From Ambrosia in Shirdi by Ramalingaswamy 74-80

[Guest guest]

74. Baba made Shri Virendra P. Pandya a sceptic into an ascetic.

Shri Virendra P. Pandya at Vaitarana near Kalyan (Bombay) was a University

Graduate and had not belief in God. All his family members were all educated

and cultured and except his father and mother all his family members were

non-believers of God. In May 1952, he casually visited Shirdi along with his

cousin brother. Sometime after he left Shirdi his family faced a great

family trouble which is purely a private one. At this time he was staying

with his cousin brother at Vaitrana. His father, mother and all his family

members were living in Bihar. There was no solution for their coming to

solve the problem. He suddenly remembered of having brought a photo of Shri

Sai Baba from Shirdi, but it was kept idle in his trunk. He took it out

cleared it and kept it on his table. He lighted agarbathi before the photo

and prayed to Shri Sai Baba to help him to solve the problem. Two or three

days passed but the solution did not occur. On contrary worries increased

very much. He became restless. He stood before the photo of S;iri Sai Baba,

Oh Baba you knew that I have got no strong belief in you. If you are really

God as your devotees referred to and you knew my family trouble and how much

worried I was thinking over the matter. I pray to give me proper solutions

to day by evening or else I will keep your photo back into the trunk once

for all". In the evening he found himself claim and got the solution of the

problem and immediately wrote a letter to his mother at Dharaiajoba (In

Bihar) informing her of the solution and the way in which he got it. On the

third day of his posting of his letter, he got a letter from his mother

which she too informed, of the solution of his family and it was the same

solution which had already occured to him on the same date and the very same

moment. This incident brought him much close to the belief of Shri Sai Baba.

He thought of devoting his whole life for ever to Shri Sai Baba doing no

other work except "Bhakti". But his mother refused permission and advised

him to follow "Karmayoga" life. He then stood before the photo of Shri Sai

Baba and wrote on a piece of paper as follows "O-Baba you knew difinitely

well in what dilemma I was. By Tuesday 5-8-1952 evening, I must get an

answer from you in writing as to which way of life I should follow". He then

placed that paper under the photo standing and was praying Baba. The dusk

came on 5-8-1952. Till then, there was no answer. He became very much

impatient. He then accidently saw a Gujarathi book called Shri Sai Baba

Upasana written by Shri Bhavnagar Sai Baba Bhakta Mandali. This book was

sent to him by his mother two months back. But he has not read it so far.

