SRI SAI SATCHARITA and SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM [18-19]

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SRI SAI SATCHARITA and SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM

The Life Stories of the Two Avatars of the Age – [18-19]

SHRI SAI SATCHARITA

The Life of the Divine Avatar Sai Baba of Shirdi

By Hemadpant

CHAPTER XVIII & XIX

How Hemadpant was accepted and Blessed - Stories of Mr. Sathe and Mrs. Deshmukh

- Encouraging Good Thoughts to Fruition-Variety in Upadesh-Teachings Readings

Slander, and Remuneration for Labour.

In the last two Chapters, Hemadpant described, how a rich gentleman, aspiring

for quick Brahma-Jnana, was treated by Baba, and now in these two Chapters, he

describes how Hemadpant, himself, was accepted and blessed by Baba, how Baba

encouraged good thoughts and fructified them; and gives His teachings regarding

Self-improvement, slander and remuneration for labour.

PRELIMINARY

It is a well-known fact that the Sadguru looks first to the qualifications of

his disciples; and then gives them suitable instructions, without unsettling

their minds in the least, and leads them on towards the goal of self-

realization. In this respect, some say that what the Sadguru teaches or

instructs, should not be divulged to others. They think that their instructions

become useless, if they are published. This view is not correct. The Sadguru is

like a monsoon cloud. He pours down profusely, i.e., scatters widely his

nectar-like teachings. These, we should enjoy and assimilate to our heart's

content; and then serve others with them, without any reserve. This rule should

apply, not only to what he teaches in our waking state, but to the visions he

gives us in our dreams. To quote an

instance: Budhakowshik Rishi composed his celebrated Ram-raksha stotra, which he

had seen in his dream.

Like a loving mother forcing bitter but wholesome medicines down the throats of

her children for the sake of their health, Sai Baba imparted spiritual

instructions to His devotees. His method was not veiled or secret, but quite

open. The devotees who followed His instructions got their object. Sad-gurus

like Sai Baba opens our (eyes of) intellect and shows us the divine beauties of

the Self, and fulfills our tender longings of devotion. When this is done, our

desire for sense-objects vanishes, twin fruits of Viveka (discrimination) and

Vairagya (dispassion or non-attachment) come to our hands; and knowledge

sprouts up even in the sleep. All this we get, when we come in contact with

Saints (Sad-guru), serve them and secure their love. The Lord, who fulfills the

desires of His devotees,

comes to our aid, removes our troubles and sufferings, and makes us happy. This

progress or development is entirely due to the help of the Sadguru, who is

regarded as the Lord Himself. Therefore, we should always be after the

Sad-guru, hear His stories, fall at His Feet and serve Him. Now we come to our

main story.

MR. SATHE

There was a gentleman named Mr. Sathe, who had attained some publicity, many

years ago during Crowford Regime, which was put down by Lord Relay, the then

Governor of Bombay. He suffered severe losses in trade. Other adverse

circumstances gave him much trouble, and made him sad and dejected. Being

restless, he thought of leaving home; and going out to a distant place. Man

does not generally think of God, but when difficulties and calamities overtake

him, he turns to Him and prays for relief. If his evil actions have come to an

end, God arranges his meeting with a Saint, who gives him proper directions

regarding his welfare. Mr. Sathe had similar experience. His friends advised

him to go to Shirdi, where so many people were flocking to get Sai Baba's

Darshan, for getting peace of mind and

the satisfaction of their wants. He liked the idea, and at once came to Shirdi

in 1917. Seeing Baba's Form, which was like Eternal Brahma, Self-luminous,

Spotless and Pure, his mind lost its restlessness and became calm and composed.

He thought, that it was the accumulation of merits in his former births that

brought him to the Holy Feet of Baba. He was a man of strong will. He at once

started to make a parayana (study) of Guru-charitra. When the reading was

finished in the Saptaha (seven days), Baba gave him a vision that night. It was

to this effect: Baba with Guru-charitra in His hand was explaining its contents

to Mr. Sathe, who was sitting in front and listening carefully. When he woke

up, he remembered the dream and felt very happy. He thought that it was

extremely kind of Baba. Who awakens souls like his that are snoring in

ignorance, and makes them taste the nectar of Guru-charitra. Next day, he

informed Kakasaheb Dixit of this vision, and requested him to consult Sai Baba

regarding its meaning or significance -- whether one Saptaha (week's) reading

was sufficient or whether he should begin again. Kakasaheb Dixit, when got a

suitable opportunity, asked Baba - "Deva (Oh God), what did you suggest to Mr.

Sathe by this vision? Whether he should stop or continue the Saptaha? He is a

simple devotee, his desire should be fulfilled and the vision explained to him,

and he should be blessed." Then Baba replied - "He should make one more Saptaha

of the book; if the work be studied carefully, the devotee will become pure and

will be benefited, the Lord will be pleased and will rescue him from the bondage

of the mundane existence."

At this time, Hemadpant was present there. He was shampooing Baba's Legs. When

he heard Baba's words, he thought in his mind as follows - "What! Mr. Sathe

read for a week only and got a reward; and I am reading it for forty years with

no result! His seven days' stay here becomes fruitful while my seven years' stay

(1910 to m1917) goes for nothing. Like a Chatak bird I am ever waiting for the

Merciful Cloud (Baba) to pour its nectar on me; and bless me with His

instructions." No sooner did this thought cross his mind; Baba knew it then and

there. It was the experience of the Bhaktas that Baba read and understood all

their thoughts, and that He suppressed the evil thoughts and encouraged the

good ones. Reading Hemadpant's mind Baba at once asked him to get up, go to

Shama (Madhavarao

Deshpande), get from him Rs. 15/- as Dakshina, sit and chitchat with him for a

while and then return. Mercy dawned in Baba's mind, and so he issued this

order. And who could disobey Baba's order?

