The Ever-Vigilant SaiBaba

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The Ever-Vigilant SaiBaba

By B. Sathyanarayana

 

" One making proper use of existing circumstances does not have to await

success; success awaits such a person. If you perform each action as worship

of Sai Baba then you will not have to remember Sai Baba; Sai Baba Himself

will remember you. "

- Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

 

It was during 1960-61. I was working as an Assistant Engineer, Western

Railway at Botad, about 100 miles from Ahmadabad. A mail train met with an

accident at a Railway Station - 'Bhimnath' in my jurisdiction, resulting in

the loss of lives. I had to rush to the site of accident to restore the

railway line, to attend to the transshipment of hundreds of stranded

passengers, to arrange medical aid, to face interrogation by the local

police and press reporters, and answering nerve breaking queries of my

superiors. All these happened from 7 pm and the entire night. Though I was

sure, that I was not at fault, still people around me including some of the

railway officials, were talking that I would be suspended the following day

by the Chief Engineer, coming from Bombay, and further disciplinary action

would be taken. There was none to support me and at least to sympathize with

me. I was thinking of Sai Baba and mentally asking him: “Baba, what wrong

have I done? Why this torture”?

 

Thus praying, I was doing my duty of arranging transshipment of stranded

passengers at dead of night from the site of accident to the relief train

which was at a distance of nearly one kilometer. At about 1 a.m., one old

gentlemen about 6 ft. tall, well built, wearing a white long, soiled jubba

and a scarf with a knot tied round his head and carrying a long stick and a

bag hanging from his shoulder came slowly towards me. He spoke to me in

Hindi thus: " What a big accident? How to go? " I did not respond to him, as

my mind was totally pre-occupied. He passed a few steps, almost brushing my

shoulder. Then somehow I asked him to wait and called one of assistants who

was having a lantern and told him to escort this old gentleman carefully to

the other train. On hearing this, this old man came back to me and patted my

shoulders and said " Pikhir math karo, sab teek ho jayega” (Don't worry,

everything will be alright). So saying he stared at me for a few seconds and

left. Hardly few more seconds must have passed when I shouted: " Baba, where

are you " and ran like a mad man in search of him. But I could not find him

anywhere.

 

I am quite sure that he was none other than Lord Sainath and I got solace.

Next day the Chief Engineer came from Bombay and told me ‘not to worry’ and

handled the rest of the work. This in spite of other officials insisting

that I be suspended. Thereafter, other routine enquiry was conducted and I

was appreciated in my work. The savior is none but all merciful Sai BABA.

 

The mouth of man is a Temple of the Lord. Alas! We desecrate it by indulging

the tongue in useless talk and speaking ill of others. " O my soul! Sing the

praises of the Lord, day and night, so that not a single harsh or negative

word leaves the lips! "

- J.P. Vaswani

 

 

 

(Source Saipadananda Magazine Oct 1991)