SHRI SAI SATCHARITRA - Ch. XXXV and XXXVI

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0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> This Chapter also continues the subject of the

importance of the Udi; it also gives two cases in which Baba was tested and not

found wanting. These cases will be taken up first. Preliminary In spiritual

matters or endeavors, sectarianism is the greatest bar to our progress. Those,

who believe the God is without form, are heard saying that to believe the God

is with the form is an illusion and that the Saints are only human beings. Then

why should they bend their heads before them and offer Dakshina? Persons

belonging to other sects will also raise objections and say, "Why should they

bow and offer allegiance to other Saints, leaving their Sad gurus?" Similar

objections regarding Sai Baba were heard before and are heard even now. Some

said that when they went to Shirdi, Baba asked for Dakshina from them. Is it

good that Saints should collect money in this fashion? If they do

so, where is their Sainthood? But there are many instances where men went to

Shirdi to scoff; but remained there to pray. Two such instances are given

below. Kaka Mahajani's Friend

justify">A friend of Kaka Mahajani was a worshipper of God without form and was

averse to idolatry. Out of curiosity he agreed to go to Shirdi with Kaka

Mahajani on two conditions, viz., (1) that he would neither bow to Baba, (2)

nor pay Him any Dakshina. Kaka agreed to these conditions and they both left

Bombay on a Saturday night and reached Shirdi the next morning. As soon as they

put their feet on the steps of the Masjid, Baba, looking at the friend from a

little distance, addressed him in sweet words as follows, "Oh, welcome sir".

The tone that uttered these words was a very peculiar one. It exactly resembled

the tone of the friend's father. It reminded him of his departed father and sent

a thrill of joy through his body. What an enchanting power the tone had! Being

surprised the friend said; "This is no doubt the voice of my father". Then he

at once up and, forgetting his

resolution, placed his head upon Baba's Feet. Then Baba asked for Dakshina

twice, once in the morning and again at noon at the time of their taking leave;

but He asked it from Kaka only and not from the friend. The latter whispered to

Kaka, "Baba asked for Dakshina from you twice. I am with you, why does He omit

me?" You ask Baba Himself" was Kaka's reply. Baba asked Kaka what his friend

was whispering, and then the friend asked Baba himself whether he

should pay any Dakshina. Baba replied, "You had no mind to pay, so you were not

asked; but if you want to pay now you may." Then the friend paid Rs.17 as

Dakshina, the same amount that Kaka paid. Baba then addressed him a few words

of advice, "You do away, destroy the Teli's wall (sense of difference) between

us, so that we can see and meet each other face to face". Then Baba allowed

them to depart. Thought the weather was cloudy and threatening, Baba assured

them of their safe journey and both of them reached Bombay safely. When he

reached home and opened the door and windows of his house, he found two

sparrows fallen dead on the ground and one just flying out through a window. He

thought that if he had left the windows open, two sparrows would have been

saved, but thought again, that they had met their lot and that Baba had sent

him back soon just to save the third sparrow.

