Thrusdays Message - Chapter 11 of SSS

[Guest guest]

Ancient Hindu Philosophy talks about two aspects of God 1) with form and 2)

without form. And it is easy to worship gods with form, and that is what

most of us do, and as we progress in our worship we worship the Nirgun or

the Unmanifested. For us Baba is all both the manifested and the

unmanifested, He is Parabrahma for us or Guru God. He is present every

where and we have to identify everything as Sai and Sai in everything. And

His all pervasiveness was experienced by His devotees and further Baba

responds to the devotees innermost wishes, and the love of Baba to his

devotees is comparable to the love of a mother to her child and sometimes

the love of the falls short, but the love of Baba is ever overflowing for

His devotees.

Baba always respected His devotees innermost desires and habits, and the

concrete example for this is Dr.Pandit. So let us not leave our Istha Devata

or Devis and lets not leave our Ancestral gods lets continue our family

traditions and see Baba in those deities and our spiritual progress will be

easy. To see Baba in our ancestral deities is the easiest Sadhana.

The path of spiritual road is very tough and we should not be proud of our

spiritual advances, and we should always be humble and meek, Baba does not

like proudness and if we want to be enlisted into the Darbar of Baba we

should be meek and humble then, all the Grace of Baba will be on us. This is

illustrated by the story of Haji Siddik Falki.

 

Baba is the God who walked on this earth for the welfare of simple devotees,

and he hardly showed His powers and he never displayed His powers for

attracting devotees, He used his powers for the welfare of the devotees and

never used it for His selfish use, and He had the utmost concern for the

welfare of His Bhaktas, and for the welfare and well being of His devotees

he also did not hesitate with the activities of nature, and the best example

of this is 1) asking the thunder storm in Shirdi to stop for the welfare of

His Bhaktas and also controlling the flames of Dhuni.

So Dear Devotees, Baba is not a Guru in the ordinary sense he is a God

Incarnate, and this incarnation of God is to uplift the devotees to God

vision and to attain the Supreme. So lets not waste our time in mundane and

materialistic activities, lets us prostrate to Baba and surrender to Him,

and donate to him two paise i.e., Faith and Patience and we are sure to

achive the Grace of Baba, which is equal to God Vision.

 

Chapter XI

Sai, as Sagun Brahman -- Dr. Pandit's Worship -- Haji Sidik Falke --Control

over the Elements

Let us now, in this Chapter, describe the manifested (Sagun) Brahman Sai.

How He was worshipped and how He controlled the elements.

Sai as Sagun Brahman

There are two aspects of God or Brahman : (1) the Unmanifested (Nirgun) and

(2) the Manifested (Sagun). The Nirgun is formless, while the Sagun is with

form, though both denote the same Brahman. Some prefer to worship the

former, some the latter. As stated in the Gita (chapter XII) the worship of

the latter is easy and preferable. As man has got a form (body, senses,

etc.), it is natural and easy for him to worship the God with form. Our love

and devotion do not develop unless we worship Sagun Brahman for a certain

period of time, and as we advance; it leads us to the worship (meditation)

