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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Avatar |
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General Index
Sai Satcharitha
The Life Story of Shri Shiridi Sai Baba
Tuesday Reading – Day 6
Index
Chapter XXXVIII
Baba's Handi - Disrespect of Shrine - Kala
or Hodge-Podge - Cup of Butter-Milk.
Chapter XXXIX & XL
Baba's Knowledge of Sanskrit
Chapter XL
Stories of Baba
Chapter XLI
Story
of the Picture - Stealing the Rags and Reading of Jnaneshwari
Chapter XLII
Baba's Passing Away
Chapter XLIII & XLIV
Baba's Passing Away (Continued)
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XXXVIII
B aba's Handi - Disrespect of Shrine - Kala
or Hodge-Podge - Cup of Butter-Milk.
In the last chapter we described Baba's Chavadi
procession. In this we take up Baba's Handi (cooking pot) and some
other subjects.
Preliminary
O h, blessed Sad-guru Sai, we bow to You,
Who have given happiness to the whole world, accomplished the
welfare of the devotees and have removed the affliction of those
who have resorted to Your Feet. Being very liberal and being the
protector and saviour of the Bhaktas who surrender themselves to
You, You incarnate yourself in this world to oblige the people and
do them good. The liquid essence of Pure Self was poured into the
mould of Brahma and out of this has come out the crest-jewel of
the saints-Sai. This Sai is Atmarama Himself. He is the abode of
perfect divine bliss. Having Himself attained all objects of life,
He made His devotees desirelss and free.
Baba's Handi
D ifferent sadhanas (means of
accomplishments) are prescribed in our scriptures for different
ages. Tapa (Penance) is recommended for Krita age, Jnana
(Knowledge) for Treta age, Yajna (Sacrifice) for Dwapara age and
Dana (Charity) for Kali (present) age. Of all the charities,
giving food is the best one. We are much perturbed when we get no
food at noon. Other beings feel similarly under similar
circumstances. Knowing this, he who gives food to the poor and
hungry, is the best donor or charitable person. The Taittiriya
Upanishad says that "Food is Brahma; from food all the
creatures are born and having been born, by food they live, and
having departed, into food again they enter." When an Atithi
(uninvited guest) comes to our door at noon, it is our bounden
duty to welcome him by giving him food. Other kinds of charities,
viz., giving away wealth, property and clothes etc., require some
discrimination, but in the matter of food, no such consideration
is necessary. Let anybody come to our door at noon, he should be
served forthwith; and if lame, crippled, blind and diseased
paupers come, they should be fed first and the able-bodied persons
and our relations afterwards. The merit of feeding the former is
much greater than that of feeding the latter. Other kinds of
charities are imperfect without this Anna-dana (giving of food) as
stars are without the moon, a necklace without its central medal,
a crown without pinnacle, a tank without a lotus, bhajan without
love, a married lady without the kumkum-mark, singing without a
sweet voice or butter-milk without salt. Just as varan
(Pulse-soup) excels all other dishes, Anna-dana is the best of all
merits. Now let us see how Baba prepared food and distributed it.
It has been stated before that Baba required very
little food for Himself and what little He wanted, was obtained by
begging from a few houses. But when He took it into His mind to
distribute food to all, He made all preparations from beginning to
end, Himself. He depended on nobody and troubled none in this
matter. First He went to the bazar and bought all the things,
corn, flour, spices etc., for cash. He did also the grinding. In
the open courtyard of the Masjid, He arranged a big hearth and
after lighting a fire underneath kept a Handi over it with a
proper measure of water. There were two kinds of Handi, one small
and the other big. The former provided food for 50 persons, the
later for 100. Sometimes He cooked 'Mitthe Chaval' (sweet rice),
and at other times 'pulava' with meat. At times in the boiling
varan (soup), He let in small balls of thick or flat breads of
wheat flour. He pounded the spices on a stone-slab, and put the
thin pulverized spices into the cooking-pot. He took all the pains
to make the dishes very palatable. He prepared 'Ambil' by boiling
jawari-flour in water and mixing it with butter-milk. With the
food He distributed this Ambil to all alike. To see whether the
food was properly cooked or not, Baba rolled up the sleeve of His
Kafni and put His bare arm in the boiling cauldron without the
least fear, and churned (moved) the whole mass from side to side
and up and down. There was no mark of burn on His arm, nor fear on
His face. When the cooking was over, Baba got the pots in the
Majid, and had them duly consecrated by the moulvi. First He sent
part of the food as prasad to Mhalasapati and Tatya Patil and then
He served the remaining contents with His own hand to all the poor
and helpless people to their hearts' content. Really blessed and
fortunate must be those people who got food prepared by Baba and
served by Him.
Somebody may raise a doubt here and ask - "Did
Baba distribute vegetable and animal food as prasad alike to all
His devotees?" The answer is plain and simple. Those who were
accustomed to (take) animal food were given food from the Handi as
prasad and those who were not so accustomed, were not allowed to
touch it. He never created in them any wish or desire to indulge
in this food. There is a principle well established that when a
Guru himself gives anything as prasad, the disciple who thinks and
doubts whether it is acceptable or otherwise, goes to peridition.
In order to see how any disciple has imbibed this principle, Baba
at times proposed tests. For instance, on an Ekadashi day He gave
some rupees to Dada Kelkar and asked him to go in person to
Koralha to get mutton from there. This Dada Kelkar was an orthodox
Brahmin and kept all orthodox manners in his life. He knew that
offering wealth, grain and clothes etc., to a Sad-guru was not
enough but that implicit obedience to and prompt compliance with
His order was the real Dakshina that pleased Him most. So Dada
Kelkar dressed himself and started for the place. Then Baba called
him back and said, "Don't go yourself, but send somebody."
