SHRI SAI SATCHARITA - Ch. VII and VIII

[Guest guest]

Hindu, He looked like a Yavan. If you think Him to be a Yavan, He looked like a

pious Hindu. No one definitely knew whether He was a Hindu or a Mohammedan. He

celebrated the Hindu festival of Rama-Navami with all due formalities, and at

the same time permitted the ‘Sandal’ procession of the Mohammedans. He

encouraged wrestling bouts in this festival, and gave good prizes to winners.

When the Gokul Ashtami came, He got the ‘Gopal-Kala’ ceremony duly performed

and on Id festivals, He allowed Mohammedans to say their prayers (Namaj) in His

Masjid. Once in the Moharum festival, some Mohammedans proposed to construct a

Tajiya or Tabut in the Masjid, keep it there for some days and afterwards take

it in procession through the village. Sai Baba allowed the keeping of the Tabut

for four days, and on the fifth day removed it out of the Masjid without the

least compunction. If we say that He was a Mohammedan, His ears were pierced

(i.e. had holes according to Hindu fashion). If you

think that He was a Hindu, He advocated the practice of circumcision (though

according to Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who observed Him closely, He was not

Himself circumcised. Vide article in Sai Leela on "Baba Hindu Ki Yavan" by B.V.

Deo, page 562). If you call Him Hindu, He always lived in the Masjid; if

Mohammedan, He had always the Dhuni - sacred fire there, and the following

things which are contrary to Mohammedan religion, i.e., grinding on the

handmill, blowing of the conch and bells, oblation in the fire, Bhajan, giving

of food, and worship of Baba’s Feet by means of ARGHYA (water) were always

allowed there. If you think that He was a Mohammedan, the best of Brahmins and

Agnihotris, leaving aside their orthodox ways fell prostrate at His Feet. Those

who went to make enquiries about his nationality were dumb-founded and were

captured by his Darshan. So none could definitely decide whether Sai Baba was a

Hindu or a Mohammedan*. (See below this paragraph) This is no

wonder; for he who completely surrenders himself to the Lord, by getting rid of

his egoism; and body - consciousness thus becomes one with Him, and has nothing

to do with any questions of caste or nationality. Such a one as Sai Baba was,

saw no difference between caste and caste and even beings and beings. He took

meat and fish with Fakirs, but did not grumble when dogs touched the dishes

with their mouths. [* Note-- (1) Mahalsapathi, an intimate Shirdi devotee of

Baba, who always slept with Him in the Masjid and Chavadi, said that Sai Baba

told him that He was a Brahmin of Pathari and was handed over to a Fakir in his

infancy, and when He told this, some men from Pathari had come, and Baba was

enquiring about some men from that place. Vide Sai Leela 1924, Page 179. (2)

Mrs. Kashibai Kanitkar, the

famous learned woman of Poona says in the experience No.8, published on Page 79,

Sai Leela Vol. 11,1934, - "On hearing of Baba’s miracles, we were discussing

according to our theosophical convention and fashion whether Sai Baba belonged

to Black or White Lodge. When once I went to Shirdi, I was thinking seriously

about this in my mind. As soon as I approached the steps of the Masjid, Baba

came to the front and pointing to His chest and staring at me spoke rather

vehemently -"This is a Brahmin, pure Brahmin. He has nothing to do with black

things. No Musalman can dare to step in here. He dare not." Again pointing to

his chest - "This Brahmin can bring lacks of men on the white path and take

them to their destination. This is a Brahmin’s Masjid and I won’t allow any

black Mohammedan to cast his shadow here.”] Such a unique and wonderful

incarnation was Sai Baba. On account of the merits in my past birth, I had the

good fortune to sit at His Feet and enjoy His blessed company. The joy and

delight I derived therefrom was incomparable. In fact Sai Baba was pure Anand

and Consciousness. I cannot sufficiently describe Him, His greatness and

uniqueness. He, who took delight at His Feet, was established in His own self.

