Ambrosia in Shirdi Part-1-Baba's Leelas before 1918

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Ambrosia in Shirdi Part-1

Ambrosia in Shirdi Part-I The Introduction

The year 1910 is written in gold on the heart of ev­ery Baba devotee; for that

was the year that Dabholkar visited Shirdi. He saw Baba grinding wheat, only to

throw it at the village boundary, to stop the cholera epi­demic. His curiosity

was aroused, and he wished with all his heart to write the 'Satya Charitamrit'

of Baba's life. He sought permission and it was granted. "You have my full

consent to write My life. Take notes and keep them. If My Leelas are recorded,

sins commited through ignorance will be dissolved when these are heard and or

read with love and devotion, the cares and troubles of worldly life will be

forgotten," said Baba.

So, Dabholkar set about, writing, hearing and see­ing the leelas of His Guru.

With keen interest, love, devotion and humility, he kept a record of them. He

actually started writing 'The Pothi' in 1922; and it was published in 1929

after he took samadhi. The Marathi Pothi is written Ovi Meter, like Eknath's

Bhagwat. It is usually sung rather than read. The fantastic task was done

during Sadguru Sainath's sojourn on earth, and with His consent. This

fascinating book is a Bible or Koran for every Baba devotee. So great is its

power, that many a Leela, cure, wish and material benefit has been affected.

The Phalastuti given at the end has been accomplished and much more.

Spiritual enlightenment and progress has been achieved. In short, if there is

one Pothi that anybody needs, it is the Sai Satcharitra. It is a must in every

house. It has fifty-three chapters and nine thousand, three hundred and nine

verses and many pages. It wasn't possible for Dabholkar to write each and every

Leela, it would have been in many volumes.

Here are some of the Leelas that occurred before 1918, that haven't been

mentioned in 'the Pothi'. I hum­bly lay them primarily at the feet of Sadguru

Sainath for His blessings. With utmost humility, I also beseech Dabholkar to

bless this earnest venture. As far as pos­sible, complete names and dates are

mentioned. It is my honest hope, that these Leelas will augment those given in

the Satcharitra.

Leela 1

"/ may be here in My physical body, and you may be far away beyond the seven

seas. Yet, whatever you do there I know instantly. Wherever you may be, when

you spread your hands before Me in supplication with faith and devotion, there

I stand behind you day and night, as steadfast as your faith and devotion is,"

said Baba to Cholkar (Sai Satcharitra Ch.15).

Baba's words are true for each and every bhakta (devotee) even now; as they were

then. This is such a Leela where Baba literally went beyond the seven seas to

rescue a bhakta.

It was during World War I; Capt. Jahanghir F. Daruwala was at sea, with his

fleet of ships. To his utter dismay he realized that all but three of his ships

were hit by the enemy and were sinking fast. Soon these three ships with the

passengers, and himself would meet the same fate. Being a good Captain he hoped

to ferry the remaining ships to safety.

He had Baba's photograph in his pocket. He promptly took it out and earnestly

prayed to Baba to come to their rescue. Just as he has praying, Baba sit­ting

in the Dwarkamai shouted "Haq, haq". The devo­tees surrounding Baba, were

astonished to see Baba completely drenched, from head to toe. The water flowed

in torrents, and the Dwarkamai soon became a pool of water. The devotees simply

removed buckets and buckets of water from the Dwarkamai for about an hour. Then

they gave Baba dry clothes to wear.

As Baba was silent about the cause of His being drenched, one of the devotees

drank the water as tirth (holy water) and found it extremely salty. He wondered

at that, but kept quiet. Simultaneously, at sea, Capt. Daruwala saw Baba in

person, pull and tow his ships to safety. On the third day after this incident

Baba re­ceived a telegram from the Captain, thanking Him for the rescue

operation. Immediately on his return he came to Shirdi and fell at Baba's feet.

He thanked Baba for answering his prayers so swiftly and saving the lives of his

crew and the passengers. Capt. Daruwala was an ardent devotee and he took a

great deal of interest in Baba's affairs. He donated Rs.2,200/- in two

install­ments for the repair of the Sabha Mandap. As a small 'thank you

gesture1.

Source-Ambrosia in Shirdi - Part I (Baba's Leelas Before 1918) by Dr.Vinni

Chittluri @ www.saileelas.org"Gurur Brahma Gurur VishnuGurur Devoh

Maheshwar;Gurur Shakshat ParambramhaTashmai Shri Gurur Veh Namah"May the

Merciful Sri Sai Baba always shower His grace on us and our families and remove

our problems and anxieties by giving us all - strength , goodluck, success and

happiness with peace of mind.Sai bhakt,Deepa Hdebu7366

Better first dates. More second dates. Personals