My Leela is inscrutable - Sai Baba of Shirdi

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Miracles of Sai Baba

 

The villagers of Shirdi and afar soon found out that this was no

ordinary fakir but an avatar (incarnation) of a very high order. He

demonstrated through his miracles and utterances, the purpose and

intention for which he had come. He would often say, "My Leela is

inscrutable". To each one he met, he imparted knowledge according to

the capacity of the recipient to absorb it. Baba's Leela's

(miracles) were plenty and varied, and we recount just a few which

occurred during and after his lifetime.

 

Lighting lamps with water

 

Long before Sai Baba's fame spread, he was fond of burning lights

in his Masjid and other Temples. But for the oil needed in those

little earthenware lights that he lit, he depended on the generosity

of the grocers of Shirdi. He had made it a rule to light earthenware

lamps in the masjid every evening and he would call on the grocers

for small donations. But there came a time when the grocers got

tired of giving oil free to Sai Baba and one day they bluntly

refused to oblige him, saying they had no fresh stocks. Without a

word of protest Sai Baba returned to the masjid. Into those

earthenware lamps he poured water and lighted the wicks. The lamps

continued to burn deep into the midnight. The matter came to the

notice of the grocers who now came to Sai Baba with profuse

apologies. Wouldn't Sai Baba kindly pardon them? Sai Baba pardoned

them, but he warned them never to lie again. "You could have refused

to give me the oil, but did you have to say that you didn't have

fresh stocks?"

he admonished them. But he had made his point.

 

Premonition of burning fields

 

Once, harvesting in Shirdi had been completed and the foodgrains

of the entire village had been stored in a yard. The summer was on.

The heat was intense as only those who have lived in Shirdi know.

One afternoon Sai Baba summoned Kondaji Sutar and said to him: "Go,

your field is on flrel" Frightened, Kondaji ran to his field and.

frantically looked around for any sign of fire. There wasn't any. He

returned to the masjid and informed Sai Baba that he had looked

everywhere but had found no trace of fire and why did Baba have to

frighten him? Unfazed, Baba said : "You better turn back and look

again." Baba was right after all. Kondaji noticed that a sheaf of

corn was indeed on fire and smoke was billowing from it. A strong

wind was fanning the fire and word had gone round to the villagers

who now came running to the scene. "Sai Baba," the people

shouted "help us, help us put the fire out!" Thereupon, Sai Baba

walked casually towards the yard, sprinkled some water on a stack of

sheaves and said: " There now! The fire will die down!" And so it

happened.

 

Stopping the rain

 

There is the story of one Rao Bahadur Moreshwar Fradhan who had

come to Shirdi to take Sai Baba's Darshan along with his wife. As

the couple were about to leave, it began to rain heavily. Thunder

and lightning rent the air. As the Pradhan couple looked round in

dismay, Sai Baba prayed. "Oh Allah!" he intoned, "let the rains

cease. My children are going home. Let them go peacefully!" The

storm thereupon ceased, the downpour reduced to slight drizzle and

the Pradhans were able to reach their destination safely.

 

Raising the water level in well

 

When Sai Baba first came to Shirdi it had of no basic facilities.

There was a well put only in name. It had no natural spring water

and if ever there had been one, it must long ago have dried up.

Water had to be fetched from a distance. When, therefore, Sai Baba

gave his permission to the villagers to celebrate the Ram Navami

Fair, (Baba's Birthday) the big problem facing the organizers was

one of water supply. So What should they do but go to Sai Baba with

their problem? "'Oh yes," said Sai Baba, 'so you want plenty of

water, do you? Here, take this and drop it in the well and wait and

see.'This," turned up to be a platter of flowers on which some

prasad (blessed food) had been placed along with the remnants of

alms Baba had received earlier in the day. The villagers had no

qualms about doing as they were did. Their faith in Sai Baba was

total. No sooner had that platter of leaves been dropped in the

well, it is said, water rose from the bottom as if by divine command

and

completely filled it. And great was the rejoicing of the people.

 

Saving a child from drowning

 

One report has it that word had spread that the 3-year old

daughter of a poor man called Babu Kirwandikar had fallen into the

well and had been drowned. When the villagers rushed to the well

they saw the child suspended in mid-air as if some invisible hand

was holding her up! She was quickly pulled out. Sai Baba was fond of

that child who was often heard to say : I am Baba's sister!" After

this incident, the villagers took her at her word. "it is all Baba's

Leela", the people would say philosophically. They could offer no

other explanation.

 

Flow of Godavari (river) from Baba's feet

 

These were instances of things they had seen with their own eyes.

