SRI SAI SATCHARITA and SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM [50]

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Dear Sai brothers and sisters,

We have been sending the ‘Sri Sai Satcharita’ and ‘Sathyam, Sivam, Sundaram’ –

the life stories of Shirdi Sai Baba and Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the

Avatars of the age together since last few weeks daily and so far covered 49

parts of the same. Now the LAST Chapter of Sri Sai Satcharita and the Part IV

of Sathyam Sivam Sundaram are remaining to be posted. Before concluding Sri Sai

Satcharita, as a recollection of the most important events/aspects in ‘Sri Sai

Satcharita’ so far covered have been posted herein as a brief summary. Hope

members would like and SHARE with others. Happiness is more when it is shared

with others to make them happy. – ‘’

Om Sri Sai Ram

Ganesha Mantra: AUM Gung Ganapathaye Namah

Ganesh Gayatri

Tat purushaaya vidmahe

Vakratundaaya dheemahi

Tanno dhanti prachodayaat

 

SRI SAI SATCHARITA and SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM

The Life Stories of the Two Avatars of the Age – [50]

SHRI SAI SATCHARITA

The Life of the Divine Avatar Sai Baba of Shirdi

By Hemadpant

Sainatha Sainatha Sainatha Sadgurum

Yogiraja Yugapurusha Bhaktakoti Vanditham

Kripanidhim Tapodhanim Sainatha Pahimaam

Divyateja Bhavyamoorthi Punyacharita Poojitam

SHRI SAI BABA - THE SUPERMAN

Sai Baba, a personification of spiritual perfection and an epitome of

compassion, lived in the little village of Shirdi in the state of Maharashtra

10pt"> (India) for sixty years. Like most of the perfect saints he left no

authentic record of his birth and early life before arriving at Shirdi. In

fact, in the face of his spiritual brilliance such queries do not have much

relevance.

He reached Shirdi as a nameless entity. One of the persons who first came in

contact with him at Shirdi addressed him spontaneously as ‘Sai’ which means

Savior, Master or Saint. ‘Baba’ means father as an expression of reverence. In

the Divine play it was designed as such, that He subtly inspired this person to

call Him by this name, which was most appropriate for His self-allotted mission.

 

All that we definitely know of Sai Baba is that his arrival at Shirdi was

anonymous. He was first noticed in the outskirts of the village Shirdi, seated

under a ‘Neem’ (margosa) tree, about the year 1854. However, even this date is

not definitely noted. Sai Baba of these younger days remained a stranger

staying under the Neem tree for some time and then suddenly he left Shirdi to

come back again sometime in 1858, and stayed on there till he left his gross

body in the year 1918.

The second advent of Baba at Shirdi, around 1858 was interestingly quite

different from the first. This time he accompanied a wedding procession as

guest of honor. On the arrival at Shirdi, he was immediately recognized by

someone as the same anonymous saintly personality who used to be seated under

the Neem tree a few years earlier and, greeted Him as “Ya Sai” – Welcome Sai.

In the early days of his stay at Shirdi he spent his time either wandering in

the outskirts of village or neighboring thorny jungles or sitting under the

Neem tree totally self absorbed. The first set of villagers who regarded this

saintly figure was Mhalaspathi, Tatya Kote, Bayyaji Bai and few others. Bayyaji

Bai felt deeply motivated by this Divine Saint, and with her motherly instinct

she used to walk miles on end into the jungles in search of him, carrying food

in a basket on her head. Often she found Sai Baba sitting under some tree in

deep meditation, calm and motionless. She would boldly approach him, serve the

meal and return home.

After sometime as though out of compassion for her, Sai Baba ceased wandering

and moved into a dilapidated mosque in the outskirts of the village. He

referred to this mosque, where He resided till the end, as ‘Dwarkamai’ (Dwarka

was the place where Lord Shri Krishna stayed to fulfill His divine Advent).

This mosque ‘Dwarkamai’ – abode of Sai Baba became Mother of Mercy for all the

time to come.

He had a body of athlete built and in his earlier days he was fond of wrestling.

Another aspect of Sai Baba’s personality was his love for song and dance. In

those early years of his life he used to go to ‘Takia’, the public night

shelter for Moslem visitors to the village. There in the company of sojourning

devotees and fakirs, he used to dance and sing in divine bliss, with small

tinkles tied around his ankles. The songs he sang were mostly in Persian or

Arabic. Sometimes he sang some popular songs of Kabir.

He donned a long shirt – ‘Kafni’ and tied a cloth around his head, and twisted

it into a flowing plait like manner behind his left ear. He used a piece of

sackcloth for his seat and slept on it with a brick as his pillow. He always

declared that Fakir (Holy poverty) was far superior to worldly richness. He was

no ordinary fakir but an ‘Avatar’ (incarnation) of a very high order. But His

external appearance was of simple, illiterate, moody, emphatic – at times fiery

and abusive and at times full of compassion and love. In the moments of towering

rage people with him thought it was ungovernable rage. But his anger never

prevented his compassion dealing with the devotees. His anger was evidently

directed at unseen forces. He enacted all these simple traits only to hide His

real

identity as the God incarnate. Under the cover of simplicity He silently worked

for the spiritual transformation and liberation of innumerable souls – human

beings and animals alike, who were drawn to Him, by unseen forces.

He begged for alms and shared what he got with his devotees and all the

creatures around him. He never kept any food in reserve for the next meal. He

maintained the ‘Dhuni’ – the perpetual sacred fire and distributed its ash –

‘Udi’ as token of His divine grace to all who came to Him for help.

Baba would ask for ‘Dakshina’ (money offered with reverence to the ‘Guru’ or the

master) from some of those who came to see him. This was not because he needed

their money but for deeper significance, which the devotees realized at, an

appropriate time.

Baba used to freely distribute all the money that was received in the form of

Dakshina to the destitute, poor, sick and needy the very same day. This was one

of Baba's methods for testing out the devotees attachments to worthy things and

willingness to surrender.

He ploughed up the village common land and raised a flower garden thereon; he

watered the plants, carrying pots full of water on his shoulders. In the later

years he spent a few hours in this Lendi garden which he himself had laid out

in the early days.

He was every moment exercising a double consciousness, one actively utilizing

the apparent Ego called 'Sai Baba' dealing with other egos in temporal and

spiritual affairs, and the other - entirely superceding all egos as the

Universal Ego or Over soul.

He was the common man’s God. He lived with them; he slept and ate with them.

Baba had a keen sense of humour. He shared a ‘chillum’ (clay pipe for smoking)

indiscriminately with them to write off the cast superiority and orthodoxy in

their minds. He had no pretensions of any kind .He was always very playful in

the presence of children. Baba used to feed the fakirs and devotees and even

cook for them.