Hemadpant immediately left the Masjid and came to Shama's house. He had just

bathed, and was wearing a dhotar. He came out and asked Hemadpant - "How is it

that you are here now? It seems that you have come from the Masjid. Why do you

look restless and dejected? Why are you alone? Please sit and rest, while I

shall just do my worship and return: in the meanwhile you please take pan-bida

(leaves and betel nuts etc.) let us then have a pleasant chat." After saying

his, he went inside and Hemadpant sat alone in the front verandah. He saw in

the window a well-known Marathi book named 'Nath-Bhagwat.' This is a commentary

by the Saint Ekanath, on the eleventh Skandha (chapter) of the bigger Sanskrit

work, the Bhagwat. At the suggestion or recommendation of Sai Baba, Messrs.

Bapusaheb Jog and

Kakasaheb Dixit read daily in Shirdi, Bhagawad Geeta with its Marathi commentary

named Bhawartha-Deepika or Jnaneshwari (A dialogue between Krishna and His

friend devotee Arjuna) and Nath Bhagwat (A dialogue between Krishna and His

servant devotee Uddhava) and also Ekanath's other big work, viz. Bhawartha

Ramayana. When devotees came to Baba and asked Him certain questions. He

sometimes answered them in part, and asked them to go and listen to the

readings of the above-mentioned works, which are the main treatises of Bhagwat

Dharma. When the devotees went and listened, they got full and satisfactory

replies to their questions. Hemadpant also used to read daily some portions of

the book Nath-Bhagwat.

That day, he did not complete the daily portion of his reading, but had left it

unfinished in order to accompany certain devotees, who were going to the

Masjid. When he took up the book from Shama's window and casually opened, it,

he found, to his surprise that the unfinished portion turned up. He thought

that Baba sent him very kindly to Shama's house for enabling him to complete

his daily reading. So he went through the unfinished portion and completed it.

As soon as this was over, Shama, after doing his worship came out, and the

following conversation took place between them.

Hemadpant: - I have come with a message from Baba. He has asked me to return

with Rs. 15/- as Dakshina from you, also to sit with you for a while and have a

pleasant chitchat and then return to the Masjid with you.

Shama (with surprise): - I have no money to give. Take my 15 Namaskaras (bows)

in lieu of rupees as Dakshina, to Baba.

Hemadpant: - All right, your Namaskars are accepted. Now let us have some

chitchat. Tell me some stories and Leelas of Baba, which will destroy our sins.

 

Shama: - Then sit here for a while. Wonderful is the sport (Leela) of this God

(Baba). You know it already. I am a village rustic, while you are an

enlightened citizen. You have seen some more Leelas since your coming here. How

should I describe them before you? Well, take these leaves, betel nut and chunam

and eat the pan-bida; while I go in, dress myself and come out.

In a few minutes Shama come out and sat talking with Hemadpant. He said - "The

Leela of this God (Baba) is inscrutable; there is no end to His Leelas. Who can

see them? He plays or sports with His Leelas, still He is outside of (unaffected

by) them. What do we rustics know? Why does not Baba Himself tell stories? Why

does He send learned men like you to fools like me? His ways are inconceivable.

I can only say, that they are not human." With this preface Shama added, - "I

now remember a story, which I shall relate to you. I know it personally. As a

devotee is resolute and determined, so is Baba's immediate response. Sometimes

Baba puts the devotees to severe test; and then gives them 'Upadesh'

(instructions).

As soon as Hemadpant heard the word 'Upadesh', a flash of lightning crossed,

through his mind. He at once remembered the story of Mr. Sathe's Guru-charitra

reading and thought that Baba might have sent him to Shama, in order to give

peace to his restless mind. However, he curbed this feeling, and began to

listen to Shama's stories. They all showed how kind and affectionate Baba was

to His devotees. Hemadpant began to feel a sort of joy while hearing them. Then

Shama began to tell the following story.

MRS. RADHABAI DESHMUKH

There was an old woman by name Radhabai; She was the mother of one Khashaba

Deshmukh. Hearing Baba's fame, she came to Shirdi with the people of Sangamner.

She took Baba's Darshan and was much satisfied. She loved Baba intimately and

resolved in her mind, that She should accept Baba as her Guru, and take some

Upadesh from Him. She knew nothing else. She determined to fast herself unto

death, so long as Baba did not accept her, and give her any Upadesh or Mantra.

She stayed in her lodging and left off taking any food or water for three days.

I was frightened by this ordeal of the old woman and interceded with Baba on her

behalf. I said, "Deva, what is this You have started? You drag so many persons

here. You know that old lady. She is very obstinate and depends on You

entirely, She has

resolved to fast unto death, if You don't accept and instruct her. If any thing

worse happens, people will blame You, and say that Baba did not instruct her,

and consequently she met her death. So take some mercy on her, bless her and

instruct her." On seeing her determination, Baba sent for her, changed the turn

of her mind by addressing her as follows: -

"Oh mother, why are you subjecting yourself to unnecessary tortures and

hastening your death? You are really My Mother and I am your child. Take pity

on Me and hear Me through. I tell you My own story, which if you listen

carefully, will do you good. I had a Guru. He was a great Saint and most

merciful. I served him long, very long; still he would not blow any Mantra into

My ears. I had a keen desire, never to leave him but to stay with and serve him;

and at all costs receive some instructions from him. But he had his own way. He

first got my head shaved and asked Me two pice as Dakshina. I gave the same at

once. If you say that as My Guru was perfect, why should he ask for money and

how should he be called desireless? I replied plainly that he never cared for

coins. What had he to do

with them? His two pice were (1) Firm Faith and (2) Patience or perseverance. I

gave these two pice or things to him, and he was pleased.