It was not secondhand information they had gathered. Sai Baba was to

them as real as their homes and their fields and their cattle and

the distant hills. Das Ganu once had an unforgettable experience. On

a festive occasion, he sought Baba's permission to go to a place

called Singba on the banks of the Godavari to have a bath in the

holy waters. "No," Baba replied resolutely, "where is the need to go

all the way when the Godavari is here right at my feet?" Das Ganu

was vexed. He was willing to concede that Ganga the holy river (Baba

frequently referred to Godavari as Ganga) rose from the feet of Sri

Narayana (one among the Hindu trinity of Gods) himself, but his

faith was not deep enough to believe that the waters of the Godavari

could spring form the feet of his master, Sri Sai. Baba who was

reading Das Ganu's mind decided that this was the time to strengthen

Das Ganu's faith. He told his devotee: "come closer to me

and hold the hollow of your palms at my feet!". As soon as he did

so water flowed freely out of the toes of the master's feet and

filled the hollow of Das Ganu's palms in no time. His joy knew no

limits. He sprinkled the water on his head and his body and

distributed some more among the assembled devotees as tirtha (holy

water).

 

Other miracles

 

There was that other occasion when many thought that the masjid

which housed Sai Baba itself would be consumed by fire from the

flames which leapt up from the dhuni. All that Baba did was to take

some swipes at a wooden pillar in front of him. With every blow the

flames subsided and the fire died down. "Miraculous," said his

devotees. Often they would notice him stirring some hot concotion

over the kitchen fire, not with a ladle but with his bare hands.

There never was a time when his hand was scalded. What supernatural

powers did he have? On yet another occasion, Sai Baba was partaking

of food with three of his devotees in the masjid when, without any

cause for provocation, he exclaimed- "Stop!" Then, as if nothing had

happened, the four continued with their meal. Lunch over and the

dishes cleared, they stepped out of the masjid, when large chunks of

the ceiling fell on the very spot where they had been seated only a

few minutes earlier. Did Sai Baba's powers extend even to

inanimate matter, the devotees wondered. Instances have been quoted

by his devotees as to how Sai Baba commanded the rains to stop and

the winds to cease.

 

Understanding Sai Baba

 

Baba always maintained the "Dhuni" or the perpetual fire. The

realisation that all the phenomenons of the nature are perishable

and unworthy of our craving, is signified by "Udi" which Sal Baba

distributed to all. Baba never left Shirdi. He talked to people who

came to see Him. Sal Baba would often speak in symbols and parables

leaving his devotees to work out the answer - such as, "A man had a

beautiful horse, but no matter what he did, it would not run in

harness. An expert suggested that it should be taken back to the

place from where it had come. This was done and it become tracable

and useful". The explanation of this story is that the horse is the

Ego. As commander of the physical and mental powers of man, it is

useful but self-willed and therefore cause endless trouble. Taking

it back to its source is re-absorbing it in the spirit source which

it arises. It is the return to the source which purifies and

enlightens. From there the ego issues forth again, no longer an ego,

but

a conscious agent of the spirit. Baba would ask for Dakshina (money

offered with respect to the Guru) from some of those who came to see

Him. This was not because he needed their money. This was one of

Baba's methods for testing out the devotee's attachment to worldly

things and willingness to surrender his ego. Once one has

surrendered himself totally to Him, Baba takes care of all His

spiritual and temporal needs. Baba regarded money like everything

else, in a symbolical manner. He once said, " I ask only from those

who the fakir (God) points out and in exchange I give them ten times

as much". By the end of the day, all the money Baba had earned was

distributed to the destitute, poor, sick and the needy. Baba used to

feed the fakirs and devotees and even cook for them. For those who

were accustomed to meat, he cooked meat and for the others

vegetarian fare.

 

The Dwarakamayee of Sai Baba was open to all, irrespective of

caste, creed or religion. Among those who came to see him and got

his darshan (establishing spiritual contact with the Guru) and

blessings were ministers, government officials, business people and

village folk. He was the common man's God. He Stayed with them,

hejoked with them, He slept and ate with them, he smoked a chillum

(pipe) with them, he sang and danced with them, having no

pretensions of a God. But all of them Knew that He protected them.

Even today, though He has left his gross body, they feel his

presence and realise his worth all the more. Baba would also refer

to the sounding of the drum of the beginning of eternity within the

soul. This "anahat" sound emerged from Baba's heart from every limb,

every bone and pore of his body. It was permeated with divine

essence and Baba claimed that though one day his physical body will

not exist, his remains will communicate with from the grave.

Therefore, the most

important place in Shirdi is Baba's temple - the Samadhi Mandir is

his grave, which literally millions have visited and still continues

to draw many more.

 

http://www.saibabaofshirdi.net/miracles_of_sai_baba.htm

 

 

Eleven Assurances of Sai Baba

 

Whoever puts his feet on Shirdi soil, his sufferings would come to

an end.