justify"> Kaka Mahajani's Master Kaka was the Manager in the firm of Thakkar

Dharmasey Jethabhai, a solicitor of Bombay. Both the Master and the Manager were

on intimate terms. Mr. Thakkar knew that Kaka was often going to Shirdi, staying

there for some days and returning, when Baba permitted him. Out of curiosity and

just to test Baba, Mr. Thakkar decided to go to Shirdi with Kaka during Shimga

holidays. As Kaka's return was uncertain, he took another man with him as an

associate. The three started together and Kaka bought two seers of raisins

(dried grapes with seed) on the way for presentation to Baba. They reached

Shirdi in due time, and went to the Masjid for darshan. Then Babasaheb Tarkhad

was there, Mr. Thakkar asked him why he came there. "For Darshan", Tarkhad

replied. Mr. Thakkar asked if miracles took place there. Tarkhad replied that

it (to see miracles) was not his attitude, but the earnest intentions of the

Bhaktas were satisfied here. Then Kaka prostrated himself before Baba and

offered the raisins to Him. Baba ordered them to be

distributed. Mr. Thakkar got a few of them. He did not like the raisins and he

was advised by his doctor not to eat them without washing and cleaning them. So

he was in a fix. He did not like to eat them, nor could he reject them. To keep

up formalities, he put them into his mouth, but did not know what to do with

the seeds. He could not spit them out on the floor of the Masjid, so he

pocketed them against his wish. He then said in his mind that if Baba was a

Saint, how could He be ignorant of his dislike for the raisins and could He

force them on him. When this thought arose in his mind Baba again gave him some

more raisins. He could not eat them, but held them in his hand. Then Baba asked

him to eat them up. He obeyed and found, to his surprise, that they were all

seedless. He wanted to see miracles and here was one. He knew that Baba read

his thought; and as per his wish converted raisins (with seeds) into seedless

grapes. What a wonderful power! Again to test further

he asked Tarkhad, who was sitting by and who also got some raisins, "What kind

of grapes you got?" He replied "They variety with seeds." Mr. Thakkar was still

more surprised to hear this. Then to confirm his growing faith Thakkar thought

in his mind that if Baba was a real Saint, the raisins should be now given to

Kaka first. Reading this thought also, Baba ordered that distribution should be

commenced from Kaka. These proofs were sufficient for Thakkar. Then Shama

introduced Mr. Thakkar as the master of Kaka, upon which Baba said, "How could

he be his master? He has got a different Master altogether". Kaka appreciated

this reply. Forgetting his resolve, Thakkar saluted Baba and returned to the

Wada. After the noon-Arati was over, they all went to the Masjid for taking

Baba's leave for their departure. Sharma spoke for them. Baba then spoke as

follows. "There was a fickle-minded gentleman. He had health and wealth and

was free from both physical and mental afflictions, but he took on him needless

anxieties and burdens and wandered hither and thither, thus losing his peace of

mind. Sometimes he dropped the burdens and at other times carried them again.

His mind knew no steadiness. Seeing his state, I took pity on him and said,

"Now please keep your faith on any one place (point) you like, why roam like

this? Stick quietly to one

place. Thakkar at once came to know that, that was an exact description of

himself. He wished that Kaka should also return with him but no one expected

that Kaka would be allowed to leave Shirdi so soon. Baba read also this thought

to his and permitted Kaka to return with his master. Thakkar got one more proof

of Baba's capacity to read another's mind.

justify"> Then Baba asked Kaka for Rs. 15/- as Dakshina and received it. To

Kaka He said, "If I take one rupee as Dakshina from anybody I have to return it

tenfold to him. I never take anything gratis. I never ask any one

indiscriminately. I only ask and take from him whom the Fakir (My Guru) points

out. If any one is indebted formerly to the Fakir money is received from him.

The donor gives, i.e. sows his seeds, only to reap a rich harvest in future.

Wealth should be the means to work out Dharma. If it is used for personal

enjoyment, it is wasted. Unless

you have given it before, you do not get it now. So the best way to receive is

to give. The giving of Dakshina advances Vairagya (Non-attachment) and thereby

Bhakti and Jnana. Give one and receive tenfold". On hearing these words Mr.

Thakkar himself gave Rs.15/- in Baba's hand, forgetting his resolve not to do

so. He thought he did well in coming to Shirdi as all his doubts were solved

and he learnt so much.

0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"> Baba's skill in handling such cases was unique.

Though He did all those things He was totally non-attached to them. Whether

anybody saluted Him or not, or whether anybody gave Him Dakshina or not, it was

the same to Him. None He disrespected. He felt no pleasure because He was

worshipped and no pain because He was disregarded. He transcended the pairs of

opposites, viz. pleasure and pain, etc.

COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> Insomnia Case A Kayastha Prabhu gentleman

