The Same Baba: Shirdi Sai and Sathya Sai

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Sai Ram to ALL"SERVICE TO MAN IS SERVICE TO GOD"----Baba

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Sai RamThere are many references, in Sathya Sai Baba's statements, relating to His "previous body" as Sai Baba of Shirdi, which are vouched for by those who were devoted to the saintly Shirdi Baba, and who are now convinced Sathya Sai is a reincarnation. To this day the connections between Shirdi Sai, and Sathya Sai, are portraited in two life-size oil paintings displayed in the Prayer Hall at Prasanthi Nilayam. Both figures are shown standing with both hands crossed over the other; Shirdi holding His right hand with His left hand, and Sathya holding His left hand with His right. The artist had difficulty in portraying the details of Shirdi Sai"s clothing, whereupon Baba waved His hand and produced two small pictures ready for the artist to work from, with all the correct clothing details.Some years ago a devotee from Delhi, stated in a letter to the biographer, N. Kasturi, that he had the greatest of difficulty in accepting Sathya Sai Baba as an incarnation of his beloved Shirdi Baba, until the following event occurred. One evening while the devotee was cycling home along a deserted road between Old Delhi and New Delhi, he was deeply in thought contemplating his financial situation. Although devoted to Shirdi Baba, he was drawn to Sathya Sai, and had just returned from Puttaparthi, still with the doubt heavy on his mind. "Finished the work for the day?" a voice suddenly asked from behind. Turning, he saw a burly individual, pedalling quickly to catch up. He wore a broad smile and had a pleasant manner. Our Delhi devotee earned his livelihood by teaching music to children and occasionally playing the violin at concerts. He assumed the stranger had seen him at concerts or in some friend's home, and replied, "Yes, I am going home now," in the Tamil dialect, corresponding to thedialect the stranger spoke in his question. The burly stranger pleaded, "Then can you come along with me to that old temple, yonder? I will not keep you long." Leaning their bicycles against the shaded temple wall, they sat facing each other as the stranger sought from our Delhi friend, the source of his problems. The stranger asked how our Delhi friend could doubt that Sathya Sai was not also Shirdi Sai. "See!" he said, extending the palms of his hands, and there could be seen, as if painted in full colour, the portrait of Shirdi Sai on one palm, and on the other, the shining face of Sathya Sai! "I could never forget those twin faces, lighting up the palms of that reverend old man," our Delhi friend said. It was the answer that cleared all doubts and gave him a new lease of life, as he meditated on the twin images of his beloved Sai. As he watched, the stranger cycled away swiftly, and to his consternation, saw the stranger suddenly melt into thin air!On another occasion a lady in Madras, placed her child in front of Shirdi Sai's picture, as the child was seriously ill. Years later, she went to see Sathya Sai with her son, now a tall muscular young man. As soon as Sai saw her He said, "You had placed this boy under My care, fifteen years ago, isn't that so?"Thus, Baba gives the positive proof of His identity, we need. Baba speaks the same consoling words, the same words of courage and enlightenment, to all who doubt or question. The same Baba, then and now. The same mission, the same message. The same spirit, the same power, is embodied in Sathya Sai, that had been in Shirdi Baba, at the turn of this century, and in Krishna almost 6,000 years ago, and in Rama 15,000 years ago. As Sai Baba said, "Rama, Krishna and Baba appear in different dress, but it is the same entity, believe Me...I am new and ever ancient. I come always for restoration of Dharma, for tending the virtuous and ensuring them conditions congenial to progress, and for educating the 'blind', who miss the way and wander into the wilderness."The difficulties one may have in accepting the identities of both Babas was explained by Sathya Sai Baba at the All-India Sai Samaj, at Madras in January 1959, "The Avatars of Sri Rama and Sri Krishna are so different in the various incidents of their earthly careers; they also emphasised different aspects of ethical behaviour and philosophical belief; they differed in methods of teaching and uplifting; it is all a difference in emphasis rather than in basic things. It is difficult to get convinced that Sri Rama is Sri Krishna, but few have any doubts on that score. So, too, those who can delve deep into My mysteries can understand that the Power has now assumed, another human form."Sai Ram