Ambrosia in Shirdi Part-1-Baba's Leelas before 1918

[Guest guest]

Leela 69

A devotee from Dewas (Madhya Pradesh) came to Shirdi for Baba's Darshan. He

stayed in Dixit Wada and dined in Sagun Meru's hotel. He longed for Baba to

dine with him. So he reserved a plate of food everyday.

Then he went and invited Baba to dine with him for lunch and dinner. But Baba

just laughed. One night, at 10:30 p.m., just as Sagun Meru was about to close

the hotel, a Nath Panthi entered the hotel and said, " There is a plate of food

reserved for me. Can I have it?" Sagun Meru at once made Him sit comfortably,

and offered the food to Him. He ate heartily and asked to see the person, who,

had so thoughtfully reserved the food. Sagun Meru ran to Dixit Wada at once.

But the devotee was fast asleep. Try as he may, he couldn't awaken him. He

returned and told the Nath Panthi about it. "Always feed the hungry", He said

and then left.

Everyone heard about this the next day. Shama asked Baba if He had dined at

Sagun Meru's. " Yes . / had gone to the hotel yesterday and dined to My heart's

content", said Baba. Thus it was known that Baba went in other roopas (forms) to

dine in Shirdi also.

"Today, as everyday, I went to Bandra, but there was no rice, no gruel, nothing

to eat or drink; and hungry, I had to return," said Baba to Mrs.Tarkhad (Sai

Sat­charitra Ch. 9).

Baba often went as an athiti, and dined, in the homes of various devotees, at

different places. Sometimes, He told the devotee that he would come for lunch

and this He did, but as a sadhu, fakir or an athiti (as any living creature).

It was up to the devotee to recognize Him in that form and also to recognize

Him in every form.

Upasani was staying at Khandoba Mandir, Shirdi as per Baba's orders. Everyday,

he cooked a meal and took it to Dwarkamai and offered it to Baba. One day,

while he was cooking, he noticed a black dog watching him, prepare the food,

with great eagerness. Upasani thought that it was absurd to give food to the

dog, before offering it to Baba. The dog, however, followed him for quite a

distance and then disappeared. Upon reaching the Dwarkamai, he offered the

naivedya, and Baba said, "Why did you come all the way in this heat? I was

there, watching and waiting for you to offer Me the food." Upasani was

astonished to hear these words. Baba refused to accept the prasad.

The next day, a sickly Shudra (low caste) was leaning against the wall watching

him. He feared the "Drishti-Dosha" (evil eye) of a Shudra watching a Brahmin

cook. So, he said, "Go away," and the man left. Again, Baba refused to accept

the prasad. Upasani asked Him if He could have been the sickly beggar. Baba

said, "I'm in everything and beyond." (Ref: Life of Sai Baba Vol.3)

In Sai Satcharitra Ch. 40, Deo invited Baba to his home for the udyapan

(concluding ceremony of a religious observance) ceremony and Baba agreed,

saying that He would come with two others. On that day, a Bengali sanyasi and

his two companions came and dined. Although Deo was very courteous and looked

after them graciously, he failed to recognize Baba. He later wrote to Baba

saying that he was disappointed at the breach of promise, as Baba did not

attend the udyapan ceremony. Baba said, "Tell him, if he did not recognize Me,

why did he invite Me ? Yet, I lunched at the function to My heart's

satisfaction. I will even give up My life for My devotee . But the words from

My mouth will never.be untrue.""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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