SRI SAI SATCHARITA and SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM - II

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Om Sri Sai Ram

SRI SAI SATCHARITA and SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM

The Life Stories of the Two Avatars of the Age – II

SHRI SAI SATCHARITA

The Life of the Divine Avatar Sai Baba of Shirdi

By Hemadpant

CHAPTER II

Object of Writing the Work - Incapacity and Boldness in the Undertaking - Hot

Discussion – Conferring Significant and Prophetic Title of Hemadpant -

Necessity of a Guru.

In the last Chapter, the author mentioned in the original Marathi book that he

would state the reason that led him to undertake the work, and the persons

qualified to read the same and such other points. Now in this chapter, he

starts to tell the same.

OBJECT OF WRITING THE WORK

In the first chapter, I described Sai Baba’s miracle of checking and destroying

the epidemic of Cholera by grinding wheat and throwing the flour, on the

outskirts of the village. I heard other miracles of Sai Baba to my great

delight, and this delight burst forth into this poetic work. I also thought,

that the description of these grand miracles of Sai Baba would be interesting,

and instructive to His devotees; and would remove their sins, and so I began to

write the sacred life and teachings of Sai Baba. The life of the saint is

neither logical nor dialectical. It shows us the true and great path.

INCAPACITY AND BOLDNESS IN UNDERTAKING THE WORK

Hemadpant thought that he was not a fit person to undertake the work. He said,

"I do not know the life of my intimate friend nor do I know my own mind, then

how can I write the life of a saint or describe the nature of Incarnations,

which even the Vedas were unable to do? One must be a saint himself, before he

could know other saints, then how can I describe their glory? To write the life

of a saint is the most difficult, though one may as well measure the depth of

the water of the seven seas or enclose the sky with cloth-trappings. I knew

that this was the most venturous undertaking, which might expose me to

ridicule. I, therefore, invoked Sai Baba’s grace.

The premier poet-saint of Maharashtra, Shri Jnaneshwar Maharaj, has stated that

the Lord loves those who write the lives of saints; and the saints also have a

peculiar method of their own of getting the service, which the devotees long

for, successfully accomplished. The saints inspire the work; the devotee

becomes only an indirect cause or instrument to achieve the end. For instance,

in 1700 Shaka year, the poet Mahipati aspired to write the lives of saints.

Saints inspired him, and got the work done; so also in 1800 Shaka year, Das

Ganu’s service was accepted. The former wrote 4 works-Bhakta Vijaya, Santa

Vijaya, Bhakta Leelamrit and Santa Kathamrit, while the latter wrote two -

"Bhakta Leelamrit and Santa Kathamrit", in which the lives of modern Saints

were described. In chapters

31,32,33 of Bhakta Leelamrit and in chapter 57 of Santa Kathamrit, the sweet

life and teachings of Sai Baba are very well depicted. These have been

separately published in Sai Leela Magazine, Nos. 11 and 12, Vol. 17; the

readers are advised to read these chapters. So also Sai Baba’s wonderful Leelas

are described in a small decent book named Shri Sainath Bhajana Mala by Mrs.

Savitribai Raghunath Tendulkar of Bandra. Das-Ganu Maharaj also has composed

various sweet poems on Sai Baba. A devotee named Amidas Bhavani Mehta has also

published some stories of Sri Baba in Gujarathi; some Nos. of Sainath Prabha, a

magazine published by Dakshina Bhiksha Sanstha of Shirdi, is also published.

Then the question of objection comes in, that while so many works regarding Sai

Baba are extant, why should this (Satcharita) be written and where is its

necessity?

The answer is plain and simple. The life of Sai Baba is as wide and deep as the

infinite ocean; and all can dive deep into the same and take out precious gems

(of knowledge and Bhakti), and distribute them to the aspiring public. The

stories, parables, and teachings of Sai Baba are very wonderful. They will give

peace and happiness to the people, who are afflicted with sorrows and heavily

loaded with miseries of this worldly existence, and also bestow knowledge and

wisdom, both in the worldly and in spiritual domains. If these teachings of Sai

Baba, which are as interesting and instructive as the Vedic lore, are listened

to and meditated upon, the devotees will get, what they long for, viz., union

with Brahman, mastery in eight-fold Yoga, Bliss of meditation etc. So I thought

that I

should call these stories together that would be my best Upasana. This

collection would be most delightful to those simple souls, whose eyes were not

blessed with Sai Baba’s Darshan. So, I set about collecting Sai Baba’s

teachings and expressions - the outcome of His boundless and natural

self-realization. It was Sai Baba, who inspired me in this matter; in fact, I

surrendered my ego at His feet, and thought that my path was clear; and that He

would make me quite happy here, and in the next world.