Sai Baba’s perfect purity, benevolence, non -attachment, compassion and other

virtues evoked deep reverence in the villagers around him. His divinity could

not conceal itself for long. Initially when people wanted to worship him

formally, Baba protested and dissuaded them. But gradually he allowed it with

the prescience that it would become the means for temporal and spiritual

benefits to millions of individuals for all time to come.

The Dwarkamai of Sai Baba was open to all, irrespective of caste, creed and

religion. As the days passed devotees from all walks of life started streaming

into Shirdi. The village Shirdi was fast assuming prominence. As the gifts and

presentations flowed in, the pomp and grandeur of Sai worship also increased.

But Baba’s life of a fakir remained calm, undisturbed, unaltered and there is

the Saint’s spiritual glory.

He lived His divine mission through His pure self in a human embodiment. The

immense energy that was manifest in the body of Sai was moving in a mysterious

way, creating and recreating itself every where beyond the comprehension of

time and space.

This fountainhead of unsurpassed spiritual glory shed His gross body on 15th

October 1918. Every limb, every bone and pore of his body was permeated with

divine essence. Baba claimed that though one day his physical body will not

exist his remains will communicate with all those who seek him with inner

yearnings. His self-allotted labour of love in His physical body was perhaps

over. Today He continues to work ever vigorously as the ‘Sai Spirit’.

The birth and parentage of Shri Sai Baba was wrapped in mystery. He had always

eluded such questions. But once a strange situation warranted a legal statement

from him. A commissioner was sent to Shirdi for the purpose of taking down the

evidence from Sai Baba. The course of statement followed like this:

Commission: What is your name?

Baba: They call me Sai Baba. (Sai was not a personal name but an epithet)

Commission: Your father’s name?

Baba: Also Sai Baba. (It implied that His descent or divine advent is not

conditioned by human parentage)

Commission: Your Guru’s (Master’s) name?

Baba: Venkusa.

Commission; Your creed or religion?

Baba: Kabir. ('Kabir’ means the perfect mastery. There was a Perfect Master

called Kabir whose followers are known as Kabir Panthi.)

Commission: Caste or Community?

Baba: Parvardigar. (The Almighty)

Commission: Age?

Baba: Millions of years. (It implied that He existed always).

Baba further mentioned

"I know everyone

I live with everyone

All are mine and

Everything is mine"

(Which implied the gnosis of ‘I am God’?)

It was interesting to note that Sai Baba was not asked to sign his statement. He

had no name to sign.

Baba lived in his physical body for about 60 years in a dilapidated mosque,

which he always referred as ‘Dwarkamai’, the Mother of Mercy. Dwarkamai is open

to all irrespective of caste, creed or religion. It is the Holy landmark of all

religions in the world. To the Moslems he was a Fakir living in a mosque

observing the disciplines of Islam; well versed in Islamic scriptures uttering

‘Allah Malik’ (God is the Master).

To Hindus he called himself a pure Brahmin, bore the caste marks of a Hindu,

well versed in Hindu scriptures. To the Parsees he was the sacred fire

worshipper. His abound love and compassion was Christ like. His life was a

living manifestation of the eight-fold path of Buddha.

Baba preached the Universal faith from this mosque. Following this faith the

Moslems, Hindus, Parsees, Christians, Sikhs and Buddhists unequivocally

surrender to Him. Sai Baba’s appeal lies in the fact that he was a perfect

model of the harmony of all religions. He guided all the seekers along the

lines of their own religion.

The religious harmony was illustrated in the fact that in this mosque only the

Hindu festival ‘Ram Navmi’ (Birthday celebrations of Lord Ram) was celebrated

with zest and fervor and the same day in the evening Sandal procession was

taken out by Moslems, the tradition continues even today. His mosque contains

the nimbar on western wall towards which Muslims turn for prayer and there are

bells hanging from its ceiling like a Hindu place of worship.

It was a magnificent tribute to His luminous presence in this mosque that the

most orthodox members of both communities prostrated themselves at His feet.

Few features of this mosque are

· It is the place of Universal faith where all the religions have found

their sanctity in Baba.

· It eliminates or marginalizes the miseries of many millions who climb

the steps of this mosque with faith.

· Baba's Dwarkamai is curing many incurable diseases and all kinds of

afflictions through Udi (sacred ash) collected from Dhuni (fire place) the

perpetual sacred fire burning here.

Baba never disclosed His antecedents. Whenever asked about it, He gave

mystifying answers and evaded any query. There are a few scattered clues, which

conjure up to a less than satisfactory account. On one occasion Baba Pathri in

the Nizam's state. At another time He said that his Mama (Uncle) had brought

Him to Shirdi from Aurangabad. On one momentous occasion he said that while

still a child of tender age his parents handed him over to the care of a fakir

who brought him up.

Dasganu, a close devotee researched on this matter. He concluded on the basis of

legends at Selu that the wife of a fakir, who had taken the custody of young

child at Pathri, brought him to Gopal Rao Deshmukh of Selu. Gopal Rao was the

Provincial Governor of Jintur with the military capacity of his own. Young

Baba, left under the care of this Gopal Rao, spent the most impressionable part

of his life at Selu with His master.

Gopal Rao was a saintly figure deeply devoted to Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati

temple. He was highly evolved soul with a direct communion with his Ishta Devta

(desired deity) Lord Venkateswara (therefore he was called Venkusa). Gopal Rao

used to go round visiting Holy places when once he was at the tomb of Suwag Shah

at Ahmedabad, a remarkable incident occurred. The tomb actually perspired with

joy and communicated that the Gopal Rao was formerly Ramanand of Kashi and his

former disciple Kabir would be coming to him soon. It was after this, that the

fakir’s widow brought young Baba to him and Gopal Rao recognized him as Kabir.

The young boy was completely devoted to His master and the master in turn gave

Him all his grace and spiritual knowledge. Young Baba being favored by the

master evoked considerable jealousy among the master's relatives and some of

them resolved to kill young boy by hurling brickbats at Him. The master saved

his dear disciple by taking it on himself and declared his departure from the

body, transferring all his spiritual and yogic powers to this young heir.

Before leaving the body, the masters waved his hand westward to the young boy,

and bade Him leave Selu and proceed along Godavari

FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> River. Shirdi lies close to the banks of the Godavari due west

of Selu, and Baba by slow degrees moved on from place to place and finally

arrived at Shirdi.

When and for how long He used to sleep no one knew. But He would get up in the

early hours at about 4.00 to 4.30 a.m. He would sit near Dhuni – the sacred

fire and talk to devotees about distant places he visited overnight and His

activities there. He frequently referred to His ‘travels’ over great stretches

of space and time though He was physically present in Shirdi whole night.

Sitting near Dhuni Baba would move His arms and fingers, as if making gestures

to some invisible spirits.

Baba generally washed himself once in three days. And when He did people noticed

the extraordinary control He had over his physical frame. But on other occasions

Baba bathed twice or more times in a day.

