Sai Baba's First Rise to Fame

[Guest guest]

XXII. SAI BABA'S FIRST RISE TO FAME

AS SANTANAKARAKA

 

Loka Bhinnaruchih, i.e., "Tastes differ" is an ancient saying which

applies in the field of religion at least as much as in other fields. To

some, God is too grand a Being or too much of an ideal abstraction to meddle

with the humdrum of our daily life especially with such trifles as getting

bridegrooms, or children. To others, God is preeminently the power that

blesses them in all their efforts and affair and secures for them highly

prized objects like the above, proving therein His Omnipotence, Omniscience

and unfathomable kindness and love. Each set receives a benefit in

accordance with its own views. No writer on religion can afford to

overtook the existence of either set. The vast majority, nay, almost the

entire rank and file of the devotees of Sri Sai Baba that this writer has

come across belong: to the second class and have given him an account of

their experiences of Sai's power and kindness exercised, in such cases.

Hundreds, nay, thousands of other people of like view exist outside this

circle, who are at present ignorant of Sri Sai Baba's vast powers and

beneficence towards devotees and who will welcome a brief reference to

and appraisal of such experience. In any case without such, reference, no

account of Sri Sai Baba will be complete.

The First Gift :

In the early history of Baba, if any extraordinary powers of his mote than

an other contributed largely to the spread of his name and influence among

the cultured' and; English-educated classes, it was his blessings for issue.

Gopal Rao Gundu, a Revenue Inspector, living with two wives- had no issue.

Baba blessed him saying that Allah would give him children, and he got

issue. The inspector had many friends and acquaintances among officials and

other educated and influential people and to these he gave a glowing account

of Sri Sai Baba's powers and kindness. Thence forward officials great and

small paid reverential visits to Shirdi, several of them in the hope of

being benefited by this "Samartha" (i.e., person endowed with superhuman

power, to achieve practically everything he likes) in their domestic and

other temporal concerns; and others followed their examples. It is neither

possible nor necessary to catalogue those who obtained progeny or other

benefits by Sai's grace. Here we may just notice a few in whose case there

is any special and noteworthy feature not found in other cases.

The Grateful Official :

The Revenue Inspector, in his gratitude, brought a quantity of stones to

rebuild Baba's dilapidated mosque. But evidently reserving the merit of

rebuilding it to others, Baba distributed the stones among local Hindu

temples for their use. G. Gundu was keen on starting a grand annual fair at

Shirdi on Ram Navami day in honour of Baba; and with the help of others this

was started in 1895 and is still kept up.

Just about this time a bangle merchant of Ahmednagar Sri Damodar Savalraai

Rasane (whom Baba used to call Damia) came to Baba. Living with two wives,

he was blessed with no issue. With great faith, he approached Baba (and was

prominent among the devotees by his services in connection with the

Ramanavami fair). The manner in which Baba blessed him bears a striking

resemblance to the blessings received by King Dasaratha after securing the

help of a great rishi Rishyasringa and performing a grand Puthrakameshti

sacrifice^

Four Filched Away :

Baba used to receive or even buy mangoes by dozens or even by the basket.

These he would distribute freely to all. One day in 1895, he had disposed of

a good quantity, and kept apart 8 mangoes. The voracious boys that clustered

around him asked Baba to distribute these also. "No, they are for Damia", he

said. "But Damia is not here" insisted the boy. "He is not, but he is at

Kopergaon now on his way here", Baba replied (though none knew or had reason

to expect Damia's coming) and declined to give the fruits away. But when

Baba was out or was attending to some other matters, these "naughty

children" of his filched four of these fruits. And thereafter Dimia arrived

Baba received him cordially saying that he had reserved mangoes for him. He

presented the remaining four fruits saying "Eat these and die". Damia was

shocked. Mahlsapathy, an ardent devotee of Baba, explained to Damia that it

was a blessing to die at the sacred feet of a saint. Baba, however, put an

end to his grim humour and thus addressed him, "Damia, do not eat these

fruits yourself. But give them to your wife, i.e., the junior wife and she

will bear you children. The first, a son, you should name Daulat Shah, the

second, a son, Nana Shah". Damia took the fruits, and his junior wife ate

them. Twelve months later, she brought forth one son, and another in a

further period of eighteen months. She begot exactly eight children of whom

four were filched away by the hand of Death. Four sons survived including

Saheb Rasane or Daulat Shah, who was an active trustee of Sri Sai Baba's

Sansthan.

An Open Guarantee :

Another striking and well-known instance is the case of Rao Bahadur H. V.

Sathe, retired Deputy Collector, Poona. Mr. Sathe was left widower about

1900, with one or two daughters, but no sons. Pressed constantly to marry

again, he declared that there was no great probability of his obtaining male

issue, that a marriage late in life was a serious matter and that he would

wed only if assured by a great saint (Sat Purusha) that a marriage would

give male issue and be beneficial. In 1904 at the age of 49, he was posted

to Ahmednagar District, and he visited Shirdi. Then as he was leaving Baba,

the local Mamlatdar told Baba "Baba, Saheb (i.e. H. V. S.) has no son". Baba

replied "If he marries, God (Allah) will give him a son". Mr. H. V. S., thus

assured, married his second wife, the very next year. During the next 7

years two children were born of this marriage, but both proved to be

daughters. His father-in-law, Dada Kelkar went to Baba and complained of

absence of male issue, for which every member of the family was hoping and

praying. Baba replied, "Wait, Allah will bless. I am praying to Allah". The

next year a son was born who is now the prop of his father in his green old

age.

 

 

 

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

V.Narasimaswami,founder President of All India Sai Samaj,

Chennai...........This book can be read from www.saileelas.org)