DEATH AND BABA'S LIGHT ON IT'

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..DEATH AND BABA'S LIGHT ON IT'

BY B. V. NARASIMHA SWAMI

 

Seers ancient and modern tell the" same tale. The observations of the

ancient veers are enshrined in the Sruti and smritis. It is highly

satisfactory' to note that modern rishis (which term really is Drishya i.e.,

seers) observe and narrate the same facts, as their predecessors. So.

far we have quoted from. Upanisads and Sanatsujatiya extracts about Death;

and we find the same in Puranaa also. The teachings of these ancients may

thus be summed up, 'Death is only operative in the field of Phenomena or

Maya, where the play of differences is noticed and cannot exist in the

state of Brahman', ,the; state of undifferenced Bliss. Even in the field

of phenomena, Death is a terror and an evil only when its real nature is not

known, Any one who has full knowledge of the past, present and future, of

the near and the remote alike in Time and space can see what; happens to

creatures during each life,, at the moment of its cessation, which is called

the death of that life and the -.birth of the next, and all that follows.

'Such wise persons see that .death and another facts and aspects of Life

are governed by the same lawa of the: Wise and Benevolent Creator, and that

any sincere devotee of the creator (or any of His amsas. or manifestations)

is hot hindered or harmed by any of these facts or events.

Sri Sai Baba who showed in himself the knowledge, goodness, and power ,of

Rishyasringa, Vasishta, Viswanwtra etc., has given the same account of

Death. It is only one incident, he says in the evolution of the,

;jiva. ' -Ha gave instances where death of one life was exactly the same as

the. commencement of another for the jiva. He-gave his devotees the

assurance that he stands guard over them at that moment, as at other

moments of their, life and that it is his right and duty to receive them and

take them on ' to further stages of their progress. He informed several

of what he had done for them in this matter. Regarding Sri Rao Saheb

Galwankar, who is now leading a pure and devoted life of service, Baba

declared that even in a , 'former life G was marked by these tracts that

therefore Baba placed him in his present mother's womb, and that he is

maintaining his progress in such virtues even in these life also. 'Even if a

devotee is 2000 miles away from Shirdi, Baba declared, his spirit would go

to Baba the moment it is disengaged from its former body.

Baba added that when he takes charge of a soul he has to follow it, life

after life, by taking birth himself as often as may be .necessary, till he .

takes the soul to its final goal—the Feet of God. Even the terrors of the

punishments that Yama and his myrmidons inflict on people for their past

sins need not frighten his devotees. Says Sainatha Manana (which is the

manual or quintessance-of Baba's Pooja, Dhyana, teachings etc.).

24 Yamah Kruro duradharsho | Bhrusam tudati manavan |

Sayeesa dhrida bhakteshu | Yama peeda na vidyate !

25 Bhayam Sayeesa bhaktanam | Yamaat kindit na vidyate |

Sayeesah Kalakalo vai ! Niryane rakshati svakan ||

26 Sakrin manaa Sayi padaravindayph

Nivesitam tat guna ragi Yairiha

Nate Yaoam pasa bhritah cha tadbhatan |

Swapnepi-pasyanti hi cheerna-nishkritahll

24. Yama is cruel, and undaunted he tortures people. But His punishments are

unknown to the staunch devotees of Lord Sai.

25 Sais devotees have nothing to fear from Yama, the God of Death. Lord Sai

is the Death of Death, He protects his own at the time they leave their

bodies.

26. If people attracted by the Excellence of Sai rest their minds even

occasionally at his feet,: Yama and his myrmidons armed with their cords

will never appear before them—not even in their dreams, as their sins have

been expiated (by such contemplation of Lord Sai).

These verses would'; remind , one of similar passages in Srimad Bhagavata. '

Ajamila a great sinner uttered-the holy name Narayana at the moment of

Death, as he wished to call for his son named Narayana.; That utterance

brought angels to save him from the clutches of Yama's myrmiions.

SaiBhakti .Sri R; B Purandhare and another saw Yamadhutas at their.bedside

and were terrified. But Sai Baba was at hand and the cruel agents of .death

vanished.

Remembering Sai undoubtedly purifies the heart and is the explanation

41 Sarvesham apyaghayatam. | Idameva aunishkrithi |

Sayinateti hamoktih—Yatas tadvishayamatih !

i.e-, Sai's name expiates all sins—for by uttering that name the mind turn

to' Him. 46 Srunvatam Svakataas Sayi | Punyasravana Keertanah |

Hridantastho hyabhadrani | Vidhunoti Suhrut sataam I

Sai the friend of the good,-is in the 'hearts of those who bear accounts of

Him and drives away thence all evils.

Purifying and protecting his devotees all along, ;Sai appears before

their vision at the moment of Death, -and takes them on to happy realms of

the blessed Such was the experience of Sow. Kuttiyamrnal who

communicated the fact of her having received such help and blessing to her

husband recently. Many others also have received similar help and

blessings.

If readers of this article desire to obtain Sai's help at the Death

crisis, the advice given by him as by Sri Krishna is'

Tamed Serves Kales | Mamanusmara, Yudhya cha |

Mayyarpita Manobuddhih | Mameveshayasi asamsayahll

i.e. Therefore think of. me always,—and. carry on your struggle.; When

mind and intelligence are centered on me, you will undoubtedly come tome.'

"This is.the great goal of Life—to reach God.

 

(Adopted from Sri Sai Sudha November 1943, the magazine can be read at

www.saileelas.org)