Sri Sai Baba As Match-Maker Devotee's Notice of 24 Hours

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XV. SRI SAI BABA AS MATCH-MAKER DEVOTEE'S NOTICE OF 24 HOURS

 

Sri Sai Baba, endowed with highest Siddhis and lofty realisation,

set himself to the task of towing dull souls on their spiritual

roads, and issued wide charters for the protection of all their

interests whether trivial or highly momentous. Marriage of

daughters is classed in the latter category, especially by those

who have a large quiverful of such progeny. Sai's help has

endeared him to the devotees, who style him their 'Ayi' (i.e.,

mother) and in such cases as their 'Matchmaking Ayi or Mamma'. A

few instances will suffice to show how well he deserves that

epithet.

Mr. G. D. Pandit of Colaba was wandering hither and thither for

two years in quest of a bridegroom. Finally he made a vow that if

he should secure one in fifteen days, he would start on pilgrimage

to see Baba at Shirdi. Then an eligible young gentleman of distant

Hyderabad came ol his own accord to Pandit's house, took a fancy

for his daughter and wedded her within fifteen davs.

Help for Helpless :

A poor orphan girl had naturally innumerable obstacles in finding

a match for herself. She was then advised to make a daily pious

study of Sai Satcharita - Baba's life. And she started that study.

The very next day, a person arrived on the scene, took interest in

her, made the necessary inquiries, and married her within a

week.

These are ordinary cases. Below are given instances of the

indubitable intervention of B,tba's mighty hand working amidst

mystery with irresistible force.

Mr. Ganash Keshav Rege, a staunch devotee of Baba, in "lather poor

circumstances (though an Amin of the Holkar's State) wrote

dolorous lines in the Sai Lila Magazine about the lot of those who

have a superabundance of feminine issue 'End whose conception of

Paradise must be a place where there are no more daughters to

dispose of. In order to get a husband for his fourth daughter, he

took leave and was tossing from post to pillar and pillar to post.

Sometimes he seemed to be on the verge of success, but an unkind

fate was shattering his hopes at the crucial moment.

Voice of Command :

One day he sat at Anjangaon steeped in care. Suddenly he heard the

words "Go to Jirapur". The words were loud and clear but not

uttered by any visible or traceable person. One of the ways

adopted by Baba for his beneficent activity is to send his devotee

an "Asariri Vali" (a voice without a body to utter it) and create

a strong conviction that the voice is Baba's. Mr. Rege felt this

conviction and concluded that Baba had issued an order, evidently

to settle the marriage problem. But how could a visit to Jirapur

serve any useful purpose? He knew none there and had no business

or influence in that locality. While he was yet wondering, he got

an additional surprise, an order to rejoin duty and join at

Jirapur. Here evidently was Baba's hand, giving him facilities to

carry out his order. So he went and joined duty as ordered and

made inquiries about the matrimonial possibilities of this new

field. He then found at Soyath, a village some distance off, an

eligible person Negotiations were quickly carried through and

within a month of that "bodiless voice" his daughter's wedding was

an accomplished fact.

Bridegroom Mentioned :

Mr. Ganesh D. Vaidya's younger daughter had to be married. After

repeated unsuccessful efforts to find a son-in-law, the anxious

father was feeling very much worried. One morning Baba appeared to

him in a dream and saying "Why are you anxious? Kesava Dixit has a

son", showed him the figure of that boy. He got up in wonder as he

had never heard of any such persons as KesBva Dixit and his son.

Mr. Vaidya's son however informed him that some Dixit, son of

Kesava, and with the featutes seen in the dream was in his office

though the community to which he belonged had yet to as

ascertained. On further inquiry about community, fitness,

willingness etc., Kesava Dixit's son was traced and married to

Miss Vaidya.

Dowry Temptation :

The next case is still more striking. Mr. Gopal Ganesh Sfcuiytn

bad been an ardent devotee of Sri Sai Baba since 1911. He had

vision of Baba at his own place several times and frequently

obtained by prayer quick relief for his troubles. About 1924, he

had entered into a "gentleman's agreement" with a friend, that

his daughter should wed the latter's son after some years. But

as years passed, the boy's progress in collegiate education raised

his value, and bis father resiled from the agreement and was

arranging a match elsewhere that would bring in a good Karini

i.e., a handsome 'bridegroom price'. When this reached Mr.

Shiriyan's ears he felt very much annoyed. To whom could he

unburden his sorrow and complain, except to the "Ayi" ever

present with him? In answer, Sri Sai gave a remarkable and

definite assurance: "Do not worry yourself. I will get you

that same boy as your son-in law in two years' time".

Sometime thereafter, the new arrangements by the boy's father

fell through. As days passed, the conscience of the educated

youth (evidently spurred on by Sri Sai from within) became so

assertive that he Impressed on his parents the extreme

impropriety of breaking one's plighted word to secure a

pecuniary profit. At last, the friend confirmed the original

pact and celebrated the marriage, within the limit of time fixed

by Baba.

Quite Punctual :

We shall close with one more instance of Baba's "match

promoting''after his Mahasamadhi. A sister of Mr. Moreshwar

Balakrishna Chowhan had to be married. In 1923, a certain

gentleman had expressed himself as satisfied with the young lady;

but a formal letter of acceptance had to be sent by him to

complete contact. For 6 months Mr. Chowhan's mother waited and was

well nigh despairing of it. One night she approached the portrait

of Baba that she worshipped and said "Baba! You give experience of

your miraculous powers to all. Why not give it to us? My daughter

ii still a spinster and I am greatly worried over it. If you have

any power, then I must get a reply approving of the match by

to-morrow". This was in effect, a notice challenging Baba to prove

within 24 hours that his reputation for achieving wonders for his

devotees was well-founded. That night she dreamed that on the next

morning at 9 a.m. as she sat by her son's side, the postman

delivered a letter containing the final acceptance. In point of

fact, at 9 a.m. next morning she sat by him and began to narrate

the dream. The postman then peeped in and dropped a letter. That

was from the long hesitating party and containing the acceptance

she had so long waited for. Baba stood the assay. He is sterling

gold.

 

 

(This is from the book "The Wonderous Saint Sai Baba"

written by Pujyasri B.V.Narasimaswami,founder President of All

India Sai

Samaj, Chennai...........This book can be read from

www.saileelas.org)