Then Dada sent servant Pandu for the purpose. Seeing him starting,
Baba asked Dada to call him back and cancelled that programme. On
another occation Baba asked Dada just to see how the saltish
`Pulava' (mutton dish) was done. The latter said casually and
formally that it was alright. Then Baba said to him - "Neither
you have seen it with your eyes, nor tasted in with your tongue,
then how could you say that it was good? Just take out the lid and
see." Saying this Baba caught his arm and thrust it into the pot
and added, "Draw out your arm and taking a ladle, put some
quantity in the dish without caring for your orthodoxy and without
blustering." When a wave of real love rises in a mother's mind,
she pinches her child with her hand and when it begins to cry and
shout, she hugs it close to her bosom. Similarly Baba, in a true
motherly way pinched Dada Kelkar in this fashion. Really no saint
or guru will ever force his orthodox disciple to eat forbidden
food and defile himself thereby.
The Handi business went on for some time till 1910
and was stopped thereafter. As stated before, Das Ganu spread the
fame of Baba by his kirtans far and wide in the Bombay Presidency
and people from that part of the country began to flock to Shirdi,
which became in a few days a place of pilgrimage. The devotees
brought with them various articles for presentation and offered
various dishes of food as naivedya. The quantity of naivedya
offered by them was so much that the fakirs and paupers could feed
themselves to their hearts' content, leaving some surplus behind.
Before stating how naivedya was distributed, we shall refer to
Nanasaheb Chandorkar's story showing Baba's regard and respect for
local Shrines and deities.
Nanasaheb's Disrespect of a Shrine
B y drawing inferences or guessing in their
own way some people said that Sai was a Brahmin, and some that He
was a Moslem. Really He belonged to no caste. No one knew
definitely when He was born and in what community and who were His
parents. Then how could He be a Moslem or Brahmin? If He were a
Moslem, how could He keep Dhuni fire ever burning in the Masjid,
how could there be a Tulsi Vrindavan there, how could He allow the
blowing of conches and ringing of bells and the playing of the
musical instruments, how could He allow all the different forms of
Hindu worship, there? Had He been a Moslem, could He have pierced
ears and could He have been spent money from His pocket for
repairing Hindu temples? On the contrary He never tolerated the
slightest disrespect to Hindu Shrines and deities.
Once Nanasaheb Chandorkar came to Shirdi with his
'Sadu' - husband of his sister-in-law, Mr.Biniwalle. When they
went to the Masjid and sat before Baba talking, the latter
suddenly got angry with Nanasaheb and said - "You are so long
in My company and how do you behave like this?" Nanasaheb then at
first did not understand anything and humbly requested Baba to
explain. Baba asked him when he came to Kopergaon and how he came
to Shirdi from thence. Nanasaheb then at once realized his
mistake. He usually worshipped the Shrine of Datta, on the banks
of the Godavari at Kopergaon on his way to Shirdi, but this time
he dissuaded his relation who was a Datta Bhakta from going to
that Shrine, to avoid delay and drove straight. He confessed all
this to Baba and told Him that while bathing in the Godavari, a
big thorn went into his foot and gave him much trouble. Baba said
that, that was the slight punishment be met and warned him to be
more careful in future.
Kala (hodge-podge)
T o revert to the distribution of the
naivedya. - After the arati was over and after Baba sent away all
the people with Udi and blessings, He went inside and sat with his
back to the Nimbar for meals, with two rows of the Bhaktas, one on
each side. The Bhaktas who brought naivedya thrust inside their
dishes containing a variety of food such as Puris, Mande, Polis,
Basundi, Sanza, fine rice etc., and kept waiting outside for
prasad consecrated by Baba. All the foods were mixed in a
hotch-potch and placed before Baba. He offered it all to God and
consecrated it. Then portions of the same were given to the
persons waiting outside and the rest was served to the inner party
with Baba at the centre. The Bhaktas sitting in two rows then
dined to their hearts' content. Baba asked Shama and Nanasaheb
Nimonkar daily to serve the consecrated food to all the persons
sitting inside and look to their individual needs and comforts.
This they did very carefully and willingly. Every morsel of the
food thus partaken gave them nutrition and satisfaction. Such
sweet, lovely and consecrated food it was! Ever auspicious and
every holy!
Cup of Butter-Milk
O nce Hemadpant had eaten his full in this
company, when Baba offered him a cup of butter-milk. Its white
appearance pleased him, but he was afraid that there was no space
inside for it. He, however, took a sip which proved very tasty.
Seeing his faltering attitude, Baba said - "Drink it all, you
won't get any such opportunity hereafter." He drank it off then,
but found that Baba's words were prophetic, for He passed away
soon.
Now, readers, we have certainly to thank
Hemadpant. He drank the cup of butter-milk, but has supplied us
with sufficient quantity of nectar in the form of Baba's Leelas.
Let us drink cups and cups of this nectar and be satisfied and
happy.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Back to Index
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XXXIX & L
B aba's Knowledge of Sanskrit
His Interpretation of a Verse from Gita -
Construction of the Samadhi Mandir.
This chapter (39) deals with Baba's interpretation
of a verse from the Bhagawad-Gita. As some people believed that
Baba knew not Sanskrit, and the interpretation was Nanasaheb
Chandorkar's, Hemadpant wrote another chapter (50) refuting that
objection. As the chapter No.50 deals with the same
subject-matter, it is incorporated in this chapter.
