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

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Cholera Epidemic

Once, Cholera was raging virulently in Shirdi. The residents were much

frightened and they stopped all communication with the outside people. The

panchas of the village assembled together and decided upon two ordinances as a

remedy to check and put down the Epidemic. They were (1) No fuel-cart should be

allowed to come in the village, and (2) No goat should be killed there. If

anybody disobeyed these ordinances, they were to be fined by the

village-authorities and panchas. Baba knew that all this was mere supersition,

and therefore, He cared two pence for the Cholera-ordinances. While the

ordinances were in force, a fuel-cart came there, and wanted to enter the

village. Everybody knew that there was dearth of fuel in the village, still the

people began to drive away the fuel-cart. Baba came to know of this. He came to

the spot and asked the cartman to take the fuel-cart to the Masjid. None

dared to raise his voice against this action of Baba. He wanted fuel for His

Dhuni and so He purchased it. Like an Agnihotri keeping his sacred fire alive

throughout his life, Baba kept His Dhuni ever burning all day and night; and

for this He always stocked fuel. Baba's home, i.e. the Masjid was free and open

to all. It had no lock and key; and some poor people removed some wood from

there for their use. Baba did not grumble about this. Baba saw that the whole

universe was pervaded by the Almighty, and so He never bore enmity or ill-will

to anybody. Though perfectly detached. He behaved like an ordinary house-holder

to set an example to the people.

Ordeal of Guru-Bhakti

Let us now see, how the second Cholera-ordinance fared with Baba. While it was

in force, somebody brought a goat to the Masjid. It was weak, old and about to

die. At this time Fakir Pir Mohamad of Malegaon alias Bade Baba was near. Sai

Baba asked him to behead it with one stroke, and offer it as an oblation. This

Bade Baba was much respected by Sai Baba. He always sat on the right hand of

Sai Baba. After the chilim (pipe) was first smoked by him, it was then offered

to Baba and others. After the dishes were served, at the time of taking meals

at noon, Baba respectfully called Bade Baba and made him sit on His left side,

and then all partook of food. Baba paid him also daily Rs.50/- out of the

amount collected as Dakshina. Baba accompanied him hundred paces whenever he

was going away. Such was his position with Baba. But when Baba asked him to

behead the goat, he flatly refused, saying "Why it

should be killed for nothing?" Then Baba asked Shama to kill it. He went to

Radha-Krishna-Mai and brought a knife from her and placed it before Baba.

Knowing the purpose for which the knife was taken, she recalled it. Then Shama

went to bring another knife, but stayed in the Wada, and did not return soon.

Then came the turn of Kakasaheb Dixit. He was 'good gold' no doubt, but had to

be tested. Baba asked him to get a knife and kill the goat. He went to Sathe's

Wada and returned with a knife. He was ready to kill it at Baba's bidding. He

was born in a pure Brahmin family and never in his life knew killing. Though

quite averse to do any act of violence, he made himself bold to kill the goat.

All the people wondered to see that Bade Baba, a Mahomedan was unwilling to

kill it while this pure Brahmin was making preparations to do so. He tightened

his dhotar and with a semicircular motion raised his hand with the knife and

looked at Baba for the final signal. Baba said - "What are you

thinking of? Go on, strike". Then, when the hand was just about to come down,

Baba said - "Stop, how cruel you are! Being a Brahmin, you are killing a goat?"

Kakasaheb obeyed and kept the knife down and said to baba - "Your nectarlike

word is law unto us, we do not know any other ordinance. We remember You

always, meditate on Your Form and obey You day and night, we do not know or

consider whether it is right or wrong to kill, we do not want to reason or

discuss things, but implicit and prompt compliance with Guru's orders, is our

duty and dharma".

Then Baba said to Kakaseheb, that He would Himself do the offering and killing

business. It was settled that the goat should be disposed of near a place

called Takkya, where fakirs used to sit. When the goat was being removed to

that place, it fell dead on the way.

Hemadpant closes the Chapter with a classification of disciples. He says that

they are of three kinds : (1) First or best (2) Second or middling and (3)

Third or ordinary. The best kind of disciples are those who guess what their

Gurus want and immediately carry it out and serve them without waiting for an

order from them. The average disciples are those who carry out the orders of

their Masters to a letter, without any delay, and the third kind of disciples

are those, who go on postponing the carrying out of their orders and making

mistakes at every step.

The disciples should have firm faith, backed up by intelligence and if they and

patience to these, their spiritual goal will not be distant. Control of breath

-- ingoing and outgoing, or Hath-Yoga or other difficult practices are not at

all necessary. When the disciples get the above-mentioned qualities, they

become ready for further instructions and the Masters then appear and lead them

on, in their spiritual path to perfection.

In the next Chapter we will deal with Baba's interesting wit and humour.

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

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