LIFE HISTORY OF SHIRDI SAI BABA - Ch. XIX to XXII

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Om Sri Sai Ram

LIFE HISTORY OF SHIRDI SAI BABA

By Ammula Sambasiva Rao

English Translation by Thota Bhaskara Rao

Chapter XIX

Das Ganu resigned his job in the year 1903, and completely devoted himself to

Sai and fully immersed in spreading Baba`s philosophy. All worldly desires left

him. Through Hari Katha and Kirtans he began explaining the spiritual matters to

others. Because of this he could also easily learn with Baba’s Grace, many

matters relating to Bhakti, Jnana and Vairagya. If we keep our mind stable and

peaceful, Jnana comes by itself with Guru’s blessings. With Jnana obtained in

such a manner, Das Ganu wrote and published Shanta Kathamrutham in the year

1905 and Bhakta Leelamrit in the year 1906. Hemand Pant started writing Baba’s

Life history in the year 1917 and finished it in the year 1929. Till this

became available to devotees, they used to read the above-mentioned two books

of Das Ganu. There are a number of Sai Leelas in these two books.

Nanavalli

A number of devotees used to approach Baba with materialistic desires. Nanavalli

used to observe all this from a distance. He used to put only an upper cloth on

him and looked like a mentally deranged person. His talk was harsh and eyes

fearful to look at, usually no one talked to him. He never tolerated any

injustice and if he came across such a thing he went there and condemned it

with his harsh words. The public moved away if they noticed him coming. If he

came across any persons having bad ideas or thoughts he scolded them with harsh

words and sometimes threw stones at them.

He never tolerated it if anyone talked against Baba. Such was his devotion

towards Baba. One day he noticed some merchants asking Baba about money matters

and troubling him much. He came forward quickly and sat in front of Baba,

demanding, "Fakir! I want a big tree which bears money immediately. I do not

want a small tree, which cannot give me money just now. It should give money

the moment it sprouts." Baba cooled the temper of Nanavalli and assured him

that he would grant his request and Nanavalli went away laughing.

The devotees present there conveyed their feeling to Baba that it was not good

for Baba to entertain Nanavalli, who was a crazy person. Baba replied as

follows, "While I am sitting in his mosque to show you Jnana Marga leading to

salvation, you are coming to me for wealth, fame, status and other

materialistic desires. What is it that one has to achieve in his lifetime? Is

wealth the only thing? No, but wealth is also necessary - only up to the level

of leading a normal life and that too with money earned the right way. Even if

you earn and accumulate a lot of wealth out of greed, throughout your life, it

is a fact that nothing will come with you after you die."

"My spiritual treasury is overflowing. I can give whatever devotees desire. They

can also come and take away whatever amount they like. But they should qualify

themselves for receiving it. But they are not willing to take what I give them,

they want only what they desire. I am prepared to give them priceless gold. But

they choose only earthen lumps."

"From where did we come into this human body? What we are doing now? From here,

where are we going? Who is behind our births and deaths? Who created the sun,

the moon, the stars and other planets? People don’t think about all this. They

are only after wealth and physical happiness thinking that this life is

permanent. But they are getting destroyed like the insects which drawn to the

flame perish. This is complete Ajnana (ignorance), which is quite opposite to

Jnana Marga. I came in this body only to put humanity in the Jnana Marga."

Many a time Baba elaborated the word "I and Me" through his teachings. To know

about me or to search for me you need not go elsewhere. If you remove your name

and form, then what is left in you is myself. Not only in you but I am equally

present in all living beings. If you realise this, then you can see me in all

living things. If you cause any pain to any living thing, you are hurting me.

Those who tolerate the hardships caused to them by others, are dear to me."

Chandra Bai Borkar

Chandra Bai Borkar visited Shirdi for the first time in the year 1898 at the age

of 28. The mud walls of the mosque (Dwarakamayi) were in a bad condition. In

those days Baba used to spend most of his time sitting under the Neem tree.

Chandra had personally seen Baba lighting the lamps with water. She had also

seen Baba sleeping on the narrow wooden board tied to the rafters of the mosque

with lengths of cloth pieces and with lamps on the four corners of the board.

Her husband was Ramachandra Borkar, an engineer. In 1909, he was supervising the

construction of a bridge near Pandharpur. During that period, she came to Shirdi

and spent many days in the presence of Baba. But Ramachandra Borkar never

visited Shirdi. One day, Baba called her and told, "Mother, go to Pandharpur. I

will also come along with you." She went with two other ladies to Pandharpur and

found that her husband had left the place a short while before her arrival. So

again she set out to Shirdi. But the money amongst all the three was just

sufficient to purchase tickets only up to Khurudwadi station. At Khurudwadi, a

fakir came to them and told her that her husband was at Dhond railway station

and asked them to go there. But she had no money to go there. When she told him

this, he immediately put three tickets for Dhond Station in her hand and left

the place. The ladies left for Dhond.

Ramachandra Borkar was sitting on the platform of Dhond railway station, half

asleep. A fakir appeared before him and asked him how he forgot his wife,

saying that his wife would be coming shortly by train to Dhond. He gave him a

slip with the number of the rail coach in which she is coming. Ramachandra

Borkar came out of his sleepy state and found a slip in his hand and concluded

it was not a dream. Just then a train arrived on the platform and he saw his

wife coming out of the coach. He immediately told her of the miracle that had

happened. Having experienced Baba’s nectar like love for them, they felt

immensely happy. Chandra Bai Borkar’s story is one of such several instances

when several couples who got separated for one reason or other got united again

by praying to Baba.

