HOW I BECAME A SAI DEVOTEE'! (May 1974)By-B. K. DUBE

[Guest guest]

"HOW I BECAME A SAI DEVOTEE'! (May 1974)

By—B. K. DUBE

District Small Savings Officer, (Government of M.P.) At & Post. Hoshangabad

(Madhya Pradesh)

I take this opportunity to narrate my own heart-felt experience of Sai

Bliss, Sai-Help, temporal and spiritual both.

It was some-time in the year 1957 when (then I was a lad of 29 years), I was

suffering from stomach disease and its further effect, I was bodily

weakened, and mentally perturbed and dishearten Losing all hope with the

medical treatment, my whole inner and outer senses were linked with God

"Krishna", praying for cure of disease and recovery of mental peace.

Un-knowingly, with a continued practice, I always remained in solitude

praying "Lord Krishna for immediate recovery. Every day my practice was to

remember and utter His name loudly at the time of going to bed and at the

time of awakening in the early morn.

One night, without any previous reference or even knowing who is Sai Baba

(of course till August 72 I could not find out Baba, His Avatar, Teachings

etc.) during morning hours, I had a dream. What I saw is that-there was a

Saint having his head covered with a white cloth duly tied at the neck; with

a small mustache and beard on the face and a Kupani (Angarkha as we call

here in Madhya Pradesh on the body in sitting position, appeared on the

vision. Suddenly I woke up and uttered, "Oh ! He is my Guru." "Here is

my Guru. It was an instantaneous vision. The image disappeared soon and

the dream was over.

The darkness was vanishing the day dawning, the birds cheering with the

first joy of the day; and I was thinking as to who this Saint was ! and

where can I find him ? Since I was living more lonely, did not even tell

this dream-story to my family members.

The days, months and the years passed on wherein I was very often recalling

the SAINT, His Image, and the dream-history, trying to go through all

possible religious books and yearly issues of "Kalyan"Patrika to find out at

least something about the Saint-of-the-Dream. The days took turn, and

after completing graduation, I was married in the year 1964.

In the year 1970, I again came to Hoshangabad on transfer, having joined a

new department of Government. Here at one shop, while I was purchasing

some things, I saw a garlanded picture of the same Saint-of-Dream. I

enquired of the shop-keeper and he replied "Sai Baba of Shirdi." By further

putting some more questions, he could only say-Shirdi is located in

Ahmadnagar Dist : of Maharashtra State. But this could not satisfy me. I

became much more anxious to know more. But who could tell ? I could do

nothing [except to wait and pray God for early discovery and darshan of

"Saint Guru." Since then the desire to have darshan and know more about

"GURU" increased more profoundly. Mean-while search through Books and

religious friend-circle continued.

It was in August 1972, that during my tour of Piparia town (within

Hoshangabad District) one of my friends invited me at his home.

I accompanied him. Having reached his house, he asked me to have Darshan of

Sai Baba first. I questioned -Which Sai Baba ? and he replied "Sai Baba of

Shirdi." With a thrilling heart and wonder-struck mind I got in the

Puja-Graha. And Lo ! Here Sai Baba !! I was then perceiving the same Saint

of my Drea I took Darshan with the heart beating heavily, lips stunned, and

eyes wide-open. After some minutes, it came to my mind that at least with

the Grace of Guru Himself, I could find Him out. With great joy and

heart-felt cheerfulness I prostrated before my "Shri Guru Maharaj." And with

this my heart was filled with immense joy happiness, slight satisfaction and

mind full of curiosity and eager| to know more. My friend-Sai-Devotee-then

gave me some Vibhuti and Prasad and we came out. Then held an hour long

narration about Shri Sai Baba, Shirdi. The Sansthan and the way to reach; I

also had a chance to go through rapidly, some of old magazine Sai Leela and

Shri Sai Sat charitra. We concluded with full content His content was to

have made known something about SAI BAI to the most needy-A Devotee-and mine

was to have known about Him and that I was brought on the right path by the

Grace of Satguru. We then departed.

The next day I returned to Hoshangabad (head quarters) and I the first time

told the story of "Sai Baba in Dream" to my wife and expressed my innate

desire to visit Shirdi Tirtha. Also that I ha come to know Sai Baba, My

wife at first did not take it so serious and was also not knowing what can

be the emotional desires of devotee. Again there was a discussion about

Shirdi visit and she expressed her intention also to accompany me. I urged

the need of first visiting myself and afterwards with all members of our

family) I was very earnestly bowing and praying BABA whole-heartedly, to

permit me to visit Shirdi and have Darshan there. The love for Baba, the

devotion, the zeal and force of desire cannot be expressed in words. It

can be felt only.

