Shri Sai Satcharitra [Ch. L]

[Guest guest]

- Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup

http://fifaworldcup.

**

"saidarshan" saidarshanit

 

Shri Sai Satcharitra [Ch. L]

Fri, 24 May 2002 21:22:19 +0530

Dear Sai brothers and sisters,

 

Over a period of last few months we were mailing complete 'Sri Sai Satcharitra'

from the beginning [Ch. I to 49]. We hope all our Sai brothers and sisters

would have read all these chapters. Reading Sai Satcharitra is one of the

greatest Spiritual sadhanas for all Sai devotees which every Sai devotee knows.

We have done our humble service in this respect. The last chapter will be sent

following the present one. All the chapters sent so far are available on our

group website. At this juncture we thank all of you for your encouragement and

supports in this work. On completion of the next and last chapter of Sri Sai

Satcharitra, we will be mailing 'Sathyam, Sivam, Sundaram' - the present Sai

avatar's life story with hundreds of photos and His messages for salvation in

our life. We pray our Divine Lord Sai to make this humble service also a

success. We are attempting to make our website as a 'SAI LIBRARY' accessible to

every Sai devotee worldover. With this view, we have now made the

'' group website open and accessible to every one including

non-members. Please visit our website:

 

/

 

and contribute your useful messages and make it YOUR OWN website.

Sai brothers

''

***

Om Sri Sai Ram

Shri Sai Satcharita

PRAYER

SHREE GANESH VANDANA SHASHI VARNAM CHATURBHUJAM

PRASANNA VADANAM DHYAYETH SARVA VIGHNOPA SHANTAYE

AGAJANANA PADMASANAM GAJANANA MAHIRSHAM

ANEKA DANTAM EKA DANTAM UPASMAYEM BHAKTANAM

Mushikavaahana Modaka Hastha,

Chaamara Karna Vilambitha Sutra,

Vaamana Rupa Maheshwara Putra,

Vighna Vinaayaka Paada Namasthe

Sainatha Sainatha Sainatha Sadgurum

Yogiraja Yugapurusha Bhaktakoti Vanditham

Kripanidhim Tapodhanim Sainatha Pahimaam

Divyateja Bhavyamoorthi Punyacharita Poojitam

ELEVEN DECLARATIONS OF SAI BABA

1. Whoever puts his feet on Shirdi soil, his sufferings would come to an

end.

2. The wretched and miserable would rise into plenty of joy and

happiness, as soon as they climb the steps of my Samadhi.

3. I shall be ever active and vigorous even after leaving this earthly

body.

4. My tomb shall bless and speak to the needs of my devotees.

5. I shall be active and vigorous even from the tomb.

6. My mortal remains would speak from the tomb.

7. I am ever living to help and guide all who come to me, who surrender

to me and who seek refuge in me.

8. If you look to me, I look to you.

9. If you cast your burden on me, I shall surely bear it.

10. If you seek my advice and help, it shall be given to you at once.

11. There shall be no want in the house of my devotees.

Chapter L

Stories of - (1) Kakasaheb Dixit (2) Shri Tembye Swami (3) Balaram Dhurandhar.

Chapter 50 of the original Satcharitra has been incorporated in Chapter 39, as

it dealt with the same subject matter. Now, Chapter 51 of the Satcharitra has

been treated here as Chapter 50. This Chapter gives the stories of (1)

Kakasaheb Dixit, (2) Shri Tembye Swami and (3) Balaram Dhurandhar.

Preliminary

Victory be unto Sai Who is the main-stay of the Bhaktas, Who is our Sadguru, Who

expounds the meaning of the Gita. Who gives us all powers? Oh Sai, look

favorably on us and bless us all.

The sandalwood trees grow on the Malaya Mountains and, ward off heat. The clouds

pour their rainwater and thereby, cool and refresh all the people. The flowers,

blossom in the spring and enable us to worship God, therewith. So the stories

of Sai Baba come forth, in order to give solace and comfort to the readers.

Both, those, who tell; and those, who hear the stories of Baba, are blessed and

holy, as also the mouths of the former and the ears of the latter.

It is a well-established fact, that though we try hundreds of means or sadhanas,

we do not attain the spiritual goal of life, unless a Sadguru blesses us with

his Grace. Hear the following story in illustration of this statement.

Kakasaheb Dixit (1864-1926)

Mr. Hari Sitaram alias Kakasaheb Dixit was born in 1864 A.D., in Vadnagara Nagar

- Brahmin-family, Khandwa (C.P.). His primary education was done at Khandwa,

Hinganghat, and secondary education at Nagpur. He came to Bombay for higher

education and studied first in the Wilson College and then in the Elphinstone

College. After graduation in 1883 A.D., he passed his LL.B. and solicitor's

examinations; and then served in the firm of the Govt. Solicitors, Messrs

Little and Co., and then, after sometime started a solicitors' firm of his own.

