, and prayed to Baba to relieve him from his malady. Baba
then stationed him in the Chavadi, which was then a damp unhealthy place,
unfit for such a patient. Any other place in the village, or Korale itself
would have been better for Amir, but Baba's word was the deciding factor
and the chief medicine. Baba did not allow him to come to the Masjid, but
fixed him in the Chavadi, where he got very great advantage. Baba passed
via Chavadi every morning and evening; and every alternate day Baba went
to the Chavadi in a procession and slept there. So Amir got Baba's contact
very often easily. Amir stayed there for full nine months, and then,
somehow or other, he got a disgust for the place. So one night he
stealthily left the place and came to Kopergaon and stayed in a
Dharmashala. There he saw an old dying Fakir, who asked him for water.
Amir brought it and gave it to him. As soon as he drank it, he passed
away. Then Amir was in a fix. He thought that if he went and informed the
authorities, he would be held responsible for the death as he was the
first and sole informant, and knew something about it. He repented for his
action, viz. leaving Shirdi without Baba's leave, and prayed to Baba. He
then determined to return to Shirdi, and that same night he ran back,
remembering and muttering Baba's name on the way, and reached Shirdi
before day-break, and became free from anxiety. Then he lived in the
Chavadi in perfect accordance with Baba's wishes and orders, and got
himself cured. One night it so happened that Baba cried at midnight- "Oh
Abdul, some devilish creature is dashing against the side of My bed".
Abdul came with a latern, examined Baba's bed but found nothing, Baba
asked him to examine carefully all the place and began to strike ground
with His satka. Seeing this Leela of Baba, Amir thought that Baba might
have suspected some serpent had come there. Amir could know by close and
long contact the meaning of Baba's words and actions. Baba then saw near
Amir's cushion something moving. He asked Abdul to bring in the light, and
when he brought it, he saw the coil of a serpent there, moving its head up
and down. Thereupon the serpent was immediately beaten to death. Thus Baba
gave timely warning and saved Amir.
Hemadpant (Scorpion and Serpent)
(1) At Baba's recommendation Kakasaheb Dixit was daily reading the two
works of Shri Eknath Maharaj, viz., Bhagwat and Bhawartha Ramayana and
Hemadpant had the good forturne to be one of the audience when the reading
of the works was going on. Once when a portion from the Ramayana relating
to Hanuman's testing Rama's greatness, according to his mother's
instructions, was being read, all the listeners were spell-bound.
Hemadpant was one of them. A big scorpion (none knew where it came from),
jumped and sat on the right shoulder of Hemadpant, on his Uparani (upper
dhotar). First it was not noticed, but as the Lord protects those, who are
intent on hearing His stories, he casually cast a glance over his right
shoulder and noticed it. It was dead silence, not a bit moved here or
there. It seemed as if, it also enjoyed the reading. Then by the Lord's
grace, Hemadpant without disturbing the audience, took the two ends of his
dhotar, folded them, and brought them together, enclosing the scorpion
within. Then he went out, and threw it in the garden. (2) On another
occasion some persons were sitting in the upper floor of Kakasaheb's Wada,
just before nightfall, when a serpent crept through a hole in the window
frame and sat coiled up. A light was brought. Though it was first dazzled,
yet it sat still and only moved its head up and down. Then many persons
rushed there with sticks and cudgels, but as it sat in an awakward place,
no blow could be dealt. But hearing the noises of men, the serpent went
out hastily through the same hole. Then all the persons there felt
relieved.
Baba's Opinion
One devotee named Muktaram, then said that it was good that the poor
creature escaped. Hemadpant challenged him saying that serpents should
better be killed. There was a hot discussion between them - the former
contending that serpents, and such creatures, should not be killed, the
latter that they should be. As night came on, the discussion came to an
end, without any decision being arrived at. Next day, the question was
reffered to Baba, who gave His settled opinion as follows:- "God lives in
all beings and creatures, whether they be serpents or scorpions. He is the
Great Wirepuller of the world, and all beings, serpents, scorpions etc.,
obey His command. Unless He will it, nobody can do any harm to others. The
world is all dependent on Him, and no one is independent. So we should
take pity and love all creatures, leave off adventurous fights and
killings and be patient. The Lord (God) is the Protector of all.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XXIII
Yoga and Onion - Shama Cured of Snake - Bite - Cholera Ordinance Broken -
Ordeal of Guru-Bhakti.
Preliminary
Really this Jiva (human soul) transcends the three qualities, viz. Sattwa,
Rajas and Tamas, but being deluded by Maya, he forgets his nature which is
'Existence-knowledge-bliss', and thinks that he is the doer and enjoyer
and thus entangles himself in endless miseries and does not know the way
of deliverance. The only way of deliverance is Loving Devotion towards the
Guru's feet. The great Player or Actor Lord Sai has delighted His Bhaktas
and transformed them into Himself (His nature).
We regard Sai Baba as an incarnation of God for reasons already stated,
but He always said that He was an obedient servant of God. Though an
incarnation He showed the people the way, how to behave satisfactorily and
carry out the duties of their respective stations (Varnas) in this life.
He never emulated others in any way, nor asked others to have something
done for Him. For Him, Who saw the Lord in all movable and immovable
things of this world, humility was the most proper thing. None He
disregarded or disrespected; for He saw Narayan (Lord) in all beings, He
never said, "I am God," but that He was a humble servant and He always
remembered Him and always uttered - "Allah Malik" (God is the sole
proprietor or Owner).
We do not know the various kinds of Saints, how they behave, what they do
and eat etc. We only know, that by God's grace they manifest themselves in
this world to liberate the ignorant and bound souls. If there be any store
of merits on our account, we get a desire in listening to the stories and
Leelas of the Saints, otherwise not. Let us now turn to the main stories
of this Chapter.
Yoga and Onion
Once it so happened, that a sadhak of Yoga came to Shirdi with Nanasaheb
Chandorkar. He had studied all the works on Yoga, including the
Yoga-sutras of Patanjali, but had no practical experience. He could not
concentrate his mind and attain samadhi even for a short time. He thought
that if Sai Baba be pleased with him, He will show him the way to attain
samadhi for a long time. With this object in view he came to Shirdi, and
when he went to the Masjid he saw Sai Baba eating bread with onion. On
seeing this, a thought arose in his mind - `How can this man, eating stale
bread with raw onion, solve my difficulties and help me?' Sai Baba read
his mind and said to Nanasaheb - "Oh Nana, he who has the power to digest
onion, should eat it and none else". Hearing this remark, the yogi was
wonder-struck and then he fell at Baba's Feet with complete surrender.
With pure and open mind, he asked his difficulties and got their solution
from Baba. Thus being satisfied and happy, he left Shirdi with Baba's Udi
and blessings.
Shama Cured of Snake-Bite
Before Hemadpant begins the story, he says about the Jiva that it can be
very well compared with a parrot, and that they both are bound, the one in
the body and the other in a cage. Both think that their present bound
state is good for them. It is only when a Helper, i.e., Guru comes and by
God's grace opens their eyes and liberates them from their bondage, that
their eyes are opened to a greater and larger life, compared to which
their former limited life is nothing.
In the last Chapter, it was shown how Baba anticipated the calamity, that
was to befall on Mr. Mirikar and rescued him from it. Now let the readers
hear a story grander than that. Once Shama was bitten by a poisonous
snake. His little finger of the hand was stung and the poison began to
spread into the body. The pain was also severe and Shama thought that he
would pass off soon. His friends wanted to take him to the God Viroba,
wh
Chapter XXVI
Stories of (1) Bhakata Pant (2) Harishchandra Pitale and (3) Gopal
Ambadekar.
Preliminary
All the things that we see in the universe are nothing but a play of Maya
-- the creative power of the Lord. These things do not really exist. What
really exists is the Real Absolute. Just as we mistake a rope of a garland
or a stick for a serpent on account of darkness, we always see the
phenomena, i.e. things as they outwardly appear, and not the Noumenon
which underlies all the visible things. It is only the Sad-guru that opens
the eyes of our understanding and enables us to see things in their true
light and not as they appear. Let us, therefore, worship the Sad-guru and
pray to him to give us the true vision, which is nothing but God-vision.
