SRI SAI SATCHARITA and SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM [33-34]

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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 – [33-34]

SHRI SAI SATCHARITA

The Life of the Divine Avatar Sai Baba of Shirdi

By Hemadpant

CHAPTER XXXIII

Scorpion Sting and Plague Cases Cured - Jamner Miracle - Narayanarao's Sickness

- Balabuva sutar - Appasaheb Kulkarni - Haribhau Karnik

In the last Chapter we described the greatness of the Guru; now in this we will

describe the greatness of Udi.

PRELIMINARY

Let us bow now before the great saints. Their merciful glances will destroy

mountains of sins and do away with all the evil taints of our character. Their

casual talk gives us good teachings and confers on us imperishable happiness.

Their minds do not know any difference such as 'This is ours and that is

yours.' Such differentiation never arises in their minds. Their debts

(obligations) will never be repaid by us in this birth as well as in many

future births.

GREATNESS OF UDI

It is well-known that Baba took Dakshina from all, and out of the amount thus

collected, He spent a lot on charity and purchased fuel with the balance left

with Him. This fuel He threw in the Dhuni - the sacred fire, which he kept ever

burning. The ash from this fire was called Udi and it was freely distributed to

the devotees at the time of their departure from Shirdi.

What did Baba teach or hint by this Udi? Baba taught by His Udi that all the

visible phenomena in the universe are as transient as the ash. Our bodies

composed of wood or matter of the five elements, will fall down, after all

their enjoyments are over, and be reduced to ashes. In order to remind the

devotees of the fact that their bodies will be reduced to ashes, Baba

distributed Udi to them. Baba also taught by the Udi that the Brahman is the

only Reality and the universe is ephemeral and that no one in this world, be he

a son, father or wife, is really ours. We come here (in this world) alone and we

have to go out alone. It was found and is even now found out, that the Udi cured

many physical and mental maladies, but Baba wanted to din into the devotee's

ears the principles of discrimination between

the Unreal and the Real, non-attachment for the Unreal, by His Udi and Dakshina.

The former (Udi) taught us discrimination and the latter (Dakshina) taught us

non-attachment. Unless we have these two things, it is not possible for us to

cross over the sea of the mundane existence. So Baba asked for and took

Dakshina, and while the devotees took leave, He gave Udi as Prasadam, besmeared

some of it on the Bhaktas' foreheads and placed His boon-conferring hand on

their heads. When Baba was in a cheerful mood, He used to sing merrily. One

such song was about Udi. The burden of the Udi song was this, "Oh, playful

Rama, come, come, and bring with you sacks of Udi." Baba used to sing in very

clear and sweet tones.

So much about the spiritual implication of Udi. It had also its material

significance. It conferred health, prosperity, freedom from anxiety, and many

other worldly gains. So the Udi has helped us to gain both our ends - material

as well as spiritual. We shall now begin with the stories about the Udi.

SCORPION-STING

Narayan Motiram Jani of Nasik was a devotee of Baba. He was serving under

another devotee of Baba, by name Ramachandra Vaman Modak. Once he went to

Shirdi with his mother and saw Baba. Then Baba Himself told her that he (her

son) should serve no more, but start independent business. Some days after,

this prophecy turned true. Narayan Jani left service and started a boarding

house 'Anandashram' which thrived well. Once a friend of this Narayanrao was

stung by a scorpion and the pain caused by it, was severe and unbearable. Udi

is most efficacious in such cases; it is to be

applied on the seat of pain, and so Narayanrao searched for it, but found none.

Then he stood before Baba's picture and invoked Baba's aid, chanted Baba's name

and taking out a pinch of the ashes of the joss-stick burning in front of Baba's

picture and thinking it to be Baba's Udi, applied it on the seat of pain and the

sting. As soon as he took out his fingers, the pain vanished and both the person

were moved and felt delighted.