In 1910 - 11, our country was under the rule of the British. Those were the days

when the Indian National Congress under the Presidentship of Dadabhai Naoroji

resolved to have self-rule for our country. Among the then Congress leaders,

there were extremists, who believed in achieving their object by violent

methods and those who believed in non-violent methods. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was

the leader of the extremists and coined the slogan "Freedom is my Birthright",

demanding complete freedom to our country immediately, touring in all

directions of the country, giving lectures and awakening the masses. The

British government arrested them under ‘Sedition’ and sent them to jails

outside India. B.G. Tilak was sent to Jain in Mandalay in Burma. A close

associate of Tilak was Diwan Bahadur Ganesh Sri Krishna Khaparde. Being the

right hand person to Tilak he feared his arrest. Deciding that except Shirdi

Sai Baba none can save him, he came to Shirdi on 5 December 1910 and served Baba.

G.S. Khaparde

G.S. Khaparde was a leading advocate of Amroti, earned a lot. Having associated

in the freedom movement he came in contact with several people. He was very

much interested in name and fame, wealth and family happiness. On the day of

his arrival at Shirdi, Baba told him, "This is your house. You can stay here

fearlessly. When I am here as your protector, you can stay here fearlessly.

When I am here as your protector, you need not fear anything." These words of

Baba coincided with his thoughts.

After staying at Shirdi for a week, Khaparde went back to Amroti. He came for

the second time to Shirdi along with his family on 6 December 1911 and

approached Sai Baba without any reservations, with a pure heart, mind and body.

Baba detained him at Shirdi for a period of 3 ½ months till his problems were

solved.

Kashinath Govind Upasani Shastri (Upasani Baba)

As there was no other way out to remove his bodily ailment, Kashinath came to

Shirdi on 27 June 1911. As soon as he entered Dwarakamayi, Baba told him, "Son

I know you for the past seven births. If you stay at Shirdi, you will achieve

your goal in life. Because of your good deeds in your previous birth, you

achieved spiritual progress. If you stay here for some time with a stable mind

you will reach a higher state." So saying Baba blessed him. When Kashinath

approached Baba on the third day for permission to leave Shirdi, Baba declined

to permit him and asked him to stay at Shirdi. "In case you want to go, come

back in a week’s time."

Kashinath left Shirdi and several strange things happened even before he reached

home. He returned to Shirdi on the seventh day, as advised by Baba. Before he

reached Shirdi, Baba appeared to him in several forms and gave him some

indications. Baba made him recollect these things and ordered him to stay for 4

years at Khandoba temple meditating.

During the period Baba taught Upasini several matters and showed several Leelas

and experiences. These methods or teaching were very strange and beyond our

imagination. We cannot find similar things anywhere in the sacred books. The

divine powers in Kashinath went on increasing with the increased period of his

meditation. The testing by Baba increased along with the increase in Uapasini’s

divine powers. Seeing the powers of Upasini, some Sai devotees approached him

and invited him to their places. But he should not go out during the period of

diksha. On the other hand he could not withstand to the tests put by Baba. At

last without completing the four years period prescribed by Baba, he left

Shirdi secretly in the night without informing Baba on 25 July 1914, a few

months earlier. We also may sometimes be unable to withstand the Maya and be

distanced from Baba. Let all the Sai devotees have

complete faith in Baba and treat his word as the word of God. Let their thoughts

be on Sai only and none else.

"Om Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi"

Chapter XX

Human life is full of desires, greed and sensory pleasures. Even if we control

these things for a long time, we do not know when they will raise their ugly

heads. Due to the influence of Maya on a person, one will distance himself from

God and lead a lowly life. The path to reach God is full of thorns and ditches.

Even though a person has learned all the Vedas, etc., he cannot go on this path

safely. Only he who has already traveled in this path and knows where the

ditches are and where the thorns are, can guide us safely to our destination.

Such a guide is a ‘Guru’.

One day Baba narrated his experience in the form of a story of Shama, Tatya,

Noolkar and others, near Gurusthan. It goes as follows.

In Quest of God

Once four of us thinking we are great-learned men went into the forest. Having

heard that there was a temple for the forest deity belonging to the banjaras

(nomads), we went in search of it. It was a deserted place. While proceeding we

were discussing the ways to reach God. One opined that it was enough if we

controlled our mind, another expressed that it was enough if we know about

Atma, and so on. But I told them; "We must perform our duties properly and

place your body, mind and the five pranas at the feet of the Guru and seek his

protection. Then with the blessings of the Guru, we can reach God easily." As

we were walking a Banjara who was coming in the opposite direction, asked us

where we were going. One gave an indifferent reply to him thinking that it was

below his dignity to talk to such a person. The Banjara waited for sometime and

offered to accompany us and show us the way to the place

of our destination. But we proceeded quickly, ignoring him. We roamed in the

forest till evening without finding the temple. Luckily, we came back to the

place from where we had set out. Again the same Banjara was waiting for us. He

told that if we had taken his help, we should have definitely seen the temple.

"But never mind. You are lucky to have come back to this place. You seem to be

very hungry. Please take this food." and offered them food. The others felt

insulted and went away. But as I am hungry, I ate the food given by the Banjara

and drank water. To my surprise, my Guru appeared in the place of the Banjara.

Then I respectfully greeted him with folded hands . My Guru asked me whether I

would go with him I told that I was bound by my Guru’s orders.

My Guru took me near a well. He tied my legs together with a rope. Then he tied

me upside down to the branch of a tree on the well. He lowered my body in that

position into the well until I was two feet above the water. After hanging me

like that, my Guru left me. Slowly the place became dark due to nightfall. I

heard the tigers roaring from above the well. Inside the well poisonous snakes

were hissing. I could not see anything in the pitch darkness. My Guru was very

competent. When his protection was there, why should I fear these snakes and

tigers? After four or five hours, my Guru came and lifted me up from the well.

He asked me how I felt. I told him that I felt very happy. He then asked me

whether I had feared at any time. I replied that when he had personally brought

me there, why I should fear? Then my Guru, patting me on my shoulders with

affection, blessed me. His love for me was more

than that of a mother. He admitted me in his Gurukul (school). His love made me

forget my parents. I used to look at him with concentration. Every word coming

out of him was equal to that of God’s. My house, my property and my parents,

all are my Guru only. All my sensory organs left their places and lay centered

near my eyes. My eyes were always fixed on my Guru. Except for this, I was

conscious of nothing else.