Inner Worship
Hemadpant has given us a novel form of worship. Let us, he says, use hot
water in the form of tears of joy to wash the Sad-guru's feet, let us
besmear His body with sandle-paste of pure love, let us cover His body
with the cloth of true faith, let us offer eight lotuses in the form of
our eight Sattwik emotions and fruit in the form of our concentrated mind;
let us apply to His head bukka (black-powder) in the form of devotion and
tie the waistband of Bhakti and place our head on his toes.
After decorating the Sad-guru with all jewelry in this way, let us offer
our all to Him and wave chamar of devotion to ward off heat. After such
blissful worship, let us pray thus:- "Introvert our mind, turn it inward,
give us discrimination between the Unreal and the Real and non-attachment
for all worldly things and thus enable us to get Self-realisation. We
surrender ourselves, body and soul (body-consciousness and ego). Make our
eyes Yours, so that we should never feel pleasure and pain. Control our
body and mind as You will and wish. Let our mind get rest in Your Feet".
Now let us turn to the stories of this Chapter.
Bhakta Pant
Once it so happened that a devotee by name Pant, a disciple of another
Sad-guru had the good fortune of visiting Shirdi. He had no mind to go to
Shirdi, but man proposes one way and God disposes the other. He was
travelling in a B.B. train where he met many friends and relations bound
for Shirdi. They all asked him to accompany them and he could not say nay.
They alighted at Bombay while pant got down at Virar. There he took the
permission of his Sadguru for the Shirdi trip and after arranging for the
expenses, left with the party for Shirdi. They all reached the place in
the morning and went to the Masjid at about 11 A.M. Seeing the concourse
of the devotees assembled for Baba's worship, they were all pleased, but
Pant suddenly got a fit and fell senseless. They were all frightened,
still they tried their best to bring him to his senses. With Baba's grace
and with pitchers of water which they poured over his head, he regained
his consciousness and sat upright as if he was just awakened from sleep.
The omniscient Baba knowing that he was a disciple of another Guru,
assured him fearlessness and confirmed his faith in his own Guru, by
addressing him as follows :- "Come what may, leave not, but stick to your
Bolster (support, i.e. Guru) and ever remain steady, always at-one-ment
(in union) with him." Pant at once knew the significance of this remark
and thus he was reminded of his Sad-guru. This kindness of Baba he never
forgot in his life.
Harishchandra Pitale
There was a gentleman by name Harishchandra Pital in Bombay. He had a son,
who suffered from epilepsy. He tried many allopathic and ayurvedic
doctors, but there was no cure. There remained only one way of remedy,
viz. resorting to the saints. It has been stated in Chapter XV that Das
Ganu by his inimitable and splendid kirtans spread the fame of Sai Baba in
the Bombay Presidency. Mr. Pitale heard some of these kirtans in 1910 and
learnt therefrom and from others that Baba, by His touch and mere glance,
cured many incurable diseases. Then a desire arose in his mind to see Sai
Baba. Making all preparations and taking presents and fruit-baskets, Mr.
Pitale came to Shirdi with family, wife and children. He then went to the
Masjid with them, prostrated before Baba and placed his sick son on Baba's
Feet. No sooner Baba saw the child than an untoward thing happened. The
son immediately revolved his eyes and fell down senseless. His mouth began
to foam and his whole body began to perspire profusely and it seemed as if
he breathed himself out. Seeing this, the parents became very nervous and
excited. The boy used to get such fits very often, but this fit seemed to
persist long. Tears began to flow ceaselessly from the mother's eyes and
she began to wail, crying that her condition was like that of a person,
who being afraid of the robbers ran into a house which collapsed on him,or
like a cow fearing a tiger, ran into the hands of a butcher, or like a
traveller, who being tormented by the heat of the sun went to take refuge
under a tree, which fell upon him, or like a devout person going for
worship into a temple which collapsed upon him. Then Baba comforted her
saying - "Do not wail like this, wait a bit, have patience, take the boy
to your lodging, he will come to his senses within half an hour." They did
as directed by Baba and found that His words came true. As soon as he was
taken into the Wada, the boy recovered and all the Pitale family, husband,
wife and others were very delighted and all their doubts disappeared. Then
Mr. Pitale came with his wife to see Baba and prostrated himself before
Him very humbly and respectfully and sat shampooing His legs and mentally
thanking Baba for His help. Baba then smilingly said - "Are not all your
thoughts, doubts and apprehensions calmed down now? Hari (Lord) will
protect him, who has got faith and patience". Mr. Pitale was a rich and
well-to-do gentleman. He distributed sweet-meat on a large scale and gave
Baba excellent fruits and pan (betel-leaves). Mrs. Pitale was a very
Sattwik lady, simple, loving and faithful. She used to sit near the post
staring at Baba with tears of joy flowing down from her eyes. Seeing her
of an amicable and loving nature, Baba was much pleased with her. Like
Gods, Saints are always dependent on their devotees who surrender and
worship them with their heart and soul. After passing some happy days in
Baba's company, the Pitale family came to the Masjid to take Baba's leave
to depart. Baba gave them Udi and blessings and called Mr. Pitale close by
and said to him - "Bapu, I had given you before, Rs. two, now I give you
Rs. three; keep these in your shrine for worship and you will be
benefited." Mr. Pitale accepted these as Prasad, prostrated himself again
before Baba and prayed for His blessings. A thought arose in his mind,
that as that was his first trip to Shirdi, he could not understand what
Baba meant, when He said that He had given Rs. two previously. He was
curious to have this mystery solves, but Baba kept silent. When Mr. Pitale
returned to Bombay, he narrated to his old mother all that had happened at
Shirdi and the mystery about Baba's giving him Rs. two formerly. The
mother also did not understand the mystery, but, thinking seriously about
that, she was reminded of an old incident, which solved the mystery. She
said to her son - "As you now went to Sai Baba with your son, so had your
father done when he took you to Akkalkot, for the darshana of the Maharaj
there many years ago. That Maharaj was also a Siddha, Perfect Yogi,
omniscient and liberal. Your father was pure, devout and his worship was
accepted. He then gave your father Rs. two for being kept in the shrine
and worshipped. Your father worshipped them accordingly till his death,
but thereafter the worship was neglected and the rupees were lost. After
some years the memory of these two rupees also disappeared and now, as you
are very fortunate, the Akkalkotkar Maharaj has appeared to you in the
form of Sai Baba just to remind you to your duties and worship, and to
ward off all dangers. Now beware henceforth, leave off all doubts and bad
thoughts, follow your ancestors and behave well; go on worshipping the
family gods and the rupees, appraise properly and take pride in the
blessing of the Saints. Sai Samartha has kindly revived the spirit of
Bhakti in you, cultivate it it your benefit." Hearing the remarks of the
mother, Mr. Pitale was very much delighted. He came to know, and was
convinced about the all-prevasiveness of Baba and the significance of His
darshan. From that time he became very careful about his behaviour.
Mr. Ambadekar
Mr. Gopal Narayan Ambadekar of Poona was a devotee of Baba. He served for
ten years in the Abkari department in the Thana District and in Javhar
state, from where he had to retire. He tried to get some other job, but he
did not succeed. He was overtaken by other calamities and his condition
grew from bad to worse. He passed 7 years in this condition, visiting
Shirdi every year and placing his grievance before Baba. In 1916 his
plight became worst and be decided to commit suicide in Shirdi. So he came
there with his wife and stayed for two months. One night while sitting in
a bullock cart in front of Dixit's Wada, he resolved to end his life by
throwing himself into a well close by. He proposed to do one way but Baba
wished to do something else. A few paces from this place, there was a
hotel and its proprietor Mr. Sagun, a devotee of Baba, came out and
accosted him thus - "Did you ever read this Akkalkotkar Maharaja's life?"
