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Chapter XXXXI
Story of the Picture - Stealing the Rags and Reading of Jnaneshwari.
As stated in the last chapter, we continue here the story of the picture.
Nine years after the occurrence of the incident depicted in the last
chapter, Ali Mahomed saw Hemadpant and related to him the following story.
One day while wandering in the streets of Bombay he bought the picture
from a street-hawker; then he framed and set it on a wall in his house at
Bandra (suburb of Bombay). As he loved Baba, he daily took darshana of it.
Three months before he gave the picture to Hemadpant, he was suffering
from an abscess or swelling on his leg for which an operation was
performed and he was convalescing in the house of his brother-in-law, Mr.
Noor-Mahomed Peerbhoy in Bombay. For three months his house in Bandra was
closed; and nobody was living there. Only the pictures of the famous Baba
Abdul Rahiman, Moulanasaheb Mahomed Hussain, Baba Sai, Baba Tajudin and
other saints (living) were there. The wheel of time did not even spare
these. He was lying sick and suffering in Bombay. Why should the pictures
suffer there (in Bandra)? It seems that they have also their ins and outs
(births and deaths). All the pictures met their fate, but how Sai Baba's
picture escaped it, nobody had been able to explain to me up till now. It
shows the all-pervasiveness, omnipresence of Sai and His insrutable power.
He got a small picture of Saint Baba Abdul Rahiman from Mahomed Hussain
Thariyatopan many years ago. He gave it to his brother-in-law,
Noor-Mahomed Peerbhoy and it was lying on his table for eight years. Once
the latter saw it, took it to a photographer and got it enlarged to
life-size and distributed copies of the same amongst his relations and
friends, including Ali Mahomed who fixed it up in his Bandra house.
Noor-Mahomed was a disciple of Saint Abdul Rahiman and when he went to
present the picture to his Guru in an open darbar held by him, the Guru
got wild and ran to beat him, and drove him out. He felt very sorry and
dejected. He thought that he lost so much of his money, and incurred his
Guru's displeasure and anger. As his Guru did not like image-worship, he
took the enlarged picture with him to the Appollo Bunder and, after hiring
a boat, went in it and drowned it in the sea. He requested the friends and
relations to return their copies and after getting them (6 in all) back,
had them thrown by a fisherman in the Bandra sea. At this time Ali Mahomed
was in his brother-in-law's house. He was told by him that his suffering
would come to an end if he would soon drown the pictures of the saints in
the sea. Hearing this, Ali Mahomed sent his Mehta (Manager) to his Bandra
house and got all the pictures of the saints in his house thrown into the
sea.
When Ali Mahomed returned home after two months, he was surprised to find
Baba's picture on the wall as before. He did not understand how his Mehta
took away all the pictures except this. He immediately took it out and
kept it in his cupboard, fearing that if his brother-in-law saw it, he
would do away with it. While he was thanking how it should be disposed of,
and who would keep it and guard it well, Sai Baba Himself as it were,
suggested to him that he should see and consult Moulana Ismu Mujavar and
abide by his opinion. He saw the Moulana and told him everything. After
mature consideration they both decided that the picture should be
presented to Annasaheb (Hemadpant) and that he would protect it well. Then
they both went to Hemadpant and presented the picture in the nick of time.
This story shows how Baba knew all the past, present and future, and how
skillfully He pulled the wires and fulfilled desired of His devotees. The
following story shows that Baba liked very much those persons who took
real interest in matters spiritual and that He removed all their
difficulties and made them happy.
Stealing the Rags and Reading of Jnaneshwari
Mr.B.V.Deo who was Mamlatdar of Dahanu (Thana District) wished for a long
time to read Jnaneshwari - (the well-known Marathi commentary on the
Bhagawad-Gita by Jnaneshwar), along with other scriptures. He could read
daily one chapter of the Bhagawad-Gita, and some portion of other books;
but when he took Jnaneshwari in hand, some difficulties cropped up and he
was precluded from reading it. He took three months' leave, went to Shirdi
and thence to his home at Pound for rest. He could read there other books
but when he opened Jnaneshwari, some evil or stray thoughts came crowding
in his mind and stopped him in the effort. Try however he might, he was
not able to read even a few lines of the book with ease. So he resolved in
his mind that when Baba would create love for the book and would order him
to read it, he would begin and not till then. Then in the month of
February 1914 he went with his family to Shirdi. There Jog asked him
whether he daily read Jnaneshwari. Deo said that he was desirous of
reading it, but he was not successful and that only when Baba would order
him to read it, he would commence. Jog then advised him to take a copy of
the book and present it to Baba and to start the reading after it was
consecrated and returned by Him. Deo then replied that he did not want to
resort to this device, as Baba knows his heart. Would He not know his
desire and satisfy it by giving him a clear order to read?
Deo then saw Baba and offered one rupee as Dakshina. Baba asked for Rs.
20/- which he gave. At night, he saw one Balakram and enquired how he
secured Baba's devotion and grace. Balakram told him that he would
communicate everything next day after arati. When Deo went for darshana
next day, Baba asked for Rs.20/- which he gave willingly. As the Masjid
was crowded, Deo went aside and sat in a corner. Baba asked him to come
close and sit with a calm mind, which Deo did. Then after the noon-arati
was over and after the men dispersed, Deo saw again Balakram and asked him
his previous history, what Baba told him and how he was taught meditation.
Balakram was going to reply when Baba sent one Chandru, a leper devotee to
call Deo to Him. When Deo went to Baba, the latter asked him when and with
whom and what he was talking. He said that he talked with Balakram and
heard from him His fame. Then Baba asked again Rs.25/- as Dakshina which
Deo gladly gave. Then Baba took him inside and sitting near the post
charged him saying - ole away My rags without My knowledge. enied all
knowledge of the rags, but Baba asked him to make a search. He searched
but found none. Then Baba got angry and said - is nobody here, you are the
only thief, so grey-haired and old, you came here for stealing. this Baba
lost His temper, got terribly wild, gave all sorts of abuses and
scoldings. Deo remained silent and watching, and thought that he might get
a beating also. After about an hour or so, Baba asked him to go to the
Wada. He returned to the Wada and told Jog and Balakram all that had
happened. Then in the after-noon Baba sent for all and Deo also, and said
that His words might have pained the old man (Deo) but as he committed the
theft, He could not but speak out. Then Baba asked again for Rs. 12/- Deo
collected the amount, paid it and prostrated himself before Him. Then Baba
said to him - re you doing? Nothing ed Deo. Then Baba - daily reading the
Pothi (Jnaneshwari), go and sit in the Wada, read something regularly
every day and while reading, explain the portion read, to all with love
and devotion. I am sitting here ready to give you the whole
gold-embroidered Shella (valuable cloth), then why go to others to steal
rags, and why should you get into the habit of stealing?"
Deo was much pleased to hear the words of Baba, for He asked him to start
reading Pothi (Jnaneshwari). He thought that he got what he wanted and
that he could read the book with ease thenceforth. He again prostrated
himself before Baba and said that he surrendered himself to Him and that
he should be treated as a child and be helped in his reading. He realized
then what Baba meant by 'stealing the rags'. What he asked Balakram
constituted the 'rags' and Baba did not like his behaviour in this
respect. As He was ready to answer any question, He did not like him to
ask others and make unnecessary enquiries and therefore He harassed and
scolded him. Deo thought that He really did not 'harass and scold' him but
taught that He was ready to fulfill his desires, and there was no use
asking others in vain. Deo took these scoldings as flowers and blessings
and went home satisfied and contented.
The matter did not end here. Baba did not stop with only issuing an order
to read. Within a year He went to Deo and enquired about his progress. On
2nd April 1914, on Thursday morn, Baba gave him a dream-vision. He sat on
the upper floor and asked him whether he understood the Pothi. t answered
Deo. Baba - hen are you going to understand? urst into tears and said, You
shower Your grace, the reading is mere worry and the understanding is
still more difficult. I say this definitely. - reading you make haste,
read it before Me, in My presence. hall I read? - Adhyatma (spiritualism).
ent to bring the book when he opened his eyes and was awakened. We leave
the readers to imagine what ineffable joy and bliss Deo felt after this
vision.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XLII
Baba's Passing Away
Previous Indication - Averting Death of Ramachandra Dada Patil and Tatya
Kote Patil - Charity to Laxmibai Shinde - Last Moment.
This chapter describes the Passing away of Baba.
Preliminary
The stories given in the previous chapter have shown that the light of
Guru's grace removes out fear of the mundane existence, opens the path of
salvation and turns our misery into happiness. If we always remember the
feet of the Sad-guru, our troubles come to an end, death loses its sting
and the misery of this mundane existence is obliterated. Therefore those
who care for their welfare should carefully listen to these stories of Sai
Samarth, which will purify their minds.
In the beginning, Hemadpant dwells on Dr.Pandit's worship and his marking
Baba's forehead with Tripundra, i.e., three horizontal lines; but as this
has been already described in chapter XI, this has been omitted here.
Previous Indication
The readers up till now heard the stories of Baba's life. Let them now
hear attentively Baba's Passing away. Baba got a slight attack of fever on
28th September, 1918. The fever lasted for 2 or 3 days, but afterwards
Baba gave up his food and thereby He grew weaker and weaker. On the 17th
day, i.e., Tuesday, the 15th October 1918, Baba left His mortal coil at
about 2-30 p.m. (Vide Professor G.G. Narke's letter, dated 5th November
1918, to Dadasaheb Khaparde, published in ela ine, Page 78, first year).
Two years before this, i.e., in 1916, Baba gave an indication of His
Passing away, but nobody understood it then. It was as follows:- On the
Vijayadashmi (Dasara) day Baba at once got into wild rage in the evening
when people were returning from 'Seemollanghan' (crossing the border or
limits of the village). Taking off His head-dress, kafni and langota etc.,
He tore them and threw them in the Dhuni before Him. Fed by this offering,
the fire in the Dhuni began to burn brighter and Baba shone still
brighter. He stood there stark naked and with His burning red eyes shouted
- llows, now have a look and decide finally whether Iam a Moslem or a
Hindu. ybody was trembling with fear and none dared to approach Baba.
After some time Bhagoji Shinde, the leper devotee of Baba, went boldly
near Him and succeeded in tying a langota (waist-band) round His waist and
said - what is all this? To-day is the Seemollanghan, i.e., Dasara
Holiday. striking the ground with His satka said - s my Seemollanghan
(crossing the border). did not cool down till 11-00 p.m. and the people
doubted whether the chavadi procession would ever take place that night.