With the blessings of my Guru and without any effort, Atma Jnana came to me. I

could understand everything in this creation, just like daylight. This is the

effect of my Guru on me. Humans with their efforts can acquire the right

conduct, wealth, and desires. But ‘Moksha’ can be achieved only with the help

of a competent Guru.

Baba’s narration of his personal experience, must have taken place while he was

under his Guru Venkusa’s care. What we learn from this story is that we must

have the help of a Guru, when in quest of God. Without going to a Guru and

reposing full faith in him, we cannot know God.

Obeying Baba’s Orders

For the people of Shirdi, Baba was the incarnation of God. When the devotees

took leave of Baba, he gave certain suggestions. The devotees took them as

Baba’s orders and followed them strictly. If a person not follows Baba’s

suggestion, he met with some difficulty.

Once Tatya Kote Patil was on his way to the shandy at Kopergaon in a Tonga. He

went to see Baba, who advised him not to leave Shirdi. But Tatya replied that

when Baba was there, he had no fear and continued his journey. After going some

distance, one of the legs of the horse got sprained and the horse sank on its

legs, and the Tonga fell down. There was no serious danger, but Tatya had to

come back to Shirdi. Tatya was grateful to Baba for his motherly love and for

foreseeing the mishap and advising him not to go.

A doctor from Europe once came to see Baba. He wanted to go inside the mosque

and kiss Baba’s hand. But Baba did not allow him inside the mosque and asked

him to pay his respects from outside. The visitor felt insulted and wanted to

leave Shirdi immediately. But Baba advised him to leave the next day. Without

heeding Baba’s advice, he left Shirdi immediately. After proceeding for some

distance, the horse took fright due to some unforeseen reason, and the Tonga

fell down, the doctor was dragged for some distance, with the result that he

received injuries all over the body and had to be hospitalized for several days

in a hospital in Kopergaon. What the above two incidents mean are:

i) Though Tatya went against the advise of Baba, he put the burden on, Baba

expressing complete faith in him, and he escaped from danger.

ii) The foreigner thought that Baba had insulted him and went away without

realising what Baba had advised him was for his good only.

Even what Tatya had done was also not correct. Disobeying Baba and then putting

the burden on Baba was also not proper. It was a foolish act.

Ramchander Atmaram

Ramchander Atmaram belonged to ‘Prarthana Samaj’. He was also known as Baba

Saheb Tarkhad. Members of the Samaj do not accept idol worship. He was an

advocate practicing at Bandra. He was a broadminded humanist. But his wife and

sons were devotees of Shirdi Sai Baba. His son got up early in the morning

daily and after ablutions, worshipped Baba with his photo before him and only

then attended to other work.

Once Atmaram’s wife wanted to go to Shirdi and have Darshan of Baba. Atmaram

wanted his son to accompany her. But his son declined stating that if both he

and his mother were absent from the house, then there would be none to worship

the photo of Baba.

Though Atmaram was against idol worship, he agreed to worship Baba’s photo daily

in the same way that his son worshipped, till his son and wife returned, and

sent them to Shirdi. The first two days Atmaram worshipped Baba’s photo

regularly and had Baba’s prasad before he took lunch. On the third day, Monday,

due to urgent court work, he finished the worship early and went away. When he

returned for lunch he wanted to have Baba’s prasad first. But, his cook told

him that Atmaram had offered no prasad to Baba in the morning worship as he had

gone out in a hurry and forgotten about offering sugar candy to Baba. On hearing

this, Atmaram got up and went to the Puja room and found the plate empty. He

felt guilty and bowed his head before Baba. What his son feared had happened.

As a punishment for not offering Baba sugar candy, he decided not to take his

lunch and went back to court.

At about the same time, Atmaram’s son and wife stood with devotion before Baba

in Dwarakamayi. Baba called Atmaram’s wife and told her that when he went to

their house in Bandra that day to eat something, he found the Puja room locked,

but even then he went inside and found nothing there, which he could eat and so

returned hungry. He further told her that her husband also had not taken food

that day for having sent Baba away hungry. She was surprised at Baba’s

revelation and immediately wrote a letter to Atmaram at Bandra.

That day after going to court again in the afternoon, Atmaram wrote a letter to

his son at Shirdi, explaining the lapse on his part. On the third day both the

letters reached their destinations. On seeing his father’s letter, the son ran

to Baba with the letter. Baba told him, "Son, do not fear. In future, your

father will never forget me. He will also worship my photo as you do. You can

stay here as long as you wish."

On reading the letter received from Shirdi, Atmaram wondered how Baba could have

known his lapse in forgetting to offer prasad and his observing fast as a

punishment for this. He came to the conclusion that there was no difference

between Baba and his photo and that idol worship was not incorrect if

worshipped with faith. From that day onwards, he took a vow before Baba’s photo

that he also would daily do Baba’s worship along with his son. He felt very

happy with the way things had happened through his son. Usually children learn

spiritual matters from parents. But in this case, the son acted as a guide to

his father and brought him into Sai’s fold. Atmaram was really lucky to have

such a son.

All readers irrespective of age, who are doing Parayana of this Life History of

Baba should understand the moral in each story and try to emulate them in their

life. They should stand out as model Sai devotees. Let us also pray to Sai Baba

to fulfill his responsibility also by guiding us towards attaining Moksha.

"Om Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi"

Chapter XXI

Sometimes Baba narrated his experiences in the form of a story. One day, after

watering the plants in Lendi Bagh, Baba was sitting with Tatya under a nearby

tree. Then Bhate and other devotees came there and sat with them. Baba shared

his reminiscences with them.

