SHRI SAI SATCHARITRA - Ch. XLVII and XLVIII

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Om Sri Sai Ram

SHRI SAI SATCHARITRA

Chapter XLVII

Baba's Reminiscence

Story of Veerbhadrappa and Chenbassappa (Snake and frog)

The last Chapter described Baba's reminiscences about two goats. This one describes more such reminiscence and relates the story of Veerbhadrappa and Chenbassappa.

Preliminary

Blessed is the face of Sai. If we cast a glance at Him for a moment, He destroys the sorrow of many past births and confers great Bliss on us; and if He looks at us with grace, our bondage of Karma is immediately snapped away and we are led to happiness. The river Ganges washes away the dirt and sins of all people, who go to her for a bath; but she intently longs for the Saints to come to her; and bless her with their feet and remove all the dirt (sins) accumulated in her. She knows, for certain, that the holy feet of the Saints can only remove this accumulation. Sai is the crest-jewel of the Saints, and now hear from Him the following purifying story.

The Snake and the Frog

Sai Baba said-One morning, after taking My breakfast, I strolled along, till I came to a small river bank. As I was tired, I rested there, washed My hands and Feet and had a bath and felt refreshed. There was a footpath and a cart track, sheltered by shady trees. The breeze was also blowing gently. As I was preparing to smoke chillim (pipe), I heard the croaking of a frog. I was striking the flint and lighting the fire, when a traveler turned up, sat by My side, bowed to Me and politely invited Me to his house, for meals and rest. He lit up the pipe and handed it over to Me. The croaking was heard again, and he wanted to know what it was. I told him that a frog was in trouble, and was tasting the bitter fruit of its own Karma. We have to reap now the fruit, of what we sow (do) in our past life, and there is no use in crying about it. Then he smoked and handed over the pipe to Me, and said that he would go there in person and see for himself. I told him, that a frog was

caught by a big snake and was crying. Both were very wicked in their past life; and were now reaping the fruit of their actions in these bodies. He went out, and found, that a huge black serpent was holding a big frog in its mouth.

He turned to Me and said that in about 10 or 12 minutes the frog would be eaten up by the snake. I said, No, this couldn’t be. I am its father (protector), and I am here now. How shall I allow the snake to eat it up, am I here for nothing? Just see how I release it. After smoking again, we walked on to the place. He was afraid and asked Me not to proceed further, as the snake might attack us. Not minding him, I went ahead and addressed the creatures thus: - Oh Veerbhadrappa, has not your enemy Bassappa yet repented though he has been born as a frog, and you too, though born as a serpent, still maintain bitter enmity against him? Be ashamed of yourself, give up your hatred now and rest in peace. On hearing these words, the snake left the frog quickly and dived into the river and disappeared. The frog also jumped away, and hid itself in the bushes.

The traveler was much surprised; he said that he could not understand how the snake dropped the frog and disappeared at the words uttered. Who was Veerbhadrappa? and who was Basappa and what was the cause of their enmity? I returned with him to the foot of the tree, and after sharing again a few puffs of smoke with him I explained the whole mystery to him as follows: -

There was ancient holy place sanctified by a temple of Mahadev about 4 or 5 miles from My place. The temple was old and dilapidated. The residents of the place collected funds for its repairs. After a large amount was collected, arrangement for worship was made and plans with estimates for repairs were prepared. A rich local man was appointed the treasurer and the whole work was entrusted to him. He was to keep regular accounts, and be honest in all his dealings. He was a first class miser and spent very little for the repairs, which consequently made very little progress. He spent all the funds, swallowed some amount himself; and spent nothing from his pocket. He had a sweet tongue, and was very clever in offering plausible explanations, regarding the poor and tardy progress of the work. The people again went to him and said that unless he lent his helping hand and tried his best, the work would not be complete. They requested him to work out the scheme and again

collected subscriptions, and sent the amount to him. He received it, but sat as quiet as before, without making any progress. After some days, God (Mahadev) appeared in his wife's dream and said to her – You get up, build the dome of the temple, I will give you a hundred fold of what you spend. She told this vision to her husband. He was afraid that it would involve him in some expenses; and therefore, laughed it out, saying that it was a mere dream, a thing not to be relied and acted upon, or else why did not God appear to himself in the dream and tell him about it? Was he far off from her? This looks like a bad dream, having its object of creating ill feeling between husband and wife. She had to remain quiet.

