SAGES, SAINTS AND AVATARS - SHIRDI SAI BABA

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ecstatic visions of their own beloved Guru or chosen Ishta (personalized icon of

God) while gazing at Him. He himself said only that he was the humble servant of

God and pleased and furthered all who came in contact with him. Many books have

been written about Shirdi Sai Baba but the Shri Sai Satcharita, the story of

Sai Baba's life and actions (quoted from below) was written in his own lifetime

and is best known among Sai devotees. Just before leaving his body he told a

disciple he would be reborn in a certain village 8 years hence and so it came

to pass. Sai Baba was first seen as a youth of sixteen sitting under a neem

tree in Shirdi. None knew his origin or past. Even then he seemed to be full of

the knowledge of Brahman. He had no desire for worldly objects, even in dream.

He kicked out Maya (illusion) and Mukti (illumination) was serving at his feet.

This young lad, fair, smart, and very handsome,

was first seen under a Neem tree seated in an Asan (meditative posture). The

people of the village were wonderstruck to see such a young lad practicing hard

penance, not minding heat and cold. By day he associated with none. by night he

was afraid of nobody. People were wondering whence that young chap turned up.

His form and features were so handsome that a mere look endeared him to all. He

went to nobody's door, always sat near the Neem tree. Outwardly he looked very

young; but by his action He was really a great soul. He was the embodiment of

dispassion and an enigma to all. A saint name Gangagir who frequented Shirdi

said of him on first setting eyes on him "Blessed is Shirdi, that it got this

precious jewel". Another saint by name Anandanath said "This is a precious

diamond in reality, though he looks like an ordinary man. You will realize this

in the near future." Peace or calm was his ornament and he was the repository of

wisdom. He had no love for

perishable things and was always engrossed in self-realization. He did not know

or care for honor or dishonor. The name of Allah was always on his lips. His

inside was as calm as the deep sea. Though he sat in one place, he knew all the

transactions of the world. Though a Siddha (realized being), he acted like a

sadhaka (disciple on the spiritual path). He was meek, humble, and pleased all.

Shortly after coming to Shirdi Baba displayed his mastery over matter. He

was fond of lights and used to borrow oil from the shop keepers to keep earthen

dishes with wicks burning the whole night in the masjid (temple). After a while

the shop keepers got together and decided not to give oil. Then they watched to

see what Baba would do. Unperturbed, Baba poured water into his oil pot, took a

drink from it,

then filled all his earthen dishes with it and lighted them. To the surprise and

dismay of the shopkeepers, the wicks began to burn and kept burning the whole

night. Afterwards the shopkeepers repented and apologized.Experiences of Sai

Baba's Various Devotees Sugar Tea Das Ganu was once performing his Kirtan

(religious discourse) and singing the glory of Sai Baba, in the Koupineshwar

temple in Thana. One Mr. Cholkar, a poor man serving as a candidate in the

Civil Courts in Thana, was amongst the audience. He heard Dasganu's Kirtan most

attentively and was much moved. He there and then mentally bowed and vowed to

Baba saying - "Baba, I am a poor man, unable to support my family. If by your

grace, I pass the departmental examination, and get a permanent post, I shall

go to Shirdi, fall at Your Feet and distribute sugar-candy in Your name." As

good luck would have it, Mr.Cholkar did pass the examination and did get

the permanent post and now it remained for him to fulfill his vow, the sooner

the better. Mr. Cholkar was a poor man with a large family to support; and he

could not afford to pay for the expenses of a Shirdi trip. As Mr. Cholkar was

anxious to fulfill his vow as early as possible, he resolved to economize, cut

down his expenses and save money. He determined not to use sugar in his diet

and began to take his tea without it. After he was able to save some money in

this way, he came to Shirdi, took Baba's darshan (sight of a holy person), fell

at His Feet, offered a coconut, distributed it with a clean conscience along

with sugar-candy as per his vow and said to Baba that he was much pleased with

His darshan and that his desires were fulfilled that day. Mr. Cholkar was in

the Masjid with his host Bapusaheb Jog. When the host and the guest both got up

and were about to leave the Masjid, Baba spoke to Jog as follows:- "Give him

(your guest) cups of tea, fully saturated with sugar."