Veerbhadrappa - Chennabasappa

One morning, I went for a stroll, and going some distance, I rested under a tree

by the side of a rivulet. A traveler came there and sat near me. A frog was

croaking. He enquired me about it. I told him that the frog was tasting the

bitter fruits of its karma (past actions). We have to reap the consequences of

our actions whether right or wrong, of the previous birth, in this birth. He

went to the spot from where the croaking sound was coming and found a black

snake holding a frog in its mouth. I told him that both had been wicked in

their previous birth and were reaping the consequences in this birth. He told

me that the snake would devour the frog in a few minutes. I told him that I was

like a father to the frog and would not allow it to die. Then we both went to

the place where the snake was. I went near the snake and addressed it, "What

Veerbhadrappa! Your foe Chennabasappa had taken the form

of a frog in this birth and is leading a lowly life. Though you are born as a

snake, the enmity between you two has not subsided! Why are you having this

enmity? You leave your hatred for each other and cool down."

On hearing my words, the snake released the frog and went into the water. The

frog went away hopping. The traveler who was with me was surprised and asked me

to tell him about Veerbhadrappa and Chennabasappa. Then I narrated to him the

details of the previous birth of the snake and the frog, as follows.

There was a dilapidated Shiva temple near a village named Mayuri. The villagers

collected donations on a large scale, for getting the temple renovated. They

appointed a wealthy man of the village as treasurer and handed over the

collected amount to him. The person was a miser. He spent only a small amount

for the temple but showed huge expenditure in the accounts. There was no

improvement of the temple. If anyone questioned him, he put them off by his

sweet words.

After some days, the deity in the temple, Mahadev appeared in the dreams of the

miser’s wife and told her, "Construct the dome of the temple. I will pay back

100 times of the money you spend for this." When she told her husband about the

dream, he laughed it off saying that was only a dream and could not be relied

upon. When he was there, why did Mahadev tell her, ignoring him? The main aim

of the dream appears to be to create ill feelings between wife and husband. She

became helpless and kept quiet.

Again after some days, Mahadev appeared in her dream and told her not to ask

from her husband any money but to construct the dome of the temple with her

money. She told her husband about this dream and decided to donate her jewels

given to her by her parents, for the construction of the dome. Her miserly

husband did not like this idea. He underestimated the value of the jewels as

rupees one thousand and in exchange, without giving her the amount, gave her

some dry land unfit for cultivation. Even this land did not belong to him. A

poor old woman named Dubaki had pledged this piece of land with the miser for

two hundred rupees and as she could not redeem it, the miser had annexed it.

This cunning miser not only deceived his wife and Dubaki but also God. As this

land is of no use, it was handed over to the temple priest.

After a period, a big cyclone hit the land and it rained heavily. During this

time lightning struck the house of the miser and he and his wife died. In

course of time Dubaki also died. In his next birth, the miser was born to a

poor Brahmin couple in Mathura and named Veerbhadrappa who live by alms. His

wife of the previous birth was born to the temple priest and named Gouri.

Dubaki was born as a male child to the temple owner and named Chennabasappa.

Veerbhadrappa hankered for money in this birth also.

All of a sudden, the cost of the lands went up. The land of Dubaki, which the

priest presented to his daughter Gouri was sold for rupees one Lakh. The value

of her jewels also increased hundredfold. As long as their cost was negligible,

nobody bothered about them. But when the values shot up, they started quarreling

among themselves. They came to me for advice. I told them that all the property

belonged to Lord Mahadev. Therefore, it should go to the priest. Since the

priest had no sons, all rights accrued to Gouri and no amount should be spent

without her permission and her husband had no right to this property.

Veerbhadrappa got angry over this and accused me of trying to appropriate the

property through Gouri. Hearing this accusation, I prayed to God and kept

silent. Veerbhadrappa and Chennabasappa became enemies over money matters.

Veerbhadrappa became wild and threatened Chennabasappa that he

would cut him into pieces. Chennabasappa sought my protection. I assured him

that I would save him from his enemy. After sometime Veerbhadrappa died and

took rebirth as a snake. Because of their enmity in their previous birth, the

snake tried to eat the frog. To enable me to fulfill my promise, God sent me

here and the frog is saved.

Just as in the case of the story of the two goats, we have to learn some

important matters from the above story also. If enmity and unfriendly attitudes

were to be our life’s aims, then were are bound to come down from the human

level to the animal level in our next birth. Therefore, atleast for our sake,

we should discard these qualities and spend our lives in the path shown by Sai

Baba. This is Prema Marga.

If anyone misappropriates God’s money and uses it for himself or for his family,

he will suffer due to acute poverty and will have to beg for his living as in

the case of Veerbhadrappa. If the readers hold the posts of Trustees,

Secretaries and Treasurers in charge of God’s wealth, they should be careful

and should not use even a rupee for their personal benefit. In case some have

previously used God’s money unintentionally, they should reimburse the amount

into God’s treasury. It is hoped that the readers will take this advice in its

correct perspective and become pure in mind and action.

Deo was the Tahsildar of Dahanu in Thane district. He was a Sai devotee as were

the members of his family. His mother started a ceremony. She would do Puja

daily for a month and the lst day Udyapan ceremony would be held. On that day,

according to one’s capacity, a number of relatives, friends and devotees would

be fed. Deo wanted to celebrate the concluding ceremony on a grand scale by

feeding four to five hundred people. While they were discussing the

arrangements, his wife suggested that if Shirdi Baba graced the occasion, the

reward for the Udyapan ceremony would increase a hundred fold and wanted Sai to

be invited. Deo immediately wrote to Bapu Saheb Jog who was at Shirdi, to invite

Baba on his behalf for the Udyapan ceremony. Sitting in Dwarakamayi Baba

received Deo’s invitation through Jog, and said, "I will come running to my

devotees who call me with devotion. I will never forget those

who remember me always. Whenever anyone thinks of me with love, I will be by

their side. Two others and I will attend the ceremony. You write to Deo." After

receiving the above message from Jog, all the family members of Deo were very

happy. There was still a month’s time for the Udyapan ceremony.