After first round of begging He would offer a morsel to the Dhuni and take some

Himself. After morning breakfast, at about 9 a.m. He would leave for

Lendi-garden accompanied by his devotees in a procession bare footed. It was in

the later years that Baba wore his chappals (leather footwear) on vehement

request from devotees. Sai Sansthan now preserves these as sacred relics. It

was during one of these processions that Baba was photographed along with his

devotees. There was a pit dug in the garden and a lamp was kept burning in it.

Baba would sit behind it and ask Abdul, His personal attendant and the only one

to be allowed with Him in the garden, to keep two pots of water near Him. He

would sprinkle the water in various directions and

meditate thereafter. These actions had some mystique significance:

After returning to the mosque by about 10 a.m. Baba would spent an hour and half

with His devotees and visitors who used to come from all parts of India.

Sometimes during this period He would go out to five houses for begging

alms. He remained a mendicant all His life.

At noon, around 12 p.m., after devotees performed Aarathi in the mosque, Baba

would distribute Udi (sacred ash) to devotees and send them back home. After

Aarathi Baba would sit down for lunch along with close devotees behind a

curtain. Devotees said that the lunch session was very often the occasion for

Baba to manifest

some of His divine powers. Baba used to be offered betel and nut after the meal.

After lunch Baba would spend some time alone. Devotees did not disturb Him

during this period, as He was believed to be in a state of mystique meditation.

 

Inside the mosque during the recess between 1 and 2 p.m. Baba usually engaged

Himself in what would normally appear to be inexplicable rites which He never

explained. His devotees were not allowed to be present and He would conceal

himself from view with a cloth screen. One devotee Dasganu recorded in 1910

that Baba was standing near Dhuni and doing pradakshina (circumbulation).

Chandorkar noted that all mantras that Baba muttered was either in Arabic or

Persian but not in Sanskrit. Baba sometimes blew the conch, which the devotees

felt produced the cosmic sound ‘Aum’ (Om).

At about 3.00 p.m. devotees and visitors used to assemble at the mosque, present

their problems and offered prayers to Him. Towards the evening Baba would walk

to the front yard of the mosque and stand there for some time leaning against

the outer wall and talking to the passers by in the lane. At about 4 p.m. He

would again go for a stroll to the Lendi garden. Baba used to return in time

from Lendi garden for the

evening Aarathi. Devotees used to wave lamps and burnt camphor before Him.

As a rule there were three common sittings or 'durbars' during the day. First

one in the morning after breakfast, second after Baba's return from Lendi

garden and the third about 5 p.m. During all these sittings Baba gave general

advice which was universal in character. The sum and substance of His advice

was to have strong faith in God and patience for His realization, to love all

creatures alike, not to wound the feelings of others, to be honest and sincere

in all the actions, not to take the services of others

without due payments, etc. Usually He gave advice through stories and parables

which used to solve the different questions and anxieties of the different

devotees at the same time.

In the evening before the sunset He would distribute the daily gifts of money to

beggars, needy and also some devotees, emptying the day’s collections from his

pockets. This daily distribution continued till his last breath. Then he would

send the devotees and visitors’ home for the evening meal after giving Udi

(sacred ash). Some however would stay on with Him a little longer. Baba never

allowed anyone to stay with Him at night in the mosque in the later years.

Baba was sleeping in Dwarkamai and Chawri on alternate nights. Baba was taken in

a colorful ‘Palki Procession’ from Dwarkamai mosque to Chawri. A regal

palanquin, state umbrella, and a horse preceded by bearers of silver mace,

whisks and other regal paraphernalia were part of the procession. Although the

devotees offered these materials, Baba never used them. He used to walk behind

the horse and the palanquin. These days, on every Thursday and important

occasions this procession is being taken out with Baba’s photo in the

palanquin. This procession is one of the most attractive and popular activities

at Shirdi. Visitors to Shirdi must see it.

Baba, who used to be visited by the kings and commoners both, used to beg from

door to door in Shirdi. He would attend four or five houses in Shirdi for alms

and call out “O give me a piece of bread”. He was like no ordinary beggar. One

day he astounded a lady who refused him charity by gently rebuking her thus,

“Mother you have (such and such number of) chapattis (bread), so much of cooked

rice (naming the exact quantity), why do you refuse a crust to the poor fakir?

In one hand he carried a tin-pot for liquid or semi-liquid food items such as

soup, vegetables, milk or buttermilk and in other hand a cloth bag to receive

bread, cooked rice and solid food items. Baba’s tongue knew no taste as He had

acquired full control over it. Irrespective of the taste all the food collected

was mixed together of which He would distribute to some devotees, dogs and birds

around and partake a small quantity from the rest over.

He would never taste the food He had begged without letting others have a share

in it. Dogs and crows always had their share as also beggars and fakirs.

Imagine God begging for His children!

In the advanced years of his stay at Shirdi devotees turned up in large numbers

and offered the finest delicacies out of devotion and love but Baba was

contended with the little He received in alms. He continued begging His food

till the last days of His human embodiment. He reigned supreme in His Royal

poverty, Fakiri.

Dhuni’ is the sacred fire that perpetually burnt before Baba in ‘Dwarkamai’

mosque. He always used to sit by the side of ‘Dhuni’ and look at it deeply

absorbed in thought.

Fire is a manifestation of energy of which the whole universe is made. The fire

sacrifice stands for the cosmic consciousness in which the manifold creation is

projected, maintained and constantly transformed. Hence, the ‘Dhuni’ is the

symbol of ‘Chidagni’ or Cosmic energy.

‘Dhuni’, which is perpetually burning at Shirdi, is the fire sacrifice for

burning down the sins to ashes for those who seek complete refuge in this

peerless Master.

Baba used to distribute the 'Udi', ash of this sacred fire to all who came to

Him with faith, as a token of His grace. Today also the devotees partake a

pinch of this sacred ash as a token of His blessings. The Sacred Ash (popularly

known as UDI) had curative powers in it and whosoever visited Shirdi used to

carry it with him. Today, due to the visit by a large number of devotees, a

spoon full of this Ash is given.

BIRTH, RACE AND FAMILY

Though I am unborn, whole soul, Lord of all creatures, taking to my life-nature,

I manifest myself by my powers. (Bh. Gita 4-6.)

The self same soul has transformed himself principally into the Sun, the Moon,

Brahma the creator, Vishnu the protector, Shiva Shakti the Destroyers with his

Goddess. I bow to that excellent light of lights.

My salutations to that Bhagawat, Lord who is free from anger, attachment, above

Maya and devoid of three states of wakefulness, dream and sleep. The best of

gods, ascetics do not know the farther end of your Maya Power. The demons were

most powerful; you forced them to give up their egotism when the world is beset

with worst calamities; you manifest yourself and come upon the earth, Oh Lord.

Vallabh Bhagwat IV, VIII Chs. 7&17.

