DEVOTEES' EXPERIENCES OF SRI SAI BABA BY H.H. NARASIMHA SWAMIJI - PART II

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Sairam,Devotees Experiences – Shri Rao Bahadur S.B.DhumalAnother

public act of mine in which Baba's helping hand is traceable is

this. As President, District Local Board, Primary Schools were under

me. Deepawali holidays had fallen immediately after the close of

the month. The Educational Inspector a Mohammedan gentleman, one

day came to me and asked me to make disbursements to help the

teachers in such a big festival. At first I did not consider his

request seriously. Two or three days after, he again reminded me of

his proposal. I asked the Chief Officer whether this could be

done. He answered in the negative as sanction of Government grant

was not received and that Account Office informed my office not to

issue cheque in the absence of sanction. I was helpless. Again the

Educational Inspector opened the subject to me. I was inclined to

agree but wanted Baba's permission. I cast lots and Baba approved

disbursement. I at once issued cheque and sent the same to the

Account Office, with the result that it was cashed, payments made and

all the teachers were pleased. But what was to happen to me for

brushing aside the Accountant's objection and issuing the cheque? By

Baba's grace, it was nothing more than an audit objection raised long

after the event and communicated to me and my reply to it or

endorsement thereon was "noted for future guidance". There the matter

ended.Amidst the innumerable instances of Baba's help to me at every

turn or crisis of my life I may select a few. In 1910, my intimate

friend, Srimant Gopal Rao Buti, was anxious to help me. He agreed to

lend me the necessary sums to maintain me in England for my study at

the Bar and my family in India during my absence. We had settled in

full detail all parts of this scheme and went to Baba for His

approval. When Madhav Rao Deshpande put Him the question "Should not

Bhav (i.e., myself) be sent to Vilayat i.Le., England)?" Baba

asked "What for?"M.Deshpande : To study for the Bar.Baba : `No.

His Illayat (natural aptitude) and Vilayat (will of heaven) are not

in Bilayat, but in this country. Why should he go to England?' I

realised then that,the best laid schemes of mice and men do often

gang agley.In 1912, I underwent an operation in J.J. Hospital under

chloroform. It was a serious venture. But I saw Baba seated on a

chair at my head, close to the operation table before the chloroform

began to operate. He was there to look after me and I felt reassured.

The operation was, in fact, safely performed and was a success. In

1915, I was offered the Public Prosecutorship at Nasik but I took two

days' time to consider and wrote at once to Baba. Quickly came the

reply "Your former work is good. Do not accept the new" and I

declined the offer.In 1918, a few days before Baba passed away,

influenza was raging at Shirdi at Poona and many other places. At

Poona my brother's wife had a very serious attack and he wired to me

about it to Nasik. So I started at once with Rs.80 in my pocket to

cover expenses of the journey and to meet all contingencies. I halted

en route at Shirdi to get Baba's blessings and Udhi for the patient.

When I went to Him, Baba took from me dakshina repeatedly and the

Rs.80 or the balance thereof was cleared off my hand in no time. This

was no good augury of my trip to Poona being achieved or made useful

to the patient. When I craved leave to go, Baba said in His

characteristic fashion (reminding one of the form of the Regal

Veto "The King will consider") — i.e., we shall see (what to do)

tomorrow. He stopped me for three days. Meanwhile, a wire from Poona

announced that the patient had expired. After that Baba gave me leave

to go away. It was clear that Baba saw what was happening and to

happen to my sister-in-law and judged it best for her to depart from

the world and me to reach Poona some days after her departure. His

reasons for such judgement, I could not discover. But surely He was

in a position to judge and I was not. So I meekly accepted His

decision as final, as usual. This was shortly before He Himself

passed away and He gave me on the above occasion the last opportunity

of spending a few days with Him while He was in the flesh. By Baba's

grace, I soon recovered some part of my former financial position

after it was wrecked by District Local Board President ship or by

acceptance of other office.

 

- to be contd

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