DEVOTEES' EXPERIENCES OF SRI SAI BABA BY H.H. NARASIMHA SWAMIJI - PART - III

May 23, 2006

Sairam,

Devotees Experiences - Bayyaji Apaji Patel

One day, when I was 11 years old (1901-2) Baba stopped me from going away to tend my cattle. Then He suddenly spoke angrily at me and others, and broke four mudpots. Then He blew "Bum Bum" on the back of His hand - indicating that death or some inauspicious event was coming. This was at 9 A.M. or 9-30 A.M. That night my father's sister's son Daji Kote, aged 30 died of fever. During the last 14 years of Baba's life, He gave me daily 4 rupees. Even on His last (Samadhi) day, He gave me four rupees. As to the use of His gift, Baba once told me neither to lend the moneys He gave, nor make a gift of them. "Do not eat and excrete this. Do not give it away to others." So I have invested it in purchases of land. I purchased 84 acres of land out of Baba's gifts. I have had already 10 or 11 acres of other land.

Baba has helped me with His wonderful knowledge of the future. (1) About my cultivation, there was the strong temptation to plant my lands with sugar cane as so many do. Baba's advice was' "Don't." But I yielded once to the temptation, despite this advice. A loss of 300 rupees in the money invested on sugar cane planting and the going without the usual supply of dry crops I would have got on the land, that was the result of disobedience. (2) In 1913, my father who was over 70 years of age went out as usual on horse back and returned with a stroke of paralysis. I went to Baba and asked for his Udhi. Baba said "I will not give Udhi. Allah Malik Hai." I wept. On the 3rd day of the attack i.e., on Kartik Sudha Ekadasi, Sunday, a specialty holy day, my father breathed his last. Next day I went to the Masjid and massaged Baba's leg as usual. I used to boast and feel proud that I had Bhima's strength. So I tried to lift Baba up in my arms after the massage to carry

Him and place Him before the fire. Many a day I have done so. That day I could not lift Him. Baba laughed at me and He put down my pride. That was a Dwa dasi day. Baba then taught me two lessons - not to be proud, and the other not to feel grief for the death of my father. "Why should you be sorry? In 5 months he ( my father) will come back." Then my son was born. He is aged 22 years and 8 months.