SRI SAI SATCHARITA and SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM [29-30]

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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 – [29-30]

SHRI SAI SATCHARITA

The Life of the Divine Avatar Sai Baba of Shirdi

By Hemadpant

CHAPTER XXIX

Stories of (1) Madrasi Bhajan Mela - (2) Tendulkars (Father and son) - (3) Dr.

Captain Hate – (4) Waman Narvekar

This Chapter described other interesting and wonderful stories of Sai Baba.

(1) MADRASI BHAJAN MELA

It was in the year 1916 that a Madrasi Bhajan Mela (Party of the Ramadasi Panth)

started on a Pilgrimage to the holy city of Banaras. The Party consisted of a

man, his wife, daughter and sister-in-law. Unfortunately their names are not

mentioned. On their way, the party heard that there lived at Shirdi in

Kopergaon Taluk, Ahmednagar District, a great sage named Sai Baba, who was calm

and composed, and who was very liberal and who distributed money every day to

His Bhaktas and to skilful persons, who went and showed their skill there. A

lot of money in the form of Dakshina was collected daily by Sai Baba and out of

this amount, He gave daily one rupee to a three year old girl Amani, the

daughter of a Bhakta Kondaji and Rs. 2 to 5 to some, Rs. 6 to Jamali, the

mother of Amani and Rs. 10 to 20 and even Rs.

50 to other Bhaktas as He pleased. On hearing all this party came to Shirdi and

stayed there. The Mela did very good Bhajan and sang very good songs, but

inwardly they craved for money. Three of the party was full of avarice, but the

chief lady or mistress was of a very different nature. She had a regard and love

for Baba. Once it so happened, that when the noon-day Arati was going on, Baba

was much pleased with her faith and devotion, and was pleased to give her

Darshan of her Ishtam (Beloved Deity). To her Baba appeared as Sitanath (Rama)

while to all the others the usual Sainath. On seeing her beloved Deity, she was

very much moved. Tears began to flow from her eyes and she clapped her hands in

joy. The people began to wonder at her joyful mood; but were not able to guess

its cause. Late in the afternoon she disclosed everything to her husband. She

told him how she saw Shri Rama in Sai Baba. He thought that she was very simple

and devout, and her seeing Rama might be a

hallucination of her mind. He pooh-poohed her, saying that it was not possible,

that she alone should see Rama while they all saw Sai Baba. She did not resent

this remark, as she was fortunate enough to get Rama Darshan now and then, when

her mind was calm and composed and free from avarice.

WONDERFUL VISION

Things were going on like this, when the husband got a wonderful vision in his

dream one night as follows: -

He was in a big city; the police there had arrested him, tied his hands with a

rope, and put him up in a cage (lock-up). As the police were tightening the

grip, he saw Sai Baba standing quiet outside, near the cage. On seeing Baba so

near, he said in a plaintive tone - "Hearing Your fame I came to Your Feet and

why should a calamity befall me when You are standing here in person?" Baba

said - "You must suffer the consequences of your action" He said - "I have not

done anything in this life, which would bring such a misfortune on me." Baba

said - "If not in this life, you must have committed some sin in your past

life. " He replied, "I do not know anything of my past life, but assuming that

I did commit some sin then, why should it not be burnt and destroyed in Your

presence, as dry grass before fire?

"Baba - "Have you got such faith?"