The Primordial, original, perfect Reality, the thing In itself beyond name and

from inspired by the force of devotee’s religious merit automatically

manifested itself as Sai Nath, Sai Baba for the purpose of leading the lost

souls to the path of Truth. When asked, His only reply was "Brahma is my

father, Maya is my mother and this Universe is my house." That He descended on

this earth through some human mortals has not yet been established through

reliable source. No conflict of opinion exists however as to His being an

extra-ordinary incarnation of God or the highest of perfect beings.

Brahman by His Maya Power manifests itself as human being, when irreligion

stalks unchecked in this world. He comes and places religion on sound

foundations dispelling the clouds of doubts and dogmatism. He descends in

particular to protect the good, the saintly and to destroy the bad and the

wicked.

Though beyond (above) limitations of time, space, causation, body, mind,

intellects etc. pure Brahman, has by Maya power the capacity of assuming such

form male or female-as would satisfy the devotees’ desires and their ideals. It

is ever ready to please its real devotee in this respect and even serves him

incognito, Saints who have attained oneness with this Brahman that is who have

ceased to be bodily minded, who have without their knowledge transformed

themselves into Brahman by constant meditation on the same are Brahman with all

its Powers. Etc. (Mundak UP. 3-2-9

10pt">)

Shri Sai Baba falls in this category and so His devotees have seen in Him their

ideal of God realised and so they have described Him in many different ways as

their ideals of Guru or God have differed. To staunch devotees of Shri Ram,

Shri Sai appeared as Ram, to those of Shankar, Maruti, Krishna, Vitoba,

Akkalkot Swami, Gholap Swami and Ali irrespective of their race, caste, creed

or religion. They all look upon Sai as their God, Savior, or Prophet and

worship Him as such in their own way, propitiate Him and crave blessings from

Him. As an out-come of this propitiation each one of them feels and

realizes that he has been lucky enough to find in Him his benign father,

protector, benefactor, a helper in distress, a safe refuge amidst the turbulent

waters of this world. Each one has realised He is omnipresent, omniscient

omnipotent.

Recipients of such experiences seldom care to ascertain how and whence this

rarity descended upon this earth, who His blessed parents were, who His master

or teacher was and yet there are amongst intelligent educated devotees some

persons who have bestowed much labour and done a deal of research to hit upon

proper and satisfactory answers on these points.

Vedanti devotees of Baba Shri Sai look upon Him as the manifestation of

knowledge incarnate, the joyful Brahman, the giver of highest happiness, free

from dualities, ether like knowable by the four Maha Vakyas (key-sentences0 of

Vedas, the sole, the permanent, the pure, non-changing, the Universal

witnessing Intellect, the one beyond emotions and the three Gunas-pure, mixed,

and impure-tendencies, the Master, teacher of Reality. The non-Mohammedan

devotees of this class firmly, believe that if Shri Sai Baba had adopted Hindu

Mohammedan mixed ways of life and prayers it was simply for the purpose of

drawing the attention of these devotees to the cardinal truth, the soul has no

caste of race; that their object of proper worship is not of any caste; and

what are castes? They neither are not skin, blood,

flesh nor bones; but these castes are fixed for the purpose of the smooth

running of this world. Hindu devotees of Baba particularly, Brahmins and other

Dwijas believe that if Baba had donned Mohammedan garb and adopted some

Mohammedan ways of worship (without giving of the ways of the purest of pure

Brahmin sages) it was for the purpose of killing or removing the wrong

interpretation of Veda and drawing attention to the truth that everything all

without exception-is Brahman; that difference of diversity or duality does not

exist; that if Veda says that Brahmins are God’s mouth, Kshatriyas His hands,

Vaishyas his body and Shudras His legs, the intention of the Vedas is not to

show the inferiority or superiority of any one of these castes but to draw

attention to the fact, that each is these castes but to draw attention to the

fact, that each is a part and parcel of the same Holy body of God. Similarly

about the genesis of races’ if one Upanishad states that Non-Aryans came from

the

nether part of God, it is to root out the hatred and bitterness that might have

been raging between these races and to rivet the attention on the oneness of

the Holy Body from whom the Non-Aryans have also emerged. Vedas and Upanishads

teach us to look at the unity in diversity and preach only oneness of soul, no

difference, and dissention. Discord but unity. Peace and accord is the burthen

of the Veda, Upanishad and Vedanta. Veda and Upanishads have no doubt

prescribed worships of different God’s but these are only for persons who

hanker after material happiness and are not satisfied with mere realisation of

Truth. Baba called upon persons of the latter class to follow His directions to

achieve the ends of their material desires and they had their desires fulfilled.

His guidance and His sole worship have obtained for these devotees what they

desired and in this way also He encouraged one worship and not multiple

worship, Viewing Vedas. Upanishads and Baba’s ways, Vedanti devotees

have always believed that to root out the ego of castes pride and to teach them

the oneness off all pervading all-knowing, all powerful god, irrespective of

race, caste, or creed, Baba adopted the special ways of life that he did. In

fact His life laid stress on the essentials of religions, discarding the

non-essential parts thereof.

Most of the devotees of Shri Sai Baba fall under this class. The late Hon’ble

Hari Sitaram Dixit B. A., LL.B., solicitor, the late Shri Nana Saheb

Chandorkar, B. A., EX-District Deputy Collector, the late Shri Anna Saheb

Dabholkar, the learned author of Shri Sai Satcharita, the late Rao Bahadur

Moreshwar Pradhan, J.P., ex-member of the Bombay Legislative Council, the late

Shri G.S. khaparde, B. A., LL.B., ex-member of the Bombay Legislative Assembly,

the late Rao Saheb Yashvantrao G. Galvankar B. A. Shri M.B. Rege. Indore judge

as also the Sai Baba Sansthan Committee members

of 1953 held and hold and hold this view.

There are other devotees who have been worshipping some other deities or are

followers of some other religious teachers-all these seen in Sai Baba their own

deity, or their own religious teacher and worship Him for the realisation of

truth through Him, Sai Baba. Worshippers of Shiva, Vishnu, Krishna, Vithal,

Panduranga, Ramachandra, Goddesses, Guru Dattatreya, Swami Akkalkot Gholap etc.

all come under this category, Baba actually assumed the form of these gods and

goddesses. And satisfied the devotees of these gods & goddesses. For the

disciple of Gholap Swami, he assumed the form of the Sanyasi Gholap Swami and

of that intent of His. He gave inkling to his other devotees by asking them to

fetch for Him (Gerua) redochre Clay; Devotees of Swami Akkalkot identify Him

with Akkalkot Swami from what He

said to Shri Pitale of Bombay, "I have already given you Rs.2, take these three

more, keep them safe.’ Pitale’s father had been given Rs.2/- by Akkalkot Swami;

and so the reference that Baba gave those two rupees, unequivocally stating that

He Himself had given him those two rupees, clearly goes to indicate that He

Himself was none other than the Swami of Akkalkot. Some Devotees of Guru

Dattatreya trace the pedigree of Akkalkot. Some Devotees of Guru Dattatreya

trace the pedigree of Akkalkot. Some Swami to Guru Dattatreya through Narasimha

Swami, the last incarnation of Guru Dattatreya. Other devotees of Guru

Dattatreya state that Shri Akkalkot Swami was the contemporary of Shri Manik

Prabhu, the well-known incarnation of Guru Dattatreya and that it is an

undisputed fact that Shri Sai Baba was none other that Swami Shri of Akkalkot.

