MERCIFUL SAIBABA (March 1986) - M. Nemichand Jain

[Guest guest]

MERCIFUL SAIBABA (March 1986)

 

The Leelas of Saibaba who is the ocean of Mercy are many in the lives of

His devotees. I wish to share one such Leela with the devotee readers of

Shree Sai Leela through this maiden article.

 

It was on a Tuesday of June, 1960, (I do not remember the exact date) a

tall and well built Fakir with a joli stood near our Shri jewellary shop,

Pot Market, Secunderabad. He had to wait for more than half an hour as I was

busy with the customers. When I was little bit free I asked "What do you

want?Five annas" was the immediate reply of the Fakir. I searched the

cash box but did not find one anna to make "Five annas". He refused to

accept either more or less. Suddenly he asked "Are you not suffering from

severe stomach pain?" On hearing this I was shocked and surprised for a

couple of minutes. I wondered as to how the beggar could know my ailment. It

was a fact that I was suffering from pain and no specialist treatment could

give me complete relief. He agreed to give me 'medicine' on certain

conditions. First, I should stop other medicines. Second, I should start

pooja of Shirdi Sai Baba from Thursday after getting relief by that day. He

had given some concession regarding pooja. If possible I could offer sweets

as naivedya otherwise I should light atleast two agar-batties and offer

namaskar. A simple pooja was advised by him. I expressed my willingness to

carry out all the conditions. Then he wanted me to spread my palms before

him. I obeyed. He put 'Udi' (sacred ash) taking out from his joli into my

hands with instructions to take a little quantity inside the mouth and also

to apply on forehead. He wanted me to follow this treatment for two days

only i.e., on Tuesday and Wednesday. As assured by the Fakir I got complete

relief on the third day i.e. Thursday. In this connection we may remember

Baba's assurance vide Chapter 13 of Sai Satcharita "If you surrender to Me

with devotion, I will ever be with you day and night". As stated in the same

chapter of Sai Satcharita, I feel "The real medicine that cured the various

diseases permanently was Baba's word and grace and not any medicine or

drugs".

 

Regarding his consultation fees, now he enhanced from five annas to one

rupee four annas. The four anna bits I was having earlier were now not

available (perhaps given to customers) to give one rupee and four annas

"fees". He again refused to accept either one pie more or less. While I was

searching he slowly slipped away. We made hectic search. But did not find

him anywhere. We may here note Sai Baba's declaration to Megha "I require no

door to enter. I have no form nor any extension. I always live everywhere"

{Chap. 28 of Satcharit) Such being the case how was it possible for a human

being like me to find Him.

 

The readers may note that Baba was always demanding and accepting from

certain devotees specified amount only. He was accepting neither less nor

more. What Baba demanded from me might not be five annas but (1) five senses

(2) five pranas, (3) mind (4) intellect and (5) ego. If it were money He

would have accepted whatever was offered by me.

 

His instruction to put atleast two agarbathis reminds us of the two coins

viz., Faith and Patience which Sai demands from the devotees. The emphasis

on the word 'atleast' reminds us of His declaration in Chap-13 of Satcharita

"I do not need any paraphernalia of worship either eightfold or sixteen

fold. I rest there where there is full devotion".

 

My beloved parents Late S. Megharaj Jain and Srimathi Keli Bai were devout

persons doing regular pooja of our family dieties. Shirdi Sai did not find a

place in the Pooja Mandir till this incident. After completely getting

relief I started Sai pooja on the very day He wanted me to do. In the month

of August, 1960 (date do not remember) we visited Shirdi for the first time.

The Fakir clearly told me to worship Shirdi Sai Baba and directed me to go

Shirdi only. Dear Readers! The Fakir who came to my shop was found sitting

on the throne in the Samadhi Mandir of Shirdi. Perhaps to confirm to me that

the Fakir was none else than Sai Baba, He was sitting till I put one rupee

four annas in the Hundi and later disappeared I saw the attractive marble

statue only in place of the Fakir after offering the dakshina.

 

The above experience affirms the truth stated by the author of Sai

Satcharita vide Chap. 33 "Was Baba living because He was in the body and is

He dead because He left it? No, Baba is ever alive, for He transcends both

life and death. He who loves Him once whole heartedly gets response from Him

at any time and at anyplace."

 

If Sai permits I shall narrate the Sai Seva I was made to render all these

25 years in due course.

 

 

M. Nemichand Jain

Secunderabad-500003.

 

 

(The experiences of Devotees as published in Shri Sai Leela Magazine, can be

read at www.saileelas.org/magazines/SAILEELA/exp.htm)