He - "Yes." Baba then asked him to close his eyes. No sooner did he shut them

than he heard a thumping sound of something falling down, and opening his eyes,

he saw that he was free and the police had fallen down, bleeding. Being much

frightened he began to look at Baba who said - "Now you are well caught,

officers will now come and arrest you." Then he begged - "There is no other

savior except You, save me anyhow." Then Baba again asked him to close his

eyes. He did so and when he opened them, he saw that he was free, out of the

cage and that Baba was by his side. He then fell at Baba's Feet. Baba then

asked him - "Is there any difference between this Namaskar and your previous

ones? Think well and reply." He said "There is a lot of difference; my former

Namaskaras were offered with the object of getting

money from You, but the present Namaskar is one offered to You as God; besides,

formerly I thought resentfully that you, being a Mohammedan, were spoiling us,

the Hindus". Baba "Do you not believe in your mind in Mohammedan Gods?" He said

"No". Then Baba said - "Have you not got a Panja (Emblem of Hand) in your house

and do you not worship the same in Tabut, i.e. Moharum festival? Also there is

in your house another Mohammedan Deity by name Kadbibi, whom you propitiate and

appease on your marriage and other festivals. Is it not so?" He admitted all

this. Then Baba said, "What more do you want?" Then a desire arose in his mind

to get the Darshan of his Guru Ramdas, when Baba asked him to turn back and

see. And when he turned, lo, Ramdas was in front of him. No sooner did he begin

to fall at His Feet, Ramdas vanished. Then he inquisitively asked Baba, "You

look old. Do You know Your age?" Baba - "What! Do you say I am old! Just run a

race with Me and see." Saying this Baba began to

run and he too followed. Baba disappeared in the dust raised by His footsteps

while running and the man was awakened.

After awakening he began to think seriously about the dream vision. His mental

attitude was completely changed and he realised the greatness of Baba. After

this, his grabbing and doubting tendencies disappeared and true devotion to

Baba's Feet sprang in his mind. The vision was a mere dream, but the questions

and answers therein were most significant and interesting. Next morning when

all the persons assembled in the Masjid for the Arati, Baba gave him as Prasad

two rupees' worth sweetmeats and also two rupees from His pocket and blessed

him. He made him stay there for a few more days and gave him His blessing,

saying, "Allah (God) will give you plenty and He will do you all good". He did

not get more money there, but he got far better things viz. Baba's blessing

which stood him in good stead all along.

The party got plenty of money afterwards and their pilgrimage was successful, as

they had not to suffer any trouble or inconvenience during their journey. They

all returned home safe and sound, thinking of Baba's words and blessings and

the Anand (Bliss) they experienced by His grace.

This story illustrates one of the methods, which Baba followed (and is following

even now) in some cases to improve and reform His devotees.

(2) TENDULKAR FAMILY

There lived in Bandra (a suburb of Bombay) a Tendulkar family, all the members

of which were devoted to Baba. Mrs. Savitribai Tendulkar has published a

Marathi book named "Shri Sainath Bhajan Mala” containing 800 abhangas and padas

describing the Leelas of Baba. It is a book worth reading by those who are

interested in Baba. The son, Babu Tendulkar was studying hard day and night and

wanted to appear for the medical examination. He consulted some astrologers.

Examining his horoscope they told him that the stars were not favorable that

year and that he should appear for the examination next year, when he would be

certainly successful. This cast a gloom over him and made him restless. A few

days afterwards his mother went to Shirdi and saw Baba. Amongst other things

she mentioned the gloomy and morose

condition of her son, who was to appear for the examination in a few days.

Hearing this Baba said to her, "Tell your son to believe in Me, to throw aside

horoscopes and predictions of astrologers and palmists and go on with his

studies. Let him appear for the examination with a calm mind, he is sure to

pass this year. Ask him to trust in Me and not to get disappointed". The mother

returned home and communicated Baba's message to her son. Then he studied hard

and in due course appeared for the examination. In the written papers he did

well, but being overwhelmed by doubts he thought that he would not secure

sufficient marks for passing. So he did not care to appear for the oral

examination. But the examiner was after him. He sent word through a fellow-

student, stating that he had passed in the written examination and that he

should appear for the oral. The son being thus encouraged appeared for the oral

examination and was successful in both. Thus he got through the examination that

year successfully by Baba's grace, though the stars were against him. It is to

be noted here that doubts and difficulties surround us just to move us and

confirm our faith. We are tested as it were. If we only hold on steadily to

Baba with full faith and continue our endeavors, our efforts will be ultimately

crowned with success.

The father of this boy, Raghunath Rao was serving in some foreign mercantile

firm in Bombay. As he grew old, he was not able to attend to his work properly

and so he had to take leave and rest. As he did not improve during the period

of leave a further extension of leave or retirement from service was

inevitable. The Chief Manager of the firm decided to retire him on pension, as

he was an old and a reliable servant. The question regarding the amount of

pension to be given was under consideration. He was getting Rs.150/- p.m. and

his pension i.e. half the amount viz. Rs. 75/- would not be enough to meet the

expenses of the family. So they were all anxious about this matter. Fifteen

days before the final settlement, Baba appeared to Mrs. Tendulkar in her dream

and said, "I wish that Rs. 100/- should be paid

(settled) as pension, will this satisfy you?" She replied "Baba, why ask me

this? We fully trust in You". Though Baba said Rs.100/- still he was given ten

Rupees more i.e. Rs.110/- as a special case. Such wonderful love and care did

Baba exhibit for His Bhaktas.