"I resorted to My Guru for 12 years. He brought Me up. There was no dearth of

food and clothing. He was full of love nay, he was love incarnate. How can I

describe it? He loved Me most. Rare is a Guru like him. When I looked at him,

he seemed as if he was in deep meditation, and then we both were filled with

Bliss. Night and day, I gazed at him with no thought of hunger and thirst.

Without him, I felt restless. I had neither other object to meditate, nor any

other thing than My Guru to attend. He was My sole refuge. My mind was always

fixed on him. This is one pice Dakshina. Saburi (Patience or perseverance) is

the other pice. I waited patiently and very long on My Guru and served him.

This Saburi will ferry you across the sea of this mundane existence. Saburi is

manliness in man, it

removes all sins and afflictions, gets rid of calamities in various ways, and

casts aside all fear, and ultimately gives you success. Saburi is the mine of

virtues, consort of good thought. Nishtha (Faith) and Saburi (Patience) are

like twin sisters, loving each other very intimately."

"My Guru never expected any other thing from Me. He never neglected Me, but

protected Me at all times. I lived with him, and was sometimes away from him;

still I never felt the want or absence of his love. He always protected Me by

his glance, just as the tortoise feeds her young ones, whether they are near

her or away from her on the other side of the river bank, by her loving looks.

Oh mother, My Guru never taught Me any Mantra, then how shall I blow any Mantra

in your ears? Just remember that Guru's tortoise-like loving glance gives us

happiness. Do not try to get Mantra or Upadesh from anybody. Make Me the sole

object of your thoughts and actions; and you will, no doubt, attain Paramartha

(the spiritual goal of life). Look at Me whole-heartedly, and I in turn look at

you similarly.

Sitting in this Masjid, I speak the truth, nothing but the truth. No Sadhanas,

nor proficiency in the six Shastras, are necessary. Have faith and confidence

in your Guru. Believe fully, that Guru is the sole Actor or Doer. Blessed is he

who knows the greatness of his Guru and thinks him to be Hari, Hara and Brahma

(Trimurti) Incarnate." Instructed in this way, the old lady was convinced; she

bowed to Baba and gave up her fast.

Hearing this story carefully and attentively, and marking its significance and

appropriateness, Hemadpant was most agreeably surprised. Seeing this wonderful

Leela of Baba, he was moved from top to toe, he was overflowing with joy, his

throat was choked, and he was not able to utter a single word. Shama, on seeing

him in this condition asked him, - "What is the matter with you, why are you

silent? How many innumerable Leelas of Baba shall I describe?"

Just at that time the bell in the Masjid began to ring, proclaiming that the

noon-worship and Arti ceremony had begun. Therefore, Shama and Hemadpant

hurried to the Masjid. Bapusaheb Jog had just started the worship. Women were

up in the Masjid, and men were standing below in the open courtyard and they

were all loudly singing the Arti in chorus to the accompaniment of drums. Shama

went up, pulling Hemadpant with him. He sat to the right and Hemadpant in front

of Baba. On seeing them, Baba asked Hemadpant to give the Dakshina brought from

Shama. He replied that Shama gave Namaskaras in lieu of Rupees and that he was

there in person. Baba said, "Alright, now let Me know whether you both had a

chitchat, and if so, tell Me all that you talked about." Not minding the sounds

of the bell, the

drum and the chorus songs, Hemadpant was eager to tell what they had talked and

started to narrate it. Baba was also anxious to hear, and so He left the

bolster and leaned forward. Hemadpant said all that they talked about was very

pleasant, and that specially the story of the old lady was most wonderful and

that on hearing it, he thought that His Leela was inexplicable, and under the

guise of that story, He really blessed him. Baba then said - "Wonderful is the

story. How were you blessed? I would like to know everything in detail from

you, so tell Me all about it." Then Hemadpant related in full the story, which

he had heard a little while before, and which had made a lasting impression on

his mind. Hearing this Baba was much pleased and asked him - "Did the story

strike you and did you catch its significance?" He replied - "Yes, Baba the

restlessness of my mind has vanished and I have got true peace and rest, and

come to know the true path."

Then Baba spoke as follows: - "My method is quite unique. Remember well, this

one story, and it will be very useful. To get the knowledge (realization) of

the Self, Dhyana (meditation) is necessary. If you practice it continuously,

the Vrittis (thoughts) will be pacified. Being quite desireless, you should

meditate on the Lord, Who is in all the creatures, and when the mind is

concentrated, the goal will be achieved. Meditate always on My formless nature,

which is knowledge incarnate, consciousness and bliss. If you cannot do this,

meditate on My Form from top to toe as you see here night and day. As you go on

doing this, your Vrittis will concentrate on one point and the distinction

between the Dhyata (meditator), Dhyana (act of meditation), Dhyeya (this

meditated upon) will be lost and

the meditator will be one with the Consciousness and be merged in the Brahman.

The (mother) tortoise is on one bank of the river, and her young ones are on

the other side. She gives neither milk, nor warmth to them. Her mere glance

gives them nutrition. The young ones do nothing, but remember (meditate upon)

their mother. The tortoise glance is, to the young ones, a downpour of nectar,

the only source of sustenance and happiness. Similar is the relation, between

the Guru and disciples."

When Baba uttered these last words, the chorus of the Arti songs stopped and all

cried out loudly in one voice: "Victory be to our Sadguru Sai Maharaj, Who is

Existence, Knowledge and Bliss." Dear readers, let us imagine, that we are at

this time, standing amongst the crowd in the Masjid; and let us join them in

this Jayajayakar.

After the Arti ceremony was over, Prasadam was distributed. Bapusaheb Jog

advanced as usual, and after saluting Baba, gave into His hand a handful of

sugar-candy. Baba pushed all this quantity into the hands of Hemadpant and said

to him, "If you take this story to heart and remember it well, your state will

be sweet as the sugar-candy, all your desires will be fulfilled and you will be

happy." Hemadpant bowed before Baba and implored, "Do favour me like this, bless

and protect me always." Baba replied - "Hear this story, meditate on it and

assimilate its spirit. Then you will always remember and meditate on the Lord,

Who will manifest Himself to you."