God does not like big subscriptions and donations collected against the wishes of the donors, but He likes even trifling amounts given with love, devotion and appreciation. Some days after, God again appeared in her dream and said-Do not bother yourself about your husband, and the collections with him. Don't press him to spend any amount for the temple. What I want is, feeling and devotion. So give, if you like, anything of your own. She consulted her husband about this vision and decided to give God her ornaments given by her father. The miser felt disconcerted and decided to cheat even God in this item. He undervalued the ornaments at Rs.1,000/- and bought them himself and in lieu of the amount gave a field to God, as endowment or security. The wife agreed to this. The field or land was not his own, it belonged to one poor woman named Dubaki who mortgaged it to him for Rs.200/-. She was not able to redeem it for long. So the cunning miser cheated all, his wife, Dubaki

and even God. The land was sterile, uncultivated and worth nothing and yielded nothing, even in best seasons.

Thus ended this transaction and the land were given in the possession of the poor priest who was pleased with the endowment. Sometime later on, strange things happened. There was a terrific storm and heavy downpour of rain; lightning struck the house of the miser, when he, the rich miser, and his wife both died. Dubaki also breathed her last.

In the next life, the rich miser was born at Mathura in the Brahmin family and was named Veerbhadrappa. His devout wife was born as the daughter of the priest of the temple, and was named Gouri. The woman Dubaki (the mortgagor) was born as a male in the family of the Gurav (attendant) of the temple and was named Chenbassappa. The priest was a friend of Mine, He often came to Me, chatted and smoked with Me. His daughter Gouri was also devoted to Me. She was growing fast and her father was seeking a good husband for her. I told him not to worry about this, as the bridegroom himself would come seeking her. Then there came a poor boy named Veerbhadrappa of their caste, wandering and begging his bread to the priest's house. With My consent Gouri was given in marriage to him. He was also at first devoted to Me, as I recommended his marriage with Gouri. Even in this new life he was hankering after money; and asked me to help him to get it, as he was leading a married man's life.

Strange things happened. There was a sudden rise in prices. By Gouri's good luck, there was a great demand for land and the endowment land was sold for one Lakh of rupees (100 times the worth of her ornaments). Half the amount was paid in cash and the remaining was to be paid in 25 installments or Rs. 2,000/- each. All agreed to this transaction, but began to quarrel over the money. They came to Me for consultation. I told them that the property belonged to God and was vested in the priest, and that Gouri was his sole heiress and proprietress and no amount should be spent without her consent and that her husband had no right whatsoever to the amount. On hearing My opinion, Veerbhadrappa was angry with Me and said, that I wanted to establish Gouri's claim and embezzle her property. On hearing his words, I remembered God and kept quiet. Veerbhadrappa scolded his wife (Gouri) and she came to Me at Noon and requested Me not to mind the words of other and not to discard her,

as she was My daughter. As she thus sought My protection, I gave her a pledge, that I would cross seven seas to help her. Then that night Gouri had a vision. Mahadev appeared in her dream and said- The whole money is yours, do not give anything to anybody, spend some amount for temple purposes in consultation with Chenbassappa and if you want to use it for some other purpose, consult Baba in the Masjid (Myself). Gouri told Me the vision; and I gave her the proper advice in the matter. I told her to take the principal or capital amount to herself, give half the amount of interest to Chenbassappa and that Veerbhadrappa had nothing to do in the matter. While I was thus talking, both Veerbhadrappa and Chenbassappa came there quarreling. I tried My best to appease them and told them God's vision to Gouri. Veerbhadrappa got wild and angry and threatened to kill Chenbassappa cutting him to pieces. The latter timid, he caught My Feet and sought My refuge. After some time

Veerbhadrappa died and was born as a snake and Chenbassappa died and was born as a frog. On hearing the croaking of Chenbassappa and remembering My pledge, I came here, saved him and kept My word. God runs to His devotees for help in times of danger. He saved Chenbassappa (the frog) by sending Me here. All this is God's Leelas or sport.

The Moral

The moral of the story is that one has to reap what one sows, and there is no escape unless one suffers and squares up one's old debts and dealing with others, and that greed for money drags the greedy man to the lowest level and ultimately brings destruction for him and for others.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Chapter XLVIII

Warding off Devotee's Calamities - Stories of (1) Shevade and (2) Sapatneker

At the commencement of this Chapter, some one asked Hemadpant whether Sai Baba was a Guru or Sadguru. In order to answer the question Hemadpant describes the signs or marks of a Sadguru as follows: -

