ALL SAINTS ARE ONE AND THE SAME

[Guest guest]

ALL SAINTS ARE ONE AND THE SAME

When Avaste felt that there was Gurudroha in going from one saint to another.

Baba held just the opposite view. Baba declared that he was in the other

saints, and the other saints declared that they were in Baba and asked their

devotees to go to Baba. For instance, Akkalkote Maharaj in about 1876 asked his

devotees to go to Baba. Baba referring to a number of saints showed his

reverence to or oneness with them. He referred to Madhavanath Maharaj of Devgam

as his brother. Also he referred to Silanath Maharaj of Dewas as his brother. He

referred to Tajuddin Baba of Nagpur also in a similar manner. On account of such

reference, Rege viewed them as the same soul, and they all showed, one after

another, after Baba’s Mahasamadhi, that he, as Baba’s child was

quite welcome to them.

He had similar experience even in the case of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, when

he went to Dakshineswar. In 1923, Rege met Madhavanath Maharaj and, at very

first meeting, the Maharaj told Rege, ‘You are a Sai Baba man’. He

further narrated the exact words that passed between Rege and Baba at the first

interview in the Masjid. Madhavanath added, ‘I was then present’,

which must of course be as Sai Baba or in the invisible spirit form. In 1923,

Rege went to Nagpur to take a darshan of Tajuddin Baba. His darshan was a very

difficult matter, because Tajuddin lived in the harem of a Hindu Raja. Large

crowds were waiting in a garden to take his darshan. Rege also was in the

crowd. But as he had to take a train at 4 p.m. that day, he determined to wait

only till 3 p.m. After waiting for long, just when it was a few minutes to 3

p.m. a man came up and said to Rege that Tajuddin Baba wanted him. He had his

darshan for ten minutes and his blessings, and then returned. Then probably

about that time, Silanath Maharaj was camping somewhere, Mr. Rege went up there

and paid his respects. Because he was only in camp, Rege suggested that he might

go to Rege’s house. Immediately, the Maharaj agreed and came to

Rege’s house, and went straight to where Baba’s photo was and bowed

before Baba. Maharaj would not take sweets or fruits, but only wanted tea. He

took some tea, and what remained of it he offered to Rege who gladly took it.

A similar experience of identity of other saints with Baba, Rege had when he

visited Sri Kesavanandaji of Saikheda and Sri Baba Jan of Poona. The moment

each one of them saw him, the saint said, ‘This is Baba’s

child’. Lastly about Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Mr. Rege mentions his

experience. It was in 1928 he went to Dakshineswar and wanted to go round and

see all things connected with the Paramahamsa. he wanted his guide to show him

Ramlala with which Ramakrishna played. The guide pointed to a huge figure and

said it was Ramlala. Rege protested that it could not be. But the guide said,

‘I am the local man and you are a stranger. I know better.’ Just at

this juncture, a pujari of the temple turned up and said that he had a dream

overnight that a deccani bhakta was coming and that he should show him all

round. He took Rege to the real Ramlala and showed him all round. he also took

him to the Holy of Holiest of Kali and said that Rege could touch the image and

worship the image of Kali and Ramlala just as he liked. So, by Baba’s

grace, Rege had good darshan and all round and everywhere he felt that Sai Baba

was the same as the other saints that he saw.

Now the most important benefit one can have from knowing Mr. Rege’s life

and experience is the benefit the reader himself can have from Baba. Rege says,

"Finally if I am asked what I would suggest to one who wished to find out how

he, not having met Sai Baba in the flesh could make himself a devotee of Sai

Baba and get his help, my answer will be that he should sit wholeheartedly and

try to pour his heart in love to Sai Baba. It is not essential that he should

go to Shirdi for that purpose – though Shirdi associations are

undoubtedly helpful. All that he should do is to transcend the senses and

concentrate with love on Sai Baba. He would surely reach and obtain the help of

Sai Baba – to obtain all that he is fit to achieve or receive."

Courtesy: HH Pujyasri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji

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