DIVINE LOVE WORKING IN THE MIND OF DEVOTEE

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DIVINE LOVE WORKING IN THE MIND OF DEVOTEE

This is quite striking and this has been noticed as a feature of the relation of

ordinary souls even with Mahatmas. When this author was living at

Tiruvannamalai, he and Yogi Ramayya would come down from the hill to meet

Ramana Maharishi in his ashram and not infrequently the thought that was

stirring their mind would be found to be part of the talk at the Ashram. When

Maharishi was asked for an explanation about it he simply said, "There are some

peculiar psychological laws about the working of the human spirit. They may

account for it. Instances of thought leaping forth to wed with thought are

found in Purandhare’s account of his own experiences with Baba.

In about 1915, Sai Baba was seriously ill. He could not move about without being

supported. He was suffering from severe exhaustion and his body underwent a

great deal of suffering. Strangely enough, at that time, Purandhare came to the

railway station thinking that he would start and go with his wife and mother to

their village. But when he came to the station, his mind turned. He asked them

to go to their place, and he himself wanted definitely to go to Shirdi, much to

the chagrin of those ladies. Purandhare left Shirdi despite their protests, and

what did he see there when he went to Shirdi? He found that Baba was in severe

physical pain and apparently in serious danger.

Purandhare says, ‘At that time in 1916, Baba and Radhakrishna Ayi were

both ill. After I reached Kopergaon the tongawalla, Hassan carried the news to

me. I asked him to take me straightway to Shirdi and I reached the place at

about 8.45 or 9 a.m. I could hear the heavy breathing of Sree as I approached

his residence. I went near him and cried. All the visitors were seated. When I

ascended the steps looking up to him, he said, "Bhav! Have you come? I feel

exhausted. Do not leave me now. I have been expecting you for the last three or

four days. I told Kaka also. Go and stay with Radhakrishna Ayi. Do not leave the

place." I went there but she too was ill.

Sree at that time had grown very weak having had no food. But otherwise his

daily routine had not changed in any way. He had to walk supported by two or

three persons. His bhiksha was being conducted as usual. One day when he was

going to Lendi, I offered to carry him. I could not help weeping then. Sree

told me not to cry for. "In two or four days, I will be well. Allamia had out

me to pain, which I must endure. Do not cry on that account. Why should you?

For two days we have to face good or bad events. We ought not to fear."

Here we see how the unity of spirit between Purandhare and Sai Baba plays.

Firstly, when Baba thought that Purandhare should be sent for Shirdi and asked

Kaka to write to him. Purandhare had already had the thought in his mind. Baba

wanted him near on account of his health. But the love had worked in

Purandhare’s mind and inaccountably he wanted to start for Shirdi without

knowing what was the particular necessity for his going. Here is thought leaping

forth to wed with thought, ‘ere thought itself could wed with speech.

Again the unity of spirit between two intimate companions, friends or lovers,

is seen in this. Baba on account of weakness and asthmatic trouble was

breathing hard and undergoing pain. His weakness prevented him from walking

erect and unsupported as usual, and Purandhare looking at both these facts

cried and cried for he could not bear to see Baba in pain. This is a very high

degree of love, and Baba had to reason with him and console him and make him

desist from weeping

Courtesy: HH Pujyasri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji

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