Dear readers! Hemadpant got Prasad of sugar-candy then; and we now get the

Prasadam of sugar-candy or nectar of this story. Let us drink it to out heart's

content, meditate on it, and assimilate it, and be strong and happy by Baba's

grace. Amen!

Towards the end of the 19th Chapter Hemadpant had dealt with some other matters,

which are given below.

BABA'S ADVICE REGARDING OUR BEHAVIOR

The following words of Baba are general and invaluable. If they are kept in mind

and acted upon, they will always do you good. "Unless there is some relationship

or connection, nobody goes anywhere. If any men or creatures come to you, do not

discourteously drive them away, but receive them well and treat them, with due

respect. Shri Hari (God) will be certainly pleased, if you give water to the

thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothes to the naked, and your verandah to

strangers for sitting and resting. If anybody wants any money from you, and you

are not inclined to give, do not give, but do not bark at him, like a dog. Let

anybody speak hundreds of things against you, do not resent by giving any

bitter reply. If you always tolerate such things, you will certainly be happy.

Let the world

go topsy-turvy, you remain where you are. Standing or staying in your own place

looks on calmly at the show of all things passing before you. Demolish the wall

of difference that separates you from Me and then the road for our meeting will

be clear and open. The sense of differentiation, as I and thou, is the barrier

that keeps away the disciple from his Master, and unless that is destroyed the

state of union or atonement is not possible, "Allah Malik" i.e. God is the sole

Proprietor, nobody else is our Protector. His method of work is extra-ordinary,

invaluable, and inscrutable. His will be done and He will show us the way, and

satisfy our heart's desires. It is on account of Rinaubandh (former

relationship) that we have come together, let us love and serve each other and

be happy. He, who attain the supreme goal of life, is immortal and happy; all

others merely exist, i.e., live so long as they breathe".

ENCOURAGING GOOD THOUGHTS OF FRUITION

It is interesting to note how Sai Baba encouraged good thoughts. You have to

surrender yourself completely to Him with love, and devotion, and they you will

see how, He helps you, off and on, in so many things. Some Saint has said, that

when you get a good thought, immediately after awakening from sleep, and if you

develop the same afterwards during the day, your intellect will be unfolded and

your mind will attain calmness. Hemadpant wanted to try this. On one Wednesday

night before going to bed, be thought - "To-morrow is Thursday - an auspicious

day and the place, viz. Shirdi, is so holy; so let me pass the whole day in

remembering and chanting the Rama-nama, and then he slept. Next morning when he

got up he remembered without any effort the name of Rama and was much pleased.

He then,

after finishing his morning duties, went to see Baba with flowers. When he left

Dixit's Wada, and was just passing Booty's Wada (present Samadhi-Mandir) he

heard a beautiful song that was being sung nicely by one Aurangabadkar, in the

Masjid before Baba. The song was Guru - kripanjan payo mere bhai" etc., by

Ekanath, in which he says that he got collyrium in the form of Guru's grace

which opened his vision and made him see Rama, in and out, in sleep, dream, and

waking state and everywhere. There were so many songs; and why did

Aurangabadkar, a devotee of Baba, particularly choose this song? Is this not a

curious coincidence arranged by Baba to feed the determination of Hemadpant to

sing unceasingly Rama-nama, during the day?

All Saints agree on and lay stress upon the efficacy of uttering Rama's (God's)

name, in fulfilling the ambitions of the Bhaktas and in protecting and saving

them from all calamities.

VARIETY IN UPADESH -- SLANDERER CONDEMNED

Sai Baba required no special place, nor any special time for giving

instructions. Whenever any occasion demanded, He gave them freely. Once it so

happened that a Bhakta of Baba reviled another behind his back, before other

people. On leaving aside merits, he dwelt on the faults of his brother, and

spoke so sarcastically, that the hearers were disgusted. Generally, we see that

people have a tendency to scandalize others, un-necessarily; and this brings on

hatred and ill will. Saints see scandal, in another light. They say that there

are various ways of cleansing or removing dirt, viz. by means of earth, water

and soap etc., but a scandal-monger has got a way of his own. He removes the

dirt (faults) of others by his tongue; so in a way of obliges the person, whom

he reviles and for this he

is to be thanked. Sai Baba had his own method of correcting the scandalmonger.

He knew by his omniscience what the slanderer had done and when He met him at

noon near the Lendi, Baba pointed out to him a pig that was eating filth near

the fence and said to him - "Behold how, with what relish it is gorging dung.

Your conduct is similar. You go on reviling your own brethren to your heart's

content. After performing many deeds of merit, you are born a man, and if you

act like this, will Shirdi help you in any way?" Needless to say, that the

Bhakta took the lesson to his heart, and went away.

In this way Baba went on giving instructions whenever necessary. If these are

borne in our minds and acted upon, the spiritual goal (realization) is not far

off. There is a proverb which says - "If there be my Hari (Lord), He will feed

me on my cot." This proverb is only true in respect of food and clothing, but

if anyone trusting in this sit quiet and does nothing in spiritual matters, he

will be ruined. One has to exert himself to his utmost for attaining

self-realization. The more he endeavors, the better for him.

