Balaram Mankar

[Guest guest]

Balaram Mankar

 

Balaram Mankar was indeed fortunate to have resorted

to Baba’s feet. After his wife died he gave all his

wordily possessions to his son and came to Shirdi.

After some time Baba gave him Rs 12 and asked him to

go to Machindergad [a fort near Satana] and do

penance.

 

The 12 Rs is symbolic there off ‘that mans earthly and

heavenly environment in 12 year cycles push him on his

natural path to achieve emancipation.’ Balaram though

saddened at the thought of leaving Sai Baba and Shirdi

obeyed Baba’s command. He went to Machindergad and

mediated there. One day sitting in yogic posture he

got Shatshatkar. He asked Baba why He had sent him

there. Baba told him that it was to calm his

restlessness and doubting mind and show His

omnipresence.

 

After a period of penance he decided go home to Dadar

via Poona.

 

At Poona station he went to get his ticket when a

Kunabi [peasant] approached him and gave Mankar his

ticket saying ‘I was to go to Dadar but I suddenly

remembered that I have some important business to

attend to. Hence I cannot go.’

 

Mankar was very happy to get the ticket so

effortlessly! Having thanked the peasant he got out

the money to pay him. But the peasant merged in the

crowd and was not to be seen. This was yet another

leela of Baba’s Omnipresence.

 

Balaram then returned to Shirdi and spent his time

doing Baba’s Seva and incessantly chanting Baba’s

name. Baba gave this small photograph of His to his

family. Mankar after ceaselessly doing Baba’s seva,

breathed his last in Shirdi.

 

 

 

(Source Shri Sai Satcharitra)