(3) CAPTAIN HATE

Captain Hate, who was staying in Bikaner, was a great devotee of Baba. Once Baba

appeared to him in his dream and said "Did you forget Me?" Hate then immediately

held Baba's Feet and replied, "If a child forgets his mother, how could it be

saved?" Then Hate went into the garden and took out fresh walpapadi vegetables,

and arranging 'shidha' (ghee, wheat-flour and dal etc.) and Dakshina, was about

to offer all this to Baba when he was awakened and came to know that the whole

thing was a dream. Then he decided to send all these things to Baba at Shirdi.

When he came to Gwalior some days afterwards, he sent Rs.12/- by money order to

a friend, with instructions that Rs. 2 should be spent in buying shidha articles

and walpapadi vegetables, and those should be offered to Baba with Rs. 10 as

Dakshina. The friend

went to Shirdi and purchased the things mentioned, but walpapadi was not

available. In a short time a woman turned up with a basket on her head, which

curiously enough contained the vegetables. It was purchased and then all the

things were offered to Baba on behalf of Captain hate. Mr. Nimonkar prepared

the 'naiveidya' (rice and walpapadi vegetables) next day and offered the same

to Baba. All the people were surprised to see that Baba while dining, took and

ate walpapadi, and did not touch rice and other things. Hate's joy knew no

bounds when he heard of this from his friend.

CONSECRATED RUPEE

At another time Captain Hate wished that he should have in his house a coin of

rupee consecrated by Baba with His touch. He came across a friend who was bound

for Shirdi. With him Hate sent his rupee. The friend went to Shirdi and after

the usual salutation gave first his Dakshina which Baba pocketed. Then he gave

Hate's rupee, which Baba took in His hand and began to stare at it. He held it

in front, tossed it up with His right thumb and played with it. Then He said to

the friend, "Return this to its owner with the Prasad of Udi, tell him that I

want nothing from him, and ask him to live in peace and contentment." The

friend returned to Gwalior, handed over the consecrated rupee to hate, and told

him all the h0appened at Shirdi. This time Hate was much pleased and realised

that Baba always encouraged

good thoughts, and as he wished intently, Baba fulfilled the same accordingly.

(4) WAMAN NARVEKAR

Now let the readers hear a different story. A gentleman, named Vaman Narvekar

loved Baba very much. He once brought a rupee. On one said (obverse) of it were

engraved the figures of Rama, Laxman and Sita and on the other (reverse) side

was engraved the figure of Maruti, with folded hands. He offered it to Baba

with a hope that He should consecrate it with His touch and return it to him

with Udi. But Baba immediately pocketed it. Then Shama spoke to Baba, regarding

Vamanrao intention and requested Him to return it. Then Baba spoke in the

presence of Vamanrao as follows: - "Why should it be returned to him? We should

keep it ourselves. If he gives Rs.25/- for it, it will be returned." Then, for

the sake of that rupee, Vamanrao collected Rs.25/- and placed them before Baba.

Then Baba said, "The value of that

rupee far exceeds 25 Rupees. Shama, take this rupee, let us have it in our

store, keep this in your shrine and worship it." No one had the courage to ask

Baba why He followed this particular action. He only knows what is best and

most suitable to each and all.

BOW TO SHRI SAI - PEACE BE TO ALL

CHAPTER XXX

Drawn To Shirdi - Kakaji Vaidya of Vani - (2) Punjabi Ramalal of Bombay

In this Chapter the story of two more devotees that were drawn to Shirdi, is narrated.

PRELIMINARY

Bow to the Kind Sai who is the Abode of Mercy and who is affectionate towards

His devotees. By His mere Darshan, He does away with their fear of this 'bhava'

(samsar) and destroys their calamities. He was first Nirgun (formless), but on

account of the devotion of His Bhaktas, He was obliged to take a form. To give

liberation - self-realisation to the Bhaktas is the mission of the saints, and

for Sai - the Chief of them, that mission is inevitable. Those who take refuge

in His Feet have all their sins destroyed and their progress is certain.

