THE MERCIFUL SAI BABA (November 1985)

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THE MERCIFUL SAI BABA (November 1985)

"PEOPLE ARE VERY IGNORANT. WHEN THEY DO NOT SEE MY PHYSICAL BODY, THEY THINK

I AM ABSENT."

- Shirdi SAI BABA

 

"The result of "Karma" is inevitable. But, by repeating the Name of God, you

can lessen its intensity. If you are destined to have a wound as wide as a

ploughshare, you'll get pinprick."

- Holy Mother SARADAMANI DEVI

 

In the course of my work, I had to make a business call at SURI in Birbhum

Dist., West Bengal. It is my practice to carry always in my VIP brief case a

cabinet size coloured photograph of the SAI-Idol of Shirdi Sai Baba in the

Samadhi Shrine, Sai-Udhi, Joss Sticks etc., to enable me to worship Sai even

in my tours. I boarded an Express Bus (WNM 4821) at 6.30 a.m on 5-8-'85 at

the Esplanade Bus Stand with my personal effects. The bus sped off at 7.00

a.m. and I alighted at BURDWAN for snacks and tea with my co-passengers at

10.25 a.m. We were allowed 10 minutes time. I went back to the bus stand

after six minutes to find to my horror that the bus was gone with my VIP

brief case containing the Company's important documents also. It hurt me to

the quick; but I realized soon that only Sai Baba could rescue it for me and

I should also play my part in the game. When I was to chart my course of

action, I beheld a YEZDI nearby. I requested its driver to help me and he

agreed. He drove it at 60 M.P.H. a part of the way. Then I switched over to

a lorry, then to a State Bus with a view to pursuing the Express Bus but

failed. By now, I was at PANAGARH, exhausted. Despite my dedicated service

to the helpless children of Shirdi Sai Baba, panic gripped me for while. I

did not like anything to be half-done. Suddenly the line, "Do your duty and

Sai will do His" hit my mind. I gathered courage and caught the 12.30 p.m.

Express Bus bound for SURI. It arrived at Suri at 2.50 p.m.

 

My living and pulsating faith in Shirdi Sai Baba helped my mind not to run

amuck as thought my mind was on Sai and the important documents in the brief

case. I ran from pillar to post and finally located the Express Bus (WNM

4821) near the Birbhum Cinema Hall. It was empty. Its driver and the

conductor were relaxing. I related to them my woes. They suggested to me to

take a close look inside the bus and try my luck and they added with a touch

of Hitchcockian mystery that the bus was already swept clean by the sweeper

a few minutes ago. All the same, I boarded the bus and after a careful

search seat by seat found to my joy my VIP brief case untampered below my

reserved Seat No.3. I reported my finding to them and they were taken aback,

not me. I opened the brief case to show them Shirdi Sai Photo & Udhi and

they instantly saluted Him saying unconsciously that it was He who made this

brief case invisible to the sweeper.

 

The play of DESTINY and the mercy of Shirdi SAI BABA did not come to an end

here.

On my return journey to Calcutta, I went to AHMEDPUR Railway Stn., and

waited there for boarding a connecting train to Burdwan. The scheduled

Burdwan Passenger train was late. So "Kanchanjunga" Express train was the

one available train to reach Burdwan. Even though it stops at AHMEDPUR

railway station signal point on all nights, this night the signal was clear

and it thundered past all of us. Two hours later, the Burdwan passenger

train crawled to the AHMEDPUR railway stn., i.e., at 9.20 p.m. Hardly four

passengers were in the compartment. I grew suspicious and thought of a

probable encounter with dacoits later. Those four Bengali passengers advised

me not to take any risk but to alight at BHOLPUR and spend the night in a

hotel. I heeded their advice. When I glance — at 'The Telegraph" next

daybreak at my hotel at Bholpur, I read the report that the "Kanchanjunga"

Express train that had sped past us at AHMEDPUR had collided with a

stationary goods train between TALIT and KANAN Jn., killing a few and

injuring many. How deeply grateful I was to Sai that He had saved me from an

encounter with death.

 

Thus Shirdi SAI BABA helped me to continue my bodily existence in this

mundane world to serve His children and my dependants who are also His

devout children.

 

Every act of man is a chisel stroke of destiny; but every Divine Act of

Shirdi Sai Baba neutralises the negative destiny of his faithful devotee.

 

T.R. ANAND

Calcutta-700 029.

 

 

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

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