BABA AN EMINENT DISCIPLE

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BABA AN EMINENT DISCIPLE

 

A fakir, Jawahar Ali by name, who was a resident of Ahmednagar, came to Rahata,

along with his disciples. Choosing an open space near the Veerbhadra temple, the

fakir set up his camp there. But the fakir was really very fortunate. Had it not

been so, how could he have had such a famous and delightful disciple as Sai?

 

The fakir was very learned. The Quran-e-sharif was at the tips of his fingers.

Many people - some selfish, some spiritual, and some pious and faithful - became

his followers. He began constructing an Idgah. Some time went by; he was then

accused of defiling the temple of Veerbhadra. Then the construction work of the

Idgah came to a halt and the fakir was driven out of the village. From there he

came to Shirdi and stayed with Baba in the mosque. The Fakir was a sweet talker.

The whole village adored him and people said that he had cast a spell on Baba

too, and charmed him completely. 'You be my disciple' said he to Baba, and Baba,

with his playful disposition, assented. The fakir was delighted and took Baba

out of Shirdi.

 

With an eminent disciple like Baba, Jawahar Ali became the guru. Then they both

decided to go and live in Rahata.

 

The guru did not know his disciples marvelous ways; but the disciple knew the

guru's short-comings. But never did the disciple show disrespect, thereby

observing the duties of a good disciple. Whatever command came form the guru's

mouth, proper or improper, was obeyed, no sooner it was given. Baba even served

His master in various ways. Thus the days passed in service of the Guru. But

then it so happened that though they would come to Shirdi off and on, their main

stay was in Rahata. The loving devotees of Baba in Shirdi did not like Baba

staying away from them in Rahata. They thought that by yogic powers the Fakir

had bound Sai to himself, whereas Baba's plan was altogether different, it was

His way of destroying the ego. The villagers were greatly agitated in their

minds to see Shri Sai so much in the power of Jawahar Ali and were in serious

thought as to how he could be won back.

 

As gold and it's lustre, as lamp and it's light, so was the inseparable state of

this guru and disciple. And they both had this experience of Oneness. So they

went in a deputation to bring Baba back to Shirdi. When they met Baba near the

Idgah and told Him the purpose of their visit, Baba said to them that the Fakir

was an angry, ill-tempered fellow, he would not leave Him and that, they should

better go back to Shirdi without Him before the Fakir returned. While they were

thus talking, the Fakir turned up and was very angry with them for trying to

take away his Disciple. There was some hot discussion and altercation, and it

was finally decided that both the Fakir and Baba should return to Shirdi. After

a few days the Fakir was brought in the presence of

Guru Devidas, who was dispassion incarnate and a dhayani. He engaged the Fakir

in a religious debate in Shirdi and exploded all his misconceptions. Thus

Jawahar Ali was worsted and fled from Shirdi. He went and stayed in Vaijapur and

returned to Shirdi after many years and prostrated humbly before Shri Sainath.

All his misconceptions about himself being the guru and Sai his disciple, were

dispelled and by repentance he was purified. Baba also accepted him with

respect, as before.

 

Such were Baba's inscrutable ways! The issues got resolved when the proper time

came. In this case Sainath showed by His conduct and practice, how one should

get rid of egoism and do the duties of a disciple to attain the highest end,

viz., self-realization.

 

There is no better state than that one should completely surrender to one's

guru, or that one should totally accept the disciple as one's own. Without this

relationship one cannot cross the ocean of worldly life.

 

Bow to Shri Sai, Peace Be to All