SHRI SAI SATCHARITA - Ch. XXI and XXII

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enables us to seek the company of Saints and profit thereby. In illustration of

this rule, Hemandpant gives his own instance. He was a resident Magistrate of

Bandra, A suburb of Bombay, for many years. A famous Mohammedan Saint named Pir

Moulana was living there and many Hindus, Parsis and many others who followed

different religion used to go to him and take his Darshan. His Mujavar (priest)

by name Inus pressed Hemandpant many a time, night and day, for going to see

him, but for some reason or other he was not able to see him. After many years

his turn came and he was called to Shirdi where he was permanently enlisted in

Sai Baba's Durbar. Unfortunate fellows do not get this contact of the Saints.

It is only the fortunate ones that get it.

yes"> Institution of Saints There have been institutions of Saints in this

world, from time immemorial. Various Saints appear (incarnate) themselves

in various places to carry out the missions allotted to them, but though they

work in different places, they are, as it were, one. They work in unison under

the common authority of the Almighty Lord and know full well what each of them

is doing in his place, and supplement his work where necessary. An instance

illustrating this is given below. Mr. Thakur

justify"> Mr. V.H. Thakur, BA, was a clerk in the Revenue Department and he

once came to a town named Vadgaum near Belgaum (S.M. Country) along with a

Survey party. There he saw a Kanarese Saint (Appa) and bowed before him. The

Saint was explaining a portion from the book "Vichar-Sagar" of Nischaldas (a

standard work on Vedanta) to the audience. When Thakur was taking his leave to

go, he said to him, "you should study this book, and if you do so, your desires

will be fulfilled, and when you go to the North in the discharge of your duties

in future, you will come

across a great Saint by your good luck, and then he will show you the future

path, and give rest to your mind and make you happy". Then, he was

transferred to Junnar, where he had to go by crossing Nhane Ghat. This Ghat was

very steep and impassible, and no other conveyance, than a buffalo was of use in

crossing it. So he had to take a buffalo-ride through the Ghat, which

inconvenienced and pained him much. Thereafter, he was

transferred to Kalyan on higher post, and there he became acquainted with

Nanasaheb Chandorkar. He heard much about Sai Baba from him and wished to see

Him. Next day, Nanasaheb had to go to Shirdi, and he asked Thakur to accompany

him. He could not do so, as he had to attend the Thana Civil Court for a civil

case. So Nanasaheb went alone. Thakur went to Thana, but there the case was

postponed. Then, he repented for not accompanying Nanasaheb. Still he left for

Shirdi and when he went there, he found that Nanasaheb had left the place the

previous day. Some of his other friends, whom he met there, took him to Baba.

He saw Baba, fell at His Feet and was overjoyed. His eyes were full of tears of

joy and his hair stood on end. Then after a while the omniscient Baba said to

him - "The path of this place is not so easy as the teaching of the Kanarese

Saint Appa or even as the buffalo-ride in the Nhane Ghat. In this spiritual

path, you have to put in your best exertion as it is

very difficult". When Thakur heard these significant signs and words, which none

else than he knew, he was overwhelmed with joy. He came to know that the word of

the Kanarese Saint had turned true. Then joining both hands and placing his head

on Baba's Feet, he prayed that he should be an accepted and blessed. Then Baba

said - "What Appa told you was all right, but these things have to be practiced

and lived. Mere reading won't do. You have to think and carry out what you read,

otherwise, it is of no use. Mere book-learning, without the grace of the Guru,

and self-realization is of no avail". Thakur read the theoretical portion from

the work `Vichar Sagar’, but the practical way was shown to him at Shirdi.

Another story given below will bring out this truth more forcibly. Anantrao

Patankar One gentleman from Poona, by name Anantrao Patankar wished to see

Baba. He came to Shirdi, and took

Baba's Darshan. His eyes were appeased, he was much pleased. He fell at Baba's

Feet; and after performing proper worship said to Baba - "I have read a lot,

studied Vedas, Vedanta and Upanishads and heard all the Puranas, but still I

have not got any peace of mind; so I think that all my reading was useless.

