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

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without any family and my needs are few. I was not one of those who got moneys

form Baba. Several of those that he was regularly paying everyday were

subjected to Income-Tax. After Lokamanya Tilak visited Baba (1915-1917) the

Income-Tax department directed its attention to the Shlrdi Samasthan. Some of

Qcer came to Shirdi and watched the income. They wanted first to tax Sai Baba,

but (perhaps seeing that He had little left with Him to proceed upon) they

taxed His regular donees: Viz. Tatya Patch Bade Baba, Bagia and Bayyaji Patel.

For me as also for Mahlsapathy. Baba took care to see that we were not

pestered with money and its cares. He has given me spiritual benefit far

superior to mone­tary gifts. He has created

and confirmed my faith in various ways. He has taught me valuable lessons and

given me precious experience. Once for Mahashivaratri, I was at Shirdf and I

wanted to have "Gangasnan" (i.e., a dip in the river Godavari) at Singaba

(three miles off Shirdi) that day. Megha daily brought that water for

sprinkling or pouring (Abhisheka) over Baba as Ganga must naturally fall on

Mahadeva's head. But Baba did not allow me to go. He said "Ganga is here at my

feet. Do not go ." I felt depressed. Theoretically, I knew that He was

Narayana and that Ganga flowed from Narayana's feet. But that was a poor weak

faith insufficient to give my heart the pleasure which a tangible Ganges bath

would give me. Baba knew my mentality and asked me to approach his feet and

hold my palm near the feet. The water began to flow from both his feet. It was

not a few drops like perspiration. It was-rather a slow and thin current. In a

short time, say a few minutes, I had collected a palmful of that water. Here

was Ganga and I was delighted. I bathed i.e., sprinkled the water over my

head. I did not drink this water. Usually I do not drink the Tirtha offered

at Baba's Arati. On one occasion Jog complained to Baba about it. Baba then

said that I should abide by my own convictions and sampradaya and that Jog

should not trouble me.

mso-layout-grid-align: none">But Baba did not always respect orthodoxy at least

in some matters. My orthodoxy keeps me off from eating on­ions in any form.

Baba on the other hand, liked onions and would seldom have a meal without

onions. He told me to prepare Pitla i.e., sauce of onions, give to Him and eat

part of it. I prepared it and brought it to him. He asked me if I ate it at my

lodgings. I said yes. But really what I did there was to touch the onion dish

with a finger tip and touch my chin with it and draw a line from my chin to the

nether lip as a token of my tasting it and I would wash my hand and face

thereafter. To Be contd ---DEVOTEES CAN READ THIS BOOK FROM THE BOOK

SECTION OF WWW.SAILEELAS.ORG/BOOKS/EXPPART3.HTM

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