Message for the week!

November 6, 2009

Sairam,

Happy Baba's day to you all. May the mercy of Baba shower upon one and all.

I almost forgot that it was Baba's day today! I apologise to Baba for forgetting His day, ofcourse Baba the merciful forgives us and our sins when we ask Him for His mercy. I have taken up studies since last 11 months, and oflate work, family and studies have taken my time, and I seem to have put Baba aside. But on other hand work is God, serving family is serving god, as service first starts at home, and ofcourse if it were not Baba's will then I would not have taken up studies. My exam is on Friday 6/11/2009 and I asked Baba sincerely for His grace for my exam. I love, playing the game of conversation with Baba using Satcharita for I find answers to my questions through the holy book as it is gospel of Baba. I asked Him, not only does He forgive me but also blessed me through this message. I am sure there are many of you who similar to me find your answers through satcharita and also through the messages posted on this group. Here is Baba's blessing to me..

Mr. Cholkar's Sugarless Tea Initially, Baba was known in Poona and Ahmednagar Districts, but Nanasaheb Chandorkar, by his personal talks and by Dasganu, by his splendid Kirtans, spread the fame of Baba in the Konkan (Bombay Presidency). In fact, it was Dasganu - May God bless him-who, by his beautiful and inimitable Kirtans, made Baba available to so many people there. The audience, who come to hear the Kirtans have different tastes. Some like the erudition of the Haridas; some his gestures, some his singing, some his wit and humour, some his preliminary dissertation on Vedanta, and some others, his main stories and so on; but among them, there are very few, who by hearing the Kirtan get faith and devotion or love for God or saints. The effect of hearing Dasganu's kirtan on the minds of audience was however electric, as it were. We give an instance here Dasganu was once performing his Kirtan and singing the glory of Sai Baba, in the Koupineshwar temple in Thana. One Mr. Cholkar, a poor man serving as a candidate in the Civil Courts in Thana, was amongst the audience. He heard Dasganu's Kirtan most attentively and was much moved. He there and then mentally bowed and vowed to Baba saying - "Baba, I am a poor man, unable to support my family. If

by your grace, I pass the departmental examination, and get a permanent post, I

shall go to Shirdi, fall at Your Feet and distribute sugar-candy in Your name."

As good luck would have it, Mr.Cholkar did pass te examination and did get the permanent post and now it remained for him to fulfil his vow, the sooner the better. Mr. Cholkar was a poor man with a large family to support; and he could not afford to pay for the expenses of a Shirdi trip. As is well said, one can easily cross over Nahne ghat in Thana District or even the Sahyadri Range; but it is very difficult for a poor man to cross Umbareghat, i.e., the threshold of his house. As Mr. Cholkar was anxious to fulfill his vow as early as possible, he resolved to economize, cut down his expenses, and save money. He determined not to use sugar in his diet; and began to take his tea without it. After he was able to save some money in this way, he came to Shirdi, took Baba's darshan, fell at His Feet, offered a coconut, distributed it with a clean conscience along with sugar-candy as per his vow and said to Baba that he was much pleased with His darshan and that his desires were fulfilled that day. Mr. Cholkar was in the Masjid with his host Bapusaheb Jog. When the host and the guest both got up and were about to leave the Masjid, Baba spoke to Jog as follows:- "Give him

(your guest) cups of tea, fully saturated with Sugar." Hearing these significant words, Mr. Cholkar was much moved, he was wonderstruck, his eyes were bedewed with tears, and he fell at Baba's Feet again. Mr. Jog was also curious about this direction, regarding the tea-cups to be given to his guest. Baba wanted by His words to create faith and devotion in Cholkar's mind. He hinted as it were, that He got the sugar-candy as per his vow and that He knew full well his secret determination not to use sugar in his diet. Baba meant to say, "If you spread

your palms with devotion before Me, I am immediately with you, day and night.

Though, I am here bodily, still I know what you do; beyond the saven seas. Go

wherever you will, over the wide world, I am with you. My abode is in your heart

and I am within you. Always worship Me, Who is seated in your heart, as well as,

in the hearts of all beings, Blessed and fortunate, indeed, is he who knows Me

thus.Chapter 15 SSS. Anitha Kandukuri http://www.angelfire.com/sd/SaidarbarCanberra View photos of singles in your area! Looking for a date?