SHRI SAI THE SUPERMAN - Bodily Manifestations

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SHRI SAI THE SUPERMAN

By

Swami Sai Sharan Anand

 

 

BODILY MANIFESTATIONS

 

 

A Superman by His will,

Transforms Himself into

Forms numberless at will,

Space he surmounts,

Barriers none to

Block his movements free

 

 

 At one with the Universal soul Sai Baba is fully aware of the

movements of all, particularly of all his devotees and prevents all

mishaps over coming them. Three days before one samvat New year,

Sainath was calmly sitting near His fire casting fuel into it; fire

was burning bright when suddenly he thrust His hand into the fire and

sat calmly as if nothing had happened. However a servant named Madhav

caught sight of this. He as well as Deshpande, who was nearby, ran up

to Baba put their arms round Baba's waist and pulled him away from

the fire. Seeing that Baba's hand was nearly burnt, bewailing what

had happened they asked Baba why he had purposely and intentionally

thrust his hand into the fire. Baba then narrated that while he was

in a superconscious state. He saw that at the behest of a blacksmith,

his wife with a child on her waist, started blowing the Kiln

forgetting the child's being on her waist. The listless child slipped

down into the fire; so soon it slipped. I caught it and saved it from

instantaneous death; if in so saving the child, my hand has been

burnt, it matters very little. Baba's devotee Chandorkar knowing of

this ran down to Shirdi with a doctor expert, but Baba in spite of

the earnest and repeated requests of the doctor and Chandorkar did

not unloose the bandage nor showed the hand to the doctor. He however

went on getting clarified butter applied to it and getting it covered

with a betel leaf and having it bandaged by one leper Bhagoji who was

ever in his attendance every morning. Some days after burns were all

cured; but still massaging his hand with clarified butter, covering

it with betel leaf and bandaging the same was allowed to be continued

till he cast off his mortal coil, no one knew why.

 

 

 Long before this Baba had run up to the rescue of one of his

devotees three steamers during the Russia-Japanese War. The devotee

Shree Jehangirji Framji Daruwala served as a captain. When he found

that his steamers save three were all sunk by the enemy and that the

rest of the steamers including his own would soon meet the same fate,

he took out Baba's photo from his pocket and with tears in his eyes

prayed to Baba to save him and his three steamers. Baba at once

appeared on the scene and towed all the sinking steamers to the bank.

Just at the time Daruwala offered up his prayers, Baba bawled out

"Ha", and then seated as he was in his usual place in the Dwarkamai,

he had his Kafni and head cloth completely drenched, dripping with

water for more than half an hour with the result that the Dwarkamai

was transformed into a pool of water. The devotees could not

understand what all that was; they simply removed water from the

Dwarkamai and dried Baba's clothes. On the third day after this Baba

received a telegram from Jehangirji narrating how Baba had saved him

and offering him a thousand thanks for his marvellous rescue of

himself and the three steamers with passengers. Immediately on his

return to India he came and paid his respects to Baba. He has retired

now from his service; but in appreciation of his services, Government

has provided him with some Job. He is taking keen interest in Baba's

affairs even to day. Lately he donated about two thousand two hundred

rupees in two installments and got the 'Mandap' of Dwarkamai repaired

to his satisfaction.

 

 

 When once Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who was in Shirdi, went to

Kopergaon to have a bath in the holy Godawari on the occasion of an

eclipse and paid a four anna piece to Pariah, Baba at that very time

showed to the devotees sitting near him a four anna piece, stating

that he had received that four anna piece from Nana. When Nanasaheb

returned to Shirdi and those devotees inquired of him what he had

spent in charity at the time of the eclipse and he corroborated

Baba's statement of his having paid a four anna piece to a pariah,

the devotees as well as Nana felt assured that, Baba though present

in Shirdi, had actually gone to receive Nana's charity by his

supernatural yogic powers.