of Bandra suffered from Insomnia for long. As soon as he laid himself

down for sleep, his departed father appeared to him in his dream, and abused and

scolded him severely. This broke his sleep and made him restless the whole

night. Every night this went on and the man did not know what to do. One day he

consulted a devotee of Baba in this respect. He recommended the Udi as the only

infallible remedy he knew. He gave him some Udi and asked him to apply a little

of it to his forehead before going to bed and keep the

Udi-packet under the pillow. He tried this remedy and found, to his great

surprise and joy, that he got sound sleep and that there was no disturbance of

any kind. He continued the remedy and always remembered Sai. Then he got a

picture of Sai Baba, which he hung on the wall near his pillow and started

worshipping it daily, and on Thursdays, offering garland, naivedya etc. Then he

got on well and forgot altogether his past trouble. Balaji Patil

Newaskar This man was a great devotee of Baba. He rendered most excellent and

disinterested service. Every day he swept and kept clean all the passages and

streets in Shirdi through which Baba passed in His daily routine. This work

was, after him, equally well done by another female devotee named

Radha-Krishna-Mai, and after her by Abdoola. When Balaji reaped his corn every

year, he brought the whole quantity and presented it to Baba. He returned with

what Baba gave him and

maintained himself and his family with it. He followed this course for many

years and after him by his son. Power and Efficacy of Udi

COLOR: #333333; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> Once it

happened that at Balaji's death anniversary day, a certain number of guests

were invited and the dinner was prepared for them. But at the dinnertime it was

found that thrice the number of people invited had turned up. Mrs. Newaskar was

in a fix. She thought that the food would not suffice for the people assembled

and that if it fell short, the honour of the family would be at stake. Her

mother-in-law comforted her by saying, "Don't be afraid, it is not ours, but

Sai's food; cover every vessel with cloth, putting some Udi in it, and serve

from the same without opening it: Sai will save us from ignominy." She did as

she was advised and it was found to their surprise and joy that not only did

the food suffice for all, but

plenty of it remained after serving. "As one feels intently, so he realizes

accordingly" was proved in this case. Sai Appearing as Serpent

12.0pt"> Once Raghu Patil of Shirdi went to Balaji Patil at Newase. That evening

he found that a serpent entered the cowshed hissing. All the cattle were afraid

and began to move. The inmates of the house were frightened, but Balaji thought

that it was Sai Who appeared in his house as a serpent. Without being afraid in

the least he brought a cup of milk and placing it before the serpent said,

"Baba, why do you hiss and make noise? Do you want to frighten us? Take this

cup of milk and drink it with a calm mind". Saying this, he sat close by

unperturbed. The other members were frightened and did not know what to do. In

a short time the serpent disappeared. Nobody knew where it went. It was not

found though a search was made in the

cowshed. Balaji had two wives and some children. They sometimes went to Shirdi

from Newase for taking Baba's Darshan. Then Baba bought saris and other clothes,

which were given to them with His blessings.

10pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New

Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;

mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> Bow to Shri Sai - peace be to all Chapter XXXVI

Wonderful Stories of (1) Two Goa Gentlemen and (2) Mrs. Aurangabadkar This

Chapter relates the wonderful stories of two gentlemen from Goa and Mrs.

Aurangabadkar of Sholapur. Two Gentlemen Once two gentlemen came from Goa

for taking Darshan of Sai Baba, and prostrated themselves before him. Though

both came together, Baba asked only one them to give Him Rs.15/- as Dakshina

which was paid willingly. The other man voluntarily offered Rs. 35/-. This sum

was rejected by Baba to the astonishment of all. Shama, who was present, asked

Baba, "What is this? Both

came together, one's Dakshina you accept, the other, though voluntarily paid,

you refuse. Why this distinction? Baba replied, "Shama, you know nothing. I

take nothing from anybody. The Masjidmayi (The presiding Deity of the Masjid)

