VYREE BHAKTI AND SAI BABA

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VYREE BHAKTI AND SAI BABA

(BY B.V.N.SWAMY)

 

There are various incidents in the life of Sri Sai Baba that may be

recalled in connection with Vyree bhava. One Jehangir was the official

superior of a Sai Bhakta X, and he once got a picture of Sai Baba for the

purpose of Xx. With through callousness he would insult Baba in the

preesence of X, who being a weak man, in a subordinate position, had to

endure the pain and disgrace silently. Z however prayed to Baba to turn the

heart of the Jehangir. After fifteen days, that superior had qualms of

conscience. He ran to his subordinate, expressed regret for his past conduct

and declared his reverence for Sai Baba, in token of which he paid one

rupee as his fine to be sent to Shirdi. Here Baba, the Antaryami of all,

was allowing the boil(bastred) in J’s heart to ger ripe and burst. A very

similar case was that of Bala Saheb Bhate. When he was Mamlatdar at

Kopergaon, his educated friends would call on him, on their way to

Shirdi. He then never lost the chance of tolloing them what fools they

were to go and bow at the feet of a Mahomedan and a crazy fakir at that.

He refused their proposal that he should visit Sai Baba to form judgement.

After a year of two passed in this violenlty anti-Sai mood, he paid a visit

to Sai Baba- accidently one might say, if one did not know of Baba’s

wonderful knowledge, power and kindness. The effect of the visit was most

unexpected. The scoffer was held spell-bounded by the glance of Sai Baba.

He sat on for hours before Baba, feeling Baba’s power to read his thoughts

and control his desires. With difficulty he could be made to leave Baba’

presence that day. He resolved to stay on for days there, though he had

no excuse for staying there leaving his official work unattended to. Three

days he stayed and on the third day, Baba spread a kashaya cloth over his

body. He then determined not to go back to his office but to devote the rest

of his life to the company and service of Sai Baba. That violent hatred of

contempt he had for Baba became, by Baba’s grace, transformed into strong

attahement to Baba and Vairagya or distaste for all things wordly. In fact,

though he resumed official duties and stayed on at Shirdi without leave

for very long periods. He was compulsorily retired and granted

compassionate allowance, as one who had met with a mental malady in the

course of his official duties.

 

(to be contd....)

 

(Source Sai Sudha April 1944)