 

Before 1909 A.D., Sai Baba's name was not familiar to Kakasaheb, but after that

he soon became His great devotee. While he was staying at Lonavla, he happened

to see his old friend, Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar. Both spent some time, in

talking about many things. Kakasaheb described to him, how when he was boarding

a train in London, he met with an accident, in which his foot slipped and was

injured. Hundreds of remedies gave him no relief. Nanasaheb then told him that

if he wished to get rid of the pain and lameness of his leg, he should go to

his Sadguru-Sai Baba. He also gave him all the particulars of Sai Baba and

mentioned to him Sai Baba's dictum - "I draw to Me My man from far off, or even

across the seven seas, like a sparrow with a string fastened to its feet". He

also made it clear to him that if he be not Baba's man, he would not be

attracted to Him and given a Darshan. Kakasaheb was pleased to hear all this,

and said to Nanasaheb that he would go to Baba, see Him and pray to Him to cure

not so much his lame leg, but bring around his lame, fickle mind and give him

eternal Bliss.

Some time after, Kakasaheb went to Ahmednagar, and stayed with Sirdar Kakasaheb

Mirikar in connection with securing votes for a seat, in the Bombay Legislative

Council. Mr. Balasaheb Mirikar, son of Kakasaheb Mirikar, who was a Mamalatdar

of Kopergaon, also came at that time to Ahmednagar in connection with a

Horse-Exhibition there. After the election business was over, Kakasaheb Dixit

wanted to go to Shirdi and the Mirikars, father and son were also thinking in

their house about a fit and proper person, as a guide, with whom he should be

sent there. There Sai Baba was arranging things for his reception. Shama got a

telegram from his father-in-law at Ahmednagar, stating that his wife was

seriously ill, and that he should come to see her with his wife. Shama with

Baba's permission went there, and saw his mother-in-law and found her improving

and better. Nanasaheb Panshe and Appasaheb Gadre happened to see Shama, on their

way to the Exhibition and they told him to go to Mirikar's house, see Kakasaheb

Dixit there and take him to Shirdi along with him. Kakasaheb Dixit and the

Mirikars were also informed of Shama's arrival. In the evening Shama came to

Mirikars, who introduced him to Kakasaheb. They arranged that Shama should

leave for Kopergaon with Kakasaheb by the 10 o'clock night train. After this

was settled, a curious thing happened. Balasaheb Mirikar threw aside the veil

or covering on Baba's big portrait and showed the same to Kakasaheb. He was

surprised to see that He, Whom he was going to meet at Shirdi, was already

there in the form of His portrait to greet him, at this juncture. He was much

moved and made his prostration before the portrait. This portrait belonged to

Megha. The glass over it was broken and it was sent to Mirikars for repairs.

The necessary repairs had been already made; and it was decided to return the

portrait with Kakasaheb and Shama.

Before ten o'clock, they went to the station and booked their passage; but when

the train arrived, they found that the second class was overcrowded; and that

there was no room for them. Fortunately, the guard of the train turned out to

be an acquaintance of Kakasaheb; and he put them up in the first class. Thus,

they traveled comfortably and alighted at Kopergaon. Their joy knew no bounds

when they saw there Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who was also bound for Shirdi.

Kakasaheb and Nanasaheb embraced each other, and then after bathing in the

sacred Godavari River they started for Shirdi. After coming there and getting

Baba's Darshan, Kakasaheb's mind was melted, his eyes were full of tears and he

was overflowing with joy. Baba said to him, that He was also waiting for him;

and had sent Shama ahead to receive him.

Kakasaheb then passed many happy years in Baba's company. He built a Wada in

Shirdi, which he made as his, more or less, permanent home. The experiences he

got from Baba are so manifold, that it is not possible to relate them all here.

The readers are advised to read a Special (Kakasaheb Dixit) No. of 'Shri Sai

Leela' magazine, Vol. 12, No. 6-9. We close this account with the mention of

one fact only. Baba had comforted him by saying that in the end; He will take

him in air coach (Viman), (i.e., secure him a happy death). This came out true.

On the 5th July 1926 A.D., he was traveling in the train with Hemadpant and

talking about Sai Baba; he seemed deeply engrossed in Sai Baba. All of a sudden

he threw his neck on Hemadpant's shoulder, and breathed his last with no trace

of pain and uneasiness.

Shri Tembye Swami

We come to the next story, which shows how Saints love each other with fraternal

affection. Once Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati, known as Shri Tembye Swami encamped

at Rajamahendri (Andhra Country), on the banks of the Godavari. He was devout,

orthodox, Jnani and Yogi Bhakta of the God Dattatreya. One, Mr. Pundalikrao,

pleader of Nanded (Nizam State) went to see him, with some friends. While they

were talking with him, the names of Shirdi and Sai Baba were casually

mentioned. Hearing Baba's name, the Swami bowed with his hands; and taking a

coconut gave it to Pundalikrao, and said to him - "Offer this to my brother

Sai, with my pranam and request Him not to forget me, but ever love me". He

also added that Swamis do not generally bow to others, but in this case an

exception had to be made. Mr. Pundalikrao consented to take the fruit and his

message to Baba. The Swami was right in calling Baba a brother, for as he

maintained an Agnihotra (sacred fire) day and night, in his orthodox fashion;

Baba too kept His Agnihotra, i.e., Dhuni ever burning in the Masjid.