Remembering His Feet, Brahmins from holy places come to Him and read scriptures

and chant the Gayatri mantra in His presence. We, who are weak and without any

merits, do not know what Bhakti is but we know this much, that though all

others may leave us, Sai won't

forsake us. Those whom He favours get enormous strength, discrimination between

the Unreal and the Real and knowledge.

Sai knows fully the desire of His devotees and fulfills the same. Hence they get

what they want and are grateful. So we invoke Him and prostrate ourselves before

Him. Forgetting all our faults let Him free us from all anxieties. He, who being

overcome with calamities remembers and prays Sai thus, will get his mind calmed

and pacified through His grace.

This Sai - the ocean of mercy, says Hemadpant, favoured him and the result of

this, is the present work – Sai Satcharita. Otherwise what qualifications had

he and who would undertake this enterprise? But as Sai took all the

responsibility, Hemadpant felt no burden, nor any care about this. When the

powerful Light of knowledge was there to inspire his speech and pen, why should

he entertain any doubt or feel any anxiety? Sai got the service in the form of

this book done by him; this is due to the accumulation of his merits in the

past births and, therefore, he thinks himself fortunate and blessed.

The following story is not a mere tale, but pure nectar. He who drinks it will

realise Sai's greatness and all-pervasiveness. Those who want to argue and

criticize should not go in for these stories. What is wanted here, is not

discussion but unlimited love and devotion. Learned, devout and faithful

believers or those, who consider themselves as servants of the Saints, will

like and appreciate these stories; others will take them to be fables. The

fortunate Bhaktas of Sai will find the Sai-Leelas as the Kalpataru

(Wish-fulfilling Tree). Drinking this nectar of Sai-Leelas will give liberation

to the ignorant Jivas, satisfaction to the householders and a Sadhana to the

aspirants. Now to the story of this Chapter.

KAKAJI VAIDYA

There lived in Vani, Nasik District, a man named Kakaji Vaidya. He was the

priest of the Goodness Sapta-Shringi there. He was so much overwhelmed with

adverse circumstances and calamities that he lost peace of mind and became

quite restless. Under such circumstances one evening he went into the temple of

the Goddess and prayed unto Her from the bottom of his heart and invoked Her aid

to free him from anxiety. The Goddess was pleased with his devotion and the same

night appeared to him in his dream and said to him, "You go to Baba and then

your mind will become calm and composed". Kakaji was anxious to know from Her

who that Baba was, but before he could get any explanation, he was awakened.

Then he began to think as to who might be that Baba, to whom the Goddess has

asked him to go. After some thinking,

he resolved that this Baba might be 'Tryambakeshwar' (Lord Shiva). So he went to

the holy place 'Tryambak' (Nasik District) and stayed there for ten days. During

this period, he bathed early in the morning, chanted the 'Rudra' hymns, did the

'Abhishekam' (pouring unceasingly fresh cold water over the Pindi) and did

other religious rites; but with all that, he was as restless as before. Then he

returned to his place and again invoked the Goddess most pitifully. They night

She again appeared in his dream and said - "Why did you go to Tryambakeshwar in

vain? I mean by Baba - Shri Sai Samarth of Shirdi."

The question before Kakaji now was 'How and when to go to Shirdi and how to see

Baba? If anybody is in real earnest to see a Saint, not only the Saint but God

also, fulfills his wish. In fact the 'Sant' (Saint) and the 'Anant' (God) are

one and the same; there is not the least difference between them. If anybody

thinks that he will go himself and see a Saint that will be a mere boast.

Unless the Saint wills it, who is able to go and see him? Even the leaf of the

tree won't move without his bidding. The more anxious a Bhakta is for the

saint's visit, the more devout and faithful he is, the more speedily and

effectively is his wish satisfied to his heart's content. He, who invites

anybody for a visit, also arranges everything for his reception, and so it

happened with Kakaji.

