Datta Sai, Maruthi Sai. Satyanarayana Sai

[Guest guest]

DATTATREYA SAI

About 1900, one Balasaheb Binnevala, a close relation of Nana Saheb Chandorkar,

went to see Sai Baba, but only to oblige Nana Saheb. He was a worshipper of

lord Datta. When he went and saw Sai Baba, the latter appeared to him as having

the three heads of Lord Datta. Balasaheb was at once convinced that Sai Baba was

Datta.

SAI MARUTHI

Somanath Despande, the son of nana Saheb Nimonkar had the fortune of serving

Baba for four days when his father had to remain at Ahmednagar to attend the

court. Within that short period Somanath had a blessed vision. Baba was seated

in his usual place and Shama was sitting on the steps of the mosque. Suddenly

Baba appeared to Somanath in the form of Maruthi. "There was no longer Sri

Baba’s usual figure. There was the Maruthi’s body. Only I did not

see if he had a tail. Seeing that form I at once said to Madhav Rao (i.e.

Shama), "Take his darshan; see, he is Maruthi", so writes Somanath.

SATYANARAYANA SAI

M. V. Sahasra Buddhe of Satara learnt of Baba only after the latter’s

Mahasamadhi, in about 1931 and had several divine experiences. The crowning

experience was, in his own words, as follows: When I was at Paltan, I had a

vision one night of a Satyanarayana image (i.e., an idol) and a pandal put up

(above it) and worshipped in the Shirdi samadhi front hall. The offerings made

to the image were passing straight into the tomb of Sai Baba seated within the

tomb. The tomb was transparent. To verify the truth of this, I wrote at once to

Shirdi to see if Satyanarayana puja was conducted at the time and place

mentioned above. I got a reply in the affirmative. Baba had thus shown me that

he is Satyanarayana and that puja to Satyanarayana is puja to Sai Baba.

(Written by: Pujya acharya E. Bharadwaja in Sai Baba the Master)