LIFE HISTORY OF SHIRDI SAI BABA - Ch. XXIII to XXV

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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 XXIII

Sai Baba did not encourage the practice of black magic, witchcraft, etc. He

never allowed those with such powers to come near him, until they shed off such

powers.

Kusa Bhav

Kusa Bhav learnt black magic. The moment he desired, sweets came into his hand.

After hearing of Baba’s greatness, he came to Shirdi. As he was trying to enter

Dwarakamayi, Baba stopped him and asked him to give up all his magic powers and

only then come to him. For some days he did in a fix not know what to do.

Finally, he removed the bracelet he was wearing and after giving up the powers,

served Baba with devotion for a long time.

On an Ekadashi day, someone brought some food made with onions. Baba had no

blind beliefs in such matters. He asked Kusa Bhav to eat it. Though Kusa Bhav

told Baba that it was Ekadashi that day and he did not take onions, Baba

insisted on his eating it. Finally Kusa Bhav told Baba that he would eat it if

Baba ate too. Then Baba ate first, followed by Kusa Bhav. After a while, some

devotees came into the mosque and Baba told them that though it was Ekadashi

day, and Kusa Bhav, an orthodox Brahmin, had eaten onions. Then Kusa Bhav told

them that he had eaten only after Baba had eaten the onions. Baba told that he

had not eaten onions but some turnips. So saying he vomited, and the vomit

contained pieces of sweet potato instead of onions. Kusa Bhav was surprised at

this; he picked up the sweet potato pieces from the vomit and ate them. Baba

got angry and scolded him as to why he was doing such a

disgusting thing. After a moment Baba’s anger turned into pity and he said to

him, "I am blessing you. Wherever you are and whenever you want, if you think

of me you will get udi from Dwarakamayi in your hands. If you give udi to those

in need, their difficulties would be over and their desires fulfilled." From

that day onwards till his death, Kusa Bhav used to get handful of udi by merely

repeating Baba’s name. What we learn from this story is that Baba had no liking

for black magic. He reformed such devotees who approached him and instead of

such lowly powers, gave them some divine powers. Therefore, those who are true

devotees of Baba need not worry about such evil forces. They will not dare to

come near them.

Hemadpant

Every Sunday was shandy day at Shirdi. People from neighboring villages came to

Shirdi on that day and visited Sai Baba. Hence, on Sundays at afternoon Aarti,

the mosque would be overflowing with devotees. One Sunday, Hemadpant was

pressing Baba’s feet. Shama laughingly said to him that there were chana

sticking to his coat and asked him to see it. When Hemadpant shook his

shirtsleeves, a lot of chana fell on the floor. Some who were present there

picked them up. Hemadpant did not know how the Chana had come to be on his

shirt. Everyone was surprised. Then Baba said, "This person has a bad habit of

eating alone. Today is Shandy date. He came here eating chana. He is not in the

habit of sharing with others. These chana seeds are proof of it and what is

there to be surprised?"

Hemadpant replied, "Baba, I never eat alone. Why are you putting this allegation

on me? Till now I have never gone to the Shandy at Shirdi. I never purchased

chana. Today also I have neither purchased nor eaten them. I always share with

others near me." Immediately Baba said, "You will give to these who are near

you. What are you doing when none are near you? Are you thinking of me before

you eat anything? I am always with you. Then are you offering me before you

eat?" Hemadpant became dumb at the last question put by Baba. It was true that

he is not in the habit of offering to Baba before he ate anything. He did not

think of this till then. When he considered Baba as everything in his life, was

it necessary to offer again whenever he ate? When this doubt came to him, Baba

read his thought and proceeded to tell him further.

"Before the sense, mind and intellect enjoy their objectives. I should first be

remembered, and if this is done, it is in a way making an offering to me. The

senses, etc. can never remain without their objects. But if these objects are

first offered to the Guru, the attachment to them will naturally vanish. In

this way all the thoughts regarding Desire, anger, avarice, etc. should first

be offered and directed to the Guru and if this practice is followed, then God

will help you in eradicating all the thoughts. Before enjoyment of the objects,

if you think that I am close by, the question whether the object is fit to be

enjoyed or not will arise. Then the object that is not fit to be enjoyed will

be shunned and in this way your vicious habits or vices will disappear and your

character will improve. Then love for the Guru will grow, and pure knowledge

will sprout. When this knowledge grows, the body

consciousness will go and your intellect will be merged in the

spirit-consciousness. Then you will get bliss and contentment. Therefore, you

should offer all pleasures you enjoy through the senses to me first. Otherwise,

there is the danger that you will not be able to control your senses and will

become slaves to your desires."