Preliminary
B lessed is Shirdi and blessed is Dwarkamayi
where Shri Sai lived and moved until He took Mahasamadhi. Blessed
are the people of Shirdi whom He obliged and for whom He came such
long distance. Shirdi was a small village first, but it attained
great importance, on account of His contact and became a Tirtha,
holy place of pilgrimage. Equally blessed are the womenfolk of
Shirdi, blessed is their whole and undivided faith in Him. They
sang the glories of Baba while bathing, grinding, pounding corn
and doing other house-hold work. Blessed is their love, for they
sang sweet songs which calm and pacify the minds of the singers
and listeners.
Baba's Interpretation
N obody believed that Baba knew Sanskrit.
One day He surprised all by giving a good interpretation of a
verse from the Gita to Nanasaheb Chandorkar. A brief account about
this matter was written by Mr.B.V.Deo, Retired Mamlatdar and
published in Marathi in 'Shri Sai Leela' magazine, Vol IV. Sphuta
Vishaya, page 563. Short accounts of the same are also published
in 'Sai Baba's Charters and Sayings' page 61 and in 'The Wondrous
Saint Sai Baba', page 36 - both by Brother B.V.Narsimhaswami.
Mr.B.V.Deo has also given an English version of this in his
statement dated 27-9-1936 and published on page 66 of
"Devotees' Experiences, Part III" published by the said Swami.
As Mr.Deo has got first hand information about this Subject from
Nanasaheb himself we give below his version.
Nanasaheb Chandorkar was a good student of
Vedanta. He had read Gita with commentaries and prided himself on
his knowledge of all that. He fancied that Baba knew nothing of
all this or of Sanskrit. So, Baba one day pricked the bubble.
These were the days before crowds flocked to Baba, when Baba had
solitary talks at the Mosque with such devotees. Nana was sitting
near Baba and massaging His Legs and muttering something.
Baba - Nana, what are you mumbling yourself?
Nana - Iam reciting a shloka (verse) from
Sanskrit.
Baba - What shloka?
Nana - From Bhagawad-Gita
Baba - Utter it loudly.
Nana then recited B.G.IV-34 which is as follows :-
'Tadviddhi Pranipatena Pariprashnena Sevaya,
Upadekshyanti Te Jnanam Jnaninastattwadarshinah'
Baba - Nana, do you understand it?
Nana - Yes.
Baba - If you do, then tell me.
Nana - It means this - "Making Sashtanga
Namaskar, i.e., prostration, questioning the guru, serving him,
learn what this Jnana is. Then, those Jnanis that have attained
the real knowledge of the Sad-Vastu (Brahma) will give you
upadesha (instruction) of Jnana."
Baba - Nana, I do not want this sort of collected
purport of the whole stanza. Give me each word, its grammatical
force and meaning.
Then Nana explained it word by word.
Baba - Nana, is it enough to make prostration
merely ?
Nana - I do not know any other meaning for the
word 'pranipata' than 'making prostration'.
Baba - What is 'pariprashna'?
Nana - Asking questions.
baba - What does 'Prashna' mean?
Nana - The same (questioning).
Baba - If 'pariprashna' means the same as prashna
(question), why did Vyasa add the prefix 'pari'? Was Vyasa off his
head?
Nana - I do not know of any other meaning for the
word 'pariprashna'.
Baba - 'Seva', what sort of 'seva' is meant?
Nana - Just what we are doing always
Baba - Is it enough to render such service?
Nana - I do not know what more is signified by the
word 'seva'.
Baba - In the next line "upadekshyanti te
jnanam", can you so read it as to read any other word in lieu of
Jnanam?
Nana - Yes.
Baba - What word?
Nana - Ajnanam.
Baba - Taking that word (instead of Jnana) is any
meaning made out of the verse?
Nana - No, Shankara Bhashya gives no such
construction.
Baba - Never mind if it does not. Is there any
objection to using the word "Ajnana" if it gives a better
sense?
Nana - I do not understand how to construe by
placing "Ajnana" in it.
Baba - Why does Krishna refer Arjuna to Jnanis or
Tattwadarshis to do his prostration, interrogation and service?
Was not Krishna a Tattwadarshi, in fact Jnana himself.
Nana - Yes He was. But I do not make out why he
referred Arjuna to Jnanis?
Baba - Have you not understood this?
Nana was humiliated. His pride was knocked on the
head. Then Baba began to explain -
(1) It is not enough merely to prostrate before
the Jnanis. We must make Sarvaswa Sharangati (complete surrender)
to the Sad-guru.
(2) Mere questioning is not enough. The question
must not be made with any improper motive or attitude or to trap
the Guru and catch at mistakes in the answer, or out of idle
curiosity. It must be serious and with a view to achieve moksha or
spiritual progress.
(3) Seva is not rendering service, retaining still
the feeling that one is free to offer or refuse service. One must
feel that he is not the master of the body, that the body is
Guru's and exists merely to render service to him.
If this is done, the Sad-guru will show you what
the Janna referred to in the previous stanza is.
Nana did not understand what is meant by saying
that a guru teaches ajnana.
Baba - How is Jnana Upadesh, i.e., imparting of
realization to be effected? Destroying ignorance is Jnana. (cf.
Verse-Ovi-1396 of Jnaneshwari commenting on Gita 18-66 says -
"removal of ignorance is like this, Oh Arjuna, If dream and
sleep disappear, you are yourself. It is like that." Also Ovi 83
on Gita V-16 says - "Is there anything different or
independent in Jnana besides the destruction of ignornace?")*
Expelling darkness means light. Destroying duality (dwaita) means
non-duality (adwaita). Whenever we speak of destroying Dwaita, we
speak of Adwaita. Whenever we talk of destroying darkness, we talk
of light. If we have to realise the Adwaita state, the feeling of
Dwaita in ourselves has to be removed. That is the realization of
the Adwaita state. Who can speak of Adwaita while remaining in
Dwaita? If one did, unless one gets into that state, how can one
know it and realise it?