I could not myself ask Sai Baba to give me permission for this work; so I

requested Mr. Madhav Rao Deshpande alias Shama, Baba’s most intimate devotee,

to speak to Him for me. He pleaded for my cause and said to Sai Baba, "This

Annasaheb wishes to write Your biography, don’t say that You are a poor begging

Fakir, and there is no necessity to write it, but if You agree and help him, he

will write or rather, Your feet (grace) will accomplish the work. Without Your

consent and blessing, nothing can be done successfully." When Sai Baba heard

this request, He was moved and blessed me by giving me His Udi (sacred ashes)

and placing His boon-bestowing hand on my head said: -

10pt">"Let him make a collection of stories and experiences, keep notes and

memos; I will help him. He is only an outward instrument. I should write Myself

My autobiography and satisfy the wishes of My devotees. He should get rid of his

ego, place (or surrender) it at My feet. He who acts like this in life, him I

help the most. What of My life-stories? I serve him in his house in all

possible ways. When his ego is completely annihilated and there is left no

trace of it, I Myself shall enter into him and shall Myself write My own life.

Hearing my stories and teachings will create faith in devotees’ hearts and they

will easily get self - realization and Bliss; let there be no insistence on

establishing one’s own view, no attempt to refute other’s opinions, no

discussions of pros and cons of any subject."

The word ‘discussion’ put me in mind of my promise to explain the story of my

getting the title of Hemadpant and now I begin to relate the same. I was on

close friendly terms with Kakasaheb Dixit and Nanasaheb Chandorkar. They

pressed me to go to Shirdi and have Baba’s Darshan, and I promised them to do

so. But something in the interval turned up, which prevented me from going to

Shirdi. The son of a friend of mine at Lonavala fell ill. My friend tried all

possible means, physical and spiritual, but the fever would not abate. At

length he got his Guru to sit by the bedside of his son, but this too was of no

avail. Hearing this, I thought ‘what was the utility of the Guru, if he could

not save my friend’s son? If the Guru can’t do anything for us, why should I go

to Shirdi at all?’

Thinking in this way, I postponed my Shirdi-trip; but the inevitable must happen

and it happened in my case as follows: - Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who was a

Prant Officer, was going on tour to Bassein. From Thana he came to Dadar and

was waiting for a train bound for Bassein. In the meanwhile, a Bandra Local

turned up. He sat in it and came to Bandra; and sent for me and took me to task

for putting off my Shirdi trip. Nana’s argument for my Shirdi trip was

convincing and delightful, and so I decided to start for Shirdi, the same

night. I packed up my luggage and started for Shirdi. I planned to go to Dadar

and there to catch the train for Manmad, and so I booked myself for Dadar and

sat in the train. While the train was to start, a Mohammedan came

hastily to my compartment and seeing all my paraphernalia, asked me where I was

bound to. I told him my plan. He then suggested that I should straight go to

Boribunder, and not get down at Dadar, for the Manmad Mail did not get down at

Dadar at all. If this little miracle or Leela had not happened, I would not

have reached Shirdi next day as settled, and many doubts would have assailed

me. But that was not to be. As fortune favored me, I reached Shirdi the next

day before 9 or 10 A.M. Mr. Bhausaheb (Kaka) Dixit was waiting for me there.