Many Sanyasis, Sadhakas and all sorts of men aspiring for salvation came to Sai

Baba. He always walked, talked and laughed with them and always uttered with His

tongue ‘Allah Malik’ (God is the sole owner). He never liked discussion or

arguments. He was always calm and controlled, though irritable at times, always

preached full Vedanta and nobody

knew till the last who was Baba. Princes and poor people were treated alike by

Him. He knew the inmost secrets of all, and when He gave expression to them,

all were surprised. He was the repository of all knowledge, still He feigned

ignorance. He also disliked honour. Such were the characteristics of Sai Baba.

Though, He had a human body, His deeds testified to HIS Godhood. All people

considered Him as the Lord God in Shirdi. Behavior of Sai Baba Fool that I

am, I cannot describe Baba’s miracles. He got almost all the temples in Shirdi

repaired. Through Tatya Patil, the temples of Shani, Ganapati, Shankar-Parvati,

Village

Deity, and Maruthi were put in order. His charity was also remarkable. The money

He used to collect as Dakshina was freely distributed, Rs.20 to some, Rs.15 or

50, to others everyday. The recipients thought that this was ‘pure’ charity

money, and Baba wished that it should be usefully employed. People were

immensely benefited by having a Darshan of Baba. Some became hale and hearty;

wicked people were turned into good ones. Kushtha (Leprosy) was cured in some

cases, many got their desires fulfilled, without any drops or medicine being

put in the eyes, some blind men got back their sight and some lame ones got

their legs. Nobody could see the end of His extraordinary greatness. His fame

spread far and wide, and pilgrims from all sides flocked to Shirdi. Baba sat

always near the Dhuni and eased Himself

there, and always sat in meditation; sometimes with and on other times without a

bath. He used to tie a white turban on his head; and wear a clean Dhotar round

his waist, and a shirt on his body. This was his dress in the beginning. He

started practicing medicine in the village, examined patients and gave

medicines. He was always successful, and He became famous as a Hakim (Doctor).

A curious case may be narrated here. One devotee got his eyeballs quite red and

swollen. No Doctor was available in Shirdi. The other devotees took him to Baba.

Other Doctors would use ointments, Anjans, cow’s milk and camphorated drugs

etc., in such cases. Baba’s remedy was quite unique. He pounded some ‘BEEBA’

(Some Carpus Ana Cardium i.e. marking nuts) and made two balls of them, thrust

them on in each eye of the

patient and wrapped a cloth-bandage round them (eyes). Next day, the bandage was

removed and water was poured over them in a stream. The inflammation subsided

and the pupils became white and clear. Though the eyes are very delicate, the

BEEBA caused no smarting; but removed the disease of the eyes. Many such cases

were cured and this is only an instance in point. Baba’s Yoga Practices Baba

knew all the processes and practices of Yoga. Two of them will be described

here:

Arial">(1) DHAUTI or CLEANING PROCESS: Baba went to the well near a Banyan tree

at a considerable distance from the Masjid every third day and washed his mouth

and had a bath. On one occasion, He was seen to vomit out his intestines, clean

them inside and outside and place them on a Jamb tree for drying. There are

persons in Shirdi, who have actually seen this, and who have testified to this

fact. Ordinary Dhauti is done by a moistened piece of linen, 3 inches broad 22

1/2ft. long. This piece is gulped down the throat and allowed to remain in the

stomach for about half an hour for being reacted there and then taken out. But

Baba’s Dhauti was quite unique and extraordinary. (2) KHANDA YOGA: In this

practice, Baba extracted the various limbs from His body, and left them

separately

at different places in the Masjid. Once, a gentleman went to the Masjid, and saw

the limbs of Baba lying separately at separate places. He was much terrified;

and he first thought of running to the village officers, and informing them of

Baba being hacked to pieces and murdered. He thought that he would be held

responsible, as he was the first informant, and knew something of the affair.