Simple ignorant devout persons are better than myself. Unless the mind becomes

calm, all book learning is of no avail. I have heard, from many people, that

you easily give peace of mind to so many people by your mere glance, and

playful word; so I have come here; please take pity on me and bless me". Then

Baba told him a parable, which was as follows: -

mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> Parable of Nine Balls of Stool (Nava-vidha Bhakti)

"Once a Soudagar (merchant) came here. Before him a mare passed her stool (nine

balls of stool). The merchant, intent on his quest, spread the end of his dhotar

and gathered all the nine

balls in it, and thus he got concentration (peace) of mind". Mr. Patankar could

not make out the meaning of this story; so he asked Ganesh Damodar, alias Dada

Kelkar, "What does Baba mean by this?" He replied - "I too do not know all that

Baba says and means, but at His inspiration I say, what I come to know. The mare

is God’s grace and the nine balls excreted are the nine forms or types of

Bhakti, viz., (1) Shravana (Hearing); (2) Kirtana (Praying); (3) Smarana

(Remembering); (4) Padasevana (resorting to the feet); (5) Archana (Worship);

(6) Namaskara (Bowing); (7) Dasya (Service); (8) Sakhyatva (Friendship); (9)

Atmanivedana (surrender of the self). These are the nine types of Bhakti. If

any of these is faithfully followed, Lord Hari will be pleased, and manifest

Himself in the home of the devotee. All the Sadhanas, viz. Japa (vocal

worship), Tapa (penance), Yoga practice and studying the scriptures and

expounding them are quite useless unless they are accompanied by

Bhakti, i.e., devotion. Knowledge of the Vedas, or fame as a great Jnani, and

mere formal Bhajan (worship) are of no avail. What is wanted is Loving

Devotion. Consider yourself as the merchant or seeker after the truth and be

anxious and eager like him to collect or cultivate the nine types of devotion.

Then you will attain stability and peace of mind". Next day, when Patankar

went to Baba for salvation, he was asked whether he

collected the 'nine balls of stool'. Then he said that he, being a poor fellow,

should first be graced by Baba, and then they will be easily collected. Then

Baba blessed and comforted him, saying that he would attain peace and welfare.

After hearing this, Patankar became overjoyed and happy. The Pandharapur

Pleader

10pt; COLOR: fuchsia; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> We shall close this Chapter with

short story showing Baba's omniscience and His using it for correcting people

and setting them on the right path. Once a pleader from Pandharapur came to

Shirdi, went to the Masjid, saw Sai Baba, fell at His Feet and, without being

asked, offered some Dakshina, and sat in a corner eager to hear the talk, that

was going on. Then Baba turned His face towards him and said - "How cunning the

people are! They fall at the feet, offer Dakshina, but inwardly give abuses

behind the back. Is not this wonderful?" This cap (remark) fitted the pleader

and he had to wear (take)

