Life History of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba - Part 23 to 25

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Om Sri Sai Ram

 

LIFE HISTORY OF SRI SHIRDI SAI BABA

 

By Ammula Sambasiva Rao

 

English Translation by Thota Bhaskara Rao

 

 

Chapter XXIII

 

Sai Baba did not encourage the practice of black magic, witchcraft,

etc. He never allowed those with such powers to come near him, until

they shed off such powers.

 

Kusa Bhav

 

Kusa Bhav learnt black magic. The moment he desired, sweets came into

his hand. After hearing of Baba's greatness, he came to Shirdi. As he

was trying to enter Dwarakamayi, Baba stopped him and asked him to

give up all his magic powers and only then come to him. For some days

he did in a fix not know what to do. Finally, he removed the bracelet

he was wearing and after giving up the powers, served Baba with

devotion for a long time.

 

On an Ekadashi day, someone brought some food made with onions. Baba

had no blind beliefs in such matters. He asked Kusa Bhav to eat it.

Though Kusa Bhav told Baba that it was Ekadashi that day and he did

not take onions, Baba insisted on his eating it. Finally Kusa Bhav

told Baba that he would eat it if Baba ate too. Then Baba ate first,

followed by Kusa Bhav. After a while, some devotees came into the

mosque and Baba told them that though it was Ekadashi day, and Kusa

Bhav, an orthodox Brahmin, had eaten onions. Then Kusa Bhav told them

that he had eaten only after Baba had eaten the onions. Baba told

that he had not eaten onions but some turnips. So saying he vomited,

and the vomit contained pieces of sweet potato instead of onions.

Kusa Bhav was surprised at this; he picked up the sweet potato pieces

from the vomit and ate them. Baba got angry and scolded him as to why

he was doing such a disgusting thing. After a moment Baba's anger

turned into pity and he said to him, " I am blessing you. Wherever you

are and whenever you want, if you think of me you will get udi from

Dwarakamayi in your hands. If you give udi to those in need, their

difficulties would be over and their desires fulfilled. " From that

day onwards till his death, Kusa Bhav used to get handful of udi by

merely repeating Baba's name. What we learn from this story is that

Baba had no liking for black magic. He reformed such devotees who

approached him and instead of such lowly powers, gave them some

divine powers. Therefore, those who are true devotees of Baba need

not worry about such evil forces. They will not dare to come near

them.

 

Hemadpant

 

Every Sunday was shandy day at Shirdi. People from neighboring

villages came to Shirdi on that day and visited Sai Baba. Hence, on

Sundays at afternoon Aarti, the mosque would be overflowing with

devotees. One Sunday, Hemadpant was pressing Baba's feet. Shama

laughingly said to him that there were chana sticking to his coat and

asked him to see it. When Hemadpant shook his shirtsleeves, a lot of

chana fell on the floor. Some who were present there picked them up.

Hemadpant did not know how the Chana had come to be on his shirt.

Everyone was surprised. Then Baba said, " This person has a bad habit

of eating alone. Today is Shandy date. He came here eating chana. He

is not in the habit of sharing with others. These chana seeds are

proof of it and what is there to be surprised? "

 

Hemadpant replied, " Baba, I never eat alone. Why are you putting this

allegation on me? Till now I have never gone to the Shandy at Shirdi.

I never purchased chana. Today also I have neither purchased nor

eaten them. I always share with others near me. " Immediately Baba

said, " You will give to these who are near you. What are you doing

when none are near you? Are you thinking of me before you eat

anything? I am always with you. Then are you offering me before you

eat? " Hemadpant became dumb at the last question put by Baba. It was

true that he is not in the habit of offering to Baba before he ate

anything. He did not think of this till then. When he considered Baba

as everything in his life, was it necessary to offer again whenever

he ate? When this doubt came to him, Baba read his thought and

proceeded to tell him further.

 

" Before the sense, mind and intellect enjoy their objectives. I

should first be remembered, and if this is done, it is in a way

making an offering to me. The senses, etc. can never remain without

their objects. But if these objects are first offered to the Guru,

the attachment to them will naturally vanish. In this way all the

thoughts regarding Desire, anger, avarice, etc. should first be

offered and directed to the Guru and if this practice is followed,

then God will help you in eradicating all the thoughts. Before

enjoyment of the objects, if you think that I am close by, the

question whether the object is fit to be enjoyed or not will arise.