So he kept silent. But next day when he went to the Masjid, he was very much

surprised to see Baba, hale and hearty and sound, as before. He thought, that

what he had seen the previous day, was only a dream. Baba practiced Yoga

since, His infancy and nobody knew or guessed the proficiency He attained. He

charged no fees for His cures, became renowned and famous by virtue of His

merits, and gave health to many a poor

and suffering person. This famous Doctor of doctors cared not for His interests,

but always worked for the good and welfare of others, Himself suffering

unbearable and terrible pain many a time in the process. One such instance, I

give below, which will show the all-pervasive and most merciful character of

Sai Baba. Baba’s All-pervasiveness and Mercy In the year 1910 AD, Baba was

sitting near the Dhuni on Divali holiday and warming Himself. He was pushing

firewood into the Dhuni, which was brightly burning. A little later, instead of

pushing logs of woods, Baba pushed His arm into the Dhuni; the arm was scorched

and burnt

immediately. This was noticed by the servant Madhava, and also by Madhavarao

Deshpande (Shama). They at once ran to Baba and Madhavarao clasped Baba by His

waist from behind and dragged Him forcible back ward and asked, "Deva, for what

have You done this?" Then Baba came to His senses and replied, "The wife of a

blacksmith at some distant place, was working the bellows of a furnace; her

husband called her. Forgetting that her child was on her waist, she ran hastily

and the child slipped into the furnace. I immediately thrust My hand into the

furnace and saved the child. I do not mind My arm being burnt, but I am glad

that the life of the child is saved." Leper Devotee’s Service

COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">On hearing the news of Baba’s hand being burnt

from (Shama) Madhavarao Deshpande, Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, accompanied by the

famous Doctor Parmanand of Bombay with his medical outfit consisting of

ointments, lint and bandage etc. rushed to Shirdi, and requested Baba to allow

Dr. Parmanand to examine the arm, and dress the wound caused by the burn. This

was refused. Ever since the burn, the arm was dressed by the leper devotee,

Bhagoji Shinde. His treatment consisted in massaging the burnt part with ghee

and then placing a leaf over it and bandaging it tightly with Pattis

(bandages). Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar solicited Baba many a time to unfasten the

Pattis and get the wound examined and dressed and treated by Dr. Parmanand, with

the object that it may be speedily healed. Dr. Parmanand himself made similar

requests, but Baba postponed saying that Allah was His Doctor; and did not

allow His arm to be examined. Dr.

Paramanand’s medicines were not exposed to their air of Shirdi, as they remained

intact, but he had the good fortune of getting a Darshan of Baba. Bhagoji was

allowed to treat the hand daily. After some days, the arm healed and all were

happy. Still, we do not know whether any trace of pain was left or not. Every

morning, Bhagoji went through his Program of loosening the Pattis, massaging he

arm with ghee and tightly bandaging it again. This went on till Sai Baba’s

Samadhi (death). Sai Baba, a perfect Siddha, as He was, did not really want

this treatment, but out of love to His devotee, He allowed the ‘Upasana’ -

service of Bhagoji to go on un-interrupted all along. When Baba started for

Lendi, Bhagoji held an umbrella over Him and accompanied Him. Every morning,

when Baba sat near the post close to the Dhuni, Bhagoji was present and started

his service. Bhagoji was a sinner in his past birth. He was suffering from

leprosy, his fingers had shrunk, and his body was full of

pus and smelling badly. Though outwardly he seemed so unfortunate, he was really

very lucky and happy, for he was the premier servant of Baba, and got the

benefit of His company. Master Khaparde’s Plague-Case I shall now relate

another instance of Baba’s wonderful Leela. Mrs. Khaparde, the wife of Mr.

Dadasaheb Khaparde of Amraoti, was staying at Shirdi with her young son for

some days. One day the son got high fever, which further developed into Bubonic

plague. The mother was frightened and felt most uneasy. She thought of leaving

the place for Amraoti, and went near Baba in the evening, when He was coming

near the Wada

(now Samadhi Mandir) in His evening rounds, for asking His permission. She

informed Him in a trembling tone, that her dear young son was down with plague.

Baba spoke kindly and softly to her, saying that the sky is beset with clouds;

but they will melt and pass off and everything will be smooth and clear. So

saying, He lifted up His Kafni up to the waist and showed to all present, four

fully developed bubos, as big as eggs, and added, "See, how I have to suffer

for My devotees; their difficulties are Mine." Seeing this unique and

extraordinary deed (Leela), the people were convinced as to how the Saints

suffer pains for their devotees. The mind of the saints is softer than wax, it

is soft, in and out, as butter. They love their devotees without any idea of

gain, and regard them as their true relatives. Going to Pandharapur and

staying there I shall now close this Chapter after relating a story

illustrating how Sai Baba loved His devotees and anticipated their wishes and

movements. Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who was a great devotee of Baba, was

Mamlatdar at Nandurbar in Khandesh. He got an order of transfer to Pandharpur.

