LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

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LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

 

Love is not a thing measured by a thermometer or by the quantity of

good or sacrifices rendered; though all these do count. We may

roughly begin a statement of how love works and then deal with

Purandhare's case. When two persons are greatly attached to each

other we find that no other expression would describe the situation

than love. Friendship, admiration, gratitude, loyalty, faithfulness,

regard, worship, all these blend together in many a case, as it did

in Purandhare's case also. So, let us begin an account of how

Purandhare's love began.

 

In the case of most people approaching Baba within the last decade of

his life, they were impelled to go to Baba by hearing accounts of

Baba. Das Ganu was mostly the source of this inspiration. Das Gnu,

though himself not pre-eminent in his love for Baba, had the

wonderful charm of eloquence and some amount of real bhakti. He was

an expert in the Kirtankars' line, that is, in telling harikathas

about saints and holy persons. He generally began with an account of

the day's topic, say, Tukaram or Namdev, but he always kept Sai

Baba's picture close to him and never failed to refer to Sri Sai Baba

as the present day illustration of greatness of the bhakti of the

ancient or mediaeval saints.

 

He would say, `Here is Tukaram's great love and greatness in

surrendering to God and getting the most marvellous benefits. If you

wish to know if there is any such person now in the flesh who can

give you the same benefit, then I will tell you `Here is this Sai

Baba. He is present day representative of mediaval saintship. What

Ramdas was to Sivaji, that Sai Baba is to innumerable people who

approach him in the proper spirit'. Then he would give an account of

some of the marvellous lilas and dealings of Baba with his devotees.

Thus, besides the fact that thousands attended his kirtan, his

account and inspiration would pass on from one to another, and after

his kirtan people, having learnt of Sai Baba, would rush to see him.

It is rarely that one gets a chance to meet a Tukaram in the flesh, a

Namdev in the flesh, and if one gets a chance, surely one does not

wish to lose it. so, having heard of Sai Baba from Das Ganu and

others.

 

Purandhare's nature was fired with the ambition of contacting Sai

Baba. Purandhare's own nature was very simple and highly emotional.

He was a plain man and did not care to twist and turn phrases in

describing things. When he found that Sai Baba was a powerful saint

living in the flesh and was showering benefits like Ramdas. Akkalkote

Maharaj and other Samarthas, he naturally wanted to take the earliest

opportunity to got to Shirdi and that he did. In his case, going to

Shirdi was not an easy matter. He was only a petty clerk on Rs. 35

per month. he had to support a family of four or five including his

mother, his wife, his brother and a child. Yet, the spark of

enthusiasm in his heart did not find these to be difficulties.

 

He fixed upon a certain day to leave for Shirdi, and if we see what

he did, we will see exactly what love does. He was naturally to go

with his wife and mother. But his young child was unwell and the

mother thought that it was foolish to risk taking a little child with

fever for such a great distance. Bombay to Shirdi. Yet, Purandhare

would not brook a denial of his wishes. He must go and he would leave

and take the child with him inspite of his mother's protest.

 

Look at this! He is taking risks with his only child's health. And

what for? To meet the great Sai. The burning enthusiasm of his love

for Baba bore down all considerations of ordinary precautions or

medial advice and they did go. His love was accompanied by intense

faith. So, Baba justified his faith and his love in what followed.

When the child was taken with an illness to Shirdi, it quickly

regained health instead of suffering. This is a chamatkar of Baba and

it is these chamatkars which first tell upon an emotional mind.

Upasani Baba says,

 

Aneka Ascruta Atarkysya Lila Vilasam

Samavishkrita Isana Bhasvat Prabhavam

 

in his Sai Mahima stotra, composed in 1912. That is Sai Baba's divine

or superhuman character was evidenced by innumerable and unheard of

miraculous achievements and chamatkars. Yet he was

 

Ahambhavahinam Prasannatmabhavanam

Namami Iswaram sadgurum sainatham.

 

Courtesy: HH Pujyasri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji

(Vasuki Mahal Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Trust, Coimbatore-641025, India)