Hearing these significant words, Mr. Cholkar was much moved, he was

wonderstruck, his eyes were bedewed with tears, and he fell at Baba's Feet

again. Mr. Jog was also curious about this direction, regarding the tea-cups to

be given to his guest. Baba wanted by His words to create faith and devotion in

Cholkar's mind. He hinted as it were, that He got the sugar-candy as per his

vow and that He knew full well his secret determination not to use sugar in his

diet. Baba meant to say, "If you spread your palms with devotion before Me, I am

immediately with you, day and night. Though, I am here bodily, still I know what

you do; beyond the seven seas. Go wherever you will, over the wide world, I am

with you. My abode is in your heart and I am within you. Always worship Me, Who

is seated in your heart, as well as in the hearts of all beings. Blessed and

fortunate indeed, is he who knows Me thus." Bread and Onion Story Once it

so happened, that a sadhak (disciple) of Yoga came to Shirdi with Nanasaheb

Chandorkar. He had studied all the works on Yoga, including the Yoga-sutras of

Patanjali, but had no practical experience. He could not concentrate his mind

and attain samadhi (the highest meditative state) even for a short time. He

thought that if Sai Baba be pleased with him, He will show him the way to

attain samadhi for a long time. With this object in view he came to Shirdi and

when he went to the Masjid he saw Sai Baba eating bread with onion. On seeing

this, a thought arose in his mind, "How can this man, who is eating stale bread

with raw onion, solve my difficulties and help me?" Sai Baba read his mind and

said to Nanasaheb - "Oh Nana, he who has the power to digest onion, should eat

it and none else". Hearing this

remark, the yogi was wonder-struck and then he fell at Baba's Feet with complete

surrender. With pure and open mind, he asked his difficulties and got their

solution from Baba. Thus being satisfied and happy, he left Shirdi with Baba's

Udi (sacred ash) and blessings.Picture equivalent to Darshan It was often the

experience of Sai Baba's devotees that seeing Baba's picture earnestly is

equivalent to seeing Him in person. The following story illustrates this

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

devotion and bhajan (sacred singing), was called "Modern Tukaram", came to

Shirdi for the first time in 1917. When be bowed before Baba, the latter said

"I know this man since four years." Balabuva wondered and thought, how could

that be, as that was his first trip to Shirdi. But thinking about it seriously

he recollected that he had prostrated himself four years ago before

Baba's portrait at Bombay and was convinced about the significance of Baba's

words. He said to himself, "How omniscient and all-pervading are the Saints and

how kind are they to their Bhaktas (devotional devotees)! I merely bowed to His

photo, this fact was noticed by Baba and in due time He made me realize that

seeing His photo is equivalent to seeing Him in person!" Faith Secures Passing

Grade There lived in Bandra, a suburb of Bombay, one Tendulkar family, all the

members of which were devoted to Shirdi Sai Baba. The son of the family 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 favourable 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 endeavours,

our efforts will be ultimately crowned with success. Suicide Thwarted Mr. Gopal

Narayan Ambadekar of Poona was a devotee of Baba. He served for ten years in the

Abkari department, from where he had to retire. He tried to get some other job,

but he did not succeed. He was overtaken by other calamities and his condition

grew from bad to worse. He passed 7 years in this condition, visiting Shirdi

every year and placing his grievance before Baba. In 1916 his plight became

worst and be decided to commit suicide in Shirdi. So he came there with his

wife and stayed for two months. One night while sitting in a bullock cart he

resolved to end his life by throwing

himself into a well close by. He proposed to do one way but Baba wished to do

something else. A few paces from this place, there was a hotel and its

proprietor Mr. Sagun, a devotee of Baba, came out and accosted him thus, "Did

you ever read this Akkalkotkar Maharaja's life?" Ambadekar took that book from

Sagun and began to read it. Casually, or we may say providentially he came

across a story which was to this effect. - During the life time of Akkalkotkar

Maharaj a certain devotee suffered very much from an incurable disease and when

he could endure the agony and pain no longer, be became desperate and to end his

miseries threw himself one night into a well. Immediately the Maharaj came there

and took him out with his own hands and advised him thus, "You must enjoy the

fruit - good or bad - of your past actions; if the enjoyment be incomplete,

suicide won't help you. You have to take another birth and suffer again; so

instead of killing yourself, why not suffer for some time and

finish up your store of the fruit of your past deeds and be done with it once

and for all?" Reading this appropriate and timely story, Ambadekar was much

surprised, and moved. Had he not got Baba's hint through the story, he would

have been no more. Seeing Baba's all-pervasiveness and benevolence, his faith

in Him was confirmed, and he became a staunch devotee. His father was a devotee

of Akkalkotkar Maharaj and Sai Baba wanted him to walk into his father's

footsteps and continue his devotion to Him. He then got Sai Baba's blessings

and his prospects began to improve. He studied astrology and gained proficiency

in it and thereby improved his lot. He was able to earn sufficient money and

passed his after-life in ease and comfort. Statements of Sai Baba

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will never be any dearth or scarcity, regarding food and clothes, in any