Then the object that is not fit to be enjoyed will be shunned and in

this way your vicious habits or vices will disappear and your

character will improve. Then love for the Guru will grow, and pure

knowledge will sprout. When this knowledge grows, the body

consciousness will go and your intellect will be merged in the spirit-

consciousness. Then you will get bliss and contentment. Therefore,

you should offer all pleasures you enjoy through the senses to me

first. Otherwise, there is the danger that you will not be able to

control your senses and will become slaves to your desires. "

 

The above teachings of Baba were not only for Hemadpant, but to all

of us, and to the entire world, as long as mankind exists. The Life

History of Shirdi Sai Baba is full of pearl-like stories. Let this

Life History be in every household and Parayana done regularly. Like

the Mahabharatha and Ramayana, let this Life History of Baba be above

caste, and religious differences and acquire national character.

 

Mavisi Bai

 

Anna Chinchinikar alias Damodar Ganshyam Babre was a devotee of Baba.

He was a rough and adamant person. He was very straightforward and

frank and did not care for anyone. But, he was good at heart.

 

One afternoon, he was sitting by the side of Baba and massaging his

left hand. On the right side of Baba, an old widow by name Venkubai

Koujalgi alias Mavisi Bai, sat massaging Baba's back. She was also a

person with a pure heart. While massaging due to the movements, her

face kept coming very near to that of Anna Chinchinikar. Though she

moved forward and backward in the process of massaging Baba's back

with full devotion, she complained that Anna Chinchinikar was trying

to come very near her with the bad intention of kissing her. At this

Anna Chinchinikar got up angrily and tried to quarrel with her. The

onlookers were enjoying this quarrel. Then Baba asked them not to

quarrel and there was nothing wrong in a son kissing his mother. Thus

he cooled down their tempers.

 

On another occasion Mavisi Bai was massaging Baba's abdomen exerting

great pressure. People cautioned her to be careful, as there was the

danger of the intestines getting damaged. On hearing this, Baba

suddenly got angry. His eyes became red. He took his sataka and with

one end fixed on the pillar in the Dwarakamayi, he fixed the other

end on his stomach and was trying to thrust it into his stomach with

full force. The devotees got scared. Nobody had the courage to talk

to Baba or touch him. After sometime Baba came back to his original

state. From this story it is clear that Baba knew about the devotion

of those who came to him. The devotees served Baba in their own way

and there was no need for others to interfere.

 

Harishchandra Pitale's Son

 

Pitale was a resident of Bombay. His son was suffering from fits. He

was given all types of medicines without any relief. After hearing

the Hari Katha of Baba rendered by Das Ganu, he came to Shirdi in

1910 with his son. He visited Baba in the mosque and prostrated

before him. He put his son near Baba's feet. Baba looked for sometime

with concentration at the patient. The boy lost consciousness and

fell on the floor. Foam began to come out of his mouth and he

perspired profusely, with the temperature of the body going below. On

seeing the condition of the boy, the parents were very much worried.

The boy's mother started weeping. Then Baba told her not to weep but

to take the boy to the room and he would be all right in half an

hour. After taking the boy to the `Wada', the boy regained

consciousness. From that day onwards, the boy did not get fits. While

leaving Shirdi, Pitale went to see Baba who told him, " Brother, I had

given you two rupees on a previous occasion and now I am giving you

three rupees. Keep them in your Puja room and worship them. " Since

Pitale had come to Shirdi for the first time, he could not understand

how Baba could have given him two rupees earlier. After he reached

home, when he narrated this to his old mother, she told him that in

the same manner as he had taken his son to Shirdi, his (Pitale's)

father had taken him to Akkalkot Maharaj. He had given him two rupees

and asked him to keep them in the Puja room and worship them. His

father had worshipped them till his death and the worship had stopped

after that. From this story it is clear that Sai Baba was Akkalkot

Maharaj.

 

Ambadekar

 

Gopal Narayana Ambadekar, a resident of Poona, suffered without a job

for seven years. He came to Shirdi several times and prayed to Baba.

Gradually his condition deteriorated. He came then with his wife and

stayed for two months.

 

One night he was sitting in front of Dixit Wada. Unable to bear the

financial difficulties, he wanted to end his life by jumping into the

nearby well. Just then, the proprietor of the hotel opposite to the

Wada, Sagunamer Naik, called him and asked him to read the Life

History of Akkalkot Maharaj, and gave him the book. Ambadekar half-

heartedly took the book and opened some page. That page contained the

following details.

 

When Akkalkot Maharaj was alive, a person suffered from prolonged

illness and unable to bear it jumped into a well to end his life. But

Akkalkot Maharaj immediately caught hold of him and brought him out

of the well, telling him that one had to undergo these difficulties

which were a fallout of his actions in the previous birth. Even if

one ended his life without fully undergoing the difficulties, in his

next birth again he would have to face the difficulties. So before

death, it was better to suffer for sometime and wipe off the sins of

the previous birth. Though he had turned a page of the book at

random, the story of an incident similar to his came and Ambadekar

took it as an order of Baba and refrained from putting an end to his

life.

