Gave Son from His Own Body

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XXIV. GAVE SON FROM HIS OWN BODY

 

SRI SAI BABA'S REBUKE

 

We shall close this Santcmakareka aspect of Sri Sai Baba's life with two

more instances.

A lady from Sholapur had lived with her husband, Sikharam Aurangabadkar, for

27 years and never conceived even once. She came to Shirdi and requested

Madhav Rao Deshpande, the familiar attendant on Baba to intercede with him

to give her his blessing to "shake off the sterile curse". Madhav Rao waited

for an opportunity when Baba would be in a highly pleased mood. One day

after dinner, as Madhav Rao washed Baba's food-soiled hand, the latter

pinched his cheek. M. at once feigned anger and said :

M : Baba! Is it proper for you to pinch me?

Baba : Arre! Shama! During the 72 generations that you were with me I never

pinched you till now and yet you resent my touching you!

M : Baba, we want a God to give us only good and sweet things, Paradise,

etc.

Baba : Yes, Indeed, I have come for that purpose, Loose and rolling :

Baba took his seat. Seeing him in such a pleased mood' M. introduced the

lady to him and she gave Baba a coconut and scented sticks.

M: Baba, this lady has no issue. Bless her and give her the coconut.

Baba took up the coconut and shook it. It was dry. The kernel was loose and

rolling inside.

B : Shama! This is rolling. She what it says.

M : The woman prays that a child should be similarly quickening and rolling

within her womb. Pray bless her and give her the coconut.

B: Will the coconut (if given to her) turn into a baby? How silly of people

to fancy such things!

M: Nevermind. I know the virtue of the gift. Give her the coconut.

B : Shama, break the coconut, M : No. Give it to her entire.

The parley went on for a while, Baba repeatedly ordering the breaking, and

Madhav Rao pleading for the gift entire. Finally Baba yielded and gave her

the coconut and said : "She will have issue in 12 months". And she had it

within twelve months,

Delay in a Vow :

One Narayan Govind Scindbe of Harda had seven daughters but no &on. He went

to the Datta Temple at Gangapur and vowed that if he should be blessed with

a son in the course of one year, he would bring over the child to Datta's

feet. A son was born to him and that within the prescribed one year. He

delayed fulfilment of his vow from year to year. In 1911, i.e., after seven

years of such delay, he came before Baba, who took him to task in rather

remarkable language.

Baba looked fiercely at Scindhe and said: What! Are you puffed up? Where was

there any male issue in your destined lot? I have given you a son,

extracting a son from this body".

Not a Miracle:

Here Sri Sai Baba pointed to his own body. What is one to infer from it?

That the male issue of Scindhe was the direct result of Datta's blessing in

answer to his prayer; that Sri Sai Baba being one with God or Datta,

answered the prayer addressed expressly to God Datta; and that though

certain predestined conditions in Scindhe's life made no provision for mate

ksue, still Sai through his superhuman powers took out of his own destined

(future) lot, a son and transferred that blessing or gift to Scindhe !

What becomes of the earlier answer by Baba to Nana Saheb, that the promise

of children was only astrological reading and not a miracle? Are the two

statement inconsistent or are they reconcilable. The reader may think it out

or wait for an answer.

Rebirth of a Pet :

Before concluding, it may be mentioned that presentation of a coconut was

not always necessary to secure Baba's blessings for issue. When Mrs.

Chotubai, the wife of Rao Bahadur M. W. Pradhan (accompanied by her

sister-in-law who was believed to be enciente), went to Baba, the latter

pointing to Mrs. C. said "This to be the mother of Babu".

Babu was a young man of Shirdi much loved and petted by Baba and had

recently died.

One of those present fancied that Baba's pointing was a mistake and asked

him pointing to other lady "This is the lady, Baba, is not? ' "No" said

Baba, once again pointing to Mrs. Chotubai, "This is to be the mother of my

Babu".

Mrs. Chotubai who was not at that time pregnant was soon in the family way

and in a year's time begot a son, whom Baba recognised as his own Babu which

was consequently given to the child.

 

 

(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)