devotees' homes. It is my special characteristic, that I always look to, and

provide, for the welfare of those devotees, who worship Me whole-heartedly with

their minds ever fixed on Me. Lord Krishna has also said the same in the Gita.

Be wherever you like, do whatever you choose, remember this well that all that

you do is known to me. I am the Inner Ruler of all and seated in their hearts.

I envelope all creatures. I am the Controller - the wire-puller of the show of

this Universe. I am the mother - origin of all beings - the harmony of the

three gunas (attributes), the propeller of all senses, the Creator, Preserver,

and Destroyer. Nothing will harm who turns his attention towards me, but Maya

will lash or

whip him who forgets Me. All the insects, ants, the visible, movable and

immovable world is my Body or form. You need not go far, or anywhere in

search of Me. Barring your name and form, there exists in you, as well as in

all beings, a sense of Being or Consciousness of Existence. That is Myself.

Knowing this, you see Me inside yourself as well as in all beings. If you

practise this, you will realize all pervasiveness and thus attain oneness with

Me. Baba's Mission Continues after Death Bhakta Narayanrao had the good

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

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

come. Within a year of Baba's Mahasamadhi (leaving the body) he fell sick and

suffered much. All ordinary remedies gave him no relief. So he meditated on

Baba day and night. One night he had a vision in his

dream. Baba coming to him through a cellar, comforted him saying, "Don't be

anxious, you will be improving from tomorrow, and within a week you will be on

your legs." Narayanrao got perfectly well within the time mentioned in the

vision. Now the point for consideration is this:- Was Baba living because he

had the body, and was He dead because He left it? No, Baba is ever alive, for

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

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

will take any form and appear before the devout Bhakta (devotee) and satisfy

him. Saints Working in Unison In 1917 Haribhau Karnik of Dahanu came to

Shirdi on the Guru-pournima day and worshipped Baba with all formality. He

offered clothes and

Dakshina (money offering), and after taking Baba's leave through Shama, got down

the steps of the Masjid. Then he thought that he should offer one more rupee to

Baba and was just turning to get up when Shama informed him by signs that as he

had got Baba's leave, he should go and not return. So he started home. On his

way, when he went into the temple of Kala Rama at Nasik for darshan, the

resident Saint Narsing Maharaj who used to sit just inside the big door of the

temple, left his Bhaktas there, came to Haribhau, caught his wrist and said,

"Give me my one rupee". Karnik was surprised. He paid the rupee most willingly

and thought that Sai Baba recovered the rupee, which he intended in his mind to

give, through saint Narsing Maharaj. This shows how the saints work in

unison.Role of Pain and Suffering One Dr. Pillay was an intimate Bhakta of

Baba. He was much liked by Baba, who always called him Bhau (brother). Baba

talked

with him off and on and consulted him in all matters and wanted him always at

His side. This Pillay suffered once very badly from guinea-worms. He said to

Kakasaheb Dixit, "The pain is most excruciating and unbearable. I prefer death

to it. This pain, I know, is for repaying past Karma, but go to Baba and tell

Him to stop the pain and transfer the working of my past Karma to ten future

births of mine." Mr. Dixit went to Baba and told Him his request. Then Baba,

being moved by his request, said to Dixit, "Tell him to be fearless. Why should

he suffer for ten births? In ten days he can work out the sufferings and

consequences of his past Karma. While I am here to give him temporal and

spiritual welfare, why should he pray for death? Bring him here on somebody's

back and let us work and finish his sufferings once for all". The doctor was

brought in that condition and was seated on Baba's right. Baba gave him His

bolster and said, "Lie calmly here and be at ease. The true

remedy is, that the result of past actions has to be suffered and got over. Our

Karma is the cause of our happiness and sorrow; therefore put up with whatever

comes to you. Allah (God) is the sole Dispenser and Protector, always think of

Him. He will take care of you. Surrender to His feet with body, mind, wealth

and speech, i.e. completely and then see what He does." Dr. Pillay said in

return that Nanasaheb had put a bandage over the leg, but he found no relief.