A sanyasi came to the Station Master of Dahan railway station and consulted him

on matters regarding collection of donations for the protection of cows. He was

dressed like a Bengali gentleman. The Station Master told the sanyasi to consult

Deo, the Tahsildar, as he could help him in this matter. Just then Deo also went

there and learnt about the Sanyasi’s mission. He told the sanyasi that donations

were being collected for some other good cause and it was better to come after a

month. So he went away.

One month was over. It was the day of Udyapan ceremony. The house was full of

relatives and friends. In the morning the Bengali sanyasi alighted from the

Tonga before Deo’s house. Deo recognised and invited him into the house. But

the sanyasi told him that he had come for meals and not for donations. Deo

assured him it was all right and since they are having Udyapan ceremony, meals

would be served by noon. If the sanyasi could tell where he would be, then Deo

said that he would sent someone to fetch him. The sanyasi told him that it was

not necessary to send anyone. Moreover, Deo would be busy with the work

relating to the ceremony. The sanyasi finally told Deo that he would come for

meals along with two others, and went away.

It was noon. The sanyasi came with two youngsters when the meals were in

progress and had their meals and went away. The Udyapan ceremony went off well.

But Deo was not fully satisfied, as Baba did not attend the function, in spite

of his message that he would attend. He wrote about this to Jog who was at

Shirdi. Jog took the letter to Baba. Without seeing or hearing the contents of

the letter Baba told Jog that "Sai will never deceive anyone. Having invited

me, Deo failed to recognise me, inspite of my telling him that the Bengali

sanyasi has not come for donations but for meals, there were two more with me

and that he need not send anyone to fetch us, we went to his house for meals at

the correct time and after taking meals came back. "Baba asked Jog to write to

Deo about this and to recollect at least now. Then he added, "By doing my Nama

Smaran, if you do any good things, there will not be any

obstacles. I will always be there for my devotees. It is my duty to look after

their welfare. I would rather end my life than break my word."

Baba’s ‘Padukas’ under the Neem Tree in Gurusthan

Dr. Rama Rao Kotari was resident of Bombay. He came to Shirdi in 1912, got

attracted to Baba and was in Shirdi for a number of days. He made friends with

Dixit, Chandorkar, Shama and others who were with Baba. While discussing

matters, they thought that it would be befitting if Baba’s Padukas got carved

in stone and put under the Neem tree in commemoration of his first visit to

Shirdi when he sat under the Neem tree. Dr Kotari sent Padukas carved out of

stone from Bombay. During that period Upasani Baba was staying at Khandoba

temple. As per his advise, the Padukas were brought in a procession on the

full-moon day in the month of Shravana. That morning at 11 o’ clock Dixit

brought the Padukas, carrying them on his head.

>From Khandoba temple the procession with musical instruments playing came up to

Dwarakamayi and after taking the blessings of Baba they were brought to the

Neem tree and installed under it. The Sai Mahima Sloka Sada Nimba Vrukshasya

Muladhi Vaasaath written by Upasani Baba was also carved there. From that day

onwards Puja was being regularly done in Gurusthan. If devotees clean the place

and burn incense and Dhoop on Thursdays, they will get the blessings of God.

This was personally told by Baba.

Ratanji Wadia

A Parsee businessman named Ratanji Shapurji Wadia was a resident of Nanded. He

had no children. On the advise of Das Ganu, he went to Shirdi and had Darshan

of Sai Baba. He thought of giving five rupees as Dakshina to Baba. This

‘thought’ of Ratanji was known to Baba and he asked him to give him five

rupees. But immediately, he told Ratanji that he had already received Rs.3 and

annas 14 out of five rupees and therefore he may now give the balance Re.1.2

annas ( 16 annas equal one rupee ). Ratanji could not recollect when he had

given Rs.3 and annas 14 to Baba. Anyhow, he gave the balance now to Baba as

Dakshina. After thinking for some moments, he understood Baba’s statement. When

Ratanji wanted to visit Shirdi, a Muslim fakir named Moula Saheb had come to his

house of Nanded. That day Ratanji had spent exactly Rs.3 and annas 14 in

welcoming the fakir. As soon as he remembered this, Ratanji

thought how great Baba was and there is nothing he did not know. He immediately

went and sat near Baba’s feet and begged him to give him a child. He developed

undeterred devotion to Baba. After sometime he was blessed with a male child.

Baba’s Dakshina

Baba took Dakshina only from a few devotees out of several who came for his

Darshan. Sometimes he accepted when devotees gave him unasked for. But he

declined to take from such devotees at other times. He took Dakshina from all,

whether they were rich or poor. He used to ask Dakshina from women and also

children. If any devotee who Baba had asked for Dakshina had no money, Baba

advised him to take a loan, and give. If a devotee declined to give Dakshina

Baba never got angry. If anyone gave him more than what he asked for, he

returned the excess amount. Sometimes he used to give back a portion of the

Dakshina to the devotees with an advice to keep it in the Puja and worship. At

times he took Dakshina four or five times in a day from the same devotee. There

were instances when the devotees gave away the entire amount they had with them.

The devotees from whom Baba asked Dakshina in return received

the blessings of Baba. Such devotees never suffered for want of money in their

lives. They always thought that Baba asked them Dakshina for their own good.

Out of the money received through Dakshina, Baba spent only a little of it for

his chillum and towards firewood for the Dhuni. The balance amount he gave away

to the poor and to those who were with him. Daily he gave away thus up to sixty

rupees. The then British Government had received reports through its

intelligence agencies that Baba sometimes distributed more than we he received.

 

For spiritual progress, generally there are two obstacles: wealth and sex. Baba

used to put the devotees to test regarding these two. He asked for money by way

of Dakshina. After that he sent them to the house of Radhakrishna Mai, who was a

young and beautiful widow. She used to make arrangements in her house for food

for those devotees who came from far-off places. She completely devoted her

energies in the services of Baba. Pleased with her devotion, Baba gave her some

powers without her knowledge. She could read the thoughts of those who visited

her. She used to caution those whose thoughts became perverted after seeing her

beauty. Baba sent the devotees to her house at one time or other, just to test

them. The devotees exercised utmost caution while in her house.

