Ambrosia in Shirdi Part-1-Baba's Leelas before 1918

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Leela 30

"Sometimes I am a dog, sometimes a pig, a cow, a cat and an ant, a fly, and a

aquatic creature in such various form do I move about in the world. Know that I

like only him who sees Me in all the living beings. So give up the sense of

differentiation. This is the way to worship Me," said Baba to Mrs. Tarkhad (Sai

Satcharitra Ch.9). She fed a hungry dog that came to her door at lunch time.

Then came a hungry pig smeared all over with mud and dirt; happily she fed the

pig too.

Baba used to feed a mongrel dog daily. The dog used to sleep on the steps of

Dwarkamai one day Madhu False hit the dog, who was obstructing his path. Baba

at once flew into a rage and said, "It came here for Me and not for you. Be

aware hereafter."

In Devotees Experience, page 166, the story of Hansaraj is given. As he was an

asthmatic, Baba for­bade him to eat curds. However, Hansaraj could not resist

his love for curds. He got the curds made at home and asked his wife to hang it

in a sling from the ceiling. Every day, a cat came and ate the curds. One day

Hansaraj stayed at home to catch the cat in the act, so he could punish it.

This is exactly what happened. The cat stealthily came in climbed up and ate

the curds. Hansaraj waited with stick in hand and beat the cat as it left.

Later he went to see Baba in Dwarakamai. Baba said, "There is a man who wants to

die by eating sour and pungent things. But I would not allow him to do that.

Today I went to him in the form of a cat. That fellow has given Me a caning

on the back. See here!"

Then Baba exposed His back and thereby showed the welt marks.

Mahalsapathy used to feed a crippled bitch daily. One day having fed her he said

"go, go" but the bitch would not move, so he took a stick and beat it. Later

when he went to Dwarakamai, Baba said, "There is a bitch, sickly like Me in the

village. Every one is beating it". Mahalsapathy remembered his behaviour and

repented, (Ref. ~~ Life of Baba, Vol.2).

After taking 'bhiksha' Baba put all the food collected into the 'Kolemba'. The

cats and dogs of Shirdi waited for Him to return so, they could eat to their

hearts content. He, who would not drive away the animals would He al­low them

to be beaten?

DAKSHINA MIMAMSA

Dakshina literally means 'sacrificial fees'.

In Sai Satcharitra Ch.14 is the wonderful story of Ratanji Shahapurji Wadia of

Nanded. He went to Baba on Das Ganu's advice, because he was filled with

sor­row and despair, as he had no male children. He longed for a son and prayed

to Baba from the bottom of his heart. Baba said, "And so, after all these days

you have come to Me today! But then give Me first whatever dakshina you wish to

give. Only then will you get your satisfac­tion".

Ratanji had brought with him the most beautiful garland the choicest fruit and

of course dakshina. Full of love and humility, he offered them at Baba's feet.

But Baba said, "/ know you have already given Me three rupees and fourteen

annas. Now give Me the remaining money as dakshina". Here Baba identifies with

another saint called Mauli Saheb, who was invited for lunch by Ratanji. The

amount spent for that pur­pose was exactly rupees three and fourteen annas.

Baba stayed in the Dwarakamai for sixty years. From the very beginning, He went

for biksha to the five chosen houses. He ate very little. The rest He

distrib­uted to the devotees, the dogs and cats survived because of that

bhiksha. His needs were very little. All He required was a little tobacco, oil

for burning the lamps and wood for His Dhuni.

 

Why did Baba demand dakshina?

The most significant meaning for dakshina was to rid the devotee of ego, and

instill non-attachment to the transient things. Baba had a unique method of

tak­ing dakshina. Usually, He asked only for that amount that the devotee had

wished to offer. At other times, He would keep on asking the devotee till his

pockets were empty. There was a lesson behind this. He then asked the devotee

to borrow it (instilling humility). Some times it was to instill faith, for

another devotee would give that same amount unknowingly. Time and again the

devotee left Shirdi penniless and Baba ap­peared on the way in some disguise

and took care of

every thing.

The most striking feature was the significance of the number.

1) Re. I/-. The number one stood for jeeva or even Brahma.

2) Rs.2/- for nishta, faith and saburi (Sathe and Radhabai Deshmukh. Sai

Satcharitra Ch.18 & 19)

3) Rs.4/- often indicated the ego complex, i.e., Manas, Buddhi, Chitta

and Ahankar and the need to surrender it at the feet of the Guru.

4) Rs.5/- symbolized the senses, i.e. the Indriyas (The Marwari and

quick Brahma Cyan. Sai Satcharitra 16 & 17).

5) Rs.6/- refers to the six internal enemies (Mrs. Tarkhad. Ref:

Devotees' experience)

6) Rs.9/- refers to Nav Vidya Bhakti of the Bhakti Marga (Laxmibai and

Anantrao Pathankar and the parable of the mare, Sai Satcharitra Ch. 42 and 21

respectively.)

7) Rs.15/-. Giving Dakshina here means deriving les­sons from the

scriptures and lodging them in the heart where Baba resides. (Prof. Narke. Ref:

Devo­tees' experience)

8) Rs.16.50/-. Sharanagati (total and complete surren­der to Baba).

Some times the amount was large; implying a pay raise or bonus and the exact

amount was demanded by Baba.

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