"Nana is a fool" replied Baba. "Take off that bandage or else you will die. Now

a crow will come and peck you, and then you will recover." While this

conversation was going on, one Abdul who always cleaned the Masjid and trimmed

the lamps, turned up. While he was attending to his work of trimming, his foot

accidentally fell upon the stretched leg of Dr. Pillay. The leg was already

badly swollen and when Abdul's foot fell upon it and pressed it, all the seven

guinea-worms were squeezed out at once. The pain was

unbearable and Dr. Pillay bawled out loudly. After some time, he calmed down and

began to sing and cry alternately. Then Baba remarked, "See, our Bhau is all

right now and singing." Then Pillay enquired when the crow was coming and

pecking at him. Baba said, "Did you not see the crow? He won't come again.

Abdul was the crow. Now go and rest yourself in the Wada and you will be soon

all right." By application of the Udi and by taking it in the stomach with

water, and without taking any other treatment or medicine, the disease was

completely cured in ten days as predicted by Baba. Summoned by Dream 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 (cart) 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 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. More Statements of Sai Baba Unless there is

some relationship or connection, nobody goes anywhere. If any men or creatures

come to you, do not discourteously drive them away, but receive them well and

treat them with due respect. Shri Hari (God) will be certainly pleased if you

give water to the thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothes to the naked and your

verandah to strangers for sitting and resting. If anybody wants any money from

you and you are not inclined to give, do not give, but do not bark at him like

a dog. If my Leelas (sportive Divine actions) are written, the Avidya

(ignorance) will vanish and if they are attentively and devoutly listened to,

the consciousness of worldly existence will abate and strong waves of devotion

and love will rise up and if one dives deep into my Leelas, he would get

precious jewels of knowledge. Let the world go topsy-turvy, you remain where

you are. Look

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

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

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

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

state of Union or At-One-ment is not possible. Baba Fed Sumtuously, How? Once,

Mrs. Tarkhad was staying in a certain house in Shirdi. At noon, meals were ready

and dishes were being served, when a hungry dog turned up there and began to

cry. Mrs. Tarkhad got up at once and threw a piece of bread, which the dog

gulped with great relish. In the afternoon, when she went to the Masjid and sat

at some distance, Sai Baba said to her, "Mother, you have fed Me sumptuously up

to my throat, My afflicted pranas (life-forces) have been satisfied. Always act

like this, and this will stand you in good stead. Sitting in this Masjid I

shall never, never speak untruth. Take pity on Me like this. First give bread to

the hungry, and then eat yourself. Note this well." She could not at first

understand the meaning of what Baba said. So she replied, "Baba, how could I

feed You? I am myself dependent on others and take my food from them on

payment." Then Baba replied -- "Eating that lovely bread I am heartily

contended and I am still belching. The dog which you saw before meals and to

which you gave the piece of bread is one with me, so also other creatures

(cats, pigs, flies, cows etc.) are one with me. I am roaming in their forms.

He, who sees Me in all these creatures is my beloved. So abandon the sense of

duality and distinction and serve Me, as you did today." Drinking these

nectar-like words, she was moved, her eyes were filled with tears, her throat

was choked and her joy knew no bounds. Maid Servant demonstrates meaning of

Upanishad Das Ganu once started to write a commentary on the

Ishavasya Upanishad. He translated it verse by verse into the Marathi language,

but did not comprehend the gist of it and so was not satisfied with his

performance. He therefore consulted some learned men regarding his doubts and

difficulties and discussed with them at great length. They did not solve them

nor did they give him any rational and satisfactory explanation. So Das Ganu

was a little restless over this matter. This Upanishad is the quintessence of

the Vedas. It is the science of self-realization, it is the scythe or weapon

which can rend asunder the bondage of life and death, and make us free.

