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

[Guest guest]

Sairam,

 

Devotees Experiences – Mrs. Manager

 

VI

21st MAY, 1936.

 

Mrs. Manager, Holy city, says:

 

It is very difficult to describe Sai Baba and our experience of Hhim,

but one may talk about some things relating to Hhim.

My daughter took ill when she was fifteen months old and I was sore

distressed. Just then my brother-in-law came back from Shirdi and was

sounding the high praise of Sai Baba. I then said that if the child

recovered, we should go with our child to Shirdi and pay our respects

to Sai Baba. The child recovered and we went up to fulfil our vow.

One's first impression of Sai Baba was derived from Hhis eyes. There

was such power and penetration in Hhis glance that none could

continue to look at Hhis eyes. One felt that Sai Baba was reading

him, or her, through and through. Soon one lowered one's eyes and

bowed down. One felt that He was not only in one's heart, but in

every atom of one's body. A few words, a gesture would reveal to one

that Sai Baba knew all about the past, present and even future and

about everything else. There was nothing else to do for one, except

to submit trustfully and to surrender oneself to Him. And there He

was to look after every minute detail, and guide one safe through

every turn and every vicissitude of life. He was the Antaryami, call

Him God or Satpurusha in Sahaja Sthithi or what you like. But the

overpowering personality was there, and in Hhis presence no doubts,

no fears, no questioning had any place and one resigned oneself and

found that was only course, the safest and best course. From one's

first entry into His presence, one went on getting experience of His

power. His all-knowing and all-pervasive personality, His protecting

care. that shielded one, wherever one went and at any time whatsoever.

I shall give some instances of Hhis Antanjamitva that I personally

got or learnt of in the early days of my stay at Shirdi.

Shirdi in those days was a neglected hamlet without any lighting,

sweeping and other conveniences of civilization.

 

It has had some improvement since. But when I was there, the streets

and passages were all dark and unlit at night. One night I was

walking about. But suddenly and abruptly I stopped. There was no

sound or sight to account for my stopping. For some unknown reason I

felt I must stop and I did. A little time passed and a light was

brought by some one and there Lo, and behold! at the very place where

I was to have placed my foot at the next step, there was a serpent

lying quiet. Of course, if I had put my foot, the consequences might

have been very serious, if not fatal. The light showed what the

danger was that I escaped. But I could not have guessed of its

existence so near me by the use of my own powers, in the absence of

the light. Why and how had I stopped so abruptly and how did the

light come in so opportune a moment to show me the danger? The only

answer is-the all-seeing and ever watchful power and protective grace

of Sai Baba. He has saved this body of mine from death on many

occasions. But these or some of these will be mentioned later on.

To take another instance. We used to go and sit near Sai Baba at Hhis

Mosque. Any one could go up at the usual time, without permission

asked of or introduction taken to Sai Baba and bow before Hhim and

all there. On one occasion, as I was seated at a short distance from

Sai Baba. Tthere came a leper to the Mosque. His disease was far

advanced. He was stinking and he had little strength left in him, so

that it was with much difficulty and very slowly, he clambered up the

three steps of the Mosque, moved on to the Dhuni (fire) and then to

Sai Baba and placed his head on Baba's feet. It took so much time for

him to take Hhis Darshan. and I feeling the strench from him

intensely, hoped he would clear off. At last when he got down slowly

carrying a small parcel wrapped up in a dirty cloth, I felt relief

and said within myself, "Thank God. He is off." Sai Baba at once

darted a piercing glance at me, and I knew that Hhe read my thought

bBefore the leper had gone far, Sai Baba called out and sent some one

to fetch him back. The man came. It was again the slow process of his

clambering up, emitting foul strench all the time; and as the man

bowed to Baba, Baba picked up that parcel saying "What is this?"7*and

opened it. It contained some "pedas," (i.Le., milk sweets) and Sai

Baba took up a piece and gave it to me alone of all present-and asked

me to eat it. What horror! To eat up a thing brought by the stinking

leper! But it was Sai Baba's order, and there was no option but to

obey. So I ate it up. Sai Baba took another piece and Hhimself

swallowed it and then sent the man away with the remainder. Why he

was recalled and I alone was the chosen recipient of his peda,. none

then understood. But I knew full well that Sai Baba had read my heart

and was teaching me valuable lessons, (e.g.,in humility, fraternity,

sympathy, endurance and trust in His Supreme wisdom rather than in my

own notions of hygiene and sanitation for saving me from disease).

 

 

-- to be contd

 

 

Devotees can read this book from the Book Section of

www.Saileelas.org/books/exppart2.htm