After an hour Baba resumed His normal condition and dressing Himself as
usual attended the chavadi procession as described before. By this
incident Baba gave a suggestion that Dasara was the proper time for Him to
cross the border of life, but none understood its meaning. Baba gave also
another indication as follows:-
Averting Death of Ramachandra and Tatya Patil
Some time after this, Ramachandra Patil became scriously ill. He suffered
a lot. He tried all remedies, but finding no relief, despaired of his life
and was waiting for the last moment. The one midnight Baba suddenly stood
near his pillow. Patil held His Feet and said - lost all hopes of life,
please tell me definitely when I shall die. ful Baba said - be anxious,
your hundi (death-warrant) has been withdrawn and you will soon recover,
but Iam afraid of Tatya Patil. He will pass away on Vijayadashami of Shaka
1840 (1918 A.D.). Do not divulge this to anybody, nor to him, for he will
be terribly frightened. handra Dada got well, but he felt nervous about
Tatya's life, for he knew that Baba's word was unalterable, and that Tatya
would breathe his last within two years. He kept this hint secret, told it
to none but one Bala Shimpi (a tailor). Only these two persons -
Ramachandra Dada and Bala Shimpi were in fear and suspense regarding
Tatya's life.
Ramachandra Dada soon left his bed and was on his legs. Time passed
quickly. The month of Bhadrapad of Shaka 1840 (1918 A.D.) was ending and
Ashwin was in sight. True to Baba's word, Tatya fell sick and was
bed-ridden; and so he could not come for Baba's darshana. Baba was also
down with fever. Tatya had full faith in Baba and Baba in Lord Hari, who
was His Protector. Tatya's illness began to grow from bad to worse and he
could not move at all but always remembered Baba. The predicament of Baba
began to grow equally worse. The day predicted, i.e., Vijayadashami was
impending and both Ramachandra Dada and Bala Shimpi were terribly
frightened about Tatya and with their bodies trembling and perspiring with
fear, thought that as predicted by Baba, Tatya's end was nigh.
Vijayadashami dawned and Tatya's pulse began to beat very slow and he was
expected to pass away shortly. But a curious thing happened. Tatya
remained, his death was averted and Baba passed away in his stead. It
seemed as if there was an exchange. People said that Baba gave up His life
for Tatya; why He did so? He alone knows as His ways are inscrutable. It
seems, however, that in this incident, Baba gave a hint of His passing
away, substituting Tatya's name for His.
Next morning (16th October) Baba appeared to Das Ganu at Pandharpur in his
dream and said to him - sjid collapsed, all the oilmen and grocers of
Shirdi teased me a lot, so I leave the place. I therefore came to inform
you here, please go there quickly and cover me with 'Bhakkal' flowers.
Ganu got the information also from Shirdi letters. So he came to Shirdi
with his disciples and started bhajan and kirtan and sang the Lord's name,
all through the day before Baba's samadhi. Himself weaving a beautiful
garland of flowers studded with Lord Hari's name he placed it on Baba's
samadhi and gave a mass-feeding in Baba's name.
Charity to Laxmibai
Dasara or Vijayadashami is regarded by all the Hindus as the most
auspicious time and it is befitting that Baba should choose this time for
His crossing the border-line. He was ailing some days before this, but He
was ever conscious internally. Just before the last movement He sat up
erect without anybody's aid, and looked better. People thought that the
danger had passed off and He was geeting well. He knew that He was to pass
away soon and therefore, He wanted to give some money as charity to
Laxmibai Shinde.
Baba Pervading All Creatures
This Laxmibai Shinde was a good and well-to-do woman. She was working in
the Masjid day and night. Except Bhagat Mhalasapati, Tatya and Laxmibai,
none was allowed to step in the Masjid at night. Once while Baba was
sitting in the Masjid with Tatya in the evening, Laxmibai came and saluted
Baba. The latter said to her - mi, Iam very hungry. he went saying - wait
a bit, I return immediately with bread. did return with bread and
vegetables and placed the same before Baba. He took it up and gave it to a
dog. Laxmibai then asked - s this, Baba, I ran in haste, prepared bread
with my own hands for You and You threw it to a dog without eating a
morsel of it; You gave me trouble unnecessarily. replied - you grieve for
nothing? The appeasement of the dog's hunger is the same as Mine. The dog
has got a soul; the creatures may be different, but the hunger of all is
the same, though some speak and others are dumb. Know for certain, that he
who feeds the hungry, really serves Me with food. Regard this as an
exiomatic Truth. is a ordinary incident but Baba thereby propounded a
great spiritual truth and showed its practical application in daily life
without hurting anybody's feelings. From this time onward Laxmibai began
to offer Him daily bread and milk with love and devotion. Baba accepted
and ate it appreciatingly. He took a part of this and sent the remainder
with Laxmibai to Radha-Krishna-Mai who always relished and ate Baba's
remnant prasad. This bread-story should not be considered as a digression;
it shows, how Sai Baba pervaded all the creatures and transcended them. He
is omnipresent, birthless, deathless and immortal.
Baba remembered Laxmibai's service. How could He forget her? Just before
leaving the body, He put His hand in His pocket and gave her once Rs.5/-
and again Rs.4/-, in all Rs.9/-. This figure (9) is indicative of the nine
types of devotion described in chapter 21 or it may be the Dakshina
offered at the time of Seemollanghan. Laxmibai was a well-to-do woman and
so she was not in want of any money. So Baba might have suggested to her
and brought prominently to her notice the nine characteristics of a good
disciple mentioned in the 6th verse of chapter ten, skandha eleven of the
Bhagwat, wherein first five and then four characteristics are mentioned in
the first and second couplets.* Baba followed the order, first paid Rs.5/-
and then Rs.4/- in all Rs.9/-. Not only nine, but many times nine rupees
passed through Laxmibai's hand, but Baba's this gift of Nine, she will
ever remember.
Being so watchful and conscious, Baba also took other precautions in His
last moment. In order that He should not be embroiled or entangled with
love and affection for His devotees, He ordered them all to clear off.
Kakasaheb Dixit, Bapusaheb Booty and others were in the Masjid anxiously
waiting upon Baba, but He asked them to go to the Wada and return after
meals. They could not leave Baba's presence, nor could they disobey Him.
So with heavy hearts and heavy feet they went to the Wada. They knew that
Baba's case was very serious and that they could not forget Him. They sat
for meals, but their mind was elsewhere, it was with Baba. Before they
finished, news came to them of Baba's leaving the mortal coil. Leaving
their dishes, they ran to the Masjid and found that Baba rested finally on
Bayaji's lap. He did not fall down on the ground nor did He lie on His
bed, but sitting quietly on His seat and doing charity with His own hand
threw off the mortal coil. Saints embody themselves and come into this
world with a definite mission and after that is fulfilled they pass away
as quietly and easily as they came.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapters XLIII XLIV
Baba's Passing Away (Continued) >
Preparation - Samadhi-Mandir - Breaking of the Brick - 72 Hours' Samadhi -
Jog's Sannyas - Baba's Nectar-like Words.
Chapters 43 and 44 continue the story of Baba's Passing away, and
therefore they are taken together.
Previous Preparation
It is the general practice amongst the Hindus that when a man is about to
die, some good religious scripture is read out to him with the object that
his mind should be withdrawn from worldly things and fixed in matters
spiritual, so that his future progress should be natural and easy.
Everybody knows that when king Parikshiti was cursed by the son of a
Brahmin Rishi and was about to die after a week, the great sage Shuka
expounded to him the famous Bahagwat Puran in that week. This practice is
followed even now and Gita, Bhagawat and other sacred books are read out
to dying persons. Baba being an incarnation of God needed no such help,
but just to set an example to the people, He followed this practice. When
He knew that He was to pass away soon, He ordered one Mr.Vaze to read
Ramavijaya to Him. Mr.Vaze read the book once in the week. Then Baba asked
him to read the same again day and night and he finished the second
reading in three days. Thus eleven days passed. Then again he read for
three days and was exhausted. So Baba let him go and kept Himself quiet.
He abided on His Self and was waiting for the last moment.
Two or three days previous, Baba had stopped His morning peregrinations
and begging rounds and sat in the Masjid. He was conscious to the last and
was advising the devotees not to lose heart. He let nobody know the exact
time of His departure. Kakasaheb Dixit and Shriman Booty were dining daily
with Him in the Masjid. That day (15th October) after arati, He asked them
to go to their residence for dining. Still a few, viz., Laxmibai Shinde,
Bhagoji Shinde, Bayaji, Laxman Bala Shimpi and Nanasaheb Nimonkar remained
there. Shama was sitting down on the steps. After giving Rs. 9/- to
Laxmibai Shinde, Baba said that He did not feel well there (in the Masjid)
and that He should be taken to the Dagadi (stone) Wada of Booty, where He
would be alright. Saying these last words, He leaned on Bayaji's body and
breathed His last. Bhagoji noticed that His breathing had stopped and he
immediately told this to Nanasaheb Nimonkar who was sitting below.
Nanasaheb brought some water and poured it in Baba's mouth. It came out.
Then he cried out loudly 'Oh Deva.' Baba seemed just to open His eyes and
say 'Ah' in a low tone. But it soon become evident that Baba had left His
body for good.
The news of Baba's passing away spread like a wild fire in the village of
Shirdi and all people, men, women and children ran to the Masjid and began
to mourn this loss in various ways. Some cried out loudly, some wallowed
on in the streets and some fell down senseless. Tears ran down from the
eyes of all and every one was smitten with sorrow.
Then the question arose - How to dispose off Baba's body? Some
(Mahomedans) said that the body should be interred in an open space and a
tomb built over it. Even Khushalchand and Amir Shakkar shared this
opinion. But Ramachandra Patil, the village officer said to the villagers
with a firm and determined voice, hought is not acceptable to us. Baba's
body should be nowhere placed except in the Wada. people were divided on
this point and discussion regarding this point went on for 36 hours.
On Wednesday morning Baba appeared to Laxman Mama Joshi in his dream and
drawing him by His hand said - soon; Bapusaheb thinks that I am dead and
so he won't come; you do the worship and the Kakad (morning) arati. n Mama
was the village astrologer and was the maternal uncle of Shama. He was an
orthodox Brahmin and daily first worshipped Baba in the morning and then
all the village deities. He had full faith in Baba. After the vision he
came with all the pooja materials and not minding the protests of the
moulvis, did the Pooja and the Kakad arati with all due formalities and
went away. Then at noon Bapusaheb Jog came with all others and went
through the noon-arati ceremony as usual.
Paying due respect to Baba's words the people decided to place His body in
the Wada and started digging the central portion there. In the evening of
Tuesday the Sub-Inspector came from Rahata and others from other places
turned up and they all agreed to the proposal. Next morning Amirbhai came
from Bombay and the Mamlatdar from Kopergaon. The people seemed divided in
their opinion. Some insisted on interring His body in the open field. The
Mamlatdar therefore took a general plebiscite and found that the proposal
to use the Wada secured double the number of votes. He, however, wanted to
refer the matter to the Collector and Kakasaheb Dixit got himself ready to
go to Ahmednagar. In the meanwhile, by Baba's inspiration there was a
change in the opinion of the other people and all the people unanimously
voted for the proposal. On Wednesday evening Baba's body was taken in
procession and brought to the Wada and was interred there with due
formalities in the garbha, i.e., the central portion reserved for
Murlidhar. In fact Baba became the Murlidhar and the Wada became a temple
and a holy shrine, where so many devotees went and are going now to find
rest and peace. All the obsequies of Baba were duly performed by Balasaheb
Bhate and Upasani, a great devotee of Baba.
