MIRACLES DO HAPPEN (July 1983)

[Guest guest]

MIRACLES DO HAPPEN (July 1983)

 

At an invitation from our close relatives, my father arrived in Avasari

Khurd, a remote village in Pune District for a change of climate.

Immediately after his arrival there, he was asked to visit the temple of

Bhairavnath, the village deity for darshan as is the custom in the said

village. My father instantly agreed and made his way towards the temple of

Bhairavnath. As he entered the temple premises, he noticed a dying cow near

the adjoining hall of the temple. Some villagers, who were standing

nearby, were gossiping and took no notice of the dying cow. This somewhat

irritated my father and he asked one of the villagers as to what had

happened to the cow. He was told by one of them that the cow was bitten by

a venomous snake early morning and she was to be revived by performing

certain customary rites in the temple. Amazed at the villager’s statement,

my father asked. “What on earth can now save this dying cow, who is

breathing heavily with tongue lolled ? Is not this an indication of death

?” The villager asked my father not to argue and urged him to come to the

temple as soon as the performance of the rites begins. Though my father had

faith in God, he thought that it was sheer madness to try to revive a cow,

which was almost dead as a result of the snake bite. However, he hurriedly

made his way towards our relative’s house and asked one of the respected

elders whether it was possible to revive dying cow through performance of

rites in Bhairavnath temple. He was told that the revival of a snake-bite

victim was so common an event in their village and in the vicinity that no

one takes notice of it.

 

My father then returned to the temple. The priest of the temple had

arrived and with wet clothes on he entered the inner chamber of the temple,

where the idol of Bhairavnath was installed. The priest went in deep

trance while the villagers assembled in the outer hall of the temple and

forming two rows, began to ring the bells violently, reciting the

incantation “Bhairavnath Changbhale” at the top of their voice to the rhythm

of the ringing bells. After about an hour, the reciting of incantation and

ringing of bells reached climax and lo ! The trident erected in front of

the temple door moved slightly. The villagers were jubilant since the

moving of the trident was taken to be an indication that the dying cow was

sure to be revived. After a while, the cow got up suddenly as if awakened

from sleep. The owner of the cow, who was among the onlookers came

forward, patted the cow affectionately and bowed down before the deity with

gratitude and deep reverence. The villagers then dispersed.

 

Taken aback, my father made his way towards the house of our relative.

The topic regarding revival of the cow was opened by my father after supper

and in the course of the conversation he requested one of the family members

to account for the phenomenon. He explained the phenomenon thus.

 

“Deity Bhairavnath” is the form of Lord Shiva and exercises control over

the reptile world. In the said village, in case of snake bite, all that we

have to do is to take the victim to the temple of Bhairavnath and pray with

utmost devotion. The temple priest plays important role in revival of the

victim as you have yourself noticed. All that I can say is that there is a

supreme power which pervades this Universe. Nothing is impossible if you

surrender whole heartedly to the said power with utmost devotion. The very

power violates the limits set out by science and the phenomenon such as

described above occurs.

 

Incidentally, Sai Baba had been preaching to His followers to cultivate in

them good qualities, the main quality being ‘devotion’, devotion is the

basic principle on which Sai Baba’s philosophy rests.

 

S.N. Awachat

Bombay – 400 001.

 

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

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