Ambadekar took that book from Sagun and began to read it. Casually, or we
may say providentially he came across a story which was to this effect. -
During the life time of Akkalkotkar Maharaj a certain devotee suffered
very much from an incurble disease and when he could endure the agony and
pain no longer, be became desperate and to end his miseries threw himself
one night into a well. Immediately the Maharaj came there and took him out
with his own hands and advised him thus - "You must enjoy the fruit - good
or bad - of your past actions; if the enjoyment be incomplete, suicide
won't help you. You have to take another birth and suffer again; so
instead of killing yourself, why not suffer for some time and finish up
your store of the fruit of your past deeds and be done with it once and
for all?"
Reading this appropriate and timely story, Ambadekar was much surprised,
and moved. Had he not got Baba's hint through the story, he would have
been no more. On seeing Baba's all-prevasiveness and benevolence, his
faith in Him was confirmed, and he became a staunch devotee. His father
was a devotee of Akkalkotkar Maharaj and Sai Baba wanted him to walk into
his father's footsteps and continue his devotion to Him. He then got Sai
Baba's blessings and his prospects began to improve. He studied astrology
and gained proficiency in it and thereby improved his lot. He was able to
earn sufficient money and passed his after-life in ease and comfort.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XXVII
Favour Shown by Giving Bhagwat and Vishnu-Sahasra Nam - Dixit's Vitthal
Vision - Gita Rahasya - Khapardes.
This Chapter describes, how Sai Baba favoured His devotees by granting
them religious books after he had touched and consecrated them, for
parayana (reading regularly) and certain other matters.
Preliminary
When a man takes a plunge into the sea, he gets the merit of bathing in
all the Tirthas and sacred rivers. Similarly when a man takes refuge at
the feet of the Sad-guru, he gets the merit of bowing to the Trinity, i.e.
Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh and also Para-Brahma. Victory be unto Shri Sai
the wish-fulfilling tree and the ocean of knolwedge, who gives us
self-realisation. Oh Sai, create in us regard for Your stories. Let the
readers and audience devour them with the same relish with which the
chatak bird drinks the water from the clouds and becomes happy. While
listening to Your stories, let them and their families get all the sattwik
emotions, viz. let their bodies perspire, let their eyes be full of tears,
let their prana be steady, let their minds be composed, let their hair
stand on end, let them cry, sob and shake, let their hostilities and their
distinctions, great and small vanish. If these things happen, that is a
sign of the grace of the Guru dawning upon them. When these emotions
develop in you, the Guru is most pleased and will certainly lead you on to
the goal of self-realisation. The best way, therefore, to get free from
the shackles of Maya is our complete and whole-hearted surrender to Baba.
The Vedas cannot take you across the ocean of Maya. It is only the
Sad-guru, who can do so and make you, see the Lord in all creatures.
Granting Consecrated Book
The variety of imparting instructions followed by Baba has already been
noticed in the previous Chapters. In this, we shall deal with one aspect
of it. It was the habit of some devotees to take some religious books, of
which they wanted to make a special study, to Baba and to receive the same
back from Him, after they were touched and consecrated by Him. While
reading daily such books, they felt that Baba was with them. Once, Kaka
Mahajani came to Shirdi with a copy of Ekanathi Bhagwat. Shama took that
book to read and taking it with him went to the Masjid. There Baba took it
from him, touched it and turning some pages here and there gave it back to
Shama and asked him to keep it with him. When Shama said that it belonged
to Kaka and had to be returned to him. "No, no", said Baba. "As I have
given it to you, better keep it with you for safe custody; it will be of
use to you." In this way many books were entrusted to Shama. Kaka Mahajani
after a some days came again with another copy of the same Bhagwat and
gave it in Baba's hand. Then Baba gave it back as Prasad and asked him to
preserve it well and assured him that it would stand him in good stead.
Kaka accepted it with a bow.
Shama and Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam
Shama was a very intimate devotee of Baba and Baba wanted to favour him in
a particular way by giving him a copy of Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam as Prasad.
This was done in the following way. Once a Ramadasi (follower of Saint
Ramadas) came to Shirdi and stayed for some time. The routine he followed
daily was as follows : He got up early in the morning, washed his face,
bathed and then after wearing saffron-coloured clothes and besmearing
himself with sacred ashes, read Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam (a book giving a
thousand names in praise of Vishnu, and held second in importance to
Bhagwad Geeta) and Adhyatma-Ramayana (Esoteric version of Rama's story)
with faith. He read these books often and often and then after some days
Baba thought of favouring and initiating Shama with Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam.
He, therefore, called the Ramadasi to Him and said to him that, He was
suffering from intense stomach-pain, and unless He took Senna-pods
(Sona-mukhi, a mild purgative drug) the pain would not stop; so he should
please go to the bazar and bring the drug. The Ramadasi closed his reading
and went to the bazar. Then Baba descended from His seat, came to the
Ramadasi's place of reading, took out the copy of Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam, and
coming to His seat said to Shama- "Oh Shama, this book is very valuable
and efficacious, so I present it to you, you read it. Once I suffered
intensely and My heart began to palpitate and My life was in danger. At
that critical time, I hugged this book to My heart and then, Shama, what a
relief it gave me! I thought that Allah Himself came down and saved Me. So
I give this to you, read it slowly, little by little, read daily one name
at least and it will do you good." Shama replied that he did not want it,
and that the owner of it, the Ramadasi who was a mad, obstinate and
irritable fellow would certainly pick up a quarrel with him, besides,
being a rustic himself, he could not read distinctly the Sanskrit
(Devanagari) letters of the book.
Shama thought that Baba wanted to set him up against the Ramadasi by this
act of His, but he had no idea of what Baba felt for him. Baba must have
thought to tie this necklace of Vishu-Sahasra-Nam round the neck of Shama,
as he was an intimate devotee, though a rustic, and thus save him from the
miseries of the worldly existence. The efficacy of God's Name is
well-known. It saves us from all sins and bad tendencies, frees us from
the cycle of births and deaths. There is no easier sadhana than this. It
is the best purifier of our mind. It requires no paraphernalia and no
restrictions. It is so easy and so effective. This sadhana, Baba wanted
Shama to practise, though he did not crave for it. So Baba forced this on
him. It is also reported that long ago, Eknath Maharaj, similarly, forced
this Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam on a poor Brahmin neighbour, and thus saved him.
The reading and study of this Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam is a broad open way of
purifying the mind, and hence Baba thrust this on His Shama.
The Ramadasi returned soon with the Seena-pods. Anna Chinchanikar, who was
then present and who wanted to play the part of Narada (the Celestial
Rishi who was well-known for setting up quarrels between Gods and demons
and vice versa), informed him of what had happened. The Ramadasi at once
flared up. He came down at once on Shama with all fury. He said that it
was Shama who set Baba to send him away under the pretext of stomach-ache
for bringing the medicine and thus got the book. He began to scold and
abuse Shama and remarked that if the book be not returned, he would dash
his head before him. Shama calmly remonstrated with him, but in vain. Then
Baba spoke kindly to him as follows - "Oh Ramadasi, what is the matter
with you? Why are you so turbulent? Is not Shama our boy? Why do you scold
him unnecessarily. How is it that you are so quarrelsome? Can you not
speak soft and sweet words? You read daily these sacred books and still
your mind is impure and your passions uncontrolled. What sort of a
Ramadasi you are! You ought to be indifferent to all things. Is it not
strange that you should covet this book so strongly? A true Ramadasi
should have no 'mamata' (attachment) but have 'samata' (equality) towards
all. You are now quarrelling with the boy Shama for a mere book. Go, take
your seat, books can be had in plenty for money, but not men; think well
and be considerate. What worth is your book? Shama had no concern with it.
I took it up Myself and gave it to him. You know it by heart. I thought
Shama might read it and profit thereby, and so I gave to it him."
How sweet were these words of Baba, soft, tender and nectar-like! Their
effect was wonderful. The Ramadasi calmed down and said to Shama that he
would take 'Panch-ratni' Geeta in return. Shama was much pleased and said
- "Why one, I shall give ten copies in return".