 

Gentlemen from Goa

 

Two gentlemen came to Shirdi from Goa. Baba asked one of them rupees

fifteen as Dakshina. The other person tried to give thirty-five

rupees but Baba declined to take them. Shama, who was present there,

asked Baba about this discrimination. Baba replied that he himself

would never ask for Dakshina, but Mother Mosque would ask for payment

of debt. From whom she desired to have Dakshina, only from those he

would ask. Those who were in debt to her would pay the amount and get

salvation. Baba further told that he had no family or property and

that he should not accumulate wealth. He took Dakshina only from

those who made certain vows but fell in debt without discharging the

vows. One had to undergo the consequences of debt, enmity and killing

of others. There was no way of escaping. The person from one whom now

Baba had taken Dakshina of fifteen rupees was very poor. He took a

vow to give the first month's salary to God if he secured a job. He

got a job with a salary starting at fifteen rupees. His salary

gradually went up to Rs.700. Even then he did not discharge his vow.

As a result of his action, he was dragged here and Baba had taken the

debt money from him.

 

After this, Baba narrated a story in his usual strange manner. " One

day when I was in deep sleep, a person put a hole in the wall and

stole Rs.30,000. I was greatly distressed and it upset my mind. I

could not drink or eat. Seeing my plight a fakir told me, `I will

give you the address of a fakir. If you meet him, you will get back

your lost money with his help. Till then you should stop taking one

of your favorite food items.' I acted according to the advise of the

fakir and got back my money. "

 

When I went to board a steamer, there was no room in it. But with the

help of a servant working in the steamer I got inside and reached the

other shore. From there I traveled in a train and came here. " After

finishing this story Baba called Shama and asked him to take the two

guests for meals. While eating the two gentlemen wept. When Shama

asked them the reason, they told him that the story Baba told was

their story. The first gentleman said that he had taken a vow to give

the first month's salary to Dattatreya. But during the course of time

he had forgotten to discharge his vow and Baba reminded him of it,

took the amount as Dakshina and relieved him of the debt. The second

gentleman narrated his story as follows. " My cook served me sincerely

for 25 years. One day he stole Rs.30,000 from my house. I was

distressed and weeping. A fakir came to our house and told me that if

I worshipped Shirdi Sai Baba, I would get my money back. But till

then I should not eat my favorite food item. I followed his advice

and the cook who stole the money, changed his heart and gave back the

entire amount and asked for pardon. For having Baba's Darshan when we

tried to board a steamer at Goa, the captain told us that there is no

room. But a servant in the steamer whom we do not know, helped us in

getting accommodation and thus we came here. " But then how Baba could

know of the things, which had happened at a very far off place.

 

The above story proves that Baba was omnipresent. Let us pray to Sai

Baba to protect us also in all ways. May the readers have complete

faith in Sai Baba.

 

" Om Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi "

 

Chapter XXIV

 

Baba never fasted. Neither did he permit his devotees to fast. Mind

will not be steady if one fasts. We cannot see God with a hungry

stomach. It is, therefore, essential to keep the Atma satisfied. We

get strength for the eyes to see God, for the mouth to praise God and

for the ear to hear things about God, only from the energy that food

provides. Hence Baba did not approve of fasting.

 

Fasting by Gokhale's Wife

 

Gokhale's wife came to Shirdi with some devotees known to Dada

Kelkar. She stayed in his house. She desired to undertake fasting for

three days and be with Baba. But Baba told her, " Mother, there is no

need to undertake fasting. Go to Dada Bhat's house, prepare

puranpolis (sweet stuffed chapattis) and feed his children and you

also eat. " On that day Bhat's wife was indisposed. Hence, Baba's

advice appeared to be timely. Accordingly to his advice she prepared

puranpolis, served the others and ate some. Fasting is only a method

of regulating the digestive system and nothing more. To think that

one gets some divine benefit from that is only a misconception. Apart

from not getting any benefit, fasting makes a person weak with the

result that one cannot attend to one's normal duties. Those who

worship Baba can take food and then worship him.

 

Shama's Vow - Sapta Shringi

 

The famous Sapta Shringi temple was in a place called Vani at Nasik

district. Kakaji Vaidya was the priest of that temple. He suffered

one difficulty after another in his life and there was no peace of

mind.