This was in 1910 AD, when there was only one place, viz., Sathe’s Wada for

lodging pilgrim devotees. After alighting from the Tonga, I was anxious to have

Darshan, when the great devotee, Tatyasaheb Noolkar returned from the Masjid and

said that Sai Baba was at the corner of the Wada, and that I should first get

the preliminary Darshan and then, after bath, see Him at leisure. Hearing this

I ran and prostrated before Baba and then my joy knew no

bounds. I found more than what Nana Chandorkar had told me. All my senses were

satisfied and I forgot thirst and hunger. The moment I touched Sai Baba’s feet,

I began a new lease of life. I felt myself much obliged to those who spurred and

helped me to get the Darshan; and I considered them as my real relatives, and I

cannot repay their debt. I only remember them and prostrate (mentally) before

them. The peculiarity of Sai Baba’s Darshan, as I found it is that by His

Darshan our thoughts are changed, the force of previous actions is abated and

gradually non-attachment of dispassion towards worldly objects grows up. It is

by the merit of actions in many past births that such Darshan is got, and if

only you see Sai Baba, really all the world becomes or assumes the form of Sai

Baba.

HOT DISCUSSION

On the first day of my arrival in Shirdi, there was a discussion between me and

Balasaheb Bhate regarding the necessity of a Guru. I contended, "Why should we

lose our freedom and submit to others? When we have to do our duty, why a Guru

is necessary? One must try his best and save himself. What can the Guru do to a

man who does nothing but sleeps indolently?" Thus I pleaded freewill, while Mr.

Bhate took up the other side, viz., Destiny, and said, "Whatever is bound to

happen must happen; even great men have failed, man proposes one way, but God

disposes the other (contrary) way. Brush aside your cleverness; pride or egoism

won’t help you." This discussion, with all its pros and cons went on for an hour

or so, and as usual no decision was arrived at. We had to stop the discussion

ultimately, as we were exhausted. The net result of this was that I lost my

peace of mind and found that unless there is strong body-consciousness and

egoism, there would be no discussion; in other words, it is egoism, which

breeds discussion.

Then when we went to the Masjid with others, Baba asked Kakasaheb Dixit the following: -

"What was going on in the (Sathe’s) Wada? What was the discussion about?" and

staring at me, Baba further added, "What did this Hemadpant say?"

Hearing these words, I was much surprised. The Masjid was at a considerable

distance from Sathe’s Wad a where I was staying and where the discussion was

going on. How could Baba know our discussion unless He is omniscient and Inner

Ruler of us all?

SIGNIFICANT AND PROPHETIC TITLE

I began to think why Sai Baba should call me by the name Hemadpant. This word is

a corrupt form of Hemadripant. This Hemadripant was a well-known Minister of the

kings Mahadev and Ramadev of Devgiri of the Yadav dynasty. He was very learned,

good-natured and the author of good works, such as Chaturvarga Chintamani

(dealing with spiritual subjects) and Rajprashasti. He invented and started new

methods of accounts and was the originator of the Modi (Marathi Shorthand)

script. But I was quite the opposite, an ignoramus, and of dull, mediocre

intellect. So I could not understand why the name or title was conferred upon

me, but thinking seriously upon it, I thought that the title was a dart to

destroy my ego, so that, I should always remain meek and humble. It was also a

compliment paid to me

for the cleverness in the discussion.

Looking to the future history, we think that Baba’s word (calling Mr. Dabholkar

by the name Hemadpant) was significant and prophetic, as we find that he looked

after the management of Sai Sansthan very intelligently, kept nicely all the

accounts and was also the author of such a good work "Sai Satcharita", which

deals with such important and spiritual subjects as Jnana, Bhakti and

dispassion, self-surrender and self-realization.

ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF A GURU

Hemadpant has left no note, no memo about what Baba said regarding this subject,

but Kakasaheb Dixit has published his notes regarding this matter. Next day

after Hemadpant’s meeting with Sai Baba, Kakasaheb went to Baba and asked

whether he should leave Shirdi. Baba Said, "Yes". Then someone asked - "Baba,

where to go?" Baba said, "High up." Then the man said, "How is the way?" Baba

said, "There are many ways leading there; there is one way also from here

(Shirdi). The way is difficult. There are tigers and wolves in the jungles on

the way." I (Kakasaheb) asked - "But Baba, what if we take a guide with us?"