So the matter was ultimately compromised. The question for consideration
is "Why should the Ramadasi press for Pancha-ratni Geeta, the God in which
he never cared to know, and why should he, who daily read religious books
in the Masjid in front of Baba, quarrel with Shama before Him?" We do not
know how to apportion the blame and whom to blame. We only say that, had
this procedure been not gone through, the importance of the subject, the
efficacy of God's name and the study of Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam would not have
been brought home to Shama. So we see that Baba's method, of teaching and
initiating was unique. In this cases Shama did gradually study the book
and mastered its contents to such an extent, that he was able to explain
it to Professor G.G. Narke, M.A. of the College of Engineering, Poona, the
son-in-law of Shriman Booty and a devotee of Baba.
Vitthal-Vision
One day, while Kakasaheb Dixit was in mediation after his morning bath in
his Wada at Shirdi he saw a vision of Vitthal. When he went to see Baba
afterwards, Baba asked him - "Did vitthal Patil come? did you not see Him?
He is very elusive, hold Him fast, otherwise He will give you the slip and
run away". Then at noon a certain hawker came there, with 20 or 25
pictures of Vitthal of Pandharpur for sale. Mr. Dixit was surprised to see
that the form of Vithal he saw in his mediation exactly tallied with that
in the picture and he was also reminded of Baba's words. He therefore,
bought one picture most willingly and kept it in his shrine for worship.
Geeta-Rahasya
Baba always loved those who studied Brahma-vidya (metaphysics) and
encouraged them. To give an instance - Once Bapusaheb Jog received a
post-parcel. It contained a copy of Geeta-Rahasya by Lokamanya Tilak.
Taking it under his armpit he came to the Masjid and prostrated himself
before Baba, when the parcel fell at Baba's Feet. Baba enquired what it
was. It was opened then and there and the book was placed in Baba's hand.
He turned some pages here and there for a few minutes and took out a rupee
from His pocket placed it on the book and handed the same with the rupee
to Jog and said to him - "Read this completely and you will be benefited".
Mr. and Mrs. Khaparde
Let us close this Chapter with a description of the Khapardes. Once
Dadasaheb Khaparde came with his family and lived in Shirdi for some
months. (The diary of his stay has been published in English in the Shri
Sai Leela Magazine first Volume.) Dadasaheb was not an ordinary man. He
was the richest and the most famous advocate of Amraoti (Berar) and was a
member of the Council of State, Delhi. He was very intelligent and a very
good speaker. Still he dared not open his mouth before Baba. Most devotees
spoke and argued with Baba off and on, but only three, viz. Khaparde,
Noolkar and Booty kept always silent. They were meek, modest, humble and
goodnatured. Dadasaheb, who was able to expound Panchadashi (A well-known
Sanskrit treatise on the Adwaita Philosophy by the famous Vidyaranya) to
others, said nothing or uttered no word when he came to the Masjid before
Baba. Really a man, however learned he may be even in Vedas, fades away
before one, who was realised Brahman and become one with it. Learning
cannot shine before Self-reaisation. Dadasaheb stayed for four months, but
Mrs. Khaparde stayed for seven. Both were highly pleased with their Shirdi
stay. Mrs. Khaparde was faithful and devout, and loved Baba deeply. Every
noon she brought naivedya herself to the Masjid, and after it was accepted
by Baba, she used to return and take her meals. Seeing her steady and firm
devotion, Baba wanted to exhibit it to others. One noon she brought a dish
containing Sanza (wheat-pudding), purees, rice, soup, and kheer (sweet
rice) and other sundry articles to the Masjid. Baba, who usually waited
for hours, got up at once, went up to His dining seat and removing the
outer covering from the dish began to partake of the things zealously.
Shama then asked Him - "Why this partiality? You throw away dishes of
others and do not care to look at them, but this You draw to You earnestly
and do justice to it. Why is the dish of this woman so sweet? This is a
problem to us." Baba then explained - "This food is really extra-ordinary.
In former birth this lady was a merchant's fat cow yielding much milk.
Then she disappeared and took birth in a gardener's family, then in a
Kshatriya family, and married a merchant. Then she was born in a Brahmin
family. I saw her after a very long time, let Me take some sweet morsels
of love from her dish." Saying this, Baba did full justice to her dish,
washed his mouth and hands, gave out some belches as a mark of
satisfaction, and resumed His seat. Then she make a bow and began to
shampoo Baba's legs and Baba began to talk with her and knead her arms
which were shampooing His Legs. On seeing this reciprocal service Shama
began to joke and said - "It is going on well, it is a wonderful sight to
see God and His Bhakta serving each other. "After being pleased with her
sincere service, Baba asked her in low and fascinating tone to chant
'Rajarama, Rajarama' then and always, and said - "If you do this, your
life's object will be gained, your mind will attain peace and you will be
immensely benefited." To persons unfamiliar with spiritual matters, this
might appear as affair, but really it was not so. It was a case of, what
in technically called, 'Shakti-pat', i.e. transference of power from the
Guru to the disciple. How forcible and effective were Baba's words! In an
instant, they pierced her heart and found lodgement there.
This case illustrates the nature of the relations that should subsist
between the Guru and the disciple. Both should love and serve each other
as One. There is no distinction nor any difference between them. Both are
One, and one cannot live without the other. The disciple placing his head
on the Guru's feet is a gross or outward vision; really and internally
they are both one and the same. Those who see any difference between them
are yet unripe and not perfect.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XXVIII
Sparrows Drawn To Shirdi
(1) Lakhamichand - (2) Burhanpore Lady - (3) Megha
Preliminary
Sai is not finite or limited. He dwells in all beings, from ants and
insects to the God Brahma. He pervades all. Sai was well-versed in the
knowledge of the Vedas, as well as in the science of Self-realisation. As
He was proficient in both these, He was well-fitted to be the Sad-guru.
Any one, though learned, but not able to awaken the disciples and
establish them in Self-realisation, does not deserve to be called a
Sadguru. Generally the father gives birth to the body, and death
invariably follows life; but Sadguru does away with both life and death,
and so he is more kind and merciful, than any body.
Sai Baba often said that-let His man (Devotee) be at any distance, a
thousand koss away from Him, he will be drawn to Shirdi like a sparrow,
with a thread tied to its feet. This Chapter describes the stories of
three such sparrows.
Lala Lakhamichand
This gentleman was first serving in the Railways and afterwards in Shri
Venkateshwar Press in Bombay and thereafter in the firm of Messrs. Ralli
Brothers as a munshi (clerk). He got the contact of Baba in 1910. One or
two months before Christmas he saw in his dream at Santacruz (a suburb of
Bombay) an old man with a beard, standing and surrounded by his Bhaktas.
Some days later he went to the house of his friend. Mr Dattatreya
Manjunath Bijur to hear the kirtan by Das Ganu. It was always the practice
of Das Ganu to keep Baba's picture in front of the audience while making
the kirtan. Lakhamichand was surprised to see that the features of the old
man he saw in his dream, tallied exactly with those in the picture and
thus he came to the conclusion, that the old man, he saw in his dream was
Sai Baba himself. The sight of this picture, Das Ganu's kirtan and the
life of the Saint Tukaram on which Das Ganu discoursed, all these things
made a deep impression on his mind and he pined to go to Shirdi. It is
always the experience of the Bhaktas that God always helps them in their
search for Sad-guru and other spiritual endeavours. That very night at
8-00 p.m. a friend named Shankarrao knocked at his door and asked him
whether he would accompany him to Shirdi. His joy knew no bounds and he at
once decided to go to Shirdi. He borrowed Rs.15/- from his cousin and
after making due preparations left for Shirdi. In the train, he and his
friend Shankar Rao did some Bhajan (sang religious songs) and enquired
about Sai baba with some fellow passengers-four Mahomedans, who were
returning to their place near Shirdi. They all told tham that Sai baba was
a great Saint living in Shirdi for many years. Then when they reached
Kopergaon he wanted to buy some good guavas for offering to Baba, but he
was so much enrapt with the scenery and sights there, that he forgot to
purchase them. When they were nearing Shirdi, he was reminded of the
guavas; just then he saw an old woman with a guava-basket on her head,
running after the tanga. The tanga was stopped and he gladly purchased
some select fruits, when the woman said - "Take all the rest and offer
them on my behalf to Baba". The facts viz. that he had intended to
purchase guavas, but that he had forgotten to do so, the old woman's
encounter and her devotion to Baba, all these were a surprise to both the
friends; and Lakhamichand thought in his mind, that the old woman might be
some relation of the old man he saw in his dream. Then they drove on and
came near Shirdi and seeing the flags on the Masjid they saluted them.