Baba said that He was omnipresent, occupying land, air, country, world, light

and heaven, and that He was not limited. To remove the misunderstanding of

those, who thought that Baba was only His body – three cubits and a half in

length, He incarnated Himself in this form and if any devotee meditated on Him

day and night with complete self-surrender, he experienced complete union

(without any difference) with Him like sweetness and sugar, waves and sea, eye

and its luster. He, who wants to get rid of the cycle of births and deaths,

should lead a righteous life, with his mind calm and composed. He should always

engage himself in good actions, should do his duties and surrender himself,

heart and soul to Him. He need not then be afraid of anything. He, who trusts

Him entirely, hears and

expounds His Leelas and does not think of anything else, is sure to attain

Self-realization. Baba asked many to remember His name and to surrender to Him,

but to those, who wanted to know who they were ('Who am I' enquiry), He advised

Shravanam (study) and Mananam (meditation). To some, He advised remembering

God's name, to others hearing His Leelas; to some worship of His Feet, to

others reading and studying Adhyatma Ramayan, Jnaneshwari and other sacred

scriptures. Some He made sit near His Feet, some He sent to Khandoba's temple,

and some He advised the repetition of the thousands names of Vishnu and some

the study of Chhandogya Upanishad and Geeta. There was no limit, nor

restriction to His instructions. To some, He gave them in person. To others by

visions in dreams. To one addicted to drink, He appeared in his dream, sat on

his chest, pressed it and left him, after he gave a promise not to touch liquor

anymore. To some, He explained some Mantras like `Gurur Brahma' in dreams.

To some devotee, who was practicing Hath-Yoga, He sent word that he should leave

off Hath-Yoga practices, sit quiet and wait (Saburi). It is impossible to

describe all His ways and methods. In ordinary worldly dealings, He set

examples by His actions, one of which is given below.

REMUNERATION FOR LABOUR

One day at noon, Baba came near Radha-Krishna-Mai's house and said - "Bring Me a

ladder." Some men brought it and set it against a house as directed by Baba. He

climbed up on the roof of Vaman Gondkar's house, passed the roof of

Radha-Krishna-Mai's house and then got down from the other corner. What object

Baba had, none could know. Radha-Krishna-Mai was, at that time, shivering with

Malaria. It may be to drive off that fever that He may have gone there.

Immediately after getting down, Baba paid Rupees two to the persons who brought

the ladder. Somebody asked

Baba, why he paid so much for this. He replied that nobody should take the

labour of others, in vain. The worker should be paid his dues promptly and

liberally.

BOW TO SHRI SAI - PEACE BE TO ALL

*****

SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM - Part II

The Life of the Divine Avatar Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

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

‘THIS SIVASAKTHI’

Readers must have noticed that Baba declared Himself as Bhavani, who gave a

sword to Shivaji and commissioned him to save Sanathana Dharma from forces

inimical to it. He said, "This Siva-Shakti is doing the same, now. I am giving

the sword of Courage into the hands of these Pundits and commissioning them to

share their wisdom and joy with all men, as Sanathana Dharma dictates."

That word "Siva-Shakti" bore the large gathering, who heard it, on the wings of

memory to the sixth day of July, 1963 - the time about 7 pm - when a miracle of

miracles happened in the Prayer Hall of Prashanthi Nilayam. That was a seismic

event, which widened the bounds of Faith and deepened the ardor of Devotion.

So, I shall describe it in some detail.

It all began on the evening of 28th June, when Baba asked me to announce that He

would not grant interviews for a week. No one could guess why; for, there was

nothing out of the ordinary in the events of the day. On Saturday, 29th June at

6.30 am, while moving into His room on the first floor from the southern

verandah, Baba spoke of "reeling sensation" and suddenly fell on the floor. I

was with Him then; but though I held Him with my hand, I could soften, only

slightly, the impact of the fall.

Even as He fell, the left hand clenched its fist; the left leg stiffened; the

toes became taut. Evidently, He had taken upon Himself in His Infinite Mercy,

the stroke of paralysis destined to incapacitate or perhaps kill some saintly

person! Having seen Him while taking on the typhoid fever, the gastric pain,

the bleeding ear, the mumps, and even the stroke, I awaited with Raja Reddy the

moment of His coming-to, when we could get from Him the name of the person and

of the place to confirm our surmise. The face twitched and muscles drew the

mouth to the left ... the tongue lolled. The left eye appeared to have lost its

sight. We whispered to each other about His postponement of interviews for one

week! Baba seemed to have known that some one had to be rescued that

morning.

As the clock ticked the minutes away and the hour hand moved relentlessly on,

our anxiety thickened into fear. Gloom filled the room and spread gradually all

round the Nilayam. Dr. B.G. Krishnamurthy said that Baba was 'in coma', that

Baba showed symptoms of 'apoplexy'. The jaws were locked tight; the pulse rate

was ranging from 84 to 100. That Doctor while treating patients in the Sathya

Sai Hospital placed more reliance on the curative value of the Vibhuthi blessed

by Baba than on the efficacy of the drugs the shelves contained. Now that He

found Baba stricken, he could only pray to Him to cure Himself.

Meanwhile, some one who feared that the illness was genuine hastened by car to

Bangalore (106 miles off) and brought with him, late at night, Dr.

Prasannasimha Rao, the Assistant Director of Medical Services, Mysore. Let the

Doctor relate what he saw. I shall quote from his letter. "It was on the

afternoon of the 29th of June that I was

summoned urgently to the feet of Sri Sathya Sai Baba at Puttaparthy. I sped on,

in the company of my brother-in-law Sri Kesav Vittal, to witness a spectacle of

extreme pain and suffering at Puttaparthy. We reached the precincts of the holy

place after midnight. Anxious as I was to learn the full details of the

incident that caused the summons, it was His Will that I should contain myself

till the next morning. Next morning, when I was taken into the room on the

first floor of the Nilayam, I saw there lying prostrate the physical form and

body of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, in a posture assumed by a patient, in coma.

Respiration was hissing, at times; the left side of the body, the upper and

lower limbs were rigidly held in a position of extensor tone. There were

gross twitchings of the face, occasionally on the right side. The head would be

suddenly tossed to one side or the other, with a groan of anguish and the

utterance of un-understandable syllables, which was the result of an impairment

of the faculty of speech; in short, it was a sort of jargon.