The above teachings of Baba were not only for Hemadpant, but to all of us, and

to the entire world, as long as mankind exists. The Life History of Shirdi Sai

Baba is full of pearl-like stories. Let this Life History be in every household

and Parayana done regularly. Like the Mahabharatha and Ramayana, let this Life

History of Baba be above caste, and religious differences and acquire national

character.

Mavisi Bai

Anna Chinchinikar alias Damodar Ganshyam Babre was a devotee of Baba. He was a

rough and adamant person. He was very straightforward and frank and did not

care for anyone. But, he was good at heart.

One afternoon, he was sitting by the side of Baba and massaging his left hand.

On the right side of Baba, an old widow by name Venkubai Koujalgi alias Mavisi

Bai, sat massaging Baba’s back. She was also a person with a pure heart. While

massaging due to the movements, her face kept coming very near to that of Anna

Chinchinikar. Though she moved forward and backward in the process of massaging

Baba’s back with full devotion, she complained that Anna Chinchinikar was trying

to come very near her with the bad intention of kissing her. At this Anna

Chinchinikar got up angrily and tried to quarrel with her. The onlookers were

enjoying this quarrel. Then Baba asked them not to quarrel and there was

nothing wrong in a son kissing his mother. Thus he cooled down their tempers.

On another occasion Mavisi Bai was massaging Baba’s abdomen exerting great

pressure. People cautioned her to be careful, as there was the danger of the

intestines getting damaged. On hearing this, Baba suddenly got angry. His eyes

became red. He took his sataka and with one end fixed on the pillar in the

Dwarakamayi, he fixed the other end on his stomach and was trying to thrust it

into his stomach with full force. The devotees got scared. Nobody had the

courage to talk to Baba or touch him. After sometime Baba came back to his

original state. From this story it is clear that Baba knew about the devotion

of those who came to him. The devotees served Baba in their own way and there

was no need for others to interfere.

Harishchandra Pitale’s Son

Pitale was a resident of Bombay. His son was suffering from fits. He was given

all types of medicines without any relief. After hearing the Hari Katha of Baba

rendered by Das Ganu, he came to Shirdi in 1910 with his son. He visited Baba in

the mosque and prostrated before him. He put his son near Baba’s feet. Baba

looked for sometime with concentration at the patient. The boy lost

consciousness and fell on the floor. Foam began to come out of his mouth and he

perspired profusely, with the temperature of the body going below. On seeing the

condition of the boy, the parents were very much worried. The boy’s mother

started weeping. Then Baba told her not to weep but to take the boy to the room

and he would be all right in half an hour. After taking the boy to the ‘Wada',

the boy regained consciousness. From that day onwards, the boy did not get

fits. While leaving Shirdi, Pitale went to see Baba who

told him, "Brother, I had given you two rupees on a previous occasion and now I

am giving you three rupees. Keep them in your Puja room and worship them."

Since Pitale had come to Shirdi for the first time, he could not understand how

Baba could have given him two rupees earlier. After he reached home, when he

narrated this to his old mother, she told him that in the same manner as he had

taken his son to Shirdi, his (Pitale’s) father had taken him to Akkalkot

Maharaj. He had given him two rupees and asked him to keep them in the Puja

room and worship them. His father had worshipped them till his death and the

worship had stopped after that. From this story it is clear that Sai Baba was

Akkalkot Maharaj.

Ambadekar

Gopal Narayana Ambadekar, a resident of Poona, suffered without a job for seven

years. He came to Shirdi several times and prayed to Baba. Gradually his

condition deteriorated. He came then with his wife and stayed for two months.

One night he was sitting in front of Dixit Wada. Unable to bear the financial

difficulties, he wanted to end his life by jumping into the nearby well. Just

then, the proprietor of the hotel opposite to the Wada, Sagunamer Naik, called

him and asked him to read the Life History of Akkalkot Maharaj, and gave him

the book. Ambadekar half-heartedly took the book and opened some page. That

page contained the following details.

When Akkalkot Maharaj was alive, a person suffered from prolonged illness and

unable to bear it jumped into a well to end his life. But Akkalkot Maharaj

immediately caught hold of him and brought him out of the well, telling him

that one had to undergo these difficulties which were a fallout of his actions

in the previous birth. Even if one ended his life without fully undergoing the

difficulties, in his next birth again he would have to face the difficulties.