SHAMA'S VOWS

When Kakaji was thinking his visit to Shirdi, a guest came to him at his place

to take him to Shirdi. He was no other than Shama, a very close and intimate

devotee of Baba. How he came to Vani at this juncture, we shall just see. Shama

was severely ill when he was very young and his mother had taken a vow to her

family Goddess Sapta-Shringi at Vani, that if the son got well, she would bring

and dedicate him at Her feet. Then after some years the mother herself suffered

much from ringworms on her breasts. At that time she again took another vow to

her Deity that if she got all right, she would offer Her two silver breasts.

These two vows remained unfulfilled. At her death-bed she called her son Shama

to her and drew his attention to the vows and after taking a promise from him

that he would fulfills them,

she breathed her last. After some time, Shama quite forgot about these vows and

thus 30 years elapsed. About this time a famous astrologer had come to Shirdi

and stayed there for a month. His predictions in the case of Shriman Booty and

others came true and everybody was satisfied. Shama's younger brother Bapaji

consulted him and was told that his mother's vows, which his elder brother

promised to fulfill at her deathbed, were not yet fulfilled; hence the Goddess

was displeased with them and bringing troubles on them. Bapaji told this to his

brother Shama who was then reminded of the unfulfilled vows. Thinking that any

further delay would be dangerous, he called a goldsmith and got a pair of

silver breast prepared. Then he went to the Masjid, prostrated himself before

Baba and, placing before Him the two silver breath, requested Him to accept

them and free him from the vows as He was to him his Sapta-Shringi Goddess.

Then Baba insisted upon him to go himself to the temple of

Sapta-Shringi and offer them in person at the feet of the Goddess. Then after

taking Baba's permission and Udi, he left for Vani and searching for the priest

came to Kakaji's house. Kakaji was then very anxious to visit Baba and Shama

went there to see him at that very time. What a wonderful coincidence is this!

Kakaji asked him who he was and whence he had come, and on learning that he came

from Shirdi, he at once embraced him. So overpowered was he with love! Then they

talked about Sai-Leelas and after finishing the rites of Shama's vows; they both

started for Shirdi. On reaching the place, Kakaji went to the Masjid, and fell

at Baba's Feet. His eyes were soon bedewed with tears, and his mind attained

calmness. According to the vision of the Goddess, no sooner did he see Baba

that his mind lost all its restlessness and it became calm and composed. Kakaji

began to think, in his mind, "What a wonderful power is this! Baba spoke

nothing, there was no question and answer, no benediction pronounced; the mere

Darshan itself was so conducive to happiness; the restlessness of my mind

disappeared by His mere Darshan,

consciousness of joy came upon me - this is what is called 'the greatness of

Darshan'." His vision was fixed on Sai's feet and he could utter no word.

Hearing Baba's Leelas, his joy knew no bounds. He surrendered himself

completely to Baba, forgot his anxiety and cares and got undiluted happiness.

He lived happily there for twelve days and after taking Baba's leave, Udi and

blessings returned home.

KHUSHALCHAND OF RAHATA

It is said that a dream, which we get in the small hours of the morning,

generally comes out true in the walking state. This may be so, but regarding

Baba's dreams there is no restriction of time. To quote an instance: - Baba

told Kakasaheb Dixit one afternoon to go to Rahata and fetch Khushalchand to

Shirdi, as He had not seen him since long. Kakasaheb accordingly took a tanga

and went to Rahata. He saw Khushalchand and gave him Baba's message. Hearing

it, Khushalchand was surprised and said that he was taking a noon nap after

meals when Baba appeared in his dream and asked him to come to Shirdi

immediately and that he was anxious to go. As he had no horse of his own

nearby, he had sent his son to inform Baba; when his son was just out of the

village-border, Dixit's tanga turned up. Dixit then said that

he was sent specially to bring him. Then they both went in the tanga back to

Shirdi. Khushalchand saw Baba and all were pleased. Seeing this Leela of Baba,

Khushalchand was much moved.

PUNJABI RAMALAL OF BOMBAY

Once a Punjabi Brahmin of Bombay named Ramalal got a dream in which Baba

appeared and asked him to come to Shirdi. Baba appeared to him as a Mahant

(Saint), but he did not know His whereabouts. He thought that he should go and

see Him, but as he knew not His address, he did not know what to do. But He who

calls anybody for an interview makes the necessary arrangements for the same.

