SHRI SAI SATCHARITRA -Ch. XXV and XXVI

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COLOR: #333333; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> We begin this

Chapter with a bow with all our eight limbs to Sai Baba, Who is an ocean of

mercy, the God incarnate, who is Para-Brahman and the great Yogeshwara (Lord of

Yoga). Victory be unto Sai Baba, Who is the crest-jewel of the Saints, who is

the home of all auspicious things, who is our Atmaram (Dear Self), and who is

the able refuge of the devotees. We prostrate ourselves before Him, Who has

attained the aim and end of life.

10pt; COLOR: #333333; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> Sai Baba

is always full of mercy. What is wanted on our part is whole-hearted devotion

to Him. When a devotee has got firm faith and devotion, his wishes are soon

fulfilled. When the desire arose in the mind of Hemandpant to write the life

and Leelas of Sai Baba, He immediately got it written by him. When the order

'to keep the memos' was given, Hemandpant was inspired and his intellect got

strength and boldness to undertake and finish the work. He was not, he say,

qualified to write the work, but the gracious blessings of Baba enabled him to

complete the undertaking; and thus you have this Satcharita which is a Somakant

jewel, from which nectar in the form of Sai Leelas oozes out for the readers to

drink to their

hearts' content. Whenever, a devotee had complete and whole-hearted devotion

to Sai Baba, all his calamities and dangers were warded off and his welfare

attended to by Baba. The story of Damodar Savalaram Resane, Kasar of Ahmednagar

(now of Poona) alias Damu Anna illustrating the above statement, is given below.

 

justify"> Damu Anna The readers are aware that a mention of this gentleman

was made in the 6th Chapter, regarding the celebration of Rama-Navami festival

in Shirdi. He went to Shirdi about the year 1895, when the Rama-Navami

Utsava-celebration began and from that time he has been

providing an ornamental flag for that occasion every year. He also feeds the

poor and the fakirs that come there for the festival. His Speculations: (1)

Cotton A Bombay

friend of Damu Anna wrote to him, that they should do some cotton-speculation

business in partnership, which would bring them about two lacks of rupees as

profit. (Damu Anna says in his statement made about the year 1936 to Mr. B.V.

Narasimha Swami that the proposal about speculating at Bombay in cotton was

from a broker who was not to be a partner, and that he (Damu Anna) was to be

the sole adventurer: - vide P.75 of the Devotees' Experiences Part II). The

broker wrote that the business was good and involved no risks and that the

opportunity should not be lost. Damu Anna was oscillating in his mind. He could

not at once determine to venture in the speculation. He thought about this and

as he was a devotee of Baba, he wrote a detailed letter to Shama giving all the

facts and requested him to consult Baba and take His advice in the matter. Shama

got the letter next day and when he came with it at noon to the Masjid and

placed it before Baba. He asked Shama what the matter

was, and what the paper (letter) was about. He replied that Damu Anna of Nagar

wanted to consult Him about something. Then Baba said - "What does he write,

and what does he plan? It seems that he wants to catch the sky and that he is

not content with what God has given him; read his letter". Shama than said,

"The letter contains what you have just said now. Oh, Deva you sit here calm

and composed and agitate the devotees and when they get restless, you draw them

here, some in person and others through letters. If you know the contents of the

latter, why do you then press me to read it?" Baba said - "Oh Shama, read it

please. I speak at random and who believes Me."