Again, the Shishya (disciple) like the Sad-guru is
really embodiment of Jnana. The difference between the two lies in
the attitude, high realization, marvellous super-human Sattva
(beingness) and unrivalled capacity and Aishwarya Yoga (divine
powers). The Sad-guru is Nirguna, Sat-Chit-Ananda. He has indeed
taken human form to elevate mankind and raise the world. But his
real Nirguna nature is not destroyed thereby, even a bit. His
beingness (or reality), divine power and widsom remain
undiminished. The disciple also is in fact of the same swarupa.
But, it is overlaid by the effect of the samaskaras of innumerable
births in the shape of ignorance, which hides from his view that
he is Shuddha Chaitanya (see B.G. Ch. V-15). As stated therein, he
gets the impressions - "Iam Jiva, a creature, humble and
poor." The Guru has to root out these offshoots of ignorance and
has to give upadesh or instruction. To the disciple, held
spell-bound for endless generations by the ideas of his being a
creature, humble and poor, the Guru imparts in hundreds of births
the teaching - "You are God, you are mighty and opulent."
Then, he realizes a bit that he is God really. The perpetual
delusion under which the disciple is labouring, that he is the
body, that he is a creature (jiva) or ego, that God (Paramatma)
and the world are different from him, is an error inherited from
innumerable past births. From actions based on it, he has derived
his joy, sorrows and mixtures of both. To remove this delusion,
this error, this root ignorance, he must start the inquiry. How
did the ignorance arise? Where is it? And to show him this is
called the Guru's upadesh. The following are the instances of
Ajnana :-
1 - I am a Jiva (creature)
2 - Body is the soul (I am the body).
3 - God, world and Jiva are different.
4 - I am not God.
5 - Not knowing, that body is not the soul.
6 - Not knowing that God, world and Jiva are one.
Unless these errors are exposed to his view, the
disciple cannot learn what is God, jiva, world, body; how they are
inter-related and whether they are different from each other, or
are one and the same. To teach him these and destroy his ignorance
is this instruction in Jnana or Ajnana. Why should Jnana be
imparted to the jiva, (who is) a Jnanamurti? Upadesh is merely to
show him his error and destroy his ignorance.
Baba added :- (1) Pranipata implies surrender. (2)
Surrender must be of body, mind and wealth; Re: (3) Why should
Krishna refer Arjuna to other Jnanis? "Sadbhakta takes every
thing to be Vasudev (B.G.VII-19 i.e., any Guru will be Krishna to
the devotee) and Guru takes disciple to be Vasudev and Krishna
treats both as his Prana and Atma (B.G.7-18, commentary of
Jnanadev on this). As Shri Krishna knows that there are such
Bhaktas and Gurus, He refers Arjuna to them so that their
greatness may increase and be known.
Construction of the Samadhi-Mandir
B aba never talked, nor ever made any fuss
about the things which He wanted to accomplish, but He so
skillfully arranged the circumstances and surroundings that the
people were surprised at the slow but sure results attained. The
construction of the Samadhi-mandir is an instance in point.
Shriman Bapusaheb Booty, the famous multi-millionaire of Nagpur
lived in Shirdi whith his family. Once an idea arose in his mind
that he should have a building of his own there. Sometimes after
this, while he was sleeping in Dixit's Wada, he got a vision. Bava
appeared in his dream and ordered him to build a Wada of his own
with temple. Shama who was sleeping there, got also a similar
vision. When Bapusaheb was awakened, he saw Shama crying and asked
him why. The latter replied that in his vision Baba came close to
him and ordered distinctly - "Build the Wada with the temple.
I shall fulfill the desires of all. Hearing the sweet and loving
words of Baba, I was overpowered with emotion, my throat was
choked, my eyes were overflowing with tears, and I began to cry."
Bapusaheb was surprised to see that both their visions tallied.
Being a rich and capable man, he decided to build a Wada there and
drew up a plan with Madhavarao (Shama). Kakasaheb Dixit also
approved of it. And when it was placed before Baba, He also
sanctioned it immediately. Then the construction-work was duly
started and under the supervision of Shama, the ground floor, the
cellar and the well were completed. Baba also on his way to and
from Lendi suggested certain improvements. Further work was
entrusted to Bapusaheb Jog and when it was going on, an idea
struck Bapusaheb Booty's mind that there should be an open room or
platform and in the centre the image of Murlidhar (Lord Krishna
with the flute) be installed. He asked Shama to refer this matter
to Baba and get His consent. The latter asked Baba about this when
He was just passing by the Wada. Hearing Shama, Baba gave His
consent saying, "after the temple is complete I will come
there to stay" and staring at the Wada He added - "after the
Wada is complete, we shall use it ourselves, we shall live, move
and play there, embrace each other, and be very happy." Then Shama
asked Baba whether this was the auspicious time to begin the
foundation-work of the central room of the Shrine. The latter
answered in the affirmative. Shama got a coconut broke it and
started the work. In due time the work was completed and an order
was also given for making a good image of Murlidhar. But before it
was ready, a new thing turned up. Baba became seriously ill and
was about to pass away. Bapusaheb became very sad and dejected,
thinking that if Baba passed away, his Wada would not be
consecrated by the holy touch of Baba's Feet, and all his money
(about a lakh of rupees) would be wasted away. But the words
"Place or keep Me in the Wada" which came out of Baba's mouth
just before His passing away, consoled not only Bapusaheb, but one
and all. In due time Baba's holy body was placed and preserved in
the central shrine meant or designed for Murlidhar and Baba
Himself became Murlidhar and the Wada thus became the
Samadhi-mandir of Sai Baba. His wonderful life is unfathomable.