Breaking of the Brick
Some days before Baba's departure, there occurred an ominous sign
foreboding the event. There was, in the Masjid an old brick on which Baba
rested His hand and sat. At night time He leaned against it and had His
asan. This went on for many years. One day, during Baba's absence, a boy
who was sweeping the floor, took it up in his hand, and unfortunately it
slipped from thence fell down broken into two pieces. When Baba came to
know about this, He bemoaned its loss, crying - not the brick but My fate
that has been broken into pieces. It was My life-long companion, with it I
always meditated on the Self, it was as dear to Me as My life, it has left
Me to-day. may raise here a question - hould Baba express this sorrow for
such an inanimate thing as a brick? is Hemadpant replies that saints
incarnate in this world with the express mission of saving the poor
helpless people, and when they embody themselves and mix and act with the
people, they act like them, i.e., outwardly laugh, play and cry like all
other people, but inwardly they are wide awake to their duties and
mission.
72 Hours' Samadhi
Thirty two years before this, i.e., in 1886 A.D., Baba made an attempt to
cross the border line. On a Margashirsha Pournima (Full moon) day, Baba
suffered from a severe attack of asthma. To get rid of it Baba decided to
take His prana high up and go into samadhi. He said to Bhagat Mhalasapti -
t My body for three days. If I return, it will be alright; if I do not,
bury My body in that open land (pointing to it) and fix two flags there as
a mark. g this, Baba fell down at about 10 P.M. His breathing stopped, as
well as His pulse. It seemed as if His prana left the body. All the people
including the villagers came there and wanted to hold an inquest and bury
the body in the place pointed by Baba. But Mhalasapati prevented this.
With Baba's body on his lap he sat full three days guarding it. After
three days passed, Baba showed signs of life at 3 A.M. His breathing
commenced, the abdomen began to move. His eyes opened and stretching His
limbs, Baba returned to consciousness (life) again.
From this and other accounts, let the readers consider whether Sai Baba
was the three and a half cubits' body that He occupied for some years and
that He left thereafter or He was the Self inside. The body, composed of
the five elements is perishable and transient, but the Self within is the
thing - Absolute Reality which is immortal and intransient. The pure
Being, Consciousness or Brahma, the Ruler and Controller of the senses and
mind is the thing Sai. This pervades all things in the universe and there
is no space without it. For fulfilling His mission He assumed the body and
after it was fulfilled, He threw away the body (the finite aspect), and
assumed His infinite aspect. Sai ever lives, as also the previous
Incarnation of God Datta, Shri Narsimha Saraswati of Ganagapur. His
Passing away is only an outward aspect, but really He pervades all animate
and inanimate things and is their Inner Controller and Ruler. This can be,
and is even now experienced by many who surrender themselves completely to
Him and worship Him with whole-hearted devotion.
Though it is not possible for us to see Baba's form now, still if we go to
Shirdi, we shall find His beautiful life-like portrait adorning the
masjid. This has been drawn by Shamrao Jaykar, a famous artist and
well-known devotee of Baba. To an imaginative and devout spectator this
portrait can give even to-day the satisfaction of taking Baba's darshana.
Though Baba has no body now, He lives there and everywhere, and will
effect the welfare of the devotees even now as He was doing before when He
was embodied. Saints like Baba never die, though they look like men, they
are in reality God Himself.
Bapusaheb Jog's Sannyas
Hemadpant closes this chapter with the account of Jog's sannyas. Sakharam
Hari alias Bapusaheb Jog was the uncle of the famous Varkari Vishnubuva
Jog of Poona. After his retirement from Govt. Service (He was a Supervisor
in the P.W. Department) in 1909 A.D., he came and lived in Shirdi with his
wife. He had no issue. Both husband and wife loved Baba and spent all
their time in worshipping and serving Baba. After Megha's death, Bapusaheb
daily did the arati ceremony in the Masjid and Chavadi till Baba's
maha-samadhi. He was also entrusted with the work of reading and
explaining Jnaneshwari and Ekanathi Bhagawat in Sathe's Wada to the
audience. After serving for many years, Jog asked Baba - served you so
long, my mind is not yet calm and composed, how is it that my contact with
Saints has not improved me? When will You bless me? ring the Bhakta's
prayer Baba replied - time your bad actions (their fruit or result) will
be destroyed, your merits and demerits will be reduced to ashes, and I
shall consider you blessed, when you will renounce all attachments,
conquer lust and palate, and getting rid of all impediments, serve God
whole-heartedly and resort to the begging bowl (accept sannyas). some
time, Baba's words came true. His wife predeceased him and as he had no
other attachment, he became free and accepted sannyas before his death and
realized the goal of his life.
Baba's Nectar-like words
The kind and merciful Sai Baba, said many a time the following sweet words
in the Masjid - loves Me most, always sees Me. The whole world is desolate
to him without Me, he tells no stories but Mine. He ceaselessly meditates
upon Me and always chants My name. I feel indebted to him who surrenders
himself completely to Me and ever remembers Me. I shall repay his debt by
giving him salvation (self-realization). I am dependent on him who thinks
and hungers after Me and who does not eat anything without first offering
it to Me. He who thus comes to Me, becomes one with Me, just as a river
gets to the sea and becomes merged (one) with it. So leaving out pride and
egoism and with no trace of them, you should surrender yourself to Me Who
am seated in your heart."
Who is this ME?
Sai Baba expounded many a time Who this ME (or I) is. He said ed not go
far or anywhere in search of Me. Barring your name and form, there exists
in you, as well as in all beings, a sense of Being or Consciousness of
Existence. That is Myself. Knowing this, you see Me inside yourself, as
well as in all beings. If you practise this, you will realize
all-pervasiveness, and thus attain oneness with Me."
Hemadpant, therefore, makes a bow to the readers and requests them humbly
and lovingly that they should love and respect all Gods, saints and
devotees. Has not Baba often said carps and cavils at others, pierces Me
in the heart and injures Me, but he that suffers and endures, pleases Me
most. thus pervades all beings and creatures and besets them on all sides.
He likes nothing but love to all beings. Such nectar, pure auspicious
ambrosia always flowed from Baba's lips. He therefore, concludes - Those
who lovingly sing Baba's fame and those who hear the same with devotion,
both become one with Sai.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XLV
Kakasaheb's Doubt and Anandrao's Vision - Wooden Plank Baba's bed-stead
and not Bhagat's.
Preliminary
We have described in the last three chapters Baba's Passing away. His
physical or finite form has no doubt disappeared from our view; but the
infinite or spiritual form (Spirit of Baba) ever lives. The Leelas which
occurred during His lifetime have been dwelt upon at great length up till
now. Ever since His passing away, fresh Leelas have taken place and are
even now happening. This clearly shows that Baba is ever-living and
helping His devotees as before. The people who got the contact of Baba
when He was living, were indeed very fortunate, but if any of them did not
get a dispassion for the things and enjoyments of the world and had not
their minds turned to the Lord, it was sheerly their ill-luck. What was
then wanted and is now wanted is the whole-hearted devotion to Baba. All
our senses, organs, and mind should co-operate in worshipping and serving
Baba. It is no use in engaging some organs in the worship and deflecting
others. If a thing like worhsip or meditation is to be done, it ought to
be done with all our mind and soul.
The love that a chaste woman bears to her husband is sometimes compared to
that which a disciple bears to his master (Guru). Yet the former falls far
short of the latter, which is incomparable. No one, whether he be father,
mother, brother or any other relation, comes to our aid in attaining the
goal of life (self-realization). We have to chalk out and traverse the
path of self-realization ourselves. We have to discriminate between the
Unreal and the Real, renounce the things and enjoyments of this world and
the next, control our senses and mind, and aspire for liberation only.
Instead of depending upon others, we should have full faith in ourselves.
When we begin to practice discrimination, we come to know, that the world
is transient and unreal and our passion for worldly things becomes less
and less, and ultimately we get dispassion or non-attachment for them.
Then we know that the Brahma which is no other than our Guru is the sole
reality and as It transcends and besets the seeming universe, we begin to
worship It in all creatures. This is the unitive Bhajan or worship. When
we thus worship the Brahma or Guru whole-heartedly, we become one with Him
and attain self-realization. In short, always chanting the name of the
Guru, and meditating on Him enables us to see Him in all beings, and
confers eternal bliss on us. The following story will illustrate this.
Kakasaheb's Doubt and Anandrao's Vision
It is well-known, that Sai Baba had enjoined Kakasaheb Dixit to read daily
two works of Shri Ekanath: (1) Bhagawat and (2) Bhawartha Ramayan.
Kakasaheb read these daily while Baba was living and he followed the
practice even after Baba's passing away. Once in Kaka Mahajani's house in
Choupati, Bombay, Kakasaheb was reading Ekanathi Bhagawat in the morning.
Madhavarao Deshpande alias Shama and Kaka Mahajani were then present and
listened attentively to the portion read, viz., the 2nd Chapter, 11th
skandha of the book. Therein the nine Nathas or Siddhas of the Rishabha
family, viz., Kavi, Hari, Antariksha, Prabuddha, Pippalayan, Avirhotra,
Drumil, Chamas and Karabhajan expounded the principles of the Bhagawat
Dharma to King Janak. The latter asked all the nine Nathas most important
questions and each of them answered them satisfactorily. The first, i.e.,
Kavi explained what is Bhagawat Dharma; Hari, the characteristics of a
Bhakta (devotee); Antariksha, what is Maya; Prabuddha, how to cross Maya;
Pippalayan, what is Para-Brahma; Avirhotra, what is Karma; Drumil, the
incarnations of God and their deeds; Chamas, how a non-devotee fares after
death; Karabhajan, the different modes of worship of God in different
ages. The substance of all the exposition was that in this Kali age, the
only means of liberation was the remembrance of Hari's (Lord's) or Guru's
feet. After the reading was over, Kakasaheb said in a despondent tone to
Madhavarao and others - nderful is the discourse of the nine Nathas on
Bhakti or devotion. But at the same time how difficult it is to put it
into practice! The Nathas were perfect, but is it possible for fools like
us to attain the devotion as delineated by them? we won't get it even
after several births, then how are we to get salvation? It seems that
there is no hope for us. varao did not like this pessimistic attitude of
Kakasaheb. He said - a pity that one who by his good luck got such a jewel
(Guru) as Baba, should cry out so disparagingly; If he has unwavering
faith in Baba, why should he feel restless? The Bhakti of the Nathas may
be strong and wonderful, but is not ours' loving and affectionate? And has
not Baba told us authoritatively that remembering and chanting Hari's and
Guru's name confers salvation? Then where is the cause for fear and
anxiety? Kakasaheb was not satisfied with Madhavarao's explanation. He
continued to be anxious and restless, the whole day, thinking and brooding
over how to get the powerful Bhakti of the Nathas. Next morning, the
following miracle took place.