So before death, it was better to suffer for sometime and wipe off the sins of

the previous birth. Though he had turned a page of the book at random, the

story of an incident similar to his came and Ambadekar took it as an order of

Baba and refrained from putting an end to his life.

Gentlemen from Goa

Two gentlemen came to Shirdi from Goa. Baba asked one of them rupees fifteen as

Dakshina. The other person tried to give thirty-five rupees but Baba declined

to take them. Shama, who was present there, asked Baba about this

discrimination. Baba replied that he himself would never ask for Dakshina, but

Mother Mosque would ask for payment of debt. From whom she desired to have

Dakshina, only from those he would ask. Those who were in debt to her would pay

the amount and get salvation. Baba further told that he had no family or

property and that he should not accumulate wealth. He took Dakshina only from

those who made certain vows but fell in debt without discharging the vows. One

had to undergo the consequences of debt, enmity and killing of others. There

was no way of escaping. The person from one whom now Baba had taken Dakshina of

fifteen rupees was very poor. He took a vow to give the first

month’s salary to God if he secured a job. He got a job with a salary starting

at fifteen rupees. His salary gradually went up to Rs.700. Even then he did not

discharge his vow. As a result of his action, he was dragged here and Baba had

taken the debt money from him.

After this, Baba narrated a story in his usual strange manner. "One day when I

was in deep sleep, a person put a hole in the wall and stole Rs.30,000. I was

greatly distressed and it upset my mind. I could not drink or eat. Seeing my

plight a fakir told me, ‘I will give you the address of a fakir. If you meet

him, you will get back your lost money with his help. Till then you should stop

taking one of your favorite food items.’ I acted according to the advise of the

fakir and got back my money."

When I went to board a steamer, there was no room in it. But with the help of a

servant working in the steamer I got inside and reached the other shore. From

there I traveled in a train and came here." After finishing this story Baba

called Shama and asked him to take the two guests for meals. While eating the

two gentlemen wept. When Shama asked them the reason, they told him that the

story Baba told was their story. The first gentleman said that he had taken a

vow to give the first month’s salary to Dattatreya. But during the course of

time he had forgotten to discharge his vow and Baba reminded him of it, took

the amount as Dakshina and relieved him of the debt. The second gentleman

narrated his story as follows. "My cook served me sincerely for 25 years. One

day he stole Rs.30,000 from my house. I was distressed and weeping. A fakir

came to our house and told me that if I worshipped Shirdi Sai

Baba, I would get my money back. But till then I should not eat my favorite food

item. I followed his advice and the cook who stole the money, changed his heart

and gave back the entire amount and asked for pardon. For having Baba’s Darshan

when we tried to board a steamer at Goa, the captain told us that there is no

room. But a servant in the steamer whom we do not know, helped us in getting

accommodation and thus we came here." But then how Baba could know of the

things, which had happened at a very far off place.

The above story proves that Baba was omnipresent. Let us pray to Sai Baba to

protect us also in all ways. May the readers have complete faith in Sai Baba.

"Om Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi"

Chapter XXIV

Baba never fasted. Neither did he permit his devotees to fast. Mind will not be

steady if one fasts. We cannot see God with a hungry stomach. It is, therefore,

essential to keep the Atma satisfied. We get strength for the eyes to see God,

for the mouth to praise God and for the ear to hear things about God, only from

the energy that food provides. Hence Baba did not approve of fasting.

Fasting by Gokhale’s Wife

Gokhale’s wife came to Shirdi with some devotees known to Dada Kelkar. She

stayed in his house. She desired to undertake fasting for three days and be

with Baba. But Baba told her, "Mother, there is no need to undertake fasting.

Go to Dada Bhat’s house, prepare puranpolis (sweet stuffed chapattis) and feed

his children and you also eat." On that day Bhat’s wife was indisposed. Hence,

Baba’s advice appeared to be timely. Accordingly to his advice she prepared

puranpolis, served the others and ate some. Fasting is only a method of

regulating the digestive system and nothing more. To think that one gets some

divine benefit from that is only a misconception. Apart from not getting any

benefit, fasting makes a person weak with the result that one cannot attend to

one’s normal duties. Those who worship Baba can take food and then worship him.

 

Shama’s Vow - Sapta Shringi

The famous Sapta Shringi temple was in a place called Vani at Nasik district.

Kakaji Vaidya was the priest of that temple. He suffered one difficulty after

another in his life and there was no peace of mind.

