Baba's Omniscience By Sri Narasimha Swamiji

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Baba's Omniscience

 

By Sri Narasimha Swamiji

 

Baba once assured His devotees - " My eye is ever on those who love Me, " and,

" whatever you do, wherever you may be, ever bear this in mind that I am

always aware of everything " . What a great solace and a source of confidence

to His devotees, and yet what an effective check on their evil propensities!

Baba more than sufficiently proved, time and again, the literal truth of His

statement.

 

In December 1915, one Balaram Mankar went to the house of his friend, Mr.

Tarkhad, a devotee of Baba, and told him that he was going to Shirdi and

asked the members whether they had any message for Baba. Mrs. Tarkhad, who

was very much devoted to Baba wanted to send him some gift. She searched the

whole house for some token of her devotion, but found nothing but a piece of

milk-cake (pedha), which was already offered to Sai Baba's picture in the

shrine. Such a thing is generally considered unworthy of being offered a

second time. But not having anything else in her possession, she hoped that

Baba would care more for the spirit of love with which she was sending it

than for the thing sent. What is more, Balaram was in the period of mourning

consequent on the death of his father and such a one is usually considered

impure and unfit to take such a holy gift. But the lady hoped that Baba

would even overlook this hurdle in view of her pure faith in him.

 

Balaram took the pedha with him to Shirdi, but in his hurry to see Sai Baba,

forgot to take it to Him. He took Baba's darshan with his own offerings.

Baba knew of the story of the pedha but waited for Balaram to recollect it

of his own accord. However, when Balaram visited Baba in the afternoon, he

again forgot to take the pedha with him. Baba threw a hint to him by asking,

" What did you bring for me from Bandra? " " Nothing " , said Balaram, for he

remembered nothing of it. Baba repeated His question again a little later,

but got no better reply. At last finding Balaram hopelessly short of memory,

Baba said: " Did not the mother Tarkhad give you some sweetmeat for Me at the

time of your departure? " The young man remembered the whole thing, felt

ashamed of his negligence, begged Baba's pardon, ran to his lodging and

brought the pedha.. Baba eagerly received it and ate it at once. All the

love and devotion of the lady were fully reciprocated by Baba.

 

There is M.W Pradhan's account of Baba's omniscience in his own words:

" While starting (i.e. on his visit to Shirdi I had provided myself with

three or four gold sovereigns ('guineas', as they were called) and some

currency notes. I got a note changed so that I might be able to give silver

rupees when Baba asks for dakshina. I had twenty rupees in cash and the rest

in notes. There, at the moment of our arrival, Baba was standing at the

Lendi, as though He was waiting for us. So we at once got down and bowed to

Him....I took all the flowers, garlands and fruits to the Masjid to garland

Baba and gave Him all the presents. When I looked quietly into His face and

eyes, I felt confirmed that Baba is really a great saint and said within

myself, ‘Thank God, I have come’...Baba asked me for dakshina. Instead of

giving Him silver coins as I had intended at Kalyan, I gave Him gold. I put

a sovereign in His hand. Baba received it, turned it in His

palm.........thrice and asked “Noolkar, 'What is this? What is its worth?'

And he (i.e. Noolkar) replied, 'It is worth fifteen rupees'. Then Baba

returned the coin to me saying, " I do not want this. Keep it and give me

fifteen rupees'. I then gave Baba fifteen silver rupees. Then Baba took the

fifteen, counted them over and over and professed to find only ten rupees in

what I gave Him and said, 'Here is only Rs. 10/-. Give Me Rs. 5/ - more!' I

meekly accepted Baba's declaration and gladly gave Him the other Rs. 5/- in

my pocket. Baba was obviously aware that the Rs. 20/- in my pocket was

intended for Him and expressly got it paid to Him; and under cover of wrong

calculation was carrying out my intention to place that sum at his feet.

After I gave Him Rs. 20/- on that occasion, He did not ask for more though I

had a lot more in notes with me. "

 

http://www.saileelas.org/magazines/saipadananda/jan2002.htm#BabasOmniscience