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.