All the valuable articles that were with Shirdi Sansthan were those brought by

devotees on the advise of Radhakrishna Mai. But Baba never showed any interest

in them. He told that all that his property consisted of were an under cloth, a

separate cloth and a tumbler. His mind never went after materialistic objects.

In the same way those who read this Life History should develop a detachment

from worldly things. With a prayer to Sai Baba to bless these readers with

peace and happiness, we will end this chapter.

"Om Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi"

Chapter XXII

Baba taught certain things to the devotees who came to him in several ways.

There was no separate time or place for that. One day a devotee was abusing

another devotee in his absence before others. After sometime, when Baba was

going to Lendi Bagh, he met Baba and asked for several things. Baba showed him

a pig, which was nearby and said, See how this pig is eating the filth, feeling

it tasty. Your behaviour was also like that. You abused a brother devotee with

contempt. We got this ‘Human Birth’ because of the good done in the previous

birth. If you do not mend your behaviour, how can Shirdi be of help to you?"

The moral we learn from this is that one should not get elated because of the

Sai puja done or make several visits to Shirdi. We should not cause any

difficulties or harm others under any circumstances. If we indulge in such

things, even Baba will not save us.

Sugarless Tea - Cholkar’s Story

The famous Kaupeeneswara temple is in Thane district. One day Das Ganu was

rendering Baba’s Hari Katha there and he put Baba’s photo on the stage as was

customarily done. Hearing the Leelas and miracles of Baba, Cholkar was pleased

and engrossed in it. He was a poor man unable to properly maintain his family.

He took a vow that he would visit Shirdi and worship Baba’s feet, if he got a

steady job After sometime, he got through a Government examination and was

appointed as a clerk in the civil court. As his family was very large, he could

not go to Shirdi and fulfill his vow. But he was determined to visit Shirdi and

so started saving money. He stopped having sugar in his tea thus saving some

amount. After some time, he went to Shirdi, and had Darshan of Baba. He fell at

the feet of Baba and worshipped him, then out of joy, he distributed sugar candy

as Baba’s prasad to all the devotees.

Cholkar stayed in the house of Bapu Saheb Jog. After noon Aarti both of them got

up to go home. Baba called Jog and told him to put lot of sugar in the tea to be

given to his guest Cholkar. Jog could not understand why Baba said this, but

Cholkar understood and tears came to his eyes. He understood Baba’s omniscience

and felt very happy that he had come to Shirdi by saving money. Baba said to

him, "If you sincerely pray to me with your stretched hands, I will be with you

day and night. Though I am at Shirdi in this form, I know what is happening even

beyond the seven seas. Wherever you go in this vast world, I will be with you. I

dwell in the hearts of my devotees. I am in the hearts of all beings. Whoever

realizes this will be blessed."

The Story of the Two Lizards

One day, while Baba was seated in Dwarakamayi, a lizard on the wall made a

noise. A devotee sitting opposite to Baba asked him why the lizard was making

such a noise. Baba replied that the lizard’s sister was expected to come from

Aurangabad shortly, and so out of joy, it was making the noise. The devotee

kept quiet.

Just then a devotee came on horse from Aurangabad to see Baba. He wanted to feed

the horse, and taking out the bag, which was with him, he shook it. A lizard

fell from the bag and rapidly climbed the wall. Baba told the devotees who had

questioned Baba earlier, to watch the lizards carefully. The lizard from

Aurangabad met her sister and kissed. They played out of joy, going round and

round. People sitting before Baba were very much surprised Where is Aurangabad?

Where is Shirdi? If the lizards were sisters, how did they happen to be at such

distances? How did Baba know that the lizard was coming from Aurangabad? Did he

know the mind of animals and also their language? Such doubts arose in the

devotees and they simply stared at Baba with surprise.

Baba, who read the minds of the devotees said, "Not only about these lizards,

but what is happening in every atom in this world, I know. Without my

permission, the leaves on the tree also will not flutter. God is all-powerful.

All should follow the rules of this creation. Even I cannot go against them.

God is the creator of all Universes. Allah Malik hai."

Baba’s Assurance to Bayaja Bai

Bayaja Bai whom Baba addressed as Sister, became physically weak due to old age.

She was not in a condition even to get up from bed. Baba ordered Tatya to remain

at the bedside of his mother and do service to her. Now and then he would send

Tatya’s close associates like Shama also to be with Tatya. Bayaja Bai was

nearing her end. She wanted to see Baba once. Immediately, Baba appeared near

her head. His appearance at this last moment gave her divine bliss. Some

unexplained joy came to her. She felt that her Atma was happily going towards

heaven. Perhaps, this feeling was due to the complete divine Darshan Baba gave

her. She wanted to say something but words did not come out of her. She took

her son Tatya’s hand and put it on Baba’s hand. Having understood her thoughts,

Baba assured her that he would look after Tatya from that moment more than his

life. She knew that his words were God’s words.

After hearing those words from Baba, her Atma left her body and merged in the universe.

Stealing of Rags

B.V. Dev had a desire to read Jnaneshwari. The translation of the Bhagawad Gita

into Marathi my Jnanadev is called Jnaneshwari in Maharashtra. This is

considered as a very sacred book and many people in Maharashtra do Parayana of

this book regularly. But whenever Dev started to do Parayana some obstacles

came and he had to stop in the middle. The main reason for this was that he

could not fully understand the inner meanings. He went to Shirdi determined to

sit before Baba and complete the Parayana. Baba asked him twenty-five rupees as

Dakshina. Dev gave the amount to Baba but did not ask him about the Parayana of

Jnaneshwari. He went to Sathe Wada and asked a devotee named Balakram Mankar

about Baba’s Leelas. When he was narrating some to Dev the following day, Baba

called Dev and with angry eyes began scolding him.