After one month Pundalikrao and others left for Shirdi with the coconut, and

reached Manmad, and as they felt thirsty they went to a rivulet for drinking

water. As water should not be drunk on an empty stomach, they took out some

refreshment, i.e., Chivda (Flattened rice mixed with spice). The Chivda tasted

most pungent and in order to soften it, some one suggested and broke the

coconut and mixed its scrapings with it. That then made the Chivda more tasty

and palatable. Unfortunately the fruit broken, turned out to be the same, that

was entrusted to Pundalikrao. As they neared Shirdi, Pundalikrao remembered the

trust, i.e., the coconut and was very sorry to learn that it was broken and

utilized. Fearing and trembling, he came to Shirdi and saw Baba. Baba had

already received a wireless message, regarding the coconut, from the Tembye

Swami, and Himself asked Pundalikrao first to give the thing sent by His

brother. He held fast Baba's Feet, confessed his guilt and negligence, repented

and asked for Baba's pardon. He offered to give another fruit as a substitute,

but Baba refused to accept it saying that the worth of that coconut was by far,

many times more, than an ordinary one and that it could not be replaced by

another. Baba also added - "Now you need not worry yourself any more about the

matter. It was on account of my wish that the coconut was entrusted to you, and

ultimately broken on the way; why should you take the responsibility of the

actions on you? Do not entertain the sense of doership in doing good, as well

as for bad deeds; be entirely prattleless and egoless in all things and thus

your spiritual progress will be rapid." What a beautiful spiritual instruction

Baba gave!

Balaram Dhurandhar (1878-1925)

Mr. Balaram Dhurandhar belonged to the Pathare Prabhu community, of Santacruz,

Bombay. He was an advocate of the Bombay High Court and sometime Principal of

the Government Law School, Bombay. The whole Dhurandhar family was pious and

religious. Mr. Balaram served his community, and wrote and published an account

of it. He then turned his attention to spiritual and religious matters. He

studied carefully Gita, and its commentary Jnaneshwari; and other philosophical

and metaphysical works. He was a devotee of Vithoba of Pandharpur. He came in

contact with Sai Baba in 1912 A.D., Six months previous, his brothers Babulji

and Vamanrao came to Shirdi and took Baba's Darshan. They returned home, and

mentioned their sweet experiences to Balaram and other members. Then they all

decided to see Sai Baba. Before they came to Shirdi, Baba declared openly that

- "Today many of my Darbar people are coming". The Dhurandhar brothers were

astonished to hear this remark of Baba, from others; as they had not given any

previous intimation of their trip. All the other people prostrated themselves

before Baba, and sat talking with Him. Baba said to them - These are my Darbar

people to whom I referred before and said to the Dhurandhar brothers - We are

acquainted with each other for the last sixty generations. All the brothers

were meek and modest; they stood with joined hands, staring at Baba's Feet. All

the Satwic emotions such as tears, horripilation, choking etc., moved them and

they were all happy. Then they went to their lodging, took their meals and

after taking a little rest again came to the Masjid. Balaram sat near Baba,

massaging His legs. Baba who was smoking the chillim advanced it towards him

and beckoned him to smoke it. Balaram was not accustomed to smoking, still he

accepted the pipe, smoked it with great difficulty; and returned it

reverentially with a bow. This was the most auspicious moment for Balaram. He

was suffering from Asthma for six years. This smoke completely cured him of the

disease, which never troubled him again. Some six years later, on a particular

day, he again got an attack of Asthma. This was precisely the time when Baba

took His Mahasamadhi.

The day of this visit was a Thursday; and the Dhurandhar brothers had the good

fortune of witnessing the Chavadi procession that night. At the Arti function

in the Chavadi, Balaram saw the luster of Pandurang on Baba's face and next

morning at the Kakad Arti time, the same phenomenon - the same lustre of his

Beloved Deity-Pandurang was visible again on Baba's face.

Mr. Balaram Dhurandhar wrote, in Marathi, the life of the Maharashtra Saint

Tukaram, but he did not survive to see its publication. It was published, later

on, by his brothers in 1928. In a short note on Balaram's life given in the

beginning of the book, the above account of Balaram's visit has been fully

corroborated therein (Vide page 6 of the book).

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Attachment: (image/jpeg) 29.Shirdi Sai Moorthy-4.jpg [not stored]

Attachment: (image/jpeg) 31.Shirdi Sai Moorthy & Samadhi.jpg [not stored]

Attachment: (image/jpeg) 32.Sai Samadhi in Shirdi temple.jpg [not stored]