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 all

 

 

 

 

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