One gentleman, named Anandrao Pakhade came there in search of Madhavarao.
The reading of the Bhagawat was then going on. Mr.Pakhade sat near
Madhavarao and was whispering something to him. He was mentioning in low
tone his dream-vision. As there was some interruption in the reading by
this whispering, Kakasaheb stopped the reading, and asked Madhavarao what
the matter was. The latter said - day you expressed your doubt, now here
is the explanation of it; hear Mr.Pakhade's vision which Baba gave him,
explaining the characteristic of 'saving' devotion and showing that the
devotion in the form of bow to, or worship of, Guru's feet is sufficient.
ere anxious to hear the vision specially Kakasaheb. At their suggestion
Mr.Pakhade began to relate the vision as follows.
I was standing in a deep sea in waist-deep water. There I saw Sai Baba all
of a sudden. He was sitting on a beautiful throne studded with diamonds,
with His Feet in water. I was most pleased and satisfied with the Form of
Baba. The vision was so realistic that I never thought that it was a
dream. Curiously enough Madhavarao was also standing there. He said to me
feelingly - 'Anandrao, fall at Baba's Feet.' I rejoined - wish to do so,
but His Feet are in water, how can I place my head on them? I am helpless.
ng this he said to Baba - a, take out Your Feet which are under water.
Baba immediately took out His feet. I caught them without delay and bowed
to them. On seeing this Baba blessed me saying - Go now, you will attain
your welfare, there is no cause for fear and anxiety. He also added -
silk-bordered dhotar to my Shama, you will profit, thereby."
In compliance with Baba's order, Mr.Pakhade brought the dhotar and
requested Kakasaheb to hand it over to Madhavarao; but the latter refused
to accept it, saying that unless Baba gave a hint or suggestion for
acceptance, he would not accept it. Then after some discussion Kakasaheb
decided to cast lots. It was the invariable practice of Kakasaheb to cast
lots in all dubious matters and to abide by the decision as shown by the
picked up chit or lot. In this particular case two chits, on one of which
was written 'To accept' and on another 'To reject', were placed at the
feet of Baba's picture and an infant was asked to pick one of them. The
'To accept' chit was picked up and the dhotar was handed over to, and
accepted by, Madhavarao. In this way both Anandrao and Madhavarao were
satisfied and Kakasaheb's difficulty was solved.
This story exhorts us to give respect to the words of other saints, but at
the same time asks us to have full faith in our Mother, i.e., the Guru,
and abide by His instructions: for he knows our welfare better than any
other person. Carve out on your heart, the following words of Baba - are
innumerable saints in this world, but 'Our father' (Guru) is the Father
(Real Guru). Others might say many good things, but we should never forget
our Guru's words. In short, love your Guru whole-heartedly, surrender to
Him completely and prostrate yourselves before Him reverentially and then
you will see that there is no sea of the mundane existence before you to
cross, there is no darkness before the sun."
Wooden plank Baba's Bed-Stead, and not Bhagat's
>
In His earlier days, Baba slept on a wooden plank, 4 arms in length and
only a span in breadth with panatis (earthen lamps) burning at the four
corners. Later on He broke the plank into pieces and threw it away (Vide
Chapter X). Once Baba was describing the greatness or importance of this
plank to Kakasaheb. Hearing this the latter said to Baba - still love the
wooden plank, I will again suspend or hang up one in the Masjid again for
You to sleep at ease. replied - 't like to sleep up, leaving Mhalasapati
down on the ground. Kakasaheb said - provide another plank for
Mhalasapati. - n he sleep on the plank? It is not easy to sleep up on the
plank. He who has many good qualities in him can do so. He who can sleep
'with his eyes wide open' can effect that. When I go to sleep I ask often
Mhalasapati to sit by My side, place his hand on My heart and watch the
'chanting of the Lord's name' there, and if he finds Me sleepy, wake Me
up. He can't do even this. He himself gets drowsy and begins to nod his
head. When I feel his hand heavy as a stone on My heart and cry out - 'Oh
Bhagat', he moves and opens his eyes. How can he, who can't sit and sleep
well on the ground and whose asana (posture) is not steady and who is a
slave to sleep, sleep high up on a plank? On many other occasions Baba
said, out of love for His devotees - whether good or bad) is ours, is with
us, and what is another's is with him."
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XLVI
Baba's gaya Trip - Story of Goats.
This Chapter describes Shama's strip to Kashi, Prayag and Gaya and how
Baba (in the Form of His portrait) was there ahead of him; it also
describes Baba's reminiscences of the past birth of two goats.
Preliminary
Blessed, Oh Sai, are Your Feet, blessed is Your remembrance and blessed is
Your darshana which frees us from the bond of Karma. Though Your Form is
invisible to us now, still if the devotees believe in You, they get living
experiences from You. By an invisible and subtle thread You draw Your
devotees from far and near to Your Feet and embrace them like a kind and
loving mother. The devotees do not know where You are, but You so
skillfully pull the wires that they ultimately realize that You are at
their back to help and support them. The intelligent, wise and learned
folk fall into the pit of the samsar on account of their egoism, but You
save, by Your power, the poor, simple and devout persons. Inwardly and
invisibly you play all the game, but show that you are not concerned with
it. You do things and pose yourself as a non-doer. Nobody ever knows Your
life. The best course therefore for us is to surrender our body, speech
and mind to Your Feet and always chant Your name for destroying our sins.
You fulfill the wishes of the devotees and to those who are without any
desire You give bliss supreme. Chanting Your sweet name is the easiest
sadhan for devotees. By this sadhan (means), our sins, Rajas and Tamas
qualities will vanish, the Sattwa qualities and righteousness will gain
predominance and along with this, discrimination, dispassion and knowledge
will follow. Then we shall abide in our Self and our Guru (who are one and
the same). This is what is called complete surrender to the Guru. The only
sure sign of this is that our mind gets calm and peaceful. The greatness
of this surrender, devotion and knowledge is unique; for peace,
non-attachment, fame and salvation etc., come in its train.
If Baba accepts a devotee, He follows him and stands by him, day and
night, at his home or abroad. Let the devotee go anywhere he likes, Baba
is there ahead of him in some form in an inconceivable manner. The
following story illustrates this.
Sometime after Kakasaheb Dixit was introduced to Sai Baba, he decided to
perform the thread (Upanayan) ceremony of his eldest son Babu at Nagpur.
At about the same time Nanasaheb Chandorkar decided to perform the
marriage ceremony of his eldest son at Gwalior. Both Dixit and Chandorkar
came to shirdi and lovingly invited Baba for these functions. Baba asked
them to take Shama as His representative. When He was pressed to come in
person. Baba told them to take Shama with them and that "after doing
Banares and Prayag He would be ahead of Shama. ark these words for they
show Baba's all-pervasiveness.
Taking the permission of Baba, Shama decided to go to Nagpur and Gwalior
for these functions and ceremonies and thence to Kashi, Prayag and Gaya.
Appa Kote made up his mind to accompany him. They both went first to
Nagpur for the thread ceremony. Kakasaheb Dixit gave Shama Rs.200/- for
his expenses. Then they went to Gwalior for the marriage ceremony. There
Nanasaheb Chandorkar gave Shama Rs.100/- and his Vyahi (relation)
Mr.Jather gave him also Rs.100/-. Then Shama went to Kashi, and then to
Ayodhya where he was well received in Jather's beautiful temple of
Laxmi-Narayan at Kashi (Varanasi or Banares) and in the Rama-Mandir at
Ayodhya by Jathar's manager. They (Shama and Kote) stayed for 21 days in
Ayodhya and two months in Kashi (Banares). Then they left for Gaya. In the
train they felt a little uneasy on hearing that plague was prevailing in
Gaya. At night they alighted at Gaya station and stayed in the
Dharmashala. In the morning the Gayawala (the Priest who arranges and
provides for the lodging and boarding of the pilgrims) came there and aid
- lgrims have already started, you better make haste. casually asked him
whether there was plague in Gaya. t said the Gayawala. come without any
fear or anxiety and see yourself. they went with him and stayed in his
house which was a big and commodious Wada. Shama was pleased with the
accommodation provided for him, but what pleased him most, was the
beautiful big portrait of Baba fixed in the central and front portion of
the building. Seeing this portrait Shama was overwhelmed with emotion. He
remembered Baba's words, viz., "After doing Kashi and Prayag He would be
ahead of Shama burst into tears. His hairs stood on end, his throat was
choked and he began to sob. The Gayawala thought that he was afraid of
plague prevailing there and therefore was crying. But Shama enquired of
him whence he got Baba's portrait there. He replied that he had 200 or 300
agents working at Manmad and Punatambe for looking to the convenience of
the pilgrims to Gaya and from them he heard about Baba's fame. Then about
12 years ago he went to Shirdi and took Baba's darshana. There he wanted
Baba's portrait hung in Shama's house and with Baba's permission Shama
gave it to him. This was the same protrait. Shama then remembered this
former incident. The Gayawalas's joy knew no bounds when he learnt that
the same Shama who obliged him before, was his guest then. Then they both
exchanged love and service and were most delighted and happy. The Gayawala
gave him a right royal welcome. He was a very rich man. He sat in a
palanquin and made Shama ride an elephant and attended to all his comforts
and conveniences.
The moral of the story is this:- That Baba's words came out true to the
letter and unbounded was His love towards the devotees. But leave this
aside. He also loved all creatures equally, for He felt that He was one
with them. The following story will illustrate this.
Two Goats
Baba was once returning from Lendi, when He saw a flock of goats. Two of
them attracted His attention. He went to them, caressed and fondled them
and bought them for Rs.32/-. The devotees were surprised at this conduct
of Baba. They thought that Baba was duped in this bargain, as the goats
would fetch Rs.two each, at the most Rs.3/- or 4/- each, i.e., Rs.8/- for
both. They began to take Baba to task for this, but Baba kept calm and
cool. Shama and Tatya Kote asked Baba for an explanation. He said He
should not store money as He had no home, and any family to look after. He
asked them to purchase at His cost 4 seers of 'dal' (lentil) and feed the
goats. After this was done, Baba returned the goats to the owner of the
flock and gave out of the following reminiscences and story of the goats.
ama and Tatya, you think that I have been deceived in this bargain. No.