One day he stood in front of the idol and prayed to the Goddess, "I have been

worshipping you with utmost devotion and sincerity all these days. Please give

me peace of mind." That night the Goddess appeared in his dream and told him,

"Go to Baba, you will have peace of mind." The priest thought Baba meant Lord

Shiva of Tryambakeshwar. So went there and stayed for ten days worshipping with

devotion. But he did not get peace of mind and returned to his place. Again he

prayed to the Goddess and she told him in his dream that she meant Shirdi Sai

Baba when she said Baba. The priest was wondering how to go to Shirdi. As he

was pious Baba made arrangements for his visit to Shirdi in some other manner.

When Baba’s devotee Shama was a small boy he fell sick. His mother took a vow to

take the boy to Sapta Shringi temple and worship at the feet of the Goddess.

After sometime, the mother suffered with ringworm on her breasts and she took

another vow to offer the Goddess two silver breasts if the ringworm subsided.

Without fulfilling the above two vows she died. This had happened 32 years

earlier. Shama had forgotten about this.

Once an astrologer came to Shirdi and told Shama that the vows taken by his

mother remained unfulfilled. After thinking over, Shama recollected the two

vows. Immediately he got two silver breasts prepared and placing them at Baba’s

feet, pleaded with Baba to accept them since Baba was also the Goddess Sapta

Shringi. Baba did not accept them, but asked Shama to go personally to the

Sapta Shringi temple and offer them to the Goddess. Shama went to the house of

Kakaji Vaidya, the priest of Sapta Shringi and told him the details.

Kakaji Vaidya thought it a great honour to receive a close follower of Baba from

Shirdi. Shama also was pleased meeting the priest through whom the vows are to

be fulfilled. Baba might have sent Shama to Sapta Shringi to bring him and

Kakaji together. After fulfilling the vows both of them went together to

Shirdi. As soon as Kakaji Vaidya touched Baba’s feet, his disturbed mind became

placid and he felt happy. Baba did not speak anything. He did not even bless

him. Even then, by the mere touch of his feet, Kakaji secured peace of mind.

Thus Kakaji Vaidya found the greatness of Baba. He stayed for 12 days at

Shirdi, experienced Baba’s love and left Shirdi taking Baba’s udi with him.

Shyam Karna - Baba’s Horse

A devotee of Baba, who earned huge profits in his business, presented a nice

horse to Baba. Baba named it Shyam Sunder (or Shayama Karna) and entrusted its

maintenance to a devotee named Tukaram. Many times Baba told the devotees not

to merely consider Shyam Sunder as an animal but to treat it as Baba’s child.

One day the horse did not eat grass for reasons unknown. Tukaram tried his best

but the horse did not touch the grass. He lost his patience and hit it with a

stick. This happened a little away from the mosque. Baba sent for Tukaram and

asked him angrily why he hit him (Baba) with such a big stick. Tukaram shivered

at Baba’s words. Then Baba lifted his long shirt (Kafni) and showed a read weal

in the shape of a stick on his body. Those who saw it were surprised and

feared. They looked at Tukaram suspiciously, but Tukaram told him that he had

not come near Dwarakamayi on that day and did not hit Baba. Then Baba said, "Is

it not hitting me, if you hit my child Shyam Sunder?" He thus made Tukaram

remember what he had done. Immediately the devotees ran to the place where the

horse was tied. They found a similar swelling and the mark of the stick on the

back of the horse. Everyone was surprised. They

considered this as Baba’s Leela to prove to the devotees that he was present in

all living things. From that day onwards everyone looked after Shyam Karna with

love and respect. Some brought fodder for the horse and some brought zari

shawls.

A devotee named Aurangabadkar had no children. With Baba’s blessings, he got a

male child. Out of gratitude constructed a shed for the Shyam Karna at a cost

of Rs.500. Every Thursday they decorated Shyam Karna nicely and put it in front

of the procession. The horse danced to the tunes of the musical instruments.

Testing Baba

It was the year 1915. One Thursday morning, the mosque was full of devotees Baba

was sitting with crossed legs on the big stone in front of the mosque. Nana

Chandorkar, Shama, Mahalasapati, Dixit, Tatya, Sathe and others were standing.

A rich middle-aged lady, Janaki Bai, wearing a silk sari with zari border,

brought several costly items of jewellery on a gold plate to give them to Baba.

She was standing in the ladies queue. Every devotee had something or the other

in his hand to hand it over to Baba. Some washed the feet of Baba by placing

them in a silver plate. Some applied sandal paste on his neck and sprinkled

perfumes. Some offered flowers, fruits and pedas (a milk sweet). Some offered

money according to their capacity.