Blessed and fortunate is Bapusaheb Booty in whose
Wada lies the holy and the pure body of Baba.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Back to Index
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XL
Stories of Baba
(1) Attending Mrs.Deo's Udyapan Ceremony as a
Sannyasi with two Others (Trio) and - (2) Hemadpant's House in the
Form of His Picture.
In this chapter we give two stories; (1) How Baba
attended the Udyapan ceremony of Mr.B.V.Deo's mother at his house
at Dahanu and (2) How Baba attended the Shimga dinner-party in
Hemadpant's house at Bandra.
Preliminary
B lessed is Shri Sai Samartha who gives
instructions in both temporal and spiritual matters to His
devotees and makes them happy by enabling them to achieve the goal
of their life, - Sai He who when places His hand on their heads
transfers His powers to them and thus destroying the sense of
differentiation, makes them attain the Unattainable Thing. - He
who embraces the Bhaktas who prostrate themselves before Him with
no sense of duality or difference. He becomes one with the Bhaktas
as the sea with the rivers when they meet it in the rainy season
and gives them His power and position. It follows from this that
he who sings the Leelas of God's Bhaktas is equally or more dear
to Him than one who sangs the Leelas of God only. Now to revert to
the stories of this chapter.
Mrs.Deo's Udyapan Ceremony
M r.B.V.Deo was a Mamlatdar at Dahanu (Thana
District). His mother had observed 25 or 30 different vows and a
Udyapan (concluding) ceremony in connection therewith was to be
performed. This ceremony included the feeding of 100 or 200
Brahmins. Mr.Deo fixed a date for the ceremony and wrote a letter
to Bapusaheb Jog asking him to request Sai Baba on his behalf to
attend the dinner of the ceremony, as without His attendance the
ceremony would not be duly completed. Bapusaheb Jog read out the
letter to Baba. Baba noted carefully the pure-hearted invitation
and said - "I always think of him who remembers Me. I require
no conveyance, carriage, tanga, nor train nor aeroplane. I run and
manifest myself to him who lovingly calls me. Write to him a
pleasing reply that three of us (the trio), Myself, yourself and a
third will go and attend it." Mr.Jog informed Mr.Deo of what Baba
said. The latter was much pleased, but he knew that Baba never
went to any place except Rahata, Rui and Nimgaon in person. He
also thought that nothing was impossible to Baba as He was
all-pervading and that He might suddenly come, in any form He
likes and fulfill His words.
A few days before this, a Sannyasi with Bengali
dress and professing to work for the cause of the protection of
the cows, came to the station-master at Dahanu to collect
subscriptions. The latter told him to go into the town and see the
Mamlatdar (Mr.Deo) and with his help collect funds. Just then the
Mamlatdar happened to come there. The station-master then
introduced the Sannyasi to him. Both sat talking on the platform.
Mr.Deo told him that a subscription-list for some other charitable
cause had already been opened by the leading citizen Rao Saheb
Narottam Shetti and so it was not good to start another
subscription-list and that it would be better if he would visit
the place after 2 or 4 months. Hearing this, the Sannyasi left the
place.
About a month afterwards, the Sannyasi came in a
tanga and stopped in front of Mr.Deo's house at about 10 a.m. Deo
thought that he came for subscriptions. Seeing him busy with the
preparations of the ceremony, the Sannyasi said that he had come
not for money but for meals. Deo said - "Alright, very glad,
you are welcome, the house is yours." The Sannyasi - "Two lads
are with me." Deo - "Well, come with them." As there was time
(2 hours) for dinner, Deo enquired where he should send for them.
He said that it was not necessary as he would come himself at the
appointed time. Deo asked him to come at noon. Exactly at twelve
noon, the Trio came and joined the dinner party and after feeding
themselves went away.
After the ceremony was finished, Deo wrote a
letter to Bapusaheb Jog complaining of Baba's breach of promise.
Jog went to Baba with the letter, but before it was opened Baba
spoke - "Ah, he says that I promised him to come but deceived
him. Inform him that I did attend his dinner with two others, but
he failed to recognize Me. Then why did he call me at all? Tell
him that he thought that the Sannyasi came to ask for subscription
money; did I not remove his doubt in that respect and did I not
say that I would come with two others, and did not the Trio come
in time and take their meals? See, to keep My words I would
sacrifice my life, I would never be untrue to My words." This
reply gladdened Jog's heart and he communicated the whole of the
reply to Deo. As soon as he read it, he burst into tears of joy,
but he took himself to task mentally for vainly blaming Baba. He
wondered how he was deceived by the Sannyasi's prior visit and his
coming to him for subscriptions, how he also failed to catch the
significance of the Sannyasi's words that he would come with two
others for meals.
This story clearly shows that when the devotees
surrender themselves completely to their Sad-guru, He sees that
the religious functions in their houses are duly executed and
complied with all the necessary formalities.
Hemadpant's Shimga Dinner
N ow let us take another story which shows
how Baba appeared in the form of His picture and fulfilled the
desire of His devotee.
In 1917 on the full-moon morning, Hemadpant had a
vision. Baba appeared to him in his dream in the form of a
well-dressed Sannyasi, woke him up, and said that He would come to
him for meals that day. This awakening constituted a part of the
dream. When he fully awoke, he saw no Sai nor any Sannyasi. But
when he began to recollect the dream, he remembered each and every
word the Sannyasi uttered in his dream. Though he was in contact
with Baba for seven years and though he always meditated on Baba,
he never expected that Baba would come to his house for meals.
