SHRI SAI SATCHARITA - Ch XIII and XIV

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COLOR: #333333; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> In such terms Baba spoke about the power

of Maya. Lord Shri Krishna has said to Uddhava in the Bhagwat that the Saints

are His living forms; and see what Baba had said for the welfare of His

devotees: "Those who are fortunate and whose demerits have vanished; take to My

worship. If you always say 'Sai, Sai' I shall take you over the seven seas;

believe in these words, and you will be certainly benefited. I do not need any

paraphernalia of worship - either eight-fold or sixteen-fold. I rest there

where there is

full devotion". Now read what Sai, the friends of those, who surrendered

themselves to Him, did for their welfare. Bhimaji Patil

blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">One Bhimaji Patil of Narayanagaon, Taluk Junnar, Dist.

Poona, suffered in the year 1909 AD from a severe and chronic chest-disease,

which ultimately developed into Tuberculosis. He tried all sorts of pathos

(remedies), but to no effect. Losing all hopes, he ultimately prayed to God -

"Oh Lord Narayana, help me now". It is a well-known fact that, when our

circumstances are well off, we do not remember God, but when calamities and

adversities overtake us; we are reminded of Him, So Bhimaji now turned to God.

It occurred to him that he should consult Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, a great

devotee of Baba, in this respect. So he wrote to him a letter, giving all

details of his malady, and asking for his opinion. In reply, Mr. Nanasaheb

wrote to him that there was only one remedy left, and that was to have recourse

to Baba's Feet. Relying on Mr. Nanasaheb's advice, he

made preparations for going to Shirdi. He was brought to Shirdi and taken to the

Masjid, and placed before Baba. Mr. Nanasaheb and Shama (Madhavarao Deshpande)

were then present. Baba pointed out that the disease was due to the previous

evil karma, and was not at first disposed to interfere. But the patient cried

out in despair that he was helpless, and sought refuge in Him, as He was his

last hope, and prayed for mercy. Then Baba's heart melted an He said, "Stay,

cast off your anxiety, your sufferings have come to an end. However, oppressed

and troubled one may be as soon as he steps into the Masjid, he is on the

pathway to happiness. The Fakir here is very kind and He will cure the disease,

and protect all with love and kindness." The patient vomited blood every five

minutes, but there was no vomiting in the presence of Baba. From the time, Baba

uttered the words of hope and mercy; the malady took a

favorable turn. Baba asked him to stay in Bhimabai's house, which was not a

convenient and healthy place, but Baba's order had to be obeyed. While he was

staying there, Baba cured him by two dreams. In the first dream, he saw himself

as a boy suffering the severe pain of a flogging, which he received for not

reciting his 'Swami-poetry' lesson before his class-master. In the second

dream, some one caused him intense pain, and torture, by rolling a stone up and

down over his chest. With the pain thus suffered in dream, his cure was

complete, and he went home. He then often came to Shirdi, gratefully

remembering what Baba did for him, and prostrated before Him. Baba also did not

expect anything from devotees, but grateful remembrance, unchanging faith and

devotion. People in the Maharashtra, always celebrate Sathya Narayana Pooja in

their homes every fortnight or month. But it was this Bhimaji Patil, who

started a new Sai Sathya-vrata Pooja, instead of Satyanarayana vrata Pooja, in

his house, when he returned to his village. Bala Ganapat Shimpi Another

devotee of Baba by name Bala Ganapat Shimpi suffered much from a malignant type

of Malaria. He tried all sorts of medicines and decoctions, but in vain. The

fever did not abate a jot and so he ran to Shirdi and fell on Baba's Feet. Baba

gave him a strange recipe, in this case as follows: - "Give a black dog some

morsels of rice mixed with curds in front of the Laxmi temple". Bala Shimpi did

not know, how to execute this recipe; but no sooner he went home, then he found

rice and curds. After mixing them together, he brought the mixture near the

Laxmi temple, when he found a black dog waving its tail. He placed the curds

and rice before the dog. The dog ate it and, strange to say, Bala got rid of

his Malaria.

