Sai's Previous Avatar - [ Part 2]

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Om Sri Sai Ram

Om Sai Jai Sai Jai Jai Sai

 

THE PREVIOUS AVATAR

 

Part - 2

 

Extracts from SAI VAANI

 

Bhagavan says:-

 

While at Shirdi, Baba used to converse with those coming to Him,

give advice to them regarding their problems and offer courage and

solace to them with regard to their troubles. In this manner,

Baba's activities came to be known all over the country. At that

time, there was in the Maharashtra State, a deputy collector and

settlement officer by name, Hari Vinayak Sathe. He was grief

stricken over the passing away of his wife. Prof. G.G. Narke, a

friend of Sathe, came to his house and advised Sathe that there was

no purpose in grieving over his loss and that it was advisable for

him to have a change of place to get over his sorrow. He suggested

that it was good to have the Darshan of some saint and persuaded him

to come to Shirdi. Sathe was quire an extraordinary person. On

reaching Shirdi, he and Narke had Darshan of Baba. On several

occasions, looking at Sathe, Baba used to laugh, sing and make

strange gestures. Doubts arose in Sathe's mind whether Baba was a

real sage or an eccentric person. Non one mentioned anything about

Sathe to Baba. Sathe and Narke merely went to see Baba and sat in

His presence. Baba told Sathe, "Don't worry about anything. Bodies

are like water bubbles. Do not develop any attachment to the body.

Develop your attachment to the indwelling spirit (Dehi). Worries are

like passing clouds. They happen to every individual. Have courage.

Protect your child." The last remark had reference to the fact that

Sathe's wife had died giving birth to a child. Even Narke had not

heard about the survival of this child. On hearing Baba's words,

Sathe realized that Baba was not a crazy person but one who was a

Trikala Jnani, who knew the past, present and the future. Sathe who

had intended to stay for a short while just to have Darshan of Baba,

prolonged his stay by two more days.

 

Making frequent visits to Shirdi, Sathe was the first to realize

that there were no proper accommodation amenities at Shirdi for

those coming to Baba. He provided residential accommodation for

visitors at a place known as "Sathe Wada". While serving in this

manner, Sathe went again to Shirdi after he began to feel whether

there is any purpose on his continuing to earn income and accumulate

wealth. On seeing Sathe, Baba smilingly said, "You appear to be

losing interest in your job. You are wondering how to dispose the

wealth you had acquired. Why give it anyone? Use it for good cause.

Build a `Kothi' in Shirdi." Sathe told Baba, "Swami! I am not a

millionaire. How can I build a mansion here?". Baba replied, "Go on

doing as much as you can. Why fear when I am here?"Baba encouraged

Sathe in this manner. In due course, Sathe's maternal uncle,

Kelkar, settled down in Shirdi. Sathe used to send funds from Poona

and his uncle used to carry on the constructions in Shirdi. In this

way, Baba used Sathe as His instrument. He regarded Sathe as His

right hand with regard to all matters. Because Baba was keeping

Sathe close to Him and relying on him for everything, the residents

of Shirdi grew jealous towards him. "Many are content to do nothing

themselves, but they cannot bear seeing others do things and will

carry tales against them!". Several persons used to come to Baba and

tell stories against Sathe. What is the appropriate name for such

talebearers? They should be called "enemies of beggars" (namely

barking dogs), declared Baba.

 

At Shirdi, Baba used to do notable things. One was to receive money

from whoever came to Him. He used to ask for "Dakshina" (cash

offering). He did not ask for large sums. It was two rupees or five

rupees. He would receive the money and give it away immediately in

their presence. He kept nothing with Himself.

 

One day a man by name Pradhan came to Baba. He had intended to offer

twenty rupees to Baba. In those days, there were no currency notes;

everything was in silver coins. Unlike the alloy coins of today, in

those days every rupee contained one tola (eleven grams) of silver.

Pradhan thought that instead of offering so many silver coins, it

would be better to offer one gold sovereign to Baba. Baba turned the

sovereign this way and that way and remarked, "How is it I have not

seen such a coin before?" A person near Baba said: "It is a gold

coin!" Baba then observed, "I do not want this. Give Me money in

rupees." He asked how much the sovereign was worth. At that time, it

was worth fifteen rupees. Getting back the sovereign, Pradhan gave

fifteen rupees to Baba. Immediately Baba remarked, "Pradhan! You

have to give Me five more rupees!" Pradhan was a judge at that time.