With Puja materials in hand, they then went to the Masjid and worshipped
Baba with due formality. Lakhmichand was much moved and was extremely
happy to see Baba. He was enrapt with Baba's Feet as a bee with a sweet
smelling lotus. Then Baba spoke as follows :-
"Cunning fellow, he does bhajan on the way and enquires from others. Why
ask others? Everything we should see with our own eyes; where is the
necessity to question others? Just think for yourself whether your dream
is true or not? Where was the necessity of the darshan by taking a loan
from a Marwari? Is the heart's desire now satisfied?"
Hearing these words Lakhamichand was wonderstruck at Baba's omniscience.
He was at a loss to know how Baba came to know about all the things that
had happened enroute from his house to Shirdi. The chief thing to note in
this respect is that Baba never liked people to run into debt for taking
His darshan, or celebrating any holiday or making any pilgrimage.
Sanza
At noon when Lakhamichand was sitting for meals he got some sanza
(wheat-pudding) from a devotee as Prasad. He was pleased to have it. Next
day also he expected it, but got nothing. So, he was anxious to get it
again. Then on the third day at the noon Arati time, Bapusaheb Jog asked
Baba, what naivedya he should bring. Baba told him to bring sanza. Then
the Bhaktas brought two big potfuls of sanza. Lakshamichand was very
hungry and there was some pain in his back. Then Baba said to him - "It is
good that you are hungry, take sanza and some medicine for the pain in the
back." He was again wonderstruck to see that Baba again read his mind and
spoke out what was passing therein. How omniscient was He!
Evil eye
On this occasion, he once witnessed one night the procession to the
chavadi. Baba then suffered much from cough. He thought that this
suffering of Baba might be due to somebody's evil eye. Next morning when
he went to the Masjid Baba spoke to Shama as follows - "I suffered last
night from cough; is it due to some evil eye? I think that somebody's evil
eye has worked on me and so I am suffering". In this case Baba spoke out
what was passing in Lakshamichand's mind.
On seeing these proofs of Baba's omniscience and kindness to His Bhaktas,
he fell prostrate at Baba's Feet and said - "I am much pleased with your
darshan. Ever be kind and merciful to me and protect me always. There is
no other God to me in this world except Your Feet. Let my mind be ever
rapt in Your Bhajan and Feet. Let Your grace protect me from the miseries
of the world and let me ever chant Your name and be happy".
After getting Baba' Udi and blessing he returned home with his friend,
much pleased and contented and singing Baba's glory on the way. He
remained a staunch devotee of baba afterwards and always sent garlands of
flowers, camphor and Dakshina with any person of his acquaintance bound
for Shirdi.
Burhanpore Lady
Now let us turn to another sparrow (Baba's word meaning devotee). One lady
in Burhanpore saw in her dream Sai Baba coming to her door and begging
khichadi (rice cooked with dal and salt) for His meals. On awakening she
saw no body at her door. However, she was pleased with the vision and told
it to all including her husband. He was employed in the Postal Department
and when he was transferred to Akola, both husband and wife, who were
devout, decided to go to Shirdi. Then on a suitable day they left for
Shirdi and after visiting Gomati Tirth on the way, reached Shirdi and
stayed there for two months. Every day they went to the Masjid, performed
Baba's worship and passed their time happily. The couple came to Shirdi to
offer Khichadi as naivedya but for the first 14 days, somehow or other, it
could not be offered. The lady did not like this delay. Then on the 15th
day she came at noon to the Masjid with her khichadi. There she found that
Baba and others were already sitting for meals, and that the curtain was
down. Nobody dared enter in when the curtain was let down, but the lady
could not wait. She threw up the curtain with her hand and entered.
Strange to say that Baba seemed that day, hungry for khichadi and wanted
that thing first and when the lady came in with the dish, Baba was
delighted, and began to eat morsel after morsel of khichadi. On seeing the
earnestness of Baba in this respect, everybody was wonderstruck and those,
who heard the story of khichadi, were convinced about His extraordinary
love for His devotees.
Megha
Now let us go to the third and bigger 'sparrow'. Megha of Viramgaon was a
simple and illiterate Brahmin cook of Rao Bahadur H. V. Sathe. He was a
devotee of Shiva and always chanted the five syllabled mantra 'Namah
Shivaya'. He did not know the Sandhya nor its chief mantra, the Gayatri.
Rao Bahadur Sathe was interested in him, got him taught the Sandhya and
the Gayatri. Sathe told him that Sai Baba of Shirdi was the embodied form
of the God Shiva and made him start for Shirdi. At the Broach Railway
station he learnt that Sai Baba was a Moslem and his simple and orthodox
mind was much perturbed at the prospect of bowing to a Moslem, and he
prayed to his master not to send him there. His master, however, insisted
on his going there and gave him a letter of introduction to his (Sathe's)
father-in-law, Ganesh Domodar, alias Dada Kelkar at Shirdi, to introduce
him to Sai Baba. When he reached Shirdi and went to the Masjid, Baba was
very indignant and would not allow him to enter. "Kick out the rascal"
roared Baba, and then said to Megha - "You are a high caste Brahmin and I
am a low Moslem; you will lose your caste by coming here. So get away."
Hearing these words Megha began to tremble. He was wondering as to how
Baba had come to know about what was passing in his mind. He stayed there
for some days, serving Baba in his own way, but was not convinced. Then he
went home. After that he went to Tryambak (Nasik District) and stayed
there for a year and a half. Then again he returned to Shirdi. This time,
at the intercession of Dada Kelkar, he was allowed to enter the Masjid and
stay in Shirdi. Sai Baba's help to Megha was not through any oral
instruction. He worked upon Megha internally (mentally) with the result
that he was considerably changed and benefited. Then Megha began to look
upon Sai Baba as an incarnation of Shiva. In order to worship Shiva, bela
leaves are required and Megha used to go miles and miles every day to
bring them and worship his Shiva (Baba). His practice was to worship all
the Gods in the village and then come to the Masjid and after saluting
Baba's gadi (asan) he worshipped Baba and after doing some service
(shampooing His Legs) drank the washings (Tirth) of Baba's Feet. Once it
so happened that he came to the Masjid without worshipping God Khandoba,
as the door of the temple was closed. Baba did not accept his worship and
sent him again, saying that the door was open then. Megha went, found the
door open, worshipped the Deity, and then returned to Baba as usual.
Ganges-Bath
On one Makar-Sankranti day, Megha wanted to besmear the body of Baba with
sandal-paste and bathe Him with Ganges water. Baba was first unwilling to
undergo this operation, but at his repeated requests, He consented. Megha
had to traverse a distance of eight koss (going and returning) to bring
the sacred water from the Gomati river. He brought the water, made all
preparations for the bath at noon and asked Baba to get ready for the
same. Then Baba again asked him to be freed from his bath saying that, as
a Fakir He had nothing to do (or gain) with Ganges water; but Megha did
not listen. He knew that Shiva is pleased with a bath of Ganges water and
that he must give his Shiva (Baba) that bath on that auspicious day. Baba
then consented, came down and sat on a pat (wooden board) and protruding
his head said - "Oh Megha, do at least this favour; head is the most
important organ of the body, so pour the water over that only-it is
equivalent to the full or whole bath." "Alright" said Megha and lifting
the water pot up, began to pour it on the head but in doing this he was so
much overwhelmed with love that he cried out 'Har Gange' and emptied the
pot on the whole body. He kept the pot aside and began to look at Baba,
but to his surprise and amazement he found that Baba's head was only
drenched but the body quite dry.
