My Leela is inscrutable - Sai Baba of Shirdi

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grocers who now came to Sai Baba with profuse apologies. Wouldn't Sai Baba

kindly pardon them? Sai Baba pardoned them, but he warned them never to lie

again. "You could have refused to give me the oil, but did you have to say that

you didn't have fresh stocks?" he admonished them. But he had made his point.

Premonition of burning fields Once, harvesting in Shirdi had been completed

and the foodgrains of the entire village had been stored in a yard. The summer

was on. The heat was intense as only those who have lived in Shirdi know. One

afternoon Sai Baba summoned Kondaji Sutar and said to him: "Go, your field is

on flrel" Frightened, Kondaji ran to his field and. frantically looked around

for any sign of fire.

There wasn't any. He returned to the masjid and informed Sai Baba that he had

looked everywhere but had found no trace of fire and why did Baba have to

frighten him? Unfazed, Baba said : "You better turn back and look again." Baba

was right after all. Kondaji noticed that a sheaf of corn was indeed on fire

and smoke was billowing from it. A strong wind was fanning the fire and word

had gone round to the villagers who now came running to the scene. "Sai Baba,"

the people shouted "help us, help us put the fire out!" Thereupon, Sai Baba

walked casually towards the yard, sprinkled some water on a stack of sheaves

and said: " There now! The fire will die down!" And so it happened. Stopping

the rain There is the story of

one Rao Bahadur Moreshwar Fradhan who had come to Shirdi to take Sai Baba's

Darshan along with his wife. As the couple were about to leave, it began to

rain heavily. Thunder and lightning rent the air. As the Pradhan couple looked

round in dismay, Sai Baba prayed. "Oh Allah!" he intoned, "let the rains cease.

My children are going home. Let them go peacefully!" The storm thereupon ceased,

the downpour reduced to slight drizzle and the Pradhans were able to reach their

destination safely. Raising the water level in well When Sai Baba first came to

Shirdi it had of no basic facilities. There was a well put only in name. It had

no natural spring water and if ever there had been one, it must long ago have

dried up.

Water had to be fetched from a distance. When, therefore, Sai Baba gave his

permission to the villagers to celebrate the Ram Navami Fair, (Baba's Birthday)

the big problem facing the organizers was one of water supply. So What should

they do but go to Sai Baba with their problem? "'Oh yes," said Sai Baba, 'so

you want plenty of water, do you? Here, take this and drop it in the well and

wait and see.'This," turned up to be a platter of flowers on which some

prasad (blessed food) had been placed along with the remnants of alms Baba had

received earlier in the day. The villagers had no qualms about doing as they

were did. Their faith in Sai Baba was total. No sooner had that platter of

leaves been dropped in the well, it is said, water rose from the bottom as if

by divine command and completely filled it. And great was the rejoicing of the

people. Saving a child from

drowning One report has it that word had spread that the 3-year old daughter of

a poor man called Babu Kirwandikar had fallen into the well and had been

drowned. When the villagers rushed to the well they saw the child suspended in

mid-air as if some invisible hand was holding her up! She was quickly pulled

out. Sai Baba was fond of that child who was often heard to say : I am Baba's

sister!" After this incident, the villagers took her at her word. "it is all

Baba's Leela", the people would say philosophically. They could offer no other

explanation. Flow of Godavari (river) from Baba's feet

normal">These were instances of things they had seen with their own eyes. It was

not secondhand information they had gathered. Sai Baba was to them as real as

their homes and their fields and their cattle and the distant hills. Das Ganu

once had an unforgettable experience. On a festive occasion, he sought Baba's

permission to go to a place called Singba on the banks of the Godavari to have

a bath in the holy waters. "No," Baba replied resolutely, "where is the need to

go all the way when the Godavari is here right at my feet?" Das Ganu was vexed.

