Sai Satcharitra-Let us all read it together, a little everyday

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Mr. Sathe

There was a gentleman named Mr. Sathe, who had attained some publicity many year

ago during Crowford Regime, which was put down by Lord Reay, the then Governor

of Bombay. He suffered servere losses in trade. Other adverse circumstances

gave him much trouble, and made him sad and dejected. Being restless, he

thought of leaving home; and going out to a distant place. Man does not

generally think of God, but when difficulties and calamities overtake him, he

turns to Him and prays for relief. If his evil actions have come to an end, God

arranges his meeting with a Saint, who gives him proper directions regarding his

welfare. Mr. Sathe had similar experience. His friends advised him to go to

Shirdi, where so many people were flocking to get Sai Baba's darshan, for

getting peace of mind and the satisfaction of their wants. He liked the idea,

and at once came to Shirdi in 1917. Seeing Baba's Form,

which was like Eternal Brahma, Self-luminous, Spotless and Pure, his mind lost

its restlessness and became calm and composed. He thought, that it was the

accumulation of merits in his former births, that brought him to the Holy Feet

of Baba. He was a man of strong will. He at once started to make a parayana

(study) of Guru-charitra. When the reading was finished in the saptaha (seven

days), Baba gave him a vision that night. It was to this effect: Baba with

Guru-charitra in His hand was explaining its contents to Mr. Sathe, who was

sitting in front and listening carefully. When he woke up, he remembered the

dream and felt very happy. He thought that it was extremely kind of Baba. Who

awakens souls like his that are snoring in ignorance, and makes them taste the

nectar of Guru-charitra. Next day, he informed Kakasaheb Dixit of this vision,

and requested him to consult Sai Baba regarding its meaning or significance --

whether one saptah (week's) reading was sufficient or whether he

should begin again. Kakasaheb Dixit, when got a suitable opportunity, asked Baba

- "Deva (Oh God), what did you suggest to Mr. Sathe by this vision? Whether he

should stop or continue the saptaha? He is a simple devotee, his desire should

be fulfilled and the vision explained to him, and he should be blessed." Then

Baba replied - "He should make one more saptah of the book; if the work be

studied carefully, the devotee will become pure and will be benefited, the Lord

will be pleased and will rescue him from the bondage of the mundane existence."

At this time, Hemadpant was present there. He was shampooing Baba's Legs. When

he heard Baba's words, he thought in his mind as follows - "What! Mr. Sathe

read for a week only and got a reward; and I am reading it for forty years with

no result! His seven days' stay here becomes fruitful while my seven years' stay

(1910 to m1917) goes for nothing. Like a Chatak bird I am ever waiting for the

Merciful Cloud (Baba) to pour its nectar on me; and bless me with His

instructions." No sooner did this thought cross his mind, Baba knew it then and

there. It was the experience of the Bhaktas that Baba read and understood all

their thoughts, and that He suppressed the evil thoughts and encouraged the

good ones. Reading Hemadpant's mind Baba at once asked him to get up, go to

Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande), get from him Rs. 15/- as Dakshina, sit and

chitchat with him for a while and then return. Mercy dawned in Baba's mind, and

so he issued this order. And

who could disobey Baba's order?

Hemadpant immediately left the Masjid and came to Shama's house. He had just

bathed, and was wearing a dhotar. He came out and asked Hemadpant - "How is it

that you are here now? It seems that you have come from the Masjid. Why do you

look restless and dejected? Why are you alone? Please sit and rest, while I

shall just do my worship and return: in the meanwhile you please take pan-vida

(leaves and betel nuts etc.) let us then have a pleasant chat." After saying

his, he went inside and Hemadpant sat alone in the front varandah. He saw in

the window a wellknown Marathi book named 'Nath-Bhagwat.' This is a commentary

by the Saint Ekanath, on the eleventh Skandha (chapter) of the bigger Sanskrit

work, the Bhagwat. At the suggestion or recommendation of Sai Baba, Messrs.

Bapusaheb Jog and Kakasaheb Dixit read daily in Shirdi, BhagwadGeeta with its

Marathi commentary named Bhawartha-Deepika or Jnaneshwari (A dialogue between

Krishna and His

friend devotee Arjuna) and Nath Bhagwat (A dialogue between Krishna and His

servant devotee Uddhava) and also Ekanath's othe big work, viz. Bhawartha

Ramayana. When devotees came to Baba and asked Him certain questions. He

sometimes answered them in part, and asked them to go and listen to the

readings of the above-mentioned works, which are the main treatises of Bhagwat

Dharma. When the devotes went and listened, they got full and satisfactory

replies to their questions. Hemadpant also used to read daily some portions of

the book Nath-Bhagwat.

That day, he did not complete the daily portion of his reading, but had left it

unfinished in order to accompany certain devotees, who were going to the

Masjid. When he took up the book from Shama's window and casually opened, it,

he found, to his surprise, that the unfinished portion turned up. He thought

that Baba sent him very kindly to Shama's house for enabling him to complete

his daily reading. So he went throught the unfinished portion and completed it.

As soon as this was over, Shama, after doing his worship came out, and the

following conversation took place between them.

Hemadpant :- I have come with a message from Baba. He has asked me to return

with Rs. 15/- as Dakshina from you, also to sit with you for a while and have a

pleasant chitchat and then return to the Masjid with you.

Shama (with surprise):- I have no money to give. Take my 15 Namaskaras (bows) in

lieu of rupees as Dakshina, to Baba.

Hemadpant:- Alright, your Namaskaras are accepted. Now let us have some

chitchat. tell me some stories and Leelas of Baba, which will destroy our sins.

Shama:- Then sit here for a while. Wonderful is the sport (Leela) of this God

(Baba). You know it already. I am a village rustic, while you are an

enlightened citizen. You have seen some more Leelas since your coming here. How

should I describe them before you? Well, take these leaves, betel nut and chunam

and eat the pan-vida; while I go in, dress myself and come out.

In a few minutes Shama come out and sat talking with Hemadpant. He said - "The

Leela of this God (Baba) is inscrutable; there is no end to His Leelas. Who can

see them? He plays or sports with His Leelas, still He is outside of (unaffected

by) them. What do we rustics know? Why does not Baba Himself tell stories? Why

does He send learned men like you to fools like me? His ways are inconceivable.

I can only say, that they are not human." With this preface Shama added, - "I

now remember a story, which I shall relate to you. I know it personally. As a

devotee is resolute and determined, so is Baba's immediate response. Sometimes

Baba puts the devotees to sereve test; and then gives them 'Upadesh'

(instructions).

As soon as Hemadpant heard the word 'Upadesh', a flash of lightning crossed,

through his mind. He at once remembered the story of Mr. Sathe's Guru-charitra

reading and thought that Baba might have sent him to Shama, in order to give

peace to his restless mind. However, he curbed this feeling, and began to

listen to Shama's stories. They all showed how kind and affectionate Baba was

to His devotees. Hemadpant began to feel a sort of joy while hearing them. Then

Shama began to tell the following story."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

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