Baba answered, - "Then there is no difficulty. The guide will take you straight

to your destination, avoiding wolves, tigers and ditches etc. on the way. If

there be no guide, there is the danger of

your being lost in the jungles or falling into ditches." Mr. Dabholkar was

present on this occasion and he thought that this was the answer Baba gave to

the question whether Guru was a necessity (Vide Sai Leela Vol. I, No.5, Page

47); and he thereupon took the hint that no discussion of the problem, whether

man is free or bound, is of any use in spiritual matters, but that on the

contrary real Paramartha is possible only as the result of the teachings of the

Guru, as is illustrated in this chapter of the original work in the instances of

great Avatars like Rama and Krishna, who had to submit themselves to their

Gurus, Vasishtha and Sandipani respectively, for getting self- realization and

that the only virtues necessary for such progress are faith and patience. (Vide

Sai Satcharita

FONT-SIZE: 10pt">, Ch. II, 191-92).

BOW TO SHRI SAI - PEACE BE TO ALL

*****

SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM - Part I

The Life of the Divine Avatar Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

By N. Kasturi, M.A., B.L.

THE JASMINE BUD - BALAGOPALA

It came to pass that the material sheath, which the Lord once again willed to

wear was formed. Mysterious intimations of the impending great incarnation

disturbed the even tenor of Pedda Venkapa's life! For example, there was the

unusual twang of the stringed tambura in the night. Because the brothers and

the father were all extremely interested in the village operas on the legendary

histories of India, and since plays were very often rehearsed at home, there was

a large tambura hanging on a nail on the wall and a maddala, or drum, on the

floor beneath. These two were silent only when the family retired for the

night. But as the birth of a son for whom Sri Eswaramma prayed announced itself

as imminent, the household was awakened at midnight and sometimes early in

the morning by the tambura twanging melodiously and rhythmically and the maddala

softly beating, as though they were in expert hands! Various theories were

advanced by the wise men of the village to explain this phenomenon, but they

only added to the mystery.

Seeking an answer, Pedda Venkapa hurried to Bukkapatnam where there was a

Shastri, an authority on signs of this nature and on whose interpretation he

could place faith. He was told that it was an auspicious occurrence; the

unbidden music meant the presence of a beneficent power, conferring harmony,

melody, order, symmetry, spiritual elevation, and joy.

On the twenty-third day of November, in the year 1926, the son was born. The

villagers were chanting the names of Siva, the cosmic rhythm personified, in

remembrance that the day was a Monday of the Holy Month of Karthika devoted to

the worship of Siva. That day was even more auspicious because the ascendant

star was Aarudhra, and on such rare occasions when the month, the day, and the

star coincide, special worship is performed in the temples of the Lord. The

year was Akshaya, the "Never declining, the Ever-full!"

While the mother was going through the final rituals of her Sathyanarayana

adoration in accordance with her vows, the birth pangs forewarned her. When she

revealed this, messengers were sent to inform the mother-in-law, Lakshamma, the

pious old lady of the house. However, she had gone to the house of the priest

to perform her own Sathyanarayana Prayers. The messengers went there and urged

her to return. She was so confident of the Grace of Sathyanarayana, so

steadfast in her devotion, so disciplined in her religious adherence that she

refused to be hurried! She sent word that she would bring with her to her

daughter-in-law, Eswaramma, the sacred offerings after the worship, and that on

no account would she interrupt her prayers. She finished the entire ritual with

full

concentration, came home, gave Eswaramma the flowers which had previously been

placed on the idol and the sacred waters with which it was washed. Eswaramma

partook of the blessings of the Lord, wore the flowers in her hair, and sipped

the water. In the next moment the Lord was born. And the sun rose above the

horizon!

Sai Baba has said that one special point to be noted about this manifestation is

that the incarnation has not been transplanted away from the place where the

body was born, for He had chosen that very place as the center of His

alleviatory Mission. Puttaparthy was doubly blessed that November morn, for the

Lord had chosen that happy village not only for His Birth but also for His

Habitation.

Indeed the village, which bears the name "Ant Hill Prosperity", gave the child

an appropriate welcome. A snake was found in the lying-in room! The women did

not notice it for some time, but suddenly they saw that the baby, lying on a

bed of clothes, was being moved gently up and down in a peculiar way be

something underneath the bed. They watched with baited breath for a few

moments, and when at last they searched, they found a cobra under the bed!

