Story

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TENDULKAR FAMILY There lived in Bandra (a suburb of Bombay) a Tendulkar family,

all the members of which were devoted to Baba. Mrs. Savitribai Tendulkar has

published a Marathi book named "Shri Sainath Bhajan Mala" containing 800

abhangas and padas describing the Leelas of Baba. It is a book worth reading by

those who are interested in Baba. The son, Babu Tendulkar was studying hard day

and night and wanted to appear for the medical examination. He consulted some

astrologers. Examining his horoscope they told him that the stars were not

favorable that year and that he should appear for the examination next year,

when he would be certainly successful. This cast a gloom over him and made him

restless. A few days afterwards his mother went to Shirdi and saw Baba. Amongst

other things she mentioned the gloomy and morose condition of her son, who was

to appear for the examination in a few days. Hearing this Baba said to her,

"Tell your son to believe in Me, to throw aside horoscopes and predictions of

astrologers and palmists and go on with his studies. Let him appear for the

examination with a calm mind, he is sure to pass this year. Ask him to trust in

Me and not to get disappointed". The mother returned home and communicated

Baba's message to her son. Then he studied hard and in due course appeared for

the examination. In the written papers he did well, but being overwhelmed by

doubts he thought that he would not secure sufficient marks for passing. So he

did not care to appear for the oral examination. But the examiner was after

him. He sent word through a fellow- student, stating that he had passed in the

written examination and that he should appear for the oral. The son being thus

encouraged appeared for the oral examination and was successful in both. Thus

he got through the examination that year successfully by Baba's grace, though

the stars were against him. It is to be noted here that doubts and difficulties

surround us just to move us and confirm our faith. We are tested as it were. If

we only hold on steadily to Baba with full faith and continue our endeavors,

our efforts will be ultimately crowned with success.The father of this boy,

Raghunath Rao was serving in some foreign mercantile firm in Bombay. As he grew

old, he was not able to attend to his work properly and so he had to take leave

and rest. As he did not improve during the period of leave a further extension

of leave or retirement from service was inevitable. The Chief Manager of the

firm decided to retire him on pension, as he was an old and a reliable servant.

The question regarding the amount of pension to be given was under

consideration. He was getting Rs.150/- p.m. and his pension i.e. half the

amount viz. Rs. 75/- would not be enough to meet the expenses of the family. So

they were all anxious about this matter. Fifteen days before the final

settlement, Baba appeared to Mrs. Tendulkar in her dream and said, "I wish that

Rs. 100/- should be paid (settled) as pension, will this satisfy you?" She

replied "Baba, why ask me this? We fully trust in You". Though Baba said

Rs.100/- still he was given ten Rupees more i.e. Rs.110/- as a special case.

Such wonderful love and care did Baba exhibit for His Bhaktas.

Shri Sai Satcharitra, Chapter 29