Thursday Message From Shri Sai Satcharitra.

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Thursday message:

When

a man takes a plunge into the sea, he gets the merit of bathing in all

the Tirthas and sacred rivers.. Similarly when a man takes refuge at

the feet of the Sad-guru, he gets the merit of bowing to the Trinity,

i.e. Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh and also Para-Brahma. Victory be unto

Shri Sai the wish-fulfilling tree and the ocean of knolwedge, who gives

us self-realisation. Oh Sai, create in us regard for Your stories. Let

the readers and audience devour them with the same relish with which

the chatak bird drinks the water from the clouds and becomes happy.

 

While listening to Your

stories, let them and their families get all the sattwik emotions, viz.

let their bodies perspire, let their eyes be full of tears, let their

prana be steady, let their minds be composed, let their hair stand on

end, let them cry, sob and shake, let their hostilities and their

distinctions, great and small vanish. If these things happen, that is a

sign of the grace of the Guru dawning upon them. When these emotions

develop in you, the Guru is most pleased and will certainly lead you on

to the goal of self-realisation. The best way, therefore, to get free

from the shackles of Maya is our complete and whole-hearted surrender

to Baba. The Vedas cannot take you across the ocean of Maya. It is only

the Sad-guru, who can do so and make you, see the Lord in all

creatures.

 

Granting Consecrated Book

 

The

variety of imparting instructions followed by Baba has already been

noticed in the previous Chapters. In this, we shall deal with one

aspect of it. It was the habit of some devotees to take some religious

books, of which they wanted to make a special study, to Baba and to

receive the same back from Him, after they were touched and consecrated

by Him. While reading daily such books, they felt that Baba was with

them. Once, Kaka Mahajani came to Shirdi with a copy of Ekanathi

Bhagwat. Shama took that book to read and taking it with him went to

the Masjid. There Baba took it from him, touched it and turning some

pages here and there gave it back to Shama and asked him to keep it

with him.

 

When Shama said that it

belonged to Kaka and had to be returned to him. "No, no", said Baba.

"As I have given it to you, better keep it with you for safe custody;

it will be of use to you." In this way many books were entrusted to

Shama. Kaka Mahajani after a some days came again with another copy of

the same Bhagwat and gave it in Baba's hand. Then Baba gave it back as

Prasad and asked him to preserve it well and assured him that it would

stand him in good stead. Kaka accepted it with a bow.

 

Shama and Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam

 

Shama

was a very intimate devotee of Baba and Baba wanted to favour him in a

particular way by giving him a copy of Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam as Prasad.

This was done in the following way. Once a Ramadasi (follower of Saint

Ramadas) came to Shirdi and stayed for some time.

 

The routine he followed daily

was as follows : He got up early in the morning, washed his face,

bathed and then after wearing saffron-coloured clothes and besmearing

himself with sacred ashes, read Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam (a book giving a

thousand names in praise of Vishnu, and held second in importance to

Bhagwad Geeta) and Adhyatma-Ramayana (Esoteric version of Rama's story)

with faith. He read these books often and often and then after some

days Baba thought of favouring and initiating Shama with

Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam. He, therefore, called the Ramadasi to Him and said

to him that, He was suffering from intense stomach-pain, and unless He

took Senna-pods (Sona-mukhi, a mild purgative drug) the pain would not

stop; so he should please go to the bazar and bring the drug.

 

The Ramadasi closed his reading

and went to the bazar. Then Baba descended from His seat, came to the

Ramadasi's place of reading, took out the copy of Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam,

and coming to His seat said to Shama- "Oh Shama, this book is very

valuable and efficacious, so I present it to you, you read it. Once I

suffered intensely and My heart began to palpitate and My life was in

danger. At that critical time, I hugged this book to My heart and then,

Shama, what a relief it gave me! I thought that Allah Himself came down

and saved Me. So I give this to you, read it slowly, little by little,

read daily one name at least and it will do you good." Shama replied

that he did not want it, and that the owner of it, the Ramadasi who was

a mad, obstinate and irritable fellow would certainly pick up a quarrel

with him, besides, being a rustic himself, he could not read distinctly

the Sanskrit (Devanagari) letters of the book.

