Bala Krishna Keshev Vaidya alias Dada Maharaj Paatgaonkar. (contd....)

[Guest guest]

Vishnu Ghati was a devotee of Dada Maharaj. He lived in a small village called

Mutata, which was in Vijay Durg. Every Thursday he visited Patgaon, after taking

darshan of Maharaj, he would invite him to his home. And every time Maharaj

would say he would come. But it never came to pass. This went on for a long

time. One Thursday Vishnu Ghate after darshan said " Maharaj tell me for sure

whether you will visit my home or not? Let me know one way or the other.

" Maharaj said " I will surely visit your home in 15 days. In the meantime

you go to Shirdi " So Vishnu Ghate made all arrangements and went to take

permission from Dada Maharaj. Dada Maharaj while sending him off gave him two

packets of peda. Maharaj said " Give the larger packet of Pedas to Baba, and the

smaller packet you and your family share. Also do not keep all your money in one

pocket.For if it's stolen you will loose all your money. "

Vishnu said " Alright " and left.

He went home to pack his bags; in the excitement he packed

the smaller Peda packet in the baggage. Then he distributed the larger

packet of Pedas to all the members of his family. It would take him days to

reach Shirdi, so he placed his money in the various pockets, as advised by Dada

Maharaj. Then he reached Mumbai and forgot what Maharaj had advised, and placed

all his money in one pocket.

Upon reaching Shirdi he went to the Dwarakamai for Baba's

darshan. There was a large gathering of devotees around Baba.

Nonetheless he managed to go to the Sanctum Sanctorum. After doing

Namaskar to Baba he handed the packet of Pedas to Him. Baba took the

packet and looked at it from every side, and then in anger He shouted,

" Arre You ate up My packet of Pedas which was larger of the two. Now you are

trying to palm off this packet on Me? "

A volley of abuses followed this,then Baba said " Rascal do

I owe anything to your father? Why do you keep calling Me to your home? Do you

think I have nothing else to do? Remember this if you ever call Me again to your

house then! If you want you come here! You need to be taught a lesson. " Then

Baba took the money that he had in his pocket, which in fact was all the money

he had.

Then Baba said, " You don't know how great My Bala is!He is

Shankar. He is Dutta. He is your only refuge. Now go tomorrow. "

Vishnu trembled with fear he wondered how Baba knew that he had

asked Dada Maharaj to visit his home! In a flash he realized that that though

Dada lived far away, yet Baba and he were in communication. And he, Vishnu was

just a puppet whose stings were in Dada's hands. He also got an insight of Babas

Omnipresence.

He fell at Baba's feet and begged to be forgiven saying

" Baba I am your child, have mercy on me. You are my mother, so give me

refuge at Your feet " . Hearing his piteous cry Baba's heart melted and He stroked

his back and hugged him. And asked him to sit in the Sabha

Mandap, Vishnu got up and sat against the wall of the Sabha Mandap. His stomach

started rumbling with hunger, and he had no money. While leaving Mumbai he had

put all his money in one pocket; forgetting the advice given by Dada. He was in

a fix he knew no one here, and he had no money even to buy a return ticket.

Just then a well-dressed gentleman came and sat next to him

and casually conversed with him. Vishnu was surprised when he said that he was

going to Mumbai so Vishnu should accompany him. Then he said, " Now lets go have

lunch. Then we will rest and leave for Mumbai in the morning. " He took care of

Vishnu's every need and was a gracious host. The next morning they left for

Mumbai. At Mumbai Vishnu was surprised that his gracious host was lost in the

crowd. Vishnu stayed in Mumbai for two days then returned home.

The day after he reached home he went to Patgaon. He took

darshan of Dada Maharaj and fell at his feet. And said " Maharaj if you

wanted to teach me a lesson, why couldn't you have taught it to me

here. " Dada Maharaj replied " Only a goldsmith should pierce the ear "

Thus Vishnu realized how much regard Maharaj had for Baba. He remained

devoted to both of them.

In 1941 on the 6th of Kartik Month Dada Maharaj took

Samadhi.

 

(Source Shri Sai Leela Magazine)