The wretched and miserable would rise into plenty of joy and

happiness, as soon as they climb the steps of my Mosque.

I shall be ever active and vigorous even after leaving this

earthly body.

My tomb shall bless and speak the needs of my devotees.

I shall be active and vigorous even from my tomb.

My mortal remains would speak from my tomb.

I am Ever living to help and guide all, who come to me, who

surrender to me and who seek refuge in me.

If you look at me I look at you.

If you cast your burden on me, I shall surely bear it.

If you seek my advice and help, it shall be given to you at once.

There shall be no want in the house of my devotees

'Shri Sai Satcharitra'

The significance of 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' (written by C.B

Satpathy) are : -

 

This is the first and foremost book based on the life-story of

Shri Sai Baba, which was originally composed in Marathi verse form.

The writing of the book started in the lifetime of Baba with his

blessings.

The Hindi translation of this book is in simple Hindi language,

which can be understood even by a common man.

The divine truth imparted by this book is even greater than the

knowledge contained in the Vedas and Geeta, because all the

characters and events in it are real and authentic as also recorded

in details by many devotees.

Because of the expression in simple Hindi it is easy even for

every one to comprehend it. Today there are very few people who can

understand Sanskrit language properly and absorb the meaning and

substance easily.

The spiritual essence contained in all the religious scriptures

like Vedas, Geeta, Yoga Vashisht is found in the life-story of Shri

Sainath.

The concepts on God and spirituality are explained in such a

simple yet comprehensive manner in 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' that no

additional book, or commentary etc. is required to understand it. It

has a natural flow of which the readers starts feeling as if they

had been closely associated with its events in their past life.

I may mention here that the glory of Shri Sai is spreading in the

world, far and wide, in such an amazing way that detailed

information at the web sites on Internet about Shri Sai and 'Shri

Sai Satcharitra' is available for interested readers.

The foremost duty of a Sai devotee is therefore to read 'Shri Sai

Satcharitra' and absorb it by heart if possible. The more they read

this book, the more it will bring them closer to Baba and all their

doubts and apprehensions will be cleared.

It also has been experienced that during crisis if any devotee is

searching for an answer, if he randomly opens of 'Shri Sai

Satcharitra' praying Baba sincerely and with faith his answer can be

found in that open page.

Many people have got their desired benefits after reading 'Shri

Sai Satcharitra' for a week in a parayana form.

Therefore, 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' should be utilized by all Sai

devotees in the following manner:

 

Get the book, 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' in whatever language one

chooses to read. Neatly wrap it up in a piece of new cloth, and

place it near Baba's photograph or idol with due sanctity.

Whether at home or elsewhere, one should always read a few pages

of the book every night before going to sleep. Every devotee should

try to keep Baba as the last thought before sleep.

During crisis it should be read devotionally for a week, as is

mentioned in 'Shri Sai Satcharitra'. If possible, reading should

begin on a Thursday or on some other special day, such as Ramnavami,

Dussehra, Gurupurnima, Janmashtmi, Mahashivratri, Navratri, etc.

After it's completion on the seventh day one should feed the poor

and destitute either in the temple/home or wherever possible.

One should read it sitting in some isolated corner in the temple

or in front of Baba's statue or Photograph/painting. If other people

are present, then it should be read to them or with them as well.

Group reading should always be encouraged.

Wherever and whenever possible, it should be read continuously

from sunrise to sunset in the temples on auspicious days. Devotees

may be asked to read it by turn as is done in chanting the holy name

i.e. Naamjap. Encourage children to read this book. Question answer

competition from the "Shri Sai Satcharitra" can be organized in

temples.

'Shri Sai Satcharitra' should be read to the devotees - sick, old

aged and those nearing death as much as possible. All of them will

get peace.

'Shri Sai Satcharitra' is a reasonably priced book and is easily

available at Shirdi. Therefore, any devotee visiting Shirdi must

bring a few copies with him to distribute among the deserving people

free of cost.

At times, of distress and agony if one sincerely searches for the

answers from 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' he will not only find the

answers but also solace. His faith will grown in Baba. I pray Shri

Sainath to reveal the divine knowledge and mysteries contained in

this book to the devotees in the same manner in which he had

inspired Hemandpant to write this book sitting in his heart. Shri

Sai Satcharitra should be taken by all Sai devotees as Gita and

Bible.

 

http://www.saibabaofshirdi.net/satcharita/significance.htm

 

Swamy Mahadevan

Bow to Shri Sai-Peace be to all

Baba Bless you ever!!!

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the e-mail material.

May Baba bless you to write more of such e-mails!

Jai Sai RAM.

Meera