SHRI SAI SATCHARITA - Ch. XV, XVI & XVII

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mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> Naradiya Kirtan - Paddhati - Mr. Cholkar's

Sugarless Tea - Two Lizards

mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">The readers may remember that mention was made in

the 6th Chapter regarding the Rama-Navami Festival in Shirdi; how the festival

originated and how in the early years there was a great difficulty in getting a

good Hardidas for performing Kirtan on that occasion, and how Baba permanently

entrusted this function (Kirtan) to Dasganu permanently. Now in this Chapter we

shall describe the manner in which Dasganu was performing the Kirtan.

FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Naradiya Kirtan-Paddhati

Generally our Haridasas, while performing the Kirtan, wear a gala and full

dress. They put on a headdress, either a pheta or a turban, a long flowing coat

with a shirt inside, an uparane (short dhotar) on the shoulders and the usual

long dhotar from the waist below. Dressed in this fashion for some Kirtan in

the Shirdi village, Dasganu once went to bow to Baba. Baba asked him - "Well,

bridegroom! where are you going dressed so beautifully like this?" 'For

performing a

Kirtan' was the reply. Then Baba said - "Why do you want all this paraphernalia

-coat, uparani and pheta etc, doff all that before Me, why wear them on the

body?" Dasganu immediately took them off and placed them at the Baba's Feet.

>From that time Dasganu never wore these things while performing the Kirtan. He

was always bare from waist upwards, a pair of `chiplis' was in his hand and a

garland round his neck. This is not in consonance with the practice generally

followed by all the Hardidasas, but this is the best and the purest method. The

sage Narada, from whom the Kirtan-Paddhati originated, wore nothing on his trunk

and head. He carried a 'veena' in his hand, and wandered from place to place

everywhere singing the glory of the Lord. Mr. Cholkar's Sugarless Tea

Initially, Baba was known in Poona and Ahmednagar Districts, but Nanasaheb

Chandorkar, by his personal talks and by Dasganu, by his splendid Kirtans,

spread the fame of Baba in the Konkan (Bombay Presidency). In fact, it was

Dasganu - May God bless him-who, by his beautiful and inimitable Kirtans, made

Baba available to so many people there. The audience, who come to

hear the Kirtans have different tastes. Some like the erudition of the Haridas;

some his gestures, some his singing, some his wit and humour, some his

preliminary dissertation on Vedanta, and some others, his main stories and so

on; but among them, there are very few, who by hearing the Kirtan get faith and

devotion or love for God or saints. The effect of hearing Dasganu's kirtan on

the minds of audience was however electric, as it was. We give an instance

here: Dasganu was once performing his Kirtan 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

fulfil 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 is well said, one can easily cross over Nahne ghat in Thana District

or even the Sahyadri Range; but it is very difficult for a poor man to cross

Umbareghat, i.e., the threshold of his house. 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, 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 teacups 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." What a beautiful and important lesson was thus imparted by

Baba to Mr. Chokar! Two Lizards Now we close this Chapter, with a story of

two little lizards. Once Baba was sitting in the Masjid. A devotee sat in front

of Him, when a lizard tick-ticked. Out of curiosity, the devotee asked Baba

whether this tick ticking of the lizard signified anything; was it a good sign

or a bad omen? Baba said that the lizard was

overjoyed as her sister from Aurangabad was coming to see her. The devotee sat

silent, not making out the meaning of Baba's words. Immediately, a gentleman

from Aurangabad came on horseback to see Baba. He wanted to proceed further,

but his horse would not go, as it was hungry and wanted grams. He took out a

bag from his shoulders to bring grams and dashed it on the ground to remove

dirt. A lizard came out therefrom and in the presence of all, climbed up the

wall. Baba asked the questioner devotee to mark her well. She at once went

strutting to her sister. Both sisters met each other after a long time, kissed

and embraced each other, whirled round and danced with love! Where is Shirdi

and where is Aurangabad? How should the man on horseback come there from

Aurangabad with the lizard? And how should Baba make the prophecy of the

meeting of the two sisters? All this is really very wonderful and proves the

omniscience -- the all-knowing nature of Baba.