Pradhan as well as persons around him wondered why Baba was

demanding five more rupees when a sovereign was worth only fifteen

rupees. Noticing Pradhan's hesitation, Baba told him, "First hand

over the five rupees and then think about it." Pradhan gave the five

rupees. Then Baba observed, "When you set out of your home, how much

did you want to offer to Baba? You intended to give twenty rupees.

You gave only fifteen. So I was entitled to ask for five more." When

Pradhan heard these words, he was stupefied. He admitted that SAI

BABA was a good judge. In this manner, Baba was in the habit of

collecting money from those who came to Him and giving it away to

the needy.

 

One day, He summoned Kelkar and told him, "Today is Gurupoornima.

Perform Guru Puja to Me." Non one there knew the meaning of Guru

puja. Kelkar asked Baba what Guru puja meant. Baba asked, "Whom do

you think as a Guru? It is not pontiffs of `maths' who are Gurus.

Nor are sanyasins (renunciants) are Gurus; God alone is the Guru

(Preceptor)."

 

"Brahmanandam, Parama sukhadam, Kevalam Jnaana Murthim,

 

Dwandhwaatheetham, Trigunarahitham, Thathwamasyadilakshyam"

 

(He is the supreme bliss, the giver of Divine happiness, the

embodiment of the highest advatic knowledge and one who transcends

all qualities; He is the supreme Divine Preceptor.)

 

He is the Supreme Absolute. Salutations to that Supreme Guru. The

true Guru is one who combines the three forms of the trinity, the

Gods who preside over creation, protection and dissolution. Thus God

alone is the real Guru." Declared Baba.

 

On hearing this Kelkar asked, "Should I worship Brahma, Vishnu, and

Rudra?. Baba declared in a voice of assumed anger, "Eh Saitan! Here

I am! Offer worship to Me!" Thereby Baba made known that He was

Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. All those present felt that Baba was the

Divine incarnate.

 

As days passed, the residence of Shirdi developed hatred towards

Sathe because he was collecting all the offering to Baba in a Hundi

so as to use the money to build a Mandir. Just at that time, a

silver chariot with silver horses, which was in Sathe's keeping,

was stolen by some thieves. Sathe was the principal trustee. The

people of Shirdi suspected Sathe of complicity in the theft. One day

one of the residents planned to strike Sathe with an axe, on the

way. Getting wind of this, his maternal uncle called Sathe and urged

him to leave immediately as it was too dangerous for him to stay

there. He told Sathe that he could worship Baba wherever he might

be. Reluctantly Sathe left Shirdi. Baba used to ask for Sathe

ceaselessly. But Sathe was not there. Baba appeared to be in great

distress. Sathe was near and dear to Baba. The devotees felt that

Baba was sorely affected by the absence of Sathe.

 

Many people used to have doubts about Baba's transcendental powers.

One day, the birth anniversary of Dattatreya was to be celebrated in

the month of `Margashira' (9th month of the Hindu calendar), on

Panchami (fifth day of the lunar calendar). Several devotees had

assembled in Shirdi. A great and wealthy scholar called Balmant

Kaijack was among them. As he approaching the masjid, Baba took his

tick and marked it at the devotees, asking them to get away. He even

beat some of them, shouting, "Saitan! Saitan!". No one could

understand why Baba was behaving like this. "I am suffering labor

pains. Get away, all of you!", He shouted. In those days, Baba not

only used to shout at people, but also wield the sick on them on

occasions. He even used to throw the stick at fleeing persons.

Everyone used to be afraid of Him. They all left the place. Sometime

later, He called all of them to come. "Balmant Kaijack, come", He

said.When Balmant came, Baba went inside the masjid. Balmant went in

and found that Baba was not there. He found a three-headed baby on

the floor. Baba had declared that He was suffering from labor pains

and there was a baby there. The three-headed child appeared to

represent Dattatreya. It was a small baby with a number of hands.

Balmant recognized the child as Dattatreya and called other devotees

to come inside. They went in, and on seeing the child, closed their

eyes. At that instant, Baba reappeared there. From that time

onwards, people started looking upon Baba as the incarnation of

Dattatreya.

 

http://www.saibaba.ws/avatar/previoussareeram/part2.htm

 

WILL CONTINUE………

 

 

Jai Sai Ram

Swamy Mahadevan

Bow to Shri Sai-Peace be to all

Peace be to all