He said, "Though you are an old man with grey hairs, you have not stopped

stealing. I will kill you with an axe!" Dev shivered. He did not understand

anything. Baba asked for twenty-five rupees as Dakshina. Dev brought the amount

and gave it to Baba. This time Baba calmed down and told him, "When I am ready

to cover you with a zari shawl, why do you steal rags? You read the

Jnaneshwari. Sit before me and read it." Immediately, Dev started reading the

Jnaneshwari and finished without any obstacles for the first time. When Baba

had threatened to kill him with an axe, the wavering of his mind stopped and he

could now concentrate and read the book completely. To ask Balakram about the

Leelas of Baba amounted to stealing of rags. Baba personally showed his

greatness, stopping the wanderings of his mind, making him read the

Jnaneshwari, without any obstacles and increasing his concentration- it was

like

covering him with a zari shawl.

The important thing that we learn from what Baba said is, we should not waste

our time and money by running after pseudo Gurus for consultations and advices.

"I will give my advice or help, the moment it is sought" is one of the promises

of Baba. This assurance is true and valid even now. You must directly ask Baba

and have the zari shawl but should not attempt to steal the rags by going to

pseudo Gurus.

Sadashiv Tarkhad

Sadashiv worked as a manager in a factory in Bombay. After the factory was

closed, he did not have any means of livelihood and so he came to Baba. At that

time, Tatya Patil and others were going to Ahmednagar to see a cinema, with the

permission of Baba. Baba asked them to take Tarkhad also along with them for

the cinema and from there to proceed to Poona. Tarkhad who was unemployed was

surprised at being sent to the cinema. But he knew that none should go against

Baba’s orders. So he went to the cinema with the others. When he reached Poona,

he found that a factory owner who was trying to secure the services of a person

as manager, had heard about him and sent a telegram to his Bombay address, and

was waiting for his arrival. So, he got the job immediately. Every advice of

Baba was based on one’s future.

How to Feed Baba

Ramachandra Atmaram’s wife referred to in chapter twenty was staying with a

devotee at Shirdi. One day, during lunchtime, a hungry dog came near her and

barked. She threw a bread piece from her plate at the dog, and it ate it

quickly and went away, wagging its tail. That evening when she went to

Dwarakamayi and stood with salutation to Baba, he thanked her for feeding him

stomachful. He told her, "In future also you do like this. You first feed the

hungry ones and then only you take food. This mosque is my mother. Sitting in

her lap, I will never tell lies. You should be always kind to me like this. You

see me in all living things. You will definitely get higher birth". She was

surprised at Baba’s words and asked him, "I am myself depending on others in

this village for my food. Then when did I feed you?" Baba replied "In the

afternoon, before you took your meal, you threw a bread at a dog. I am

that dog. I am in all living things like Cats, dogs, cows and bees. Those who

see me in all are lucky. One should discard the feeling of duality that he is

different and animals are different." Baba taught her practically the gist of

the Upanishads - that one should see God in all living things.

Sai Baba’s Teachings

Sai Baba frequently advised on how one should behave to one’s daily life.

"Because of our contacts in the previous birth, we met each other in this birth

also If any person or animal comes to you, do not drive them away

unsympathetically. You should welcome them wholeheartedly and give them due

respect. You should give water for the thirsty, food for the hungry and

clothing for the naked. God will be satisfied and bless you, if you allow

others to take rest in your Verandah. If anyone comes to you for money, you

need not give if you do not like so, but you should not abuse or use harsh

language and cause pain. This world is like a stage. Carefully observe the

several things being enacted on this stage. But be steady even if the world

goes upside down. There is no difference between you and me. We both are one.

You remove the wall in between us. God is the Head of all of us. Allah Malik

hai! None

else except God can save us. The method of God is extraordinary very valuable

and unimaginable. We all met here because of our tie-up in the previous births.

We should be above caste, religion and nationality and move in an affectionate

way and be happy and peaceful. We should be above caste, religion and

nationality and move in an affectionate way and be happy and peaceful. We

should utilise this body given by God, for the good of others. Such people are

only blessed ones. The others live just because they take birth."

Baba taught whenever there was time and opportunity. He used to say that he is

omnipresent and present in all elements like earth, air, water, fire and light.

He allowed some devotees to do this pada Puja, some others to hear his Leelas;

some others to go to the temple of Khandoba and a few others to do Parayana of

holy books, according to their needs. He gave instructions to some personally

and to some in their dreams. Once, when Radhakrishna Mai was suffering from

fever, Baba asked for a ladder to be brought. He climbed it to the roof of her

house. He gave two rupees to the person who brought the ladder. Even though all

these acts of Baba appeared strange, the fever of Radhakrishna Mai subsided.

Grinding of Wheat

It was the year 1910. Hemadpant came to Shirdi. One day after washing his face,

Baba sat in Dwarakamayi and started grinding wheat. He lived on alms. He had

never done the grinding before. So all who were nearby were looking with wonder

at this. Four bold women went inside the mosque and requested

Baba to sit aside took the grinding stone and started grinding. Though Baba got

angry at this he kept quiet, seeing their affection for him. On completion of

the grinding work, the ladies divided the flour into four parts and wanted to

take it for themselves. Baba watching them calmly till then got angry and

scolded them, "Oh ladies! Are you crazy? Are you thinking that this flour is

your property to take it? I never took any wheat from you. Then why are you

taking this flour?" He cooled down after a while and said, "It is all right.

Take the flour and sprinkle it on the boundaries of this village." The ladies

bowed their heads in shame, touched Baba’s feet, went quickly and sprinkled the

flour on the boundaries of the village.