Shri Baba was therefore an incarnation of Shri Guru Dattatreya. We have nothing

to state against this theory of Shri Baba being an incarnation of

Dattatreya but we simply state that a person is what he is not because he can be

shown to be a member of the high pedigree of certain Gods or gurus, since they

are born great, the high pedigree could not in any way go to make them greater.

Apart from this as well they are great, not only great but none in human form

could be greater, none can surpass them. These remarks equally apply to

devotees who trace Sai Baba to the Nine Masters, Matsyendranath, Gorakhanath

and others. Some of Baba’s prominent devotees hold the same view.

(1) One Shri Ganpatrao Dattatreya Sahasrabuddhe alias Das Ganu actually seeing

the holy Ganges trickling down from Shri Sai’s feet in a small stream, just

when he desired to have a dip in the holy river, in the fervor of his love for

Baba, composed a prayer describing Baba as Brahma Vishnu and Mahesh (i.e. Gods

of creation, protection and destruction).

(2) Another personage of this class is the great Upasani Maharaj. In the course

of his three years’ stay at Shirdi, he was fully convinced that Shri Baba had

not only realised Brahman but had been (become) perfect Brahman and so in the

fervor of that enthusiasm he composed a prayer of several hymns on Sai Baba;

the first verse of which said, "’Baba was the original Sat Chit Anand Swarupa,

the primordial cause of original existence and destruction of the Universe and

that Baba had appeared (Manifested Himself) as human being as the outcome of

the ardent desire of His devotees to see Him as such." The recurring burthen of

the eight verses of this prayer is, "I bow to that God-Sadguru Sai Baba.’ In the

eighth verse of the said prayer he declares Sai Baba to be "The unborn, The

veritable Brahman.’ Looking

to the most important task of moulding and regenerating the lives of thousands

of males and females (by imparting to them godly knowledge) That awaited him in

future Shri Sai Baba got him to practice severe penance for three years at

Shirdi and awarded him in return powers of clairvoyance, assuming all forms at

will becoming invisible at will etc. which subsequently drew to him people in

thousands. He did appreciate all this and to show this, going to Benaras with

his devotees he performed the obsequies ceremony of Baba and other bygone

saints spending thousands of rupees.

(3) Another great devotee is the late lamented Shri B.V. Narasimha Swamiji, a

law graduate and an ex-member of the Legislative Council, author of the lives

of several saints, who had dedicated the last 29 years of his life to spreading

the name and fame of Shri Sai Baba throughout the length and breadth of Madras.

He declares that Baba was born of Brahmin parents of Pathri-a village of Nizam

Hyderabad and then he was given over to a Fakir for being trained.

(4) Shri Sathya-Sai-Baba, who claims to be reincarnation of Shri Sai Baba of

Shirdi, states that as Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi, he was born at Pathri on the

banks of the Godavari of very pious parents and that as a result of Shri

Shanker’s boon they got Him; but that at the time He was, born, both the

parents had got so much detached from the world that they left the Sai Baba

child under a tree to the mercy of God and went away to practice penance. A

childless Fakir couple passing by the way picked up and brought Him up as their

child. When however the little Sai Baba grew up, He was found so much attached

to the worship of Shanker’s Shivalinga that the Fakir drove him away; so he

came to Shirdi and settled down there. (Life of Shri Sathya Sai Baba Part I by

N. Kasturi; Pages 210 to 216, 2nd

edition.)

(5) Another personage Madhvnath a great saint also told his disciple that Shri

Sai Baba was the eldest of the three sons of a Yajurvedi Deshasth Brahmin of

Pathri and that he was handed over to a Fakir, for the parents thought that the

sons born to them were the outcome of the blessings that the then childless

parents had received from that Fakir in lieu of the services rendered by them

for him.

Shri Sai Baba’s own utterances in this respect should also be considered.

(1) The oldest, most pious and revered devotee of Shri Sai Baba the late Shri

Mhalaspathi, who had the unique honour of sleeping with Baba on every alternate

night for 30 to 40 years in the Dwarakamayi, said that Baba had once told him.

"I am a Brahmin of Pathri and when, young, my parents gave me over to a Fakir

for being trained under him."

(2) In December 1912 when the writer went to Shirdi, he was anxious about his

father’s life, as the father had dropsy and dropsy was in those days considered

to be a fatal disease. Unasked Baba said, "Bring that big bellied man here." I

said to myself. "Bring that big bellied man here." I said to myself. "How is it

possible when he takes you to be a Mussalman?" This clearly shows Baba

considered himself to be a Brahmin.

Another time in 1916 when one Shantaram Nachne Dehnukar went to Shirdi and he

forgot to pay to Baba a two-anna paisa that his friend V.S Samant had given for

Baba along with a coconut etc., and he asked Baba’s permission to return home

giving him coconut etc., Baba had reminded him of the said two anna paisa by

saying, "You may go, but why have you been retaining the two anna paisa of this

poor Brahmin?" Whereupon Dehnukar at once paid the two-anna piece requesting

Baba to pardon him for the lapse of his memory.

When on the behest of his master Shri H.V. Sathe one Megha came to Baba, taking

Baba to be a Mohammedan, Baba became angry on seeing him and did not allow him

to mount up the steps of the Dwarakamayi threatening him with a stone, that if

he came up to see Him, He would assured kill him with the stone, and bawled

out, "I am the lowest of the low, a Yawan (Mohammedan) and you are a Brahmin of

the highest caste." This clearly shows Baba’s dislike for those who considered

him to be Mohammedan.

Baba putting His hand on His chest said to Mrs. Kashibai Kanitkar of Poona.

"This is Brahmin. This Brahmin will lead lacks of people to the Shubhra Marga

(The White Path as opposed to the Black Path of demons0 and take them to the

goal right upto the end. This is a Brahmin’s Masjid." (Baba Charters and

Sayings Page 57. Narasimha Swami)

All this clearly shows that if Baba was really born, He was born in a Brahmin

family. Born or unborn Baba thought He was Brahmin and got offended with all

those who thought He was Mohammedan.

We may therefore say with the late Shri Narasimha Swami "The birth and parentage

of Sai Baba are wrapped in mystery. We have not come across a single person who

has any direct knowledge of them."