After an analysis of the signs and symptoms and the history of the case, I had

to infer that the semi-comatose conditions and the posture assumed could only

be due to a space-occupying condition in the cranium with localizing signs of

predominance over the right half of the brain in the frontal area. The

differential diagnosis of such conditions in a person of about thirty years,

after excluding remote possibilities, pinned me down to that of 'tubercular

meningitis', with perhaps a tuberculoma, silent for a long time.

The treatment was one of energetic antitubercular measures, with symptomatic

supportive treatment by intravenous, substitution and replacement to maintain

ionic balance and nutrition. A diagnostic lumbar puncture was an immediate

necessity, for the professional assessment of the case. My attempts to

administer glucose solution intravenously was, by a gesture and movement of the

body, foiled completely by Baba, leaving me utterly bewildered and helpless, in

the face of His Will. Having completely resigned to His Will, I returned to

Bangalore on Sunday evening bereft of all

hopes of having His Darshan again, in the physical form assumed by Him for this Incarnation."

Baba was 'unconscious' all the time; He evinced only faint gleams of awareness

as when He pushed away the Doctor's hand when the injection was attempted. The

body perspired a great deal but He could be given only a few spoonfuls of

water, the spoon being inserted, after pressing the jaw apart. He was

apparently severely exhausted. Moreover He suffered from what Dr. Krishnamurthy

named 'angina pectoris', paroxysms of intense pain, originating at the breast

bone and radiating thence mainly to the left shoulder and arm. The physical

frame groaned. Inmates of the Nilayam standing tip-toe under the window heard

and wept. To relieve the exhaustion, we could give only occasional drops of

glucose water of lemon juice, forcing apart the tightly clenched teeth.

On Monday, Baba intensified the atmosphere of tragedy. Summoning near His bed

some residents of the Colony, He gestured and lisped to make them understand

that the tasks allotted to them should be carried out with undiminished ardour.

It was a heart-rending experience - to catch those hazy sounds and interpret

them, for the words emerged from a mouth gone awry and a tongue turned left. He

warned us not to frighten the other devotees with our fear. "Deal gently with

them. Talk sweetly to them", He seemed to say. "Give them Vibuthi, ask them to

leave for home and come some other time".

He declined medicine and nursing, brushing aside angrily the spoon, which had a

few drops of coramine. He insisted on the bathroom itself though He had to be

lifted or drawn over two door sills. The pulse registered danger after each

such hazardous journey, we and the Doctor could only wring our hands and pray.

The fact that it was a stroke of paralysis could not be announced and so, a

variety of rumours circulated in and around the Nilayam to explain the ominous

gloom. The wildest of these was that Baba was under the maleficent influence of

black magic! Others surmised that He had gone into Samadhi; still others guessed

that He had taken a vow of silence and inaction. Perhaps the villagers of

Puttaparthy were more competent interpreters, for they had known of His

'unconscious' days at Uravakonda when He had 'gone out' of His Body to save a

devotee from calamity. They said, Baba was about to enter a new chapter in His

History, as he had done after that incident at Uravakonda while in His teens.

Tuesday arrived. Baba showed signs of consciousness, more often and for longer

periods. Referring to the visit of the Doctor, He said, "He can only take

Darsan and leave. Injections are inadvisable in such cases. This will last five

days in all. Tomorrow, the pain will be less. I had two heart attacks, these

three days. You must have heard the groans. No one else could have survived".

He gestured and smiled.

Dr. B. Sitharamayya, who was the Medical Officer in charge of the Nilayam

Hospital, had been summoned by a telegram. He came on Tuesday evening to the

bedside. Tuesday night was filled with fear, for Baba groaned causing us

excruciating agony.

Wednesday dawned, dark and dismal. About 9 am, Baba, who was extremely

exhausted, showed signs of sinking. He struggled for breath; hiccups tormented

Him. The 'parents' could not contain their sorrow; the 'brothers' and 'sisters'

were wallowing in grief. Rooted in the faith that Baba was Divine, we tottered

and wept aloud like panic-stricken babies. They could not decide whether, at

this awful hour, they could stoop to the sacrilege of bringing to Prashanthi

Nilayam a Doctor from Anantapur or Bangalore. Was it right? Was it pardonable?

Was it not urgently needed? Could any doctor be of use? What a tremendous

responsibility this ... on our aged shoulders! We gathered under the mango

trees and, with tears streaming down our cheeks, weighed the pros and cons.

Just then, glad tidings arrived! Baba had regained consciousness; the hiccups

had lost their rigor - two hours later, we had a tragic jolt. His breathing

worsened; He gasped and rolled. His feet and palms became cold. We prayed to

Him amidst sobs; we got no sign to encourage us. The Doctors sat on the floor

and leaned against the wall, resting on their hands their heavy heads. For full

four hours, Baba broiled us thus, in mortal anguish. Then He opened His eyes

looked around, and smiled at us!

About an hour later He beckoned us and told us in His pathetically ineffective

vocabulary, supplemented by gestures with the palsied right hand, the events of

those four hours. We understood Him to say. "The mind is a thousand petalled

lotus, each petal directing it outward into some facet of the objective world.

In the very center of the lotus is the Flame of the I principle. The flame is

ever unsteady, veering now towards one petal, now to another, but if through

the exercise of Will you keep it steady and straight, the I is unaffected by

the events that happen to the body." Some one quoted Shruti (Vedas) and said,

"Neela thoyada madhya-sthaad, vidyullekheva bhaaswaraa, thasyamadhye vahni

sikhaa" (In the center of the blue cloud, shining like a streak of lightning,

with the tongue of fire in its

center) Baba nodded approval. "During those four hours, I held the flame

straight. I was away, apart. I was watching the body from above, Myself

unconcerned, unaffected." (Even at Shirdi, in 1886, Sai Baba saved Himself for

the world from a critical illness, by deciding, to take 'His prana high').

