SEEK REFUGE IN BABA

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SEEK REFUGE IN BABA

Baba said, "I draw to Me My man from far off or even across the seven seas, like

a sparrow with a string fastened to its feet" in Sri Sai Satcharitra Ch. L.

Smt. Mani Sahukar, was going through a difficult period of her life and was

feeling unhappy and frustrated. A neighbour of hers brought Sri Narasimha

Swamiji to her house in Bombay in the year 1942. Sri Narasimha Swamiji at once

sensed that all was not well with her. He seemed to have come to meet her and

help her.

Taking her aside he said, "don’t worry, why don’t you seek refuge in Sai Baba"?

Smt. Mani Sahukar, was not particularly religious, and knew nothing about

saints, much less about Sai Baba. "Who is Sai Baba"? She asked. As a reply the

Swamiji put in her hand a packet of books written by him and blessing her asked

her to read them. He added that "there is a lovely picture of Baba in this

packet for you." She says that though she was touched by the kindness of the

Swamiji, his advice and gift made no immediate impression on her. She put away

the packet without opening it and persisted in her misery.

Her husband became an instrument to draw her to the spiritual path. He opened

the packet and after reading one of Swamiji’s books, and seeing Baba’s radiant

picture, he said, "Sai Baba seems to be a great saint, why don’t you read these

books" They might help you." But Smt. Mani Sahukar remained unmoved. After a few

days however, she began to feel penitent, and more to please her husband, she

took out Baba’s picture from the packet framed it and put it on the table in

front of their beds. This simple and penitent gesture started the miracle of

her conversion.

The very next day in the afternoon as she lay sleeping on her bed in front of

the picture of Baba, she was blessed with a lovely visitation. As she was

dozing, in her sleep she suddenly saw Baba’s photo lit up a translucent glow.

His face broke into a tender smile. His hand came out of the frame, as it were

and He beckoned her to his forefinger. She dreamt that she jumped out of the

bed and rushed towards Baba’s photo. Sai Baba then placed His hand on her head

in a blessing. She woke up with a start, when she actually felt the ecstasy of

Baba’s touch. She was thrilled. She claims that this was her initiation and

remembers Baba’s sayings "I seek out my bhakthas and draw them to me." She says

that from that hour her life changed. Her old apathy was gone and she came

closer to Sai Baba.

About the year 1950, Smt. Mani Sahukar started suffering from a peculiar ailment

of throat, a severe irritation and congestion which prevented her from indulging

in her cherished hobby of singing Hindustani classical music. In about 10

minutes of singing, her voice would become hoarse, and she would put down her

tambura with a feeling of frustration. She consulted many doctors, both

allopathic and homeopathic, but none gave her any relief. After six months of

this predicament, she went to Shirdi. As she stood before Sai Baba’s Samadhi,

her heart and eyes suddenly welled up with tears and in an impassioned outburst

she poured out her feelings.

She came out of the Samadhi Mandir and visited her friend who was at that time

staying in the Samsthan premises. In her pleasant company, she almost forgot

her miseries and went to her room at 7:30 p.m. Her room was just behind

Gurusthan. She opened the lock and entered the room and thinking that she would

be more comfortable; she removed the pin which fastened her sari to her left

shoulder. As she was doing this, she heard something rustling in the folds of

her saree. As small packet two inches long fell from her saree. She was

perplexed and wondered how the packet came about. She picked it up. It was

neatly folded as if by a chemist or compounder. She unfolded it and saw it

contained 6 to 7 white tiny tablets, such as are used in homeopathy medicine.

When she realised the significance of this, she draped her saree again and

rushed to her friend. Her friend who was a great devotee of Baba, herself had

several experiences; she said "you understand, don’t you. That

this is Baba’s Prasad"? Mrs. Mani Sahukar put the tablets in her mouth. When she

returned home, she found that she could sing without hindrance and her problem

had disappeared. Her heart overflowed with gratitude.

(Taken from the book "The Eternal Sai")

 

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