His devotion to Sai Baba bore fruit, as he got an order to go and stay at

Pandharpur, which is regarded as the ‘BHUVAIKUNTHA’ - Heaven on earth.

Nanasaheb had to take immediate charge, so he left, immediately, for the place,

without even writing or informing anybody at Shirdi. He wanted to give a

surprise visit to Shirdi - his Pandharpur, see and salute his Vithoba (Baba),

and then proceed. Nobody dreamt of Nanasaheb’s departure for Shirdi, but Sai

Baba knew all about

this, as His eyes were everywhere (omniscient). As soon as Nanasaheb approached

Neemgaon, a few miles from Shirdi, there was stir in the Masjid at Shirdi. Baba

was sitting and talking with Mhalasapati, Appa Shinde and Kashiram, when He at

once said, "Let us all four do some Bhajan, the doors of Pandhari are open, let

us merrily sing." Then they began to sing in chorus, the burden of the song

being "I have to go to Pandharpur and I have to stay on there, for it is the

house of my Lord." Baba sang and the devotees followed Him. In a short time

Nanasaheb came there with his family, prostrated before Baba and requested Him

to accompany them to Pandharpur and stay with them there. This solicitation was

not necessary, as the devotees told Nanasaheb that Baba was already in the mood

of going to Pandharpur

and staying there. Hearing this Nanasaheb was moved and fell at Baba’s Feet.

Then getting Baba’s permission, Udi (sacred ashes) and Blessings, Nanasaheb

left for Pandharpur. There is no end to Baba’s stories, but let me now make a

halt here, reserving for the next Chapter other topics, such as importance of

human life, Baba’s living on alms, Bayajabai’s service and other stories. Bow

to Shri Sai -- Peace be to all Chapter

VIII Importance of Human Birth-Sai Baba Begging Food - Bayajabai's Service - Sai

Baba's Dormitory – His Affection for Khushalchand As hinted in the last Chapter,

Hemandpant now explains at length, in his preliminary remarks, on the importance

of human birth; and then proceeds to relate how Sai Baba begged His food, how

Bayajabai served Him, how He slept in the Masjid with Tatya Kote Patil and

Mahalsapathi and how He loved Khushalchand of Rahata. Importance of Human

Birth In this wonderful universe, God has created billions (84 Lakh according

to Hindu Sastra calculation) of creatures or beings (including Gods, demigods,

insects, beasts and men) inhabiting heaven, hell, earth, ocean, sky and other

intermediate regions. Of these, those creatures or souls, whose merits

preponderate, go to heaven and live there till they enjoy the fruits of their

actions, and when this is done, they are cast down while those souls, whose

sins or demerits preponderate, go down to hell, and suffer the consequences of

their misdeeds for so long a time as they deserve. When their merits and

demerits balance each other, they are born on earth as human beings, and are

given a chance to work

out their salvation. Ultimately when their merits and demerits both drop down

(are got rid of) completely, they get their deliverance and become free. To put

the matter in a nutshell, souls get their births or transmigration according to

their deeds and intelligence (development of their minds). Special Value of

the Human Body As we all know, four things are common to all the creatures,

viz. food, sleep, fear and sexual union. In the case of man, he is endowed with

a special faculty, viz. knowledge, with the help of which he can attain

God-vision, which is impossible in any other birth. It is for these reasons

that Gods envy

man's fortune and aspire to be born as men on earth, so as to get their final

deliverance. Some say, that there is nothing worse than the human body, which

is full of filth, mucus, phlegm and dirt, and which is subject to decay,

disease and death. This is no doubt true to a certain extent; but inspite of

these drawbacks and defects, the special value of the human body is - that man

has got the capacity to acquire knowledge: it is only due to the human

knowledge that one can think of the perishable and transitory nature of the

body itself, and of the world and get a disgust for the sense-enjoyments and

can discriminate between the unreal and the real, and thus attain God-vision.