About 7 pm, Baba gestured: "All of you should sleep round here, this night"! It

betokened a crisis. "Will there be a heart attack, this night?" Some one dared

to enquire. Baba replied 'yes'. That night was the longest, the darkest and the

most dreadful in the lives of us, fifteen mortals. The heart attack happened; we

listened to the groans. We prayed to Baba to assuage the pain and assure us of

victory in the struggle.

At last, the Day of Relief. Thursday, the sixth day, when as He had told us, the

pain 'will lose its severity' and the attacks on the heart 'will cease'! The Sun

rose over the hills across the Chitravathi. Baba announced that the pain as well

as the 'burning sensation in the chest had gone'. The very first order He gave

after this declaration was: "Arrange now for all the devotees to get Darshan;

they are broken by despair". We pleaded that the Darshan be granted two days

later, on Saturday (Guru Poornima Day) when thousands gather at the Nilayam

from all the States of India

green; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> to pay homage to their Guru, Master and Teacher. We

hoped that He could recoup Himself more to bear the strain that Darshan

involves.

Baba asked me to announce at the Prayer Hall that Darshan will be granted to all

on Guru Poornima. I had to do it after the morning Bhajan sessions at 9 am.,

Thursday. Baba reprimanded me, for I came away making a short statement,

without any detail about the illness. He insisted on my giving the assembled

Bhaktas an accurate description of His physical condition, so that they are

saved from sharp and sudden shock, at the sight. I announced the condition of

His leg, hand, eye, tongue, and face in Telugu but I broke down when I saw the

agony on the faces that learnt for the

first time the awful truth. I had to repeat the announcement in English,

Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam, but I could not.

That night, Baba conveyed another bit of good news; "The clot in the brain is

dissolved." We prayed to Him to 'will' to be His normal self: He was our refuge

in distress; so when the distress was caused by His own play that was the only

prayer we knew.

Throughout Friday and even during the morning hours of Saturday, we attempted to

persuade Him to give up the plan to give Darshan in the Prayer Hall on the

ground floor. Some one appealed to Him to allow us to announce to the gathering

that He will render Himself hale and hearty before Dasara, a hundred days ahead;

another ventured to pray that He should cure Himself fully by Krishna

Janmashtami (celebration of Krishna's birthday), which was forty days later.

Baba seemed to resent the proposals; He only shook His head.

The Prayer Hall was packed, as never before. People from many villages around

Puttaparthy who had come to know that Baba was being brought down came in large

numbers. The broad spaces around the Nilayam were filled. Baba was carefully

brought down the circular steps (18 in all) to the ground floor. Major Dr. M.

Bhanu of the Government Hospital, Palladam, writes, "I saw Baba moving out with

the help of three Bhaktas, His left leg lifted gently over the doorstep by one

of them. He had a kerchief around His head to bind the halo of hair that had

gone awry and to hide the twitching of the facial muscles, from the eyes of

devotees. His gait was the characteristic hemiplegics one, the paralytic left

leg being dragged in a semi-circle, the toes scraping the floor. Seeing Baba in

that condition, even the

bravest wept aloud". The wail was so sudden and so loud that many who inferred

that it was the end angrily blamed us; they cursed our bravado in putting the

most precious Life on earth to this risk. "Why did you bring Him down?" they

asked.

Baba was placed in the Silver Chair, propped up by pillows. As soon as He was

placed in position, a pillow was placed over His chest and the limp left hand

was lifted by Raja Reddy and placed on it. Seeing this, there arose a gasp from

every breast. Baba signaled to me and I knelt at His side to catch what He was

trying to tell me. After repeating to Him what I had guessed to be His Message

and ascertaining that I had understood Him aright, I announced to the

grief-stricken gathering of about 5000 people: "Do not grieve! This is not My

ailment. This is an ailment I have taken over. I can never fall ill; No, Never.

Do not feel dispirited. If you lose heart, it will pain me." Then, He signed to

me to speak to them for some length, and signed that He will speak again, after

me. Many felt that He had

exerted too much already: they feared the consequence of a further adventure in

speaking with impaired resources.

I called upon every one to pray to Baba, (propped on pillows on the Silver

Chair) the only refuge we knew, to cure Himself at least by the next New Moon

.... for "the Full Moon today is blocked out for us by this unbearable sorrow.

Let the next New moon become a Full Moon for us all and for the world."

Baba signed that the mike be held near His lips. Slowly, He whispered into it,

in thick-tongued syllables, "Vinupisthundaa?", but even we who had learnt to

decipher the mushy paralytic alphabet could not make out what He was trying to

say. He repeated it twice. Then, some one caught it and repeated it on the

mike. Baba was asking them, "Can you hear Me?" This raised another groan: He

was heard but, alas! it tore their hearts. It was too indistinct. Evidently

Baba was too tired by that attempt to speak, for He gestured for water to

drink. It was brought soon by Krishtappa, in a silver tumbler, and held to his

lips by Raja Reddy. His palsied right hand came towards it ... He tried to hold

it ... His fingers slipped into it ... the fingers dipped ... He sipped a few

drops ... He sprinkled, with the

fingers of the right hand, a little water on the limp left hand on the pillow

above His chest ... He sprinkled the water, faintly shaking the fingers, on the

left leg too. He stroked the left hand with the right. And WITH BOTH HANDS

stroked the left leg. He rose; the pillow fell off; we could hear His Divine

voice calling us, as was ever His wont, "Premaswaroopulaaraa!" He had begun His

Guru Poornima Discourse!! O, we had our Baba back again, hale, hearty, holy,

healthy, heavenly...

People did not believe their eyes and ears. But when they realized that Baba was

standing before them, speaking, they jumped about in joy, they danced, they

shouted Jais, they wept; some were so overcome with ecstatic gratitude that

they laughed hysterically and ran wild amongst the crowds rushing in.