Nanavalli, who was standing behind the devotees, observed all this and felt

happy. But in a few moments his face changed and his happiness disappeared. His

face flushed with anger. His eyes became red and his appearance was fearful. He

called out in a very loud voice, "You fakir". All looked towards him, stunned.

Nanavalli slowly advanced towards Baba and was stared into his eyes. He was a

rough type of person and everyone feared what was to happen. He said to Baba,

"So many have got up and stood fearing me. But you are calmly sitting

cross-legged." Baba did not reply. Nanavalli ordered Baba to get up. Baba went

and stood near the devotees. Nanavalli sat cross-legged on the stone just like

Baba. He ordered the devotees to bring the offerings to him. He ate some and

threw away some. He stared for some time at the lady who had brought jewels in

a gold plate. He stared alternately at the lady and the

gold plate for some time. Finally he looked at her insultingly and spat.

Then he looked at Baba and said, "What Nawab! How are you?" Baba replied that he

was a fakir only and not a nawab. Nanavalli questioned Baba about how the world

was. Baba replied, "It is as usual." Nanavalli asked what Baba meant by his

reply. Then Baba said, "With the five elements and eight directions, this world

appears normal only to me." With this reply Nanavalli’s face changed, his anger

disappeared and he became normal again. Again he stared into Baba’s eyes. Their

eyes exchanged something silently. Nanavalli fell at Baba’s feet and asking

pardon went away quickly to the relief of the devotees.

Then Nana Chandorkar said to Baba, "Baba, the crazy actions of Nanavalli are

increasing day by day. He dared to sit on your seat and spoiled the offerings

brought by the devotees, and also insulted your devotees. We will not tolerate

this further. If you permit us we will take appropriate action." To this Baba

replied, "Nanavalli is not a crazy person as all of you are thinking. He is a

sage (Avadhootha) who crossed the worldly limits. He had come to test me. "Then

Nana Chandorkar asked Baba how a crazy person could test him. Baba explained as

follows, "When I came to Shirdi for the first time, the villagers threw stones

at me taking me to be a crazy person (pagal fakir). After sometime, they called

me a doctor. Now you are all treating me as God and worshipping me and offering

me several things. Nanavalli only tested me to find out whether desires have

sprouted in me on seeing all this. From the

reply I gave him he understood that I am in the original state only and nothing

has changed in me. Craziness is the climax of Vedanta." In the light of Baba’s

explanation, the devotees recalled the questions and answers between Nanavalli

and Baba and felt happy. From that day they wiped out their opinion that

Nanavalli was a crazy person.

Red Plantains

Shri M.G. Rege visited Baba during his student days. In those days, he was the

youngest of all devotees who were close to Baba. One day a devotee presented

Baba with plantains whose outer skin was red in colour. The red-coloured peel

of the plantains attracted Rege. He desired to eat them. Baba gave the

plantains to the devotees who were there. He removed the outer skin of a

plantain and while he gave the inner fruit to a devotee, he gave the outer skin

to Rege and asked him to eat it. Obeying Baba’s orders, he ate the skin. After

distributing to all, Baba came to Rege and took out another plantain, peeled

the skin and threw it away. He shared the inner fruit along with Rege. Since

Rege had been attracted by the red colour of the plantain skin, Baba had made

him eat it and know the taste. He again gave him the inner fruit to bring home

the truth that there is nothing in the outer colour but the

actual taste is in the inner fruit. So, one should not be carried away by the

external appearance but should see the divine power in every matter.

"Om Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi"

Chapter XXV

Upasani Shastri went to Nagpur, from there to Scinde and to Kharagpur in the

year 1914, without informing Baba and without completing the four years

novitiate (diksha) prescribed by Sai Baba. Afterwards he stayed with Panchamuni

for some time. By Baba’s grace he acquired Siddhis (supernatural powers) while

he was at Shirdi. After wandering about for 15 months, he returned to Shirdi in

the year 1915, and Baba advised him to set up an ashram at Sakori, a village

near Shirdi and live there. He followed Baba’s advice. Those who were

sufferers, patients, etc. came up to Upasani Baba in thousands and obtained

relief. He was a Guru to a number of devotees and attained Samadhi in the year

1942 at the age of 72. Those who go to Shirdi can also visit the ashram

established by Upasani Baba at Sakori, which is about 5 kms from Shirdi.

Importance of Actions

Baba went for alms everyday. With the increase of Baba’s greatness, the faith in

those who gave alms also increased and they kept the food ready and waited for

Baba.