calls for the debt, the donor pays it and becomes free. Have I any home,

property or family to look after? I require nothing. I am ever free. Debt,

enmity and murder have to be atoned for, there is not escape". Baba then

continued in His characteristic way as follows:- As first he was poor and

took a vow to

his God that he would pay his first month's salary if he got an appointment. He

got one on Rs.15/- p.m. Then he steadily got promotions, from Rs.15/- he got

Rs. 30, 60, 100, 200 and ultimately Rs.700/- per month. But in his prosperity

he forgot clean the vow he took. The force of his karma has driven him here and

I asked that amount (Rs.15/-) from him as Dakshina. Another story, while

wandering by

the seaside I came to a huge mansion and sat on its verandah. The owner gave me

a good reception and fed me sumptuously. He showed me a neat and clean place

near a cupboard for sleeping. I slept there. While I was sound asleep, the man

removed a literite slab and broke the wall entered in and scissored off all the

money from my pocket. When I woke up, I found that Rs.30,000 was stolen. I was

greatly distressed and sat weeping and moaning. The money was in currency notes

and I thought that the Brahmin had stolen it. I lost all interest in food and

drink and sat for a fortnight on the verandah, bemoaning my loss. After the

fortnight was over, a passing fakir saw me crying, and made enquiries regarding

the cause of my sorrow. I told him everything. He said, "If you act according to

my bidding, you will recover your money; go to a fakir, I shall give his

whereabouts, surrender yourself to him, he will get back your money; in the

meanwhile give up your favorite food till you

recover your money." I followed the fakir's advice and got my money. Then I left

the Wada and went to the seashore. There was a steamer, but I could not get into

it as it was crowded. There a good-natured peon interceded for me and I got in

luckily. That brought me to another shore, where I caught a train and came to

the Masjidmayi. The story finished and Baba asked Shama to take the guests

and

arrange for their feeding. Then Shama took them home and fed them. At dinner,

Shama said to the guests that Baba's story was rather mysterious, as He had

never gone to the sea-side, never had any money (Rs.30,000/-), never traveled,

never lost any money and never recovered it, and enquired whether they

understood it and caught its significance. The guests were deeply moved and

were shedding tears. In a choking voice they said that Baba was omniscient,

infinite, the One (Para Brahma) without a second. The story He gave out is

exactly our story; What He spoke has already taken place in our case. How He

knew this, is a wonder of wonders! We shall give all the details after the

meals. Then after the meals while they were chewing betel-leaves, the guests

began to tell their stories. One of them said:- "A hill-station on the ghats

is my native place. I went to Goa to earn my living by securing a job. I took a

vow to God

Datta that if I got any service, I would offer Him my first month's salary. By

His grace I got an appointment of Rs.15/- and then I got promotions as

described by Baba. I did forget all about my vow. Baba has just reminded me of

it in this way and recovered Rs. 15/- from me. It is not Dakshina as one may

think it to be, but a repayment of an old debt and fulfillment of long

forgotten vow". Moral

yes"> Baba never, in fact, actually begged any money, nor allowed His Bhaktas

to beg. He regarded money as danger or bar to spiritual progress and did not

allow His Bhaktas to fall into its clutches. Bhagat Mhalsapati is an instance

on its point. He was very poor and could hardly make both ends meet. Baba never

allowed him to make any money, nor gave him anything from the Dakshina amount.

Once a kind and liberal merchant named Hansaraj gave a large amount of money to

Mhalsapati in Baba's presence, but Baba did not allow him to accept it.

mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> Then the second guest began his tale. "My Brahmin

(cook) was serving me faithfully for 35 years. Unfortunately he fell into bad

ways, his mind changed and he robbed me of my treasure. By removing a laterite

slab from my wall where my cupboard is fixed, he came in while we were all

asleep and carried away all my accumulated wealth, Rs. 30,000/- in currency

notes. I know not how Baba mentioned the exact amount. I sat crying day and

night. My enquiries came to nothing. I spent a fortnight in great anxiety. As I

sat on the verandah, sad and dejected, a passing fakir noted my condition and

enquired of its cause, and I told him all about it. He told me that an Avalia by

name Sai lives in Shirdi, Kopergaon Taluk. Make vow to Him and give up any food

that you like best and say to Him mentally that 'I have given up eating that

food till I take your Darshan'. Then I took the vow and gave up eating rice and

s0aid, "Baba, I will eat it after recovering my property and after taking your

Darshan". Fifteen days passed after this. The Brahmin, of his own accord,

came to me, returned my money and apologized, saying, "I went mad and acted

thus; I now place my head on your feet, please forgive me". Thus everything

ended well. The fakir that met me and helped me was not seen again. An

intensive desire to see Sai Baba, whom the fakir pointed out to me, arose in my

mind. I thought that the fakir who came all the way to my house was no other

than Sai Baba. Would He, who saw me and helped me to get my lost money ever,

covet to get Rs.35/-? On the contrary without expecting anything from us, He

always tries His best to lead us on the path of spiritual progress.