 

Shama thought that Baba wanted

to set him up against the Ramadasi by this act of His, but he had no

idea of what Baba felt for him. Baba must have thought to tie this

necklace of Vishu-Sahasra-Nam round the neck of Shama, as he was an

intimate devotee, though a rustic, and thus save him from the miseries

of the worldly existence. The efficacy of God's Name is well-known.

It saves us from all sins and

bad tendencies, frees us from the cycle of births and deaths. There is

no easier sadhana than this. It is the best purifier of our mind. It

requires no paraphernalia and no restrictions. It is so easy and so

effective. This sadhana, Baba wanted Shama to practise, though he did

not crave for it. So Baba forced this on him. It is also reported that

long ago, Eknath Maharaj, similarly, forced this Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam on

a poor Brahmin neighbour, and thus saved him.

 

The reading and study of this

Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam is a broad open way of purifying the mind, and hence

Baba thrust this on His Shama. The Ramadasi returned soon

with the Seena-pods. Anna Chinchanikar, who was then present and who

wanted to play the part of Narada (the Celestial Rishi who was

well-known for setting up quarrels between Gods and demons and vice

versa), informed him of what had happened. The Ramadasi at once flared

up. He came down at once on Shama with all fury. He said that it was

Shama who set Baba to send him away under the pretext of stomach-ache

for bringing the medicine and thus got the book.

 

He began to scold and abuse

Shama and remarked that if the book be not returned, he would dash his

head before him. Shama calmly remonstrated with him, but in vain. Then

Baba spoke kindly to him as follows - "Oh Ramadasi, what is the matter

with you? Why are you so turbulent? Is not Shama our boy? Why do you

scold him unnecessarily. How is it that you are so quarrelsome? Can you

not speak soft and sweet words? You read daily these sacred books and

still your mind is impure and your passions uncontrolled. What sort of

a Ramadasi you are! You ought to be indifferent to all things. Is it

not strange that you should covet this book so strongly? A true

Ramadasi should have no 'mamata' (attachment) but have 'samata'

(equality) towards all.

You are now quarrelling with

the boy Shama for a mere book. Go, take your seat, books can be had in

plenty for money, but not men; think well and be considerate. What

worth is your book? Shama had no concern with it. I took it up Myself

and gave it to him. You know it by heart. I thought Shama might read it

and profit thereby, and so I gave to it him." How sweet were these words of

Baba, soft, tender and nectar-like! Their effect was wonderful. The

Ramadasi calmed down and said to Shama that he would take 'Panch-ratni'

Geeta in return. Shama was much pleased and said - "Why one, I shall

give ten copies in return".

 

So the matter was ultimately

compromised. The question for consideration is "Why should the Ramadasi

press for Pancha-ratni Geeta, the God in which he never cared to know,

and why should he, who daily read religious books in the Masjid in

front of Baba, quarrel with Shama before Him?" We do not know how to

apportion the blame and whom to blame. We only say that, had this

procedure been not gone through, the importance of the subject, the

efficacy of God's name and the study of Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam would not

have been brought home to Shama. So we see that Baba's method, of

teaching and initiating was unique. In this cases Shama did gradually

study the book and mastered its contents to such an extent, that he was

able to explain it to Professor G.G. Narke, M.A. of the College of

Engineering, Poona, the son-in-law of Shriman Booty and a devotee of

Baba.

 

Vitthal-Vision

 

One

day, while Kakasaheb Dixit was in mediation after his morning bath in

his Wada at Shirdi he saw a vision of Vitthal. When he went to see Baba

afterwards, Baba asked him - "Did vitthal Patil come? did you not see

Him? He is very elusive, hold Him fast, otherwise He will give you the

slip and run away". Then at noon a certain hawker came there, with 20

or 25 pictures of Vitthal of Pandharpur for sale. Mr. Dixit was

surprised to see that the form of Vithal he saw in his mediation

exactly tallied with that in the picture and he was also reminded of

Baba's words. He therefore, bought one picture most willingly and kept

it in his shrine for worship.

 

Geeta-Rahasya

 

Baba

always loved those who studied Brahma-vidya (metaphysics) and

encouraged them. To give an instance - Once Bapusaheb Jog received a

post-parcel. It contained a copy of Geeta-Rahasya by Lokamanya Tilak.