One day, a housewife named Savitri Bai was hurriedly cooking as the time of

Baba’s visit for alms was nearing. Her old father-in-law was also hungry. She

finished cooking quickly. As she was putting rotis (leavened bread) and curry

in a plate to give to Baba, he arrived and she asked him to just wait for two

minutes and she would be bringing food for him. In the meantime, her

father-in-law called out loudly as he was hungry. She told him that she would

serve him as soon as she had given food to Baba. She came out of the house with

the food in a plate to give it to Baba. Baba told her, "Mother, you should give

food to your father-in-law first. You may ask me why. To give food to your

father-in-law is your duty. To give me alms is only a pious action. You should

give precedence to duty over noble action! To give timely food to your

father-in-law is righteousness (dharma) you should attend to that

first. After that only alms for me." Hearing Baba, she told him that he was

really God in human form and her desire was to serve him first. Baba further

told her, "Our actions are very powerful and are like arms (aayudhas). God has

kept your father-in-law under your care and made you responsible to serve him.

Even if such a God stood before your house, you should give priority to your

duties only. This is the Theory of Karma. What duties God has given us, we

should discharge them properly. If you do not do them properly, it amounts to

wrong. It is not proper for me to make you, who reposed complete faith in me,

do wrong. In my presence, give food to your father-in-law. Till then I will sit

and wait here. Afterwards, I will accept the food you proposed to give me with

love." Thereupon she acted as per Baba’s advice. From that day onwards, Savitri

Bai always gave food to her father-in-law before Baba came for alms.

Baba’s Knowledge of Sanskrit

Sai Baba was a strange God. Shirdi is a Punya Bhoomi for having had such a God

there. The villagers of Shirdi are blessed. Even the grass on which Baba walked

is also blessed. Shirdi came into prominence because of Baba. All Siddhis

(supernatural powers) were at the feet of Baba. Those who visited Shirdi

worshipped Baba’s feet. One day, Nana Chandorkar, while pressing Baba’s feet,

recited within himself some slokas. None were there. Baba asked him what he was

reciting to himself. Chandorkar replied that it was a Sanskrit slokas, which

Baba would not understand. Baba said that he would try to understand and asked

Chandorkar to read it aloud. He read the thirty-fourth slokas in Chapter-4 of

the Bhagawad Gita as follows:

Tatviddhi Pranipatena Pariprashnena Sevaya - Upadekshyanti Te Jnanam Jnanina Stattwadarshinah

The questions of Baba and the replies of Nana Chandorkar were as follows:

Baba: Nana, what is the meaning?

Nana: By making sashtanga Namaskar (prostration), questioning the Guru, serving

him, we learn what this Jnana is. Then these Jnanis who have attained the real

knowledge of Brahman, will give us Upadesh of Jnana.

Baba: I do not want the collective purport of the whole stanza. Give me word by

word meaning of it. What is meant by pariprashna?

Nana: Asking questions.

Baba: What is the meaning of prashna

Nana: The same (asking questions).

Baba: For both you are giving the same meaning. Is there any special meaning for

the Sanskrit word pari?

Nana: I do not know of any other meaning.

Baba: What is the meaning of seva?

Nana: The same service that we are doing to you daily.

Baba: Is it enough to render such service?

Baba: In the Sloka, suppose we substitute the word Jnana with Ajnana, then what

meaning does it give?

Nana: I do not understand how to construe it by substituting with Ajnana.

Baba: Lord Krishna was a Tatwadarshi. But why did he advise Arjuna to prostrate,

serve, and question other Jnanis?

Nana: This also I do not understand

Nana Chandorkar thought Baba did not know Sanskrit and that he (Nana) having

read the Bhagawad Gita several times along with commentaries, knew everything.

But when Nana could not give answers to Baba’s questions for even one Sloka, he

felt ashamed. Then he concluded that however much one might have read, one

couldn’t be equal to a Jnani. His pride had gone. Then Baba in his own style,

gave answers to the questions he had put to Nana, as follows:

1) Questioning the Guru should not be for testing the Guru or trying to trap

him, but to actually learn and to keep in mind what was learnt, and to put that

in practice in life. One should question the Guru with the aim of spiritual

progress. That is what Pariprashna means. Vyasa did not use it for nothing.

2) Seva or service which is rendered whenever you feel like doing, is not seva.

A person should feel that his body is not his and God had given it to serve the

Guru. Persons with such Jnana only can understand the teaching of it by a guru,

and others cannot understand. To teach Jnana to such persons would be like

teaching Ajnana.