Now, when he saw the book, he took it and opened it at random at Chapter

"Bhav Sudha". As soon as he read 2 or 3 lines, he found much interested in

the book and began to read it and finished reading whole of the book and got

the answer to his questions and that too in writing. In that book, Baba has

advised a devotee to follow "Karmayoga" life. This incident brought him more

closer to the devotion of Shri Sai Baba. Shri V, P. Pandya and

his cousin brother were contractors doing the work in connection with

the "Bombay Water Supply Scheme" and lived in Vaitarana a jungle place. On

one Wednesday (i. e.) on 6-8-1952, he stood before the photo of Shri Sai

Baba and prayed "That tomorrow is Thursday (i.e.) Baba's day and that there

should come a Sadhu, Sanyasi or Fakir at his door to have "Bhiksha" within

12-30 and 1 P. M. during the time exactly when I took my meal and that he

should bless me by moving his right hand from head to foot and thus bless

every part of his body". After 12-15 P.M. Thursday he went to take his meals

as nobody came to his door till then. At the time of taking his first morsel

of food, he heard a cry of a Fakir asking for alms. His cook who never used

to give anything to any beggar gave out of his own accord an one anna coin

to that Father. The Fakir turned out and was on the point of leaving. He

then called the Fakir back and gave him prasad which he had kept before

Baba's photo. The Fakir went away. He too finished his meals. He thought of

serving him with food. But he had gone away He thought that if he anyhow

returned again, he should serve him with food. He asked his cook whether

there was any extra food. He replied "NO" the food remaining will sufficient

only for him. To his utter astonishment, the same Fakir was again coming to

his door. He then immediately offered his "Prasadam" to the Fakir and gave

Rs. 2/-requesting him to have food with this amount as he was then unable to

serve him with food in his house. He accepted this amount without saying

anything simply laughed meaning fully at him. And then to his great joy, he

blessed him from head to foot by his right hand and with peacock feather as

he wished. He fell at the feet of the Fakir with inexplicable joy and again

offered "Pranams". The Fakir raised him up and said that He would again meet

him on the next Thursday (i.e.) on 14-8-1952. He told the Fakir that this

would not be possible as he could go to Shirdi in a couple of days. The

Fakir told him Eventhen I will meet you" So saying the Fakir went away. He

left for Shirdi and came to Shirdi on 13-8-1952. On Thursday 14-8-1952,

during noon Arati time in the Samadhi Maadir, while he was looking at Shri

Sai Baba's photo it suddenly occured to him what the Fakir had said and then

he too felt so much surprised as the Fakir's saying had come true as he was

in front of Baba performing Arati and so Shri Sai Baba too was in front of

Him. That is how the Fakir did visit him on 14-8-1952. Thus Shri Sai Baba at

least brought this "Faithless" into the fold of his staunch devotees even

after His Mahasamadhi.

Surrender Shri Sai Completely ! Stupendous Delectation and Deliverance be

there !!

 

 

75. Baba converted Shri Keshav Rao Pradhan a Sceptic into ascetic and built His

Temple by him at Bhivpuri (Ukrool)

 

Bhivapuri is a station in central railway about five miles on the Bombay

side of Karjat on the Bombay-Poona railway line. The Station is mainly built

to facilitate the industrial concern of Tatas situated on a hill nearly but

it has assumed importance on quite a different count. More than 50 years

back one Shri Keshavrao Pradhan had a house with a small piece of cultivated

land at Ukrool a village on the east side of Bhivapuri railway station. Shri

Pradhan had to be on tour in his service, Nasik-Manmad Daund and such other

places being in the itinerary. Naturally he used to hear much about Shri Sai

Baba of Shirdi. But he was a non-believer. On one occasion however one of

his friends nearby compelled him, out of love to accompany him to Shirdi.

Both of them went there and stayed a couple of days. When Mr. Pradhan saw

Shri Sai Baba and witnessed his greatness it made such an import on his mind

that his skepticism was replaced by complete devotion and faith. Thence

forward Shri Pradhan made it a point to go often to Shirdi for having

"Darshan" of Shri Sai Baba. Every time, he used to get an interview with him

he entreated to come to Ukrool. After listening to his often repeated

request Shri Sai Baba one day picked up on of his replices given to him by a

devotee and hand over to Shri Pradahan and said "Go to your own place, erect

a temple of this and don't return here again. Be gone". This happened in the

year 1916. After that event Shri Pradhan revisited Shirdi once, but

venerable Sai Baba remembered him and asked him to quit forthwith. "When I

came to your house, why are you here? Your own place is Shirdi for you now

I" were His words of advice. It was quite alright the replica was with him,

but Pradhan was not able to satisfy for himself the promise, "I have come to

your house". He was some what sad. After some days, he erected a temple near

his house at Ukrool ceremoniously and established the replica there after

due consecration. The daily worship and offerings began to be observed and

some functions performed occasionally at the new temple. The temple is

surrounded by beautiful seneries and there are big trees around. It was a

very quiet place suitable to the Saintly Sai Baba. Nobody disturbed the

peace and silence by the night. It so happened that after the temple was

built, even though there was nobody around, the noise of the temple door

being opened used to be heard after midnight and Sai Baba used to be seen

going about in the precincts of the temple, sometimes taking rest under a

tree. At about 3 A.M. in the night, Sai Baba would return to the temple and

close the door behind him. The noise of closing the door was also audible.