So, if we reject or neglect the body because it is filthy, we lose the chance

of God-vision, and if we fondle it, and run after sense - enjoyments, because

it is precious, we go to hell. The proper course, therefore, for us to pursue

is the following; that the body should neither be neglected nor

fondled, but should be properly cared for, just as a traveler on horse-back

takes care of his pony on the way till he reaches his destination and returns

home. Thus the body should ever be used or engaged to attain God-vision or

self-realization, which is the supreme end of life. It is said that though God

created various sorts of creatures he was not satisfied, for none of them was

able to know and appreciate His work. So he had to create a special being -

Man, and endow him with a special faculty, viz. Knowledge and when He saw that

man was able to appreciate His Leela - marvelous work and intelligence. He was

highly pleased and satisfied. (Vide Bhagavat 11-9-28). So really it is good

luck to get a human body, better luck to get birth in a Brahmin family, and

best one, to get an opportunity of

having recourse to Sai Baba's Feet and surrendering to Him. Man's Endeavor

Realizing how precious the human life is, and knowing that Death is certain and

may snatch us at any time, we should be ever alert to achieve the object of our

life, we should not make the least delay but make every possible haste to gain

our object, just as a widower is most anxious to get himself married to a new

bride, or just as a king leaves no stone unturned to seek his lost son. So with

all earnestness and speed, we should strive to attain our end, i.e.,

self-realization. Casting aside sloth and laziness, warding off drowsiness, we

should day

and night meditate on the Self. If we fail to do this, we reduce ourselves to

the level of beasts. How to Proceed? The most effective and speedy way to

gain our object is to approach a worthy Saint or Sage - Sadguru, who has

Himself, attained God-vision. What cannot be achieved by hearing religious

lectures and study of religious works is easily obtained in the company of such

worthy souls. Just as the sun alone gives light, which all the stars put

together cannot do, so the Sad-Guru alone imparts spiritual wisdom which all

the sacred books and sermons cannot infuse. His movements and simple talks give

us 'silent' advice.

The virtues of forgiveness, calmness, disinterestedness, charity, benevolence,

control of mind and body, egolessness etc. are observed by the disciples as

they are being practiced in such pure and holy company. This enlightens their

minds and lifts them up spiritually. Sai Baba was such a Sage or Sad-Guru.

Though He acted as a Fakir (mendicant), He was always engrossed in the Self. He

always loved all beings in whom He saw God or Divinity. By pleasures He was not

elated. He was not depressed by misfortunes. A king and a pauper were the same

to Him. He, whose glance would turn a beggar into a king, used to beg His food

from door to door in Shirdi, and let us now see how He did it. Baba Begging

Food Blessed are the people of Shirdi, in front of whose houses, Baba stood as

a beggar and called out, "Oh Lassie, give Me a piece of bread" and spread out

His hand to receive the same. In one hand He carried a Tumrel (tinpot) and in

the other a zoli or choupadari, i.e., a rectangular piece of cloth. He daily

visited certain houses and went from door to door. Liquid or semi-liquid things

such as soup, vegetables, milk or buttermilk were received in the tinpot, while

cooked rice, bread, and such solid things were taken in the zoli. Baba's tongue

knew no taste, as He had acquired control over it. So how could He care for the

taste of the different things collected together? Whatever things He got in His

zole and in the tinpot were mixed together and partaken by Baba to His heart's

content. Whether particular things were tasty or otherwise was never noticed by

Baba as if His tongue was devoid of the

sense of taste altogether. Baba begged till noon, but His begging was very

irregular. Some days He went a few rounds, on other days up to twelve noon. The

food thus collected was thrown in a kundi, i.e. earthen pot. Dog, cats and crows

freely ate from it and Baba never drove them away. The woman who swept the floor

of the Masjid took some 10 or 12 pieces of bread to her house, and nobody

prevented her from doing so. How could, He, who even in dreams never warded off

cats and dogs by harsh words and signs, refuse food to poor helpless people?

Blessed indeed is the life of such a noble person! People in Shirdi took Him in

the beginning for a mad Fakir. He was known in the village by this name. How

could one, who lived on alms by begging a few crumbs of bread, be revered and

respected? But this Fakir was very liberal of heart and hand, disinterested and

charitable. Tough He looked fickle and restless from outside. He was firm and

steady inside. His way was inscrutable. Still

even in that small village, there were a few kind and blessed people who

recognized and regarded Him as a Great Soul. One such instance is given below.