#333333; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> Then Shama read the

letter and Baba heard it attentively and said feelingly - "The Shet (Damu Anna)

has gone mad; write to him in reply that nothing is wanting in his house. Let

him be content with the half loaf (bread) he has now and let him not bother

himself about lacks." Shama sent the reply, which Damu Anna was anxiously

waiting for. Reading it, he found that all his hopes and prospects about lack

of rupees as profit were dashed to the ground. He thought that he had done a

mistake in consulting Baba. But as Shama had hinted in the reply that there was

always much difference in seeing and hearing and that, therefore, he should come

to Shirdi personally and see Baba. He thought it advisable to go to Shirdi and

consult Baba

personally about the affair. So he went to Shirdi, saw Baba, prostrated himself

before Him and sat shampooing His legs. He had no courage to ask Baba openly

about the speculation, but he thought in his mind, that it would be better if

some share in the business should be assigned to Baba and said in his mind,

that if Baba were to help him in this transaction, he would surrender some

share of profits to Him. Damu Anna was thus thinking secretly in his mind, but

nothing was veiled from Baba; everything past, present and future were clear to

Him as an Amalaka fruit in hand. A child wants sweets, but its mother gives

bitter pills; the former spoil its health, while the latter improve it. So the

mother looking to the welfare of her infant coaxes it and gives it bitter

pills. Baba, kind mother as He was, knew the present and future prospects of

His devotees, and therefore reading Damu Anna's mind, He openly spoke to him -

"Bapu, I do not want to be entangled in any such worldly

things (sharing profits)." Seeing Baba's disapproval Damu Anna dropped the

enterprise. (2) Grain-Dealing

12.0pt"> Then he thought of trading in grain, rice, wheat and other groceries.

Baba read also this thought and said to him, "You will be buying at five seers

and selling at seven seers a rupee". So this business was also given up. The

rice in the prices of grains was kept up for some time, and Baba's prophecy

seemed to be falsified, but in a month or two there was abundant rain

everywhere and the prices suddenly fell down; and, therefore, those who stored

grains suffered a severe loss. Damu Anna was saved from this fate. Needless to

say that the cotton speculation, which was conducted by the broker with the

help of another merchant, also collapsed with a severe loss to the adventurers.

After seeing that Baba had saved him from two severe losses in cotton and grain

speculations, Damu Anna's

faith in Baba grew strong and he remained a true devotee of Baba till His

passing away and even now. Amra-Leela (Mango miracle)

mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> Once a parcel of about 300 good mangoes was

received at Shirdi. One Mamlatdar named Rale to Sai Baba in the name of Shama

sent it from Goa. When it was opened, all the mangoes were found to be in a

good condition. They were given in Shama's charge and only four were retained

and placed in the kolamba (pot) by Baba. He said that, "These four fruits are

for Damu Anna, let them lie there".

12.0pt"> This Damu Anna had three wives. According to his statement mentioned

above, he had not three but two wives only. He had no issue. He consulted many

astrologers and himself studied astrology to some extent and found that as

there was a 'papi' (inauspicious) planet in his horoscope, there was no

prospect of any issue to him in this life. But he had great faith in Baba. When

he went to Shirdi, two hours after the receipt of the mango parcel, for

worshipping Baba, He said, "Though other people are looking for the mangoes,

they are Dammya's. He whose they are, should 'eat and die'." Damu Anna on

hearing these words was first shocked, but on Mahalsapathi (a prominent Shirdi

devotees) explaining to him that death meant the death of the little self or

egos, and to have it at Baba's

Feet was a blessing, he said that he would accept the fruits and eat them. But

Baba said to him. "Do not eat yourself, but give them to your junior wife. This

Amra-Leela (mango miracle of 4 mangoes) will give her four sons and four

daughters. This was done and ultimately in due course it was found Baba's words

turned out true and not those of the astrologers. Baba's speech established

its efficacy or greatness while He was

living in the flesh, but wonder of wonders! It did the same even after His

passing away. Baba said - "Believe Me, though I pass away, My bones in My tomb

will give you hope and confidence. Not only Myself but My tomb would be

speaking, moving and communicating with those who would surrender themselves

whole-heartedly to Me. Do not be anxious that I would be absent from you. You

will hear My bones speaking and discussing your welfare. But remember Me

always, believe in Me heart and soul and then you will be most benefited.