 

 

 With the supernatural knowledge that Baba had he saw the devotee's

calamities ahead and took all the steps to ward them off Nanasaheb's

daughter Mainatai suffered from excruciating delivery pain and so

they all remembered Baba and prayed for her safe and immediate

delivery. How could Baba be ignorant of his devotee's trouble? When

therefore one Ramgir (whom Baba called Bapugir) asked Baba's

permission to return to his native country Khandesh, Baba asked him

to go Jamner on the way and deliver to Nana a packet of Udi he was

giving and a copy prayer for his daily recitation. Ramgir said, "I

have only two rupees on hand; how would it be possible for me to cove

the expenses of going there?" Baba said, "Don't worry; you will have

all arrangements made for you." With full faith in Baba's words,

Ramgir therefore left Shirdi and booked a ticket for Jalgaon for Rs.

1/14, as in those days there were no Railway lines up to Jamner. Now

Ramgir had only a balance of two annas, so he wondered how he would

reach Jamner with that little balance. When however he got down at

Jalgaon Railway station he found an office Patewala shouting, "Who is

Bapugir of Shirdi, who is Bapugir of Shirdi?" Hearing this Bapugir

told him he was the person he wanted. Then the peon said, "I am

waiting for you, Nanasaheb has sent a Tanga to carry you to Jamner.

So please come on, I will take you to Jamner." So Bapu started in the

Tanga at about mid-night. The Patewala stopped his Tanga in the

morning near a stream to water his horses and to give them a little

rest. The Patewala washed his face, asked Bapugir to do the same and

then said, "Looking here, Nanasaheb has given me sweets for

breakfast, so let us have our breakfast. Bapugir consented and they

had their breakfast. After breakfast they resumed their journey and

reached Jamner. Just at the entrance into the town Nanasaheb's office

was sighted; so the Patewalla halted his Tanga to rest his horses.

Bapugir also got down to pass water. Returning thereafter to the spot

where he had left the Tanga, Bapugir stood amazed at the sight. There

was no Tanga, neither the Patewalla. Nanasaheb's house was very near

and he found it on the people showing the same to him. He saw

Nanasaheb and told him "Baba had sent for him a copy prayer for

recitation and holy ashes packet. Here they are." Just at that time

his daughter was passing through a critical stage of delivery and was

fainting but as soon as Nana recited the prayer and his wife dropping

the holy ashes in a cup of water raised it to the daughter's lips,

the daughter was immediately relieved of all pains and had a safe

delivery. Nana's anxious moments were now over and his whole family

was once again assured of Baba's unceasing care and protection of all

of them. When the crisis had been tided over. Bapugir asked

Nanasaheb, "How is it that the Patewalla, who brought me the Tanga

and the breakfast you had sent, is not seen here at all? Nanasaheb

was taken aback by the inquiry Bapugir made and said,: Oh what do you

say, I knew nothing at all of your coming; so how could I have sent a

tanga and breakfast for you with my Patewala?" Nanasaheb at once

understood that Baba by his supernatural powers had transformed

himself into the tanga, horses, Patewalla, etc.; and brought Bapugir

to his house just in time to save his daughter and Nanasaheb's eyes

streamed with joyful tears.

 

 

 Another time when Nanasaheb went on a pilgrimage to Harishchandra

mountain and had gone only half-way, his throat was parched by

thirst, he felt exhausted and said to his companions, "I can't walk a

step further without water; had my Sai Baba been here, he would have

given me water; had my Sai Baba been here, he would have given me

water; (just at that time Baba in Shirdi said to the devotees near

Him: Nana is dying of thirst but would I see him dying that way?) His

companions tried to persuade Nana to stand up and try moving forward

as his Sai Baba was not there to help. Just at the time a Bhil with a

bundle of fuel on his head appeared on the scene and on inquiry he

informed Nanasaheb that just under the stone Nana was sitting on

there was a stream of pure water; they all quenched their thirst and

then reached the mountain top and completed the pilgrimage. Several

days thereafter when Nanasaheb went to Shirdi, he was asked by some

devotees whether he had to pass through some critical situation some

time back, for Baba had so declared here, referring to his diary he

found that Baba had referred to the crisis he had to face on the

Harishchandra mountain and Baba there had saved him by taking up the

form of Bhil carrying a pile of fagots on his head.

 

 

 Baba similarly saved another devotee Udhavesh by supplying him

water in the form of a Goswami, when he had fainted away on Girnar

and when thereafter he went to Shirdi Baba had told him he had

supplied water to him.