Listen to their story. In their former birth they were human beings and
had the good fortune to be My companions and sit by My side. They were
uterine brothers, loving each other at first, but later on, they became
enemies. The elder brother was an idle fellow while the younger one was an
active chap and earned a lot of money. The former became greedy and
jealous and wanted to kill his brother and take away his money. They
forgot thier fraternal relations and began to quarrel with each other. The
elder brother resorted to many devices to kill his younger brother, but
all of his attempts failed. Thus they became deadly enemies and finally on
one occasion the elder gave a deadly blow with a big stick on the latter's
head while the latter struck the former with an axe, with the result that
both fell dead on the spot. As the result of their actions, they were both
born as goats. As they passed by me, I at once recognized them. I
remembered their past history. Taking pity on them I wanted to feed them
and give them rest and comfort and for this reason I spent all the money
for which you reprove me. As you did not like My bargain I sent them back
to their shepherd. was Sai's love for the goats!
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XLVII
Baba's Reminiscences
Story of Veerbhadrappa and Chenbassappa (Snake and frog)
The last chapter described Baba's reminiscences about two goats. This
describes more such reminiscences and relates the story of Veerbhadrappa
and Chenbassappa.
Preliminary
Blessed is the face of Sai. If we cast a glance at Him for a moment, He
destroys the sorrow of many past births and confers great bliss on us; and
if He looks at us with grace, our bondage of Karma is immediately snapped
away and we are led to happiness. The river Ganges washes away the dirt
and sins of all people who go to her for a bath; but she intently longs
for the saints to come to her and bless her with their feet and remove all
the dirt (sins) accumulated in her. She knows for certain that this
accumulation can only be removed by the holy feet of the saints. Sai is
the crest-jewel of the saints, and now hear from Him the following
purifying story.
The Snake and the Frog
Sai Baba said - rning after taking My breakfast I strolled along till I
came to a small river bank. As I was tired, I rested there, washed My
hands and feet and had a bath and felt refreshed. There was a foot-path
and a cart-track sheltered by shady trees. The breeze was also blowing
gently. As I was preparing to smoke chillim (pipe), I heard the croaking
of a frog. I was striking the flint and lighting the fire, when a
traveller turned up, sat by My side, bowed to Me and politely invited Me
to his house for meals and rest. He lit up the pipe and handed it over to
Me. The croaking was heard again and he wanted to know what it was. I told
him that a frog was in trouble and was tasting the bitter fruit of its own
karma. We have to reap now the fruit of what we sow (do) in our past life,
and there is no use in crying about it. Then he smoked and handed over the
pipe to Me and said that he would go there in person and see for himself.
I told him that a frog was caught by a big snake and was crying. Both were
very wicked in their past life and were now reaping the fruit of their
actions in these bodies. He went out and found that a huge black serpent
was holding a big frog in its mouth.
He turned to Me and said that in about 10 or 12 minutes the frog would be
eaten up by the snake. I said, is can't be. I am its father (protector)
and I am here now. How shall I allow the snake to eat it up, am I here for
nothing? Just see how I release it."
After smoking again, we walked on to the place. He was afraid and asked Me
not to proceed further as the snake might attack us. Not minding him, I
went ahead and addressed the creatures thus:- rbhadrappa, has not your
enemy Bassappa yet repented though he has been born as a frog, and you
too, though born as a serpent, still maintain bitter enmity against him?
Fie upon you, be ashamed, give up your hatred now and rest in peace."
Hearing these words, the snake left the frog quickly and dived into the
river and disappeared. The frog also jumped away and hid itself in the
bushes.
The traveller was much surprised; he said that he could not understand how
the snake dropped the frog and disappeared at the words uttered, who was
Veerbhadrappa and who was Basssappa, and what was the cause of their
enmity. I returned with him to the foot of the tree and after sharing a
few puffs of smoke with him I explained the whole mystery to his as
follows:-
There was ancient holy place sanctified by a temple of Mahadev about 4 or
5 miles from My place. The temple was old and dilapidated. The residents
of the place collected funds for its repairs. After a large amount was
collected, arrangement for worship was made and plans with estimates for
repairs were prepared. A rich local man was appointed the Treasurer and
the whole work was entrusted to him. He was to keep regular accounts and
be honest in all his dealings. He was a first class miser and spent very
little for the repairs, which consequently made very little progress. He
spent all the funds, swallowed some amount himself and spent nothing from
his pocket. He had a sweet tongue and was very clever in offering
plausible explanations regarding the poor and tardy progress of the work.
The people again went to him and said that unless he lent his helping hand
and tried his best, the work would not be complete. They requested him to
work out the scheme and again collected subscriptions and sent the amount
to him. He received it, but sat as quiet as before without making any
progress. After some days, God (Mahadev) appeared in his wife's dream and
said to her - t up, build the dome of the temple, I will give you a
hundred-fold of what you spend. old this vision to her husband. He was
afraid that it would involve him in some expenses and therefore laughed it
out saying that it was a mere dream, a thing not to be relied and acted
upon, or else why did not God appear to him and tell him? Was he far off
from her? This looks like a bad dream, having for its object the creation
of ill feeling between husband and wife. She had to remain quiet.
God does not like big subscriptions and donations collected against the
wishes of the donors, but He likes ever trifling amounts given with love,
devotion and appreciation. Some days after, God again appeared in her
dream and said - t bother yourself about your husband and the collections
with him. Don't press him to spend any amount for the temple. What I want
is, feeling and devotion. So give, if you like, anything of your own.
onsulted her husband about this vision and decided to give God her
ornaments given by her father. The miser felt disconcerted and decided to
cheat even God in this item. He undervalued the ornaments at Rs.1,000/-
and bought them himself and in lieu of the amount gave a field to God as
endowment or security. The wife agreed to this. The field or land was not
his own, it belonged to one poor woman named Dubaki who mortgaged it to
him for Rs.200/-. She was not able to redeem it for long. So the cunning
miser cheated all, his wife, Dubaki and even God. The land was sterile,
uncultivated and worth nothing and yielded nothing, even in best seasons.
Thus ended this transaction and the land was given in the possession of
the poor priest who was pleased with the endowment. Sometime later on,
strange things happened. There was a terrific storm and heavy down-pour of
rain; lightning struck the house of the miser, when he and his wife both
died. Dubaki also breathed her last.
In the next life, the rich miser was born at Mathura in a Brahmin family
and was named Veerbhadrappa. His devout wife was born as the daughter of
the priest of the temple and was named Gouri. The woman Dubaki (the
mortgagor) was born as a male in the family of the Gurav (attendent) of
the the temple and was named Chenbassappa. The priest was a friend of
Mine, He often came to Me, chatted and smoked with Me. His daughter Gouri
was also devoted to Me. She was growing fast and her father was seeking a
good husband for her. I told him not to worry about this as the bridegroom
himself would come seeking her. Then there came a poor boy named
Veerbhadrappa of their caste, wandering and begging his bread to the
priest's house. With My consent Gouri was given in marriage to him. He was
also at first devoted to Me as I recommended his marriage with Gouri. Even
in this new life he was hankering after money and asked Me to help him to
get it as he was leading a married man's life.
Strange things happened. There was a sudden rise in prices. By Gouri's
good luck, there was a great demand for land and the endowment land was
sold for one lakh of rupees (100 times the worth of her ornaments). Half
the amount was paid in cash and the remaining was to be paid in 25
instalments of Rs. 2,000/- each. All agreed to this transaction, but began
to quarrel over the money. They came to Me for consultation. I told them
that the property belonged to God and was vested in the priest and Gouri
was his sole heiress and proprietress and no amount should be spent
without her consent and that her husband had no right whatsoever to the
amount. Hearing my opinion Veerbhadrappa was wroth with Me and said that I
wanted to establish Gouri's claim and embezzle her property. Hearing his
words, I remembered God and kept quiet. Veerbhadrappa scolded his wife
(Gouri) and she came to Me at noon and requested Me not to mind the words
of others and not to discard her as she was My daughter. As she thus
sought My protection I gave her a pledge that I would cross seven seas to
help her. Then that night Gouri had a vision. Mahadev appeared in her
dream and said - ole money is yours, do not give anything to anybody,
spend some amount for temple purposes in consultation with Chenbassappa
and if you want to use it for some other purpose, consult Baba in the
Masjid (Myself). i told Me the vision and I gave her the proper advice in
the matter. I told her to take the principal or capital amount to herself,
give half the amount of interest to Chenbassappa and that Veerbhadrappa
had nothing to do in the matter. While I was thus talking, both
Veerbhadrappa and Chenbassappa came there quarreling. I tried My best to
appease them and told them God's vision to Gouri. Veerbhadrappa got wild
and angry and threatened to kill Chenbassappa cutting him to pieces. The
latter was timid, he caught my feet and sought my refuge. I pledged Myself
to save him from the wrath of his foe. Then after some time Veerbhadrappa
died and was born as a snake and Chenbassappa died and was born as a frog.
Hearing the croaking of Chenbassappa and remembering my pledge, I came
here, saved him and kept My word. God runs to His devotees for help in
times of danger. He saved Chenbassappa (the frog) by sending Me here. All
this is God's Leela or sport."
The Moral
The moral of the story is that one has to reap what one sows, and there is
no escape unless one suffers and squares up one's old debts and dealings
with others, and that greed for money drags the greedy man to the lowest
level and ultimately brings destruction on him and others.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XLVIII
Warding off Devotee's Calamities
Stories of (1) Shevade and (2) Sapatneker
At the commencement of this chapter, some one asked Hemadpant whether Sai
Baba was a Guru or Sad-guru. In order to answer the question Hemadpant
describes the signs or marks of a Sad-guru as follows:-
Signs of Sad-guru
He who teaches us Veda and Vedanta or the six Shastras (systems), he who
controls the breath, or brands his body with Mudras (metallic marks of
Vishnu's weapons) or gives pleasing discourses regarding Brahma, he who
gives mantras (sacred syllables) to the disciples and orders them to chant
the same a certain number of times, but does not assure them any result in
a definite time, he who by his spacious wordy knowledge explains
beautifully the Ultimate Principle, but has himself got no experience or
self-realization is not a Sad-guru. But he, who by his discourse creates
in us, a distaste for the enjoyments of this world and the next, and gives
us a taste of self-realization, who is well-versed in both the theoretical
and practical knowledge (self-realization) deserves to be called a
Sad-guru. How can he, who is himself devoid of self-realization, give it
to the disciples? A Sad-guru does not, even in his dream, expect any
service or profit from his disciples. On the contrary he wishes to serve
them. He does not think that he is great and the disciple small. Not only
he loves him as his son but regards him as equal to himself or as Brahma.
The main characteristic of a Sad-guru is that he is the abode of peace. He
is never restless nor ruffled. He has no pride of his learning. The poor
and the rich, the small and the great, are the same to him.
Hemadpant thinks that on account of the store or accumulation of merits in
his past births, he had the good fortune of meeting and being blessed by
such a Sad-guru as Sai Baba. Even in full youth He hoarded nothing (expect
perhaps chillim). He had no family, no friend, no home, nor any support.
Since He was eighteen, His control of mind was perfect and extra-ordinary.
He lived then fearless in a secluded place and always abided in His Self.