The baby was charming beyond description. Little wonder, for even in the cradle

He had all the Yogic spiritual powers which Sage Patanjali, author of Sanskrit

Yogic Scriptures, says come with rare souls and accompany the birth of an

Avatar, a Divine Incarnation. Sai Baba has declared that He knew even prior to

His Birth where He would be born. He has also said that He was born with all

the miraculous powers which He is manifesting one by one out of His Divine

Will, as and when He feels each can be so announced. As a baby, He must have

had a halo of splendor around His head, a smile, which reflected an other world

beauty, and a heavenly power to captivate the heart.

Some years ago Sai Baba told the author, "I do not sleep at night; I remember

then the events of my past appearances, and I laugh within myself as memories

pass across." It can therefore be surmised that the little lilies of laughter

and red rosebuds of joy, which lit up the cradle of the baby, bloomed from the

reminiscence of previous arrivals and adventures!

The baby was named Sathyanarayana since the relationship between the worship of

God in that Form and the realization of the mother's cherished desire for a son

seemed very important to her. When the rite was performed and the name was

whispered in the bud-like ear, it seems the baby smiled, for was it not He

Himself who must have unobtrusively suggested that name be given? How else can

we explain the fact that the first requisite for spiritual advancement, now

propounded by Sathya Sai Baba, is Sathya or Truth and Narayana or "God in man?"

The embodiment and exponent of Truth could not have given Himself a more

appropriate name.

The child became the pet of the entire village of Puttaparthy, and the farmers

and cowherds vied with each other in fondling and feeding the infant and

playing with his lovely silken curls. His charming smile attracted everyone.

Pedda Venkapa's house was always filled with visitors who came on any pretext

and lingered around the cradle

singing lullabies, showering caresses, and forgetting their humdrum lives.

Soon the fragrance of "the Jasmine Bud" filled the air. As a lighted lamp,

Sathya moved about the house, and laughter tinkled in the street when he lisped

his vocabulary of sweet sounds. It was noticed by all with wonder that he

delighted in having broad Vibhutti (Sacred Ash) markings worn by men on his

forehead, and that he insisted on the marks being renewed as soon as they wore

off. He also desired to have a circular Kumkum dot, the red saffron dot worn by

women in the center of his forehead. The mother seldom satisfied this desire; so

he had to seek out his sister's box of Kumkum and dab it on himself. He was

Siva; he was Shakti, "God and the Power of God." He must have both the Sacred

Ash and the saffron dot of the Consort.

He kept away from places where pigs, sheep, cattle, or fowl were killed or

tortured, or where fish were trapped or caught. He avoided kitchens and vessels

used for cooking flesh or fowl. When a bird was selected to be prepared for

dinner, little Sathya would run to find the bird, clasp it to his bosom and

fondle it, as if the extra love he poured on it would induce the elders to

relent and spare the fowl. He was called by the neighbors Brahmajnani, a

"Realized Soul," because of this type aversion to killing and this measure of

love toward creation. At such times Sathya would run to the home of the village

accountant nearby, for they were Brahmins and vegetarians; he would take the

food offered by Subbamma, the aged lady residing there.

He rarely retaliated when playmates handled him roughly. Information of such ill

treatment came to the parents through other toddlers who witnessed the affair,

never from Sathya, who seemed not in the least to suffer pain or discomfiture.

He spoke the truth always and never resorted to the usual subterfuges by which

ordinary children try to cover up their mistakes. So distinct was his behavior

that a youngster once nicknamed him "the Brahmin child!" It was a fitting

description. Little did this youngster know that, while in the previous body,

this child, at whom he now laughed, had declared at Shirdi, "This Brahmin can

bring devoted men onto the White Path and take them to their destination!"