It was with the grace of Sai that I started for journey on Tuesday from

Hoshangabad in October 1972 and next day very comfortable

I reached Shirdi. It was my first experience and I was observing minutely

nearness of Shirdi with great curiosity. Having reached

I there I was allotted a room to stay with a partner. I took both and went

in for Darshan with coconut prasad and garlands. The statue of Sai Baba was

before me. Again with thrilling heart filled with joy and greatest

gratitude I prostrated before Baba and presented Prasad Coconut.

Feelings were whirling in my mind that it was only with the grace of Baba

that this fortunate day could be seen after a lapse of about 15 years of

Baba's first vision.

Because none could visit Shirdi if it is not allowed by Baba Himself.

In the evening I went on to have Darshan of Baba's Lila-places-Chawadi,

Dwarka Mai, Lendi Bag etc. to my fullest satisfaction. This lay and the next

day I joined the Mid-day and evening Arti in which room partner was a guide

for me. He visited Shirdi several times. Since it was revealed by the

room-partner; I stayed on for Thursday and got the un-matchable opportunity

to join the "Palki-procession" from Samadhi Mandir to Chawadi in which I was

also given the chance to lift up Baba's Palki and to carry it to some steps.

The whole procession and its performance fully bathed in utmost Devotion and

surrender towards "SAI BABA" (as I felt it) attracted me to such an extent

that I forgot myself for some time. During my past life nothing could be so

alive a juncture than this Shirdi-Visit (nearness of Sai Baba).

While again prostrating before Him I prayed and requested Baba relieve me of

mental worries. I also prayed to bestow me with a male child (son). If

this could be fulfilled I shall bring him (son) to place him at His feet.

This day I took prasad and Lunch in Common Bhojan-Graha. Next day was last

darshan of Sai Baba (of this Shirdi visit). I prayed Him to grant me

permission for return journey and took Udi and Tirth. The given "Boon

Flower" was also taken from me. Meanwhile I purchased "Shri Sai Satcharitra"

(Hindi version and other available literature written by Shri Dassganu

Maharaj and Shri Narsingha Swamiji. Photographs of Baba were also brought

home. From the day I returned home, we have started worshipped Sai Baba with

full faith in Him as "God Almighty." Since then every morning and evening

Puja is performed by either of us. I studied the books brought from Shirdi.

Shri Sai charitra is a holy book for us and is regarded and read out/ over

with the same spirit and devotion as Shri Ramcharitmanas in our family, (in

this part of northen India.)

Within two months my wife became pregnant. She then urged to visit Shirdi

and have Darshan of Sai Baba. Meanwhile my father in-law, through us knew

about "Baba and His Grace" and he desired to accompany us, if we might go to

Shirdi. It is with His Grace that we started for second visit-myself,

wife, two daughters, father in-law and mother-in-law in the month of April

1973.

This trip was also full of joy satisfaction and bliss as was previous one

for me. My both daughters were impressed much and some times (now) the elder

one performs Puja in our home with joy. Father-in-Law has also brought a

photograph of Sai Baba "Sai Satcharitra" and they have also started

worshipping Him.

This time I became a r of “Sai Leela” monthly magazine. We also had

darshan of Bhagwan Khandoba and Samadhi Graha of Bhagat Mhalsapathi during

this trip.

This all made my whole family “Sai Devotee”. We have often been talking

discussing Sai Leelas and the teachings hidden behind. The day of Baba’s

boon was nearing and we were waiting anxiously.

At last the day dawned and my wife gave birth to a male child (son) on 12th

September 1973. He did not come alone, but brought promotion. I got the

order of promotion before his birth and with easy terms to join at the

present place of posting. The whole family and the relatives were filled

with immense joy and satisfaction which was all showered by Shri Samarth

Sadguru Sai Nath Maharaj.

My heart immensely contented, filled with over-whelming feeling of

experience of Sai-Grace, was re-calling: the beginning of devotion in the

past, and further developments, the mightiness of Baba to confer temporal

wants, giving opportunity to emerge with full devotion, to those whom He

deems fit. For us Sri Sai Baba is still mercifully active in His form of

omni-potent Omniscient, and Omnipresent. We are happy and pray Him confer us

spiritual uplift when we deserve it.

May ! all get, what they deserve, from Sri Sai Ram : (Shri Samarth Sadguru

Sai Natharpanmastu)

 

 

(Source Shri Sai Leela May 1974)