Post Script He who respectfully reads this Chapter or studies it daily,

will get all his miseries removed by the grace of the Sadguru Sai Baba,

Hence: Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center">Chapter XVI & XVII These two Chapters

relate the story of a rich gentleman, who wanted Brahma-Jnana, Quickly from Sai

Baba. Preliminary The last Chapter described how Mr. Cholkar's vow of small

offering was completed and accepted. In that story, Sai Baba showed that He

would accept with appreciation any small thing offered with love and devotion,

but if the same thing were offered with pride and haughtiness, He would reject

it. Being Himself full of Sat-Chit-Anand (Existence, Knowledge and Bliss) He

did not care much for more outward formalities but if an offering was made in

meek and humble spirit, the same was welcome and He accepted it with pleasure

and avidity. In fact there is no person more liberal and benevolent than a

Sadguru, like Sai Baba. He cannot be compared to the Chintamani jewel (the

Philosopher's stone which satisfies desires), the Kalpataru (the Celestial Tree

which fulfills our desires) or the Kamadhenu (the Celestial Cow which yields

what we desire), for they give us only what we desire; but the Sadguru gives us

the most precious thing that is inconceivable and inscrutable (The reality). Now

let us hear how Sai Baba disposed of a rich man, who came to Him and implored

Him to give him Brahma-Jnana. There was a rich gentleman (unfortunately his

name and whereabouts are not mentioned) who was very prosperous in his life. He

had amassed a large quantity of wealth, houses, field and lands, and

had many servants and dependents. When Baba's fame reached his ears, he said to

a friend of his, that he was not in want of anything, and so he would go to

Shirdi and ask Baba to give him Brahma-Jnana, which, if he got, would certainly

make him more happy. His friend dissuaded him, saying, "it is not easy to know

Brahman, and especially so for an avaricious man like you, who is always

engrossed in wealth, wife and children. Who will, in your quest of

Brahma-Jnana, satisfy you that won't give away even a pice in charity?" Not

minding his

friend's advice, the fellow engaged a return-journey Tonga and came to Shirdi.

He went to the Masjid, saw Sai Baba, fell at His Feet and said, "Baba, hearing

that You show the Brahman to all who come over here without any delay, I have

come here all the way from my distant place. I am much fatigued by the journey

and if I get the Brahman from You, my troubles will be well-paid and rewarded."

Baba then replied, "Oh, My dear friend, do not be anxious, I shall immediately

show you the Brahman; all My dealings are in cash and never on credit. So many

people come to Me, and ask for wealth, health, power, honour, position, cure of

diseases and other temporal matters. Rare is the person, who comes here to Me

and asks for Brahma-Jnana. There is no dearth of persons asking for worldly

things, but as persons interested in spiritual matters are very rare, I think

it a lucky and auspicious moment, when persons like you come and press Me for

Brahma-Jnana. So I show to you with

pleasure, the Brahman with all its accompaniments and complications." Saying

this, Baba started to show him the Brahman. He made him sit there and engaged

him in some other talk or affair and thus made him forget his question for the

time being. Then He called a boy and told him to go to one Nandu Marwari, and

get from him a hand-loan of Rs. five. The boy left and returned immediately,

saying that Nandu was absent and his house was locked. Then Baba asked him to

go to Bala grocer and get from him, the said loan. This time also, the boy

was unsuccessful. This experiment was repeated again twice or thrice, with the

same result. Sai Baba was, as we know, the living and moving Brahman

Incarnate. Then, some one may ask - "Why did He want the paltry sum of five

rupees, and why did He try hard to get it on loan? Really He did not want that

sum at all. He must have fully known that Nandu and Bala were absent, and he

seems to have adopted this procedure as a test for the seeker of Brahman. That

gentleman had a roll or bundle of currency notes in his pocket, and if he was

really

earnest, he would not have sat quiet and be a mere onlooker, when Baba was

frantically trying to get a paltry sum of Rs. five. He knew that Baba would

keep His word and repay the debt, and that the sum wanted was insignificant.

