DEVOTEES' EXPERIENCES OF SRI SAI BABA BY H.H. NARASIMHA SWAMIJI - PART III

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Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt"> 18th October, 1936 4 p.m.

TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN: justify;

mso-layout-grid-align: none">w.pradhan, B.A., L.L.B, High Court Pleader & J.P.

aged 56, residing at Sai Baugh, Santa Cruz, says: Nana Saheb Chandorkar was the

cause of all my rela­tions going to Baba and therefore the cause of my going

also. It was the first week of May 1910. A group of my brothers and other

relations were chatting with Mr.Chandorkar. Then my brother Rama Rao asked:

"Is there any one nowadays of the type of Akkalkote Maharaj?" N.C. : Do you

want to see one? R.R. : Yes. N.C.

yes"> : In that case, go to Shirdi. In Sai Baba of Shirdi you have one. R.R.

: This is the first time we hear of Shirdi. Where is it and how do we get to

it? N.C. : It is in Kopergaon Taluk, Ahmednagar Dis­trict. You have to go to

Kopergaon Station (on Dhond Manmad Line) and take a tonga. Shirdi is 11 miles

off the station. Mr. Chandorkar gave such a vivid and glowing account of Baba's

power, personality, kindness and greatness that all his hearers were aglow with

the desire to rush at once or as early as possible to Shirdi and have darsan

(sight) of Baba. These relations and friends of mine, forming a group of about

10 or 14 people started the very next day to Shirdi. They wanted me to be with

the party. But I had been out and they left word with my wife and went away. I

was that day with my mother who told me of their trip to see Baba; but I, in my

ignorance, said to her "Who can say, if He is really genuine saint?"

white; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; TEXT-ALIGN:

justify; mso-layout-grid-align: none">When the party returned from Shirdi, I

took a loan from my brother of two things that they had brought, a copy of

Baba's picture and Chapter 31 of Bhakta Lilamrita of Das Ganu, describing

Baba's life and the miracles he wrote, promising to return them the same day. I

took them home, showed them to my wife, and began to read aloud that Chap­ter 31

to her. The effect was deep and electric. All the doubt that I had expressed to

my mother vanished. I was con­verted. From that moment I got a firm belief that

Baba was a true and great saint if ever there was one. My wife's faith was even

greater. I told her that the book and the picture had to be returned that day.

But she could not think of parting with Baba and that too on a Thursday. So at

her insistence I kept them on, even the next day and the third. Then as they

were called for by my brother, I had to return them on the fourth day. Now we

were burning with a desire to go to Baba. But circumstances seemed to be

adverse to any such adventure. My sister-in-law, who had been recently widowed,

appeared to be in advanced pregnancy and had no son. We all fer­vently hoped she

would have a son and I, as the only male member in the house, could not leave

the town as the deliv­ery might take place any day. But my wife and sister were

very anxious that I should

not lose the chance of seeing Baba early. So I started about a fortnight after

the first party returned from Shirdi by the end of May 1910. By the kindness of

Mr. Chandorkar, his two sons Babu and Bapu became my companions. At starting I

had provided myself with three or four gold sovereigns (guin­eas, as they were

called) and some notes. I got a note changed with the object that I might be

able to give silver rupees when Baba should ask for dakshina. I had 20 Rupees

in cash and the rest in notes. Thus provided, I went to Shirdi. After a good

reception at Kopergaon from the Mamlatdar and a good bath at the Godavari, we

reached Shirdi. There at that very moment of our arrival, Baba was standing at

the Lendi, as though he was waiting for us. So we at once got down and bowed to

Him. We put up at the Sathewada and there had the company of Rao Bahadur Sathe,

Mr. Noolkar, 1st Class Sub-Judge & C. Soon after, I took all the flowers,

garlands, &

fruits I had brought to the Masjid to garland Baba and gave Him all the

presents. When I looked quietly into His face and eyes, I felt confirmed in my

impression that Baba is a really great saint and said within myself “Thank God.

I came". This deep impression was quite opportune. Baba at once proceeded to

put my faith to the test.

Verdana; FONT-VARIANT: small-caps"> --to be contdDevotees can read this book

from the Book Section of www.Saileelas.org/books/exppart3.htm

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