However, being much pleased with Baba's words, he went to his wife
and informed her that being the Holi day, a Sannyasi guest was
coming for meals and that some more rice should be prepared. She
enquired about the guest, who he was and whence he was coming.
Then not to lead her astray and not to cause any misunderstanding
he gave her the truth, i.e., told her about the dream. She
doubtingly asked whether it was possible that Baba should come
there (Bandra) from Shirdi, leaving the dainty dishes there for
accepting their coarse food. Hemadpant then assured her that Baba
might not come in person but He might attend in the form of a
guest and that they would lose nothing if they cooked some more
rice.
After this, preparations for the dinner went on
and it was quite ready at noon. The Holika-worship was gone
through and the leaves (dishes) were spread and arranged with
'Rangoli' marks around them. Two rows were put up with a central
seat between them for the guest. All the members of the family -
sons, grandsons, daughters and sons-in-law etc., came and occupied
their proper seats and the serving of the various articles
commenced. While this was being done, everybody was watching for
the guest, but none turned up though it was past noon. Then the
door was closed and chained; the anna-shuddhi (ghee) was served.
This was a signal to start eating. Formal offering to the
Vaishwadeva (Fire), and Naivedya to Shri Krishna were also over
and the members were about to begin, when foot-steps in the
staircase were distinctly heard. Hemadpant went immediately and
opened the door and saw two men there: (1) Ali Mahomed and (2)
Moulana Ismu Mujavar. These two persons, seeing that meals were
ready and all the members were about to begin eating, apologized
to Hemadpant and requested him to excuse their interference. They
said - "You left your seat and came running to us, others are
waiting for you, so please take this your Thing and I shall
relate all the wonderful tale about it later on at your
convenience." So saying he took out from his arm-pit a packet
wrapped in an old newspaper cover and placed it on the table.
Hemadpant uncovered the packet and saw, to his great wonder and
surprise, a big nice picture of Sai Baba. Seeing it, he was much
moved, tears ran from his eyes and hair stood on end all over his
body, and he bent and placed his head on the feet of Baba in the
picture. He thought that Baba had blessed him by this miracle or
Leela. Out of curiosity he asked Ali Mahomed whence he got this
picture. He said that he bought it from a shop and that he would
give all the details about it some time afterwards and wished that
as all the members were waiting for him, he should go and join
them. Hemadpant thanked him, bade them good-bye and returned to
the dinning-hall. The picture was placed on the central seat
reserved for the guest and after the due offering of the Naivedya,
the whole party commenced eating and finished it in proper time.
Seeing the beautiful form in the picture everybody was extremely
pleased and wondered how all this happened.
The is how Sai Baba kept up and fulfilled His
words uttered by Him in the dream of Hemadpant. The story of the
picture with all its details, viz., how Ali Mahomed got it, why he
bought it and gave it to Hemadpant, is reserved for the next
chapter.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
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Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XLI
S tory of the Picture - Stealing the Rags
and Reading of Jnaneshwari.
As stated in the last chapter, we continue here
the story of the picture.
Nine years after the occurrence of the incident
depicted in the last chapter, Ali Mahomed saw Hemadpant and
related to him the following story.
O ne day while wandering in the streets of
Bombay he bought the picture from a street-hawker; then he framed
and set it on a wall in his house at Bandra (suburb of Bombay). As
he loved Baba, he daily took darshana of it. Three months before
he gave the picture to Hemadpant, he was suffering from an abscess
or swelling on his leg for which an operation was performed and he
was convalescing in the house of his brother-in-law, Mr.
Noor-Mahomed Peerbhoy in Bombay. For three months his house in
Bandra was closed; and nobody was living there. Only the pictures
of the famous Baba Abdul Rahiman, Moulanasaheb Mahomed Hussain,
Baba Sai, Baba Tajudin and other saints (living) were there. The
wheel of time did not even spare these. He was lying sick and
suffering in Bombay. Why should the pictures suffer there (in
Bandra)? It seems that they have also their ins and outs (births
and deaths). All the pictures met their fate, but how Sai Baba's
picture escaped it, nobody had been able to explain to me up till
now. It shows the all-pervasiveness, omnipresence of Sai and His
insrutable power.
He got a small picture of Saint Baba Abdul Rahiman
from Mahomed Hussain Thariyatopan many years ago. He gave it to
his brother-in-law, Noor-Mahomed Peerbhoy and it was lying on his
table for eight years. Once the latter saw it, took it to a
photographer and got it enlarged to life-size and distributed
copies of the same amongst his relations and friends, including
Ali Mahomed who fixed it up in his Bandra house. Noor-Mahomed was
a disciple of Saint Abdul Rahiman and when he went to present the
picture to his Guru in an open darbar held by him, the Guru got
wild and ran to beat him, and drove him out. He felt very sorry
and dejected. He thought that he lost so much of his money, and
incurred his Guru's displeasure and anger. As his Guru did not
like image-worship, he took the enlarged picture with him to the
Appollo Bunder and, after hiring a boat, went in it and drowned it
in the sea. He requested the friends and relations to return their
copies and after getting them (6 in all) back, had them thrown by
a fisherman in the Bandra sea. At this time Ali Mahomed was in his
brother-in-law's house. He was told by him that his suffering
would come to an end if he would soon drown the pictures of the
saints in the sea. Hearing this, Ali Mahomed sent his Mehta
(Manager) to his Bandra house and got all the pictures of the
saints in his house thrown into the sea.