Prayer Hemandpant closes this Chapter with a prayer. "Oh Sai Sad-guru, the

wish fulfilling tree of the Bhaktas, Let us never forget and lose sight of Your

Feet; we have been troubled with the ins and outs (births and deaths) in this

samsar; now free us from this cycle of births and deaths. Restrain us from the

outgoing of our senses to their objects and introvert us and bring us face to

face with the Atma (Self). As long as this outgoing tendency of the senses and

the mind is not checked, there is no prospect of self-realisation. Neither son,

nor wife nor friend will be of any use in the end. It is only You, Who will give

us salvation and happiness. Destroy

completely our tendency for discussions and other evil matters, let out tongue

get a passion for chanting Your name. Drive out our thoughts, good or otherwise

and make us forget our bodies and houses, and do away with our egoism. Make us

ever remember Your name and forget all other things. Remove the restlessness of

our mind, and make it steady and calm. If you just clasp us, the darkness of

night of our ignorance will vanish and we shall live happily in Your light.

That You made us drink the nectar of Your Leelas and awakened us from our

slumber is due to Your grace and our store of merits in past births".

12.0pt"> Note: - In this connection the following extract from Damu Anna's

statement mentioned above, is worth perusal, (Page 76). "Once when I sat at His

Feet along with many others, I had two questions in my mind and He gave answers

to both. (1) There are so many crowding to Sai Baba. Do they

all get benefit from Him? To this, He replied orally - "Look at the mango

tree in

blossom. If all the flowers brought fruit, what a splendid crop it would be. But

do they? Most fall off (either as flowers or as unripe fruits) by wind etc. Very

few remain". (2)

blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The second question was about myself. If Baba were to

pass away, how hopelessly adrift I would be and how am I to fare then? To this

Baba answered that He would be with me when and wherever I thought of Him. That

promise He had kept up before 1918 and has been keeping up after 1918. He is

still with me. He is still guiding me. This was about 1910-11, when brothers

separated from me and my sister died, and there was a theft and police enquiry,

all of which incidents upset me very much.

justify">When my sister died, my mind was much upset. I did not care for life

and enjoyments. When I went to Baba, He pacified me with His Upadesh and made

me eat a feast of Pooran Poli at Appa Kulkarni's house and get pasted with

sandal. There was a theft in my house. A thirty years friend of mine stole my

wife's jewel-box, including

her auspicious Nathi (nose-ring). I wept before Baba's photo. The next day, the

man returned the jewel-box and prayed for pardon. Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be

to all Chapter XXVI Stories of (1) Bhakata Pant (2) Harishchandra Pitale and

(3) Gopal Ambadekar Preliminary All the things that we see in the universe

are nothing but a play of Maya -- the creative power of the Lord. These things

do not really exist. What really exists is the Real Absolute. Just as we

mistake a rope of a garland or a stick for a serpent on account of darkness, we

always see the phenomena, i.e. things as they outwardly appear, and not the

Noumenon which underlies all the visible things. It is only the Sad-guru that

opens the eyes of our understanding and enables us to see things in their true

light and not as they appear. Let us, therefore, worship the Sad-guru and pray

to him to give us the true vision, which is nothing but

God-vision. Inner Worship

justify">Hemandpant has given us a novel form of worship. Let us, he says, use

hot water in the form of tears of joy to wash the Sad-guru's feet, let us

besmear His body with sandal-paste of pure love, let us cover His body with the

cloth of true faith, let us offer eight lotuses in the form of our eight Satwik

emotions and fruit in the form of our concentrated mind; let us apply to His

head bukka (black-powder) in the form of devotion and tie the waistband of

Bhakti and place our head on his toes.

