BABA'S PROTECTION IS NOT CONFINED

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BABA’S PROTECTION IS NOT CONFINED

Baba was watching not only over Kaka Saheb Dixit, but over all his relatives

also. One day Kaka received a letter that his younger brother at Nagpur was

ill. Then he said to Baba, "I have received this letter and I am of no service

to him." Baba said, "I am of service". Kaka could not make out why Baba said

so. But at that very moment, at Nagpur, a sadhu came to attend upon his

brother, and cured him of his illness, and used the very words of Baba, namely,

"I am of service". Kaka thus found that across 1000 miles, Baba could see what

went on and could carry out what was necessary for his sishya’s

relatives.

Dixit had such perfect reliance on Baba that, before taking any step in any

important matter, he would go to Baba and get his orders and follow the same to

the very letter, even though the course was running counter to his own judgement

and feelings or those of his friends and relations. Baba once tested and proved

his implicit obedience while enjoying the fun of the test. BCS. 619 gives the

account which shows that Bade Baba, Shama and Ayi all shrank from assisting

Baba or carrying out his order that a goat thoroughly weak and about to die

should be slaughtered with a knife at the mosque – while Kaka Dixit alone

stood the test and was bringing down knife over the neck of the creature in

implicit obedience to an apparently horried command.

BCS 619 gives the account thus:

Once a goat entered the mosque, old, famished and just about to die.

Baba: (to Bade Baba) Cut that goat with one stroke.

Bade Baba: (Looking at it with pity) How are we to kill this?

So saying, he went away from the mosque.

Baba: Shama, you cut it. Fetch a knife from Radhakrishna ayi.

(Ayi sent a knife; but learning the purpose, recalled it)

Shama: I will go home to fetch a knife.

Shama went home and stayed away there.

Then Baba to H S Dixit: You fetch a knife and kill it.

H S Dixit went and fetched a knife.

H S Dixit: Baba, shall I kill it?

Baba: Yes

H S Dixit lifted up the knife and held it up in hesitation.

Baba: What are you thinking of? Strike.

Dixit obeyed and was bringing the knife down.

Baba: Stop, let the creature remain. I will kill it myself but not at the mosque.

Then Baba carried the creature a few yards, after which it fell dead.

Some might suppose that such intimate relation and dependence of the disciple

might snap if the Guru left the body. But that was not so. After Baba left the

body, Dixit, like several other staunch devotees, intently concentrated on Sai

Baba, and after prayer cast chits before Baba, and asked some child to pick up

a chit at random and the directions of the chit were Baba’s order and

were safe to follow always. One instance may be cited of Dixit’s trust in

consulting Baba through chits and its proving a reliable method and Baba’s

proving a reliable helper of himself and his relations. After Baba’s

samadhi, Dixit tried to revive his practice especially for the sake of others.

His brother Sadhasiv Dixit, BA, LLB., tried to practice at Nagpur, etc., and

failed to secure any practice or appointment. Dixit then consulted Baba through

chits and acting on the chit accrued order brought Sadashiv over to Bombay. But

even at Bombay, Sadhashiv failed to secure any success. Kaka wondered how

Baba’s order or advice should prove to useless. He was thinking of

sending his brother from Bombay, but as Deepavali festival came in, the brother

was detained for the festival. Just at that time, leading persons from the Cutch

samasthan came to consult Kaka Dixit as to which person should be selected as a

sufficiently reliable officer on a high pay of Rs. 1000. When Kaka suggested

Sadhashiva’s name, that was readily accepted, and he became Dewan of that

State. Baba springs his surprise at the last moment when he gives his blessing

and justifies the fullest confidence reposed in him by Dixit, etc., Damodar

Rasane employed a similar practice, and says in his experience that

Baba’s answers on chits to him were always found to be correct. (N.B:

Powerful faith alone can elicit a reply)

Written by: HH Pujyasri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji in Life of Sai Baba

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

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