Baba's Grace on Me By GAYATHRI S. BELLUR

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Baba's Grace on Me

By GAYATHRI S. BELLUR

HUMILITY - BABA'S OMNIPRESENCE

On one occasion when Hemad Pant (Anna Saheb Dabolkar) came to him, there was

in the fold of his coat some channa, that is, fried grains, and it fell from

his coat; and people were joking at him. That was a day of fair at Shirdi,

and Dabolkar had perhaps been to the fair. Baba wanting to have a joke at

him, said, " Oh! This channa shows that he is in the habit of eating things

all by himself without sharing it with others. " Dabolkar was much upset and

he protested that he had no such habit. But how the channa got into his

dress, he could not explain. Then Baba made further use of the occasion and

told him, ‘when you eat, do you give things to me? Am I not always by your

side’, thus impressing on him a very valuable lesson that Baba was present

everywhere and that they should first offer their food to him as their

Gurudeva, before taking their food. This is a sacred lesson and this

teaching is divine. But it came out of Baba's humor and fun poked at Anna

Saheb Dabolkar.

 

Sri Sai Baba is everywhere present

This incident occurred some years ago during my stay in Bandra West in

Mumbai. I had gone on a vacation to my cousin's place at East Muland. One

day, my cousins wanted to go to Muland West for shopping and insisted that

we cross the railway track, as it is of a short distance. Somehow I was

against it and suggested that we take the over bridge. They laughed at me

and finally we decided to cross the railway line.

 

As we were crossing the railway track, my right ankle was caught between the

fish plates and the Guard, being unaware, was

tightening the lever. A train was about to leave from the same track. I did

not lose my presence of mind and started praying to Sai Baba for relief. I

knew He would certainly save me.

 

Just then a crowd collected and one of them ran to the Guard who was at a

distance to inform him what has happened. The Guard loosened the lever and

my right ankle was freed.

 

When we returned home the right foot had developed a big swelling. I could

only limp and the pain was terrible. My cousin's parents were shocked. They

wanted to take me to an Orthopedic Surgeon then and there. I consoled them

by saying that Sai Baba takes care of me and 'Udhi' alone would bring down

the swelling.

 

I budged to their insistence on going to a Doctor. An X-ray was taken. The

Doctor said that there was no fracture and it was only a contusion. I became

all right in a couple of days time.

 

I think of that incident and gratefully bow to Sai Baba for saving me from a

ghastly accident. Otherwise, I would not be standing on my two feet today.

When I sleep, O Lord Sainath, close my eyes with your blessed hands, and let

me dream of Thy vision-Thy vision alone. When I live, let me walk in Thy

image. When I die, let my last words be: " O Lord, how grateful I am for your

gifts. "

 

Let me close this with a poem;

 

" When the great External Auditor my book of life receives, And He checks the

daily entries, that are written on the leaves; May He find the accounts in

order and no need for fear or shame, But a credit carried forward to the

glory of His name. "

Lord Sainath – I owe you an irreparable debt of gratitude.

While performing the Japa, the Sadhana should dwell on the meaning of these

Divine Names, and should believe that the all pervading divinity has

appeared before him in the form of the Name. This gives ineffable joy and

peace of mind. Or else the Sadhana should keep his mind fixed on the Divine

Form of the Lord-His Ishta Deva.

- Jayadayai Goyandka

 

http://www.saileelas.org/magazines/saipadananda/oct1998.htm#BabasgraceonMe