SAI'S GREATNESS (December 1983)

[Guest guest]

SAI’S GREATNESS (December 1983)

 

At the invitation of Shri Sivanna, owner of Sai Mandir at Arsikeere

(Karnataka), Sai devotees from Hubli were attending the annual functions of

“poor marriages” conducted in Sai Mandir there every year. By Baba’s grace,

I attended the same along with other Sai devotees from 21-12-82 to 22-12-82.

 

Elaborate arrangements were made by Shri Sivanna and his dutiful sons,

grand-sons etc to conduct the functions on a grand scale as usual (as is

done every year). Before going to our lodgings, we went to the Mandir to

take darshan of Shri Baba. As soon as I entered the Mandir, I found that I

was actually at Shirdi as the marble statue of Baba, installed there,

resembled that of Baba at Shirdi with the healthy surroundings. I was

surprised to find huge crowd waiting in queue to draw water from the well

situated within the Mandir. Shri Sivanna told me that he keeps the Mandir

open day and night for the people to take water from the well as the water

in the surrounding areas is salt and unfit for drinking. This is Baba’s

Mahima!! I immediately remembered how our Bhagwan Shri Sai turned brackish

water into sweet one by throwing flowers into ‘Lendi Baug well’ in Shirdi.

All praise to our Sadguru Sainath Maharaj. !!

 

As announced in the papers, Sai Maha Mandal, Hubli did ‘Bhajan’ from 7 p.m.

to 9 p.m. on 21-12-82. When I was in a high pitch (at the top of my voice

in singing Bhajan) first I looked at the left corner where I saw a poor

Fakir with chimta in his hand enjoying the Bhajan. I was attracted to him

very often and wished that he should remain there till the end. But, I saw

him going away from the ‘auditorium’. I felt sorry and I thought in my mind

that he is going away because nobody respected him, including myself as he

was clad in poor and dirty clothes. As soon as I saw him, I should have

gone and prostrated at his lotus feet. But the ego and prestige in me

prevented me to do so. Alas ! A golden opportunity is lost in life !!

Throughout the night on 21-12-82, I was in a sorrowful mood brooding over

for not recognizing Baba in the Bhajan, having failed to follow Baba’s

advice, “See God in all beings, both animate and inanimate”.

 

Next day on 22-12-82, Baba’s photo was placed in a well decorated planquin

and a procession was taken out throughout Arsikere town from 11 a.m. to 2.30

p.m.. After passing two streets, a Hindi Sadhu appeared and shouted “Shri

Sai Baba ki Jai” in a loud voice. I immediately fell at his feet and he was

moving away quickly from the crowd. I followed him and in a second he

entered a nearby restaurant and disappeared. I was looking inside all over

the restaurant but he was not found. (This happened when other Sai devotees

of Hubli left me and went to drink water in a hotel). So Baba fulfilled my

desire by giving me ‘darshan’ again on 22-12-82 and blessed me. I wish to

share this joy and happiness alongwith other devotees. I am sure every Sai

devotees is being blessed by our Sadguru Shri Sainath in one way or the

other.

 

Another happy event that took place on 22-12-82 was as follows:-

As announced in local news papers – A Sai Bhajan party from Davangere was to

perform Bhajan from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on that day. But, Shri Sivanna

received a telegram from the Davangere party stating that some of the party

members fell ill and could not be present. Shri Sivanna came at 6.30 p.m.

and requested us to help him. We immediately responded and did Bhajan from

7 to 9 p.m. The Hubli party had to stop the Bhajan half heartedly on

21-12-82 at 9 p.m. as we were prepared to do Bhajan atleast for 3 to 4 hours

on that day having three to four good singers in our midst. So Baba

fulfilled our desire 22-12-82 by this Leela (miracle) i.e. the Davangere

party not being able to come over there on 22-12-82 as previously announced

in papers.

To conclude for the present, let us, Sai devotees, always remember Baba with

love and devotion and always chant His name to get His darshan off and on.

R. Radhakrishnan

Hubli, 580 020.

 

 

 

(The experiences of Devotees as published in Shri Sai Leela Magazine, can be

read at www.saileelas.org/magazines/SAILEELA/exp.htm)