See how Baba protected Gowri and the coward Basappa, birth after birth.�……

[Guest guest]

……“God-realisation or Self-realisation is not a thing given, but the pupil

is given the necessary preparation and facilities to attain that state. Then,

the saying of Tukaram becomes true. ‘Apana Sarika Karitat Tatkal’. This

means, ‘The Samartha Guru turns the sishya immediately into his own

likeness’. Allowing some latitude for hyperbole for purposes of effect, there

is substantial truth in this saying. Hence one may recognise that the highest

use which any sane man can make of a Guru is to get the very highest benefit

possible, namely, Self-realisation and God-realisation.

This is the highest but, in the vast circle of sadhakas and of our readers,

there are many who would not think of the highest at all, but would have their

own hankerings or longings, which are by no means to be treated with contempt.

For instance, the achievement of the position of an ‘Ankita’ child may be

referred to as one of the smaller or preliminary gains of the sishya when

approaching a Samartha Sadguru. What ‘Ankita’ means will be seen by the

following stanza, which is part of Narayana’s daily Arati song sung in places

fike Sakori and Shirdi.

 

Jo saducha ankita jiva jhala

Tyacha ase bhara niranjanala

 

This means, ‘Where a sadhu (a Samartha Sadguru) has earmarked a pupil as one

for whom he undertakes complete responsibility for both spiritual and temporal

welfare and for the entire period of his life (or lives), there every

responsibility concerning that pupil’s welfare rests upon the shoulders of

that Niranjan, that is, one who is almost God in respect of his power and

nature’. This appears to be a truism or platitude - but is really a revelation

of the existence of Niranjanas and their Ankitas in present day life. Niranjan

strictly means having no ‘Maya’ or having crossed the borders of Maya.

Compare the Gita verse ¬VII, 14.

 

Daivee hi eshaa gunamayee mama maayaa duratyaya

Maameva ye prapadyante maayaam etam tarantite

 

That is, ‘This three-fold Guna (Satva, Rajas, Tamas) constituting My Maya is

hard indeed for anyone to cross. But he who takes refuge and surrenders Tan,

Man, Dan (Body, mind and possessions) to ME, Iswara, crosses this Maya’. So

Niranjan is one who has crossed the three-fold Maya, who has identified himself

with Iswara and is possessed of Ashtaiswarya (Animaadisiddhi), divine powers

that can bear every responsibility of another soul without regard to place,

time, or extent of time, that is, whether it is generation or centuries. One may

be aghast at the idea that any responsibility can be undertaken indefinitely or

for centuries. But Baba (being a Niranjan) expressly undertook such

responsibility. When Mahlsapathy was afraid that the Muslims would come and beat

him for worshipping Baba with sandal paste after he left the Mosque premises,

Baba assured him that neither those nor any other persons could molest him

either in this life or in any future

lives of his.

 

Baba told the Bandra youth, who prayed to him that he should be always with him

in future lives, that he had already been in previous lives along with him and

looking after him, and that for three more lives that were necessary for him to

be born to work out his remaining karma, Baba would be reborn and be with him.

Similar assurances were given for indefinite periods to M.B. Rege, etc. One

reading the Gospel of Sai Baba, that is, B.C.S. 400-450, would notice that Baba

referred to ten thousand years back, saying ‘I was here ten thousand years

ago’. He told Shama that for 72 janmas or births he had been with him and that

he had never touched him at all till then. That is, he recalls events of 72

janmas and knows he has been protecting his devotee all these janmas, that is,

over 2,000 years. Especially in this janma when Shama, an almost illiterate and

helpless villager, was obliged to depend entirely upon Baba. Baba looked after

all his interests and

provided him and his children also with means of subsistence, with comforts,

with safety, and position - as he provided to many others.

 

When G.G. Narke was introduced to Baba, Baba declared that he had known him for

30 janmas. If a janma is roughly taken to be even 30 years, this takes us nearly

a thousand years back. Hence, to give an undertaking, which appears to be

definite in point of time, is nothing for a Niranjana. The undertaking is also

indefinite in respect of the sort of attacks that may befall a sishya. Sri Rama

said -

 

Sakrudeva prapannaya tava asmi iti cha yaachate

Abhayam sarva bhutebhyo dadaami etat vratam mama

 

This means, “If a person once surrenders and takes refuge with me saying. ‘I

am yours’; I undertake to protect him from all creatures. This is my vowâ€.

Sri Rama does not limit either the time or the nature of the attack upon his

dependants seeking protection. Similarly Baba, who is nothing but Sai Rama, gave

undertakings indefinite in point of time, persons, or things attacking devotees

or the place. As far as we are able to see, both Ayodhya Rama and Shirdi Sai

Rama kept up the promises that they made. See how Baba protected Gowri and the

coward Basappa, birth after birth.â€â€¦â€¦