This was seen and heard not only by Shri Pradhan and his family members but

even by the guests at his house. This was a sufficient proof for Shri

Pradhan to make him a devotee of Shri Sai Baba and thence forward, he spent

his time energy and money in Baba's service. Verily this was Brahma embodied

visiting Shri Pradhan's house and there was no other desire left in his mind

except to be united with his beloved Baba. Shri Pradhan spent thousands of

rupees and built the Shrine-room, the spacious meeting hall, a wide verandah

and the guest house. Sai Baba at Shirdi went into Mahasamadhi in 1918, but

this did not mean break in the happiness of having his company for Shri

Pradhan, because Sai Baba's immortal Spirit was always present with him. In

1924, Shri Pradhan's daughter was given in marriage to one Shri V. A. Gupta

of Dadar, Bombay. Shri Gupta .vas a pious gentleman. The new relationship

deepned his faith and he developed a keen interest in the maintenance of the

temple, Bhivpuri (Ukrool) and took part verv jealously in the various

religious functions. Shri Gupta's influence infused devotion towards Shri

Sai Baba among the minds of many of his friends also and the number of

devotees visiting Bhivapuri Sai Temple began to increase. Shri Gupta had an

opportunity to visit Shirdi in 1936. The grandeur of the Samadhi Mandir, the

magnificence of the dally worship, prayrse and the great congregation of

devotees from all parts of the country coming daily and on the special

occasions sent a thrill through the heart of Sri Gupta. With folded hands

and in all humility, he prayed to Shri Sai Baba. "O Baba! when can such a

grand temple come up at your Bhivpuri? After all, it wholly depends upon

your will? The call of the devotee was heard by Sai Baba, and Bhivpuri Sai

Temple more and more famous from that day. In 1939, Shri Pradhan expired,

leaving the responsibility of the temple to his sons and son-in-law, with

the help of friends in the same year, they formed an institution by the name

Shri Sadguru Sainath Seva Samsthan, with seven trustees. Besides Sri G. K.

Deshmukh and Shri A.K. Wani officers of the Hindustan Construction Co. also

take great interest in its activities. As more and more persons experiences

about Sai Baba's benevolent existence, there the pilgrim increased in number

and the old temple become inadequate to accommodate them. Renovation was

therefore undertaken. But though the brick was completed the construction

work was not possible, for want of funds and material. So late Shri Narayan

Purohit started a parayan (continuous reading) of Baba's Satcharitra as a

prayer to Shri Sai Baba to complete the work. After 3 or 4 days, he saw Sai

Baba in a dream wandering about and asking persistently "where is My Dhuni?

If there is no Dhuni, how can this be Shirdi? How will the temple be

complete? Sai Baba was angry and was throwing stones everywhere." He thus

appeared for two consecutive nights during that period, Shri Purohit was

taken aghast. He went to Dadar and related to Shri Gupta the whole story of

the dream. Shri Gupta came to Bhivpuri with other committee members, and by

the system of lots, ascertained the wish of Sai Baba, who gave a positive

indicating to start the Dhuni. A place was fixed for the Dhuni and it was

duly constructed a size 8'x4'. Shri A,R. Walawalkar grandson of late Shri

Dabholkar, the author of Baba's original Satchari-tra in Marathi lit the

Dhuni for the first time on 7-4-1949, the day of Ramanavami at about 10 A.M.

Shri Walawalkar also stayed at Bhivpuri under the directions of Shri Sai

Baba received by him at Shirdi in a dream. Shri Kunaresan Sanarth who met

the committee members on one occasion kindly bore all the expenses for the

roof and other structures around the Dhuni. This Dhuni is continuously

burning, The expenses were first born by Shri Chavan from Dombivli but are

now made out of the donations received. This institution is run very

satisfactorily. Various important functions are held and there are special

functions of Ramnavami and Samadhi Day. Prof. D.D. Parachure offers his

services in the form of Keertans on these two occasions. Many great

personalities have visited this temple and helped it financially and made

good suggestions for its improvements. The interest and enthusiasm of all

these persons deserved sincere appreciation from the trustees. Such is the

wonderful story of Bhivpuri Sai Temple, the story of how Shri Sai Baba kept

His promise and came to stay at Bhivpuri also. This place is now a living

centre of the spiritual influence of Shri Sai Baba and no wonder, persons

who visit it once come to have the darshan of Shri Sai Baba more and more

frequently with renewed devotion.

Surrender Shri Sai Completely ! Stupendous Delectation and Deliverance be

there !!

 

 

76 Baba cured the paralytic attack of the wife of Mr. Pettugala Narasimhulu

Chettiar, No. 8 Chinnathamli Mudali Street G. T. Madras.