The same happened in this case. The same afternoon when he was strolling in the

streets, he saw a picture of Baba in a shop. The features of the Mahant, he saw

in the dream, exactly tallied with those of the picture. Then making enquiries,

he came to know that the picture was of Sai Baba of Shirdi. He then went soon

after to Shirdi and stayed there till his death.

In this way Baba brought His devotees to Shirdi for Darshan and satisfied their

wants, material as well as spiritual.

BOW TO SHRI SAI - PEACE BE TO ALL

*****

SATHYAM SIVAM SUNDARAM - Part II

The Life of the Divine Avatar Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

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

"SIGNS AND WONDERS"

There was a blind person once who came to the Nilayam for getting his eyesight

restored; he was a teacher in the State of Mysore, who had lost his sight

suddenly, without any apparent reason. Baba did not pay any attention to him,

at first. Then one day He said to me pointing to the man being led by his wife

along the verandah, "See, that man wants his eyes back; he does not know that

blindness, is his good fortune"! Two days later, he received a letter from the

Government of India offering him a scholarship to go to Delhi for training in

an Institution for Teaching the Blind! I know of one deaf supplicant, to whom

Baba said, "Your ears are your Guru; they brought you to Me; now, be thankful

that at least one source of attachment is providentially put out of action".

About another supplicant, He said, "If I

give him back his eyesight he is sure to ruin himself". He has the knowledge of

the past and the future; open book for him. So, He says, "I do not feel the

meaningless sympathy that you pour so easily; I have to calculate the

potentialities, the retribution they deserve, the use or misuse they will make

of additional faculties and capabilities." When some one died in one of the

cottages around Prashanthi Nilayam, and the kinsmen prayed that Baba might

revive him, Baba said, "Do you mean to say that this area alone is mine? What

of the thousands who have died this moment allover the world? They are also as

much mine as this person. Again, tell me how this man is indispensable for the

world's progress? He has finished his career; he was born to work out his

destiny, not to provide temporary trivial joy to a few."

In the Vivekachudamani, Shankaracharya refers to the Master as

"Ahethukadayasindhu - the Ocean of Mercy that saves without any reason or

context." Baba is like that. He cures some chronic illnesses by the exercise of

His will; He allows other supplicants to suffer. No one can say, why. The

instance of Seshagiri Rao who is referred to in the First Volume too will throw

some light on this aspect of Baba's ministration. Seshagiri Rao, who tended the

shrine at the Old Mandir and later at the Nilayam for full 14 years had a fall

and was in the throes of death. He was declaring aloud with his last breath the

amazing Truth which no one except sages recall at the moment of crisis: "This

body composed of the five elements is disintegrating into its components; I am

being liberated"! I stood by, admiring and envying the

old man. "What great good fortune, to pass into the beyond with these words on

one's lips!", I told myself. Suddenly, Baba appeared in the room, as some one

had informed Him of the approaching demise of His trusted servitor. Baba chided

Seshagiri Rao in firm tones. He said, "How dare you start on this journey,

without taking a ticket from Me? Come down, do the task allotted to you. I

order you to come to the Prayer Hall this noon and carry on with Arati, as

usual. We stood aghast, at this 'unkindness', but, who are we to pit our

judgment against the All-knowing One? Seshagiri Rao obeyed the order; he

attended Bhajan and went through his allotted schedule of work.

Six months later, he fell ill, seriously ill. He was admitted to the Sathya Sai

Hospital; his condition became worse, pathetically worse. His brain became

soft, he lost all disgust of dirt, he made everyone sad that a faithful servant

of God should suffer so. His brother came from Bangalore and prayed to Baba that

he may be allowed to take him to the Victoria Hospital, where his sons could

give him personal attention and nephews, who were employed there. But, Baba

said, "Do not worry; seeing his present plight. I am allowing him to work out

the suffering he has to undergo. After this, he has the chance to die

peacefully and quite happily. Otherwise, I could have dispatched him months

ago, when he had a fall." And, it happened so. A month passed. Seshagiri Rao

recovered quite mysteriously. The sun shone around

him in his apartment. He spent six weeks of bliss, doing his chores. Then he

started to decline and was in bed. His son was by his side, tending him

lovingly. One evening, Baba went into the room. I had the privilege of going

with him. He asked me to bring a cup of hot milk. Spoon by spoon, He fed him

the entire cup, calling on him by name and telling him that it was his Baba

that was feeding him! Then, He rose and moved; turning back while at the door,

He looked at him and said, "Now, you can go"! And, Seshagiri Rao obeyed, within

an hour! Baba knew when he had to come down and when he had to "go". We can only

watch and pray, only stand aghast, at the wonder and meaningful "waywardness" of

the wind of Grace.