Trident and Pindi
Megha worshipped Baba in two places; in the Masjid he worshipped Baba in
person and in the Wada, Baba's big picture, given by Nanasaheb Chandorkar.
This he did for 12 months. Then in order to appreciate his devotion and
confirm his faith, Baba gave him a vision. Early one morning when Megha
was still lying down on his bed with eyes closed but internally awake, he
saw clearly Baba's Form. Baba knowing him to be awake threw Akshata
(rice-grains marked red with Kumkum) and said, "Megha, draw a Trident" and
disappeared. Hearing Baba's words, he eagerly opened his eyes but did not
see Baba, but saw only rice grains spread here and there. He then went to
Baba, told Him about the vision and asked permission to draw Trident. Baba
said - "Did you not hear My words asking you to draw Trident? It was no
vision but direct order and My words are always pregnant with meaning and
never hollow." Megha said - "I thought you woke me up, but all the doors
were closed, so I thought it was a vision". Baba rejoined - "I require no
door to enter. I have no form nor any extension; I always live everywhere.
I carry on, as a wirepuller, all the actions of the man who trusts Me and
merges in Me."
Megha returned to the Wada, and drew a red Trident on the wall near Baba's
picture. Next day a Ramadasi Bhakta came from Poona, saluted Baba and
offered Him Pindi (an image of Shiva). At this time Megha also turned up
there. Baba said to him - "See, Shankar has come, protect (i.e., worship)
Him now." Megha was surprised to see Pindi following Trident immediately.
Then also in the Wada, Kakasaheb Dixit was standing with a towel on his
head after having taken his bath, and was remembering Sai, when he saw a
Pindi before his mental vision. While he was wondering about this, Megha
came and showed him the Pindi presented to him by Baba. Dixit was happy to
know that the Pindi exactly tallied with the One he saw a few minutes
before in his vision. In a few days after the drawing of the Trident was
complete, Baba installed the Pindi near the big picture which Megha was
worshipping. The worship of Shiva was dear to Megha and by arranging the
drawing of the Trident and the installation of the Pindi, Baba confirmed
his faith therein.
After continuous service of Baba for many years, doing regular worship and
Arati every noon and evening, Megha passed away in 1912. Then Baba passed
His hands over his corpse and said - "This was a true devotee of Mine."
Baba also ordered that at His own expense the usual funeral dinner should
be given to the Brahmins, and this order was carried out by Kakasaheb
Dixit.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XXIX
Stories of (1) Madrasi Bhajani Mela - (2) Tendulkars (Father and son) -
(3) Dr. Captain Hate - (4) Waman Narvekar.
This Chapter described other interesting and wonderful stories of Sai
Baba.
(1) Madrasi Bhajani Mela
It was in the year 1916 that a Madrasi Bhajani Mela (Party of the Ramadasi
Panth) started on a Pilgrimage to the holy city of Banaras. The Party
consisted of a man, his wife, daughter and sister-in-law. Unfortunately
their names are not mentioned. On their way, the party heard that there
lived at Shirdi in Kopergaon Taluka, Ahmednagar District, a great sage
named Sai Baba, who was calm and composed, and who was very liberal and
who distributed money every day to His Bhaktas and to skilful persons, who
went and showed their skill there. A lot of money in the form of Dakshina
was collected daily by Sai Baba and out of this amount, He gave daily one
rupee to a three year old girl Amani, the daughter of a Bhakta Kondaji and
Rs. 2 to 5 to some, Rs. 6 to Jamali, the mother of Amani and Rs. 10 to 20
and even Rs. 50 to other Bhaktas as He pleased. On hearing all this the
party came to Shirdi and stayed there. The Mela did very good bhajan and
sang very good songs, but inwardly they craved for money. Three of the
party were full of avarice, but the chief lady or mistress was of a very
different nature. She had a regard and love for Baba. Once it so happened,
that when the noon-day Arati was going on, Baba was much pleased with her
faith and devotion, and was pleased to give her darshan of her Ishtam
(Beloved Deity). To her Baba appeared as Sitanath (Rama) while to all the
others the usual Sainath. On seeing her beloved Deity, she was very much
moved. Tears began to flow from her eyes and she clapped her hands in joy.
The people began to wonder at her joyful mood; but were not able to guess
its cause. Late in the afternoon she disclosed everything to her husband.
She told him how she saw Shri Rama in Sai Baba. He thought that she was
very simple and devout, and her seeing Rama might be a hallucination of
her mind. He poohpoohed her, saying that it was not possible, that she
alone should see Rama while they all saw Sai Baba. She did not resent this
remark, as she was fortunate enough to get Ramadarshan now and then, when
her mind was calm and composed and free from avarice.
Wonderful Vision
Things were going on like this, when the husband got a wonderful vision in
his dream one night as follows :- He was in a big city, the police there
had arrested him, tied his hands with a rope, and put him up in a cage
(lock-up). As the police were tightening the grip, he saw Sai Baba
standing quiet outside, near the cage. On seeing Baba so near, he said in
a plaintive tone - "Hearing Your fame I came to Your Feet and why should a
calamity befall me when You are standing here in person?" Baba said - "You
must suffer the consequences of your action" He said - "I have not done
anything in this life which would bring such a misfortune on me." Baba
said - "If not in this life, you must have committed some sin in your past
life." He replied, "I do not know anything of my past life, but assuming
that I did commit some sin then, why should it not be burnt and destroyed
in Your presence, as dry grass before fire? "Baba - "Have you got such
faith?" He - "Yes." Baba then asked him to close his eyes. No sooner did
he shut them than he heard a thumping sound of something falling down, and
opening his eyes, he saw that he was free and the police had fallen down,
bleeding. Being much frightened he began to look at Baba who said - "Now
you are well caught, officers will now come and arrest you." Then he
begged - "There is no other saviour except You, save me anyhow." Then Baba
again asked him to close his eyes. He did so and when he opened them, he
saw that he was free, out of the cage and that Baba was by his side. He
then fell at Baba's Feet. Baba then asked him - "Is there any difference
between this namaskar and your previous ones? Think well and reply." He
said "There is a lot of difference; my former namaskaras were offered with
the object of getting money from You, but the present namaskar is one
offered to You as God; besides, formerly I thought resentfully that you,
being a Mahomendan, were spoiling us, the Hindus". Baba "Do you not
believe in your mind in Mahomendan Gods?" He said "No". Then Baba said -
"Have you not got a Panja (Emblem of Hand) in your house and do you not
worship the same in Tabut, i.e. Moharum festival? Also there is in your
house another Mahomedan Deity by name Kadbibi, whom you propitiate and
appease on your marriage and other festivals. Is it not so?" He admitted
all this. Then Baba said,"What more do you want?" Then a desire arose in
his mind to get the darshan of his Guru Ramdas, when Baba asked him to
turn back and see. And when he turned, lo, Ramadas was in front of him. No
sooner did he begin to fall at His Feet, Ramadas vanished. Then he
inquisitively asked Baba,"You look old. Do You know Your age?" Baba -
"What! Do you say I am old! just run a race with Me and see." Saying this
Baba began to run and he too followed. Baba disappeared in the dust raised
by His foot-steps while running and the man was awakened.
After awakening he began to think seriously about the dream-vision. His
mental attitude was completely changed and he realised the greatness of
Baba. After this, his grabbing and doubting tendencies disappeared and
true devotion to Baba's Feet sprang in his mind. The vision was a mere
dream, but the questions and answers therein were most significant and
interesting. Next morning when all the persons assembled in the Masjid for
the Arati, Baba gave him as prasad two rupees' worth sweetmeats and also
two rupees from His pocket and blessed him. He made him stay there for a
few more days and gave him His blessing, saying,"Allah (God) will give you
plenty and He will do you all good". He did not get more money there, but
he got far better things viz. Baba's blessing which stood him in good
stead all along. The party got plenty of money afterwards and their
pilgrimage was successful as they had not to suffer any trouble or
inconvenience during their journey. They all returned home safe and sound,
thinking of Baba's words and blessings and the Anand(Bliss) they
experienced by His grace.
