Last chapter from the book LIVE EXPRIENCES OF THE TARKHAD FAMILY WITH SHRI SAI BABA OF SHIRDI

[Guest guest]

Sai Prasad from Aba Panshikar

Of course the real things lies ahead. When we made the blueprint of our bungalow

we decided to have a small marble Mandir for Pooja and meditation purpose. The

Mandir was ready and we had a strong desire of placing a life-size color

photograph of SaiBaba in it. We tried very hard but were unable to get one. It

was the month of April 1993. Mumbai had witnessed tragic bomb blasts in the

month of March and all people were scared to talk to any stranger. One day an

unknown person rang our doorbell late in the evening. My wife attended the

door, when one stranger was insisting that he wanted to see me in particular.

He was unable to say my name so my wife was rather doubtful about his identity.

Then I intervened and he recognized me. He recalled that we had met in Lendi

Baug in Shirdi and that I had narrated the

experience of Baba to him. Well I was then clear, he was one social worker from

Sai Mandir Pune and I allowed him into our house. As it was our dinner time we

offered him dinner and he obliged. During our discussion I told him about our

desire of a colored photograph of SaiBaba. He instantly replied that the

life-size portrait we will have to get it painted from an artist on the canvass

and if we are looking for a color photograph, then only Mr. Aba Panshikar can

help us. He had telephone number of Mr.Prabhakar Panshikar a well-known stage

artist of Marathi Theatre and younger brother of Mr. Aba Panshikar. I then

telephoned him and obtained the telephone Number of Mr.Aba Panshikar in London

and gave him the call. On hearing my request for a color photograph he only

replied that, in the month of May he would be in Mumbai and I can get in touch

with him at his brother's place in Prabhadevi. So I waited till May and got his

appointment for one Saturday evening. We all went i.e. my wife

Kunda, my daughter Sujal and my son Mahendra.on 22nd May 1993. I had no idea

about him at all and a gentleman in Saffron color robe, wearing a "Rudraksha"

Mala had appeared in front of us. Mr. Aba Panshikar introduced himself and I

offered my "Namaskar" to him with folded hands and gave him the introduction of

my family. He rather scolded me saying that how come we are with empty hands and

not having any Garland and Pedhas (a type of sweet) etc. I was rather surprised

because he had never told me that he had brought the photograph for us. I

anyway pleaded guilty and rushed to Siddhivinayaka Temple area and purchased a

garland of flowers and some Pedhas. He then went inside and brought along with

him an elephant size drawing storing box. He opened it and removed the drawing

paper roll. He unrolled the same and there was Our SAI in front of us sitting

on his famous Throne and giving his eternal smile to us. As advised by him, I

garlanded the colored photograph printed on 1mm. thick

Kodak paper and distributed Pedhas to all. Mr. Aba then wrote a message on it

stating "To Virendra, Kunda, Sujal and Mahendra, Sai Prasad from Aba

Panshikar"and signed at the bottom. He then said, "Please take your Treasure".

Believe me readers that was the, golden moment of my life. I was speechless and

did not know what to do. Undoubtedly it was a priceless treasure for me. I took

out Rs.1001/- from my pouch and offered him but he refused to accept. He said,

he does not sell photographs of Baba. Then I told him to accept as donation to

his Sai Temple in London. Reluctantly, he agreed but did not take money in hand

and told me to place the same on the table. He then inquired with us about our

background. I then told him the connection my father had with SaiBaba. On

hearing me, he literally embraced me and said he had received the greatest

pleasure of his life that day. He was emotional and went inside and brought two

one Rupee coins and gave it to me. I took them and prostrated

before him and said, "Now I am in receipt of real Prasad of Baba". He requested

for the explanation. I stated that "These two coins denote the Universal

message of Baba i.e. "Shraddha" and "Saburi" which he emanated to the whole

world during his life-time. Aba was overwhelmed with my explanation and tears

of joy rolled from his eyes and he went on to declare that he had met the true

Sai devotee that day and gave a bear hug to me.

Then Aba narrated his own story to us. His father was a chief priest of Ganapati

Mandir in Girgaum and when he was 8 years old one Muslim Fakir came in their

compound and offered a SaiBaba photo to him. Aba replied to that Fakir that he

is the son of a Brahmin and is not permitted to keep a photo of a Muslim Baba

in his house. The Fakir told him that "BETE AB TU ISE MAT LE PER TERI KISMATME

LIKHAHAI Kl TU ISKI ZINDAGIBHAR SEVA KAREGA AUR ISKE PHOTO LOGONKO BATA

KAREGA."(My son you may not accept this photo now but I can read your destiny

that you will be serving him through out your life and will distribute his

photographs to the people). The predictions of the Fakir were cent percent true

and Aba Panshikar was in the service of SaiBaba till his end. I request your

pardon that; I should have termed him as Late Aba Panshikar as he is no more with us.

Subsequently I organized to laminate the Precious photograph and made a good

wooden frame for it. On Guru Poornima day in the Year 1993 we consecrated the

same in our small Sai Mandir in our bungalow "Vijyot" at Vangaon. Ever since

then we celebrate our Guru Poornima over there in a simple and homely way.

So this is a small self-experience of mine. I do visit Shirdi whenever I have a

desire. I am a retired person now and with Sai's grace living a comfortable

life. We now only pray to Baba that both our children should also get their

life-partners who are Sai devotee's in-order to maintain the continuity of love

and devotion of the Tarkhad family towards Lord Sai.

Lastly I request all Sai devotees never to forget the two Maha Mantras given to

us by SaiBaba i.e."Shradha" and "Saburi" which means faith and patience and if

one truly abide by these two Mantras Baba grants your wishes without fail. I

would now like to end this book with my endless bows and the following apt

salutation to our ever-loving SAIBABA

"ANANTAKOTI BRAHMANDANAYAKA RAJADHIRAJ YOGIRAJ

PARABRHAMA

SHRI SATCHIDANANDA SATGURU SAINATH MAHARAJ Kl JAI

 

BY

VIRENDRA JYOTINDRA TARkHAD

----

 

With Baba Nothing is Impossible

Baba guide us all

Sairam

Manisha

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