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

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Mr. Thakur

Mr. V.H.Thakur, B.A., was a clerk in the Revenue Department and he once came to

a town named Vadgaum near Belgaum (S.M. Country) along with a Survey party.

There he saw a Kanarese Saint (Appa) and bowed before him. The Saint was

explaining a portion from the book "Vichar-Sagar" of Nischaldas (a standard

work on Vedanta) to the audience. When Thakur was taking his leave to go, he

said to him, "you should study this book, and if you do so, your desires will

be fulfilled, and when you go to the North in the discharge of your duties in

future, you will come across a great Saint by your good luck, and then he will

show you the future path, and give rest to your mind and make you happy".

Then, he was transferred to Junnar, where he had to go by crossing Nhane Ghat.

This Ghat was very steep and impassible, and no other conveyance, than a

buffalo was of use in crossing it. So he had to take a buffalo-ride through the

Ghat, which inconvenienced and pained him much. Thereafter, he was transferred

to Kalyan on higher post, and there he became acquainted with Nanasaheb

Chandorkar. He heard much about Sai Baba from him and wished to see Him. Next

day, Nanasaheb had to go to Shirdi, and he asked Thakur to accompany him. He

could not do so as he had to attend the Thana Civil Court for a civil case. So

Nanasaheb went alone. Thakur went to Thana, but there the case was postponed.

Then, he repented for not accompanying Nanasaheb. Still he left for Shirdi and

when he went there, he found that Nanasaheb had left the place the previous

day. Some of his other friends, whom he met there, took him to Baba. He saw

Baba, fell at His Feet and

was overjoyed. His eyes were full of tears of joy and his hair stood on end.

Then after a while the omniscient Baba said to him - "The path of this place is

not so easy as the teaching of the Kanarese Saint Appa or even as the

buffalo-ride in the Nhane Ghat. In this spiritual path, you have to put in your

best exertion as it is very difficult". When Thakur heard these significant

signs and words, which none else than he knew, he was overwhelmed with joy. He

came to know, that the word of the Kanarese Saint had turned true. Then joining

both hands and placing his head on Baba's Feet, he prayed that he should be a

accepted and blessed. Then Baba said - "What Appa told you was all right, but

these things have to be practised and lived. Mere reading won't do. You have to

think and carry out what you read, otherwise, it is of no use. Mere

book-learning, without the grace of the Guru, and self-realization is of no

avail". The theoretical portion was read from the work `Vichar Sagar' by

Thakur, but the practical way was shown to him at Shirdi. Another story given

below will bring out this truth more forcibly."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