Taking it under his armpit he came to the Masjid and prostrated himself

before Baba, when the parcel fell at Baba's Feet. Baba enquired what it

was. It was opened then and there and the book was placed in Baba's

hand. He turned some pages here and there for a few minutes and took

out a rupee from His pocket placed it on the book and handed the same

with the rupee to Jog and said to him - "Read this completely and you

will be benefited".

 

Mr. and Mrs. Khaparde

 

Let

us close this Chapter with a description of the Khapardes. Once

Dadasaheb Khaparde came with his family and lived in Shirdi for some

months. (The diary of his stay has been published in English in the

Shri Sai Leela Magazine first Volume.) Dadasaheb was not an ordinary

man. He was the richest and the most famous advocate of Amraoti (Berar)

and was a member of the Council of State, Delhi. He was very

intelligent and a very good speaker. Still he dared not open his mouth

before Baba. Most devotees spoke and argued with Baba off and on, but

only three, viz. Khaparde, Noolkar and Booty kept always silent.

 

They were meek, modest, humble

and goodnatured. Dadasaheb, who was able to expound Panchadashi (A

well-known Sanskrit treatise on the Adwaita Philosophy by the famous

Vidyaranya) to others, said nothing or uttered no word when he came to

the Masjid before Baba. Really a man, however learned he may be even in

Vedas, fades away before one, who was realised Brahman and become one

with it. Learning cannot shine before Self-reaisation. Dadasaheb stayed

for four months, but Mrs.. Khaparde stayed for seven. Both were highly

pleased with their Shirdi stay. Mrs. Khaparde was faithful and devout,

and loved Baba deeply. Every noon she brought naivedya herself to the

Masjid, and after it was accepted by Baba, she used to return and take

her meals. Seeing her steady and firm devotion, Baba wanted to exhibit

it to others.

 

One noon she brought a dish

containing Sanza (wheat-pudding), purees, rice, soup, and kheer (sweet

rice) and other sundry articles to the Masjid. Baba, who usually waited

for hours, got up at once, went up to His dining seat and removing the

outer covering from the dish began to partake of the things zealously.

Shama then asked Him - "Why this partiality? You throw away dishes of

others and do not care to look at them, but this You draw to You

earnestly and do justice to it. Why is the dish of this woman so sweet?

This is a problem to us." Baba then explained - "This food is really

extra-ordinary.

In former birth this lady was a

merchant's fat cow yielding much milk. Then she disappeared and took

birth in a gardener's family, then in a Kshatriya family, and married a

merchant. Then she was born in a Brahmin family. I saw her after a very

long time, let Me take some sweet morsels of love from her dish."

Saying this, Baba did full justice to her dish, washed his mouth and

hands, gave out some belches as a mark of satisfaction, and resumed His

seat. Then she make a bow and began to shampoo Baba's legs and Baba

began to talk with her and knead her arms which were shampooing His

Legs.

 

On seeing this reciprocal

service Shama began to joke and said - "It is going on well, it is a

wonderful sight to see God and His Bhakta serving each other. "After

being pleased with her sincere service, Baba asked her in low and

fascinating tone to chant 'Rajarama, Rajarama' then and always, and

said - "If you do this, your life's object will be gained, your mind

will attain peace and you will be immensely benefited." To persons

unfamiliar with spiritual matters, this might appear as affair, but

really it was not so. It was a case of, what in technically called,

'Shakti-pat', i.e. transference of power from the Guru to the disciple.

How forcible and effective were Baba's words! In an instant, they

pierced her heart and found lodgement there.

 

This case illustrates the

nature of the relations that should subsist between the Guru and the

disciple. Both should love and serve each other as One. There is no

distinction nor any difference between them. Both are One, and one

cannot live without the other. The disciple placing his head on the

Guru's feet is a gross or outward vision; really and internally they

are both one and the same. Those who see any difference between them

are yet unripe and not perfect. Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to Sairam Baba Guide us all,At the feet of my Sathguru Sai BabaBaba's blessing are every where Manisha.Rautela.Bisht~Visit Shirdi Sai Baba Blogs~http://www..org http://www.shirdisaibabatemples.org http://www.saibababhajans.com http://shirdisaibabatamilstories.blogspot.com