At the tender years of three and four, "this Brahmin" showed that he had a heart

that melted at human suffering. Whenever a beggar appeared at the door and

raised his cry, Sathya left his play and rushed inside to force his sisters to

hand out grain or food. The adults were naturally irritated by the endless

procession of outstretched hands. They easily lost their tempers and sometimes

turned the beggar away before Sathya could bring relief. This made the child

weep so long and loudly that only by bringing the dismissed beggar back could

the elders stop the wailing. On occasion in order to put an end to what the

elders thought was expensive and misplaced charity, the mother caught hold of

Sathya, and with a finger raised in warning said, "Look here! You may give him

food, but mind you, you will have

to starve." That did not daunt the child. He would run inside and bring out food

to the hungry man at the door and later stay away from lunch or dinner himself.

Nothing and no one could persuade him to come for his food which was left

untouched!

Sathya had a mysterious visitor who was feeding him. Whenever he refused food

and persisted in the refusal for some days, he showed no sign of starvation in

his appearance and activities. He would tell his mother that he had eaten and

would say that an Old Man had fed him sumptuously, giving him milk-rice. The

full stomach was proof of that. Besides the child volunteered to give another

indisputable piece of evidence. He would hold out his right hand for his mother

to smell, and lo, she inhaled from that tiny palm the fragrance of clarified

butter, milk and curds of a type she had never before enjoyed! The wonder

remained, however. Who was this unseen visitor, this strange nourisher of this

little child?

When Sathya began running about in the streets, he sought out the maimed, the

blind, the decrepit, and the diseased, and led them by the hand to the doorstep

of his parents. The sisters had to secure from the store or the kitchen some

grain or food and put it into the beggar's bowl while the little master looked

on happily.

Sathyanarayana was held up so often before the children as the ideal child by

every mother and father that the children of the village started referring to

him as Guru, meaning Teacher or Master. The parents and others came to know of

this under strange circumstances. It was late in the night of Ramnavami; the

Holy Day of Devotion to Rama, when a procession wended its way rounds the

village. A huge picture of Sri Rama was placed on a flower-bedecked bullock

cart upon which the priest sat in order that the flower garlands offered by the

householders could be placed on the picture and the camphor they presented be

duly burned and waved in front of the picture. The pipers and drummers awakened

the sleeping villagers, and thus the cart proceeded along the uneven

roads.

Suddenly the two sisters discovered that little Sathya was not at home. A search

was ordered. Everyone in the house ran about frantically, for it was already

past midnight. All at once their attention was diverted by the arrival outside

the door of the bullock cart carrying the large picture of Sri Rama. When they

went to the doorstep, they were surprised to see the five years old Sathya

sitting nicely dressed, and with evident authority, underneath the picture!

They asked his companions why he was seated on top and not walking with them on

the road. Promptly

came the answer, "He is our Guru!"

Indeed He is the Guru of children of all climes, of all ages!

There is a small primary school in Puttaparthy, which Sathya attended with his

contemporaries for something nobler than learning to spell and write. The

school at that time had a very harsh scheme of punishment to ensure

punctuality. The lucky child who came in first and saluted the teacher, as well

as the student who arrived next and also saluted, was exempt from punishment.

Every other boy, for whatever reason, legitimate or not, who arrived late, was

given a taste of the cane. The number of cuts across the hand depended on his

place in the list of latecomers. In order to escape from this torture, the

children gathered under the eaves of the schoolhouse long before sunrise in

rain or in fog. Sathya saw the plight of, and sympathized with, his shivering

playmates. He visited them under the eaves.

Bringing shirts and towels from his home, he covered the boys and made them warm

and comfortable. The elders at home discovered this and locked up all the

clothes they could not afford to lose!

Sathyanarayana was a precocious child, learning by himself more than anyone else

could teach him and much quicker than most other children. He could sing all the

songs rehearsed at home for the village operas and mystery plays. He even

composed at the tender age of seven some touching songs, which were gladly

accepted by the cast for public presentation.

CONTINUED…

With Sai love from Sai brother M. Palaniswamy

/

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for your this wonderful sadhana and involving us also in the

sadhana of reading the glories of Sai Baba. Reading the life stories of both

avatars together is like eating fruit salad made with all types of sweet fruits

and mixed with icecream, honey and milk. May the Divine Lord Sai bless you and

all the members of your forum.

 

Sai Ram (AT) (DOT) co.in wrote:

Om Sri Sai Ram

SRI SAI SATCHARITA and SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM

The Life Stories of the Two Avatars of the Age – II

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