Bayajabai's Brilliant Service Tatya Kote's mother, Bayajabai, used to go to the

woods every noon with a basket on her head containing bread and vegetables. She

roamed in the jungles koos (about 3 miles) after koss, trampling over bushes

and shrubs in search of the mad Fakir, and after hunting Him out, fell at His

feet. The Fakir sat calm and motionless in meditation, while she placed a leaf

before Him, spread the eatables, bread, vegetables etc., thereon and fed Him

forcibly.

Wonderful was her faith and service. Every day she roamed at noon in the jungles

and forced Baba to the partake of lunch. Her service, Upasana or Penance, by

whatever name we call it, was never forgotten by Baba till his Maha Samadhi.

Remembering fully what service she rendered, Baba benefited her son

magnificently. Both the son and the mother had great faith in the Fakir, Who

was their God. Baba often said to them that "Fakir (Mendicancy) was the real

Lordship as it was everlasting, and the so-called Lordship (riches) was

transient". After some years, Baba left off going into the woods, began to live

in the village and take His food in the Masjid. From that time Bayajabai's

troubles of roaming in the jungles ended. Dormitory of Trio

6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Even blessed are the Saints in whose heart Lord

Vasudeo dwells, and fortunate, indeed, are the devotees who get the benefit of

the company of such Saints. Two such fortunate fellows, Tatya Kote Patil and

Bhagat Mahalsapathi, equally shared the company of Sai Baba. Baba also loved

them both equally. These three persons slept in the Masjid with their heads

towards the east, west and north and with their feet touching one another at

the Centre. Stretching their beds, they lay on them, chitchatting and gossiping

about many things, till late at midnight. If any one of them showed any signs of

sleep, others would wake him up. For instance, if Tatya began to snore, Baba at

once got up and shook him from side to side and pressed his head. If it was

Mahalsapathi, He hugged him close, stroked his legs and kneaded his back. In

this way for full 14 years, Tatya, leaving his

parents at home, slept in the Masjid on account of his love for Baba. How happy

and never to be forgotten were those days! How to measure that love and how to

value the grace of Baba? After the passing away of his father, Tatya took

charge of the household affairs and began to sleep at home. Khushalehand of

Rahata Baba loved Ganpat Kote Patil of Shirdi. He equally loved

Chandrabhanshet Marwadi of Rahata. After the demise of the Shet, Baba loved his

nephew Khushalchand equally or even perhaps more, and watched his welfare, day

and night. Sometimes in a bullock cart, at other times in a tanga with intimate

friends, Baba went

to Rahata. People of that village came out, with band and music, and received

Baba at the Ves or gate of the village and prostrated before Him. Then He was

taken into the village with great pomp and ceremony. Khushalchand took Baba to

his house, seated Him on a comfortable seat and gave Him a good lunch. Then

they talked freely and merrily for some time, after which Baba returned to

Shirdi, giving delight and blessing to all. Shirdi is midway between and

equidistant from Rahata on one side (south) and Nimgaon on the other (north).

Baba never went beyond these places during His lifetime. He never saw any

railway train nor traveled by it. Still, He knew exactly the timing of arrival

and departure of all trains. Devotees who acted according to Baba's

instructions (re: their departure) which were given

by him at the time of taking His leave fared well, while those who disregarded

them suffered many a mishap and accident. More about this and other matters

will be told in the next Chapter. Bow to Shri Sai-- Peace to be all NOTE: An

incident, given in the footnote at the end of this Chapter, showing Baba's love

for Khusalchand how He asked one afternoon Kakasaheb Dixit to go to Rahata and

fetch Khushalchand to Him, and at the same time appeared before Khushalchand in

his noon-nap dream asking him to come to Shirdi, is not given here as it is

described in the

body of the book (Sai-Charita) later on (Chapter 30). TO BE CONTINUED… With Sai

love from Sai brothers – ‘’

Love cheap thrills? Enjoy PC-to-Phone calls to 30+ countries for just 2¢/min

with Messenger with Voice.