BUBONIC PLAGUE CASE

Once a devotee in Bandra came to know that his daughter, who was staying in

another place was down with bubonic plague. He had no Udi with him; so he sent

word to Nanasaheb Chandorkar to send the same. Nanasaheb got this message on a

road near the Thana Railway Station when he was travelling with his wife to

Kalyan. He had no Udi with him at that time. He, therefore, took up some earth

from the road, meditated upon Sai Baba, invoked His aid and applied it on the

forehead of his wife. The devotee saw all this and when he went to his

daughter's house he was very glad to learn

that his daughter, who was suffering for three days, began to improve from the

very moment Nanasaheb invoked Baba's aid near the Thana Railway Station.

THE JAMNER MIRACLE

About 1904-05 Nanasaheb Chandorkar was Mamlatdar at Jamner, in the Khandesh

District, which is more that 100 miles distant from Shirdi. His daughter

Mainatai was pregnant and was about to deliver. He case was very serious and

she was suffering from labour pains for the last two or three days. Nanasaheb

tried all remedies but they proved in vain; he then remembered Baba and invoked

His aid. There in Shirdi, one Ramgirbuva, whom Baba called Bapugirbuva, wanted

at this time to go to his native place in Khandesh. Baba called him and told

him to take a little rest and stop at Jamner on his way home and give the Udi

and Arati to Nanasaheb. Ramgirbuva said that he had only two rupees with him

and that amount was barely sufficient for the railway fare upto Jalgaon and it

was not possible for him to go from

jalgaon to Jamner, a distance of about 30 miles. Baba assured him that he need

not worry, as everything would be provided for him. Then Baba asked Shama to

write the well-known Arati composed by Madhav Adkar (a translation of this is

given at the end of this work) and give a copy of it with Udi to Ramgirbuva to

be delivered to Nanasaheb. Then relying on Baba's words, Ramgirbuva left Shirdi

and reached Jalgaon at about 2-45 a.m. He had only two annas left with him and

was in a hard plight. To his great relief he heard somebody calling out "Who is

Bapugirbuva of Shirdi?" He went to him and told him that he was the person

Bapugirbuva. Then the peon, professing to be sent by Nanasaheb, took him out to

an excellent tanga with a good pair of horses. They both drove in it. The tanga

ran fast and early in the morning they came to a brooklet. The drive took the

horses for watering them and the peon asked Ramgirbuva to partake of some

eatables. On seeing the beard, moustache and the livery of

the peon, Rangirbuva suspected him to be a Moslem and was unwilling to take any

refreshments from him, but the peon satisfied him by saying that he was a

Hindu, a Kshatriya of Garhwal and that Nanasaheb had sent these refreshments

and that there should be no difficulty, nor any doubt about acceptance. Then

both of them took the refreshments and started again. They reached Jamner at

dawn. Ramgirbuva alighted to attend a call of nature (passing urine) and

returned within a few minutes, but found that there was no tanga, no driver and

no peon. He was dumbfounded. Then he went to the neighbouring Katcheri and

making enquiries, learnt that the Mamlatdar was at home. He went to Nanasaheb's

house, and announced himself and gave to Nanasaheb, Baba's Udi and Arati. At

this time, Mainatai's case was most serious and all were in deep anxiety about

her. Nanasaheb called out his wife and asked her to give the Udi, mixed with

water, to their daughter to drink, and sing Baba's Arati. He throught

that Baba's help was most opportune. In a few minutes came the news that the

delivery was safe and that the crisis had passed away. When Ramgirbuva thanked

Nanasaheb for the peon, tanga and the refreshments etc. the latter was greatly

surprised as he had sent none to the station, and was not aware of any person

coming from Shirdi.

