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

[Guest guest]

Anantrao Patankar

One gentleman from Poona, by name Anantrao Patankar wished to see Baba. He came

to Shirdi, and took Baba's darshan. His eyes were appeased, he was much

pleased. He fell at Baba's Feet; and after performing proper worship said to

Baba - "I have read a lot, studied Vedas, Vedants and Upanishads and heard all

the Purnas, but still I have not got any peace of mind; so I think that all my

reading was useless. Simple ignorant devout persons are better than myself.

Unless the mind becomes calm, all book-learning is of no avail. I have heard,

from many people, that you easily give peace of mind to so many people by your

mere glance, and playful word; so I have come here; please take pity on me and

bless me". Then Baba told him a parable, which was as follows:-

Parable of Nine Balls of Stool (Nava-vidha Bhakti)

"Once a Soudagar (merchant) came here. Before him a mare passed her stool (nine

balls of stool). The merchant, intent on his quest, spread the end of his

dhotar and gathered all the nine balls in it, and thus he got concentration

(peace) of mind".

Mr. Patankar could not make out the meaning of this story; so he asked Ganesh

Damodar, alias Dada Kelkar, "What does Baba mean by this?" He replied - "I too

do not know all that Baba says and means, but at His inspiration I say, what I

come to know. The mare is God's grace and the nine balls excreted are the nine

forms or types of Bhakti, viz., (1) Shravana (Hearing); (2) Kirtana (Praying);

(3) Smarana (Remembering); (4) Padasevana (resorting to the feet); (5) Archana

(Worship); (6) Namaskara (Bowing); (7) Dasya (Service); (8) Sakhyatva

(Friendship); (9) Atmanivedana (surrender of the self). These are the nine

types of Bhakti. If any of these is faithfully followed, Lord Hari will be

pleased, and manifest Himself in the home of the devotee. All the sadhanas,

viz. Japa (vocal worship), Tapa (penance), Yoga practice and studying the

scriptures and expounding them are quite useless unless they are accompanied by

Bhakti, i.e., devotion.

Knowledge of the Vedas, or fame as a great Jnani, and mere formal Bhajan

(worship) are of no avail. What is wanted is Loving Devotion. Consider yourself

as the merchant or seeker after the truth and be anxious and eager like him to

collect or cultivate the nine types of devotion. Then you will attain stability

and peace of mind".

Next day, when Patankar went to Baba for saluation, he was asked whether he

collected the 'nine balls of stool'. Then he said that he, being a poor fellow,

should first be graced by Baba, and then they will be easily collected. Then

Baba blessed and comforted him, saying that he would attain peace and welfare.

After hearing this, Patankar became overjoyed and happy.

The Pandharpur Pleader

We shall close this Chapter with short story showing Baba's omniscience and His

using it for correcting people and setting them on the right path. Once a

pleader from Pandharpur came to Shirdi, went to the Masjid, saw Sai Baba, fell

at His Feet and, without being asked, offered some Dakshina, and sat in a

corner eager to hear the talk, that was going on. Then Baba turned His face

towards him and said - "How cunning the people are! They fall at the feet,

offer Dakshina, but inwardly give abuses behind the back. Is not this

wonderful?" This cap (remark) fitted the pleader and he had to wear (take) it.

None understood the remark. The pleader grasped it, but kept silent. When they

returned to the Wada, the pleader said to Kakasaheb Dixit - "What Baba remarked

was perfectly right. The dart (remark) was aimed at me, it was a hint to me,

that I should not indulge in reviling or scandalizing others

(calling by names). When the subjudge or munsiff of Pandharput (Mr.Noolkar) came

and stayed here for the improvement of his health, a discussion about this

matter was going on in the bar-room at Pandharpur (as it ever happens in many a

bar-room). It was said or discussed there whether the ailments, from which the

sub-judge suffered were, ever likely to be got rid of without medicines, by

merely going after Sai Baba, and whether it was proper for an educated man,

like the sub-judge, to have recourse to such methods. The sub-judge was taken

to task, i.e. he was ciritisied, as also Sai Baba. I also took some part in

this affair; and now Sai Baba showed the impropriety of my conduct. This is not

a rebuke to me, but a favour, an advice that I should not indulge in any scandal

or slander of others; and not interfere unnecessarity in others' affairs".

Shirdi is about 100 Koss (Koss=3 miles) distant from Pandharpur; still Baba by

His omniscience knew what transpired there in the bar-room. The intervening

places -- rivers, jungles and mountains - were not a bar to His all-perceiving

sight and He could see or read the hearts of all. There was nothing secret or

veiled from Him. Everything, far or near, was plain and clear to Him as broad

as daylight. Let a man be far or near, he cannot avoid the all-pervading gaze

of Sai Baba. From this incident, the pleader took the lesson that he should

never speak ill of others, nor unnecessarily criticize them. This his evil

tendency was completely got rid of, and he was set on the right path.

Though the story refers to a pleader, still it is applicable to all. All should,

therefore, take this lesson to heart and profit thereby.

Sai Baba's greatness is unfathomable, so are His wonderful Leelas. His life is

also such; for He is Para-Brahman (Lord God) incarnate.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all"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