It is however common knowledge that the people of all castes, creeds, races and

religions Hindus, Mussalmans, Parsis, Christians and other come to Baba and

soon become attached to Him. They all gradually recognise him to be their

long-lost philosopher, friend and guide. They see in Him their God, their

Prophet, their Son of God, their Savior or their best and dearest friend. They

realise that Sai Baba is always present. He controls their hearts and knows all

their actions good bad or indifferent. They are also convinced that He knows

their most secret thoughts and their wicked actions and yet He is full of mercy

and never gives up those who remember him. He cares not to look at the family,

caste creed or religion even the action of His devotees; but as soon as the

devotees remember Him, he runs up at once

with or without assuming a forms and defends them against fell diseases,

calamities, worldly difficulties, ill-repute etc. etc. For instance, He assumed

the form of a farmer for His devotee Balakram Mankar and banded over to him a

rail ticket for his destination-Poona. For another devotee Nanasaheb

Chandorkar, He became (assumed the form of) a tanga, horses and a coach-man,

when Shri Sai Himself dispatched His Udi with one Ramgir. He had taken that

Ramgir to Nana’s house and saved by that Udi Nana Saheb’s daughter from a

mortal delivery. Even after He left His body, He has been helping devotees in

the same way. Thus he put Dhumal’s hand-hand-signature on about a thousand

municipal papers one night when Dhumal was unable to find time for the purpose.

For another devotee Nachne, of Prabhu caste, he assumed the form of a peon

called Himself Ganpatishankar. Attended on him till he reached Nasik and

thereafter also he helped him in the performance of the obsequial ceremonies of

his wife

for three days and as soon as the ceremonies were over, He left him saving Him

services were wanted by His Master. Persons visiting Shirdi have known that if

only they would remember him, he would without fail stretch His helping hand

and render such help as they would require. These devotees look upon Sai Baba

as their own god, prophet, Savior and as such they try their utmost to draw or

attract Him to them by propitiating Him and by rendering such services as they

can. They sole yearning of these devotees is to obtain His grace, for they know

that therein only lies their material and spiritual welfare; they little care to

know His parentage, family, race or His guru. They have ever believed that the

kind and merciful God though ever formless has for their benefit assumed a form

and so if they are wise they should without delay try their level best to obtain

His grace, the root cause of all earthly and heavenly happiness, leaving all

other matters about His family etc. to

logicians, the worldly wise and wiseacres. They definitely believe and

assert-God is only one; there are no separate Gods for the various races,

castes and creeds and yet He has powers to assume such forms. as His devotees

yearn for and ardently desire to behold with their material eyes. And the

living testimony of this is Shri Sai Baba.

Long before 1908 when Shirdi was quiet and humble village, Baba told one of his

devotees, 'mansions will rise in this village, big people will come here, guns

will be fired, grand processions will be held and people would make a bee-line

here!'

On hearing this people laughed, as these were most unlikely in such a worthless

hamlet. The meaning of His divine utterance was not understood then. But in the

due course of time all this came true. Baba can never be wrong as He had

knowledge of the past and the future, not only of individuals meeting Him but

also about past and future events before and beyond the duration of His

physical existence.

Today on an average thirty thousand people visit Shirdi everyday. The number

runs into several lakhs on significant occasions. Persons from high offices of

government line up to bow down to Shri Sai. There are adequate facilities to

meet the demands of a cross section of devotees coming from all parts of the

country and abroad. Shirdi is emerging as the top most pilgrim centre of

India.

mso-bidi-font-style: italic"> At the time of Baba, about 20 to 125 people used

to visit Him every day. But today, the average crowd visiting Shirdi is about

30 to 35 thousand persons a day and the number is ever on the increase. To meet

this contingency the Temple administration has launched an expansion scheme of

the temple premises.

THE MISSION

The mission of Sai Baba is self-allotted and springs from the source of His free

and redeemed Spirit. He willed Himself a body because He wanted to fulfill a

mission of awakening man to his true self and divine nature. He wanted to lead

them to salvation by saving them from delusion and ignorance. He stands there

eternally to help out and give solace to His children who are bruised with the

miseries of this world through the passage of centuries. Thus His sacred

mission is to awaken, elevate, transform and comfort His children. These are

the visible acts of Baba. But, He also had a much bigger role to play in the

administration of the Universe - in its creation, sustenance and destructions.

He saw God in every living being.

10pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">It was His duty to take the created to the

creator - i.e. to evolve human beings to the state of God - which is their real

self.

It is amazing that though He is not present in body, ever increasing number of

people hear and experience the same blessed, intimate and powerful assurance –

‘Why fear when I am here!’

During the first years of His stay at Shirdi, Baba used to give some sort of a

medicine (traditional medicine given in Indian villages) to the sick people

and had earned reputation as an village doctor. He continuously prayed God day

and night. At a certain point of time He started giving Udi as the panacea for

all maladies, physical ailments etc. some treatments given by Him were most

unconventional.

At Shirdi while devotees took leave of Baba He gave the sacred ash of His Dhuni

(sacred fire) to the devotees as a gesture of His blessings. It conferred

health, prosperity and freedom from anxiety and fear. Even today the sacred ash

collected from perpetual fire at Shirdi is sure cure for all maladies – physical

as well as mental. It works miraculously and graciously in the moments of

distress and utter despair – as an unseen hand extended by Him.

The devotees either apply it on their forehead or take a pinch of it in the

mouth or sometimes take it orally mixed with little water as medicine. It is

more than proved that power of this sacred ash is far greater and reliable than

any medical system developed by man so far. It is to be taken with genuine faith

or earnest hope, and this works as the ultimate medicine.

Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi descended on the earth to lead mankind to the realm of

eternity. As the divine mother He gave his immense love and as the divine

father He gave direction to our search for truth. His mission was to make

people conscious of their divine nature. The people who follow His teachings

and preaching are indeed blessed souls. The cardinal principles of Sai Path are

'Shraddha' and 'Saburi'. Sai Baba explicitly asked for these two qualities in

His devotees by giving his self-experiential instance that his 'Murshid' or

Master asked from him only two pice - one Shraddha and other the Saburi.

SHRADDHA

'Shraddha' in a Sanskrit word, which has no equivalent in English, at best it

can be understood as, faith with love and reverence. Such faith or trust is

generated out of conviction, which may not be the result of any rational belief

or intellectual wisdom, but a spiritual inspiration. Baba sowed the seeds of

spiritual inspiration in the hearts of people who knew of him. This Divine

inspiration was so instant and profound that they automatically took refuge in

Him.

Baba reiterated that steadfast love in God as the gateway to eternity. He used

the instance of mother tortoise to illustrate this point. The mother -

tortoise may be on the other side of the river, whereas her children are on the

far side. She does not transfer food and water to her children by way of her

loving glances. Yet, her loving looks are enough to protect the children.

Similarly, people who lovingly look at God get His reciprocity. God's looks

offer peace, protection and prosperity for His children. Baba's teaching, both

direct and indirect explicate the significance of 'Shraddha'. Baba reiterates

the spiritual guidance of Shri Krishna to Arjun - "Who-so ever offer to Me with

love or devotion, a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, that offering

of pure love is readily accepted by Me".

