4th Saying My tomb shall bless and protect my devotees

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Devotees destroy egoism, so that gods can appear in them. Once Anantrao Patankar came from Poona to see Baba

at Shirdi; By Darshan of Baba, his eyes were full

with satisfaction. He felt very happy. He fell at the feet of Baba, worshipped

him and the submitted to him, " I have read a lot. I read Vedas, Vedanta

and Upanishads. I listened to the 18 puranas, but I

don't have peace of mind. Therefore my scholarship and bookish knowledge are

useless. The innocent devotees without any scholarship are far superior to me.

What is the use of studying scriptures when we are unable to get peace of mind?

I heard that you would give me peace. Please shower compassion. Please bless

me. Grant me peace, please. "

 

Baba then told him a moral story. " Once upon a time, a

merchant came here. In front of him, a female horse dropped excreta and it was

in the form of nine balls. That intelligent merchant collected all of them in

his cloth. He was thus able to concentrate well. "

 

Poor Patankar was unable to understand

the meaning of the story told by Baba. Therefore he requested Dada Kelkar to elucidation. What does Baba mean by telling this

story? Dada Kelkar replied, " I too don't

understand the full significance of Baba's story. But, by his grace, nine balls

of excreta indicate the nine types of devotion. They are:

1) Shravana (listening)

2) Kirtana (Praying)

3) Smarana (remembrance)

4) Padasevana (service)

5) Archana (worship)

6) Namaskar (Prostrating)

7) Dasayan (servitude)

8) Sakhyatva (friendship)

9) Atma nivedan (self surrender).

(to be contd….)

(Source Eleven Holy Sayings of

Shirdi Sai Baba by Pujya Shri

Ananda Sai Swamy)