Signs of Sadguru

He who teaches us Veda and Vedanta or the six Shastras (systems), he who controls the breath, or brands his body with Mudras (metallic marks of Vishnu's weapons) or gives pleasing discourses regarding Brahma, he who gives mantras (sacred syllables) to the disciples and orders them to chant the same a certain number of times, but does not assure them any result in a definite time, he who by his spacious wordy knowledge explains beautifully the Ultimate Principle, but has himself got no experience or self-realization, is not a Sadguru. But he, who by his discourse creates in us, a distaste for the enjoyments of this world and the next, and gives us a taste of self-realization, who is well-versed in both the theoretical and practical knowledge (self-realization) deserves to be called a Sadguru. How can he, who is himself devoid of self-realization, give it to the disciples. A Sad-guru {Sadguru} does not, even in his dream, expect any service or profit from his disciples. On

the contrary he wishes to serve them. He does not think that he is great and the disciple small. Not only he loves him as his son but regards him a equal to himself or as Brahma. The main characteristic of a Sadguru is, that he is the abode of peace. He is never restless nor ruffled. He has no pride of his learning. The poor and the rich, the small and the great, are the same to him.

Hemadpant thinks that on account of the store or accumulation of merits in his past births, he had the good fortune of meeting and being blessed by such a Sadguru as Sai Baba. Even in full youth, He hoarded nothing (expect perhaps chillim). He had no family, no friend, no home, nor any support. Since He was eighteen, His control of mind was perfect and extra-ordinary. He lived then fearless in a secluded place and always abided in His Self. On seeing the pure attachment of His devotees, He always acted in their interests, and hence, He was in a way dependent on them. What experiences He gave to His devotees, while he was living in flesh, are even today, after His Mahasamadhi, felt now by those who attach themselves to Him. What the devotees have to do is this-They have to trim their heart-lamp, of faith and devotion, and burn in it wicks of love, and when this is done, the flame of knowledge (self-realization) will be lit up and shine brighter. Mere knowledge, without

love, is dry; nobody wants such knowledge. Without love there is no contentment; so love? How can we praise love? Everything is insignificant before it. Without love our reading, hearing and the study are of no avail. In the wake of love, follow devotion, dispassion, peace and liberation with all their treasures. We do not get love for anything, unless we feel earnestly about it. So where there is real yearning and feeling God manifests Himself. It includes love and it is the means of liberation.

Now let us revert to the main story of this Chapter, Let a man go to a true Saint with a pure mind, even otherwise (fraudulently) and hold his feet; ultimately he is sure to be saved. This is illustrated by the following stories.

Mr. Shevade

Mr. Sapatneker of Akkalkot (Sholapur District) was studying for law. A co-student Mr. Shevade met him. Other fellow students also gathered together and compared notes of their study. It was found, by the question and answers amongst themselves, that Mr. Shevade was the least prepared of all for the examinations, and therefore, all the students derided him. But he said that though he was not prepared, he was sure to pass the examination, as his Sai Baba was there to get him through it, successfully. Mr. Satnekar was surprised at this remark. He took Mr. Shevade aside and asked him, Who this Sai Baba was Whom He extolled so high. He replied- There lives in a Masjid in Shirdi (Ahmednagar District) A Fakir. He is a great Satpurusha. There may be other Saints, but this is unique. Unless there is a great store of merits on one's account, one can't see Him. I fully believe in Him, and what He says will be never untrue. He has assured me that I will pass definitely next year and

I am confident that I will get through the final examination also with His grace. Mr. Sapatneker laughed at his friend's confidence and jeered at him and Baba.

Sapatnekars

Mr. Sapatnekar passed his examination, settled at Akkalkot and practiced as a pleader there. Ten years after this, i.e., in 1913 he lost his only son on account of a throat disease. This broke his heart. He sought relief by making a pilgrimage to Pandharpur, Gangapur and other holy places. He got no peace of mind. Then he read Vedanta, which also did not help him. In the meanwhile, he remembered Mr. Shevade's remarks and his faith in Baba, and he though that he too should go to Shirdi and see Baba. He went to Shirdi with his younger brother Panditrao and was much pleased to see Baba from a distance. When he went near and prostrated himself and placed a coconut before Baba with pure feeling (devotion), the latter at once cried out "Get away." Saptnekar hung down his head, moved back and sat aside. He wanted to consult somebody, who would advise him how to proceed. Somebody mentioned Bala Shimpi's name. Sapatnekar saw him and sought his help. They bought Baba's photos and

came with them to the Masjid. Bala Shimpi too, a photo in his hand, gave it to Baba and asked him whose photo it was. Baba said that this photo was the 'Yara' (Lover) of him, pointing to Sapatnekar. Saying this Baba laughed and all other joined. Bala asked Baba the significance of the laugh and beckoned Sapatnekar to come forward and take darshan. When Saptnakar began to prostrate himself, Baba again cried, "Get out". Sapatnekar did not know what to do. Then they both joined their hands and sat before Baba, praying. Baba finally ordered Sapatnekar, to clear out immediately. Both were sad and dejected. As Baba's order had to be obeyed, Sapatnekar left Shirdi with a heavy heart praying that he should be allowed to take Darshan, next time.