 

My wife and myself are Sai Bhaktas and also Harnath Bhaktas. We were at

Nellore a month back sang songs and the Namavali of both these Saints. We

returned to Madras and went on with Harnath Bhajaos omitting Sai Namavali

and Sai Songs, and merely did Arati to His picturs along with Harnath's. My

wife fell ill on 21-1-1939 and had serious reheumatism or something like

paralytic seizure. Her limbs could not move. Then my wife was saying to

herself that the stroke was a punishment for slighting Sai Baba's songs and

Namavali (i.e.,) omitting them. Then she had a dream. In that dream, she

found herself running in a garden of Nellore (where we did Bhajan) and found

that two Mohamadan boys were chasing her. She then remembered Harnath and

prayed to Him for help. Then one of the pursuers disappeared. Only one boy

was chasing and even he began to cheekle with laughter and to say (i.e.,)

"Am I not Sai ! How is it you have for-gotton Me ?" He added your illness

will be cured. Give me Rs. 40/-. She woke up and told me of her dream. We

resolved to follow Baba's advice. In half an hour after dieam, her legs

which had lost all power of moment or support during her disease recovered

strength and became quite normal. In the morning she was alright. Since that

day, we are having regular Sai Puja and Bhajan in our house.

Surrender Shri Sai Completely ! Stupendous Delectation and Deliverance be

there !!

 

 

77. Baba given trail to Shri (Doctor) Ramaswamy lyengar Narayan Mudaliar Street

Madras for His Voilation of Vow.

 

Having heard of the greatness of Shri Sai Baba Shirdi, I went along with

Raosaheb Subbaiah Chettiar to Shirdi and reached Shirdi on 27-4-1938. On the

way I considered that Shirdi being as sacred a shrine as Kashi or Rameswar,

I should signalised by visit and render it fruitful, by avow of solemn

abstinence from using betel and nut (Pansupari) and finally resolved from

that time, I leave Shirdi, I should not chew betel. This is a great

sacrifice as the habit of chewing betel has been with me eversince I was a

boy, and I would chew several times every day. In Shirdi, I left Shirdi in a

bullock cart along with Mr. Chettiar on the morning of 28-4-1938. As we were

seated in the cart, Mr. Chettiar chewed betel and the temtations so far over

powered as to make me to think that I must postpone my vow of abstinence and

begin it only from the time I reached Madras. So I took up my betel nut

basket and merrily chewed away. As soon as I started chewing I found that I

my tongue was pricked. The lime smear (Chunna) coating on the betel

sometimes pricks the tongue of inexperienced novices in chewing. But my

tongue used to it for decades and had become quite deadened and thick. So

the pricking was a surprise, I did not mind it, however and I had a hearty

chew. In half an hour, I noticed the state of my tongue and mouth. The whole

of the interior of the mouth including the tongue had got inflamed which is

a phenomenon unprecedented in 40 years history of chewing. Thereafter the

chewing was out of the question not merely chewing betel, but also chewing

of solid food eventhough free from acidity of pungency.

>From that time for 18 days I was compelled by the state of my mouth to

abstain from betel and also from all forms of solid foods and I had to

live on milk. Now look at Mr. Chettiars' state and the wonder grows

greater. He chewed the same betel and used the .same chu-nna and he had

no inflamation or other trouble. But he had not made a vow to give up

chewing betel as I did. Very soon chewing experience in about an

hour I had another experience. I had taken my chewing outfit

namely a small chewing basket for the betel and nut and a silver crucible

containing lime (chuna) in the carriage and left it there near Mr.

Chettiar. I just went out to purchase of some betel and other articles

in Rahata Bazar and returned in a few minutes. I wanted to find my betel

box and took for it. Lo! and behold the betel box was missing and

also the crucible. No thief could have come there, the arricles being

close to Mr. Chettiar. Yet in spite of repeated search, the articles

could not be found. Both the above incident clearly showed me that Baba is a

living forces; that He is a kind father guarding His children the devotees

even the rawer recruits like myself with affectionate yet strict

watchfulness that he promptly punishes and checks any flagrant

violation of vows solemnly made to Him and so arranges the circumstances

and environment of His children as to make further disobedience on their

part impossible in their own interest. I have been taught a very severe

lesson and from the above date, I never again voilated my vow. Baba

thus gave me increased faith in Him and strength of mind to carry out the

vows I make. Before this visit, hear say information, I had of Baba's

greatness and kindness left but a feable impression on my mind. But with

the actual experience conferred on me, the impression I have of Baba

are vivid and powerful and will last a life time. I now concentrate my

Japa and meditation on Baba alone.