of Nirgun Brahman. So let us start with Sagun worship. Image, altar, fire,

light, sun, water, Brahman are the seven objects of worship, but Sadguru is

better than all these. Let us, on this occasion, bring to our mind the form

of Sai, Who was non-attachment Incarnate, and Who was a resting-place for

His whole-hearted devotees. Our faith in His words is the seat of Asan; and

our Sankalpa (determination to start and finish the Puja) is the abandonment

of all our desires. Some say that Sai was a Bhagwad-bhakta (devotee of the

Lord), others say He was a Maha-Bhagwat (a great devotee), but to us He is

God Incarnate. He was extremely forgiving, never irritable, straight, soft,

tolerant and content beyond comparison. Though He looked embodied (as having

the form), He was really dis-embodied, emotionless, unattached and

internally free. The Ganges on its way to the sea, cools and refreshes the

creatures affected with heat, gives life to the crops and trees, and

quenches the thirst of many. Similarly Saints (Souls) like Sai, while they

live their own life, give solace and comfort to all. Lord Krishna has said

that 'the Saint is My soul, My living image, I am He or He is My pure form

(Being).' This in-describable Shakti or Power of God, known as Pure

Existence, Knowledge and Bliss, incarnated in the form of Sai in Shirdi. The

Shruti (Taitiriya Upanishad) describes Brahman as Bliss. This we read or

hear daily in the books, but the devout people experienced this Brahman or

Bliss in Shirdi. Baba, the support of all, required no prop or support

(Asan) from anybody. He always used a piece of sack-cloth for His seat,

which was covered with a small beautiful bed by His bhaktas and has a

bolster placed by them, as a rest to His back. Baba respected the feelings

of His devotees and allowed them to worship Him as they liked. Some waved

Chamara or fans before Him, some played on musical instruments, some washed

His hands and Feet, some others applied scent and chandan, some gave betel

nut with leaves and other things, and some others offered naivedya. Though

He looked like living in Shirdi, He was present everywhere. This

all-pervasiveness of His way daily experienced by His devotees. Our humble

prostration to this all-pervasive Sadguru.

Dr. Pandit's Worship

One Dr. Pandit, a friend of Tatyasaheb Noolkar, once came to Shirdi for

Baba's darshana. After saluting Baba, he stayed in the Masjid for some time.

Baba asked him to go to Dadabhat Kelkar. He went to Dadabhat, by whom he was

well received. Then Dababhat left his house for Puja and Dr. Pandit

accompanied him. Dadabhat worshipped Baba. Nobody until then dared to apply

sandal paste to Baba's forehead. Only Mhalsapati used to apply it to His

throat. But this simple-hearted devout, Dr. Pandit, took Dabadhat's dish

containing Puja-materials and taking sandal-paste out of it, drew a

Tripundra, i.e. there horizontal lines on Baba's forehead. To the surprise

of all, Baba kept silent without uttering a single word. Then Dababhat that

evening asked Baba, " How is it, that though You object to the sandal-paste

being applied by others to Your forehead, but You allowed Dr. Pandit to do

so now? " Baba replied that Dr. Pandit believed Him to be the same as his

Guru, Raghunath Maharaja of Dhopeshwar, known as Kaka Puranik, and he

applied the paste to His forehead, as he was doing to his Guru. Hence He

could not object. On enquiry, Dr. Pandit told Dadabhat that he took Baba as

his Guru Kaka Puranik, and hence he marked the Tripundra on Baba's forehead,

as he did on his Guru's head.

Though Baba allowed the devotees to worship Him as they pleased, still

sometimes, He acted in a strange way. Sometimes, He threw away the Puja-dish

and was wrath Incarnate, then who could approach Him? Sometimes, He scolded

the devotees, at times, He looked softer than wax, a statue of peace and

forgiveness. Though He seemed to shake with anger and His red eyes rolled

round and round, still, He was internally a stream of affection and motherly

love. Immediately, He called out His devotees and said, that He ever angry

with His devotees; that if mothers kicked their children and if the sea

turned back the rivers, He would neglect the devotees' welfare: that He, the

slave of His devotees, always stood by them, and responded to them, whenever

they called upon Him, and that He always longed for their love.

Haji Sidik Falke

There was no knowing, when Baba would accept a devotee. That depended on His

sweet will. Sidik Falke's story is to the point. One Mahomedan gentleman by

name Sidik Falke of Kalyan, after making a pilgrimage to Mecca and Madina,

came to Shirdi. He lived in a Chavadi, facing north, and sat in the open

court-yard of the Masjid. For nine months, Baba ignored him, and did not

allow him to step into the Masjid. Falke felt much disconsolate, and did not

know what to do. Somebody advised him not to be disappointed; but to try to

approach Baba through Shama (Madhavarao Deshpande), a close and intimate

devotee of Baba. He told him that as they approach the God Shiva through his

servant and devotee, Nandi, so Baba should be approached through Shama.