 

One day he stood in front of the idol and prayed to the Goddess, " I

have been worshipping you with utmost devotion and sincerity all

these days. Please give me peace of mind. " That night the Goddess

appeared in his dream and told him, " Go to Baba, you will have peace

of mind. " The priest thought Baba meant Lord Shiva of Tryambakeshwar.

So went there and stayed for ten days worshipping with devotion. But

he did not get peace of mind and returned to his place. Again he

prayed to the Goddess and she told him in his dream that she meant

Shirdi Sai Baba when she said Baba. The priest was wondering how to

go to Shirdi. As he was pious Baba made arrangements for his visit to

Shirdi in some other manner.

 

When Baba's devotee Shama was a small boy he fell sick. His mother

took a vow to take the boy to Sapta Shringi temple and worship at the

feet of the Goddess. After sometime, the mother suffered with

ringworm on her breasts and she took another vow to offer the Goddess

two silver breasts if the ringworm subsided. Without fulfilling the

above two vows she died. This had happened 32 years earlier. Shama

had forgotten about this.

 

Once an astrologer came to Shirdi and told Shama that the vows taken

by his mother remained unfulfilled. After thinking over, Shama

recollected the two vows. Immediately he got two silver breasts

prepared and placing them at Baba's feet, pleaded with Baba to accept

them since Baba was also the Goddess Sapta Shringi. Baba did not

accept them, but asked Shama to go personally to the Sapta Shringi

temple and offer them to the Goddess. Shama went to the house of

Kakaji Vaidya, the priest of Sapta Shringi and told him the details.

 

Kakaji Vaidya thought it a great honour to receive a close follower

of Baba from Shirdi. Shama also was pleased meeting the priest

through whom the vows are to be fulfilled. Baba might have sent Shama

to Sapta Shringi to bring him and Kakaji together. After fulfilling

the vows both of them went together to Shirdi. As soon as Kakaji

Vaidya touched Baba's feet, his disturbed mind became placid and he

felt happy. Baba did not speak anything. He did not even bless him.

Even then, by the mere touch of his feet, Kakaji secured peace of

mind. Thus Kakaji Vaidya found the greatness of Baba. He stayed for

12 days at Shirdi, experienced Baba's love and left Shirdi taking

Baba's udi with him.

 

Shyam Karna - Baba's Horse

 

A devotee of Baba, who earned huge profits in his business, presented

a nice horse to Baba. Baba named it Shyam Sunder (or Shayama Karna)

and entrusted its maintenance to a devotee named Tukaram. Many times

Baba told the devotees not to merely consider Shyam Sunder as an

animal but to treat it as Baba's child.

 

One day the horse did not eat grass for reasons unknown. Tukaram

tried his best but the horse did not touch the grass. He lost his

patience and hit it with a stick. This happened a little away from

the mosque. Baba sent for Tukaram and asked him angrily why he hit

him (Baba) with such a big stick. Tukaram shivered at Baba's words.

Then Baba lifted his long shirt (Kafni) and showed a read weal in the

shape of a stick on his body. Those who saw it were surprised and

feared. They looked at Tukaram suspiciously, but Tukaram told him

that he had not come near Dwarakamayi on that day and did not hit

Baba. Then Baba said, " Is it not hitting me, if you hit my child

Shyam Sunder? " He thus made Tukaram remember what he had done.

Immediately the devotees ran to the place where the horse was tied.

They found a similar swelling and the mark of the stick on the back

of the horse. Everyone was surprised. They considered this as Baba's

Leela to prove to the devotees that he was present in all living

things. From that day onwards everyone looked after Shyam Karna with

love and respect. Some brought fodder for the horse and some brought

zari shawls.

 

A devotee named Aurangabadkar had no children. With Baba's blessings,

he got a male child. Out of gratitude constructed a shed for the

Shyam Karna at a cost of Rs.500. Every Thursday they decorated Shyam

Karna nicely and put it in front of the procession. The horse danced

to the tunes of the musical instruments.

 

Testing Baba

 

It was the year 1915. One Thursday morning, the mosque was full of

devotees Baba was sitting with crossed legs on the big stone in front

of the mosque. Nana Chandorkar, Shama, Mahalasapati, Dixit, Tatya,

Sathe and others were standing. A rich middle-aged lady, Janaki Bai,

wearing a silk sari with zari border, brought several costly items of

jewellery on a gold plate to give them to Baba. She was standing in

the ladies queue. Every devotee had something or the other in his

hand to hand it over to Baba. Some washed the feet of Baba by placing

them in a silver plate. Some applied sandal paste on his neck and

sprinkled perfumes. Some offered flowers, fruits and pedas (a milk

sweet). Some offered money according to their capacity.

