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

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Leela 103

In the Sai Satcharita Ch.9 the story of Ram Chandra Tarkad and his son Jothinder

is mentioned. How Jothinder extracted a promise from his father, to wor­ship

Baba's photograph in the sandalwood shrine daily. Ram Chandra assured him again

and again that he would perform the puja daily and offer naivedya, to Baba and

then have his lunch. Only after Jothinder was fully con­vinced of his father's

words did he accompany his mother to Shirdi. But one day his father forgot to

offer naivedya. Here at Shirdi Baba said ''What could I do O! mother? Today as

every day I went to Bandra but there was no rice, no gruel, nothing to eat or

drink. And hungry I have to return".

This Leela tells about Baba's divine sport. How He came to the Tarkad home in

the form of this photo­graph. One day Ram Chandra and Jothinder had an

identical dream. In the dream they saw a beautiful 'Devara' (a small shrine

kept in the home). Upon awak­ening both of them related the dream and were

surprised to note that their dreams were identical. Without delay both father

and son set out to buy the shrine. Finally they found a beautiful sandalwood

shrine and brought it home. Now all that was needed was a photograph of Baba

for 'pratistha' in it. The next day, Ram Chandra and Jothinder were taking a

stroll in Chor Bazar when they casually stopped at a shop. The shop keeper

ges­ticulated to them to come near. Not knowing what had happened they

approached him. He said "Here is your packet; please take it". Ram Chandra and

Jothinder

si­multaneously asked "What packet? Who gave it? For whom is it?" The shop

keeper then related the story.

"Yesterday a man stopped by and handed me this packet. He asked me to give it to

a person wearing a round cap, accompanied by his son, who has long hair. They

will come to your shop tomorrow". He then went away "as the description he gave

fits you perfectly, I am handing over the packet". They opened the packet and

found a portrait of Baba. They took the portrait home to the Prayer room.

Wonder of the wonders the portrait fit perfectly in the sandalwood shrine.

Jothinder besides being highly spiritual, loved Baba intensely. Thus Jothinder

adhered to the ritual of daily puja and offering naivedya to the portrait. In

fact he was willing to forgo his trip to Shirdi, lest his father forget to

offer naivedya to Baba."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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