SABURI

'Saburi'; is patience and perseverance. Saburi is a quality needed throughout

the path to reach the goal. This quality must be ingrained in a seeker from

day one, least he looses his stride and leaves the path half way. As a hunter

waits patiently and motionlessly for his target a devotee too has to wait

patiently for attaining his goal. There are many trying situations in life. A

test may come in the form of frustration, distress, agony, illness, mishaps,

prolonged wait or a loss. In such moments we should seek support from the

Master and hold on him.

If patience means anything it should last till the end, and faith will see us

through every turmoil of life.

Purity: Baba never approved of austerity for the sake of austerity. He

emphasized the need for inner purification than outer austerities. No amount of

physical and external cleansing would serve any purpose if the man remained

impure in mind and heart. Therefore, Baba cautioned His devotees not to make

austerity as an end itself, least they should indulge in physical

mortification. His spiritual radiance brought about such transformation in the

seekers that they inclined away from the impurities in word, deed or thought.

Baba never preached in this regard, He radiated such

influence that absorbed the impure tendencies and prepared the aspirant to keep

himself chaste, pure, simple and upright, so as to be fit to receive His Grace.

 

Compassion: Baba Himself was the epitome of compassion and love. It was this

‘love aspect’ of Him that He embodied Himself to help the suffering lot. The

warmth of His divine compassion touched all the creatures equally. Baba often

told His devotees, ‘Never turn away anybody from your door, be it a human being

or animal’. At several instances He identified Himself with any form like dog,

horse, cow or even a fly, to prove His presence in the consciousness of all the

creatures

Sai Baba made the 'Guru' (the Master), a profound base of the path of devotion.

The spiritual impulse is certainly latent in every individual heart, but it

needs great inspiration and compulsion to bring it to the surface.

Baba offered that inspiration through his own account brimming with love for his

Master. He said, "How can I describe his (Guru's) love for me? When he was in

spiritual trance, I sat and gazed at him. We were both filled with bliss. I

cared not to turn my eyes upon anything else. Night and day I pored upon his

face with an ardor of love that banished hunger and thirst. The Guru's absence

even for a second made me restless. I meditated on nothing but the 'Guru' and

had no goal or object other than the 'Guru'. Wonderful indeed the art of my

'Guru'. I wanted nothing but the Guru and he wanted nothing but this intense

love from me." The significant feature stressed by Sai Baba in his own example

and words is the great importance of developing this devotion to one's Guru. It

is

seeing God in the Guru. This was a self-projected ideal of a ‘Guru’ that

motivated innumerable seekers who came in contact with Sai Baba.

Shri Sai reiterated the essentiality of complete surrender to the ‘Guru’ with

his own example when he said pointing to his physical frame, “This body is my

house. I am not here. My Guru (Master) has taken me away”.

One who reaches the feet of fully realized spiritual masters, must surrender his

body, mind and soul to the Guru. The spiritual benefit accruing to an aspirant

of the path is in measure in which the surrender to the Master is done. The

more he gives himself the more he receives. Perfect Master say ‘Give us all you

have, we will give you all we possess’

In fact, the spiritual mentor works harder to help the aspirant to make a total

surrender to himself. At times Baba adopted shock tactics to weaken or

eliminate the ego of the seeker.

There was a supreme peerless quality in Baba’s personality which made all those

who came in his contact, feel the urge to surrender to him. Sai Baba was in the

truest sense a Guru incarnate, who naturally attracted people and they were

willing and anxious enough to surrender to him. He said, ‘Keep still and I will

do the rest’. The tremendous power of the Guru is working; all that the seeker

has to do is to refrain from obstructing it! This is only possible if the

surrender is complete.

Udi the Sacred ash is the end product of the perpetual fire Dhuni lit by Sai

Baba in Dwarkamai at Shirdi during his life time. Baba taught by this 'Udi'

that all the visible phenomena in the world are as transient as the wood

turning into ash. Baba wanted to din into the ears of his devotees the sense

of discrimination between the unreal and the real. The realization that all

phenomena in nature are perishable and unworthy of our craving is signified in

'Udi' which Baba distributed to all. Even today it is customary to partake the

sacred ash in the Sai Temples.

Dakshina: Baba would ask for 'Dakshina' from those that come to see him each

according to his means. This was one of the Baba's methods for testing out the

devotees attachment to worldly things.

Those days a large number of people thronged Shirdi as Sai Baba had the

reputation fulfilling the temporal desires and needs of people who went to see

him. This was also well known that Baba asked for 'Dakshina'. Those who had

great attachment to money and did not want to part with it for anything, they

were kept at bay by the method of 'Dakshina'.

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

taught us non-attachment (Vairagya). These two qualities are most essential on

the path of self-realization.

BABA ATTAINING SAMADHI (leaving His gross body)

It was 15th of October of the year 1918, on Tuesday at about 2.35 in the

afternoon that the Supreme Master, Sai Baba of Shirdi breathed His last. His

self-allotted labour of love in His gross body was perhaps finished. The last

words that He uttered were that He should be taken to an adjoining 'wada'

(building) as He did not feel well in the Masjid. As the Master shed His gross

body all men and women plunged into agonizing grief.

Baba had given indication of the approach of His 'Maha Samadhi' (shedding His

mortal body) in as early as 1916 on the same day that is the day of Dasara (a

festival in India marking the victory of Good over evil). A few weeks before

His passing out of gross body He sent a message to a Muslim saint in

Aurangabad, "Allah is taking away the lamp He placed here.” On hearing this

that fakir shed tears.

Surprisingly, the 15th October 1918, which was a day of Hindu festival Dasara

also happened to be the day of Moharram (A Muslim festival) and Buddha Jayanti

(A Buddhist festival). The departure of Baba on such a day was symbolic of His

universal approach to human problems cutting across all religions,

nationalities, castes, social differentiation and all such manmade barriers.

After Baba passed away there was a dispute about how and where Baba's mortal

remains should be interred. At the end, all disputes and controversy were

smoothed out and His Hindu and Muslim devotees alike decided to inter the body

of the Master in ‘Booty Wada’, as desired by the Master Himself. The physical

body of the gracious Guru, the Supreme Master, was laid to rest in the central

hall with due formalities, sanctity and honour, but His Eternal Spirit rises

from the tomb to proclaim to His followers again and again the indisputable

evidence of His resurrection and life. The Supreme Master had often promised

and assured that His tomb would speak and move with those who made Him their

sole refuge. His final rest is in Samadhi Temple, which is open to all caste,

creed and

religion as a Gateway to God.

The sound of eternity emerged from Baba’s heart every limb, every bone and every

pore of His body.