 

Nanavalli, who was standing behind the devotees, observed all this

and felt happy. But in a few moments his face changed and his

happiness disappeared. His face flushed with anger. His eyes became

red and his appearance was fearful. He called out in a very loud

voice, " You fakir " . All looked towards him, stunned. Nanavalli slowly

advanced towards Baba and was stared into his eyes. He was a rough

type of person and everyone feared what was to happen. He said to

Baba, " So many have got up and stood fearing me. But you are calmly

sitting cross-legged. " Baba did not reply. Nanavalli ordered Baba to

get up. Baba went and stood near the devotees. Nanavalli sat cross-

legged on the stone just like Baba. He ordered the devotees to bring

the offerings to him. He ate some and threw away some. He stared for

some time at the lady who had brought jewels in a gold plate. He

stared alternately at the lady and the gold plate for some time.

Finally he looked at her insultingly and spat.

 

Then he looked at Baba and said, " What Nawab! How are you? " Baba

replied that he was a fakir only and not a nawab. Nanavalli

questioned Baba about how the world was. Baba replied, " It is as

usual. " Nanavalli asked what Baba meant by his reply. Then Baba

said, " With the five elements and eight directions, this world

appears normal only to me. " With this reply Nanavalli's face changed,

his anger disappeared and he became normal again. Again he stared

into Baba's eyes. Their eyes exchanged something silently. Nanavalli

fell at Baba's feet and asking pardon went away quickly to the relief

of the devotees.

 

Then Nana Chandorkar said to Baba, " Baba, the crazy actions of

Nanavalli are increasing day by day. He dared to sit on your seat and

spoiled the offerings brought by the devotees, and also insulted your

devotees. We will not tolerate this further. If you permit us we will

take appropriate action. " To this Baba replied, " Nanavalli is not a

crazy person as all of you are thinking. He is a sage (Avadhootha)

who crossed the worldly limits. He had come to test me. " Then Nana

Chandorkar asked Baba how a crazy person could test him. Baba

explained as follows, " When I came to Shirdi for the first time, the

villagers threw stones at me taking me to be a crazy person (pagal

fakir). After sometime, they called me a doctor. Now you are all

treating me as God and worshipping me and offering me several things.

Nanavalli only tested me to find out whether desires have sprouted in

me on seeing all this. From the reply I gave him he understood that I

am in the original state only and nothing has changed in me.

Craziness is the climax of Vedanta. " In the light of Baba's

explanation, the devotees recalled the questions and answers between

Nanavalli and Baba and felt happy. From that day they wiped out their

opinion that Nanavalli was a crazy person.

 

Red Plantains

 

Shri M.G. Rege visited Baba during his student days. In those days,

he was the youngest of all devotees who were close to Baba. One day a

devotee presented Baba with plantains whose outer skin was red in

colour. The red-coloured peel of the plantains attracted Rege. He

desired to eat them. Baba gave the plantains to the devotees who were

there. He removed the outer skin of a plantain and while he gave the

inner fruit to a devotee, he gave the outer skin to Rege and asked

him to eat it. Obeying Baba's orders, he ate the skin. After

distributing to all, Baba came to Rege and took out another plantain,

peeled the skin and threw it away. He shared the inner fruit along

with Rege. Since Rege had been attracted by the red colour of the

plantain skin, Baba had made him eat it and know the taste. He again

gave him the inner fruit to bring home the truth that there is

nothing in the outer colour but the actual taste is in the inner

fruit. So, one should not be carried away by the external appearance

but should see the divine power in every matter.

 

" Om Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi "

 

Chapter XXV

 

Upasani Shastri went to Nagpur, from there to Scinde and to Kharagpur

in the year 1914, without informing Baba and without completing the

four years novitiate (diksha) prescribed by Sai Baba. Afterwards he

stayed with Panchamuni for some time. By Baba's grace he acquired

Siddhis (supernatural powers) while he was at Shirdi. After wandering

about for 15 months, he returned to Shirdi in the year 1915, and Baba

advised him to set up an ashram at Sakori, a village near Shirdi and

live there. He followed Baba's advice. Those who were sufferers,

patients, etc. came up to Upasani Baba in thousands and obtained

relief. He was a Guru to a number of devotees and attained Samadhi in

the year 1942 at the age of 72. Those who go to Shirdi can also visit

the ashram established by Upasani Baba at Sakori, which is about 5

kms from Shirdi.

 

Importance of Actions

 

Baba went for alms everyday. With the increase of Baba's greatness,

the faith in those who gave alms also increased and they kept the

food ready and waited for Baba.