3) However great a person may be, his close associates cannot gauge his

greatness, taking him to be as ordinary human being like them.

This is the effect of Maya. That was the reason why Lord Krishna advised Arjuna

to serve other Tatwadarshis.

After hearing the above explanations given by Baba, Nana could not imagine the

greatness of Baba who had such deep knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita, which Lord

Krishna taught to Arjuna. Her learnt that the sky was the limit for Baba’s

knowledge, and none could measure it. He thought how much small he was before

Baba . Noticing the changes taking place in Nana, Baba slowly walked out of

Dwarakamayi. Nana also came out of Dwarakamayi, following Baba in the same

manner as a magnet attracts an iron piece. Nana saw Baba’s form growing big

with changes in his face, with divine light rays emitting from the body in

different colours. He had to lift his head to see the growing stature of Baba.

He had to close his eyes, unable to withstand the divine light coming from

Baba.

He heard Baba’s bold and loud words as if they came from the sky above. "Nana,

your eyes contained the human body and caught in the darkness of Ajnana, cannot

see any divine form. I am giving you divine sight. Open your eyes and see my

real form. I am the divine power and the bearer of all the planets, Sun and

moon are my eyes, I am the Virat and send the people either to heaven or hell

based on their actions in life. The burning planets, oceans, all kinds of

diseases, medicines required for their cure are all in me. All the animate and

inanimate things of this creation are in me. There is nothing, which is not in

me. I am a complete being and all powerful person."

Hearing Baba’s words and seeing his Vishwa Rupa, Nana became unconscious for a

moment. When he came back to his original state, he saw Baba in his usual form.

Baba cautioned Nana not to reveal to others what he had seen. Nana did in a

confused state not know whether what he had seen was a dream or real or whether

it was Maya. When he found himself in control of his senses, he concluded that

he was not dreaming. He fell at the feet of Baba and washed them with the tears

that fell with joy.

Nana’s Disrespect for the Temple

Once Nana Chandorkar, along with his relative Binivalle, came to Shirdi. Baba

asked him, "Being with me for such a long time, why did you do this? How did

you come to Shirdi from Kopergaon?" Nana recollected the mistake committed by

him. Whenever he came to Shirdi from Kopergaon, he used to bathe in the

Godavari river, visited Datta temple and then come to Shirdi. During his

previous visit he had promised the temple priest that he would give Rs.300 as

donation. Thinking that the priest would ask him the money if he visited the

temple, he avoided it and also discouraged his relative from visiting the

temple. Baba, knowing the matter beforehand, said to Nana, "If you had no money

to fulfill your promise, you could have told the temple priest. For money’s sake

you could not visit Datta Dev. See how money has distanced you from God."

Realising his mistake, Nana bowed his head in shame.

Aarti and Naiveidya (Offerings to God)

Everyday after the noon Aarti, all devotees went back to their houses or to the

lodgings. Baba personally distributed udi prasad and made enquiries about each

devotee, giving them advices. From some devotees he would enquire when they

came and to some devotees he would ask when they would be leaving Shirdi. He

ordered a few devotees to leave Shirdi only the next day. He enquired with some

devotees about some who were in their houses and give some advices. He talked to

the devotees to the extent necessary and according to their needs. Only he and

the particular devotee could understand the matter. After the devotees left,

the devotees close to Baba would sit in rows on each side of him. Baba would

come walking slowly and sit in his seat.

Those who brought offerings to Baba (naiveidya) waited outside Dwarakamayi, for

getting his blessings. They would bring a variety of food items like rotis,

sweet rice, sanja, etc. All the offerings were kept before Baba and he offered

all of them to God. After that he distributed a portion of them to the devotees

waiting outside the mosque and the balance served to all the close devotees who

were sitting on either side of Baba. The food items touched by Baba became very

tasty and energy-giving ones.

One day, Hemadpant ate such food to his satisfaction. Baba immediately gave him

a glassful of buttermilk and asked him to drink it. But Hemadpant drank only a

little of it saying that his stomach was full. Its taste was peculiar. Baba

asked him to drink the balance also; as such an opportunity would never come

again. He drank the remaining buttermilk with great difficulty. His word became

true. Hemadpant did not get such a chance again before Baba’s Samadhi.

Atmaram’s Wife

Atmaram’s wife desired to offer three items to Baba as naiveidya (1) Brinjal and

curd Chutney , (2) Brinjal fried curry, and (3) Peda (a milk sweet).

