Sai Baba the Master

[Guest guest]

Then Shama asked Baba whether that was the auspicious moment to commence

the work, that being the moment of Baba’s consent. Baba affirmed it. Shama

immediately fetched a coconut and broke it. Order was placed with sculptors

for an idol of Muralidhar. Booty was happy that the work was progressing

satisfactorily and that too with the blessings of Sai Baba.

 

 

A farewell and cryptic message

 

Days passed briskly as though they enjoyed the rising glory of Shirdi. The

year 1918 commenced as inconspicuously as any other and a few months

passed. Uddhavesa Bua, a great devotee, usually visited Sai Baba every

fortnight. One day, when he arrived, Baba told him not to take the trouble

of visiting him so often thereafter. He said the same to another Mrs.

Chandrabai also in July 1918.

 

Not long after this, one day Sai Baba gave some poli with boiled foul to

Kasim (the son of Bade Baba) and told him, “Go to Aurangabad and see fakir

Shamsuddin Mia, give him this money, Rs.250/-, let him do moulu, kowali and

nyas.” ( Moulu is the singing of devotional songs about prophet Mohammad;

kowalis are devotional songs about saints, sung to the accompaniment of

tabla or drum; nyas is feeding the poor people).

 

Baba then told Kasim to go to another fakir, Banne Mia, decorate him first

with the garland which Baba had given him. Thereafter Kasim was to tell

Banne Mia, “On the ninth day of ninth month, Allah himself takes away the

lamp which He had lit. Such is Allah’s mercy" Then Sai Baba gave him

Rs.250/- and a garland of javandi (chrysanthemum) flowers. But Kasim

pleaded that he was a stranger to Aurangabad and that he may not easily

contact the said fakirs. So Baba asked one Chote Khan to accompany him.

 

Both Kasim and Chote Khan then started along with a servant by name Ameer.

When they arrived at Aurangabad, fakir Shamsuddin himself had come to the

station. He was enquiring of the passengers, “Who are the guests that have

come from fakir Sai?” Chote Khan and Kasim were surprised at his

precognition and bowed to him in reverence. Then Shamsuddin himself

repeated the message of Sai Baba, word by word! Then he led the three

guests home and fed them. With the money sent by Sai Baba, he fed a large

number of people. He also performed kowali and moulu. By night all this was

completed.

 

Next day Kasim, Chote Khan and Ameer visited Banne Mia’s house. They saw

him standing still, with one hand raised and the other held down, evidently

in a trance. A few Arabs at the place warned the visitors not to approach

the fakir when he was in that state as he would be furious with them. So

the visitors waited for one long hour but Banne Mia showed no sign of

regaining normal awareness. Then Chote Khan mustered all his courage, took

the garland which Baba had given them in his hand and put it round the

fakir’s neck. Banne Mia returned to his senses and lowered his raised arm.

Chote Khan repeated to him the words of Sai Baba. “ Ninth day of the ninth

month, Allah Himself takes away the lamp which He had lit.” On hearing the

words, Banne Mia gazed at the sky and tears rolled down his cheek. The

party of three left Aurangabad quite thrilled by the happenings. But they

could not understand what it was all about.

 

Source: http://www.saibharadwaja.org