0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> Bapusaheb Booty Shriman Bapusaheb Booty

suffered, once from dysentery and vomiting. His cupboard was full of patent

drugs and medicines, but none of them had any effect. Bapusaheb got very weak,

on account of purging and vomiting and,

therefore, was not able to go to the Masjid for Baba's Darshan. Baba then sent

for him and made him sit before Him and said "Now take care, you should not

purge any more" and waving His index finger "The vomiting must also stop". Now

look at the force of Baba's words. Both the maladies took to their heels

(disappeared) and Booty felt well. On another occasion he had an attack of

Cholera, and suffered from severe thirst. Dr. Pillai tried all sorts of

remedies but could give him no relief. Then he went to Baba and consulted Him

as what to drink that would allay his thirst and cure the disease. Baba

prescribed an infusion of almonds, walnuts, pistachio (a kind of dry fruit),

and boiled in sugared milk. Any other doctor or physician would consider this,

as a fatal aggravation of the disease, but in implicit obedience to Baba's

order, the infusion was administered and strange to say, the disease was cured.

 

Alandi Swami A Swami from Alandi, wishing to take Baba's Darshan, came to

Shirdi. He

suffered form a severe pain in his ear, which prevented him from getting the

sleep. He was operated for this, but it served no purpose. The pain was severe

and he did not know what to do. While he was returning, he came to take Baba's

leave, when Shama (Madhavarao Deshpande) requested Baba to do something for the

pain in the Swami's ear. Baba comforted him saying, "Allah Acha Karega (God will

do good)." The Swami then returned to Poona, and after a week sent a letter to

Shirdi, stating that the pain in his ear had subsided though the swelling was

there, and in order to get the swelling removed, he went to Bombay for

operation, but the surgeon on examining the ear said that no operation was then

necessary. Such was the wonderful effect of Baba's words.

TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> Kaka Mahajani Another devotee named Kaka Mahajani

suffered once from diarrhea. In order that there should be no break in his

services to Baba, Kaka kept a tambya (pot) with water in some corner of the

Masjid and whenever there was a call, he

would go out. As Sai Baba knew everything, Kaka did not inform Him of his

disease, thinking that Baba would of His own cure it soon. The work of

constructing the pavement in front of the Masjid was permitted by Baba, but

when the actual work was begun, Baba got wild and shouted out loudly. Everybody

ran away, and as Kaka was also doing the same, Baba caught hold of him and made

him sit there. In the confusion that followed, somebody left a small bag of

groundnuts. Baba took a handful of groundnuts, rubbed them in His hands, blew

away the skins, and gave the clean nuts to Kaka and made him eat them. Scolding

and cleaning the nuts, and making Kaka eat them, went on simultaneously. Baba

Himself ate some of them. Then, when the bag was finished, Baba asked him to

fetch water, as He felt thirsty. Kaka brought a pitcher full of water. Then

Baba drank some water and made Kaka also drink it. Baba then said, "Now

your diarrhea has stopped, and you may attend to the work of the pavement." In

the meanwhile other persons, who had run away, returned and started the work;

and Kaka, whose motions had stopped, also joined them. Are groundnut medicines

for diarrhea? According to current medical opinion, groundnuts would aggravate

the disease, and not cure it. The true medicine, in this as in other cases, was

Baba's word. Dattopant of Harda

Arial"> A gentleman from Harda by name Dattopant suffered form stomachache for

fourteen yeas. None of the remedies gave him any relief. Then hearing of Baba's

fame that He cures diseases by sight he ran to Shirdi, and fell at Baba's Feet.

Baba looked at him kindly and gave him blessings. When Baba placed His hand on

his head, and when he got Baba's Udi with blessing, he felt relieved and there

was no further trouble about the malady.

TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> Towards the end of his Chapter three cases are cited in

footnotes: 1. Madhavarao Deshpande suffered from Piles. Baba gave him

decoction of Sonamukhi (senna pods). This relieved him. Then after two

years the trouble again recurred and Madhavarao took the same decoction without

consulting Baba. The result was that the disease aggravated but later on it was

cured by Baba's grace. 2. Kaka Mahajani's elder brother, Gangadhar Pant,

suffered for many years from stomach-pain. Hearing Baba's fame he came to

Shirdi and requested Baba to cure him. Baba touched his belly and said, "God

will cure". From that time there was no stomach-pain and he was completely

cured.

