Sai Baba the Master by E.Bharadwaja

[Guest guest]

On the holy day of Makara Sankranthi (the entry of sun in the sign of

Capricorn on the 14th of January), Megha wanted to worship Baba by

besmearing his body with sandal paste and then bathing him in the water of

holy Godavari. Baba who was at first unwilling had to yield to his

persistent appeals. When Megha brought the river water, Baba appealed to

him not to bathe him; for as a fakir he is not expected to permit it. But

to Megha, Baba was Siva and how else could he be worshipped? At last Baba

insisted that only his head be bathed and the body spared the ritual.

Though verbally Megha agreed, when Baba sat on the bathing seat, he just

poured the water from the pot all over Baba’s body, uttering loudly the

name of Lord Siva, Hara hara Mahadev. But the next moment, he was amazed

to see that only Baba’s head was wet!

 

Megha also worshipped Baba’s photograph at his lodge everyday. Early one

morning. Megha was lying on his bed awake but with his eyes closed. Baba

appeared clearly before his inner eye, threw akshatas (rice coloured with

turmeric) at him and said, “Megha, draw a trident”. Then he disappeared.

When he opened his eyes there was no one and the doors were closed; but

akshatas were seen strewn all about him! Megha latter asked Baba whether

he should really draw a trident. Baba said, "it was my direct order and my

words are never uttered in vain. I need no doors to enter. I am

everywhere."

 

Returning to his lodging, Megha drew the figure of a trident on the wall

and worshipped it. The very next day, a devotee from Pune gave a sivalinga

to Baba and he gave it to Megha saying, “Lord Siva has come to you; serve

Him". Just at that moment Kakassaheb Dixit who was chanting Sai’s name at

his lodge, had the vision of a beautiful sivalinga. And in a few moments

he saw Megha bringing the same from the Dwarakamai.

 

When Megha passed away in 1912, Baba passed his hands over the body and

said, “This was my true devotee.” He wept like an ordinary mortal, and

after covering Megha’s body with flowers, joined the funeral procession.

The obsequies were completed. Baba returned to the musjid and gave a

funeral dinner to all at his own expenses.

 

(To be contd....)

 

Source http://www.saibharadwaja.org)