TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL GAINS TO DAS GANU

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TEMPORAL AND SPIRITUAL GAINS TO DAS GANU

We shall give a few examples of how Baba helped Das Ganu temporally and

spiritually. Once when Das Ganu and Bere, an agricultural inspector, were to

leave Shirdi for Kopergaon to catch a train for which, there was plenty of

time, they went to take Baba’s leave. Baba in giving the leave, said

"Start at once, don’t stop but go straight to Kopergaon." They acted on

his advice. Other tongawallas told them to wait and go with them on that

dangerous road to have the benefit of their company. They however followed

Baba’s advice and drove straight on and arrived safe at Kopergaon

station. The other tongawallas who came up later were in time to catch the

train but they were way-laid by highway robbers. Baba’s advice had saved

Bere and Ganu from that mishap.

Baba similarly tried to save Das Ganu from being attacked by the inner enemies

(Kama, Krodha) also. Baba set before him the ideal of being totally free from

those six enemies. That, however, was no joke. Like so many other devotees,

this apostle also had his slips. But Baba very kindly pulled him up and

corrected him off and on. for instance, on one occasion there was a feast at

Shirdi where sira was prepared and distributed. Baba asked Ganu, "Did you get

sira at that person’s house?No, Baba" said Ganu, that man is my enemy

and did not invite me." Baba at once rebuked him and said, "What is this sira

and who eats it? Do not say of anyone that he is your enemy". Baba wanted to

point out to him that he is the soul which neither eats not has any other

physical function and that all souls are in essence one and the same, viz.,

Paramatma. To one who has realised himself as Paramatma, there can be no enemy

at all.

Compare Shri Sankara’s saying in Charpata Panjarika stotra.

Sarvasmin api pascya atmanam

Sarvatra utsrija Bheda ajnanam

Tvayi mayi cha anyatra eko Vishnuh

Vyartham Kupyasi Sarva sahishnuh

which means, the one Vishnu (God) is in you, in me and others; All he endures.

Your anger is senseless. See the (same) Atman in every one. Differentiation (or

discrimination) is ignorance. Avoid it everywhere. Sai Baba has stressed the

same truth of identity of all souls not merely on Das Ganu but also on R. B.

Purandhare, Naryana Ashram, etc. It goes without saying that Das Ganu could not

possibly rise to the desired height of realisation of unity of all souls, or the

perception of God in all or any creatures.

The truths thought by Baba are so peculiar to each and applicable and

intelligible only in special circumstances. Hence, we must content ourselves

with only one more illustration and stop. Das Ganu Maharaj was a very severe

critic and occasionally uttered words that wounded the hearts of others and

produced other evil effects. On one occasion, he had used hard words and

defamatory language against a devotee living at Shirdi, who had done splendid

work to make Sai Sansthan highly attractive and who drew numerous influential

and other people to Baba’s feet. When Das Ganu vented one of his frequent

abuses against that devotee, Baba sent for him and pointed out that the work of

attracting devotees to Baba’s feet was rightly prized and practised by

Das Ganu himself on a vast scale and yet he was defaming a person who carried

on the same work and he thereby hindered that work. Baba thus made him

acknowledge his error and insisted on his prostrating before that devotee and

begging pardon. So Das Ganu adopted that advice and prostrated himself before

that devotee and prayed for pardon. He thus gained more self-control and more

humility, and also noted with appreciation the value of the lesson taught in

Bhagavata 11th skanda.

Na stuvita Na nindeta Kurvatah sadhu Asadhu Van

Vadato Guna doshabhyam Varjitah samadrik Munih

which means the sage must have equal vision and should neither eulogise the

doers or utters of good nor decry the doers or utters of evil

Courtesy: HH Pujyasri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji

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