it. None understood the remark. The pleader grasped it, but kept silent. When

they returned to the Wada, the pleader said to Kakasaheb Dixit - "What Baba

remarked was perfectly right. The dart (remark) was aimed at me; it was a hint

to me, that I should not indulge in reviling or scandalizing others (calling by

names). When the Sub-Judge or Munsiff of Pandharapur (Mr. Noolkar) came and

stayed here for the improvement of his health, a discussion about this matter

was going on in the Bar room at Pandharapur (as it ever happens in many a

bar-room). It was said or discussed there whether the ailments, from which the

sub-judge suffered were, ever likely to be got rid of without medicines, by

merely going after Sai Baba, and whether it was proper for an educated man,

like the sub-judge, to have recourse to such methods. The sub-judge was taken

to task; i.e. he was criticized, as also Sai Baba. I also took some part in

this affair; and now Sai Baba showed the impropriety of my

conduct. This is not a rebuke to me, but a favor, an advice that I should not

indulge in any scandal or slander of others; and not interfere unnecessarily in

others' affairs". Shirdi is about 100 Koss (Koss=3 miles) distant from

Pandharapur; still Baba by His omniscience knew what transpired there in the

Bar room. The intervening places -- rivers, jungles and mountains - were not a

bar to His all-perceiving sight and He could see or

read the hearts of all. There was nothing secret or veiled from Him. Everything,

far or near, was plain and clear to Him as broad as daylight. Let a man be far

or near, he cannot avoid the all-pervading gaze of Sai Baba. From this

incident, the pleader took the lesson that he should never speak ill of others,

nor unnecessarily criticize them. This evil tendency was completely got rid of,

and he was set on the right path. Though the

story refers to a pleader, still it is applicable to all. All should, therefore,

take this lesson to heart and profit thereby. Sai Baba's greatness is

unfathomable, so are His wonderful Leelas. His life is also such, for He is

Para-Brahman (Lord God) incarnate.

Arial"> Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all Chapter XXII Rescues from

Serpent-bites - (1) Balasaheb Mirikar (2) Bapusaheb Booty (3) Amir Shakkar (4)

Hemandpant - Baba's Opinion Regarding Killing of Serpents Preliminary How

to meditate on Baba? No one has been able to fathom the nature or the form of

the Almighty. Even the Vedas and the thousand-tongued Shesha are not able to

describe it fully; but the devotees cannot but know and look at the form of the

Lord, for they know that His Feet are the only means of their happiness. They

know no other method of attaining the supreme goal of life, except meditating

on the Holy Feet. Hemandpant suggests an easy way of devotion and meditation as

follows: - As the dark fortnight of every month wears out gradually, the

moonlight also wanes in the same degree and on the New moon day, we do not see

the moon at all, nor do we get her light. Therefore, when the bright fortnight

begins, people are very anxious to see the moon. On the first day, the moon is

not seen and on the second day also she is not clearly visible. Then the people

are asked to see the moon through an

opening between the two branches of a tree, and when they begin to see through

this aperture eagerly and after concentration, the distant small crescent of

the moon comes, to their great delight, within their ken. Following this clue,

let us try to see Baba's Light. Look at Baba's posture, how fine it is! He is

sitting with His legs folded, the right leg held across the left knee. The

fingers of His left hand are spread on the right-foot. On the right toe are

spread His two fingers-the index and middle ones. By this posture Baba means to

say, as it were-if you want to see My Light, be egoless and most humble and

meditate on My toe through the opening between the two branches-index and

middle fingers-and then you will be able to see My Light. This is the easiest

means of attaining devotion.

FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> Now let us turn for a moment

to Baba's life. Shirdi had become a place of pilgrimage on account of Baba's

stay. People from all quarters began to flock there, and both the rich and the

poor began to be benefited in more ways than one and in some form or other. Who

can describe Baba's boundless love and His wonderful natural knowledge and His

all-pervasiveness? Blessed is he, who could experience one or all of these.

Sometimes Baba observed long silence, which was, in a way, His dissertation on

Brahman; at other times He was Consciousness-Bliss Incarnate,

surrounded by His devotees. Sometimes He spoke in parables, and at other times

indulged in wit and humour. At times, He was quite unambiguous (clear) and at

times He seemed enraged. Sometimes He gave His teachings in a nutshell, at

other times He argued at length. Many a time He was very plain. In this way, He

gave varied instructions to many, according to their requirements. His life was,

therefore, inscrutable, beyond the ken of our mind, beyond our intellect and

speech. Our longing to see His face, to talk with Him and hear His Leelas was

never satisfied; still we were overflowing with joy. We can count the showers

of rain, encircle (tie) the wind in a leather bag, but who can gauge or measure

His Leelas? Now we deal here with one aspect of them, viz. how He anticipated or

forestalled the calamities of His devotees and warded them off in time.