 

 

 To prevent a devotee from committing an error ruinous to his health

and to preach a lesson of kindness towards all creatures by showing

his oneness with them, Baba assumed the forms of a dog and cat

several times. We shall mention here only two such instances. A tea

merchant of Bombay suffering from Asthma went to Shirdi with his

wife, hired a house and attended upon Baba twice a day for the cure

of his disease. Baba once and again advised him not to take curds and

his wife accordingly tried her best to persuade him to refrain from

the use of the curds, but Hansraj found it impossible for him to take

his dinner without curds, so he ordered his wife to keep curds ready.

Obeying the husband the wife always kept curds ready. To force him to

do without the curds, Baba assuming the form of a cat, always

devoured it when the couple was away for attending noon Arti prayers

at the Dwarkamai, When Hansraj saw this, with a view to detect and

punish the thief robbing him of his pet food, with a stick in hand

instead of attending the noon prayers at the Dwarkamai as usual he

sat at home watching. Just when the noon prayers started at the

Dwarkamai, Hansraj found a cat going up the loft devouring the curds;

he allowed the cat to finish the curds and then as she was leaving

the house he gave her a sever stick stroke, leaving on her body a

mark of the same. When in the afternoon Hansraj as usual went to

Dwarkamai and paid his respects to Baba, Baba uncovered His back and

showed a weal on it to the devotees there inclusive of Hansraj,

stating that, that was the reward this perverse Hansraj had awarded

Him. Hansraj realised the mistake he had been committing and since

that day gave up curds.

 

 

 Similarly when the venerable old devotee of Baba, Mhalsapati gave a

stroke or two to a dog entering into his house, leaving the marks

thereof on his body. Baba showed Mhalsapati the said marks on His own

body; since that day Mhalsapati gave up inflicting such cruelty on

dogs trespassing upon his house.

 

 

 When Dev Mamlatdar of Dehnu invited Baba to attend the dinner party

he had at his house in respect of a religious festival, He informed

him that he would attend the same with two others. On the day fixed

Baba saw Dev, informed him He with his companions wanted dinner. Not

recognising him he asked them to come exactly at 12 noon. So Baba

went there with his two companions, took dinner and then taking betel

leaf etc., When Dev wrote to Jog saying though Baba had promised him,

he did not attend the dinner, without even bearing the contents of

the letter, he asked Jog to write to him in reply, "Baba did attend

with two others; why did you invite me if you had not the insight to

recognise me? This Baba would rather sacrifice His life than break a

promise once given."

 

 

 Assuming also the form of an old man Sai Baba prescribed to Shri

Upasani Maharaj warm water for the cure of his breathing disorder;

this cured him and when Shri Upasani went to Shirdi thereafter Sai

Baba had reminded him of the same.

 

 

Even after leaving his body Baba has been protecting his devotees by

manifesting himself in several forms. A few of the numerous such

instances may now be cited.

 

 

 One Sheth Ratilal Chamanlal Shah of Ahmedabad carrying on business

at Adoni (Madras) left Adoni for Ahmedabad on the morning of 22-5-48

in a second class compartment with his wife. He had with him

ornaments and cash worth about 10 to 12 thousands. There were in the

same compartment Shri. K. M. Munshi's Jagdish with his wife and also

Shri Gopalrao, the President of the Cotton Market committee and Shri

Naidu the Central Bank Agent. Till about 4 P.M. all these passengers

passed their time merrily in playing cards. An un-definable fear

however then suddenly seized Shri Ratilal and so he dissociated

himself from the rest of the passengers playing card and sat chanting

Shri Sai's name. These passengers tried to set at rest Ratilal's

(what they considered to be his) baseless fear, but he turned a deaf

ear to all of them, continuing taking Shri's name. But half an hour

had hardly passed and they sighted Gangapur Railway station, when

they were disillusioned; for then to their dismay they found a hand

of Razakars ready to pounce upon their train. As the train was just

coming to a half at Gangapur they seized the Railway Station Master,

bound him to a station pillar with a rope and started their ruthless

campaign of harassing, looting and killing passengers. Shri Ratilal's

companions also, finding no other way of escape from this attack,

started chanting Sai Baba's name, shutting fast their windows and

doors; then these passengers saw from doors crevices that a Pathan

standing close to their compartment was directing the Razakars to

proceed either left or right leaving them and their own compartment

safe unrobbed unscathed, They were all thus saved simply by chanting

Shri's name. The Razakars had not their attention drawn to this

compartment through Shri's grace. Need it be said that they then all

heartily thanked Baba for their miraculous escape from this danger?