He was willing to concede that Ganga the holy river (Baba frequently referred

to Godavari as Ganga) rose from the feet of Sri Narayana (one among the Hindu

trinity of Gods) himself, but his faith was not deep enough to believe that the

waters of the Godavari could spring form the feet of his master, Sri Sai. Baba

who was reading Das Ganu's mind decided that this was the time to strengthen

Das Ganu's faith. He

told his devotee: "come closer to me and hold the hollow of your palms at my

feet!". As soon as he did so water flowed freely out of the toes of the

master's feet and filled the hollow of Das Ganu's palms in no time. His joy

knew no limits. He sprinkled the water on his head and his body and distributed

some more among the assembled devotees as tirtha (holy water). Other miracles

There was that other occasion when many thought that the masjid which housed

Sai Baba itself would be consumed by fire from the flames which leapt up from

the dhuni. All that Baba did was to take some swipes at a wooden pillar in

front of him. With every blow the flames subsided and the fire died down.

"Miraculous," said his devotees. Often

they would notice him stirring some hot concotion over the kitchen fire, not

with a ladle but with his bare hands. There never was a time when his hand was

scalded. What supernatural powers did he have? On yet another occasion, Sai

Baba was partaking of food with three of his devotees in the masjid when,

without any cause for provocation, he exclaimed- "Stop!" Then, as if nothing

had happened, the four continued with their meal. Lunch over and the dishes

cleared, they stepped out of the masjid, when large chunks of the ceiling fell

on the very spot where they had been seated only a few minutes earlier. Did Sai

Baba's powers extend even to inanimate matter, the devotees wondered. Instances

have been quoted by his devotees as to how Sai Baba commanded the rains to stop

and the winds to cease. Understanding Sai Baba

0in 0in 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Baba always maintained the "Dhuni" or the

perpetual fire. The realisation that all the phenomenons of the nature are

perishable and unworthy of our craving, is signified by "Udi" which Sal Baba

distributed to all. Baba never left Shirdi. He talked to people who came to see

Him. Sal Baba would often speak in symbols and parables leaving his devotees to

work out the answer - such as, "A man had a beautiful horse, but no matter what

he did, it would not run in harness. An expert suggested that it should be taken

back to the place from where it had come. This was done and it become tracable

and useful". The explanation of this story is that the horse is the Ego. As

commander of the physical and mental powers of man, it is useful but

self-willed and therefore cause endless trouble. Taking it back to its source

is re-absorbing it in the spirit source which it arises. It is the return to

the source which purifies and enlightens. From there the ego issues forth again,

no longer an ego, but a conscious agent of the spirit. Baba would ask for

Dakshina (money offered with respect to the Guru) from some of those who came

to see Him. This was not because he needed their money. This was one of Baba's

methods for testing out the devotee's attachment to worldly things and

willingness to surrender his ego. Once one has surrendered himself totally to

Him, Baba takes care of all His spiritual and temporal needs. Baba regarded

money like everything else, in a symbolical manner. He once said, " I ask only

from those who the fakir (God) points out and in exchange I give them ten times

as much". By the end of the day, all the money Baba had earned was distributed

to the destitute, poor, sick and the needy. Baba used to feed the fakirs and

devotees and even cook for them. For those who were accustomed to meat, he

cooked meat and for the others vegetarian fare.

The Dwarakamayee of Sai Baba was open to all, irrespective of caste, creed or

religion. Among those who came to see him and got his darshan (establishing

spiritual contact with the Guru) and blessings were ministers, government

officials, business people and village folk. He was the common man's God. He

Stayed with them, hejoked with them, He slept and ate with them, he smoked a

chillum (pipe) with them, he sang and danced with them, having no pretensions

of a God. But all of them Knew that He protected them. Even today, though He

has left his gross body, they feel his presence and realise his worth all the

more. Baba would also refer to the sounding of the drum of the beginning of

eternity within the soul. This "anahat" sound emerged from Baba's heart from

every limb, every bone and pore of his body. It was permeated with divine

essence and Baba claimed that though one day his physical body will not exist,

his remains will communicate with from the grave. Therefore, the most important

place in Shirdi is Baba's temple - the Samadhi Mandir is his grave, which

literally millions have visited and still continues to draw many more. Eleven

Assurances of Sai Baba Whoever puts his feet on Shirdi soil, his sufferings

would come to an end. The wretched and miserable would rise into plenty of joy

and

happiness, as soon as they climb the steps of my Mosque. I shall be ever active

and vigorous even after leaving this earthly body. My tomb shall bless and

speak the needs of my devotees. I shall be active and vigorous even from my

tomb. My mortal remains would speak from

my tomb. I am Ever living to help and guide all, who come to me, who surrender

to me and who seek refuge in me. If you look at me I look at you. If you cast

your burden on me, I shall surely bear it. If you seek my advice and help, it

shall be given to you at

once. There shall be no want in the house of my devotees 'Shri Sai Satcharitra'

The significance of 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' (written by C.B Satpathy) are : -

This is the first and foremost book based on the life-story of Shri Sai Baba,

which was originally composed in Marathi verse form.

