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

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Vitthal-Vision

One day, while Kakasaheb Dixit was in mediation after his morning bath in his

Wada at Shirdi he saw a vision of Vitthal. When he went to see Baba afterwards,

Baba asked him - "Did vitthal Patil come? did you not see Him? He is very

elusive, hold Him fast, otherwise He will give you the slip and run away". Then

at noon a certain hawker came there, with 20 or 25 pictures of Vitthal of

Pandharpur for sale. Mr. Dixit was surprised to see that the form of Vithal he

saw in his mediation exactly tallied with that in the picture and he was also

reminded of Baba's words. He therefore, bought one picture most willingly and

kept it in his shrine for worship.

Geeta-Rahasya

Baba always loved those who studied Brahma-vidya (metaphysics) and encouraged

them. To give an instance - Once Bapusaheb Jog received a post-parcel. It

contained a copy of Geeta-Rahasya by Lokamanya Tilak. Taking it under his

armpit he came to the Masjid and prostrated himself before Baba, when the

parcel fell at Baba's Feet. Baba enquired what it was. It was opened then and

there and the book was placed in Baba's hand. He turned some pages here and

there for a few minutes and took out a rupee from His pocket placed it on the

book and handed the same with the rupee to Jog and said to him - "Read this

completely and you will be benefited".

Mr. and Mrs. Khaparde

Let us close this Chapter with a description of the Khapardes. Once Dadasaheb

Khaparde came with his family and lived in Shirdi for some months. (The diary

of his stay has been published in English in the Shri Sai Leela Magazine first

Volume.) Dadasaheb was not an ordinary man. He was the richest and the most

famous advocate of Amraoti (Berar) and was a member of the Council of State,

Delhi. He was very intelligent and a very good speaker. Still he dared not open

his mouth before Baba. Most devotees spoke and argued with Baba off and on, but

only three, viz. Khaparde, Noolkar and Booty kept always silent. They were

meek, modest, humble and goodnatured. Dadasaheb, who was able to expound

Panchadashi (A well-known Sanskrit treatise on the Adwaita Philosophy by the

famous Vidyaranya) to others, said nothing or uttered no word when he came to

the Masjid before Baba. Really a man, however learned he

may be even in Vedas, fades away before one, who was realised Brahman and become

one with it. Learning cannot shine before Self-reaisation. Dadasaheb stayed for

four months, but Mrs. Khaparde stayed for seven. Both were highly pleased with

their Shirdi stay. Mrs. Khaparde was faithful and devout, and loved Baba

deeply. Every noon she brought naivedya herself to the Masjid, and after it was

accepted by Baba, she used to return and take her meals. Seeing her steady and

firm devotion, Baba wanted to exhibit it to others. One noon she brought a dish

containing Sanza (wheat-pudding), purees, rice, soup, and kheer (sweet rice) and

other sundry articles to the Masjid. Baba, who usually waited for hours, got up

at once, went up to His dining seat and removing the outer covering from the

dish began to partake of the things zealously. Shama then asked Him - "Why this

partiality? You throw away dishes of others and do not care to look at them, but

this You draw to You earnestly and do justice

to it. Why is the dish of this woman so sweet? This is a problem to us." Baba

then explained - "This food is really extra-ordinary. In former birth this lady

was a merchant's fat cow yielding much milk. Then she disappeared and took birth

in a gardener's family, then in a Kshatriya family, and married a merchant. Then

she was born in a Brahmin family. I saw her after a very long time, let Me take

some sweet morsels of love from her dish." Saying this, Baba did full justice

to her dish, washed his mouth and hands, gave out some belches as a mark of

satisfaction, and resumed His seat. Then she make a bow and began to shampoo

Baba's legs and Baba began to talk with her and knead her arms which were

shampooing His Legs. On seeing this reciprocal service Shama began to joke and

said - "It is going on well, it is a wonderful sight to see God and His Bhakta

serving each other. "After being pleased with her sincere service, Baba asked

her in low and fascinating tone to chant 'Rajarama,

Rajarama' then and always, and said - "If you do this, your life's object will

be gained, your mind will attain peace and you will be immensely benefited." To

persons unfamiliar with spiritual matters, this might appear as affair, but

really it was not so. It was a case of, what in technically called,

'Shakti-pat', i.e. transference of power from the Guru to the disciple. How

forcible and effective were Baba's words! In an instant, they pierced her heart

and found lodgement there.

This case illustrates the nature of the relations that should subsist between

the Guru and the disciple. Both should love and serve each other as One. There

is no distinction nor any difference between them. Both are One, and one cannot

live without the other. The disciple placing his head on the Guru's feet is a

gross or outward vision; really and internally they are both one and the same.

Those who see any difference between them are yet unripe and not perfect.

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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