Still he could not make up his mind and advance the sum. Such a man wanted from

Baba the greatest thing in the world, viz., the Brahma-Jnana! Any other man, who

really loved Baba, would have at once given Rs. five, instead of being a mere

onlooker. It was otherwise with this man. He advanced no money nor did he sit

silent, but began to be impatient, as he was in a haste to return and implored

Baba saying- "Oh Baba, please show me the Brahman soon." Baba replied - "Oh my

dear friend, did you not understand all the procedure that I went through,

sitting in this place, for enabling you to see the Brahman? It is in short

this. For seeing Brahman one has to give five things, i.e. surrender five

things viz. (1) Five Pranas (vital forces), (2) Five senses

(five of action and five of perception), (3) mind, (4) intellect and (5) ego.

This path of Brahma-Jnana of self-realization is 'as hard as to tread on the

edge of a razor'. Sai Baba then gave rather a long discourse on the subject,

the purport of which is given below Qualifications for Brahma-Jnana or

Self-Realization All persons do not see or realize the Brahman in their

lifetime. Certain qualifications are absolutely necessary. (1) Mumuksha or

intense desire to get free. He, who thinks that he is bound and that he should

get free from

bondage and works earnestly and resolutely to that end; and who does not care

for any other thinks, is qualified for the spiritual life. (2) Virakti or a

feeling of disgust with the things of this world and the next. Unless a man

feels disgusted with the things, emoluments and honors, which his action would

bring in this world and the next, he has no right to enter into the spiritual

realm. (3) Antarmukhata (introversion). God has created our senses with a

tendency to move outward and so, man always looks outside himself and not

inside. He who wants self-realization and immortal life must turn his gaze

inwards, and look to his inner Self. (4) Catharsis from (Purging away of) sins.

