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

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The wonderous Leela of the cure of Harishchandra Pithale's epileptic son is

given in Ch.26 of Sai Satcharitra. Harishchandra was blessed by Baba who said

"Bapu I have given you Rs.2/- earlier, keep these Rs.3/- along with them, and

perform their proper puja, regularly. It will benefit you greatly".

Harishchandra returned home and tried to solve the mystery of Baba's words, as

it was the first trip to Shirdi. His mother narrated how his father had

received Rs.2/- from Swamy Samarth, earlier thus solving the mistery.

The whole family had gathered to hear, all about the pilgrimage to Shirdi. His

brother Vishnu Pant Balwant was also present, and a keen desire to visit Shirdi

arose in him. He worked as a Thalati in Ville Parle and was rather busy. In 1917

he first visited Shirdi. Carefully he made all preparations, and roamed the

fruit market so he could get the choicest unripe mangoes. Finally he found a

fruit vendor who had delectable mangoes. Making sure that the fruit were

unblemished and unripe he bought a basket of mangoes and set out to Shirdi.

Thinking in his mind "If I get ripe mangoes they will spoil by the time I reach

Shirdi, but these unripe mangoes will rippen there".

He reached Kopergaon and proceeded thence to Shirdi. Here at Shirdi Baba was

sitting with his devotees and talking, when the Dwarakamai was filled with an

aroma of mangoes. The devotees looked at each other and wondered where the

mangoes were kept. As Baba said nothing they just waited. Vishnu Pant in the

meantime reached Shirdi and kept his belongings and the mangoes in the room and

went for 'Dhuli Darshan'. Baba welcomed him saying "What have you brought for

Me? Where are the mangoes?" Vishnu Pant was abashed and said "Baba the mangoes

are in the room as they are unripe" to which Baba replied "Go and fetch them,

cann't you smell them?" Vishnu Pant went to the room and brought the basket and

placed it before Baba.Upon opening it he was surprised that the mangoes

were rippened perfectly and were ready to eat.

Happily Vishnu Pant stayed at Shirdi for three days. He made sure he had Rs.15/-

for expenses for his return journey. On the day of his departure he bought a

photograph of Baba hoping that Baba would touch it. He carried it to the

Dwarakamai and waited. Baba beckoned to him saying "Bhau give Me Rs.15/- as

dakshina". Vishnu Pant atonce empted his pocket and gave the Rs.15/-. Then Baba

asked him for the photograph, which he happily gave. His joy knew no bounds when

Baba took the photograph and held it to his heart for a moment. He returned the

photograph and granted him permission to go.

Vishnu Pant though happy was in a quandry, as he had no money. Finally he

decided to walk to Kopergaon as there was no money for the tonga. He walked

about half a mile or so when a tonga drew up and stopped near him. The driver

said "What are you doing walking in the heat of the day? You do not look like a

villager?"

Vishnu Pant replied "I am Thalati so I am going to the next village". The tonga

driver laughed and said "Come and have a seat I will take you to Kopergaon".

Vishnu Pant was relieved, and he reached Kopergaon. He alighted from the tonga

and collected his belongings. He looked up to thank the tonga driver, but, the

driver and the tonga had disappeared.

He went into the station and looked around hoping he could find some

acquintances. But no one was around from whom he could borrow money. Finally

the train pulled in and he decided to travel ticketless and bear the

consequences. At the next station the Ticket Collector entered his compartment

looking at him he said "Namaskar, Pithale Saab". Vishnu Pant however, could not

recognise him. He feared that since the Ticket Collector recognised him he would

surely ask for his ticket and would cause a great deal of embrassement. But no

such thing happened, and he reached Bombay without any problem.

The next day a huge automible pulled up to his doorstep. A welldressed gentleman

came to his home and enquired "Are you Thalati, Vishnu Pant Pithale?" Vishnu

Pant was beweldered and thought "I must be in trouble now, why is he asking if

I am the Thalati?" The gentlaman said "I am J.R.D. Tata, I am in the process of

buying land at Sahar (the present air-port). I have a huge staff on my pay roll

but they can't transcribe the Marathi papers into English and vice-verse. I

heard you are a capable Thalati and also bylingual". Vishnu Pant was aghast at

what he said and nodded his head. Then the gentlaman continued "as a Thalati

you earn only Rs.35/- a month. If you agree to work for me I will give you

Rs.150/- per a month". Quickly Vishnu Pant said "I will do this transcription

for you, but give me two days to

think about working for you". Tata said "Alright" then drove off.

Vishnu pant was in turmoil now. "What if I give up my Government job with

pension and benefits and this man does not keep his word? What if he dismisses

me after his work is done?" he thought. He spent a restless night. Suddenly it

dawned on him that Baba had emptied his pocket of Rs.15/- and was returning it

ten fold. Two days later Tata's Secretary came to his home with the job

'appointment letter' and the details of the job benefits etc. And asked him to

sign on the dotted line. He bowed to the photograph that Baba had blessed and

signed."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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