 

 

 Again one Shri S. B Nachne's little son of about nine months, named

Harihar alias Sai Nath was playing with his brothers and sisters.

Other grown up children had been firing crackers near by igniting

coloured matches. One of these threw a burning match on the child's

clothes. Sai Nath's clothes caught fire but the little boy could not

understand the risk this involved. The mother was busy doing

something outside there but her mind was a way from her children. So

Baba appeared at once before her in the form of a Fakir and pointing

to the burning child said, "Look there, see What is going on there."

Thereupon the mother at once ran up to the Child removed its burning

clothes in proper time. After Harihar was thus saved, the mother

looked for the Fakir but during the confusion that followed on the

running of the mother to the child, He disappeared altogether, no one

knew where. The devout parents of Harihar rightly attributed this to

Shri Baba's grace and prayed for such anxious care of them whenever

so required.

 

 

 The self-same Nachne lost his wife in 1929. She had died leaving a

three yeas old child. This almost broke Nachne's heart; and so he

became so very listless to the necessities of his body that when he

left Bombay for Nasik to perform the obsequial ceremonies of his

wife, though it was dreary cold, he took neither a blanket nor a

shawl to guard himself against it, Though he grew listless about

himself, Baba could not be so; like an anxious father that He is, He

assumed the form of an office peon and perched Him self just opposite

to the seat, which Nachne was to occupy in the train. When Nachne got

into that compartment and sat down he started asking, "Well, Where

are you going? How is it you have no bedding?" Nachne replied "I am

going to Nasik to perform the obsequial ceremony of my wife. I have

now grown quite indifferent to my body, and care very little for the

bedding." Hearing this the Patewalla (Peon) sent a friend of his to

get a blanket for Nachne. Seeing that he brought the blanket in no

time, Nachne remarked, "Oh it seems you live very near." The

Patewalla replied, "I am a Patewalla (a peon) in Bombay Arts School

and my quarters are very near. My name is Ganpatishanker. My Saheb

has gone to Simla, so I have seized this opportunity for going to

Nasik. If you now want to go to sleep, I will wake you up in proper

time you may do so. However if you have any cash, beware of pick-

pockets; if you have nothing to keep the cash safe, and if you hand

it over to me, give it to me. I will keep it safe in my trunk."

Nachne thereupon gave over his cash to Ganpatishanker and slept.

Gangapti woke him up at Ghoty; they there washed their face and had

tea. Ganpati defrayed the expenses of tea. Then they got down on

Nasik Railway Station. On the way to Nasik proper in a bus

Ganpatishanker said to Nachne, "Do not go to any of these Brahmin

priests, they will charge you exorbitantly I will make all

arrangements for the ceremonies; come with

me."

Saying so, he brought to him a priest, explained to the

priest what and how these ceremonies had to be performed. He also

pointed to Nachne a cavity in the river and asked him to stand there

dipping his wife's bones there in water. As Nachne did so the bones

melted away like sugar in water. As soon as the ceremonies were all

over, Ganpatishanker received a telegram from his Master asking him

to resume his duties. So he took Nachne's permission to leave, gave

over to him to him the account of Nachne's money spent by him to the

very pie, handed over to him the balance and left Nachne saying, 'I

will meet you in Andheri.' On return to Bombay Nachne made all

efforts to find him out but he could not succeed. He then made

inquiries at the Art School; asked the Patewallas, the Professors and

even the Principal; but when all of them gave one uniform reply "that

there is no such peon and there was never in the service of this Art

School a peon of the name of Ganpatishanker", he realised that the

peon was none other than Baba himself. He himself had for him assumed

the form of a Patewalla to relieve him of the stunning stroke of the

misery of his wife's death and to assist him in the performance of

the obsequial ceremonies. H felt extremely sorry that he had got Baba

to discharge a menial's duty for him- but he was now helpless and

could only requite him by his steady and unfailing devotion for him.