 

One day, a housewife named Savitri Bai was hurriedly cooking as the

time of Baba's visit for alms was nearing. Her old father-in-law was

also hungry. She finished cooking quickly. As she was putting rotis

(leavened bread) and curry in a plate to give to Baba, he arrived and

she asked him to just wait for two minutes and she would be bringing

food for him. In the meantime, her father-in-law called out loudly as

he was hungry. She told him that she would serve him as soon as she

had given food to Baba. She came out of the house with the food in a

plate to give it to Baba. Baba told her, " Mother, you should give

food to your father-in-law first. You may ask me why. To give food to

your father-in-law is your duty. To give me alms is only a pious

action. You should give precedence to duty over noble action! To give

timely food to your father-in-law is righteousness (dharma) you

should attend to that first. After that only alms for me. " Hearing

Baba, she told him that he was really God in human form and her

desire was to serve him first. Baba further told her, " Our actions

are very powerful and are like arms (aayudhas). God has kept your

father-in-law under your care and made you responsible to serve him.

Even if such a God stood before your house, you should give priority

to your duties only. This is the Theory of Karma. What duties God has

given us, we should discharge them properly. If you do not do them

properly, it amounts to wrong. It is not proper for me to make you,

who reposed complete faith in me, do wrong. In my presence, give food

to your father-in-law. Till then I will sit and wait here.

Afterwards, I will accept the food you proposed to give me with

love. " Thereupon she acted as per Baba's advice. From that day

onwards, Savitri Bai always gave food to her father-in-law before

Baba came for alms.

 

Baba's Knowledge of Sanskrit

 

Sai Baba was a strange God. Shirdi is a Punya Bhoomi for having had

such a God there. The villagers of Shirdi are blessed. Even the grass

on which Baba walked is also blessed. Shirdi came into prominence

because of Baba. All Siddhis (supernatural powers) were at the feet

of Baba. Those who visited Shirdi worshipped Baba's feet. One day,

Nana Chandorkar, while pressing Baba's feet, recited within himself

some slokas. None were there. Baba asked him what he was reciting to

himself. Chandorkar replied that it was a Sanskrit slokas, which Baba

would not understand. Baba said that he would try to understand and

asked Chandorkar to read it aloud. He read the thirty-fourth slokas

in Chapter-4 of the Bhagawad Gita as follows:

 

Tatviddhi Pranipatena Pariprashnena

Sevaya - Upadekshyanti Te Jnanam

Jnanina Stattwadarshinah

 

The questions of Baba and the replies of Nana Chandorkar were as

follows:

 

Baba: Nana, what is the meaning?

 

Nana: By making sashtanga Namaskar (prostration), questioning the

Guru, serving him, we learn what this Jnana is. Then these Jnanis who

have attained the real knowledge of Brahman, will give us Upadesh of

Jnana.

 

Baba: I do not want the collective purport of the whole stanza. Give

me word by word meaning of it. What is meant by pariprashna?

 

Nana: Asking questions.

 

Baba: What is the meaning of prashna

 

Nana: The same (asking questions).

 

Baba: For both you are giving the same meaning. Is there any special

meaning for the Sanskrit word pari?

 

Nana: I do not know of any other meaning.

 

Baba: What is the meaning of seva?

 

Nana: The same service that we are doing to you daily.

 

Baba: Is it enough to render such service?

 

Baba: In the Sloka, suppose we substitute the word Jnana with Ajnana,

then what meaning does it give?

 

Nana: I do not understand how to construe it by substituting with

Ajnana.

 

Baba: Lord Krishna was a Tatwadarshi. But why did he advise Arjuna to

prostrate, serve, and question other Jnanis?

 

Nana: This also I do not understand

 

Nana Chandorkar thought Baba did not know Sanskrit and that he (Nana)

having read the Bhagawad Gita several times along with commentaries,

knew everything. But when Nana could not give answers to Baba's

questions for even one Sloka, he felt ashamed. Then he concluded that

however much one might have read, one couldn't be equal to a Jnani.

His pride had gone. Then Baba in his own style, gave answers to the

questions he had put to Nana, as follows:

 

1) Questioning the Guru should not be for testing the Guru or trying

to trap him, but to actually learn and to keep in mind what was

learnt, and to put that in practice in life. One should question the

Guru with the aim of spiritual progress. That is what Pariprashna

means. Vyasa did not use it for nothing.

 

2) Seva or service which is rendered whenever you feel like doing, is

not seva. A person should feel that his body is not his and God had

given it to serve the Guru. Persons with such Jnana only can

understand the teaching of it by a guru, and others cannot

understand. To teach Jnana to such persons would be like teaching

Ajnana.