The writing of the book started in the lifetime of Baba with his blessings. The

Hindi translation of this book is in simple Hindi language, which can be

understood even by a common man. The divine truth imparted by this book is

even greater than the knowledge contained in the Vedas and Geeta, because all

the characters and events in it are real and authentic as also recorded in

details by many devotees. Because of the

expression in simple Hindi it is easy even for every one to comprehend it. Today

there are very few people who can understand Sanskrit language properly and

absorb the meaning and substance easily. The spiritual essence contained in

all the religious scriptures like Vedas, Geeta, Yoga Vashisht is found in the

life-story of Shri Sainath. The concepts on God and spirituality are explained

in such a simple yet comprehensive manner in 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' that no

additional book, or commentary etc. is required to understand it. It has a

natural flow of which the readers starts feeling as if they had been

closely associated with its events in their past life. I may mention here that

the glory of Shri Sai is spreading in the world, far and wide, in such an

amazing way that detailed information at the web sites on Internet about Shri

Sai and 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' is available for interested readers. The

foremost duty of a Sai devotee is therefore to read 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' and

absorb it by heart if possible. The more they read this book, the more it will

bring them closer to Baba and all their doubts and apprehensions will be

cleared.

MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:

list .5in">It also has been experienced that during crisis if any devotee is

searching for an answer, if he randomly opens of 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' praying

Baba sincerely and with faith his answer can be found in that open page. Many

people have got their desired benefits after reading 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' for

a week in a parayana form. Therefore, 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' should be utilized

by all Sai devotees in the following manner:

TEXT-ALIGN: justify; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in">Get the

book, 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' in whatever language one chooses to read. Neatly

wrap it up in a piece of new cloth, and place it near Baba's photograph or idol

with due sanctity. Whether at home or elsewhere, one should always read a few

pages of the book every night before going to sleep. Every devotee should try

to keep Baba as the last thought before sleep. During crisis it should be read

devotionally for a week, as is mentioned in 'Shri Sai Satcharitra'. If possible,

reading should begin

on a Thursday or on some other special day, such as Ramnavami, Dussehra,

Gurupurnima, Janmashtmi, Mahashivratri, Navratri, etc. After it's completion on

the seventh day one should feed the poor and destitute either in the temple/home

or wherever possible. One should read it sitting in some isolated corner in the

temple or in front of Baba's statue or Photograph/painting. If other people are

present, then it should be read to them or with them as well. Group reading

should always be encouraged. Wherever and whenever possible, it should be read

continuously from sunrise to sunset in the temples on auspicious

days. Devotees may be asked to read it by turn as is done in chanting the holy

name i.e. Naamjap. Encourage children to read this book. Question answer

competition from the "Shri Sai Satcharitra" can be organized in temples. 'Shri

Sai Satcharitra' should be read to the devotees - sick, old aged and those

nearing death as much as possible. All of them will get peace. 'Shri Sai

Satcharitra' is a reasonably priced book and is easily available at Shirdi.

Therefore, any devotee visiting Shirdi must bring a few copies with him to

distribute among the deserving people free of cost. At times, of distress and

agony if one sincerely searches for the answers from 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' he

will not only find the answers but also solace. His faith will grown in Baba. I

pray Shri Sainath to reveal the divine knowledge and mysteries contained in this

book to the devotees in the same manner in which he had inspired Hemandpant to

write this book sitting in his heart. Shri Sai Satcharitra should be taken by

all Sai devotees as Gita and Bible. With Sai love from Sai brothers –

‘’ Courtesy: http://www.saibabaofshirdi.net/

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