Therefore, he thought, that he who has himself attained self-realization, can

only give him the true or correct interpretation of the Upanishad. When nobody

could satisfy Das Ganu, he resolved to consult Sai Baba about this. When he got

an opportunity to go to Shirdi, he saw Sai Baba, prostrated himself before Him,

and mentioned his difficulties about the Ishavasya

Upanishad and requested Him to give the correct solution. Sai Baba, blessed him

and said- "You need not be anxious, there is no difficulty about the matter,

the maid-servant of Kaka (Kakasaheb Dixit) will solve your doubts at Vile

Parle, on your way home". The people who were present then and heard this,

thought that Baba was joking and said, "How could an illiterate maid-servant

solve the difficulties of this nature", but Das Ganu thought otherwise. He was

sure, that whatever Baba spoke, must come true, Baba's word was the decree of

the Brahma (Almighty). Fully believing in Baba's words, he left Shirdi and

stayed with Kakasaheb Dixit. There the next day, when Das Ganu was performing

his morning worship, he heard a poor girl singing a beautiful song in clear and

melodious tones. The subject matter of the song was a crimson coloured Sari

(Indian dress), how nice it was, how fine was its embroidery, how beautiful

were its ends and borders etc. He liked the song so much

that he came out, and saw that it was being sung by a young girl, the sister of

Namya, who was a servant of Kakasaheb. The girl was cleaning vessels, and had

only a torn rag on her person. On seeing her impoverished condition, and her

jovial temperament, Das Ganu felt pity for her and when Rao Bahadur M.V.Pradhan

next day gave him a pair of dhotars, he requested him to give a sari to the poor

little girl also. Rao Bahadur bought a good Chirdi (small Sari) and presented it

to her. Like a starving person getting luckily good dishes to eat, her joy knew

no bounds. The next day she wore the new Sari, and out of great joy and

merriment, whirled, danced round and played `Fugadi' with other girls and

excelled them all. The day following, she kept the new Sari in her box at home

and came with the old and torn rags, but she looked as merry as she did the

previous day. Seeing this, Das Ganu's pity was transferred into admiration. He

thought that the girl being poor had to wear a torn rag, but

now she had a new Sari which she kept in reserve and putting on the old rag,

strutted herself, showing no trace of sorrow or dejection. Thus he realized

that all our feelings of pain and pleasure depend upon the attitude of our

mind. Thinking deeply over this incident, he realized that a man ought to enjoy

whatever God has bestowed on him in the firm conviction that He besets every

thing, from behind and before, and on all sides and that whatever is bestowed

on him by God must be for his good. In this particular case, the impoverished

condition of the poor girl, her torn rag and the new Sari, the donor, the donee

and the acceptance were all parts of the Lord and pervaded by Him. Here Das Ganu

got a practical demonstration of the lesson of the Upanishad - the lesson of

contentment with one's own lot in the belief that whatever happens is ordained

by God and is ultimately good for us. Sacred Ash (Udi) of Sai Baba One of

Baba's special features was that he always kept a sacred fire (Dhuni) burning.

