DAS GANU’S OBSTACLES DUE TO POORVA KARMA

[Guest guest]

DIVINE GRACE – DAS GANU’S OBSTACLES DUE TO POORVA KARMA

Das Ganu has been helped in numerous other ways, but it is sufficient here to

note that Baba gave him the assurance that he would provide for his temporal

welfare (Yogakshema) so that he might bravely and calmly start his spiritual

career. And Baba kept his word. Baba always keeps his word. Baba thus provided

completely for the temporal welfare of a man without any employment and any

property. When he thought there was nothing for him to depend upon, Baba

provided everything, and Das Ganu had always been very well off temporally. He

has got properties though he has transferred them to his adopted son.

As for the spiritual uplift, it is impossible to conceive of any greater benefit

than wrenching one away from the two great ropes that were dragging Ganpat Rao

downward namely, the lewd village dramas which Ganpat Rao was playing in and

the soul destroying police work, the wickedness of which would be heightened by

the ambition to rise to Sub Inspectorship in double quick time. The way in which

Baba responded to prayers and saved him, time and again, from dismissal or

punishment would quite suffice to impress the mind of Ganpat Rao with the fact

that Baba is omnipotent, is everywhere watching and attending to his prayers,

and is ever looking after him. Baba watched him at every place to which he went

and took the appropriate measure that was urgently needed for his welfare. What

else can be God except that which watches us everywhere and further takes

adequate steps to see that harm does not befall us but real benefit is

conferred on us? What is God except that which hears and grants prayer?

Baba naturally did his very best for this Das Ganu but, unfortunately, (as we

see in the cases of most devotees contacting Baba) there are obstacles due

perhaps to Poorva Karma which prevent one responding in the correct way to such

high influences as Baba’s. Even after so much of proof of Baba’s

omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, and miraculous help for Ganu’s

benefit. Ganu did not fully derive the idea that Baba was God. So many others

for whom Baba did even less were full of the faith that Baba was God. No doubt

Ganu sang of Baba that he was God in fine terms set to music. But Ganu’s

conviction was superficial and not deep.

Das Ganu’s faith being very poor and very weak in Baba’s Divinity,

Baba desired to impress on Ganu, His (Baba’s) Godhead and to make him and

his other disciples realise him (Baba) properly. For that purpose, he exhibited

chamatkars, one of which is as follows. On a certain occasion, Das Ganu wanted

to go for a bath to the Godavari river, which in ordinary parlance is termed

‘Ganga’ (the Ganges, the most sacred river). That river is four or

five miles away from Shirdi, and when Ganu asked for permission to go to

‘Ganga’, Baba answered, "Why go there? Is not Ganga here? Ganu felt

very much dissatisfied. Ganu was the author of the Arati song which runs as

follows and which was even being sung at Baba’s puja.

Shirdi Maje Pandaripura

Sai Baba Ramavara

This means, ‘My Pandharpur or place of pilgrimage is Shirdi and the God

that sanctifies that place (Vittal) is Sai Baba; that is, Sai is Mahavishnu

from whose feet Ganges is perennially flowing. This song is sung by many and at

least a few really think in their hearts that Sai Baba is really Maha Vishnu:

For, what is Maha Vishnu? Maha Vishnu is the protecting form of God. God has

three functions, namely creation, protection and final withdrawal, which also

is a form of protection. The protecting aspect of God is called Maha Vishnu. So

Sai Baba, the person who has protected Das Ganu and innumerable others, and who

is doing it even today on a vast scale from one end of the country to the

other, is certainly exercising the functions of Maha Vishnu All Divinity in

one. Call it or Him by any name and carry on your worship according to any

religion and adopt any set of doctrines or metaphysical or philosophical basis

for your ideas and actions, the end reached is the same, the one pure and

perfect Bliss. When the goal is reached by the most advanced souls of any

country or sect, the experience is the same. But before the end is reached, the

modes adopted and the explanations given by sets differ so greatly sometimes as

to cause religious differences of a bitter sort – and quarrels, battles

or wars are waged on account of religious or sectarian zeal.

The common run of men look to externals alone and the inner kernel of all

religion is beyond their grasp. Sri Das Ganu on account of his poorva karma of

former births and even the karma of his present earlier life could not rise to

this view. Baba had to refine his nature and wash away the effects of birth and

past habits.

Courtesy: HH Pujyasri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji

(Vasuki Mahal Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Trust, Coimbatore-641025, India)