Mr. B.V. Deo of Thana, Retired Mamlatdar, made enquiries about this matter with

Bapurao Chandorkar, son of Nanasaheb and Ramgirbuva of Shirdi and after

satisfying himself wrote an elaborate article - part prose and part poetry - in

Shri Sai Leela magazine (Vol. 13 Nos. 11, 12 and 13). Brother B.V. Narsimhswami

has also taken down the statements of (1) Mainatai (No. V page 14) and (2)

Bapusaheb Chandorkar (No. XX page 50) and (3) Ramgirbuva (No. XXVII, Page 83)

dated IST June 1936, 16th September 1936 and Ist December 1936 respectively and

published them in his

"Devotees' Experiences, Part III." The following is quoted from Ramgirbuva's statement.

"One day Baba called me to him and gave me a packet of Udi and a copy of Baba's

Arati. I had to go to Khandesh at the time. Baba directed me to go to Jamner

and told me to deliver the Arati and Udi to Nanasaheb Chandorkar, at Jamner. I

said to Baba that all I had was Rs. 2, and asked Him how that could take me by

train from Kopergaon to Jalgaon and next by cart from Jalgaon to Jamner. Baba

said,"God will give." That was Friday and I started at once. I reached Manmad

at 7-30 p.m. and Jalgaon at 2-45 a.m. At that time plague regulations were

enforced and I had much trouble. I was to discover what I should do to get to

Jamner. At about 3 a.m. a peon in boots, turban and well equipped with other

details of good dress came to me and took me to a tanga and drove me on. I was

in terror. On the way at Bhaghoor, I took refreshments. We reached Jamner early

in the morning and by the time I attended my call of nature the tanga and its

driver had disappeared (page 83)."

NARAYANARAO

Bhakta Narayanrao (father's name and surname are not given) had the good fortune

to see Baba twice during the Latter's lifetime. Three years after the passing

away of Baba in 1918, he wanted to come to Shirdi, but he could not come.

Within a year of Baba's Maha Samadhi he fell sick and suffered much. All

ordinary remedies gave him no relief. So he meditated on Baba day and night.

One night he had a vision in his dream. Baba coming to him through a cellar,

comforted him saying, "Don't be anxious, you will be improving from tommorrow,

and within a week you will be on your legs." Narayanrao got perfectly well

within the time mentioned in the vision. Now the point for consideration is

this:- Was Baba living because he had the body, and was He dead because He left

it? No, Baba is ever alive, for He

transcends both life and death. He who loved Him once whole-heartedly gets

response from Him at any time and at any place. He is always by our side and

will take any form and appear before the devout Bhakta and satisfy him.

APPASAHEB KULKARNI

In 1917 the chance of one Appasaheb Kulkarni came. He was transferred to Thana

and began to worship Baba's picture presented to him by Balasaheb Bhate. In

real earnest he did the worship. He offered flowers, sandal-paste, and naivedya

daily to Baba in the picture and longed intently to see Him. In this connection

it may be remarked that seeing Baba's picture earnestly is equivalent to seeing

Him in person. The following story illustrates this statement.

BALABUVA SUTAR

A Saint of Bombay named Balabuva Sutar, who on account of his piety, devotion

and Bhajan, was called "Modern Tukaram", came to Shirdi for the first time in

1917. When be bowed before Baba, the latter said "I know this man since four

years". Balabuva wondered and thought, how could that be, as that was his first

trip to Shirdi. But thinking about it seriously he recollected that he had

prostrated himself four years ago before Baba's portrait at

10pt">Bombay and was convinced about the significance of Baba's words. He said

to himself,” How omniscient and all-pervading are the Saints and how kind are

they to their Bhaktas! I merely bowed to His photo, this fact was noticed by

Baba and in due time He made me realize that seeing His photo is equivalent to

seeing Him in person!"

APPASAHEB KULKARNI

To return to Appasaheb's story. While he was in Thana, he had to go on tour to

Bhivandi and was not expected to return within a week. In his absence, the

following wonderful thing took place on the third day. At noon a fakir turned

up at Appasaheb's house. His features resembled exactly those of Baba's photo.