3. Nanasaheb Chandorkar also once suffered from intense stomach-pain; he was

restless the whole day and night. Doctors administered syringes, which produced

no effect. Then he approached Baba, who told him to eat Burfi (a kind of

sweetmeat) mixed with ghee. This recipe gave him complete relief. All these

stories go to show, that the real medicine that cured the various diseases

permanently was Baba's word, and grace, and not any medicines or drugs. Bow

to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

center" align="center"> Chapter XIV Ruttonji Wadia of Nanded - Saint

Moulisaheb - Dakshina Mimansa

Arial"> In the last Chapter, we described how Baba's word and grace cured many

incurable diseases. Now, we shall describe, how Baba blessed Mr. Ruttonji Wadia

with an issue.

COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The life of this Saint is naturally sweet in

and out. His various doings, eating, walking and His natural sayings are also

sweet. His life is Bliss incarnate. Sai gave it out as a means of His devotee's

remembrance to Him. He gave them various stories of duty and action, which

ultimately led them to true religion. His object may be that people should live

happily in this world, but they should be ever cautious and gain the object of

their life, viz. self-realization. We get human body as a result of merits in

past births and it is worthwhile that with its aid, we should attain devotion

and liberation in this life. So we should never be lazy, but always be on the

alert to gain our end and aim of life. If you daily hear the Leelas

(stories) of Sai, you will always see Him. Day and night you will remember Him

in your mind, when you assimilate Sai in this way, your mind will lose its

fickleness and if you go on in this manner, it will finally be merged in pure

Consciousness.

FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ruttonji of Nanded: Now let us come to the main story of

this Chapter. In Nanded, in the Nizam State, there lived a Parsi

mill-contractor and trader, by name Ruttonji Shapurji Wadia. He had amassed a

large amount of money and had acquired fields and lands. He had got cattle,

horses and conveyances and was very prosperous. To all outward appearances he

looked very happy and contented, but inwardly, and really he was not so.

Providential dispensation is such, that no one

in this world is completely happy and rich; Ruttonji was no exception to this.

He was liberal and charitable, gave food and clothing to the poor and helped

all in various ways. The people took him to be a good and happy man, but

Ruttonji thought himself miserable, as he had no issue, male or female, for a

long time. As Kirtan (singing glories of the Lord) without love or devotion,

music of singing without rhythmical accompaniments, Brahmin without the sacred

thread, proficiency in all arts without commonsense, pilgrimage without

repentance and ornamentation without a necklace, are ugly and useless, so is

the house of a man or householder without a male issue. Ruttonji always brooded

on this matter and said in his mind, "Would God be ever pleased to grant me a

son?" He thus looked morose, had no relish for his food. Day and night, he was

enveloped with anxiety whether he would ever be blessed with a son.

He had a great regard for Dasganu Maharaj. He saw him and opened his heart

before him. Dasganu advised him to go to Shirdi, take Baba's Darshan, fall at

His Feet and seek His blessing and pray for issue. Ruttonji liked the idea, and

decided to go to Shirdi. After some days he went to Shirdi, took Baba's Darshan

and fell at His Feet. Then opening a basket, he took out a beautiful garland of

flowers and placed it around Baba's neck and offered Him a basket of fruits.

With great respect he then sat near Baba, and prayed to Him saying- "Many

persons who find themselves in difficult situations come to You, and You

relieve them immediately. Hearing this, I have sought anxiously Your Feet;

please, therefore, do not disappoint me." Sai Baba then asked him for Dakshina

of Rs. five, which Ruttonji intended to give, but added, that He has already

received Rs. 3-14-0 from him, and that he should pay the

balance only. Hearing this, Ruttonji was rather puzzled. he could not make out

what Baba meant. That was the first time, he thought, that he went to Shirdi

and how was it that Baba said that He had formerly got Rs. 3-14-0 from him? He

cold not solve the riddle. But he sat at Baba's Feet and gave the balance of

the Dakshina asked for, explained to Baba fully, as to why he came and sought

His help, and prayed that Baba should bless him with a son. Baba was moved and

told him not to be worried, and that that time his bad days had ended. He then

gave him Udi, placed His hand on his head and blessed him saying that Allah

(God) would satisfy his heart's desire. Then after taking Baba's leave,

Ruttonji returned to Nanded and told Dasganu everything that took place at

Shirdi, He said that everything went on well there, that he got Baba's Darshan

and blessing with Prasad, but there was one thing which he could not

understand. Baba said to him that he had got Rs.3-14-0 before. Please explain

as to what Baba meant by this remark. He said to Dasganu, "I never went to

Shirdi before, and how cold I give Him the sum to which Baba referred?" To

Dasganu also, it was a puzzle, and he pondered much over it for a long time.