The villagers told Hemadpant that there was cholera in the village, and only to

eradicate it Baba had done all this. Hemadpant did not understand the

relationship between cholera and the wheat flour, but the epidemic in the

village gradually subsided. Then Hemadpant concluded that what Baba ground that

day was not wheat, but the cholera epidemic, which he had sent outside the

boundaries of the village. After seeing this Leela of Baba, Hemadpant desired

to write the Life History of Sai Baba, containing all the Leelas and miracles

of Baba. He sought the permission of Baba to write the book. But Baba asked him

to wait for some time. In the year 1917, Hemadpant tried again through Shama.

Baba blessed him and gave udi prasad. The Life History of Sai Baba which

Hemadpant started writing in Marathi language with the blessings of Sai Baba

when he was alive, to read all over the world. This was translated

into Telugu by Sri Pratti Narayana Rao.

Sai Baba’s Stories - Beacon Lights

In olden days there used to be beacon lights in the high seas, Boats sailing on

the seas, with the help of these lights, sailed smoothly without hitting rocks

and other dangerous things. This world is also like a big ocean consisting of

several types of people with different thoughts and actions. Baba’s stories,

full of his Leelas, like beaconing lights, showing us how to live in this

world. These stories are sacred and sweet as nectar, entering our bodies and

egos. If the ego is removed, the result is Jnana. Through Jnana our sins are

erased and we attain Moksha.

Baba’s Mercy

On Diwali day in the year 1910, Baba was sitting opposite the ‘Dhuni’. He was

adding firewood in the Dhuni every now and then. Suddenly, he thrust his hand

into the burning Dhuni. The hand burnt, Shama and others who saw this, came

running and pushed back Baba, who lose consciousness by then. He appeared to be

somewhere else. After sometime, he came to his original state and told the

devotees, "A blacksmith’s wife living very far off is my devotee. She was

working the bellows. When her husband called her, forgetting the child in her

lap she got up to ran to her husband. The child fell into the burning furnace.

I immediately thrust my hand into the furnace and saved it. I am not feeling

for my burnt hand. But I am happy that the child of my devotee is saved." How

Baba could save a child so far away by putting his hand in the Dhuni at Shirdi

is beyond our imagination. That is why we call these

actions of Sai Baba as miracles. Sai Baba is a very competent Guru who is

capable of doing any work in any manner. I prostrate before Sai Baba for having

given me his blessings to write the Life History of such a Samartha Sadguru.

Those who read these stories of Sai Baba are also blessed. Those whose sins are

forgiven can only show interest in Baba’s stories. This is the Truth.

Bhagoji Shinde’s Service to Baba

On knowing that Baba had burnt his hand, Nana Chandorkar brought a notable

doctor from Bombay. But Baba declined to get treated by him. He told, God is

his doctor, Bhagoji Shinde applied ghee on the burnt hand, and putting some

leaves on it bandaged it. He did this daily. Though he was a leper, he was a

very lucky person to have served Baba so closely. For nearly 8 years, from 1910

to 1918, till Baba’s Samadhi, he dressed Baba’s burnt hand daily.

Damu Anna

A friend of Damodar Savalram Rasne alias Damu Anna from Bombay had written a

letter to Damu Anna, that they both jointly do business in cotton, as there

would be huge profits. Since Damu Anna was a Sai devotee, he wrote to Shama at

Shirdi, to take the opinion of Baba on the matter. When Shama went to

Dwarakamayi to consult Baba about it, Baba told him, "What things he is

planning! Without being contented with what God has given him, he is trying to

earn Lakhs of rupees. He is crazy. Let him live happily with half-bread." Shama

wrote back to Damu Anna about what Baba had told him. Damu Anna came to Shirdi

personally to talk to Baba. He thought of offering him a share in the profits.

Baba read his mind and told him that he did not like to involve himself in

worldly matters. So Damu Anna dropped the proposal to trade in cotton. Soon

after, all the cotton merchants incurred losses. At another time,

Damu Anna wanted to trade in paddy. Baba told him that if Damu Anna purchased at

7 seers a rupee, he would sell at 9 seers a rupee. As Baba predicted, the rates

of paddy came down and all those who hoarded paddy were put to heavy loss. Baba

thus saved him twice from heavy losses. Because of this, Damu Anna’s devotion to

Baba increased and he served him till Baba’s Samadhi.

He had no children in spite of having two wives. Many astrologers told him that

he would not have children. In 1915 someone sent a basketful of mangoes to

Baba. He took out four good mangoes from the basket and kept them aside. The

rest he distributed to all. But all eyes were on the four mangoes. Having read

their thoughts, Baba told them that the four mangoes were for Damu Anna. Just

then, Damu Anna came to Shirdi. Baba gave him the mangoes and asked him to give

them to his younger wife. "You should not eat. She will bring forth four sons

and four daughters." After sometime, Baba’s words came true and the prediction

of the astrologers failed.

The inner meaning of Baba’s statement that Damu Anna should not eat them and die

was that Damu Anna, who felt sad at not having children, would suffer a lot

being unable to maintain his eight children at a future time.

Once when Damu Anna was sitting near Baba’s feet, he got two doubts. ‘So many

devotees are coming to Baba. Will all of them be benefited?’

‘Now I am seeking Baba’s advise in all matters and by acting according to his

advice, I am much benefited. But what will be my fate after Baba leaves this

body? Should I be like a drifting kite?’

Having read the doubts in Damu Anna, Baba answered, "Look at that mango tree and

its thick flowers. If all the flowers become mangoes, how nice it will be. But

at the flowering stage itself a lot will fall off. Some will fall off at the

stage of tender mangoes. Due to plucking by birds, and children hitting with

stones, some more will fall off. Finally very few become ripe mangoes. The same

with these devotees also.

"Even after leaving the present body, I will be alert. The protection for my

devotees will come from my Samadhi. I will discharge all my obligations from my

Samadhi. My bones will look after your welfare."

We pray to Baba, to extend the assurance given to Damu Anna, to the readers of

this Life History also.

"Om Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi"

To be continued…

Source: http://www.saibaba.org

Sent with Sai love,

‘’