Significance of Sai Babas Mahasamdhi- VIII By B.V.narasimha Swamy

[Guest guest]

What is termed Death in the case of ordinary people is termed

'MAHASAMADHI in the case of Parama Jnanis and Parama Bhaktas like Sri

Sai Nath Maharaj. The change in terminology is essential to prevent

people to attach association of death of an ordinary individual to the

parting of Saints from their body. In the case of ordinary people death

is a thing to fear and undesirable termination of the known enjoyments

of life and transition to an Unknow State (that undiscovered country from

whose bourn no traveller returns). To the Parama Jnani and a Great

Samartha like Sri Sai Nath Maharaj, the State beyond the border is just as

clear as the present State and has nothing to cause fear and can also be

so regulated as to carry out the further stages of One's Mission in

Life. To many a Jnani or Bhakta that state is sought as one continuous,

uniform, homogeneous stale in contact with Divinity and is often

referred to as Vaikuntam, Kaivalyam, Mukti, etc.

Vaikunte in Pare Loke

Scriya Sardham Jagat Patih

Aste Vishnuh Ameyatma

Bhaktir Bhagawatir Sah

(i.e.) In that Supreme Heaven, Vaikunta, the World's Lord, Vishnu, The

Immeasurable, The Infinite remains with His Consort along with his Bhaktas

and Bhagawatas.

The Bhaktas are those who rejoice in the company of the Lord. The Bhagavatas

are those who proclaim and broadcast the glories of the Lord unto all. The

Mukta Stage is a Nirguna one quite in contrast with the Saguna Stage. To the

Mukta or the Liberated, individual personality attains Laya in Supreme

Personality, Paramatma, and there can be no unhappiness or change there.

Thus the Mahasaraadhi of the Pararaa Jnani or the Parama Bhakta is a

Blissful State, the reaching of God -'Allah Milnar”, and thus the term

'Mahasamadhi' with its happy association is used to denote what happens to

such Parama Jnani or Parama Bhakta like Sri Sai Nath and not the term

'death1. In fact there is really no change in them at all. Sri G. G. Narke

giving his statement in 1936 said,—

"Baba is now in the State in which

he was when in the flesh, and when

he was in the flesh he was in the

State in which he is now"

Thus the first great truth that Baba's devotees should think of on the

occasion of Baba's Samadhi Anniversary is the above stated fact that there

is no change in Baba. HE WAS, HE IS, AND WILL EVER BE AN APANTARATMA. This

has been stated by Krishna about all souls and is realized by a Parama

Bhakta and Parama Jnani like Sai Baba; viz.,

Natve Vaham Jatu Nasam

Natvam Name Janadipah

Na chaiva Na Bhavishyamah

Sarve Vayam Atah Param.

i.e. there was never a time when I was not, when you were not, when others

(these rulers) were not nor shall we cease to be hence forward in the

future.

Dehinosmin Yata Dehe

Kaumaram Yauvanam Jara

Tata Dehantara Praptih

Dheeras Tatra Na Muhyati

i.e. for the embodied Jeeva, as there are stages of infancy, adult age and

old age, so also beyond that is the attainment of a new body, the wise and

courageous man is not confounded and falters not at that.

How Baba spent the closing portion of His life is known to all his devotees.

He went on with His usual devotees, protecting them everywhere and giving

not money as usual or as special gifts and passed away from the fleshy life

to the life beyond the border, calm and collected and thereby set an example

to all wise people to follow. HE CONTINUES TO EXIST but in an unseen state.

That does not mean that His activities for the benefit of devotees, that is

either the devotees already existent before Duserah. 1918, or those becoming

devotees thereafter, ceased or cease, Unfortunately several misunderstood

His passing away as a total loss of His Presence and Sai Nath had to correct

that impression. Bapu Saheb Jog, who was daily performing His pooja,

thought that Baba was dead and that no Arti was necessary. So Baba

appeared to Laxman and told him the wrong impression of Jog and directed

him to go to Dwarakama where Baba's body was lying and to do Arati.

Accordingly Laxman did the Arati before the body o Baba before it was

interred. Baba had given several hints about His passing away which were

recalled only after His Samadhi. Chota Khan says, 'Baba said "Turbaie Hun

Dande Hanin" (which means "From my tomb I shall be active"). Baba also

assured Mrs. Tarkhad Damodar Rasne, Uddav Bua and others that after

Mahasamadhi no one was to fear. Each one of them feared that after the

passing away of Baba they would be left without help. Baba assured them

that wherever they might be they had only to think of Baba, and He

would be there with them to help them. Innumerable devotees have found

this to be a fact from their own experience. In fact from Gita

declaration of Sri Krishna and Baba's own declaration,; it could not be

otherwise.

As Sri S. B. Dhumal states and other devout bhaktas say.

"Where is Baba gone? He is still existing and helping (even after

Mahasamadhi)".

One that goes through Baba's Charters and Sayings, and the Devotees'

Experiences published in Sai Leela, Masik, Sai Sudha, Sai Satcharita and

other books Sri Sai will be thoroughly impressed with the perfect truth of

the above. Sri M. B. Rege in his preface to The Gospel of Sri Sai Baba,

expresses this most tersely; 'BABA IS GOD; to me HE IS NOT GONE," and

innumerable people who make up their minds to trust these statements and

adopt Sai Pooja, Sai Bajan and Sai Dyana etc., will have the perfect peace

and perfect protection that Sri Sai gives now as he has always given. It is

not necessary to dwell upon the matter any further especially to readers who

might have read the three years' Mahasamadhi messages. It is appropriate to

close this message with Baba's own message given on the morning of 23-8-54,

in person, after he appeared (Sakshatkara) to an Ahmedabad Lawyer, Sri

Champak-lal Chimanlal Mankewala in the following words:—

"Write to Sri Narasimhaswami that I (Baba) am always present before my

Bhaktas. I will be the guiding and all - pervading power that shapes the

ends of the devotees and even of the Universe."

This is the great and most precious truth that any devotee can care to have.

Let every devotee ever remember this and get on. He will prosper by constant

remembrance and protection of Baba.

 

 

(Adopted from Significance of Babas Mahasamadhi by H.H.Narasimhaswami and

published by All India Sai Samaj, this book can be read at

www.saileelas.org)