Some time afterwards it struck him that Ruttonji had received some days ago a

Mohammedan Saint, by name Moulisaheb, in his house and had spent some money for

his reception. This Moulisaheb was coolie-saint well known to the people of

Nanded. When Ruttonji decided to go the Shirdi, this Molisaheb accidentally

came to Ruttonji's house. Ruttonji knew him and loved him. So he gave a small

party in his honour. Dasganu got from Ruttonji the yadi or memo of expenses of

this reception, and everybody was wonderstruck to see, that the expenses

amounted to exactly Rs.3-14-0, nothing more, nothing less. They all came to

know that Baba was omniscient that thought He lived in Shirdi; He knew what

happened outside far away from Shirdi. In fact He knew the past, present and

future, and could identify Himself heart and soul with anybody. In this

particular instance how could He know the reception given to Moulisaheb, and

the amount spent therefore, unless He could identify Himself with him, and be

One with him?

FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> Ruttonji was satisfied with this explanation and his

faith in Baba was confirmed and increased. In due time afterwards, he was

blessed with a son and his joy knew no bounds. It is said that he had in all a

dozen (12) issues out of which only four survived. In a footnote towards the

end of this Chapter, it is stated that Baba told Rao Bahadur Hari Vinayak Sathe,

after the death of his first wife, to remarry and that he would get a son. R.B.

Sathe married second time. The first two issues by this wife were daughters and

he, therefore, felt very despondent. But the third issue was a son. Baba's word

did turn out true and he was satisfied.

justify">Dakshina - Mimansa Now we shall close this Chapter with a few

remarks about Dakshina. It is a well-known fact that Baba always asked for

Dakshina from people who went to see Him. Somebody may ask a question, "If Baba

was a Fakir and perfectly non-attached, why should he ask for Dakshina and care

for money?" We shall consider this question broadly now.

FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> First for a long time, Baba did not accept anything. He

stored burnt matches and filled His pocket with them. He never asked anything

from anybody--whether he be a devotee or otherwise. If anybody placed before

Him a pice or two, He purchased oil or tobacco. He was fond of tobacco, for He

always smoked a bidi or Chilim (an earthen pipe). Then some persons thought

that they could not see the Saints empty-handed, and they, therefore, placed

some copper coins before Baba. If a pice was placed before Him. He used to

pocket it; if it was

a two pice coin, it was returned immediately. Then after Baba's fame had spread

far and wide, people began to flock in numbers; and Baba began to ask Dakshina

from them. It is said in the Shruti (Veda) that Pooja of the Gods is not

complete, unless a golden coin was offered. If a coin was necessary in the

Pooja of the Gods, why should it be not so in the Pooja of the Saints also?

Ultimately, the Shastras laid it down that, when one goes to see God, King,

Saint or Guru, he should not go empty-handed. He should offer something,

preferably coin or money. In this connection we may notice the precepts

recommended by the Upanishads. The Brihadaranyak Upanishad says that the Lord

Prajapati advised the Gods, men and demons by one letter "Da". The Gods

understood by this letter that they should practice (1) "Dama" i.e.

self-control; the men thought or understood that they should practice (2)

"Dana" i.e. charity;

the demons understood that they should practice (3) "Daya" i.e. compassion. To

men Charity or giving was recommended. The teacher in the Taittiriya Upanishad

exhorts his pupils to practice charity and other virtues. Regarding charity he

says, "Give with faith, give with magnanimity, i.e. liberally, give with

modesty, with awe and with sympathy. In order to teach the devotees the lesson

of charity and to remove their attachment to money and thus to purify their

minds, Baba extracted Dakshina from them; but there was this peculiarity, as

Baba said, that He had to give back hundred times more of what He received.

There are many instances, in which this has happened. To quote an instance, Mr.