Let Dr. T. Nallainathan of Castle Lane, Colombo tell us of one such wonder. "A

boy of 12 called Anthonis was suffering from Ependymoma (a cancerous growth of

the cauda equlova of the spinal cord inside the lower vertebrae). His father's

brother is a famous surgeon, and the neuro-surgeon performed an operation in

his presence, which lasted for 3 hours and 15 minutes; but, no good came out of

it. The boy passed urine for 24 hours, without intermission, while unconscious.

This did not stop, nor could it be checked or decreased. A member of the Sathya

Sai Seva Samithi, Colombo gave the child a little Vibuthi brought from Baba,

that very night. The parents found a noticeable improvement. So, they went

post-haste to Baba at Madras; they had His Darshan on November 10th. Bhagawan

created an amulet by a wave of the

hand and asked that it be worn round the wrist. They had Darshan twice and

returned home happy. I saw the boy on Christmas Day, playing delightfully and

talking of attending school, after the holidays! I know he is attending school

now."

Among the large number of cases that have come to my notice, I shall quote here

a specially wonderful cure. One noon in '66, February, a young couple arrived

by car from Bangalore, after landing there by plane from Delhi. The lady's

brother had been sent home from a New Delhi Hospital, as a hopeless, casualty.

Some one told them of Baba and they came to seek His Grace, so that the

brother’s life might be saved. Baba gave into my hands two packets of Vibuthi

from the receptacle kept in His Room for distribution by Him and asked me to

tell them, to take them to the Patient 'immediately!' The case history of the

brother makes very sad reading; "Balija, aged 30; chronic nephritis; anaemia.

In July 1960 had attack of pain in left lumber region and haematuria. In Dec.

1960, was noticed to have swelling of the whole

body. Urine-Alb. was + + +. He had generalized anasarca, too. Blood urea-normal;

blood pressure-normal. X-ray Alb. normal; X-ray chest, normal. In 1964, Dec.,

complained of diminution of vision. Blood pressure 240/140. X-ray and

intravenous Pyelography: Dye not secreted by both kidneys. Blood urea-70 mgm.

Urine- Alb. + + +; Treatment continued with hypertensive drugs. Then, suffered

from hypertensive encephalopapathy (Oculogynic crisis) - involuntary movement

of the right side of the face. BP-240/140. Admitted to Hospital: Treated with

hypertensives and sedatives. Blood urea-98-132. Come down to 80 mgm. Urine

alb-heavy traces, no casts. Occasional RBC. BP came down to normal, but, rose

for 10 days to 150/100-200/120. Urine output ... 50-60 oz. Hemoglobin gradually

decreasing. On 18-12-1965, H-9 gms. RBC 3'5 million; Hg 8 gms; 7'5 gms; 29-1-66

HC-5'8 gms. At present, patient gets restless; pallor and slight puffiness of

face - pain in both joints; unbearable pain, treatment: Adelphin

Esidrex 2 tablets, 3 times a day; Serpasil, 1-2 tablets, three times a day;

Injection Serpasil SOS, Injection Largactil. Injection Jacttofer started on

22-1-1966 on a alternate days. Pot. Chloride gr 15, three times a day; diet,

protein restricted." The two packets of Vibuthi were to be given, internally in

water and some of it was to be smeared over the body. I was amazed when I

received a telegram from the sister that they were bringing the patient to

Prashanthi Nilayam 'the next day.' This was before the fortnight was over,

after their visit. The car from Bangalore came into the compound and three

people came out, the couple and a stranger. They walked briskly towards the

Mandir and as soon as I saw and recognized them, I inquired, "Where is the

patient?" They laughed and pointed him out to me. It was the third Person, the

man with no sign of illness on him, except a woolen muffler wound round his

throat.