Balasaheb Mirikar Balasaheb Mirikar, son of Sirdar Kakasaheb Mirikar was

Mamlatdar of Kopergaon. He was

going on tour to Chitali. On the way he came to Shirdi to see Sai Baba. When he

went to the Masjid and prostrated himself before Baba, usual conversation

regarding health and other matters commenced, when Baba sounded a note of

warning as follows: -"Do you know our Dwarakamai?" As Balasaheb did not

understand he kept quiet, Baba continued - "This is our Dwarakamai, where you

are sitting. She wards off all dangers and anxieties of the children, who sit

on her lap. This Masjidmayi (its presiding Deity) is very merciful, she is the

mother of the simple devotees, whom she will save in calamities. Once a person

sits on her lap, all his troubles are over. He, who rests in her shade, gets

Bliss". Then Baba gave him Udi, and placed His protecting hand on his head.

When Balasaheb was about to depart, He again said- "Do you know the "Lamba

Bava" (long gentleman), Viz. serpent?" And then closing the left arm like fist

He brought it near the right elbow, and moving His left arm like

the hood of a serpent, He said- "He is so terrible, but what can he do to the

children of Dwarakamai: When the Dwarakamai (its presiding deity) protects,

what can the serpent do?" All who were present there were curious to know the

meaning of all this and its reference to Mirikar, but none had the courage to

ask Baba about this. Then Balasaheb saluted Baba and left the Masjid with

Shama. Baba called Shama back and asked him to accompany Balasaheb, and enjoy

the Chitali trip. Shama came to Balasaheb, and told him that he would go with

him according to Baba's wish. Balasaheb replied that he need not come, as it

would be inconvenient. Sharma returned to Baba and told Him what Balasaheb said

to him. Babas said, “Alright, do not go. We should mean well and do well.

Whatever is destined to happen, will happen".

COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> In the meanwhile

Balasaheb thought over again, and calling Shama asked him to accompany him.

Then Shama going again to Baba and taking His leave started with Balasaheb in

the Tonga. They reached Chitali at 9 P.M. and encamped in the Maruthi temple.

The office-people had not come; so they sat quiet in the temple, talking and

chit chatting. Balasaheb was sitting on a mat reading a newspaper. His Uparani

(upper dhotar) was spread across his waist and on a part of it a snake was

sitting unobserved. It began to move with a rustling sound, which was

heard by the peon. He brought a lantern, saw the snake and raised an alarm-

'serpent, serpent'. Balasaheb was frightened and began to quiver. Shama was

also amazed. Then he and others moved noiselessly and took sticks and clubs in

their hands. The snake got down slowly from the waist and it moved away from

Balasaheb; it was immediately done to death. Thus this calamity, which was

prophesied by Baba, was averted and Balasaheb's love for Baba was deeply

confirmed.

FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Bapusaheb Booty A great

astrologer named Nanasaheb Dengale told one day Bapusaheb Booty, who was then

in Shirdi, "To-day is an inauspicious day for you, there is a danger to your

life". This made Bapusaheb restless. When they, as usual, came to Masjid, Baba

said to Bapusaheb- "What does this Nana say? He foretells death for you. Well,

you need not be afraid. Tell him boldly "Let us see how death kills." Then later

in the evening Bapusaheb went to his privy for easing himself where he saw a

snake. His servant saw it and lifted a stone to strike at it. Bapusaheb asked

him to get a big stick, but before the servant returned with the stick, the

snake was seen moving away and soon disappeared. Bapusaheb remembered with joy

Baba's words of fearlessness.

12.0pt">Amir Shankar Amir Shankar was a native of the village Korale, in

Kopergaon Taluka. He belonged to the butcher caste. He worked as a commission

agent in Bandra, and was well known there. He once suffered from Rheumatism,

which gave him much pain. He was then reminded of God, and so, he left his

business and went to Shirdi, and prayed to Baba to relieve him from his malady.