This story illustrates one of the methods, which Baba followed (and is
following even now) in some cases to improve and reform His devotees.
(2) Tendulkar family
There lived in Bandra (a suburb of Bombay) a Tendalkar family, all the
members of which were devoted to Baba. Mrs. Savitribai Tendulkar has
published a Marathi book named "Shri Sainath Bhajan Mala" containing 800
abhangas and padas describing the Leelas of Baba. It is a book worth
reading by those who are interested in Baba. The son, Babu Tendulkar was
studying hard day and night and wanted to appear for the medical
examination. He consulted some astrologers. Examining his horoscope they
told him that the stars were not favourable that year and that he should
appear for the examination next year, when he would be certainly
successful. This cast a gloom over him and made him restless. A few days
afterwards his mother went to Shirdi and saw Baba. Amongst other things
she mentioned the gloomy and morose condition of her son, who was to
appear for the examination in a few days. Hearing this Baba said to
her,"Tell your son to believe in Me, to throw aside horoscopes and
predictions of astrologers and palmists and go on with his studies. Let
him appear for the examination with a calm mind, he is sure to pass this
year. Ask him to trust in Me and not to get disappointed". The mother
returned home and communicated Baba's message to her son. Then he studied
hard and in due course appeared for the examination. In the written papers
he did well, but being overwhelmed by doubts he thought that he would not
secure sufficient marks for passing. So he did not care to appear for the
oral examination. But the examiner was after him. He sent word through a
fellow- student, stating that he had passed in the written examination and
that he should appear for the oral. The son being thus encouraged appeared
for the oral examination and was successful in both. Thus he got through
the examination that year successfully by Baba's grace, though the stars
were against him. It is to be noted here that doubts and difficulties
surround us just to move us and confirm our faith. We are tested as it
were. If we only hold on steadily to Baba with full faith and continue our
endeavours, our efforts will be ultimately crowned with success.
The father of this boy, Raghunathrao was serving in some foreign
mercantile firm in Bombay. As he grew old, he was not able to attend to
his work properly and so he had to take leave and rest. As he did not
improve during the period of leave a further extension of leave or
retirement from service was inevitable. The Chief Manager of the firm
decided to retire him on pension as he was an old and a reliable servant.
The question regarding the amount of pension to be given was under
consideration. He was getting Rs.150/- p.m. and his pension i.e. half the
amount viz. Rs. 75/- would not be enough to meet the expenses of the
family. So they were all anxious about this matter. Fifteen days before
the final settlement, Baba appeared to Mrs. Tendulkar in her dream and
said, "I wish that Rs. 100/- should be paid (settled) as pension, will
this satisfy you?" She replied "Baba, why ask me this? We fully trust in
You". Though Baba said Rs.100/- still he was given ten Rupees more i.e.
Rs.110/- as a special case. Such wonderful love and care did Baba exhibit
for His Bhaktas.
(3) Captain Hate
Captain Hate, who was staying in Bikaner, was a great devotee of Baba.
Once Baba appeared to him in his dream and said "Did you forget Me?" Hate
then immediately held Baba's Feet and replied, "If a child forgets his
mother, how could it be saved?" Then Hate went into the garden and took
out fresh walpapadi vegetables, and arranging 'shidha' (ghee, wheat-flour
and dal etc.) and Dakshina, was about to offer all this to Baba when he
was awakened and came to know that the whole thing was a dream. Then he
decided to send all these things to Baba at Shirdi. When he came to
Gwalior some days afterwards, he sent Rs.12/- by money order to a friend,
with instructions that Rs. 2 should be spent in buying shidha articles and
walpapadi vegetables, and those should be offered to Baba with Rs. 10 as
Dakshina. The friend went to Shirdi and purchased the things mentioned,
but walpapadi was not available. In a short time a woman turned up with a
basket on her head, which curiously enough contained the vegetables. It
was purchased and then all the things were offered to Baba on behalf of
Captain hate. Mr. Nimonkar prepared the 'naivedya' (rice and walpapadi
vegetables) next day and offered the same to Baba. All the people were
surprised to see that Baba while dining, took and ate walpapadi, and did
not touch rice and other things. Hate's joy knew no bounds when he heard
of this from his friend.
Consecrated Rupee
At another time Captain Hate wished that he should have in his house a
coin of rupee consecrated by Baba with His touch. He came across a friend
who was bound for Shirdi. With him Hate sent his rupee. The friend went to
Shirdi and after the usual saluation gave first his Dakshina which Baba
pocketed. Then he gave Hate's rupee, which Baba took in His hand and began
to stare at it. He held it in front, tossed it up with His right thumb and
played with it. Then He said to the friend, "Return this to its owner with
the Prasad of Udi, tell him that I want nothing from him, ask him to live
in peace and contentment." The friend returned to Gwalior, handed over the
consecrated rupee to Hate, and told him all the h0appened at Shirdi. This
time Hate was much pleased and realised that Baba always encouraged good
thoughts, and as he wished intently, Baba fulfilled the same accordingly.
(4) Waman Narvekar
Now let the readers hear a different story. A gentleman, named Waman
Narvekar loved Baba very much. He once brought a rupee. On one said
(obverse) of it were engraved the figures of Rama, Laxman and Sita and on
the other (reverse) side was engraved the figure of Maruti, with folded
hands. He offered it to Baba with a hope that He should consecrate it with
His touch and return it to him with Udi. But Baba immediately pocketed it.
Then Shama spoke to Baba, regarding Womanrao's intention and requested Him
to return it. Then Baba spoke in the presence of Wamanrao as follows :-
"Why should it be returned to him? We should keep it ourselves. If he
gives Rs.25/- for it, it will be returned." Then, for the sake of that
rupee, Wamanrao collected Rs.25/- and placed them before Baba. Then Baba
said, "The value of that rupee far exceeds 25 Rupees. Shama, take this
rupee, let us have it in our store, keep this in your shrine and worship
it." No one had the courage to ask Baba why He followed this particular
action. He only knows what is best and most suitable to each and all.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XXX
Drawn To Shirdi
(1) Kakaji Vaidya of Vani - (2) Punjabi Ramalal of Bombay.
In this Chapter the story of two more devotees that were drawn to Shirdi,
is narrated.
Preliminary
Bow to the Kind Sai Who is the Abode of Mercy and Who is affectionate
towards His devotees. By His mere darshan, He does away with their fear of
this 'bhava' (samsar) and destroys their calamities. He was first Nirgun
(formless), but on account of the devotion of His Bhaktas, He was obliged
to take a form. To give liberation - self-realisation to the Bhaktas is
the mission of the saints, and for Sai - the Chief of them, that mission
is inevitable. Those who take refuge in His Feet have all their sins
destroyed and their progress is certain. Remembering His Feet, Brahmins
from holy places come to Him and read scriptures and chant the Gayatri
mantra in His presence. We, who are weak and without any merits, do not
know what Bhakti is but we know this much, that though all others may
leave us, Sai won't forsake us. Those whom He favours get enormous
strength, discrimination between the Unreal and the Real and knowledge.
Sai knows fully the desire of His devotees and fulfills the same. Hence
they get what they want and are grateful. So we invoke Him and prostrate
ourselves before Him. Forgetting all our faults let Him free us from all
anxieties. He who being overcome with calamities remembers and prays Sai
thus, will get his mind calmed and pacified through His grace.
This Sai - the ocean of mercy, says Hemadpant, favoured him and the result
of this, is the present work - Sai-Satcharia. Otherwise what
qualifications had he and who would undertake this enterprise? But as Sai
took all the responsibility, Hemadpant felt no burden, nor any care about
this. When the powerful Light of knowledge was there to inspire his speech
and pen, why should he entertain any doubt or feel any anxiety? Sai got
the service in the form of this book done by him; this is due to the
accumulation of his merits in the past births and, therefore, he thinks
himself fortunate and blessed.
