Sai Baba the Master

[Guest guest]

Yogi Kulkarni of Rahuri received Kasinath worshipfully and assured him

that he had attained a great state in yoga practice and asked him to see

aulia (a powerful Moslem saint) Sai Baba at Shirdi who is above

distinctions of caste or creed. But the brahminic pride of Kasinath

searched for a Hindu yogi instead. An old man met Kasinath on the road to

Rahuri and told him, “Drink water as hot as your tongue can bear. Avoid

cold water; and you will recover!” Kasinath brushed it aside and started on

his trek to a Hindu Yogi, Phatak Maharaj at Moregaon. On the way, at

Jejuri, he suddenly gave up all concern for his body and spent a week in

samadhi in a lonely place. On the eighth day, when he made for a stream for

drinking water, the old man that met him at Rahuri suddenly appeared before

him and admonished him for neglecting his advice. He commanded him to take

hot water in the nearby village and vanished as mysteriously as he had

appeared. Amazed at the incident, Kasinath heeded the warning and, within

three weeks his condition improved greatly. But fearing a possible relapse

of the trouble he visited Sri Narayan Maharaj of Khedgaonbet, a famous

saint. The Maharaj received Kasinath with honour and gave him betel to chew

and told him that the later was ‘thouroughly lined with gold internally and

externally’ (i.e., he attained a high state in yoga and he needed nothing).

These words were too mystifying for Kasinath and so he revisited the

Maharaj the next day. Again he was told that his business was already

finished and that there was no need for him to visit the Maharaj again and

again.

 

However, Kasinath, on his way home, visited Yogi Kulkarni again, who

repeated his earlier direction. Accordingly, he reached Shirdi on 27th

June, 1911. In a trice his complaint vanished! After two days he sought

Baba’s permission to return home. Baba put him in a tight corner by asking

him either to stay away at Shirdi for good, or to return there again after

eight days. Kasinath was not prepared for either of the alternatives. Baba

then declared, “Well, go if you like. I will see what I can do.”

 

Kasinath was mystified to see that during the next week, instead of

rushing home, he had been slowly moving about within fourteen miles of

Shirdi. On the eighth day, at Kopargaon, pilgrims to Shirdi pressed him to

take them to Sai Baba and he did. On seeing him Sai Baba smiled and asked

him how long it was since he (Kasinath) took leave; Kasinath humbly

conceded that it was the eighth day! Sai then ordered him to go and stay in

the building built for devotees there. Probably Baba’s powerful will had a

subtle effect on Kasinath. For, contrary to all his plans, he did meekly

obey Baba’s order.

 

Source: http://www.saibharadwaja.org