Ganpatrao Bodas, the famous actor, says in his Marathi autobiography, that on

Baba's pressing him often and often for Dakshina, he emptied his moneybag

before Him. The result of this was, as Mr. Bodas says, that in

later life he never lacked money, as it came to him abundantly. There were

also secondary meanings of Dakshina, in many cases, in which Baba did not want

any pecuniary amount. To quote two instances - (1) Baba asked Rs.15/- as

Dakshina from Pro. G.G.Narke, who replied that he did not have even a pie. Then

Baba said, "I know you have no money; but you are reading Yoga-Vashista. Give Me

Dakshina from that." Giving Dakshina in this case meant - `Deriving lessons from

the book and

lodging them in the heart where Baba resides'. (2) In the second case Baba asked

a certain lady (Mrs. R. A. Tarkhad) to give Rs.6/- as Dakshina. The lady felt

pained, as she had nothing to give. Then her husband explained to her that Baba

wanted six inner enemies (lust, anger, avarice etc.) to be surrendered to Him.

Baba agreed with this explanation. It is to be noted that though Baba

collected a lot of money by Dakshina, He would distribute the whole amount the

same day,

and the next morning He would become a poor Fakir as usual. When Baba took His

Maha-Samadhi, after receiving thousands and thousands of Rupees as Dakshina for

about ten years, He had only a few Rupees in His possession. In short, Baba's

main object in taking Dakshina, from His devotees was to teach them the lessons

of Renunciation and Purification. Post-script Mr. B. V. Deo of Thana,

retired Mamlatdar, and a great devotee of Baba, has written an article on this

subject (Dakshina) in "Shri Sai Leela" magazine, Vol. VII, P.6-26, in which he

says amongst other things, as follows: -

FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> "Baba did not ask Dakshina from all. If some gave

Dakshina without being asked, He sometimes accepted it; and at other times He

refused it. He asked it from certain devotees only. He never demanded it, from

those devotees, who thought in their minds that Baba should ask them for it,

and then they should pay it. If anybody offered it against His wish, He never

touched it, and if he kept it there, He asked him to take it away. He asked for

small or big amounts from devotees, according to their wish, devotion and

convenience. He asked it,

even from women and children. He never asked all the rich for it, nor from all

the poor." "Baba never got angry with those from whom He asked Dakshina, and

who did not give it. If any Dakshina was sent, through some friend, who forgot

to hand over the same to Baba, He reminded him somehow of it and made him pay

it. On some occasions, Baba used to return some sum from the amount tendered as

Dakshina, and ask the donor to guard it or keep it in his shrine for worship.

This

procedure benefited the donor or devotee immensely. If anybody offered more than

he originally intended to give, He returned the extra amount. Sometimes, He

asked more Dakshina from some, than what they originally intended to give and,

if they had no money, asked them to get or borrow from others. From some, He

demanded Dakshina three or four times a day." "Out of the amount collected

as Dakshina, Baba spent very little for His own sake, viz., for buying Chilim

(clay pipe) and

fuel for His Dhuni (sacred fire), and all the rest, He distributed as charity in

varying proportions to various persons. Various rich devotees at the instance

and suggestion of Radha-Krishna-Mai brought all the paraphernalia of the Shirdi

Sansthan. Baba always used to get wild and scolded those, who brought costly and

rich articles. He said to Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, that all His property

consisted of one koupin (codpiece), one stray piece of cloth, one Kafni and a

tumrel (tinpot), and that all the people troubled Him by bringing all these

unnecessary, useless and costly articles."

0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Woman and wealth are the two main obstacles in the way

of our Pramartha (spiritual life); and Baba and provided in Shirdi two

institutions, viz., Dakshina and Radha-Krishna-Mai. Whenever they came to Him,

He demanded Dakshina from them, and asked them to go to the 'SCHOOL'

(Radha-Krishna-Mai's house). If they stood these two tests well, i.e. if they

showed that they were free from attachment for woman and wealth, their progress

in spirituality was rapid and assured by Baba's grace and blessings. Mr. Deo has

also quoted passages from the Gita and Upanishads; and shown that charity given

in a holy place and to a holy personage conduces to the donors' welfare to a

great degree. What is more holy than Shirdi and its Presiding Deity -- Sai

Baba?

FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all TO BE CONTINUED… With

Sai love from Sai brothers – ‘’

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