When Ali Mahomed returned home after two months,
he was surprised to find Baba's picture on the wall as before. He
did not understand how his Mehta took away all the pictures except
this. He immediately took it out and kept it in his cupboard,
fearing that if his brother-in-law saw it, he would do away with
it. While he was thanking how it should be disposed of, and who
would keep it and guard it well, Sai Baba Himself as it were,
suggested to him that he should see and consult Moulana Ismu
Mujavar and abide by his opinion. He saw the Moulana and told him
everything. After mature consideration they both decided that the
picture should be presented to Annasaheb (Hemadpant) and that he
would protect it well. Then they both went to Hemadpant and
presented the picture in the nick of time.
This story shows how Baba knew all the past,
present and future, and how skillfully He pulled the wires and
fulfilled desired of His devotees. The following story shows that
Baba liked very much those persons who took real interest in
matters spiritual and that He removed all their difficulties and
made them happy.
Stealing the Rags and Reading of Jnaneshwari
M r.B.V.Deo who was Mamlatdar of Dahanu
(Thana District) wished for a long time to read Jnaneshwari - (the
well-known Marathi commentary on the Bhagawad-Gita by Jnaneshwar),
along with other scriptures. He could read daily one chapter of
the Bhagawad-Gita, and some portion of other books; but when he
took Jnaneshwari in hand, some difficulties cropped up and he was
precluded from reading it. He took three months' leave, went to
Shirdi and thence to his home at Pound for rest. He could read
there other books but when he opened Jnaneshwari, some evil or
stray thoughts came crowding in his mind and stopped him in the
effort. Try however he might, he was not able to read even a few
lines of the book with ease. So he resolved in his mind that when
Baba would create love for the book and would order him to read
it, he would begin and not till then. Then in the month of
February 1914 he went with his family to Shirdi. There Jog asked
him whether he daily read Jnaneshwari. Deo said that he was
desirous of reading it, but he was not successful and that only
when Baba would order him to read it, he would commence. Jog then
advised him to take a copy of the book and present it to Baba and
to start the reading after it was consecrated and returned by Him.
Deo then replied that he did not want to resort to this device, as
Baba knows his heart. Would He not know his desire and satisfy it
by giving him a clear order to read?
Deo then saw Baba and offered one rupee as
Dakshina. Baba asked for Rs. 20/- which he gave. At night, he saw
one Balakram and enquired how he secured Baba's devotion and
grace. Balakram told him that he would communicate everything next
day after arati. When Deo went for darshana next day, Baba asked
for Rs.20/- which he gave willingly. As the Masjid was crowded,
Deo went aside and sat in a corner. Baba asked him to come close
and sit with a calm mind, which Deo did. Then after the noon-arati
was over and after the men dispersed, Deo saw again Balakram and
asked him his previous history, what Baba told him and how he was
taught meditation. Balakram was going to reply when Baba sent one
Chandru, a leper devotee to call Deo to Him. When Deo went to
Baba, the latter asked him when and with whom and what he was
talking. He said that he talked with Balakram and heard from him
His fame. Then Baba asked again Rs.25/- as Dakshina which Deo
gladly gave. Then Baba took him inside and sitting near the post
charged him saying - "You stole away My rags without My
knowledge." Deo denied all knowledge of the rags, but Baba asked
him to make a search. He searched but found none. Then Baba got
angry and said - "There is nobody here, you are the only
thief, so grey-haired and old, you came here for stealing." After
this Baba lost His temper, got terribly wild, gave all sorts of
abuses and scoldings. Deo remained silent and watching, and
thought that he might get a beating also. After about an hour or
so, Baba asked him to go to the Wada. He returned to the Wada and
told Jog and Balakram all that had happened. Then in the
after-noon Baba sent for all and Deo also, and said that His words
might have pained the old man (Deo) but as he committed the theft,
He could not but speak out. Then Baba asked again for Rs. 12/- Deo
collected the amount, paid it and prostrated himself before Him.
Then Baba said to him - "What are you doing?" "Nothing"
replied Deo. Then Baba - "Go on daily reading the Pothi
(Jnaneshwari), go and sit in the Wada, read something regularly
every day and while reading, explain the portion read, to all with
love and devotion. I am sitting here ready to give you the whole
gold-embroidered Shella (valuable cloth), then why go to others to
steal rags, and why should you get into the habit of stealing?"
Deo was much pleased to hear the words of Baba,
for He asked him to start reading Pothi (Jnaneshwari). He thought
that he got what he wanted and that he could read the book with
ease thenceforth. He again prostrated himself before Baba and said
that he surrendered himself to Him and that he should be treated
as a child and be helped in his reading. He realized then what
Baba meant by 'stealing the rags'. What he asked Balakram
constituted the 'rags' and Baba did not like his behaviour in this
respect. As He was ready to answer any question, He did not like
him to ask others and make unnecessary enquiries and therefore He
harassed and scolded him. Deo thought that He really did not
'harass and scold' him but taught that He was ready to fulfill his
desires, and there was no use asking others in vain. Deo took
these scoldings as flowers and blessings and went home satisfied
and contented.
The matter did not end here. Baba did not stop
with only issuing an order to read. Within a year He went to Deo
and enquired about his progress. On 2nd April 1914, on Thursday
morn, Baba gave him a dream-vision. He sat on the upper floor and
asked him whether he understood the Pothi. "No" answered Deo.
