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

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Leela 8

In Dadar, Bombay lived Vittal Yashwant Deshpande with his parents and

grandfather. A tragedy brought him to Baba.His grandfather suddnely fell sick

and gradually lost his sight. All sorts of rem­edies, treatments, doctors and

vaids were tried. But, he became totally blind. Vittal was very fond of his

grandfather and he helped him move around the house.

There lived in Bandra, a Satpurush named Govind Rao Mankar. He was a devotee of

Baba and advised the grandfather to go to Shirdi, and seek Baba's blessings for

a cure. The grandfather was impressed by the Satpurush, and was determined to go

to Shirdi. He requested his son to take him to Shirdi, but for some reason, the

trip was postponed.

In 1916, Vittal was just twelve years old. As his uncle was busy, it was decided

that Vittal would take his grandfather to Shirdi. Before leaving, his parents

repeatedly told Vittal to behave properly and take care of his grandfather.

They reached Shirdi and went to the Dwarakamai. They took darshan and

prostrated before Baba, who said, "Give Me Rs.6/- dakshina".

Vittal thrust his hand into his pocket and found that he had a Rs.10/- and a

Rs.5/- note. He gave Baba the ten rupee note, which He did not accept, nor

would He ac­cept the Rs.5/- note, nor would He give him the change. Vittal

tried again, but Baba stubbornly said, "Give Me Rs.6/- dakshina". So, Vittal

brought his grandfather to the Sabha Mandap below, and seated him in a corner

next to the wall. He went out to get the change. But try as he may, no one gave

him the change. Frustrated and wondering how his grandfather was, he started

crying. Suddenly, a well-built man stood before him. He had on a clean dhotar

(Indian dress) a pagdi (turban), Poona shoes and chandan (sandalwood paste) on

his forehead. Gently, he asked, "Child, why are you crying?" Vittal told him

how stubborn Baba was and his inability to get change. Quietly, he gave him the

change. Vittal ran to Dwarakamai and placed the Rs.6/- at Baba's feet "Daro mat,

beta. Allah Malik achcha karega. Ab thumhara kaam

hogaya" (Do not fear my child Allah Malik will do good. Now your work is

successful). Vittal was astonished, but rather confused. He had not told Baba

why he had come, nor had Baba asked him. He just stood there staring at Baba.

Baba repeated the same words again. Still confused, he went to the cor­ner

where he had seated his grandfather, but he wasn't there. He searched in the

Sabha Mandap, but couldn't find him. Fearing that he may have walked out, he

ran out of the Dwarakamai, but there was no trace of his grandfather. Again, he

ran around the village, calling his grandfather, but he couldn't find him.

Dejected and afraid, he started crying bitterly, wondering if his grandfather

had fallen or hurt himself. Lo! The same man stood before him. "Why are you

crying now?" he asked gently, patting Vittal on his back. Though sobs, Viittal

told him what had happened. "Your grandfather is seated on the steps of Sathe

Wada", he said, pointing in that direction. Vittal ran and found his

grandfather happily seated on the steps, eating sugarcane.

Angrily, he said "Why did you leave the place I seated you at? Suppose you fell

and hurt yourself? How did you reach here?" the grandfather told him that as

soon as he went to get the change, his sight started re­turning. "By the time

you came back, I could see clearly. So, I came to the Wada". Vittal was

relieved to hear this. He also understood why Baba asked for Rs.6/-only. The

dakshina of Rs.6/- could possibly mean 'giv­ing unto Baba the six internal

enemies (lust, anger, greed, pride, dellusion and envy) that thrive through the

five senses (sight, hearing, speech, smell and taste). Especially sight (Sai

Satcharitra Ch.16 'Shadripus') is explained.

On the way home, he lost his cap, and was afraid to tell his grandfather about

it. Finally, they reached Dadar. His parents were awaiting their arrival, when

he turned around, his grandfather was missing. He collected all their bags and

walked slowly towards his parents. They eagerly questioned him about the trip.

He mumbled something, just then his grandfather arrived with a new cap. He was

then filled with immense joy as he finally got proof that his grandfather could

really see.

"But who was the mysterious gentleman, and how did he know who my grandfather was?" he wondered.

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

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