Baba then stationed him in the Chavadi, which was then a damp unhealthy place,

unfit for such a patient. Any other place in the village, or Korale itself

would have been better for Amir, but Baba's word was the deciding factor and

the chief medicine. Baba did not allow him to come to the Masjid, but fixed him

in the Chavadi, where he got very great advantage. Baba passed via Chavadi every

morning and evening; and every alternate day Baba went to the Chavadi in a

procession and slept there. So Amir got Baba's contact very often easily. Amir

stayed there for full nine months, and then, somehow or other, he got disgust

for the place. So one night he stealthily left the place and came to Kopergaon

and stayed in a Dharmashala. There he saw an old dying Fakir, who asked him for

water. Amir brought it and gave it to him. As soon as he drank it, he passed

away. Then Amir was in a fix. He thought that if he went and informed the

authorities, he would be held responsible for the

death as he was the first and sole informant, and knew something about it. He

repented for his action, viz. leaving Shirdi without Baba's leave, and prayed

to Baba. He then determined to return to Shirdi, and that same night he ran

back, remembering and muttering Baba's name on the way, and reached Shirdi

before daybreak, and became free from anxiety. Then he lived in the Chavadi in

perfect accordance with Baba's wishes and orders, and got himself cured. One

night it so happened that Baba cried at midnight- "Oh Abdul, some devilish

creature is dashing against the side of My bed". Abdul came with a lantern,

examined Baba's bed but found nothing, Baba asked him to examine carefully all

the place and began to strike ground with His Satka. Seeing this Leela of Baba,

Amir thought that Baba might have suspected some serpent had come there. Amir

could know by close and long contact the meaning of Baba's words and actions.

Baba then saw near Amir's cushion something moving. He

asked Abdul to bring in the light, and when he brought it, he saw the coil of a

serpent there, moving its head up and down. Thereupon the serpent was

immediately beaten to death. Thus Baba gave timely warning and saved Amir.

Hemadpant (Scorpion and Serpent)

10pt; COLOR: fuchsia; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> At

Baba's recommendation Kakasaheb Dixit was daily reading the two works of Shri

Eknath Maharaj, viz., Bhagwat and Bhawartha Ramayana and Hemadpant had the good

fortune to be one of the audience when the reading of the works was going on.

Once when a portion from the Ramayana relating to Hanuman's testing Rama's

greatness, according to his mother's instructions, was being read, all the

listeners were spellbound. Hemandpant was one of them. A big scorpion (none

knew where it came from) jumped and sat on the right shoulder of Hemandpant, on

his Uparani (upper dhotar). First it was not noticed, but as the Lord protects

those, who are intent on hearing

His stories, he casually cast a glance over his right shoulder and noticed it.

It was dead silence, not a bit moved here or there. It seemed as if, it also

enjoyed the reading. Then by the Lord's grace, Hemandpant without disturbing

the audience, took the two ends of his dhotar, folded them, and brought them

together, enclosing the scorpion within. Then he went out, and threw it in the

garden. (2) On another occasion some persons were sitting in the upper floor of

Kakasaheb's Wada, just before nightfall, when a serpent crept through a hole in

the window frame and sat coiled up. A light was brought. Though it was first

dazzled, yet it sat still and only moved its head up and down. Then many

persons rushed there with sticks and cudgels, but as it sat in an awkward

place, no blow could be dealt. But hearing the noises of men, the serpent went

out hastily through the same hole. Then all the persons there felt relieved.

Baba's Opinion One devotee named

Muktaram then said that it was good that the poor creature escaped. Hemandpant

challenged him saying that serpents should better be killed. There was a hot

discussion between them – the former contending that serpents, and such

creatures, should not be killed, the latter that they should be. As night came

on, the discussion came to an end, without any decision being arrived at. Next

day, the question was referred to Baba, who gave His settled opinion as

follows: - "God lives in all beings and creatures, whether they be serpents or

scorpions. He is the Great Wire puller of the world, and all beings, serpents,

scorpions etc., obey His command. Unless He wills it, nobody can do any harm to

others. The world is all dependent on Him, and no one is independent. So we

should take pity and love all creatures, leave off adventurous fights and

killings and be patient. The Lord (God) is the Protector of all.

0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all TO BE

CONTINUED… With Sai love from Sai brothers – ‘’

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