 

3) However great a person may be, his close associates cannot gauge

his greatness, taking him to be as ordinary human being like them.

 

This is the effect of Maya. That was the reason why Lord Krishna

advised Arjuna to serve other Tatwadarshis.

 

After hearing the above explanations given by Baba, Nana could not

imagine the greatness of Baba who had such deep knowledge of the

Bhagavad Gita, which Lord Krishna taught to Arjuna. Her learnt that

the sky was the limit for Baba's knowledge, and none could measure

it. He thought how much small he was before Baba . Noticing the

changes taking place in Nana, Baba slowly walked out of Dwarakamayi.

Nana also came out of Dwarakamayi, following Baba in the same manner

as a magnet attracts an iron piece. Nana saw Baba's form growing big

with changes in his face, with divine light rays emitting from the

body in different colours. He had to lift his head to see the growing

stature of Baba. He had to close his eyes, unable to withstand the

divine light coming from Baba.

 

He heard Baba's bold and loud words as if they came from the sky

above. " Nana, your eyes contained the human body and caught in the

darkness of Ajnana, cannot see any divine form. I am giving you

divine sight. Open your eyes and see my real form. I am the divine

power and the bearer of all the planets, Sun and moon are my eyes, I

am the Virat and send the people either to heaven or hell based on

their actions in life. The burning planets, oceans, all kinds of

diseases, medicines required for their cure are all in me. All the

animate and inanimate things of this creation are in me. There is

nothing, which is not in me. I am a complete being and all powerful

person. "

 

Hearing Baba's words and seeing his Vishwa Rupa, Nana became

unconscious for a moment. When he came back to his original state, he

saw Baba in his usual form. Baba cautioned Nana not to reveal to

others what he had seen. Nana did in a confused state not know

whether what he had seen was a dream or real or whether it was Maya.

When he found himself in control of his senses, he concluded that he

was not dreaming. He fell at the feet of Baba and washed them with

the tears that fell with joy.

 

Nana's Disrespect for the Temple

 

Once Nana Chandorkar, along with his relative Binivalle, came to

Shirdi. Baba asked him, " Being with me for such a long time, why did

you do this? How did you come to Shirdi from Kopergaon? " Nana

recollected the mistake committed by him. Whenever he came to Shirdi

from Kopergaon, he used to bathe in the Godavari river, visited Datta

temple and then come to Shirdi. During his previous visit he had

promised the temple priest that he would give Rs.300 as donation.

Thinking that the priest would ask him the money if he visited the

temple, he avoided it and also discouraged his relative from visiting

the temple. Baba, knowing the matter beforehand, said to Nana, " If

you had no money to fulfill your promise, you could have told the

temple priest. For money's sake you could not visit Datta Dev. See

how money has distanced you from God. " Realising his mistake, Nana

bowed his head in shame.

 

Aarti and Naiveidya (Offerings to God)

 

Everyday after the noon Aarti, all devotees went back to their houses

or to the lodgings. Baba personally distributed udi prasad and made

enquiries about each devotee, giving them advices. From some devotees

he would enquire when they came and to some devotees he would ask

when they would be leaving Shirdi. He ordered a few devotees to leave

Shirdi only the next day. He enquired with some devotees about some

who were in their houses and give some advices. He talked to the

devotees to the extent necessary and according to their needs. Only

he and the particular devotee could understand the matter. After the

devotees left, the devotees close to Baba would sit in rows on each

side of him. Baba would come walking slowly and sit in his seat.

 

Those who brought offerings to Baba (naiveidya) waited outside

Dwarakamayi, for getting his blessings. They would bring a variety of

food items like rotis, sweet rice, sanja, etc. All the offerings were

kept before Baba and he offered all of them to God. After that he

distributed a portion of them to the devotees waiting outside the

mosque and the balance served to all the close devotees who were

sitting on either side of Baba. The food items touched by Baba became

very tasty and energy-giving ones.

 

One day, Hemadpant ate such food to his satisfaction. Baba

immediately gave him a glassful of buttermilk and asked him to drink

it. But Hemadpant drank only a little of it saying that his stomach

was full. Its taste was peculiar. Baba asked him to drink the balance

also; as such an opportunity would never come again. He drank the

remaining buttermilk with great difficulty. His word became true.

Hemadpant did not get such a chance again before Baba's Samadhi.

 

Atmaram's Wife

 

Atmaram's wife desired to offer three items to Baba as naiveidya (1)

Brinjal and curd Chutney , (2) Brinjal fried curry, and (3) Peda (a

milk sweet).