Or, let us listen to another tale, from the Padubidris of Bombay. "May, 4th,

1957. It was her first birthday. The children's party was in full swing. While

her young guests helped themselves with the snacks and sweets, the little

hostess rocked vigorously on her wooden horse. She needed something to provide

her distraction from pain. Medical experts were investigating her case. The

birthday party was not quite over, when the X-ray report came. It revealed with

sudden unbelievable finality that the poor one-year-old was stricken with a

bone-eating disease of the worst type. Pott's Disease; the disc between her 5th

and 6th vertebrae was completely destroyed. Nothing more grim could have

befallen us".

"The bone specialist ordered that the child be strapped in plaster to reduce her

movements to the minimum of almost nil, to help the decalcification. Besides, a

prick with streptomycin every day and a long list of medicines and tonics were

prescribed. How long was she to be tortured thus? We prayed to Sai Baba; dreamt

that He was holding the child protectively close to Him. In June 1958, she was

out of the plaster, but, the doctor prescribed an iron jacket as support to her

decalcified vertebrae. On November 4th, we reached Puttaparthy with her. Baba

interviewed us for 45 minutes. He blessed the child, stroked her back, gave her

Udi, and told the anxious grandmother. "Leave everything to Me; I shall always

take care of her; you are worrying too much about her." He assured us that the

child would start walking

in January ...and, she did!"

Instances where He has willed off cases of cancer, saying, "Your cancer is

cancelled", are plenty. The case of D.R. Ghule is remarkable in many ways. In a

letter dated 15th June '66, Rao Saheb V.R. Ghule writes, "On 11th May, 1966, I

had sent a letter to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba informing Him of the sad

plight of my brother, Dattatreya Ramachandra Ghule, aged 76. I wrote, "The pain

is now concentrated on the right side of his throat, like terrible pin thrust,

even while swallowing milk, tea, or coffee. He has become very weak. He is

unable to speak clearly. The doctors at Jubbulpore declared it was cancer and

he is now taking X-ray treatment at the Tata Hospital here at Bombay. Day by

day, he is getting weaker and weaker. We obtained the book, "Sathyam Sivam

Sundaram" and after reading it, we brought a

photo of yours and kept it in a prominent place for daily Darshan. I do not know

whether this appeal will reach you, for I do not know your present address or

your correct address. With folded hands, I beseech you, to save my brother from

this terrible pain and illness."

"On the 13th, in the morning, my brother's condition became serious and doctors

called him for an immediate operation. I placed a copy of my letter to Baba at

the feet of Baba in the picture and prayed for His mercy. It was about 12.30

P.M. At 1 P.M., my brother asked for water, which he drank freely! He, then,

drank milk, which he had not been able to take for the past! We took him to the

hospital, where he was found to be normal and the doctors declared that there

was no need for an operation. He is now very much better."

The amulets packets of Vibuthi, or other articles that He gives are but

assurances for the recipient, that they have 'something' from his hands. They

are superfluous, when we know that His Will is supreme. It can cross-frontiers

of sea and land, language and age, and it can be won by prayer, sincere and

deep. It cures, for reasons best known to itself. He has come for the revival

of morality and the restoration of faith in God and in the ultimate liberation

of man from grief and pain. These cures are visiting cards that He scatters, in

order to announce that the Divine has come down among men. "Take up thy bed and

walk" has been said by Baba to many, at the Prashanthi Nilayam, during the

daily session of Grace-gifts, called "interviews" and then, He gives the

advice, "Walk in fear, walk in hope, walk in truth".

There was a girl in her teens who was being carried about by her brother. She

had come from Bhadravathi in Mysore State. For 5 long years, she had not set

foot on the ground. Baba called the brother to him and asked that the sister be

brought. He carried her in, as one carries a child. Within minutes, the door of

the Room opened and 500 people sitting outside the Nilayam saw the girl walking

helped by the brother and mother; Baba had asked that they go round the building

three times! And, the next day, she did it alone! And, Baba exhorted the girl to

go home and be happy! Each cure is an eye-opener, the gift of a new vision, the

vision of the Divine Healer, who heals the body so that it may be a fit

instrument for the conquest of the mind and for the realization of the Ananda

lying dormant within the region of the senses, the emotions, the impulses and

the intellect!

CONTINUED…

With Sai love from Sai brother M. Palaniswamy

/