Mrs. Kulkarni and the children all asked

him whether he was Sai Baba of Shirdi. He said 'No', but that he was an obedient

servant of His and came there at His order to enquire after the health of the

family. Then he asked for Dakshina. The lady gave him a rupee. He gave her a

small packet of Udi, and asked her to keep this in the shrine along with the

photo for worship. Then he left the house and went away. Now hear the wonderful

Leela of Sai.

Appasaheb could not proceed with his tour as his horse fell sick at Bhivandi. He

returned home that afternoon and learnt from his wife about fakir's visit. He

smarted in his mind as he did not get the darshan of the fakir and he did not

like that only one rupee was paid as Dakshina. He said that had he been

present, he would have offered not less than rupees ten. Then he immediately

started in quest of the fakir and searched for him in the Masjid and other

places, without taking any food. His search was in vain. He then returned home

and took his food. The reader may remember here Baba's dictum in Chapter 32

that God's quest should not be made on an empty belly. Appasaheb got a lesson,

here about this. Then after meals he went out for a walk with a friend Mr.

Chitre. Going some distance they saw a man

approaching them rapidly. Appasaheb though that he must be the fakir that came

to his house at noon, as his features tallied with those of Baba in the photo.

The fakir immediately put forth his hand and asked for Dakshina. Appasaheb gave

him a rupee. He demanded again and again and so Appasaheb gave him two more.

Still he was not satisfied. Then he borrowed Rs. three from Mr. Chitre and gave

them to him. He wanted still more. Appasaheb asked him to accompany him to his

home. Then they all returned home and Appasaheb then gave him again three

rupees, in all nine. He looked unsatisfied and demanded again. Then he told him

that he had a currency of Rs. ten. The fakir asked for the same and took it and

returned the nine rupees in cash and went away. Appasaheb had said that he

would pay Rs. ten and that sum was taken from him and nine rupees, consecrated

by Baba's touch, were returned to him. The figure 9 is significant. It denotes

the nine types of devotion (vide Chapter 21). It may

also be noted here that Baba gave Rs. nine to one Laxmibai Shinde at His last moment.

Appasaheb examined the Udi-packet and found that it contained some flower-petals

and Akshata. Then some time afterwards he got hair from Baba when he saw Him at

Shirdi. He put the Udi-packet and the hair in a talisman and always wore it on

his arm. Appasaheb realized the power of the Udi. Though he was very clever he

got Rs. 40/- as pay in the beginning, but after he secured Baba's photo and His

Udi, he got many times forty rupees per month and also got much power and

influence; and along with these temporal benefits, his spiritual progress was

also rapid. So those who are fortune enough to get Baba's Udi should, after

bath, apply it on the forehead and take some little of it mixed with water in

the mouth as holy Tirth.

HARIBHAU KARNIK

In 1917 Haribhau Karnik of Dahanu (Thana District) came to Shirdi on the

Guru-Poornima day (in the month of Ashadha) and worshipped Baba with all

formality. He offered clothes and Dakshina, and after taking Baba's leave

through Sharma, got down the steps of the Masjid. Then he thought that he

should offer one more rupee to Baba and was just turning to get up when Shama

informed him by signs that as he had got Baba's leave, he should go and not

return. So he started home. On his way, when he went into the temple of Kala

Rama at Nasik for Darshan, the Saint Narsing Maharaj who used to sit just

inside the big door of the temple, left his Bhaktas there came to Haribhau,

caught his wrist and said,” Give me my one rupee". Karnik was surprised. He

paid the rupee most willingly and thought that Sai Baba

recovered the rupee, which he intended in his mind to give, through Saint

Narsing Maharaj. This shows how the saints work in unison.

This story illustrates the fact that all saints are one and shows how they work in unison.

BOW TO SHRI SAI - PEACE BE TO ALL

Chapter XXXIV

(1) Doctor's Nephew - (2) Dr. Pillay - (3) Shama's Siste-in-Law - (4) Irani

Girl - (5) Harda Gentleman - (6) Bombay Lady

GREATNESS OF UDI (CONTINUED)

This Chapter continues the subject "Greatness of Udi" and describes cases in

which the application of Udi was most efficacious.

