Experiences of Sai Maharaj - 3

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Sai Maharaj used to sleep on a plank of wood, which was tied with torn rags and hung from one of the rafters of the Masjid. Many people had an intense desire to see Sai Maharaj climb up or down from the plank; but even after hanging around for hours, nobody ever saw Sai climb up or down. Baba could be seen either sitting on the ground or sitting/sleeping on the plank. Oil lamps were lit on either sides of the plank. This ritual went on for many years. Then, one day, Sai broke the plank. There are many devotees in Shirdi and elsewhere, who are witness to this ritual of the plank. Once, a religious story-teller, Nanasaheb Chandorkar and two other gentlemen went for Darshan of Sai. After Darshan, the story-teller was eager to leave early; as he had a

story-telling program in Ahmednagar the next day. When Nanasaheb asked Baba’s permission, Baba said, “Have your lunch and go !” Nanasaheb requested the story-teller to stay; but he would not agree and left with his friends to reach the station. Sai then commented to Nanasaheb, “See, how selfish people can be ! When the time comes they leave their friends and stick to their own vested interests. That is why one should choose a friend, who will never ever leave one’s side.” Who else, but a Sadguru can be such a life-long friend ! So, one should be devoted to a Sadguru only. You may love all living things; but only the company of a Sadguru will bring real happiness. As per Sai’s wish, Nanasaheb and his friends took leave only after having lunch. Sai said, “There is still some time for the train.’’

When they reached the station, they found that the train was late and the story-teller and his friends were waiting with sour faces for the train. Nanasaheb asked, “Did you miss the train ?” The story-teller replied, “No, the train is three hours late. You did well to listen to Sai Maharaj. We did not and had to go hungry.” Later, the train arrived and everyone left for Ahmednagar. In Shirdi, there lived a man called Appa Kulkarni. He was a great devotee of Sai Baba. Once, he was accused of accepting bribes at the behest of some mischief-makers of the village. When ordered to answer the charge by

the Chief Officer of the region, Appa was extremely scared and before going went to take leave of Sai. Baba said, “The Chief Officer is at Nevasa. When you go there, first pay your obeisance to Lord Mohiniraj and then go to answer the Chief.” Appa did as told. The Chief heard him and let him go. “I feel sure, you have not taken any money,” he said. Appa danced with joy, singing praises of Sai. Then, he returned to Shirdi and narrated his tale to Sai. Without taking any credit Sai said, “Everything is done by God. He can bring about miracles for His devotees.” One day, Baba told Appa Kulkarni, “Some robbers have entered our village. They will first attack you; so take care ! They are very cunning. They have their sights set on the main booty and they take only that away.” Appa took this advise literally, and locking the government taxes collected by him, he kept vigilant men on guard. But, the robbers indicated by Maharaj were of a different kind. They were the messengers of death or

‘Yamdoot’. A little while after Sai gave the above warning, Appa suffered from vomiting and diarrhoea and died. When he became serious, Appa’s wife went to Sai and wept. Sai consoled her and gave her some sage advice. When a couple of more people died with similar symptoms the next day, the villagers prayed to Baba to take care of them. Sai said, “In all seven people will die and then this epidemic will be no more.” As predicted by Baba, seven people died and then the cholera vanished. There was a carpenter called Kondya in Shirdi, who was a great Sai devotee. One afternoon, Baba said to him, “There is a fire in Khalwadi (threshing ground); so you go there !” It was a hot summer afternoon; but Kondya went running to the threshing ground, only to find that there was no fire anywhere. He returned saying -“There is no fire at all. Why did You make me run in the scorching heat ?” Sai said, “Turn around !” When Kondya turned around, he saw that a stack of hay was on fire and he could see the smoke. Suddenly, a strong wind started blowing and there was an alarm in the village. The villagers thought that, now all the stacks would catch fire causing great damage and so, they pleaded with Baba. Sai reached Khalwadi and poured a ring of water around the burning pile. He said, “Only this pile will burn. Others

will remain unharmed.” And so it happened. Nanasaheb Beray worked as an Inspector in the agricultural department. He was a devotee of Sai Maharaj. Once, when he went for Sai’s Darshan, Sai said, “You go to the station (Kopargaon) immediately ! Do not delay.” So, Nanasaheb left quickly. He drove the tonga at top speed. There was another tonga following him. The gentleman sitting in it said, “There is still time for the train. What’s the hurry ? We can take it easy.” But, Mr. Beray did not agree and he went quickly to the station. Later, he heard the news that the tonga, which was following him was stopped and looted by robbers. They also beat up the passengers. Mr. Beray then realized the importance of Sai’s words and kept saying that it was Sai Who saved him. After reading these