COLOR: #333333; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> I was overjoyed

when I recovered my stolen property and being infatuated, I forgot all about my

vow. Then when I was at Colaba, one night I saw Sai Baba in my dream. This

reminded me of my promised visit to Shirdi. I went to Goa and from there wanted

to start for Shirdi, by taking a steamer to Bombay, en route. But when I came to

the harbor, I found that the steamer was crowded and there was no place. The

captain did not allow me, but on the intercession of a peon, who was stranger

to me, I was allowed to get into the steamer, which brought me to Bombay. From

there, I got in the train and came here. Surely I think that Baba is all

pervading and all knowing. What are we and where is our home? How

great our good fortune that Baba got back our money and drew us here to Himself?

You Shirdi folk must be infinitely superior and more fortunate than we; for Baba

has played, laughed, talked and lived with you for so many years. I think that

your store of good merits must be infinite, for it attracted Baba into Shirdi.

Sai is our Datta. He ordered the vow. He gave me a seat in the steamer and

brought me here and thus gave proof of His omniscience and omnipotence". Mrs.

Aurangabadkar A lady from Sholapur, wife of Sakharam Aurangabadkar had no

issue during the long period of 27 years. She had made a number of vows of Gods

and Goddesses for an issue, but was not successful. She then became almost

hopeless. To make a last attempt in this matter, she came to Shirdi with her

stepson Vishwanath and stayed there for two months, serving Baba. Whenever she

went to the Masjid, she found it full and Baba surrounded by devotees. She

wanted to see Baba alone, fall at His feet and open her heart and pray for an

issue, but she got no suitable opportunity. Ultimately she requested Shama to

intercede with Baba for her when He was alone. Shama said to

her that Baba's Darbar was open, still he would try for her and that the Lord

might bless her. He asked her to sit ready with a coconut and joss sticks on

the open courtyard at the time of Baba's meals and that when he beckoned to

her, she should come up. One day after dinner, Shama was rubbing Baba's wet

hands with a towel when the latter pinched Shama's cheek. Shama feigning anger

said, "Deva, is it proper for you to pinch me like this? We don't want such a

mischievous God who pinches us thus. Are we Your dependents, is this the fruit

of our intimacy?" Baba replied, "Oh Shama, during the 72 generations that you

were with me, I never pinched you till now and now you resent my touching you".

Shama, "We want a God that will give us ever kisses and sweets to eat; we do not

want any respect from You, or heaven, balloon etc. Let our faith unto Your Feet

be ever wide-awake". Baba, "Yes, I have indeed come for that. I have been

feeding and nursing you and have got love and

affection for you". Then Baba went up and took his seat. Shama beckoned to the

lady. She came up, bowed and presented the coconut and joss sticks. Baba shook

the coconut, which was dry. The Kernel within rolled and made a noise.

mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> Baba said, "Shama, this is rolling, see what it

says". Shama, "The woman prays that a child might be similarly rolling and

quickening in the womb. So give her the cocoa-nut with Your blessings".

COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Baba, "Will the

coconut give her any issue? How people are foolish and fancy such things!"

Shama, "I know the power of Your word and blessing. Your word will give her a

string or series of children. You are wrangling and not giving real blessing".

The parley went on for a while. Baba repeatedly ordering to break the coconut

and Shama pleading for the gift of the unbroken fruit to the lady. Finally Baba

yielded and said, "She will have an issue". "When?" asked Shama. "In 12 months"

was the reply. The coconut was therefore broken into two part, one was eaten by

the two, the other was given to the lady.

FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> The Shama turned up to the

lady and said, "Dear madam, you are a witness to my words. If within 12 months

you do not get any issue, I will break a coconut against this Deva's head and

drive him out of this Masjid. If I fail in this, I will not call myself Madhav.

You will soon realize what I say".

yes"> She delivered a son in one year's time and the son was brought to Baba in

his fifth month. Both husband and wife prostrated themselves before Baba and the

grateful father (Mr. Aurangabadkar) paid a sum of Rs.500/-, which was spent in

constructing a shed for Baba's house "Shyamakarna".

fuchsia; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Bow to Shri Sai - Peace

be to all TO BE CONTINUED… With Sai love from Sai brothers –

‘’

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