DOCTOR'S NEPHEW

At Malegaon (Dt. Nasik) there lived a doctor (qualified and degree-holder). His

nephew suffered from an incurable disease - Tubercular bone-abscess. The doctor

himself and his brothers, the medical practitioners, tried all sorts of remedies

and even an operation. There was no relief and there was no end to the little

boy's suffering. Friends and relations advised the parents of the boy to seek

divine aid and recommended them to try Sai Baba, who was known to have cured

such incurable cases by His mere glance. The parents, therefore, came to

Shirdi. They

prostrated themselves before Baba, placed the boy before Him and pleaded humbly

and respectfully, and implored Him to save their son. The merciful Baba

comforted them saying "Those who resort to this Masjid shall never suffer

anything in this life and to the end of time. Be now care-free. Apply Udi on

the abscess and within one week he will recover. Believe in God. This is no

Masjid, but Dwarkamai. He who steps here will soon get health and happiness and

his sufferings will come to an end". The boy was made to sit before Baba, Who

moved his hands on the affected part and cast His loving glances on him. The

patient was pleased and with the application of the Udi, he began to recover,

and was all right after some days. The parents then left Shirdi with their son,

thanking Baba for the cure, which was effected by Udi and Baba's gracious looks.

 

After knowing this, the doctor, the uncle of the boy became wonder-struck and

desired to see Baba while he was on his way to Bombay for some business; but at

Malegaon and Manmad somebody spoke to him against Baba and poisoned his ears. He

therefore, dropped the idea of visiting Shirdi and went to Bombay direct. He

wanted to spend the rest of his leave at Alibag, but at Bombay he heard three

successive nights, a voice crying out,” Still you disbelieve me?". Then the

doctor changed his mind and resolved to go to Shirdi. He had to attend in

Bombay to a case of Infectious Fever, which showed no signs of abatement soon.

So he thought that his Shirdi trip would be postponed. He however proposed a

test in his mind and said,” If the patient gets all right today, I start for

Shirdi tomorrow." The wonder is that exactly at the time when the determination

was

taken, the fever began to abate and the temperature became normal. Then he went

to Shirdi as per his determination, took Baba's Darshan and prostrated himself

before Him. Baba gave him such experiences that he became His devotee. He

stayed there for four days and returned home with Baba's Udi and blessings.

Within a fortnight he was transferred on promotion to Bijapur. His nephew's

case gave him an opportunity for seeing Baba and this visit engendered in him a

never failing love for the Saint's feet.

DR. PILLAY

One Dr. Pillay was an intimate Bhakta of Baba. He was much liked by Baba, Who

always called him Bhau (brother). Baba talked with him off and on and consulted

him in all matters and wanted him always at His side. This Pillay suffered once

very badly from guinea-worms. He said to Kakasaheb Dixit, "The pain is most

excruciating and unbearable. I prefer death to it. This pain, I know, is for

repaying past Karma, but go to Baba and tell Him to stop the pain and transfer

the working of my past Karma to ten future births of mine." Mr. Dixit went to

Baba and told Him his request. Then Baba, being moved by his request, said to

Dixit, "Tell him to be fearless. Why should he suffer for ten births? In ten

days he can work out the sufferings and consequences of his past Karma. While I

am here to give

him temporal and spiritual welfare, why should he pray for death? Bring him here

on somebody's back and let us work and finish his sufferings once for all".

The doctor was brought in that condition and was seated on Baba's right side,

where Fakir Baba always sat. Baba gave him His bolster and said,” Lie calmly

here and be at ease. The true remedy is, that the result of past actions has to

be suffered and got over. Our Karma is the cause of our happiness and sorrow;

therefore put up with whatever comes to you. Allah (God) is the sole Dispenser

and Protector, always think of Him. He will take care of you. Surrender to His

feet with body, mind, wealth and speech, i.e. completely and then see what He

does." Dr. Pillay said in return that Nanasaheb had put a bandage over the leg,

but he found no relief. "Nana is a fool" replied Baba. "Take off that bandage or

else you will die. Now a crow will come and peck you, and then you will

recover."

