DIVINE GRACE - BABA'S MERCY IS OPEN TO ALL

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DIVINE GRACE – MERCY IS OPEN TO ALL

Gopal Bhasker Datar, B.A., LLB., Brahmin, Pleader, (Station Road), Thana says:

I am now a Sai Bhakta. In 1917, when I was at Ahmednagar, I had opportunities to

see Sai Baba. But I was deterred by the accounts I had heard of him. He demanded

and took much money as dakshina and the water in which he bathed was taken and

given as tirtha for devotees to drink. These repelled me, I contrasted them

with the conduct of Narayan Maharaj for whom I had regard. The latter, when I

and one other each gave him a rupee, he returned the rupee, adding to it some

sugar candy as prasad. Later, after reading Upasani Baba’s life and listening

to his lectures, I saw him at Bombay and went to Sakori. His U. Lilamrita,

which I read in 1931, gave me a good impression of Sri Sai Baba and after my

visit to Sakori, I went to Shirdi. There the gleaming eyes of Sai in the

portrait, the dhuni and the mosque impressed me greatly and I said to myself:

"Here is a Master". Next, I read Sai Lila Masik and especially Anna Dabholkar’s

book, as it appeared in that masik with the

"Anubhavas" i.e., experiences. I was convinced that Sai Baba was my destined

guru. I have stuck to him ever since.

Some experiences that I got confirmed me in my faith. A lady in the house who

was suffering from internal pains for a long time and had vainly tried some

medicines, was listening to me as I read Dabholkar’s book aloud. There was the

incident of Sai Baba intervening to save a frog that was caught by a snake, in

what I read. She had heard it half dozing. She prayed in that half dozing state

to Sri Sai Baba thus: "Oh, Sai Baba, you have pitied and helped for humble

suffering creatures like frog, have you no mercy for me – a human being? She

then heard a voice that seemed to emanate from a peg on the wall, "Will you

give me Rs.5 dakshina for the Dasserah?" and she answered that she would, in

case she got cured. At once, she woke up from her dozing condition and

narrating the above, wanted Rs.5 to be sent up as her contribution for Sai

Baba’s Dasserah celebration. That was done at once. She improved and her agony

abated by evening. This was in 1931 or 1932.

Some time later in 1932, I used to get Sai Baba in my dreams wherein he would

play with me as he would play with little children. In one of the dreams, Sai

Baba was requested by Upasani Baba to help me and he agreed. Still later, I was

in a great fix. I had lost or mislaid the letter of a wandering client, whose

presence was urgently required by the court. I tried to learn his whereabouts

by inquiries in vain. At last, in despair, I prayed to Sai Baba. The next day,

I chanced to place my hand on the rack in my office room and I found he missing

letter and that enabled me to secure the party’s presence in proper time. Two or

three years ago, I was given a commission to examine some witness on

interrogatories sent by a distant court. The interrogatories and other papers

were one day missed by me. I searched in various places for them and was much

dejected at my failure. I expected then I would have the mortification to

inform the Court of my negligence and ask for

fresh copies of the interrogatories, etc. A ‘Varkari’ (one constantly going on

pilgrimage to Pandharpur Vittal) had come to my house then; and having served

him with zeal for some days, I told him of my worried state. "It will be found"

he said. There was always my daily service to Sai Baba also. The day after the

Varkari left, I discover the missing papers amidst the papers of a totally

unconnected case.

(Written by HH Pujyasri B.V. Narasimha Swamiji in Devotees Experiences on 26th May 1936.)