experiences of Sai, we can understand His caring for the people. With His Darshan and company, people realized that He is the real Sadguru. He fulfills all the criteria of a Sadguru, as described in the scriptures by the Saints, and complete surrender to Him is the only way to salvation. It is not possible to describe Sai’s attributes or Leelas entirely; but a little knowledge of them could serve as guidance. A way to do this is to narrate experiences of His innumerable devotees. Megha, a Gujarati Brahmin, was a great Sai devotee. One day, he was drawing a ‘Trishul’ (trident) with ‘Shendur’ (vermillion). When I asked, why, he replied, “Today, when I awoke at dawn and was still in bed, I thought, I heard Baba’s voice say - ‘Megha, draw a Trishul !’ When I looked around, Baba was nowhere and both the doors of our house were bolted. But, the voice was Baba’s and there were some ‘Akshata’ (holy rice grains) on the bed. I got up immediately, went to the Masjid and asked Baba, ‘Should I draw a Trishul ?’ Baba said, ‘Yes !’ and so, I am drawing this.” The next day, around 10 o’clock, when Megha went to visit Baba, he was given a Shivlingam, which Baba had received from some devotee. Baba said, “Take this Megha and worship it daily !” When Megha returned, he showed me the Shivlingam and said, “Baba has told me to worship it every day.” He was very happy. To know the reason behind it, lets go back in history. Megha was serving Rao Bahadur Hari Vinayak Sathe, when he was a Deputy Collector in Kheda district, and it was he who taught him the Gayatri Mantra. A few days later Sathe sent him to a Shiva temple to do the daily Pooja. When Sathe became a devotee of Sai Maharaj he built a Wada (mansion) in Shirdi for the benefit of the devotees. Sathe thought it apt to keep Megha to serve Sai. Since Megha was a Shiva devotee and thought, Sai to be a Muslim, he was reluctant and dejected, when he came to know of his employer’s wishes. But, Sathe convinced him about the true character of Sai. Megha felt better; but not completely convinced. When he first stepped into the Masjid, Sai said, “Don’t you dare come up. Why have you come to a Muslim ?” But, this was Sai’s way of acknowledging Megha, and He was not really angry. Megha stayed in Shirdi for some days and then went home to his village. But, there he missed Sai so much that he soon returned to Shirdi and stayed there for ever. He thought of Baba as Shiva and kept chanting ‘‘Shankar... Shankar’’; even referring to Baba as Shankar. Later, a huge picture of Sai was put up in Sathe’s Wada. Ever since Megha worshipped it daily. The above incident happened a year later. Before the Shivlingam came into Baba’s hands, He ordered Megha to draw the Trishul, that too not in person, but as a voice heard by Megha. It is indeed amazing; but what is more notable is that Baba kept Megha’s

faith in Shiva intact. As Baba’s Aarati proclaims - “Whatever the faith in one’s mind, Baba’s grace gives him that experience.” A friend of mine is a lawyer in the High Court. When he first visited Baba, it

so happened that only the two of them were present. Baba said, “What should one say ? Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram !” When He repeated the words after a few minutes, my friend suddenly remembered that his Guru had given him this Mantra. Again after some time Baba reiterated His words and my friend realized that Baba was telling him to chant the same Mantra, his Guru had given him. Once, when a man from Thane district went to take Baba’s Darshan, Baba told him to worship Maruti. He did not understand; but when people asked him, if he did worship

Maruti, he replied, “Yes. There is a five faced Maruti temple near my house. I do not eat food without doing Pooja there.” Obviously Baba confirmed his faith in the God, he was worshipping. There is no separate community or cult established by Baba. He just strengthened the belief of the devotee in his own faith. People from all religions came to Baba; but there is no example of Baba asking to change their original faith. But, if anybody strayed from the royal road, putting him back on the right track was Baba’s priority. Yogabhyasis, Karmabhyasis and Dnyanabhyasis, all thronged

to Baba and benefitted from His guidance to progress in their subjects. Once, a good friend of mine went for Sai’s Darshan. Baba welcomed him with “Come Ramdas !” When I inquired, why Baba called him so, at first he could not cite a reason; but then he realized something and said, “For the last two years I have been doing Ram Nam Japa; but nobody, not even my family know about it.” Obviously Baba’s words pointed towards this. In Christmas 1909, a doctor went to Shirdi with a friend. The doctor was an orthodox Brahmin, who worshipped Lord Ram and was thus reluctant to visit Shirdi, as he did not want to bow down to a Muslim. But, his friend assured him that not even Baba would ask him to bow. Thus convinced, the doctor reached Baba’s Masjid in Shirdi. Lo and behold ! There

was no Muslim; but Lord Ram Himself in front of him ! The doctor immediately prostrated in front of Baba. He told his friend about it when he came out. The next day, the doctor decided that he would neither eat, nor go into the Masjid unless Baba blessed him. Thus, for three days, he neither ate, nor went to the Masjid. On the fourth day, the doctor’s friend suddenly arrived from Khandesh for Sai’s Darshan. The doctor was so happy to see his friend after 8-9 years, that he went with him to see Baba. As soon as the doctor prostrated before Baba, He said, “Why have you come

doctor ? Who called you ?” The doctor remembered his decision, not to visit Baba till blessed and was overwhelmed. Around midnight, the doctor was truly blessed by Sai and he experienced supreme bliss in his sleep. He remained in this condition for 15-20 days, even after he went home. There are many such experiences of Baba. Once, two of my friends were gossiping in the Wada. I was asleep. They were talking late into the night, when they realized that, what they were doing was not good and so went to sleep. The next day, there were many people for Baba’s Darshan, including

these two. When they bowed to do Namaskar to Baba, He uttered these words - “All types of people come in this Darbar. Good, bad, rogues, evil, cruel – all types. Why should one criticize and gossip about them ?” Of course, my friends learnt their lesson from Baba’s comment. – Shri Sai Leela, Year 1, Volume II, Jyeshtha, Shaka 1845 Translated into English by Jyoti Ranjan Raut 8/A Kakad Estate, 106 Sea Face Road, Worli, Mumbai - 400 018. (Source: Saileela Magazine May-June 2007)

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