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

[Guest guest]

Chapter XXIX

Stories of (1) Madrasi Bhajani Mela - (2) Tendulkars (Father and son) - (3) Dr.

Captain Hate - (4) Waman Narvekar.

This Chapter described other interesting and wonderful stories of Sai Baba.

(1) Madrasi Bhajani Mela

It was in the year 1916 that a Madrasi Bhajani Mela (Party of the Ramadasi

Panth) started on a Pilgrimage to the holy city of Banaras. The Party consisted

of a man, his wife, daughter and sister-in-law. Unfortunately their names are

not mentioned. On their way, the party heard that there lived at Shirdi in

Kopergaon Taluka, Ahmednagar District, a great sage named Sai Baba, who was

calm and composed, and who was very liberal and who distributed money every day

to His Bhaktas and to skilful persons, who went and showed their skill there. A

lot of money in the form of Dakshina was collected daily by Sai Baba and out of

this amount, He gave daily one rupee to a three year old girl Amani, the

daughter of a Bhakta Kondaji and Rs. 2 to 5 to some, Rs. 6 to Jamali, the

mother of Amani and Rs. 10 to 20 and even Rs. 50 to other Bhaktas as He

pleased. On hearing all this the party came to Shirdi and stayed

there. The Mela did very good bhajan and sang very good songs, but inwardly they

craved for money. Three of the party were full of avarice, but the chief lady or

mistress was of a very different nature. She had a regard and love for Baba.

Once it so happened, that when the noon-day Arati was going on, Baba was much

pleased with her faith and devotion, and was pleased to give her darshan of her

Ishtam (Beloved Deity). To her Baba appeared as Sitanath (Rama) while to all the

others the usual Sainath. On seeing her beloved Deity, she was very much moved.

Tears began to flow from her eyes and she clapped her hands in joy. The people

began to wonder at her joyful mood; but were not able to guess its cause. Late

in the afternoon she disclosed everything to her husband. She told him how she

saw Shri Rama in Sai Baba. He thought that she was very simple and devout, and

her seeing Rama might be a hallucination of her mind. He poohpoohed her, saying

that it was not possible, that she alone

should see Rama while they all saw Sai Baba. She did not resent this remark, as

she was fortunate enough to get Ramadarshan now and then, when her mind was

calm and composed and free from avarice.

Wonderful Vision

Things were going on like this, when the husband got a wonderful vision in his

dream one night as follows :- He was in a big city, the police there had

arrested him, tied his hands with a rope, and put him up in a cage (lock-up).

As the police were tightening the grip, he saw Sai Baba standing quiet outside,

near the cage. On seeing Baba so near, he said in a plaintive tone - "Hearing

Your fame I came to Your Feet and why should a calamity befall me when You are

standing here in person?" Baba said - "You must suffer the consequences of your

action" He said - "I have not done anything in this life which would bring such

a misfortune on me." Baba said - "If not in this life, you must have committed

some sin in your past life." He replied, "I do not know anything of my past

life, but assuming that I did commit some sin then, why should it not be burnt

and destroyed in Your presence, as dry grass

before fire? "Baba - "Have you got such faith?" He - "Yes." Baba then asked him

to close his eyes. No sooner did he shut them than he heard a thumping sound of

something falling down, and opening his eyes, he saw that he was free and the

police had fallen down, bleeding. Being much frightened he began to look at

Baba who said - "Now you are well caught, officers will now come and arrest

you." Then he begged - "There is no other saviour except You, save me anyhow."

Then Baba again asked him to close his eyes. He did so and when he opened them,

he saw that he was free, out of the cage and that Baba was by his side. He then

fell at Baba's Feet. Baba then asked him - "Is there any difference between

this namaskar and your previous ones? Think well and reply." He said "There is

a lot of difference; my former namaskaras were offered with the object of

getting money from You, but the present namaskar is one offered to You as God;

besides, formerly I thought resentfully that you, being a

Mahomendan, were spoiling us, the Hindus". Baba "Do you not believe in your mind

in Mahomendan Gods?" He said "No". Then Baba said - "Have you not got a Panja

(Emblem of Hand) in your house and do you not worship the same in Tabut, i.e.

Moharum festival? Also there is in your house another Mahomedan Deity by name

Kadbibi, whom you propitiate and appease on your marriage and other festivals.

Is it not so?" He admitted all this. Then Baba said,"What more do you want?"

Then a desire arose in his mind to get the darshan of his Guru Ramdas, when

Baba asked him to turn back and see. And when he turned, lo, Ramadas was in

front of him. No sooner did he begin to fall at His Feet, Ramadas vanished.

Then he inquisitively asked Baba,"You look old. Do You know Your age?" Baba -

"What! Do you say I am old! just run a race with Me and see." Saying this Baba

began to run and he too followed. Baba disappeared in the dust raised by His

foot-steps while running and the man was awakened.

After awakening he began to think seriously about the dream-vision. His mental

attitude was completely changed and he realised the greatness of Baba. After

this, his grabbing and doubting tendencies disappeared and true devotion to

Baba's Feet sprang in his mind. The vision was a mere dream, but the questions

and answers therein were most significant and interesting. Next morning when

all the persons assembled in the Masjid for the Arati, Baba gave him as prasad

two rupees' worth sweetmeats and also two rupees from His pocket and blessed

him. He made him stay there for a few more days and gave him His blessing,

saying,"Allah (God) will give you plenty and He will do you all good". He did

not get more money there, but he got far better things viz. Baba's blessing

which stood him in good stead all along. The party got plenty of money

afterwards and their pilgrimage was successful as they had not to suffer any

trouble or inconvenience during

their journey. They all returned home safe and sound, thinking of Baba's words

and blessings and the Anand(Bliss) they experienced by His grace.

This story illustrates one of the methods, which Baba followed (and is following

even now) in some cases to improve and reform His devotees."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

Discover Find restaurants, movies, travel &; more fun for the weekend. Check it out!