The Fakir: The Arrival of Sai

[Guest guest]

THE FAKIR : The Arrival of Sai

(An extract from the article : GURUS, SWAMIS AND AVTARS (Spiritual Masters

and Their American Disciples) by - MARVIN HENRY HARPER Published by: The

Westminister Press Philadiiphia (USA)

 

A festive air greeted us as Shamrao and I alighted from the station wagon at

the decorated gateway and entered the little town of Shirdi, Crowds milled

about in the narrow streets, laughing and talking and occasionally greeting

friends with shouts of joy. Merchants in the temporary, open-front shops

called out to passing visitors, inviting them to stop and purchase fruit and

candy, flowers and garlands, pictures and souvenirs. A public-address system

blared forth music from a record - player. To the accompaniment of Indian

musical instruments a soloist was singing in the local dialect:

All the holy places of India are concentrated in Shirdi,

All of our hopes are laid at the feet of Sai Baba,

He is great among the saints.

Shirdi is our place of worship,

God dwells here in the form of Sai Baba,

And devotees forget themselves at the sound of His Name.

The scene must have been far different a hundred years or so ago, when our

story begins.

In the year 1854, there appeared in this village of Shirdi, situated in the

Ahmadnagar District, in the State of Maharashtra, a boy who appeared to be

about sixteen years of age. He wore the garb of a fakir (a "Muslim holy

man"), but his language and teachings were largely Hindu. When asked about

his parentage and caste, he gave noncommittal answers, speaking largely in

parables. He took up his residence at the foot of a sacred neem tree and

surprised the villagers by the severity of his austerities. Neither heat nor

cold seemed to bother him. He did not go from door to door begging, but ate

only what was brought to him by those who were attracted to him. The wonder

of the people grew, and so, it is said, one day God assumed the form of a

holy man and came by. People requested him to reveal to them the identity of

the young fakir. They were instructed to bring a pickaxe and to dig in a

specified place. To their amazement some bricks were found, and underneath,

a stone. When the stone was removed a cave was disclosed. In the cave

certain objects used in worship were seen. The stranger told them, "This lad

practised penance here for twelve years." When asked to explain this, the

young fakir told them that the cave was his own Guru's place, and he asked

them to guard it well. The hole was closed and this spot has become holy

ground. Later, a shrine was erected here under the neem tree and an image

has been installed. After residing under the neem tree for about three

years, the young fakir disappeared suddenly from Shirdi.

The scene now shifts to a mango tree near a village in Hyderabad State, In

this village there lived a wealthy Muslim named Chand Patil. One day, while

Chand Patil was on a business trip, his horse got away from him, leaving him

only his saddle. In vain he searched for the horse. As he trudged along

home, with the saddle on his shoulder, he came to the mango tree. There he

saw a ratna (a "queer fellow") wearing a long robe and having under his arm

a short, thick stick. He was preparing to smoke his chillum ("pipe"). The

young man called out to Chand Patil and invited him to rest while joining

him in a smoke. When he was told about the lost horse, he instructed Chand

Patil to go and search in a stream bed nearby. Miraculously, the horse was

there, and Chand Patil realised that the stranger was no ordinary man, but

an Aulia (a great saint or Spiritual Master). When he returned he found that

the pipe was ready for smoking, but two things were missing - a coal with

which to light the tobacco and water with which to dampen the cloth through

which the smoke is drawn. The young fakir took a pair of tongs, and

thrusting them forcibly into the ground, brought up a live coal with which

the pipe was lighted. He threw the short stick on the ground, and water

oozed out. Amazed at what he had observed, Chand Patil invited the young

fakir to come to his house with him. Some days later, Chand Patil and his

family went to attend a wedding in Shirdi, and the young man accompanied

them.

When the party arrived in Shirdi, the carts were stopped in a field near the

Khandoba temple. As the young fakir alighted from a cart he was addressed by

a priest standing nearby, "Ya Sai" (Welcome, Sai). Others addrressed him as

"Sai" and henceforth he became known as "Sai Baba".

"Swadharma is trie 'Dharma which enables you by its observance to realize

God. Your vocation may be anything, but what you do should be honest work,

constituting service to others. Than, by remembrance and meditation, tune

your mind With Qod. 'This is Swadharma"

-Swami Ramdas

 

(Adopted from the souviner published on the International Convention of Sai

Devotees held from 19th to 21st October 1997 at Faridabad, this can be read

at www.saileelas.org)