DIVINE EXPERIENCES - Sri. DAS GANU (1)

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DIVINE EXPERIENCES – DAS GANU MAHARAJ (1)

Das Ganu Maharaj, i.e., Ganpatrao Dattatre Sahasrabuddhe, Brahmin, Kirtankar,

aged about 78, residing generally at Nanded (Nizam’s State) says during June

1936:

Baba’s age is a thing one cannot fix. Nor can his race and parentage be easily

fixed. Forty years back I saw an old lady Salubai Shelke of Shirdi then aged 65

or 70. She told me that when she was married and that was in her 8th or tenth

year, Baba came to Shirdi looking as he looked when we saw him (1895) i.e., 40

or 50 years old. Another old lady Sai Bai said "Baba came to Shirdi as a lad."

This seems to make Baba’s age over 100 at his Mahasamadhi. Who dare ask Baba

about his age and antecedents? So nothing definite is known.

Baba however himself spoke about his earlier years occasionally. About his guru,

Baba several times said that ‘Venkusa’. This is found in Bhaktalilamrita (ch.

13) was his Guru and that by the grace of ‘Venkusa’ Baba had attained to his

position. Most things about him were mysterious. Some of his miracles etc. were

witnessed by me and some mentioned to me by others. Baba’s converting water into

oil and burning his lamps for a whole night with water alone was reported to me

by numerous villagers who had seen it. Premchand Marwadi was one of those who

refused to supply him that day with oil. I myself saw Baba sleeping on a plank

suspended from the ceiling by a few slender shreds of torn cloth. The wonder

was how he got up that plank suspended so high i.e., 7 or 8 feet above of the

floor and 1 or 1 ½ cubits below the roof. Four lamps were on it. People watched

to see how he got up or climbed down but could never discover either or how it

supported him.

The passage 121 to 141 in Bhakta Lilamrit about Mr. Pense were mentioned to me

by him. The three chapters 31, 32 and 33 of the book were read as Pothi (i.e.,

holy scripture) at the Mosque before Baba; and he said, "It is Alright" when

Nana Saheb Chandorkar gave him the book. Baba did not say his five Namaz or

even one Namaz, as Moslems do. When Fatia had to be done he generally ordered

it to be pronounced by some one present. Sometimes he uttered the Fatia. He

occasionally repeated parts of Quoran.

The instruction given to N.G. Chandorkar by Baba was mentioned to me by N.G.

Chandorkar. I expanded it with my own learning and gave it its present shape.

But the kernel of it was given by N.G. Chandorkar. Baba has several times

talked Advaidic philosophy in presence. "I am God". "You are God". "All are

God". He has said this many times. There is nothing Baba did not know. Baba was

not explicit about what he did mostly. Here is an instance.

Once Valambi Master was Railway Station Master at Kopergaon. He has no faith in

Baba. He told me and other devotees, "Baba is a mad man. Why do you all lionise

him?" I, however, persuaded Valambi Master to go with me to see Baba at Shirdi.

When we saw Baba, he was washing pots and placing them on the floor, mouth down

and bottom upside. Valambi Master asked Baba, "What is all this?" Baba said,

"Every pot coming to me comes with mouth downwards" i.e., not to receive what

could be put into them but in an unreceptive fashion like pots with their

mouths downwards.

(Written by HH Pujyasri B V Narasimha Swamiji during June 1936, Devotees Experiences Vol.3)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

As soon as we lose the moral basis, we cease to be religious. There is no such

thing as religion over-riding morality. Man, for instance, cannot be

untruthful, cruel or incontinent and claim to have God on his side.

Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya.......

Question: You had once said that sadhana-bhajan should be done secretly. How

will then a devotee achieve progress?

Answer: Sadhana-bhajan should be done secretly until all the shortcomings of a

devotee are completely eliminated. I had read somewhere or heard from some

great man that worship should be kept as a guarded secret as the love of a

noble lady with the Czar. If a devotee proclaims his devotion having all the

human faults, then that only strengthens his ego, his pride; and ego is the

greatest stumbling block in sadhana.

If the world comes to know of a person as a great devotee-and he has no real

devotion within-that should create a lot of problems for him. Conversely, if a

person is over-brimming with the love of God, and people know nothing about it;

that is wonderful,

Devotees should always examine two things:

(a) Whether his shortcomings are being reduced;

(b) If his fame is on the increase.

Name and fame cause the downfall and if it does come, the sadhaka should try to

save himself with humility. The sweet poison of fame has brought about the

downfall of even great sadhakas. One should always regard his sadhana as

incomplete; that is how he progresses-quietly, secretly. It is only after the

consciousness is purified that real wisdom dawns and Guru’s and God’s grace is

felt.

(-Swami Premanandaji Saraswati )

 

 

 

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