Baba's message through Javhar Ali's episode

[Guest guest]

Sai Baba met one fakir Javhar Ali about five years after his wrestling match

with Mohiddin Tamboli. This fakir was learned and a scholar of Koran and had a

sweet tongue. He started living in Rahata along with his disciples and

bewitched the religious and devout people of Rahata. He came in some conflict

with villagers when he started to build an Idgah [a wall before which Muslims

pray on Idgah day] near a Hindu temple. As a result, Javhar Ali had to leave

Rahata and he went to Shirdi. He started living with Baba. Here also, people

were captured by his sweet talks. He gradually started calling Baba as his

disciple. Baba did not object and consented to be his disciple. Then both Guru

and Shishya decided to return to Rahata and live there. Javhar Ali did not know

the worth of Baba but Baba knew the shortcomings of his so-called 'guru'.

Nevertheless, he served Javhar Ali as his Guru with respect and sincerity.

The loving devotees of Baba did not want him to stay away from Shirdi. So, they

went to Rahata to request him to return to Shirdi. They faced the wrath of the

ill-tempered 'Guru' of Baba for trying to take Baba back to Shirdi. However,

after some discussions, both Guru and Shishya returned to Shirdi. A few days

later, a person by the name of Devidas tested the Guru. Devidas was a

dispassion incarnate and a jnani. He lived in Maruti temple in Shirdi and many

villagers of Shirdi regarded him as their Guru. They brought Javhar Ali in

Devidas' presence and in the discussion that followed, Javhar Ali was defeated

and he fled from Shirdi. Several years later, when he returned to Shirdi, he

prostrated before Baba. His delusion that he was Guru and Baba his shishya was

cleared. Seeing his repentance, Baba treated him with respect. This is the

basic story.

There are a few interesting aspects in this story. The question arises as to why

Baba accepted the discipleship of an unknown fakir. Was it because of his Muslim

background In 'Life of Sai Baba', Narasimhaswamiji tells us that when Javhar Ali

came to Shirdi, he saw that Baba [who looked Muslim in his appearance] had a

Hindu following, worshipping him at the Masjid. He called upon Baba and asked

him whether he knew the Koran and the Sharia't. Baba said he had learned

neither. Thus, the fakir ordered him to accompany him to Rahata, evidently for

some religious training. Baba went along with this command in spite of his

knowledge of Javhar Ali's shortcomings. He observed his duties to his Guru

respectfully and carefully.

Sai Baba's acceptance of Javhar Ali as his Guru, particularly when Baba had

already established himself in the hearts of his Hindu devotees, emphasizes his

equanimity and humility. Baba's decision to stay with the fakir must have made

the Muslim minority of Shirdi happy, as they perhaps needed some assurance that

Baba was of Muslim background. On the other hand, Hindu people of Shirdi going

to Rahata to bring Baba back to Shirdi shows Baba's popularity amongst Hindus.

Sai Baba treated Javhar Ali with respect when Javhar Ali repented and asked for

Baba's forgiveness. As in many cases, here also Baba showed through his own

conduct how one should get rid of egoism, how not to harbor any grudges and how

to do the duties of a disciple in order to receive knowledge.

(Contributed by Azalea Rose, USA) source:saibaba.org

Arun Reddy Nukala

+44 7946 595063

http://groups.msn.com/

Messenger - Communicate instantly..."Ping" your friends today! Download Messenger Now