LIFE HISTORY OF SRI SHIRDI SAI BABA - Part 19 To 22

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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…