12.0pt"> After decorating the Sad-guru with all jewelry in this way, let us

offer our all to Him and wave chamar of devotion to ward off heat. After such

blissful worship, let us pray thus: - "Introvert our mind, turn it inward, give

us discrimination between the Unreal and the Real and non-attachment for all

worldly things and thus enable us to get Self-realisation. We surrender

ourselves, body and soul (body-consciousness and ego). Make our eyes Yours, so

that we should never feel pleasure and pain. Control our body and mind as You

will and wish. Let our mind get rest in Your Feet". Now let us turn to the

stories of this Chapter. Bhakta Pant

yes"> Once it so happened that a devotee by name Pant, a disciple of another

Sad-guru had the good fortune of visiting Shirdi. He had no mind to go to

Shirdi, but man proposes one way and God disposes the other. He was traveling

in a B.B. & C.I. Rly. Train where he met many friends and relations bound for

Shirdi. They all asked him to accompany them and he could not say nay. They

alighted at Bombay while pant got down at Virar. There he took the permission

of his Sadguru for the Shirdi trip and after arranging for the expenses, left

with the party for Shirdi. They all reached the place in the morning and went

to the Masjid at about 11 A.M.

Seeing the concourse of the devotees assembled for Baba's worship, they were all

pleased, but Pant suddenly got a fit and fell senseless. They were all

frightened; still they tried their best to bring him to his senses. With Baba's

grace and with pitchers of water, which they poured over his head, he regained

his consciousness and sat upright as if he was just awakened from sleep. The

omniscient Baba knowing that he was a disciple of another Guru, assured him

fearlessness and confirmed his faith in his own Guru, by addressing him as

follows: - "Come what may, leave not, but stick to your Bolster (support, i.e.

Guru) and ever remain steady, always at-one-ment (in union) with him." Pant at

once knew the significance of this remark and thus he was reminded of his

Sad-guru. This kindness of Baba he never forgot in his life.

FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> Harishchandra Pitale There

was a gentleman by name

Harishchandra Pital in Bombay. He had a son, who suffered from epilepsy. He

tried many allopathic and ayurvedic doctors, but there was no cure. There

remained only one way of remedy, viz. resorting to the saints. It has been

stated in Chapter XV that Das Ganu by his inimitable and splendid kirtans

spread the fame of Sai Baba in the Bombay Presidency. Mr. Pitale heard some of

these kirtans in 1910 and learnt therefrom and from others that Baba, by His

touch and mere glance, cured many incurable diseases. Then a desire arose in

his mind to see Sai Baba. Making all preparations and taking presents and

fruit-baskets, Mr. Pitale came to Shirdi with family, wife and children. He

then went to the Masjid with them, prostrated before Baba and placed his sick

son on Baba's Feet. No sooner Baba saw the child than an untoward thing

happened. The son immediately revolved his eyes and fell down senseless. His

mouth began to foam and his whole body began to perspire profusely and it

seemed as if he breathed himself out. Seeing this, the parents became very

nervous and excited. The boy used to get such fits very often, but this fit

seemed to persist long. Tears began to flow ceaselessly from the mother's eyes

and she began to wail, crying that her condition was like that of a person, who

being afraid of the robbers ran into a house which collapsed on him, or like a

cow fearing a tiger, ran into the hands of a butcher, or like a traveler, who

being tormented by the heat of the sun went to take refuge under a tree, which

fell upon him, or like a devout person going for worship into a temple which

collapsed upon him. Then Baba comforted her saying - "Do not wail like this,

wait a bit, have patience, take the boy to your lodging, he will come to his

senses within half an hour." They did as directed by Baba and found that His

words came true. As soon as he was taken into the Wada, the boy recovered and

all the Pitale family, husband, wife and others were

very delighted and all their doubts disappeared. Then Mr. Pitale came with his

wife to see Baba and prostrated himself before Him very humbly and respectfully

and sat shampooing His legs and mentally thanking Baba for His help. Baba then

smilingly said - "Are not all your thoughts, doubts and apprehensions calmed

down now? Hari (Lord) will protect him, who has got faith and patience". Mr.