Source: http://www.shirdibaba.org

BOW TO SHRI SAI - PEACE BE TO ALL

*****

SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM - PART IV

The Life of the Divine Avatar Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba - [1973-1979]

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

THE MENTOR

Swami said that even as a boy He had been intent on correcting the vagaries,

vices, defects and deficiencies of society, by means of ridicule and satire

expressed in drama and poetry. 'Cheppinattu Chesthara?' which means, 'Are your

deeds in accordance with your words?' is a fine example of His educative

experiments. It exposed the hypocrisy of parents and teachers - an evil which

children and pupils spontaneously absorb. So also today, Baba exhorts us to

co-ordinate thought, word and deed. He tells us that when He spent vacations at

Puttaparthi, He composed long lampoons in folk metres, on the evils of drink,

the absence of literacy and the irresponsible accumulation of debt by the

villagers. These songs were quickly learnt by the children who were taught by

Baba, and were recited by them in groups in

front of every house. Some householders were angered at this onslaught on their

shortcomings and fixations, but many encouraged the boys to continue their

reformatory task.

The village accountants also were a target of Swami's lampoons. There was one

who prided himself on his 'Hitler moustache', on his watch with its shining

strap and even on his Don Juan diversions. Swami told the students how he had

composed a satire in verse on him and trained a band of urchins to parody his

pomp. They stood opposite the door of his house and sang it till their voices

turned hoarse. The butt of their ridicule came out to thrash them, but the

members of the gang fled into the many lanes and could not be impounded. Such

shout-and-run tactics were continued until he shaved off the horror under his

nose, removed the leather-strap from his wrist and gave up his secret visits.

Baba also wrote a play in Telugu entitled 'New Times', which revolved round a

poet who was ignored and insulted

while alive, but whose stirring poems provided his son enough ammunition for a

rousing victory in an election a few years after the passing away of his

father.

The house where Thammiraju, the teacher who persuaded Swami to produce the play

entitled 'Cheppinattu Chesthara?' on the annual day of the school, still stands

intact opposite a heap of mud that was once the house of Seshamaraju. It is

indeed a thrice holy spot, for Swami spent many hours there with His teacher

and his devoted wife, engaged in providing them precious glimpses of His Leela,

while also playing with their son who was His own age. By merely calling out

their names, He had made to appear on a wall of that house images of the Ten

Incarnations of Vishnu and various other deities and saints revered by the

teacher's wife. She wrote a poem about this incident in the monthly magazine

published by the Sai Samaj, Madras. The house of Narayana Sastry, immortalised

as the person who had witnessed the

golden aura around Swami when He left home to 'carry on the task for which He

had come', is almost adjacent to the place where Seshamaraju lived. Narayana

Sastry had once the pride of his scholarship pricked by Baba when, as a little

boy, Baba had questioned Sastry on his exposition of the classical texts. We

could get some idea of the ecstasy that must have overpowered Sastry that day,

when we met and heard Dr. Baronowski of the University of Arizona, who was

wonder-struck and delighted by the aura he saw around Baba for days together at

Brindavan; Whitefield, when He gave Darshan to the thousands gathered on the

grounds there.

TEACHING PRAYERS

Swami told the students that He had seen what we would call 'hard days', at

Uravakonda, though He was the favorite of the school and the town. He was the

'hewer of wood' and 'drawer of water' for the family of His brother. He

collected dry twigs and branches from the hills around and tied them up into a

head-load bundle, which he brought home every two or three days. He drew water

from a well, the only potable source, which was not too near. In spite of these

and other exhausting chores, He was ever fresh and vibrant and full of

infectious humour. His neighbours were anguished at His plight and entreated

Him to write to His parents asking them to take Him away. Some even offered to

write the letter themselves. But He told every one not to worry for He was

happy that He could be of service. "Why are you

bothered? I enjoy being useful," He would say.

I stood on the very dais from where Swami used to sing, everyday before the

lessons began, the school prayers before the assembled students. It was from

that very dais that, one historic morning, Swami had announced, "I do not

belong to you henceforth. I belong to them who need Me and call on Me." Swami

said that He came down the steps even before the congregation realised the

significance of what He had declared. Then He walked to the house where His

brother, the Telugu teacher lived. Throwing His books aside, He moved on to the

edge of the town, where stood the house of Anjaneyulu, the government Inspector

of Excise Revenue. Anjaneyulu loved and adored Baba. Perhaps he was one of

those who needed Him and called on Him to illumine and liberate. But He did not

enter the portals of that house. There are

dozens of round, flat-topped boulders protruding among the trees in the open

ground in front of that house. Swami sat atop a medium-sized one, right

opposite Anjaneyulu's house. The congregation that followed Him from school had

swelled now to a sea of heads all around. Anjaneyulu had a vision that the trek

from school marked the inauguration of a World Revolution. So he had a Mantap

(a commemorative structure) constructed over the stone, for it had to be marked

out from the rest. Recently Baba permitted the good men of Uravakonda to

purchase and take possession of the land around, and to erect a community hall

for carrying on service activities under His inspiration.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Seated upon that boulder, Swami revealed that His devotees were calling Him and

that He could no longer pretend to be a student or even a member of the Raju

household. "I have My task to complete," He declared, indicating that a part

had been accomplished while He was at Shirdi. He then directed the congregation

to sing Bhajans (devotional songs) and to recite the name of the Lord. He stood

forth as the Teacher of Teachers, whose message can liberate man from grief and

greed. "Manasa Bhajare" He sang, "Guru Charanam, Dustara Bhava Sagara Taranam"

(Adore in song with sincere devotion the feet of the divine teacher, for they

can take you across the ocean of misery). Who was the divine teacher whose feet

He was referring to? Those who knew Him (but they were only a few) recognised

that they were in fact

the feet of Sai. Swami was emphasizing even in those early years that union with

God demands communion with man. Swami saw the helplessness, the distress and the

disease that sapped the happiness of people all around Him. He was moved with

compassion. The candle was no longer under the bushel. Its light was soon to

spread, bright and blazing, in every heart and home, school and sanctuary,

village and town. Swami had made the clarion call to the entire world to clasp

the feet of the Divinity, which had condescended to encase Itself in human

form, and to be saved from pollution and perdition. Those Lotus Feet, which He

presented in their magnificence that day, have walked on rose petals, snowy

mountain terrain, rain-soaked slush, fair-weather tracks and sandy seashores,

ever carrying consolation to grief-stricken people in all lands.

During the short time He was at Uravakonda, Baba had installed Himself in the

hearts of both the old and the young. He had brightened their eyes with

laughter and sweetened their ears with song. He was the bard and the boast of

the school, the pride and paragon of the populace. Every family had some story

to tell about His mysterious power, His love and His wisdom. So when He left

home and school and talked of His task and of those waiting for Him the world

over, their courage failed and their tongues were tied in unspeakable sorrow.

CONTINUED…

With Sai love from Sai brother M. Palaniswamy

/

 

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