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

devotees at the time of their departure from Shirdi. What did Baba teach or

hint by this Udi? Baba taught by His Udi that all the visible phenomena in the

universe are as transient as the ash. Our bodies composed of wood or matter of

the five elements, will fall down, after all their enjoyments are over, and be

reduced to ashes. In order to remind the devotees of the fact that their bodies

will be reduced to ashes, Baba distributed Udi to them. Baba also taught by the

Udi that the Brahman is the only Reality and the universe is ephemeral and that

no one in this world, be he a son, father or wife, is really ours. We come here

(in this world) alone and we have to go out

alone. It was found out and is even now found out, that the Udi cured many

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

the principles of discrimination between the Unreal and the Real. Scorpion

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

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

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

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

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

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

a scorpion and the pain caused by it, was severe and unbearable. Baba's Udi

(sacred ash) is most efficacious in such cases; it is to be applied on the seat

of pain, and so Narayanrao searched for it, but found none. Then he stood before

Baba's picture

and invoked Baba's aid, chanted Baba's name and taking out a pinch of the ashes

of the joss-stick burning in front of Baba's picture and thinking it to be

Baba's Udi, applied it on the seat of pain and the sting. As soon as he took

out his fingers, the pain vanished and both the person were moved and felt

delighted. Udi used to facilitate childbirth About 1904-05 Nanasaheb Chandorkar

was Mamlatdar (revenue collector) at Jamner, in the Khandesh District, which is

more that 100 miles distant from Shirdi. His daughter Mainatai was pregnant and

was about to deliver. The case was very serious and she was suffering from

labour-pains for the two or three days. Nanasaheb tried all remedies but they

proved in vain; he then remembered Baba and invoked His aid. There in Shirdi,

one Ramgirbuva, whom Baba called Bapugirbuva, wanted at this time to go to his

native place in Khandesh. Baba called him and told him to take a little rest

and stop at Jamner on his way home and

give the Udi and Arati (spiritual ceremony) to Nanasaheb. Ramgirbuva said that

he had only two rupees with him and that amount was barely sufficient for the

railway fare up to Jalgaon and it was not possible for him to go from jalgaon

to Jamner, a distance of about 30 miles. Baba assured him that he need not

worry, as everything would be provided for him. Then Baba asked Shama to write

the well-known Arati composed by Madhav Adkar and give a copy of it with Udi to

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

Ramgirbuva left Shirdi and reached Jalgaon at about 2:45 a.m. He had only two

annas left with him and was in a hard plight. To his great relief he heard

somebody calling out "Who is Bapugirbuva of Shirdi?" He went to him and told

him that he was the person Bapugirbuva. Then the peon, professing to be sent by

Nanasaheb, took him out to an excellent tanga with a good pair of horses. They

both drove in it. The tanga ran fast and early in the morning they

came to a brooklet. The driver took the horses for watering them and the peon

asked Ramgirbuva to partake of some eatables. Then both of them took the

refreshments and started again. They reached Jamner at dawn. Ramgirbuva

alighted to attend a call of nature and returned within a few minutes, but

found that there was no tanga, no driver and no peon. He was dumbfounded. Then

he went to the neighbouring Katcheri and making enquiries, learnt that the

Mamlatdar was at home. He went to Nanasaheb's house and announced himself and

gave Nanasaheb Baba's Udi and Arati. At this time, Mainatai's case was most

serious and all were in deep anxiety about her. Nanasaheb called out his wife

and asked her to give the Udi, mixed with water, to their daughter to drink,

and sing Baba's Arati. He thought that Baba's help was most opportune. In a few

minutes came the news that the delivery was safe and that the crisis had passed

away. When Ramgirbuva thanked Nanasaheb for the peon, tanga and the

refreshments etc. the latter was greatly surprised as he had sent none to the

station, and was not aware of any person coming from Shirdi. Saved from

Humiliation by Baba's Grace and Udi Balaji Neweskar was a great devotee of

Baba as was his son after him. Once it happened that at Balaji's anniversary

day, a certain number of guests were invited and dinner was prepared for them.

But at the dinner-time it was found that thrice the number of people invited

turned up. Mrs. Newaskar was in a fix. She thought that the food would not

suffice for the people assembled and that if it fell short, the honour of the

family would be at stake. Her mother-in-law comforted her by saying, "Don't be

afraid, it is not ours, but Sai's food; cover every vessel with

cloth, putting some Udi in it, and serve from the same without opening it : Sai

will save us from ignominy." She did as she was advised and it was found to

their surprise and joy that not only did the food suffice for all, but plenty

of it remained after serving. "As one feels intently, so he realizes

accordingly" was proved in this case. Really this Jiva (human soul)

transcends the three qualities, viz. Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas, but being deluded

by Maya, he forgets his nature which is 'Existence-knowledge-bliss', and thinks

that he is the doer and enjoyer and thus entangles himself in endless miseries

and does not know the way of deliverance. The only way of deliverance is Loving

Devotion towards the Guru's feet. The great Player or Actor Lord Sai has

delighted His Bhaktas and transformed them

into Himself (His nature). We regard Sai Baba as an incarnation of God but

He always said that He was an obedient servant of God. Though an incarnation He

showed the people the way, how to behave satisfactorily and carry out the duties

of their respective stations in this life. He never emulated others in any way,

nor asked others to have something done for Him. For Him, Who saw the Lord in

all movable and immovable things of this world, humility was the most proper

thing. None He disregarded or disrespected; for He saw Narayan (Lord) in all

beings. He never said, "I am God," but that He was a humble servant and He

always remembered Him and always uttered - "Allah Malik" (God is the sole

proprietor or Owner). We do not know the various kinds of Saints, how they

behave, what they do and eat etc. We only know that by God's grace they manifest

themselves in this world to liberate the ignorant and bound souls. If there be

any store of merits on our account, we get a desire in listening to the stories

and Leelas of the Saints, otherwise not.

Courtesy:http://www.cosmicharmony.com/

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