Sai Baba the Master

[Guest guest]

S.B. Nachne records two interesting incidents which reveals Baba’s

shrewdness in combating orthodox intolerance:-

 

“In May 1915, I went to Shirdi accompanied by my mother-in-law and others.

We were put up at Sathe’s wada and Dada Kelkar was living in a part of the

same premises. When my mother-in-law was cutting onions for our meal, Dada

Kelkar, on orthodox brahmin who abhored onions, got enraged and berated her

severely. She took his abuse very much to heart. A few hours later, Dada’s

grand daughter was crying on account of severe pain in her eyes and he went

to Baba for relief. Baba then told him to foment her eyes with onion. Dada

asked, “Where am I to get onion?” Baba always kept some onions with him and

perhaps Dada hoped to get one from him. But he told Dada to get it from my

mother-in-law. She told Baba that Dada had been abusing her that very

morning for using onions in her meal, and that she would not care to give

him anything – but if it was Baba’s order she would do so.

Baba ordered the gift and she had her grand revenge of doing good to one

who had so recently lacerated her feelings.”

 

“When people were assembling for arti at the musjid, I was among them.

Baba asked me to go and take my meal. I said it was ekadasi (the day of

fasting). Usually I did not fast on ekadasi days; but my two friends did

and I had to conform to their ways. But Baba did not want me to fast. He

said (referring to my companions), ‘These people are mad. You had better go

to the wada and eat’. The man at the wada grumbled that I should be

clamouring for food on an ekadasi day and would not give me food till arti

was over. So I came to the mosque along with him to attend the arti. Baba

again asked me if I had messed but I said it was time for arti and so the

meal might be deferred till the completion of the same. Baba said, ‘The

arti will begin after you finish your meal’. The cook had to yield and he

gave me food. Then I went to the mosque for the arti. At that time a lady

generally known as Mavusi brought beda (i.e., betel and nut) to Baba. Baba

gave me some and asked me to eat. As it is customary to avoid chewing betel

and nut on ekadasi days I hesitated. Baba said again, ‘eat it’. I obeyed

and chewed the beda”

 

Source: http://www.saibharadwaja.org