Devotees Experiences Nachne part 1

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SANTARAM BALWANT NACHNE DAHANUKAR, says

 

 

In 1909, some events took place which at that time

seemed to be little connected with Sai Baba. In that

year, one "day my elder brother was undergoing an

operation very near his throat in Bajekar's Hospital

at Bombay; and we were all anxious about it. I was at

Dahanu then and a Sadhu approached and asked me if he

could get a crumb or two of bread. We invited him

inside and gave him a regular course of dishes, Le., a

full meal. My sister-in-law was serving him all

dishes; but she intentionally omitted at first to give

him "Bendi Baji" Le., a dish made of lady's fingers -

thinking that it was too poor a stuff to be given to a

revered and saintly guest. But the Sadhu himself

called for Bendi Baji; and it was then served. That

Sadhu blessed us all and told us that the operation at

the hospital that day had been safely performed. The

same day my friend, Haribhav Moreswar Panse told me

that he hoped that the operation by the grace of Sri

Sai Baba, would be a success. That was the first

mention of Sai Baba to me. I had not then known of

him. Evidently Panse had. Later in the evening ,

we learnt from my father who returned from the

hospital that the operation had been performed and

that there was no trouble or danger. After the

operation a Sadhu had appeared there and approaching

the patient passed his hands over the operated part of

the body, and said all would go on well. The

operation proved quite safe and my brother recovered.

 

 

During our stay, Baba revealed his interest in me and

my family. When H.S.Dixit, Job and Dabolkar were

present, He hold them, I had been to this man's house"

- and here he pointed to me "for a meal. He did not

give me Bendi Baji. My mind darted back at once to the

Sadhu who in 1909 at the time of my brother's

operation was dining with us. And I felt assured that

in the form of one Sadhu or another, Baba was

interested in our welfare and helping us even in 1909

unknown to ourselves. Later, I told those gentlemen

of the "Bendi Baji" which my sister-in-law had first

failed to serve the Sadhu on that occasion. That

Sadhu appeared to be an entirely different man from

Sai Baba. I saw him also on the two or three days

following the operation at Dahanu and had excellent

opportunities of observing him at close quarters. He

went away from Dahanu and was not seen again

thereafter.

 

 

Baba took Udhi from my hand and applied it to my

forehead - a mark of favour and love that is not

bestowed on all. Again when people were assembling

for Arati at the Masjid, and I was among them, Baba

asked me to go and take my meal. I said it was

Ekadasi. Usually I did not fast on Ekadasi days; but

my two friends did and I had to conform to their ways

and not be singular and claiming advantages which

they did not share. But Baba did not want me to fast.

He said (referring to my companions) These people are

mad. You had better go to the Wada and eat." The

person who had to serve the food at the wada was

grumbling that I should be clamouring for food on an

Ekadasi day and would not give me food till Arati was

over. So he came to the Mosque and I also returned to

the Mosque. Baba again questioned me if I had messed

but I said that it was time for Arati and so the meal

might be deferred till the completion of the Arati.

But Baba 'insisted and said "The Arati will wait and

will begin after you' finish your meal and come." The

hotel man had to yield and gave me food. Then I went

to the Mosque for the Arati. At that time a lady

generally known as "Mavusi" brought beda (le., rolled

up betel and nut) to Baba. Baba gave me some and

asked me to eat. As it is usual to avoid chewing

betel and nut (which are considered as luxuries and

for that and other reasons avoided on Ekadasi days) I

hesitated. Baba said again, "Eat it." I obeyed

and chewed the beda. At the close of the Arati Baba

took dakshina of Rs.4 from me and Rs.16 from Vaidya.

He did not ask Date for dakshina, as he was evidently

not disposed to give it. There was a young Marwadi

girl that was hankering after fruit and asked Baba for

"orange". Baba by his own powers knew that Date had

kept back some oranges at the wada and brought only

the remainder to be offered at the Mosque and so asked

Date to go and get the oranges. But Date was

assertive and said that the fruit was retained by him

for "Faral", Le., his own light meal on the Ekadasi

day. He declined to part with it, despite Baba's

request. Baba did not press his request further.

 

source:devotees experiences of sai baba

by h.h.narasimhaswamiji

www.saileelas.org

 

 

 

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