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Bheema Ratha Shanthi (Photo) picture collage
In the year 1971, when the first edition of
“Shri Sai Baba, the Saint of Shirdi” was published , the writer was not even aware of the manifestation of this
“Maha Yogi” known as Shri Satya Sai Baba. For this reason Shri Satya Sai
Baba’s
At the outset, I would like to say that I have no intention of getting
involved in the controversy whether Shri Satya Sai Baba is or is not an
Incarnation of the Shirdi Baba.
It is only when one actually sees the Baba that one realizes that his pictures which appear in the papers do not do him justice. For, the main attraction of the “Yogi” is in his eyes which are not only magnetic, but are also brimful of love and compassion. His bizarre miracles of producing “Uddhi” (Vibhuti) from empty space and the materialization of all kinds of silver and gold images and rings from his mouth give one a queer feeling of apparent showmanship which is not attractive....but one soon learns to accept these powers as an unusual method of the saint to lure people to him by giving them what they want so that later they may learn to crave for the jewels of the Spirit. Each “Yogi” has his own peculiar modus operandi, and who are we to judge whether they are right or wrong? For, as soon as we come in contact with this incredible Master, we realize that his ultimate mission is not to give material satisfacti on to his flock, but rather to lead them gradually to appreciate the
glittering virtues of the spirit.
The social services that this “Avatar” organizes for the benefit of the humanity are many. Hospitals, Schools and Colleges are built and commissioned to help the cause of education and to give relief to the sick and the ailing. Perhaps, no other saint has involved himself in such practical solutions of the country’s welfare. There is no dearth of volunteers who dedicate their services to the institutions started by the Baba who infuses the spirit of service and dedicated work to his followers. We are reminded of Swami Vivekananda who said years ago that “Work is Worship”. Baba has not much respect for the “Yogi” who spends his time enjoying his own individual Bliss, showing supreme indifference to the sufferings of the others. This life says Baba is ‘preface to the epic of the supreme’ which requires the practice of an internal “Yoga”. It is no wonder, therefore, that Shri Satya Sai Baba is recognized by even the highest Government officials and enjoys a popularity which has no parallel among the godmen of Bharat. But despite this preoccupation with the vaster issues of life,
Shri
Satya Sai Baba, like Sai Baba of Shirdi,
It is on this note that I should like to conclude this brief chapter
after relating the two personal tokens for one who does not merit such
favours. (1) Round about the year 1978 Shri P.K. Savant, who was then one of the
ministers of the Maharashtra Government, met me at a public function and
said to me -- “Mrs. Sahukar, I have read and appreciated your book, ‘Sai
Baba, the Saint of Shirdi’, but how is it that you refrain from
prostrating at the feet of his Incarnation, Shri Satya Sai Baba?” I was
taken aback, as I replied -- “Mr. Savant, I do not know much about Shri
Satya Sai Baba, but even so I would not hesitate to pay my homage to one
whom I recognize as one of our spiritual Masters. Due, however, to my
physical ailments, I am unable to go into big crowds, so I keep away.”
However, Mr. Savant graciously invited me and my husband to a small
gathering in his house where Shri Baba was to come. We went to this
function gladly. When we reached Mr. Savant’s house, we were told that
Baba had gone upstairs for a brief respite. The staircase was guarded by
volunteers. I pleaded with one of these volunteers to let us go up as we
were special guests of Shri Savant, but the man was rude and refused to
comply. I started getting sore, and rebuked this man, and while this
unseemly row was going on, Shri Sai Baba himself came down the stairs,
much to my embarrassment. I wished then that the ground would open and
swallow me up! But the Beloved Master only looked at me with a gleam of
loving amusement in his eyes. he had a garland of flowers in his hand
which he put around my neck. This gracious gesture took my breath away,
and I prostrated myself at his holy feet. (2) The second Miracle of Grace took place in White Field, Baba’s Ashram in Bangalore. Just a day before we were due to leave for Bombay, we learnt that Baba was arriving from Puttaparthy. Very naturally, my husband and I went there for the holy saint’s “darshan”. About three to four hundred “bhaktas” were already seated in neat rows. I joined the women who told me that Baba would emerge from a cottage we could see in the background. Then Baba would walk through certain rows and leaving other rows alone, all according to his sweet will. Soon, we saw the frail Swamiji walking towards us. My heart was pounding like a machine. Would he walk through the aisle where I was? He approached us and them swerved away from us. He then went to a small dais at the end of the compound and sat on the chair. It was all over. The lucky ones who were blessed with “Uddhi” were chirping, and the unfortunate one (I among them) felt desolate. But, since I felt completely forsaken, from the depth of my being I prayed to my Master the Saint of Shirdi. “Beloved Sai”, I silently begged, “Do not let him ignore me like this. Somehow make Satya Sai Baba come to me”. Then a great miracle manifested itself. Shri Satya Sai Baba in response to my silent cry, suddenly got up and came down the dais and made a bee-line for me. He came close to me and lightly touched my forehead and then walked away to the cottage. There were two or three more of such extraordinary miracles which swept me off my feet. But despite all these supreme tokens of his Grace and love for me, I have never felt a desire to go to puttaparthy. Perhaps for me the image and form in which I have been worshipping Sai Baba through the years -- the beloved old man with white beard and hair sitting cross-legged is like an indelible image in my heart and no other image can replace it. It may also be an unconscious yet deep feeling within me that if Satya Sai Baba is indeed my beloved Guru’s Incarnation, then my staunch dedication, love and devotion to this supreme being would automatically reach any manifestation who is an Incarnation of Shri Sai Baba, the Saint of Shirdi. I end this chapter in all humility, leaving stone by stone the pattern to the Designer. Source: Selections -
The Saint of Shirdi -- by Mani Sahukar
(CHAPTER 15) Related
shirdi Sai Baba links:
Reincarnation
Unity of Faith
Bulletin
Story Of Hanuman |