Seeing the pure attachment of His devotees He always acted in their
interests and hence He was in a way dependent on them. What experiences He
gave to His devotees while he was living in flesh, are even to-day, after
His Mahasamadhi, obtained now by those who attach themselves to Him. What
the devotees have to do is this - They have to trim their heart-lamp of
faith and devotion, and burn in it wicks of love, and when this is done,
the flame of knowledge (self-realization) will be lit up and shine
brighter. Mere knowledge without love is dry; nobody wants such knowledge.
Without love there is no contentment; so we should have unbroken and
unbounded love. How can we praise love? Everything is insignificant before
it. Without love our reading, hearing and the study are of no avail. In
the wake of love follow devotion, dispassion, peace and liberation with
all their treasures. We do not get love for anything unless we feel
earnestly about it. So where there is real yearning and feeling, God
manifests Himself. It includes love and is the means of liberation.
Now let us revert to the main story of this chapter. Let a man go to a
true saint with a pure mind, otherwise (fraudulently) and hold his feet;
ultimately he is sure to be saved. This is illustrated by the following
stories.
Mr.Shevade
Mr. Sapatneker of Akkalkot (Sholapur District) was studying for law. A
co-student Mr.Shevade met him. Other fellow students also gathered
together and compared notes of their study. It was found by the questions
and answers amongst themselves, that Mr.Shevade was the least prepared of
all for the examination, and therefore all the students derided him. But
he said that though he was not prepared, he was sure to pass the
examination, as his Sai Baba was there to get him through it successfully.
Mr.Sapatnekar was surprised at this remark. He took Mr.Shevade aside and
asked him who this Sai Baba was whom he extolled so high. He replied -
lives in a Masjid in Shirdi (Ahmednagar District) a fakir. He is a great
Sat-purusha. There may be other saints, but this is unique. Unless there
is a great store of merits on one's account, one can't see Him. I fully
believe in Him, and what He says will be never untrue. He has assured me
that I will pass definitely next year and I am confident that I will get
through the final examination also with His grace. patneker laughed at his
friend's confidence and jeered at him and Baba.
Sapatnekars
Mr.Sapatnekar passed his examination, settled at Akkalkot and practised as
a pleader there. Ten years after this, i.e., in 1913 he lost his only son
on account of a throat disease. This broke his heart. He sought relief by
making a pilgrimage to Pandharpur, Ganagapur and other holy places. He got
no peace of mind. Then he read Vedanta, which also did not help him. In
the meanwhile he remembered Mr.Shevade's remarks and his faith in Baba,
and he thought that he too should go to Shirdi and see Baba. He went to
Shirdi with his younger brother Panditrao and was much pleased to see Baba
from a distance. When he went near and prostrated himself and placed a
coconut before Baba with pure feeling (devotion), the latter at once cried
out ay. ekar hung down his head, moved back and sat aside. He wanted to
consult somebody who would advise him how to proceed. Somebody mentioned
Bala Shimpi's name. Sapatnekar saw him and sought his help. They bought
Baba's photos and came with them to the Masjid. Baba Shimpi took a photo
in his hand, gave it to Baba and asked him whose photo it was. Baba said
that this photo was the 'Yara' (Lover) of him, pointing to Sapatnekar.
Saying this Baba laughed and all others joined. Bala asked Baba the
significance of the laugh and beckoned Sapatnekar to come forward and take
darshan. When Saptnakar began to prostrate himself, Baba again cried t.
nekar did not know what to do. Then they both joined their hands and sat
before Baba, praying. Baba finally ordered sapatnekar to clear out
immediately. Both were sad and dejected. As Baba's order had to be obeyed,
Sapatnekar left Shirdi with a heavy heart praying that he should be
allowed to take darshan next time.
Mrs.Saptnekar
One year elapsed. Still his mind was not at peace. He went to Gangapur,
where he felt more restless. Then he went to Madhegaon for rest and
finally decided to go to Kashi. Two days before starting, his wife got a
vision. In her dream she was going with a pitcher to Lakadsha's well.
There a fakir with a piece of cloth round his head, who was sitting at the
foot of the Neem tree, came close to her and said - r lassie, why get
exhausted for nothing? I get your pitcher filled with pure water. as
afraid of the fakir and hastened back with the empty pitcher. The fakir
followed her. At this she was awakened and opened her eyes. She told this
vision to her husband. They thought that this was an auspicious sign and
they both left for Shirdi. When they reached the Masjid, Baba was absent.
He had gone to Lendi. They waited till His return. When He returned, she
was surprised to see that the fakir she saw in her vision, resembled
exactly Baba. She reverentially prostrated herself before Baba and sat
looking at him. Seeing her humility Baba was much pleased and began to
tell a story in his peculiar characteristic fashion to a third party. He
said - s, abdomen and waist are paining for a long time. I took many
medicines, the pains did not abate. I got sick of the medicines as they
gave me no relief, but I am surprised to see now that all the pains have
disappeared at once. h no name was mentioned it was the story of
Mrs.Sapatnekar herself. Her pains, as described by Baba, left her soon and
she was happy.
Then Mr.Sapatnekar went ahead to take darshan. He was again welcomed with
the former t. time he was more penitent and persevering. He said that
Baba's displeasure was due to his past deeds and resolved to make amends
for the same. He determined to see Baba alone and ask his pardon for his
past actions. This he did. He placed his head on Baba's feet and Baba
placed His hand on it and Sapatnekar sat stroking Baba's leg. Then a
shepherdess came and sat massaging Baba's waist. Baba in his
characteristic way began to tell the story of a bania. He related the
various vicissitudes of all his life, including the death of his only son.
Sapatnekar was surprised to see that the story which Baba related was his
own, and he wondered how Baba knew every detail of it. He came to know
that He was omniscient and knew the hearts of all. When this thought
crossed his mind, Baba still addressing the shepherdess and pointing to
Sapatnekar said - ellow blames Me and charges Me with killing his son. Do
I kill people's children? Why does this fellow come to the Masjid and cry?
Now I will do this I will again bring that very child back in his wife's
womb. these words He placed His blessing and on his head and comforted him
saying - feet are old and holy, you are care-free now; place entire faith
in Me and you will soon get your object. nekar was much moved with
emotion, he bathed Baba's feet with his tears and then returned to his
residence.
Then he made preparations of worship and naivedya and came with his wife
to the Masjid. He offered all this to Baba daily and accepted prasad from
Him. There was a crowd in the Masjid and Sapatnekar went there and saluted
Baba again and again. Seeing heads clashing against heads Baba said to
Sapatnekar - y do you prostrate yourself now and then? The one Namaskar
offered with love and humility is enough. Sapatnekar witnessed that night
the chavadi procession described before. In that procession Baba looked
like a veritable Pandurang (Vithal).
At parting next day, Sapatnekar thought that he should first pay one rupee
as dakshina and if Baba asked again, instead of saying no, he should pay
one more, reserving with him sufficient amount as expenses for the
journey. When he went to the Masjid and offered one rupee, Baba asked for
another as per his intention and when it was paid, Baba blessed him him
saying - he coconut, put it in your wife's oti (upper fold of her sari),
and go away at ease without the least anxiety. d so, and within a year a
son was born to him and with an infant of 8 months the pair came to
Shirdi, placed it at Baba's feet and prayed thus - inath, we do not know
how to redeem Your obligations, therefore we prostrate ourselves before
You, bless us poor helpless fellows, henceforth let Your holy feet be our
sole refuge. Many thoughts and ideas trouble us in waking and dream
states, so turn away our minds from them to Your bhajan and bless us."
The son was named Murlidhar. Two others (Bhaskar and Dinkar) were born
afterwards. The Sapatnekar pair thus realized that Baba's words were never
untrue and unfulfilled, but turned out literally true.
Bow to Shri sai - Peace be to all
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XLIX
Stories of (1) Hari Kanoba - (2) Somadeva Swami - (3) Nanasaheb
Chandorkar.
Preliminary
The Vedas and the Puranas cannot sufficiently praise (describe) Brahma or
Sad-guru; then how can we, who are ignorant, describe our Sad-guru Shri
Sai Baba? We think that it is better for us to keep quiet in this matter.
In reality the observance of the vow of silence is the best way of
praising the Sad-guru; but the good qualities of Sai Baba make us forget
our vow of silence and inspire us to open our mouth. Good dishes taste
flat if there be no company of friends and relations to partake of the
dishes with us, but when they join us, the dishes acquire additional
flavour. The same is the case with the Sai Leelamrit - the nectar in the
form of Sai's leelas. This nectar we cannot partake alone. Friends and
brothers have to join us - the more the better.
It is Sai Baba Himself that inspires these stories and gets them written
as He desires. Our duty is to surrender completely to Him and meditate on
Him. Practising penance is better than pilgrimage, vow, sacrifice, and
charity. Worshipping Hari (Lord) is better than penance, and meditation on
the Sad-guru is the best of all. We have, therefore, to chant Sai's name
by mouth, think over His sayings in our mind, meditate on His form, feel
real love for Him in our heart and do all our actions for His sake. There
is no better means than this for snapping the bondage of samsar. If we can
do our duty on our part as stated above, Sai is bound to help and liberate
us. Now we revert to the stories of this chapter.
Hari Kanoba
A gentleman of Bombay named Hari Kanoba heard from his friends and
relations many Leelas of Baba. He did not believe in them as he was a
doutbing Thomas. He wanted to test Baba himself. So he came to Shirdi with
some Bombay friends. He wore a lace-bordered turban on his head and a new
pair of sandals on his feet. Seeing Baba from a distance he thought of
going to Him and prostrating himself before Him. He did not know what to
do with his new sandals. Still going to some corner outside in the open
courtyard, he placed them there and went in the Masjid and took Baba's
darshan. He made a reverential bow to Baba, took udi and prasad from Baba
and returned. When he reached the corner he found that his sandals had
disappeared. He searched for them in vain and returned to his lodging very
much dejected.
He bathed, offered worship and naivedya and sat for meals, but all the
while he was thinking about nothing but his sandals. After finishing his
meals, he came out to wash his hands when he saw a Maratha boy coming
towards him. He had in his hand a stick, on the top of which was suspended
a pair of new sandals. He said to the men who had come out to wash their
hands that Baba sent him with this stick in hand and asked him to go on
the streets crying - a Beta. Jari Ka Pheta old him that body claims these
sandals, first assure yourself that his name is Hari and that he is the
son of Ka, i.e., Kanoba, and that he wears a lace-bordered turban and then
give them to him. ng this, Hari Kanoba was pleasantly surprised. He went
ahead to the boy and claimed the sandals as his own. He said to the boy
that his name was Hari and that he was the son of Ka (Kanoba) and showed
him his lace-bordered turban. The boy was satisfied and returned the
sandals to him. Hari Kanoba wondered in his mind saying that his
lace-bordered turban was visible to all and Baba might have seen it, but
how could he know his name Hari and that he was the son of Kanoba, as this
was his first trip to Shirdi. He came there with the sole object of
testing Baba and with no other motive. He came to know by this incident
that Baba was a great Satpurush. He got what he wanted and returned home
well-pleased.
