FROM LIFE OF SRI SHIRDI SAI BABA BY NARASIMHA SWAMI

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FROM " LIFE OF SRI SHIRDI SAI BABA " BY NARASIMHA SWAMI

 

……“Daivi hi Eshaa Gunamayee Mama Maya Duratyaya

Mameva Ye Prapadyante Mayam Etam Tarantite.

 

that is, This three fold Guna constituting My Maya is hard indeed for anyone to

cross. But he who takes refuge and surrenders Tan, Man Dan to Me Iswara crosses

this Maya. So, Niranjan is one who has crossed the three-fold Maya who has

identified himself with Iswara and is possessed of Ashtaiswarya divine powers

that can bear every responsibility of another soul without regard to place,

time, or extent of time, that is, whether it is generations or centuries. One

may be aghast at the idea that any responsibility can be undertaken indefinitely

or for centuries. But Baba, being a Niranjan expressly undertook such

responsibility. When Mahlasapathy was afraid that the Muslims would come and

beat him for worshipping Baba with sandal paste after he left the Mosque

premises, Baba assured him that neither those nor any other persons could molest

him either in this life or in any future lives of his. Baba told the Bandra

youth, who prayed to him that he should be

always with him in future lives, that he had already been along with him in

previous lives and had been looking after him, and that for the three more lives

that were necessary for him to be born to work out his remaining karma, Baba

would be reborn and be with him. Similar assurances were given for indefinite

periods to M.B. Rege. One reading the Gospel of Sai Baba would notice that Baba

referred to ten thousand years back, saying ‘I was here ten thousand years

ago’. He told Shama that for 72 janmas or births he had been with him and that

he had never touched him at all till then. That is, he recalls events of 72

janmas, and knows he has been protecting his devotee all these janmas that is,

over 2,000 years. Especially in this janma when Shama, an almost illiterate and

helpless villager was obliged to depend entirely upon Baba, Baba looked after

all his interests and provided him and his children also with means of

subsistence, with comforts, with

safety, and position as he provided so many others. When G.G. Narke was

introduced to Baba, Baba declared that he had known him for 30 janmas. If a

janma is roughly taken to be even 30 years, this takes us nearly a thousand

years back. Hence, to give an undertaking which appears to be indefinite in

point of time is nothing for a Niranjana. The undertaking is also unconditional

and indefinite in respect of the sort of attacks that may befall a sishya. Sri

Rama said,

 

Sakrudeva Prapannaya Tava Asmi Iticha Yachate

Abhayam Sarva Bhutebhyo Dadami Etat Vratam Mama.

 

this means, If a person once surrenders and takes refuge with me saying, I am

yours, I undertake to protect him from all creatures. This is my vow. Sri Rama

does not limit either the time or the nature of the attack upon his dependants

seeking protection. Similarly Baba, who is nothing but Sai Rama, gave

undertakings indefinite in point of time, persons, or things, attacking devotees

or the place. As far as we are able to see, both Ayodhya Rama and Shirdi Sai

Rama kept up the promises that they made. See how Baba protected Gowri and the

coward Basappa, birth after birth.â€â€¦â€¦