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

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Appasaheb Kulkarni

To return to Appasaheb's story. While he was in Thana, he had to go on tour to

Bhivandi and was not expected to return within a week. In his absence, the

following wonderful thing took place on the third day. At noon a fakir turned

up at Appasaheb's house. His features resembled exactly those of Baba's photo.

Mrs. Kulkarni and the children all asked him whether he was Sai Baba of Shirdi.

He said 'No', but that he was an obedient servant of His and came there at His

order to enquire after the health of the family. Then he asked for Dakshina.

The lady gave him a rupee. He gave her a small packet of Udi, and asked her to

keep this in the shrine along with the photo for worship. Then he left the

house and went away. Now hear the wonderful Leela of Sai.

Appasaheb could not proceed with his tour as his horse fell sick at Bhivandi. He

returned home that afternoon and learnt from his wife about fakir's visit. He

smarted in his mind as he did not get the darshan of the fakir and he did not

like that only one rupee was paid as Dakshina. He said that had he been

present, he would have offered not less than rupees ten. Then he immediately

started in quest of the fakir and searched for him in the Masjid and other

places, without taking any food. His search was in vain. He then returned home

and took his food. The reader may remember here Baba's dictum in Chapter 32

that God's quest should not be made on an empty belly. Appasaheb got a lesson,

here about this. Then after meals he went out for a walk with a friend Mr.

Chitre. Going some distance they saw a man approaching them rapidly. Appasaheb

though that he must be the fakir that came to his house at noon, as his

features tallied with those of

baba in the photo. The fakir immediately put forth his hand and asked for

Dakshina. Appasaheb gave him a rupee. He demanded again and again and so

Appasaheb gave him two more. Still he was not satisfied. Then he borrowed Rs.

three from Mr. Chitre and gave them to him. He wanted still more. Appasaheb

asked him to accompany him to his home. Then they all returned home and

Appasaheb then gave him again three rupees, in all nine. He looked unsatisfied

and demanded again. Then he told him that he had a currency of Rs. ten. The

fakir asked for the same and took it and returned the nine rupees in cash and

went away. Appasaheb had said that he would pay Rs. ten and that sum was taken

from him and nine rupees, consecrated by Baba's touch, were returned to him.

The figure 9 is significant. It denotes the nine types of devotion (vide

Chapter 21). It may also be noted here that Baba gave Rs. nine to one Laxmibai

Shinde at His last moment.

Appasaheb examined the Udi-packet and found that it contained some flower-petals

and Akshata. Then some time afterwards he got hair from Baba when he saw Him at

Shirdi. He put the Udi-packet and the hair in a talisman and always wore it on

his arm. Appasaheb realized the power of the Udi. Though he was very clever he

got Rs. 40/- as pay in the beginning, but after he secured Baba's photo and His

Udi, he got many times forty rupees per month and also got much power and

influence; and along with these temporal benefits, his spiritual progress was

also rapid. So those who are fortune enough to get Baba's Udi should, after

bath, apply it on the forehead and take some little of it mixed with water in

the mouth as holy Tirth."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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