Somadeva Swami
Now hear the story of another man who came to try Baba. Bhaiji, brother of
Kakasaheb Dixit was staying at Nagpur. When he had gone to the Himalayas
in 1906 A.D., he made an acquaintance with one Somadeva Swami of Haradwar
at Uttarkashi down the Gangotri valley. Both took down each other's names
in their diaries. Five years afterwards Somadeva Swami came to Nagpur and
was Bhaiji's guest. There he was pleased to hear the Leelas of Baba and a
strong desire arose in his mind to go to Shirdi and see Him. He got a
letter of introduction from Bhaiji and left for Shirdi. After passing
Manmad and Kopergaon, he took a tanga and drove to Shirdi. As he came near
Shirdi he saw two high flags floating over the Masjid in Shirdi. Generally
we find different ways of behaviour, different modes of living and
different outward paraphernalia with different saints. But these outward
signs should never be our standards to judge the worth of the saints. But
with Somadeva Swami it was different. As soon as he saw the flags flying,
he thought - ould a saint take a liking for the flags, does this denote
sainthood? It implies the saint's hankering after fame. ing thus he wished
to cancel his Shirdi trip and said to his fellow travellers that he would
go back. They said to him - hy did you come so long? If your mind gets
restless by the sight of the flags, how much more agitated would you be on
seeing in Shirdi the Ratha (car), the palanquin, the horse and all other
paraphernalia? Swami got more confounded and said - few such Sadhus, with
horses, palanquins and tom-toms have I seen and it is better for me to
return than see such Sadhus. ng this he started to return. The
fellow-travellers pressed him not to do so, but to proceed. They asked him
to stop his crooked way of thinking and told him that the Sadhu, i.e.,
Baba did not care a bit for the flags and other paraphernalia, nor for
fame. It was the people, His devotees that kept up all this paraphernalia
out of love and devotion to Him. Finally he was persuaded to continue his
journey, go to Shirdi and see Baba. When he went and saw Baba from the
courtyard, he was melted inside, his eyes were full of tears, his throat
was choked and all his evil and crooked thoughts vanished. He remembered
his Guru's saying that - 'that is our abode and place of rest where the
mind is most pleased and charmed.' He wished to roll himself in the dust
of Baba's Feet and when he approached Baba, the latter got wild and cried
aloud - l our humbug (paraphernalia) be with us, you go back to your home,
beware if you come back to this Masjid. Why take the darshan of one who
flies a flag over his Masjid? Is this a sign of sainthood? Remain here not
a moment. wami was taken aback by surprise. He realized that Baba read his
heart and spoke it out. How omniscient He was! He knew that he was least
intelligent and that Baba was noble and pure. He saw Baba embracing
somebody, touching someone with his hand, comforting others, staring
kindly at some, laughing at others, giving udi prasad to some and thus
pleasing and satisfying all. Why should he alone be dealt with so harshly?
Thinking seriously he came to realize that Baba's conduct responded
exactly to his inner thought and that he should take a lesson from this
and improve; and that Baba's wrath was a blessing in disguise. It is
needless to say that later on, his faith in Baba was confirmed and he
became a staunch devotee of Baba.
Nanasaheb Chandorkar
Hemadpant concludes this chapter with a story of Nanasaheb Chandorkar.
When Nanasaheb was once sitting in the Masjid with Mhalasapati and others,
a Mahomedan gentlemen from Bijapur came with his family to see Baba.
Seeing gosha (veiled) ladies with him, Nanasaheb wanted to go away, but
Baba prevented him from doing so. The ladies came and took the darshan of
Baba. When one of the ladies removed her veil in saluting Baba's feet and
then resumed it again, Nanasaheb, who saw her face, was so much smitten
with her rare beauty that he wished to see her face again. Knowing Nana's
restlessness of mind, Baba spoke to him after the lady had left the place
as follows - why are you getting agitated in vain? Let the senses do their
allotted work, or duty, we should not meddle with their work. God has
created this beautiful world and it is our duty to appreciate its beauty.
The mind will get steady and calm slowly and gradually. When the front
door was open, why go by the back one? When the heart is pure, there is no
difficulty, whatsoever. Why should one be afraid of any one if there be no
evil thought in us? The eyes may do their work, why should you feel shy
and tottering?"
Shama was there and he could not follow the meaning of what Baba said. So
he asked Nana about this on their way home. Nana told him about his
restlessness at the sight of the beautiful lady, how Baba knew it and
advised him about it. Nana explained Baba's meaning as follows - ur mind
is fickle by nature, it should not be allowed to get wild. The senses may
get restless, the body, however, should be held in check and not allowed
to be impatient. Senses run after objects, but we should not follow them
and crave for their objects. By slow and gradual practice retlessness can
be conquered. We should not be swayed by the senses, but they cannot be
completely controlled. We should curb them rightly and properly according
to the need of the occasion. Beauty is the subject of sight; we should
fearlessly look at the beauty of objects. There is no room for shyness or
fear. Only we should never entertain evil thoughts. Making the mind
desireless, observe God's works of beauty. In this way the senses will be
easily and naturally controlled and even in enjoying objects you will be
reminded of God. If the outer senses are not held in check and if the mind
be allowed to run after objects and be attached to them, our cycle of
births and deaths will not come to an end. Objects of sense are things
harmful. With Viveka (discrimination) as our charioteer, we will control
the mind and will not allow the senses to go astray. With such a
charioteer we reach the Vishnu-pada, the final abode, our real Home from
which there is no return."
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter L
Stories of (1) Kakasaheb Dixit (2) Shri Tembye Swami (3)Balaram
Dhurandhar.
Chapter 50 of the original Satcharita has been incorporated in Chapter 39,
as it dealt with the same subject matter. Now, Chapter 51 of the
Satcharita has been treated here as Chapter 50. This Chapter gives the
stories of (1) Kakasaheb Dixit (2) Shri Tembye Swami (3) Balaram
Dhurandhar.
Preliminary
Victory be unto Sai Who is the main-stay of the Bhaktas, Who is our
Sadguru, Who expounds the meaning of the Gita and Who gives us all powers.
Oh Sai, look favourably on us and bless us all.
The sandal-wood trees, grow on the Malaya mountains and ward off heat. The
clouds, pour their rain-water and thereby, cool and refresh all the
people. The flowers, blossom in the spring and, enable us to worship God,
therewith. So the stories of Sai Baba come forth, in order to give solace
and comfort to the readers. Both, those, who tell; and those who hear the
stories of Baba, are blessed and holy, as also the mouths of the former
and the ears of the latter.
It is well-established fact, that though we try hundreds of means or
sadhanas, we do not attain the spiritual goal of life, unless a Sadguru
blesses us with his grace. Hear the following story in illustration of
this statement
Kakasaheb Dixit (1864-1926)
Mr. Hari Sitaram alias Kakasaheb Dixit was born in 1864 A.D., in a
Vadnagara Nagar - Brahmin-family, at Khandwa(C.P). His primary education
was done at Khandwa, Hinganghat, and secondary education at Nagpur. He
came to Bombay for higher eduaction and studied first in the Wilson
College and then in the Elphinstone College. After graduation in 1883
A.D., he passed his LL.B. and solicitor's examination; and then served in
the firm of the Govt. Solicitors, Messrs Little and Co., and then, after
sometime started a solicitors' firm of his own.
Before 1909 A.D., Sai Baba's name was not familiar to Kakasaheb, but after
that he soon becomes His great devotees. While he was staying at Lonavla,
he happened to see his old friend. Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar. Both spent
some time, in talking about many things. Kakasaheb described to him, how
when he was boarding a train in London, he met with an accident, in which
his foot slipped and was injured. Hundreds of remedies gave him no relief.
Nanasaheb then told him that if he wished to get rid of the pain and
lameness of his leg, he should go to his Sadguru-Sai Baba. He also gave
him all the particulars of Sai Baba and mentioned to him Sai Baba's dictum
"I draw to Me My man fram far off, or even across the seven seas, like a
sparrow with a string fastened to its feet." He also made it clear to him
that if he be not Baba's man, he would not be attracted to Him and given a
darshan. Kakasaheb was pleased to hear all this, and said to Nanasaheb
that he would go to Baba, see Him and pray to Him to cure not so much his
lame leg, but bring round his lame, fickle mind and give him eternal
Bliss.
Some time after, Kakasaheb went to Ahmednagar; and stayed with sirdar
Kakasaheb Mirikar in connection with securing votes for a seat, in the
Bombay Legislative Council. Mr. Balasaheb Mirikar, son of Kakasaheb
Mirikar, who was a Mamalatdar of Kopergaon, also came at that time to
Ahmendnagar in connection with a Horse-Exhibition there. After the
election business was over, Kakasaheb Dixit wanted to go to Shirdi and
both the Mirikars, father and son were also thinking in their house about
a fit and proper person, as a guide, with whom he should be sent there.
There Sai Baba was arranging things for his reception. Shama got a
telegram from his father-in-law at Ahemdnagar, stating that his wife was
seriously ill, and that he should come to see her with his wife. Shama
with Baba's permission went there, and saw his mother-in-law and found her
improving and better. Nanasaheb Panshe and Appasaheb Gadre happened to see
Shama, on their way to the Exhibition Dixit there and take him to Shirdi
along with him. Kakasaheb Dixit and the Mirikars were also informed of
Shama's arrival. In the evening Shama came to Mirikars, who introduced him
to Kakasaheb. They arranged that Shama should leave for Kopergaon with
Kakasaheb by the 10 O'Clock night train. After this was settled, a curious
thing happened. Balasaheb Mirikar threw aside the veil or covering on
Baba's big portrait and showed the same to Kakasaheb. He was surprised to
see that He, Whom he was going to meet at Shirdi, was already there in the
form of His portrait to greet him, at this juncture. He was much moved and
made his prostration before the portarit. This portrait belonged to Megha.
The glass over it was broken and it was sent to Mirikars for repairs. The
necessary repairs had been already made; and it was decided to return the
portarit with Kakasaheb and Shama.
Before ten O'Clock, they went to the station and booked their passage; but
when the train arrived, they found that the second class was overcrowded;
and then there was no room for them. Fortunately, the guard of the train
turned out to be an acquaintance of Kakasaheb; and he put them up in the
first class. Thus they travelled comfortably and alighted at Kopergaon.
Their joy knew no bounds when they saw there Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who was
also bound for Shirdi. Kakasaheb and Nanasaheb embraced each other, and
then after bathing in the sacred Godavari river they started for Shirdi.
After coming there and getting Baba's darshan, Kakasaheb's mind was
melted, his eyes were full of tears and he was overflowing with joy. Baba
said to him, that he also was waiting for him; and had sent Shama ahead to
receive him.
