Sai Baba the Master by E.Bharadwaja

[Guest guest]

When Tatyasaheb Noolkar was a sub-judge at Pandharpur, Nanasaheb

Chandorkar told him about Baba’s greatness and advised him to visit

Shirdi. Noolkar at once put two tests to Baba’s grace. He said he would go

to Shirdi only if he could secure a Brahmin cook and a good variety of

Nagpur oranges as offering to Baba. Shortly after, a Brahmin approached

Nanasaheb Chandorkar seeking employment. He promptly directed the Brahmin

to Noolkar who realized that his first condition was fulfilled. Shortly,

Noolkar also received a hundred oranges from Nagpur as a gift by parcel,

the sender being, mysteriously, unknown. Nothing then held him back from

rushing to Baba. He lived in Baba’s presence and passed away too. During

last moments of his life sacred scriptures were read out to him and holy

water in which Baba’s feet were washed was given to him for drinking. On

hearing about his death, Baba said, “Oh, Tatya went ahead of us! He won’t

be reborn.”

 

All the devotees that were drawn to Baba do not derive the same benefit.

Nor would a God-man violate all laws of natural justice of God to benefit

anyone beyond his capacity to be benefited. But no one will be allowed to

fall to a lower level and the maximum possible benefit would be conferred

on every devotee by the saint.

 

Vijayanand was a sannyasi from Madras. On his way to lake Manasarovar in

the Himalayas he heard of Baba’s greatness and sojourned at Shirdi. There

he met one Somadevaswami, a sannyasi from Hardwar, who spoke of the great

hardships one has to face in a trek to Manasarovar. Vijayanand at once

gave up his intention to go there. Later when he went to the Dwarakamai,

Baba flew into a rage and yelled, “Drive out this unworthy sannyasi!” Baba

was right. For, the fear of discomfort showed the unripeness of

Vijayanand’s sannyasa (renunciation). Two days after, Vijayanand received

a letter from Madras informing him that his mother was seriously ill. He

came to Baba to take his permission to be at his mother’s bedside during

her last moments. Baba knew that such a step is spiritually ruinous both

to Vijayanand and to the institution of sannyasa. And he wanted to safe

his devotee’s soul above all. For he knew what was in store for the

unsuspecting devotee. Baba curtly said to him, “If you are so attached to

your mother why did you take to sannyasa? Go and sit quiet at the wada and

wait for a few days with patience. In the wada there are many robbers; so

bolt your doors and be vigilant; thieves will carry away everything.

Wealth is transient and the body is subject to decay and death. Keeping

this in mind do your duty without attachment to this world and the next.

He who thus surrenders himself to the Lord’s will shall enjoy bliss. The

Lord helps him who remembers Him with love. Your store of past merits is

great and so you have come here. Remember what I said and begin the study

of The Bhagawata from tomorrow. Do three saptahas (week long reading) with

devotion. The Lord will be pleased and you will attain Peace.”

 

 

(To be contd....)

 

Source http://www.saibharadwaja.org)