The following story is not a mere tale, but pure nectar. He who drinks it
will realise Sai's greatness and all-pervasiveness. Those who want to
argue and criticise, should not go in for these stories. What is wanted
here, is not discussion but unlimited love and devotion. Learned, devout
and faithful believers or those, who consider themselves as servants of
the Saints, will like and appreciate these stories, others will take them
to be fables. The fortunate Bhaktas of Sai, will find the Sai-leelas as
the Kalpataru (Wish-fulfilling Tree). Drinking this nectar of Sai-leelas,
will give liberation to the ignorant Jivas, satisfaction to the
house-holders and a sadhana to the aspirants. Now to the story of this
Chapter.
Kakaji Vaidya
There lived in Vani, Nasik District, a man named Kakaji Vaidya. He was the
priest of the Goodness Sapta-Shringi there. He was so much overwhelmed
with adverse circumstances and calamities that he lost peace of mind and
became quite restless. Under such circumstances one evening he went into
the temple of the Goodess and prayed unto Her from the bottom of his heart
and invoked Her aid to free him from anxeity. The Goddess was pleased with
his devotion and the same night appeared to him in his dream and said to
him, "You go to Baba and then your mind will become calm and composed".
Kakaji was anxious to know from Her who that Baba was, but before he could
get any explanation, he was awakened. Then he began to think as to who
might be that Baba, to whom the Goodess has asked him to go. After some
thinking, he resolved that this Baba might be 'Tryambakeshwar' (Lord
Shiva). So he went to the holy place 'Tryambak' (Nasik District) and
stayed there for ten days. During this period, he bathed early in the
morning, chanted the 'Rudra' hymns, did the 'Abhishekam' (pouring
unceasingly fresh cold water over the Pindi) and did other religious
rites; but with all that, he was as restless as before. Then he returned
to his place and again invoked the Goddess most pitifully. They night She
again appeared in his dream and said - "Why did you go to Tryambakeshwar
in vain? I mean by Baba - Shri Sai Samarth of Shirdi."
The question before Kakaji now was 'How and when to go to Shirdi and how
to see Baba? If anybody is in real earnest to see a Saint, not only the
Saint but God also, fulfills his wish. In fact the 'Sant' (Saint) and the
'Anant' (God) are one and the same; there is not the least difference
between them. If anybody thinks that he will go himself and see a Saint,
that will be a mere boast. Unless the Saint wills it, who is able to go
and see him? Even the leaf of the tree won't move without his bidding. The
more anxious a Bhakta is for the saint's visit, the more devout anf
faithful he is, the more speedily and effectively is his wish satisfied to
his heart's content. He who invites anybody for a visit, also arranges
everything for his reception, and so it happened with Kakaji.
Shama's Vows
When Kakaji was thinking his visit to Shirdi, a guest came to him at his
place to take him to Shirdi. He was no other than Shama, a very close and
intimate devotee of Baba. How he came to Vani at this juncture, we shall
just see. Shama was severely ill when he was very young and his mother had
taken a vow to her family Goddess Sapta-Shringi at Vani, that if the son
got well, she would bring and dedicate him at Her feet. Then after some
years the mother herself suffered much from ring-worms on her breasts. At
that time she again took another vow to her Deity that if she got all
right, she would offer Her two silver breasts. These two vows remained
unfulfilled. At her death-bed she called her son Shama to her and drew his
attention to the vows and after taking a promise from him that he would
fulfills them, she breathed her last. After some time, Shama quite forgot
about these vows and thus 30 years elapsed. About this time a famous
astrologer had come to Shirdi and stayed there for a month. His
predictions in the case of Shriman Booty and others came true and
everybody was satisfied. Shama's younger brother Bapaji consulted him and
was told that his mother's vows, which his elder brother promised to
fulfill at her death-bed, were not yet fulfilled; hence the Goddess was
displeased with them and bringing troubles on them. Bapaji told this to
his brother Shama who was then reminded of the unfulfilled vows. Thinking
that any further delay would be dangerous, he called a goldsmith and got a
pair of silver breast prepared. Then he went to the Masjid, prostrated
himself before Baba and, placing before Him the two silver breath,
requested Him to accept them and free him from the vows as He was to him
his Sapta-Shringi Goddess. Then Baba insisted upon him to go himself to
the temple of Sapta-Shringi and offer them in person at the feet of the
Goddess. Then after taking Baba's permission and Udi, he left for Vani and
searching for the priest came to Kakaji's house. Kakaji was then very
anxious to visit Baba and Shama went there to see him at that very time.
What a wonderful coincidence is this!
Kakaji asked him who he was and whence he had come, and on learning that
he came from Shirdi, he at once embraced him. So overpowered was he with
love! Then they talked about Sai-leelas and after finishing the rites of
Shama's vows, they both started for Shirdi. On reaching the place, Kakaji
went to the Masjid, and fell at Baba's Feet. His eyes were soon bedewed
with tears, and his mind attained calmness. According to the vision of the
Goddess, no sooner did he see Baba, that his mind lost all its
restlessness and it became calm and composed. Kakaji began to think, in
his mind, "What a wonderful power is this! Baba spoke nothing, there was
no question and answer, no benediction pronounced; the mere darshana
itself was so conducive to happiness; the restlessness of my mind
disappeared by His mere darshan, consciousness of joy came upon me - this
is what is called 'the greatness of darshan'." His vision was fixed on
Sai's feet and he could utter no word. Hearing Baba's Leelas, his joy knew
no bounds. He surrendered himself completely to Baba, forgot his anxiety
and cares and got undiluted happiness. He lived happily there for twelve
days and after taking Baba's leave, Udi and blessings returned home.
Khushalchand of Rahata
It is said that a dream, which we get in the small hours of the morning,
generally comes out true in the walking state. This may be so, but
regarding Baba's dreams there is no restriction of time. To quote an
instance :- Baba told Kakasaheb Dixit one afternoon to go to Rahata and
fetch Khushalchand to Shirdi, as He had not seen him since long. Kakasaheb
accordingly took a tanga and went to Rahata. He saw Khushalchand and gave
him Baba's message. Hearing it, Khushalchand was surprised and said that
he was taking a noon nap after meals when Baba appeared in his dream and
asked him to come to Shirdi immediately and that he was anxious to go. As
he had no horse of his own nearby, he had sent his son to inform Baba;
when his son was just out of the village-border, Dixit's tanga turned up.
Dixit then said that he was sent specially to bring him. Then they both
went in the tanga back to Shirdi. Khushalchand saw Baba and all were
pleased. Seeing this Leela of Baba, Khushalchand was much moved.
Punjabi Ramalal of Bombay
Once a Punjabi Brahmin of Bombay named Ramalal got a dream in which Baba
appeared and asked him to come to Shirdi. Baba appeared to him as a Mahant
(Saint), but he did not know His whereabouts. He thought that he should go
and see Him, but as he knew not His address, he did not know what to do.
But He Who calls anybody for an interview makes the necessary arrangements
for the same. The same happened in this case. The same afternoon when he
was strolling in the streets, he saw a picture of Baba in a shop. The
features of the Mahant, he saw in the dream, exactly tallied with those of
the picture. Then making enquiries, he came to know that the picture was
of Sai Baba of Shirdi. He then went soon after to Shirdi and stayed there
till his death.
In this way Baba brought His devotees to Shirdi for darshan and satisfied
their wants, material as well as spiritual.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
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* This
work is an electronic version of Shri Sai Satcharitra by Shri N.V.Gunaji
which was adapted from the Original Marathi Book by Shri Hemadpant. (The
book is titled in english Shri Sai Satcharitra where as the original work
is Shri Sai Satcharita.)
*titled in English Shri Sai Satcharitra where as the original work is
Shri Sai Satcharita
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