Mrs. Sapatnekar

One year lapsed. Still his mind was not a peace. He went to Gangapur, where he felt more restless. Then he went to Madhegaon for rest; and finally decided to go to Kashi. Two days before starting, his wife got a vision. In her dream she was going with a pitcher to Lakadsha's well. There a fakir with a piece of cloth round his head, who was sitting at the foot of the Neem tree, came close to her and said -My dear lassie, why get exhausted for nothing? I get your pitcher filled with pure water. She was afraid of the fakir and hastened back with the empty pitcher. The fakir followed her. At this, she was awakened and opened her eyes. She told this vision to her husband. They thought, that this was an auspicious sign; and they both left for Shirdi. When they reached the Masjid, Baba was absent. He had gone to Lendi. They waited, till His return. When he returned, she was surprised to see that the fakir she saw in her vision resembled exactly Baba. She reverentially prostrated

herself before Baba and sat looking at him. On seeing her humility Baba was much pleased and began to tell a story in his peculiar characteristic fashion to a third party. He said- My arms, abdomen and waist are paining for a long time. I took many medicines, the pains did not abate. I got sick of the medicines as they gave Me no relief, but I am surprised to see now that all the pains have disappeared at once.' Though no name was mentioned it was the story of Mrs. Sapatnekar herself. Her pains, as described by Baba, left her soon, and she was happy.

Then Mr. Sapatnekar went ahead to take Darshan. He was again welcomed with the former "Get out". This time, he was more penitent and persevering. He said that Baba's displeasure was due to his past deeds and resolved to make amends for the same. He determined to see Baba alone and ask his pardon for his past actions. This he did. He placed his head on Baba's Feet, and Baba placed His hand on it, and Sapatnekar sat stroking Baba's Leg. Then a shepherdess came and sat massaging Baba's waist. Baba in His characteristic way began to tell the story of a bania. He related the various vicissitudes of all his life, including the death of his only son. Sapatnekar was surprised to see that the story, which Baba related, was his own, and he wondered how Baba knew every detail of it. He came to know, that He was Omniscient; and knew the hearts of all. When this thought crossed his mind, Baba still addressing the shepherdess and pointing to Sapatnekar said-This fellow blames Me and

charges Me with the killing of the son. Do I kill people's children? Why does this fellow come to the Masjid and cry? Now I will do this, I will again bring, that very child back in his wife's womb. With these words, He placed His blessing hand on is head and comforted him saying-These feet are old and holy, you are care-free now; place entire faith in Me and you will soon get your object. Sapatnekar was much moved with emotion, he bathed Baba's Feet with his tears; and then returned to his residence.

Then he made preparations for worship and naiveidya and came with his wife to the Masjid. He offered all this to Baba daily and accepted prasad from Him. There was a crowd in the Masjid and Sapatnekar went there, and saluted Babu again and again. On seeing heads clashing against heads Baba said to Sapatnekar- "Oh, why do you prostrate yourself now and then? The one Namaskar offered with love and humility is enough". Then Sapatnekar witnessed that night the Chavadi procession described before. In that procession Baba looked like a veritable Pandurang (Vithal).

At the parting next day, Sapatnekar thought that he should first pay one rupee as dakshina and if Baba asked again, instead of saying no, he should pay one more, reserving with him sufficient amount as expenses for the journey. When he went to the Masjid and offered one rupee, Baba asked for another as per his intention and when it was paid, Baba blessed him saying- Take the coconut, put it in your wife's oti (upper fold of her sari), and go away at ease without the least anxiety. He did so, and within a year, a son was born to him and with a infant of 8 months the party came to Shirdi, placed it at Baba's Feet and prayed thus- "Oh, Sainath, we do not know how to redeem Your obligations, therefore, we prostrate ourselves before You, bless us poor helpless fellows, henceforth, let Your holy Feet be our sole refuge. Many thoughts and ideas trouble us in waking and dream states, so turn away our minds from them to Your Bhajan and bless us".

The son was named Muralidhar. Two other (Bhaskar and Dinkar) were born afterwards. The Sapatnekar pair thus realized that Baba's words were never untrue and unfulfilled, but turned out literally true.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all TO BE CONTINUED… With Sai love from Sai brothers – ‘’

 

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