Pitale was a rich and well-to-do gentleman. He distributed sweetmeat on a large

scale and gave Baba excellent fruits and pan (betel-leaves). Mrs. Pitale was a

very Satwik lady, simple, loving and faithful. She used to sit near the post

staring at Baba with tears of joy flowing down from her eyes. Seeing her of an

amicable and loving nature, Baba was much pleased with her. Like Gods, Saints

are always dependent on their devotees who surrender and worship them with

their heart and soul. After passing some happy days in Baba's company, the

Pitale family came to the Masjid to take Baba's leave to depart. Baba gave them

Udi and blessings and called Mr. Pitale close by and said to him - "Bapu, I had

given you before, Rs. two, now I give you Rs. three; keep these in your shrine

for worship and you will be benefited." Mr. Pitale accepted these as Prasad,

prostrated himself again before Baba and prayed for His blessings. A thought

arose in his mind, that as that was his first trip

to Shirdi, he could not understand what Baba meant, when He said that He had

given Rs. two previously. He was curious to have this mystery solves, but Baba

kept silent. When Mr. Pitale returned to Bombay, he narrated to his old mother

all that had happened at Shirdi and the mystery about Baba's giving him Rs. two

formerly. The mother also did not understand the mystery, but, thinking

seriously about that, she was reminded of an old incident, which solved the

mystery. She said to her son - "As you now went to Sai Baba with your son, so

had your father done when he took you to Akkalkot, for the Darshan of the

Maharaj there many years ago. That Maharaj was also a Siddha, Perfect Yogi,

omniscient and liberal. Your father was pure, devout and his worship was

accepted. He then gave your father Rs. two for being kept in the shrine and

worshipped. Your father worshipped them accordingly till his death, but

thereafter the worship was neglected and the rupees were lost. After some

years the memory of these two rupees also disappeared and now, as you are very

fortunate, the Akkalkotkar Maharaj has appeared to you in the form of Sai Baba

just to remind you to your duties and worship, and to ward off all dangers. Now

beware henceforth, leave off all doubts and bad thoughts, follow your ancestors

and behave well; go on worshipping the family gods and the rupees, appraise

properly and take pride in the blessing of the Saints. Sai Samartha has kindly

revived the spirit of Bhakti in you, cultivate it your benefit." Hearing the

remarks of the mother, Mr. Pitale was very much delighted. He came to know, and

was convinced about the all-pervasiveness of Baba and the significance of His

Darshan. From that time he became very careful about his behavior. Mr.

Ambadekar Mr. Gopal Narayan Ambadekar of Poona was a devotee of Baba. He

served for ten years in the

Abkari department in the Thana District and in Javhar State, He tried to get

some other job, but he did not succeed. He was overtaken by other calamities

and his condition grew from bad to worse. He passed 7 years in this condition,

visiting Shirdi every year and placing his grievance before Baba. In 1916 his

plight became worst and he decided to commit suicide in Shirdi. So he came

there with his wife and stayed for two months. One night while sitting in a

bullock cart in front of Dixit's Wada, he resolved to end his life by throwing

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

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

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

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

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

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

of Akkalkotkar Maharaj a certain devotee suffered very much from an incurable

disease and when he could endure the agony and pain no longer, be became

desperate and to end his miseries threw himself one night into a well.

Immediately the Maharaj came there and took him out with his own hands and

advised him thus - "You must enjoy the fruit - good or bad – of your past

actions; if the enjoyment be incomplete, suicide won't help you. You have to

take another birth and suffer again; so instead of killing yourself, why not

suffer for some time and finish up your store of the fruit of your past deeds

and be done with it once and for all?"

Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> Reading this appropriate and timely story,

Ambadekar was much surprised, and moved. Had he not got Baba's hint through the

story, he would have been no more. On seeing Baba's all-pervasiveness and

benevolence, his faith in Him was confirmed, and he became a staunch devotee.

His father was a devotee of Akkalkotkar Maharaj and Sai Baba wanted him to walk

into his father's footsteps and continue his devotion to Him. He then got Sai

Baba's blessings and his prospects began to improve. He studied astrology and

gained proficiency in it and thereby improved his lot. He was able to earn

sufficient money and passed his after-life in ease and comfort.

TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all TO BE CONTINUED… With

Sai love from Sai brothers –

‘’

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