Falke liked the idea and implored Shama to intercede for him. Shama agreed

and on a convenient occasion spoke to Baba about him thus:- " Baba, why don't

You allow the old Haji to step into the Masjid, while so many persons freely

come and go, after taking Your darshan; why not bless him once? " Baba

replied " Shama, you are too young to understand things. If the Fakir (Allah)

does not allow, what can I do? Without His grace, who will climb into the

masjid? Well, go to him and ask him whether he will come to the narrow

footpath near the Barvi well. " Shama went and returned with an affirmative

answer. Again Baba said to Shama, " Ask him whether he is willing to pay me

the sum of Rs. 40,000/- in four instalments. " Shama went and returned with

the answer that he was willing to pay even 40 lacs. Again Baba said to

Shama- " We are going to butcher a goat in the Masjid, so ask him, whether he

would like to have mutton, haunch or testicles of the goat. " Shama returned

with the answer that the Haji would be happy to receive a small crumb from

Baba's kolamba (mudpot). Hearing this Baba got excited and with His hands

threw away the earthen jars and kolamba and straightway advanced to the Haji

and lifting His Kafni up with His hands said - " Why do you brag and fancy

yourself great and pose yourself as an old Haji? Do you read Koran like

this? You are proud of your pilgrimage to Macca, but you do not know Me. "

Being thus scolded, the Haji was confounded. Baba then went back to the

Masjid, purchased a few baskets of mangoes and sent them to the Haji. Then

again Baba went to the Haji and taking out Rs.55/- from His pocket, gave

them to the Haji. From that time, Baba loved the Haji, invited him for meals

and the Haji, thereafter, came into the Masjid whenever he liked. Baba gave

him at times some rupees, and thus the Haji was enlisted in Baba's Darbar.

Baba's Control over the Elements

We shall close this Chapter after describing two incidents showing Baba's

control over the elements. (1) Once at evening time, there was a terrible

storm at Shirdi. The sky was overcast with thick black clouds. The winds

began to blow forcibly; the clouds roared and the lighting began to flash,

and the rains began to descend in torrents. In a short time, the whole place

was flooded with water, All the creatures, birds, beasts and men got

terribly frightened; and they all flocked to the Masjid for shelter. There

are many local deities in Shirdi, but none of them came to their help. So

they all prayed to Baba - their God, Who was fond of their devotion, to

intercede and quell the storm. Baba was much moved. He came out and standing

at the edge of the Masjid, addressed the storm in a loud and thunderous

voice - " Stop, stop your fury and the calm. " In a few minutes the rains

subsided, the winds ceased to blow, and the storm came to a stop. Then the

moon rose in the sky, and the people then went back home well-pleased, (2)

On another occasion at noon the fire in the Dhuni began to burn brightly,

its flames were seen to be reaching the rafters above. The people who were

sitting in the Masjid did not know what to do. They dared not to ask Baba to

pour water or do anything to quench the flames. But Baba soon came to

realize, what was happening. He took up His Satka (short stick) and dashed

it against a pillar in front, saying - " Get down, Be calm. " At each stroke

of the Satka, the flames began to lower and slow down; and in a few minutes

the Dhuni became calm and normal.

This is our Sai, an Incarnation of God. He will bless any man who will

prostrate and surrender himself to Him. He, who will read the stories of

this Chapter daily with faith and devotion, will soon be free from all

calamities; not only this, but always attached and devoted to Sai, he will

get very soon God-vision: all his desires will be fulfilled and being

ultimately desireless, he will attain the Supreme. Amen!

Bow to Shri Sai -- Peace be to all

 

On behalf of Smt.C.Srivalli Garu.