Oh! it was the miracle of miracles. It shot us in an instant from the deepest

pit of gloom into the Seventh Heaven of Delight. Major Bhanu writes, "The

Doctor of Doctors cured Himself in a trice, leaving me aghast with wonder".

"Premaswaroopulaaraa" (Embodiments of Love!) "Dikku lenivanikki Devude Gathi",

Baba's silver voice awakened all to attention. (For him who has no refuge, God

is the refuge). That is the reason I had to take on this disease that one

forlorn Bhakta was to suffer from. He would not have survived it, nor could he

come through the four heart attacks I took on. My Dharma is Bhaktharakhana. I

had to rescue him. Of course, this is not the first time I have taken on the

illness of those I want to save. Even in the previous Sariram at Shirdi, I had

this responsibility. This is My Leela; My nature. It is part of the task for

which I have come, Sishtarakshana". (Had He not declared at Shirdi as Sai Baba,

"The sea may turn the rivers back! But I will not neglect My

devotees").

He spoke for over an hour with the same eloquence, the same compassion, the same

humour, and the same love that He evinces always. Then, raising the voice a

little, He said, "I have been keeping back from you all these years one secret

about Me; the time has come when I can reveal it to you. This is a sacred day.

I am Siva-Shakti," He declared, "born in the gothra of Bharadwaj, according to

a boon won by that sage from Siva and Shakti. Shakti Herself was born in the

gothra of that sage as Sai Baba of Shirdi; Siva and Shakti have incarnated as

Myself in his gothra now; Siva alone will incarnate as the third Sai (Prema Sai

Baba) in the same gothra in Mysore State."

This illness has to be borne by Shakti (the consort of Siva), for She incurred

the ire of Her Lord by neglecting to notice Bharadwaj for full eight days at

Kailash, their Home. As a consequence of the neglect, Bharadwaj had suffered a

stroke; Siva sprinkled the restorative water and cured him. Today, you saw the

illness of Shakti (the left half) cured by Siva (the right half) by the same

means. These matters are beyond human ken; so, I had kept it away from you so

long, but now that within the knowledge of so many, Shakti suffered and Siva

saved, it is time you knew this. The Bhakta who was saved by My 'taking over'

is only the 'immediate' cause; the 'remote' cause is the boon and the

retribution. Baba declared.

After this disclosure, Baba sang a few songs, which He wanted the congregation

to repeat in chorus. When He started off in double quick tempo the lines, "Hara

Hara Siva Siva Subrahmanyam, Siva Siva Hara Hara Subrahmanyam, Siva

Saravanabhava Subrahmanyam, Guru Saravanabhava Subrahmanyam" Dr. Bhanu rushed

in but let him explain why he did so. "I forgot I was a volunteer posted

outside to keep the crowd in check; I rushed inside to fall at His feet and

pray to Him, not to continue that song, I was afraid if His tongue performs the

acrobatics, so soon after it regained its normalcy, it might fail and suffer a

relapse. But at the very door, I held myself. I remembered the Miracle I had

seen with my own eyes. I remembered the sweet voice that was won back in a

trice, I kept mum. Who was I to check God? I

controlled myself and stayed outside."

Baba ascended the steps to the first floor with His usual agility. He announced

from the verandah above to the gathering that He would grant every one of them

the chance to touch His feet at Namaskaram the next day at 6.30 am. He partook

of normal food that night. No one slept: the miracle they witnessed kept them

awake in ecstasy. O! Within a split second, Baba had given Himself back to the

world.

Next evening too He gave a discourse. He pitied those who revel in bad news and

are eager to circulate it. He declared, "From this day, nothing and no one can

stop or obstruct or delay the work for which this Avatar has come. During a

previous Advent, only one mountain, the Govardhana, was lifted; this Avatar

will lift many ranges. This Ganga will roll majestically on, feeding the roots

of all mankind."

Referring to this mighty miracle, Baba said, a few weeks later, "Rescuing a true

Bhakta is My Dharma. My Very Nature. Some one asked me whether it was right on

My part to plunge thousands into grief, in order to rescue one. Such numerical

calculations cannot apply to acts of Grace. I act My Dharma, regardless of how

it affects you or him. Rama obeyed His father's desire; He did not desist

though all Ayodhya was bathed in tears. The father who had acceded to his

mother's wicked desire to exile Him and the very brother who was to benefit by

the exile urged Him to stay on. But, He did dot turn back. The illness that I

took on had to execute its Dharma, according to its nature. I allowed it to

behave so; for, it is only then that you can observe and imbibe the Glory of

the Victory. Krishna could have

waved off the rains that Indra threatened to pour on the region of Brindavan,

but, He permitted the God of Rains to carry on His Dharma. And, He utilized the

occasion, to let the Gopis and Gopas have a glimpse of His Glory! He lifted the

Govardhan Mount on His little finger to save them from the devastating

downpour. He, observed His Dharma, the Dharma of Bhaktharakshana (Granting

succor of Devotees). Now too, as in that Age, the Purpose is the Proclamation

of Divinity."

"You must count another benefit too, though you may not be aware of it. I know

to what depths your devotion to Me reached, as a result of this 'illness'

during those eight days. You would not have achieved that single pointed

meditation on Me, even during years of Tapas." He knew that all those that knew

of the illness were spending those awful days in prayer, penance and penitence.

They prayed that He may rise from the sick-bed with more resplendent glory,

that they be pardoned for their errors which may affect His Majesty, and that

their suffering be accepted in lieu of what He was 'ailing' from.

The Darshan of Baba is a creative chance to transmute the base metal in us into

gold. To listen His words is to be charged with the current of spiritual

regeneration. To read His writings is to feed your intellect with wholesome

sustenance and purge it of egoistic dross. This Heavenly Ganga vitalizes,

fertilizes and purifies all who dive into it.

CONTINUED…

With Sai love from Sai brother M. Palaniswamy

/

 

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