Raghuveer Purander’s wife was known to her. When Mrs. Purander was going to

Shirdi, Atmaram’s wife gave her some brinjal with a request to prepare the

chutney and curry and serve Baba. After reaching Shirdi, Mrs. Purander prepared

the brinjal and curd chutney and sent it to Dwarakamayi at Baba’s mealtime. As

the preparation was tasty, Baba distributed it to all. He desired to have

brinjal fried curry also then and there. As that was not the season for

brinjal, Radhakrishnamai made enquiries as to who had brought the brinjal curd

chutney and found out that it was Mrs. Purander. Word was sent to her about

Baba’s desire and immediately Mrs Purander prepared brinjal fried curry and

sent it to Baba. The devotees who came to know the details of the matter were

surprised at the desire of Baba to have brinjal fried curry. This is one more

instance of Baba’s omniscience.

In December 1915, Balaram Mankad, a resident of Bandra, was going to Shirdi to

perform the obsequies of his late father. Atmaram;s wife wanted to send

something to Baba and searched in the house but could not find anything. A few

pieces of Peda were there. Even these few were already offered to Baba as

naiveidya. She sent them with Mankad. After reaching Shirdi, Mankad forgot

about them when he went to see Baba in the afternoon. Again when he went to the

mosque in the evening, Baba asked Mankad what was given by Atmaram’s wife at the

time of his journey to Shirdi. Mankad felt ashamed and went to his room and

brought the pedas given by Atmaram’s wife and gave them to Baba. Baba took one

and ate it and the remainder was distributed to others.

Importance of Human Birth

For all living things food, sleep, fear and reproduction are common. But a human

being, apart from these, has one more important quality called intelligence

(Jnana). With this the human is able to know about God. Some think that the

human body comprises flesh, blood, and filthy waste products. The body finally

dies and gets destroyed. Even then, through this body only we are able to get

Jnana. Hence, good care should be taken to maintain a healthy body. If one

indulges in pleasures and yields to physical desires, life will ultimately

become lower than that of an animal. So one should take necessary care. If

excess care is taken, this will lead to several desires and if less care is

taken, it will result in poor health and will lead to some diseases.

One should understand this truth carefully. Finally the body should be utilized

for obtaining Moksha.

Khushal Chand of Rahata

Baba loved Khushal Chand of Rahata very much. When sometimes he went to Rahata

with devotees, Khushal Chand welcomed Baba from the entrance to Rahata with

drums, Cymbals and other musical instruments and took them in a procession. He

arranged food for all others also. After taking food, Baba and Khushal Chand

would discuss several matters. Similarly, Baba used to go up to Neemgaon and

Kopergaon occasionally. He never went beyond these places. But he did know of

the happenings at other far off places.

Khaparde’s Wife

While Khaparde and his wife were at Shirdi, his wife used to take food for

offering to Baba daily at noontime. She took food only after Baba accepted her

offering. Baba was pleased at her steady and deep devotion and faith in him.

One day, she brought food as usual. Baba took the plate and began eating. Then

Shama, who ws present there, asked Baba why he was showing discrimination among

the devotees, "So many devotees bring you offerings of food. You don’t touch

them. But you are eagerly taking the food brought by Khaparde’s wife and eating

it quickly. What is the specialty in her offering?"

Baba replied, "The food brought by her is really tasty. In her previous birth

she was the cow of a merchant. She gave good milk to the satisfaction of the

merchant’s family. In her subsequent birth, she was born as daughter to a

gardener and served others well. Because of her nobility, in the next birth,

she was born to a Kshatriya (a caste) and married a merchant. In this birth

also she is serving others sincerely and because of this, in her next birth,

she will be born to a Brahmin family. I have seen her after a long period. Let

me take some more food filled with love from the naiveidya brought by the

lady." So saying Baba finished all the food that was in the plate and went and

sat on his seat. Khaparde’s wife began massaging his feet and he in turn

started massaging her hands. The way the Guru and pupil were serving each other

caused much surprise and also happiness to the devotees present

there. Baba fixed his eyes on her and looked at her seriously; some divine power

entered her. She shed tears out of joy. Baba advised her to repeat the mantra

‘Raja Ram’ always, and that it would bring peace and happiness to her and she

would achieve her life’s desire.

Those who serve their Guru with a pure mind and love will earn the love of their

Guru. In fact, a Guru will depend on such disciples only. Such teacher-disciple

are in fact one only and there will be no differences among them. Let us pray

to Sai Baba to turn all those readers who read this Life History, into such

Sishyas, and thus close this chapter.

"Om Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi"

To be continued…

Source: http://www.saibaba.org

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