Kakasaheb then passed many happy years in Baba's company. He buit a Wada
in Shirdi which he made as his, more or less, permanent home. The
experiences he got from Baba are so manifold, that it is not possible to
relate them all here. The readers are advised to read a special (Kakasaheb
Dixit) No. of 'Shri Sai Leela' magazine, Vol 12, No. 6-9. we close this
account with the mention of one fact only. Baba had comforted hi by saying
that in the end "He will take him in air coach (Viman)", (i.e., secure him
a happy death). This came out true. On the 5th of July 1926 A.D., he was
travelling in the train with Hemadpant and talking about Sai Baba. He
seemed deeply engrossed in Sai Baba. All of a sudden he threw his neck on
Hemadpant's shoulder, and breathed his last with no trace of pain and
uneasiness.
Shri Tembye Swami
We come to the next story, which shows how Saints love aech other with
fraternal affection. Once Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati, known as Shri
Tembye Swami encamped, at Rajamahendri (Andhra Country), on the banks of
Godavari. He was a devout, orthodox, Jnani and Yogi Bhakta of the God
Dattatreya. One, Mr. Pundalikrao, pleader of Nanded (Nizam State) went to
see him, with some friends. While they were talking with him, the names of
Shirdi and Sai Baba were casually mentioned. Hearing Baba's name, the
Swami bowed with his hands; and taking a coconut gave it to Pundalikrao,
and said to him, "Offer this to my brother Sai, with my pranam and request
Him not to forget me, but ever love me." He also added that the Swamis do
not generally bow to others, but in this case an exception had to be made.
Mr. Pundalikrao consented to take the fruit and his message to Baba. The
Swami was right in calling Baba a brother, for as he maintained an
Agnihotra (Sacred fire) day and night, in his orthodox fashion; Baba too
kept His Agnihotra, i.e., Dhuni ever burning in the Masjid.
After one month Pundalikrao and others left for Shirdi with the coconut,
and reached Manmad, and as they felt thirsty they went to a rivulet for
drinking water. As water should not be drunk on an empty stomach, they
took out some refreshments, i.e., Chivda (flattened rice mixed with
spice). The Chivda tasted pungent and in order to soften it, some one
suggested and broke the coconut and mixed its scrapings with it. Thusthey
made the Chivda mare tasty and palatable. Unfortunately the fruit broken,
turned out to be the same, that was entrusted to Pundalikrao. As they
neared Shirdi, Pundalikrao remembered the trust, i.e., the coconut and was
very sorry to learn that it was broken and utilized. Fearing and
trembling, he came to Shirdi and saw Baba. Baba had already received a
wireless message, regarding the coconut, from the Tembye Swami, ad Himself
asked Pundalikrao first to give the things sent by His brother. He held
fast Baba's Feet, confessed his guilt and negligence, repented and asked
for Baba's pardon. He offered to give another fruit as a substitute, but
Baba refused to accept it saying that the worth of that coconut was by
far, many times more, than an ordinary one and that it could not be
replaced by another one. Baba also added- "Now you need not worry yourself
any more about the matter. It was on account of my wish that the coconut
was entrusted to you, and ultimately broken on the way; why should you
take the responsibility of the actions on you? Do not entertain the sense
of doership in doing good, as well as for bad deeds; be entirely prideless
and egoless in all things and thus your spiritual progress will be rapid."
What a beautiful spiritual instruction Baba gave!
Balaram Dhurandhar (1878-1925)
Mr. Balaram Dhurandhar belonged to the Pathare Prabhu community, of
Santacruz, Bombay. He was an advocate of the Bombay High Court and
sometime Principal of the Governament Law School, Bombay. The whole
Dhurandhar family was pious and religious. Mr. Balaram served his
community, and wrote and published an account of it. He then turned his
attention to spiritual and religious matters. He studied carefully Gita,
and its commentary Jnaneshwari; and other philosiphical and other
metaphysical works. He was a devotee of Vithoba of Pandharpur. he came in
contact with Sai Baba in 1912 A.D.. Six months previous, his brothers
Babulji and Vamanrao came to Shirdi and took Baba's darshan. They returned
home, and mentioned their sweet experiences to Balaram and other members.
Then they all decided to see Sai Baba. Before they came to Shirdi, Baba
declared openly that - "To-day many of my Darbar people are coming." The
Dhurandhar brothers were astonished to hear this remark of Baba, from
others; as they had not given any previous intimation of their trip. All
the other people prostrated themselves before Baba, and sat talking to
Him. Baba said to them- "These are my Darbar people to whom I referred
before" and said to the Dhurandhar brothers- "We are acquainted with each
other for the last sixty generations." All the brothers were meek and
modest, they stood with joined hands, staring at Baba's Feet. All the
Sattwic emotions such as tears, horripilation, choking, etc., moved them
and they were all happy. Then they went to their lodging, took their meals
and after taking a little rest again came to the Masjid. Balaram sat near
Baba, messaging His Legs. Baba Who was smoking a chillam advanced it
towards him and beckoned him to smoke it. Balaram was not accustomed to
smoking, still he accepted the pipe, smoked it with great difficulty; and
returned it reverentially with a bow. This was the most auspicious moment
for Balaram. He was suffering from Asthma for six years. This smoke
completely cured him of the disease, which never troubled him again. Some
six years later, on a particular day, he again got an attack of Asthma.
This was precisely the time when Baba took his Mahasamadhi.
The day of this visit was a Thursday; and the Dhurandhar brothers had the
good fortune of witnessing the Chavadi, Balaram saw the lusture of
pandurang on Baba's face and next morning at the Kakad-Arti time, the same
phenomenon - the same lusture of his Beloved Deity- Pandurang was visible
again on Baba's face.
Mr. Balaram Dhurandhar wrote, in Marathi, the life of the Maharashtra
Saint Tukaram, but did not survive to see its publication. It was
published, later on, by his brothers in 1928. In a short note on Balaram's
life given in the beginning of the book, the above account of Balaram's
visit has been fully corroborated therein (Vide page 6 of the book).
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Epilogue
We have done with Chapter 51 and now we come to the last Chapter (No. 52
in the original). In this Hemadpant gave his concluding remarks and
promised to give an index, giving the contents of all the Chapters in
verse as is given in Marathi sacred books, but unfortunately that index
was not found in Hemabdpant's papers. It was therefore, composed and
supplied by an able and worthy devotee of Sai Baba, Mr. B.V. Deo (Retired
Mamlatdar) of Thana. As we give in English books an index in the beginning
and contents of each Chapter at its top, we need not consider the last
index Chapter here; and so we consider this Chapter as the Epilogue.
Unfortunately Hemadpant did not survive to revise the manuscript of this
Chapter and made it ready for the press. When it was sent to the press Mr.
Deo found it to be incomplete and unintelligible in certain places; but it
had to be published as it was found. The chief topics dealt therein are
briefly given below.
Greatness of Sad-guru Sai
We prostrate ourselves before and take refuge in that Sai Samarth Who
besets all animate and inanimate things in the universe-from a post to God
Brahma, pots, houses, mansions and even sky, Who pervades all creatures
equally without any differentiation, to Whom all devotees are alike; and
Who knows not honour and dishonour, like or dislike. If we remember Him
and surrender to Him, He fulfills all our desires and makes us attain the
goal of life.
This ocean of mundane existence is very hard to cross. Waves of
infatuation beat high there against the bank of bad thoughts and break
down trees of fortitude. The breeze of egoism blows forcibly and makes the
ocean rough and agitated. Crocodiles in the form of anger and hatred move
there fearlessly. Eddies in the form of the idea "I and Mine" and other
doubts whirl there inecessantly and innumerable fishes in the form of
censure, hate and jealousy play there, Though this ocean is so fierce and
terrible, Sad-guru Sai is its Agasti (Destroyer) and the devotees of Sai
have not the least to fear of it. Our Sadguru is the boat, which will
safety take us across this ocean.
Prayer
Now are fall flat before Sai Baba and holding His Feet make the following
prayer for the public:- Let not our mind wander and desire anything except
Thee. Let this work (Satcharita) be in every house and let it be studied
daily. Ward off the calamities of those who study it regularly.
Fala-Shruti (Reward of Study)
Now a few words about the reward you get, from a study of this work. After
bathing in the sacred Godavari and after taking the darshan of the Samadhi
in the Samadhi-mandir in Shirdi, you should read or hear the Satcharita.
If you do this all your threefold afflictions will vanish. Casually
thinking about the stories of Sai, you will get unconsciously interested
in spiritual life and if you then go on through the work with love, all
your sins will be destroyed. If you wish to get rid of the cycle of births
and deaths, read Sai's stories and remember Him always; and get yourself
attached (devoted) to His Feet. If you dive into the sea of Sai's stories,
and then give them out to others, you will get an ever-new flavour of them
and save the hearers from perdition. If you go on meditating on Sai's
Form, it will in course of time disappear and lead you into
self-realization. It is very hard to know or realize the nature of Self or
Brahma, but if you approach through the Sugun Brahma (Sai's Form) your
progress will be easy. If the devotee completely surrenders himself to
Him, he will lose his individuality and be merged in Him and be one with
Him, as the river in the sea. If you thus become merged with Him in any of
the three states, viz., waking, dream and sleep, you get rid of the bond
of samsara. If anybody after bathing reads this with love and faith,and
completes it within a week, his calamities will disappear; or if he hears
or reads it daily and regularly all his dangers will be warded off. By its
study, a man wishing for wealth will get it and a pure trader, success in
his life. He will get the reward according to his faith and devotion.
Without these, there will be no experience of any kind. If you read this
respectfully, Sai will be pleased, and removing you ignorance and poverty,
He will give you knowledge, wealth and prosperity. With concentrated mind,
if you read a Chapter daily, it will give you unbounded happiness. One who
has his welfare at heart, should study it carefully and then he will ever
remember Sai gratefully and joyfully in birth after birth. This work
should be read at home specially on Guru-Pournima (Ashadha full-moon day),
Gokul-Ashtami, Rama-Navami and Dasara (Baba's anniversary day). If you
study this one book carefully, all your desires will be satisfied and if
you always remember Sai's Feet in your heart, you will easily cross the
Bhava (Samsar) sagar. By its study, the diseased and sick will get health,
the poor wealth, the mean and afflicted prosperity, and the mind will get
rid of all ideas and get steadiness.
Dear good and devoted readers and listeners, we also make our bow to you
all, and make you a special request. Never forget Him whose stories you
have read day by day or month by month. The more fervently you read or
listen to these stories, the more encouragement Sai gives us to serve you
and be of use to you. Both the author and the readers must co-operate in
this work, help each other and be happy.
Prasad-Yachana
We close the with prayer to the Almighty for the following Prasad of
favour:- May the readers and devotees get complete and whole-hearted
devotion to Sai's Feet. May His Form be ever fixed in their eyes and may
they see Sai (the Lord) in all beings. amen!
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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