 

Raghuveer Purander's wife was known to her. When Mrs. Purander was

going to Shirdi, Atmaram's wife gave her some brinjal with a request

to prepare the chutney and curry and serve Baba. After reaching

Shirdi, Mrs. Purander prepared the brinjal and curd chutney and sent

it to Dwarakamayi at Baba's mealtime. As the preparation was tasty,

Baba distributed it to all. He desired to have brinjal fried curry

also then and there. As that was not the season for brinjal,

Radhakrishnamai made enquiries as to who had brought the brinjal curd

chutney and found out that it was Mrs. Purander. Word was sent to her

about Baba's desire and immediately Mrs Purander prepared brinjal

fried curry and sent it to Baba. The devotees who came to know the

details of the matter were surprised at the desire of Baba to have

brinjal fried curry. This is one more instance of Baba's omniscience.

 

In December 1915, Balaram Mankad, a resident of Bandra, was going to

Shirdi to perform the obsequies of his late father. Atmaram;s wife

wanted to send something to Baba and searched in the house but could

not find anything. A few pieces of Peda were there. Even these few

were already offered to Baba as naiveidya. She sent them with Mankad.

After reaching Shirdi, Mankad forgot about them when he went to see

Baba in the afternoon. Again when he went to the mosque in the

evening, Baba asked Mankad what was given by Atmaram's wife at the

time of his journey to Shirdi. Mankad felt ashamed and went to his

room and brought the pedas given by Atmaram's wife and gave them to

Baba. Baba took one and ate it and the remainder was distributed to

others.

 

Importance of Human Birth

 

For all living things food, sleep, fear and reproduction are common.

But a human being, apart from these, has one more important quality

called intelligence (Jnana). With this the human is able to know

about God. Some think that the human body comprises flesh, blood, and

filthy waste products. The body finally dies and gets destroyed. Even

then, through this body only we are able to get Jnana. Hence, good

care should be taken to maintain a healthy body. If one indulges in

pleasures and yields to physical desires, life will ultimately become

lower than that of an animal. So one should take necessary care. If

excess care is taken, this will lead to several desires and if less

care is taken, it will result in poor health and will lead to some

diseases.

 

One should understand this truth carefully. Finally the body should

be utilized for obtaining Moksha.

 

Khushal Chand of Rahata

 

Baba loved Khushal Chand of Rahata very much. When sometimes he went

to Rahata with devotees, Khushal Chand welcomed Baba from the

entrance to Rahata with drums, Cymbals and other musical instruments

and took them in a procession. He arranged food for all others also.

After taking food, Baba and Khushal Chand would discuss several

matters. Similarly, Baba used to go up to Neemgaon and Kopergaon

occasionally. He never went beyond these places. But he did know of

the happenings at other far off places.

 

Khaparde's Wife

 

While Khaparde and his wife were at Shirdi, his wife used to take

food for offering to Baba daily at noontime. She took food only after

Baba accepted her offering. Baba was pleased at her steady and deep

devotion and faith in him.

 

One day, she brought food as usual. Baba took the plate and began

eating. Then Shama, who ws present there, asked Baba why he was

showing discrimination among the devotees, " So many devotees bring

you offerings of food. You don't touch them. But you are eagerly

taking the food brought by Khaparde's wife and eating it quickly.

What is the specialty in her offering? "

 

Baba replied, " The food brought by her is really tasty. In her

previous birth she was the cow of a merchant. She gave good milk to

the satisfaction of the merchant's family. In her subsequent birth,

she was born as daughter to a gardener and served others well.

Because of her nobility, in the next birth, she was born to a

Kshatriya (a caste) and married a merchant. In this birth also she is

serving others sincerely and because of this, in her next birth, she

will be born to a Brahmin family. I have seen her after a long

period. Let me take some more food filled with love from the

naiveidya brought by the lady. " So saying Baba finished all the food

that was in the plate and went and sat on his seat. Khaparde's wife

began massaging his feet and he in turn started massaging her hands.

The way the Guru and pupil were serving each other caused much

surprise and also happiness to the devotees present there. Baba fixed

his eyes on her and looked at her seriously; some divine power

entered her. She shed tears out of joy. Baba advised her to repeat

the mantra `Raja Ram' always, and that it would bring peace and

happiness to her and she would achieve her life's desire.

 

Those who serve their Guru with a pure mind and love will earn the

love of their Guru. In fact, a Guru will depend on such disciples

only. Such teacher-disciple are in fact one only and there will be no

differences among them. Let us pray to Sai Baba to turn all those

readers who read this Life History, into such Sishyas, and thus close

this chapter.

 

" Om Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi "

 

To be continued…