Surrender Shri Sai Completely ! Stupendous Delectation and Deliverance be

there II

 

 

78. Baba recovered the remaining promised Amount of Rs 50/- from Shri Takkar of

Bombay

 

Once a devotee by name Takkar of Bombay prayed and promised to Baba that if

his troubles were averted by Baba, he would pay Rs. 55;- to Baba. According

to his prayer, Baba averted his troubles. He came to Shirdi and took darshan

of Baba's Samadhi in Samadhi Mandir and offered Rs. 5/- only in Baba's Hundi

(box) instead of Rs. 55/- (Fifty five) as per his promise and gone back to

Bombay. At the time of climbing the steps of the threshold of his house in

Bombay, Baba remembered him by an invisible threatening voice to pay the

remaining amount of Rs. 50/- (fifty). He then recognised that he would not

able to deceive Baba and came again to Shirdi offered Rs. 50/- in the Hundi

(box) and then returned to Bombay praying apology from Baba.

Surrender Shri Sai Completely ! Stupendous Delectation and Deliverance be

there ! !

 

 

79. Baba cured the Swollen Leg of Smt. Ahalyabai Krishnaji Uparkar, Bombay.

 

Before 24-8-1963, her nail struck her leg and blood came. She left it

uncared for as there were no pain. On 24-8-1963, she suffered from fever as

her wound became sceptic. Her sons requested her to take treatment from a

doctor. She did not agree to that. But she a vow to Baba, "that if Baba

cured me, I shall propagate this incident in Sai Leela Magazine" After this

Baba manifested as a stranger and promised to her medicine for her leg. In

front of her house there was a military depot. He went inside the depot with

their permission got the medicine brought it to her house and given it to

her for application on the affected part. He did it as was told by the

stranger. No sooner the application of the medicine than the swelling

lessened and the pain also decreased. On one night in her dream a nurse came

and injected her and on another night Baba appeared in her dream and told

that a hole in the affected part of the leg will be made and then the leg

would become normal with no pain and the wound also would be healed. One day

when she was asleep a rat came and broadened the wound with a big whole and

thereby all the rot ton things puss and all the ring worms came out. She

awakened her son and showed him her leg as to how Baba had managed to cure

her leg. After somedays her leg was completely cured by applying Baba's UDI.

She then given this incident in the Sai Leela magazine as per her promise.

Surrender Shri Sai Completely I stupendous Delectation and Deliverance be

there !!

 

 

80. Baba cured the Paralytic Attack of Shri Parasuram Krishna Gore, Jameshedpur.

 

Shri Parasuram Krishna Gore of Jamshedpur was serving in Tata Factory. On

9th July, 1966, he was attacked by one side paralytic attack all on a sudden

when he was returning to his house in the evening. Doctor tested him and

directed him to take admission on the next day morning. In the morning, in

addition to his paralysis, he became mental disorder too. He was admitted in

his Factory Hospital. He suffered very much for the first two days of his

admission, At that time, the members in his house prayed to Baba if he cured

immediately by Baba, they would send Rs. 10/-to Baba's Sansthan. After this

vow, he was sent back to his house from the hospital twenty days after

admission without any improvement. He was given treatment in his house and

was improved by the grace of Baba. They have sent Rs 5-50 to Baba's Sansthan

instead of Rs. 10/- as per their vow. The Sansthan has sent Baba's

Satcharitra (1) Das Ganu's 4 chapters but Baba's UDI was not received.

However, after full improvement, he gone to his Factory once in a month

thrice in three months. Each time the Factory Doctor made him unfit for

work. They seriously thought over this and remembered of their fault and

repented and sent Rs.10/-to Baba's Sansthan. On 24-11-66, an old man as a

beggar in Baba's shape came to the threshold when his daughter was cleaning

rice by sitting near the threshhold. She forgot even to bow to Him in her

ignorance. But her mother gave 2 N.P. to him. After receiving it, he told to

her "your husband would be alright." On 25-11-66, Shri Parasuram gone to the

factory and the factory doctor made him fit for the work. Is it not the

leela of Shri Sai Baba ?

Surrender Shri Sai Completely ! Stupendous Delectation and Deliverance be

there !!

 

( Adopted from AMBROSIA IN SHIRDI by Ramalingaswamy, Life Member of Shri

Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi at Munja Baba Sthan, Shirdi for more literature on

Sai Baba and consolidated stories of "Ambrosia in Shiridi" before

Mahasamadhi and after Mahasamadhi please visit www.saileelas.org)