While this conversation was going on, one Abdul, who always cleaned the Masjid

and trimmed the lamps, turned up. While he was attending to his work of

training, his foot accidentally fell upon the stretched leg of Dr. Pillay. The

leg was already swollen and when Abdul's foot fell upon it and pressed it, all

the seven guinea-worms were squeezed out at once. The pain was unbearable and

Dr. Pillay bawled out loudly. After some time, he calmed down and began to sing

and cry alternately. Then Pillay enquired when the crow was coming and peeking.

Baba said, "Did you not see the crow? He won't come again. Abdul was the crow.

Now go and rest yourself in the Wada and you will be soon Albright."

By application of the Udi and by taking it in the stomach with water, and

without taking any other treatment or medicine, the disease was completely

cured in ten days as predicted by Baba.

SHARMA'S SISTER-IN-LAW

Shama's younger brother Bapaji was staying near Sawool well. Once his wife was

attacked with Bubonic plague. She had high fever and two bubos in her groins.

Bapaji rushed to Shama at Shirdi and asked him to come and help. Shama was

frightened, but according to his wont, he went to Baba, prostrated himself

before Him, invoked His aid, and requested Him to cure the case. He also asked

His permission to go to his brother's house. Then Baba said, "Don't go there at

this late hour (night), send her Udi. Why care for the fever and bubos? God is

our father and master; she will be alright easily. Do not go now, but go there

in the morning and return immediately."

Shama had full faith in Baba's Udi. It was sent with Bapaji. It was applied on

the bubos and some of it was mixed with water and was given to the patient for

drinking. No sooner was it taken in, than perspiration set in profusely, the

fever abated and the patient had a good sleep. Next morning Bapaji was

surprised to see his wife alright and refreshed with no fever and bubos. When

Shama went there next morning with Baba's permission he was also surprised to

see her at the hearth and preparing tea. On questioning his brother, he learnt

that Baba's Udi cured her completely in one night. Then Shama realized the

significance of Baba's words. "Go there in the morning and return immediately.

After taking tea, Sharma returned and after saluting Baba said, "Deva, what is

this play of Yours? You first raise a storm and make us restless and then calm

it down and ease us". Baba replied "You see mysterious is the path of action.

Though I do nothing, they hold Me responsible for the actions which take place

on account of Adrista (destiny). I am only their witness. The Lord is the sole

Doer and Inspirer. He is also most merciful. Neither I am God nor Lord. I am

His obedient servant and remember Him often. He, who casts aside his egoism,

thanks Him and he, who trusts Him entirely, will have his shackles removed and

will obtain liberation".

IRANI'S DAUGHTER

Now read the experience of an Irani gentleman. His young daughter got fits every

hour. When the convulsion came she lost her power of speech, her limbs got

shrunk and contracted and she fell down senseless. No remedy gave her any

relief. Some friend recommended Baba's Udi to her father and asked him to get

it from Kakasaheb Dixit at Vile Parle (suburb of Bombay). Then the Irani

gentleman got the Udi and gave it mixed with water to his daughter daily for

drinking. In the beginning the convulsions, which were coming on hourly, came

every seven hours and after a

few days the daughter recovered completely.

HARDA GENTLEMAN

An old gentleman of Harda (C.P) was suffering from a stone in his bladder. Such

stones are generally removed by surgical operations and people recommended him

to undergo one. He was old and weak, lacked strength of mind and could not

think of submitting himself to surgical treatment. His suffering was soon to

end in another way. The Inamdar (City Officer) of that town happened to come

there at this time. He was a devotee of Baba and had always a stock of Udi with

him. On the recommendation of friends, his son got some Udi from and mixing it

with water, gave it to his old father to drink. Within five minutes the Udi was

assimilated, the stone was dissolved and came out through his urine and old man

was soon relieved.

