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

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Many incidents are given in the Satcharitra about skeptics who became ardent

devotees of Baba. The Malegaon doctor (Sai Satcharitra Ch.34), Solicitor Jetha

Bhai Thakkar (Sai Satcharitra Ch.35) and many others. The story of Bala Saheb

Bhate is mind boggling. He was a Mamlatadar at Kopergaon, and a long time

friend of Chandorkar. They knew each other since college. While Chandorkar was

well versed in religious scriptures, Bala Saheb was just the opposite.

Chadorkar was an ardent devotee of Baba and Bala a skeptic. Whenever they met

Bala Saheb rediculed the very idea of a well educated person like Chandorkar

going to pay obescience to a human. Often he tried to convince the devotees

from not making the pilgrimage

to Shirdi. It seemed as if his mission in life was to sabotage the pilgrimage of

any devotee going to see Baba.

He was transferred to Sakori in 1894. There he heard a Kirtan about Kabir, and

Thamal by Sant Bahu Maharaj. Somehow he was drawn to it and heard it

attentively. He then came to Shirdi and took Baba's darshan. The very sight of

Baba filled him with peace and bliss. He just sat and stared at Baba, oblivious

of his surroundings. After a while his companions asked him to accompany them

back to Sakori. He just said "Wait, wait a little bit". They waited but he

continued sitting, and as hours rolled by, they left. So changed was he that he

decided to stay at Shirdi and make it his home. The once responsible person

seemed to have forgotten all about his job, family and home. He stayed on and

served Baba till His Maha Samadhi.

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This dramatic change caused concern amongst the other devoteess. Dixit,

Chandorkar and.Shama asked Baba to intervene. Baba asked him to apply for leave

for six months. This application he did write and send, but his mind was made

up. Even his superios, co-workers and friends came to advice him, and take him

back. He just said "Once a person finds his goal he should not leave it". His

employer knowing that he was a good employee gave him pension of Rs.25/- per

month on 'compassionate basis' because his mind was gripped by the Fakir of

Shirdi. Balasaheb, however, progressed spiritually under the compassionate

Fakir and he stayed on in Shirdi till his death.

Mention is made of him in Sai Satcharitra Ch. 1 and 44. After Baba's Mahasamadhi

the thirteenth day ceremony was conducted by Balasaheb Bhate when 'til anjali,

tilarpan and pinda pradan' was done."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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