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

[Guest guest]

Sairam,

 

He once made a remark which would intensify and strengthen our faith

in Him and give us some clue to His real nature. To some one who was

talking of God, He said "Why do you say 'God', 'God?' God is in my

pocket?" As to God's dual or multiple function, (suggested for

instance by the Trimurtnis welded into one as Datta or Brahman) He

once made a pregnant remark. With His usual lavish generosity coupled

with personal humility He was one day preparing His Handi, Himself

cooking food for hundreds and freely feeding the poor and all that

wanted the food, with His own personal labour. While the Handi was

being boiled, a Fakir came, who was particularly keen on getting

animal food and He put some flesh into the Handi. As Baba was going

on with His cooking, Balasaheb Mirikar evidently disgusted with the

transformation of an Innocent . vegetarian Bhandar to all into a

special dinner for those who loved to feast by killing animals for

filling their stomachs, asked Baba "Why all this Himsa, i.e., cruelty

to other creatures for feeding ourselves?" Baba then answered

cryptically i.e., literally, "He that slays saves; He that saves

slays". This apart from its implied or express reference to the

tripartite functions of the God that creates, maintains and withdraws

or destroys might be deemed more particularly to refer to the

special function of Sat Purushas like Sai Baba, who bless one with

Sadgati when that one (human or subhuman creatures) dies or is killed

at their feet or in their proximity.I may close this account with two

incidents from the life of the Late Mr.H.S.Dixit personally

communicated by him to me. Mr.Dixit was literally getting embarrassed

in his financial arrangements. On one occasion he found that a sum of

Rs. 30.000 was due four days later and he was troubled about the

question wherefrom and how he was to get the money. That night he

dreamt of the creditor as tormenting him with his claim for the

amount and he replied in the dream to the creditor in order to

reassure him "Do not fear that your amount will not be duly repaid. I

have my resources. I know Sri Chimanlal, Sir X and Sir Y. So do not

fear. Shortly thereafter he woke up and remembered the dream. He

was aghast at his own ungrateful folly and stupidity in relying on

the poor human support of Sir X, Sir Y and Sir Z who would probably

disappoint one at the critical moment and leave him in the lurch and

his failing to recognize that his only and true sheet-anchor or

Providence was Sri Sai. He wept at his folly and went before the

portrait of Sai Baba and entreated Him to pardon the folly.

Thereafter he felt assured that Baba and Baba alone would help him.

It was up to Baba to save him and Baba would never fail a devotee at

the hour of need. Yet as the day and hour for payment were nearing,

he could not discover any money forthcoming. Just the day previous

to the due date, while he was ruminating upon his affairs in his

office, the son of his late intimate friend and banker called upon

him and wanted his advice whether a sum of Rs.30,000 he had, should

be invested in one way or in another. Mr.Dixit explained to him

difficulties in the proposed investments and added that if the

investor was thinking of investing with Mr.Dixit himself, he would be

the last person to take advantage of his intimacy with his father and

accept the deposit. Mr.Dixit frankly stated that in his embarrassed

condition, he would not be able perhaps to return the deposit on the

date fixed. The visitor far from being deterred by such revelation

insisted that the revealed facts were just his reason for insisting

that Mr.Dixit should accept the deposit. The son would not be true to

his father, if he failed to help him with an accommodation at the

time of need. In this view, he pressed the deposit on Mr.Dixit, who

thereupon paid, his creditor at the due date. Sai had shown Himself

capable of wielding tens of thousands of rupees and moulding peoples'

wills and intentions to suit His scheme of helping His

devotees.Mr.Dixit's younger brother, Sadashiv, B.A., LL.B., tried his

hand at practice at Nagpur, Bombay and Khandwa successively with

disheartening results. Then H.S.Dixit cast lots before Baba, and with

Baba's consent again took him to Bombay to work in his office. After

a short time, the result seemed to be unsatisfactory. Mr. Sadashiv

told his brother that he would go away. H.S.D. wondered how in spite

of Baba's approval of Sadashiv's being taken to Bombay, the step

should prove to be utterly futile. In any case, he thought, he would

postpone his brother's return to Khandwa till after the approaching

Deepavali holidays. During those days, things took a strange turn. A

friend of Mr.H.S.Dixit came to him and said that the Cutch State

required a highly reliable Officer for their Bank with a knowledge of

Gujarati. At once Mr.H.S.Dixit asked him if Mr.Sadashiv would suit.

The friend was very glad to have Sadashiv (whom he believed not to be

available) and recommended him to the State. Thenceforward, Sadashiv,

who was found a failure at Law in so many places, got appointed on a

salary of Rs. 1,000 a month and held it for a long time. This upshot

showed that Baba in allowing or directing his devotee to go to Bombay

was seeing not merely the immediate and near future but more distant

prospects and enduring

benefits.

-- to be contd

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