BOMBAY LADY

A woman of the Kayastha Prabhu caste in Bombay always suffered terrible pain at

her delivery. She was very much frightened each time she became pregnant and

did not know what to do. Shri Rama-Maruti of

Kalyan, who was a devotee of Baba, advised her husband to take her to Shirdi for

a painless delivery. When she next became pregnant, both husband and wife came

to Shirdi, stayed there for some months and worshipped Baba and got all the

benefit of His company. After some time the hour of delivery came and as usual

there was obstruction in the passage from the womb. She began to suffer labour

pains, did not know what to do, but began to pray to Baba for relief. In the

meantime, some neighbouring women turned up and after invoking Baba's aid, gave

her Udi-mixture to drink. In five minutes, the woman delivered safely and

painlessly. The issue was still-born according to its fate; but the mother who

got rid of the anxiety and pain, thanked Baba for the safe delivery and ever

remained grateful

to Him.

BOW TO SHRI SAI - PEACE TO BE ALL

*****

SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM - Part II [concluding part]

The Life of the Divine Avatar Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

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

Baba addresses the vast assemblies that gather to listen to His Discourses,

"Divyathma-swarupulara"! - "Ye, Divine Atmic Realities"! He sees all as

Himself; He calls upon all to see Him as themselves. This identity is the

Truth, but we revel in the delusion of separateness and suffer. Baba is Love,

Wisdom, Power, and Grace. So, He is able to declare, "The world is My mansion;

even those who deny Me are Mine; call Me by any Name, I shall respond; picture

Me in any Form, I shall present Myself before you.I am in the least of you,

as much as in the best; do not slander or injure anyone, for, you are

slandering and injuring Me who is in him." Such is the universality of His

Majesty and His Love.

It is that Love, which prompts Him to invite us to approach, examine,

experience, judge and then, accept Him. Lord Krishna, too, after teaching

Arjuna the Gita, said, "Now that you have heard all, revolve this in your mind

and do as you desire"! Baba has no anger in His composition, no trace of fear

or fanaticism. We are all His reflections; He recognizes us as such, though we

have not yet become aware of it. How can He then give us up? He sees mankind as

a massive caravan on the pilgrim road across the desert wastes - some straying

away where mirages attract, some searching for oases, some listening to the

voices of those who have seen the goal. When Baba, at the age of 14 cast away

His satchel of school books and stepped on to the road with the words, "I am no

longer yours, My devotees are

calling Me, I have My work to do", [see: The Serpent Hill] the caravan was about

to destroy itself in the arid region of simoom ridden science and die of thirst

deprived of the waters of brotherly Love.

There is in every river, Baba says, the urge to return to the sea from which it

was born. Rising as vapour into the sky, rolling across it as cloud, falling as

rain upon the earth, flowing along the bed it scours, it keeps that urge in

mind; the urge ushers it forward over every obstacle until it reaches the sea;

so, too, all men in all lands call out in all languages for God, from whom they

have come, so that, He may give a sign, an echoing call to lead them along the

quickest, the safest path to Him.

Baba hears that call. He gives the sign, the echoing call. "My devotees are

calling Me; I have My work to do", He said. "All men are Mine; the World is My

Mansion", He says. "I have no Name I can specify as My very Own". He has come

to guide all mankind. When some one wrote to Baba, "I am happy that Your name

is adored in every home here", Baba replied, "You will soon see that It is

adored in every inch of space all over the World." Yes. That is the Meaning,

the Purpose, the Mission, the Consummation.

The World Conference of Sevaks and Sadhaks of the Sathya Sai Organisations and

Groups will inaugurate that Golden Era of Universal Love.

NEXT: SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM - Part III will be continued

CONTINUED…

With Sai love from Sai brother M. Palaniswamy

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