Unless a man has turned away from wickedness, and stopped from doing wrong, and

has entirely composed himself and unless his mind is at rest, he cannot gain

self-realization, even by means of knowledge. (5) Right Conduct. Unless, a man

leads a life of truth, penance and insight, a life of

celibacy, he cannot get God-realization. (6) Preferring Shreyas, (the Good) to

Preyas (the Pleasant). There are two sorts of things viz., the Good and the

Pleasant; the former deals with spiritual affairs, and the latter with mundane

matters. Both these approach man for acceptance. He has to think and choose one

of them. The wise man prefers the Good to the Pleasant; but the unwise, through

greed and attachment, chooses the Pleasant. (7) Control of the mind and the

senses. The body is the chariot and the Self is its master; intellect is the

charioteer and the mind is the reins; the senses are the horses and

sense-objects their paths. He who has no understanding and whose mind is

unrestrained, his senses unmanageable like the vicious horses of a charioteer,

does not reach his destination (get realization), but goes through the round of

births and deaths; but he who has understanding and whose mind is restrained,

his senses being under control, like the good horse of a

charioteer, reaches that place, i.e., the state of self-realization, when he is

not born again. The man, who has understanding as his charioteer (guide) and is

able to rein his mind, reaches the end of the journey, which is the supreme

abode of the all-pervading, Vishnu (lord). (8) Purification of the mind. Unless

a man discharges satisfactorily and disinterestedly the duties of his station in

life, his mind will not be purified and, unless his mind is purified, he cannot

get self-realization. It is only in the purified mind that Viveka

(discrimination between the Unreal and the Real), and Vairagya (Non-attachment

to the unreal) crop up and lead on the self-realization. Unless egoism is

dropped, avarice got rid of, and the mind made desireless (pure),

self-realization is not possible. The idea that 'I am the body' is a great

delusion, and attachment to this idea is the cause of bondage. Leave off this

idea and attachment therefore, if you want to get to the

Self-realization. (9) The necessity of a Guru. The knowledge of the self is so

subtle and mystic, that no one could, by his own individual effort ever hope to

attain it. So the help of another person-Teacher, who has himself got

self-realization is absolutely necessary. What others cannot give with great

labour and pains, can be easily gained with the help of such a Teacher; for he

has walked on the path himself and can easily take the disciple, step by step

on the ladder of spiritual progress. (10) And lastly the Lord's Grace is the

most essential thing. When the Lord is pleased with any body, He gives him

Viveka and Vairagya; and takes him safe beyond the ocean of mundane existence;

"The Self cannot be gained by the study of Vedas, nor by intellect, nor by much

learning. He, whom the Self chooses, by him it is gained. To him the Self

reveals its nature", says the Katha Upanishad.

TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> After the dissertation was over, Baba turned to the

gentleman and said - "Well sir, there is in your pocket the Brahma (or Mammon)

in the form of fifty-times five (Rs.250/-) rupees; please take that out." The

gentleman took out from his pocket the bundle of currency notes, and to his

great surprise found, on counting them, that there were 25 notes of 10 rupees

each, seeing this omniscience of Baba, he was moved and fell at Baba's Feet and

craved for His blessings. Then Baba said to him, "Roll up your bundle of Brahma

viz. Currency notes. Unless you get rid completely of your avarice or greed,

your will not get the real

Brahma. How can he, whose mind is engrossed in wealth, progeny and prosperity,

expect to know the Brahma, without removing away his attachment for the same?

The illusion of attachment or the love for money is a deep eddy (whirlpool) of

pain full of crocodiles in the form of conceit and jealousy. He, who is

desireless, can alone cross this whirlpool. Greed and Brahma are as poles

asunder; they are eternally opposed to each other. Where there is greed, there

is no room for thought or meditation of the Brahma. Then how can a greedy man

get dispassion and salvation? For a greedy man there is no peace, neither

contentment, nor certainty (steadiness). If there be even a little trace of

greed in mind, all the Sadhanas (spiritual endeavors) are of no avail. Even the

knowledge of a well-read man, who is not free from the desire of the fruit or

reward of his actions, and who has got no disgust for the same, is useless and

can't help him in getting self-realization. The teachings of

a Guru are of no use to a man; who is full of egoism, and who always thinks

about the sense-objects. Purification of mind is absolutely necessary; without

it, all our spiritual endeavors are nothing, but useless show and pomp. It is,

therefore, better for one to take only what he can digest and assimilate. My

treasury is full, and I can give anyone, what he wants, but I have to see

whether he is qualified to receive what I give. If you listen to Me carefully,

you will be certainly benefited. Sitting in this Masjid, I never speak any

untruth."

justify">When a guest is invited to a house, all the members of the household

and other friends and relations that happen to be present, are entertained,

along with the guest. So all those that were present in the Masjid at this time

could partake of the spiritual feast that was served by Baba for the rich

gentleman. After getting Baba's blessings, one and all, including the gentleman

left the place quite happy and contented. Special Characteristic

of Baba There are many Saints, who leaving their houses, stay in forest, caves

or hermitages and remaining in solitude, try to get liberation or salvation for

themselves. They do not care for other people, and are always self-absorbed.

Sai Baba was not of such a type. He had no home, no wife, no progeny, nor any

relations, near or distant. Still, He lived in the world (society). He begged

His bread from four or five houses, always lived at the foot of the (Neem)

tree, carried on worldly dealings, and taught all the people how to act. And

behave in this world. Rare are the

Sadhus and Saints who, after attaining God-vision, strive for the welfare of the

people. Sai Baba was the foremost of these and, therefore, says Hemandpant.

"Blessed is the country, blessed is the family, and blessed are the chaste

parents where this extraordinary, transcendent, precious and pure jewel (Sai

Baba) was born."

12.0pt"> Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all TO BE CONTINUED… With Sai love from

Sai brothers – ‘’

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