4th Saying My tomb shall bless and protect my devotees

[Guest guest]

Devotees destroy egoism, so that gods can appear in them. Once Anantrao

Patankar came from Poona to see Baba at Shirdi; By Darshan of Baba, his

eyes were full with satisfaction. He felt very happy. He fell at the

feet of Baba, worshipped him and the submitted to him, " I have read a

lot. I read Vedas, Vedanta and Upanishads. I listened to the 18 puranas,

but I don't have peace of mind. Therefore my scholarship and bookish

knowledge are useless. The innocent devotees without any scholarship are

far superior to me. What is the use of studying scriptures when we are

unable to get peace of mind? I heard that you would give me peace.

Please shower compassion. Please bless me. Grant me peace, please. "

 

Baba then told him a moral story. " Once upon a time, a merchant came

here. In front of him, a female horse dropped excreta and it was in the

form of nine balls. That intelligent merchant collected all of them in

his cloth. He was thus able to concentrate well. "

 

Poor Patankar was unable to understand the meaning of the story told by

Baba. Therefore he requested Dada Kelkar to elucidation. What does Baba

mean by telling this story? Dada Kelkar replied, " I too don't understand

the full significance of Baba's story. But, by his grace, nine balls of

excreta indicate the nine types of devotion. They are:

1) Shravana (listening)

2) Kirtana (Praying)

3) Smarana (remembrance)

4) Padasevana (service)

5) Archana (worship)

6) Namaskar (Prostrating)

7) Dasayan (servitude)

8) Sakhyatva (friendship)

9) Atma nivedan (self surrender).

(to be contd..)

(Source Eleven Holy Sayings of Shirdi Sai Baba by Pujya Shri Ananda Sai

Swamy)