Baba - "Then when are you going to understand?" Deo burst into
tears and said, "Unless You shower Your grace, the reading is
mere worry and the understanding is still more difficult. I say
this definitely." Baba - "While reading you make haste, read
it before Me, in My presence." Deo - "What shall I read?" Baba
- "Read Adhyatma (spiritualism)." Deo went to bring the book
when he opened his eyes and was awakened. We leave the readers to
imagine what ineffable joy and bliss Deo felt after this vision.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Back to Index
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter XLII
Baba's Passing Away
P revious Indication - Averting Death of
Ramachandra Dada Patil and Tatya Kote Patil - Charity to Laxmibai
Shinde - Last Moment.
This chapter describes the Passing away of Baba.
Preliminary
T he stories given in the previous chapter
have shown that the light of Guru's grace removes out fear of the
mundane existence, opens the path of salvation and turns our
misery into happiness. If we always remember the feet of the
Sad-guru, our troubles come to an end, death loses its sting and
the misery of this mundane existence is obliterated. Therefore
those who care for their welfare should carefully listen to these
stories of Sai Samarth, which will purify their minds.
In the beginning, Hemadpant dwells on Dr.Pandit's
worship and his marking Baba's forehead with Tripundra, i.e.,
three horizontal lines; but as this has been already described in
chapter XI, this has been omitted here.
Previous Indication
T he readers up till now heard the stories
of Baba's life. Let them now hear attentively Baba's Passing away.
Baba got a slight attack of fever on 28th September, 1918. The
fever lasted for 2 or 3 days, but afterwards Baba gave up his food
and thereby He grew weaker and weaker. On the 17th day, i.e.,
Tuesday, the 15th October 1918, Baba left His mortal coil at about
2-30 p.m. (Vide Professor G.G. Narke's letter, dated 5th November
1918, to Dadasaheb Khaparde, published in "Sai Leela"
magazine, Page 78, first year). Two years before this, i.e., in
1916, Baba gave an indication of His Passing away, but nobody
understood it then. It was as follows:- On the Vijayadashmi
(Dasara) day Baba at once got into wild rage in the evening when
people were returning from 'Seemollanghan' (crossing the border or
limits of the village). Taking off His head-dress, kafni and
langota etc., He tore them and threw them in the Dhuni before Him.
Fed by this offering, the fire in the Dhuni began to burn brighter
and Baba shone still brighter. He stood there stark naked and with
His burning red eyes shouted - "You fellows, now have a look
and decide finally whether Iam a Moslem or a Hindu." Everybody was
trembling with fear and none dared to approach Baba. After some
time Bhagoji Shinde, the leper devotee of Baba, went boldly near
Him and succeeded in tying a langota (waist-band) round His waist
and said - "Baba, what is all this? To-day is the
Seemollanghan, i.e., Dasara Holiday." Baba striking the ground
with His satka said - "This is my Seemollanghan (crossing the
border)." Baba did not cool down till 11-00 p.m. and the people
doubted whether the chavadi procession would ever take place that
night. After an hour Baba resumed His normal condition and
dressing Himself as usual attended the chavadi procession as
described before. By this incident Baba gave a suggestion that
Dasara was the proper time for Him to cross the border of life,
but none understood its meaning. Baba gave also another indication
as follows:-
Averting Death of Ramachandra and Tatya Patil
S ome time after this, Ramachandra Patil
became scriously ill. He suffered a lot. He tried all remedies,
but finding no relief, despaired of his life and was waiting for
the last moment. The one midnight Baba suddenly stood near his
pillow. Patil held His Feet and said - "I have lost all hopes
of life, please tell me definitely when I shall die." Merciful
Baba said - "Don't be anxious, your hundi (death-warrant) has
been withdrawn and you will soon recover, but Iam afraid of Tatya
Patil. He will pass away on Vijayadashami of Shaka 1840 (1918
A.D.). Do not divulge this to anybody, nor to him, for he will be
terribly frightened." Ramachandra Dada got well, but he felt
nervous about Tatya's life, for he knew that Baba's word was
unalterable, and that Tatya would breathe his last within two
years. He kept this hint secret, told it to none but one Bala
Shimpi (a tailor). Only these two persons - Ramachandra Dada and
Bala Shimpi were in fear and suspense regarding Tatya's life.
Ramachandra Dada soon left his bed and was on his
legs. Time passed quickly. The month of Bhadrapad of Shaka 1840
(1918 A.D.) was ending and Ashwin was in sight. True to Baba's
word, Tatya fell sick and was bed-ridden; and so he could not come
for Baba's darshana. Baba was also down with fever. Tatya had full
faith in Baba and Baba in Lord Hari, who was His Protector.
Tatya's illness began to grow from bad to worse and he could not
move at all but always remembered Baba. The predicament of Baba
began to grow equally worse. The day predicted, i.e.,
Vijayadashami was impending and both Ramachandra Dada and Bala
Shimpi were terribly frightened about Tatya and with their bodies
trembling and perspiring with fear, thought that as predicted by
Baba, Tatya's end was nigh. Vijayadashami dawned and Tatya's pulse
began to beat very slow and he was expected to pass away shortly.
But a curious thing happened. Tatya remained, his death was
averted and Baba passed away in his stead. It seemed as if there
was an exchange. People said that Baba gave up His life for Tatya;
why He did so? He alone knows as His ways are inscrutable. It
seems, however, that in this incident, Baba gave a hint of His
passing away, substituting Tatya's name for His.
Next morning (16th October) Baba appeared to Das
Ganu at Pandharpur in his dream and said to him - "The Masjid
collapsed, all the oilmen and grocers of Shirdi teased me a lot,
so I leave the place. I therefore came to inform you here, please
go there quickly and cover me with 'Bhakkal' flowers." Das Ganu
got the information also from Shirdi letters. So he came to Shirdi
with his disciples and started bhajan and kirtan and sang the
Lord's name, all through the day before Baba's samadhi. Himself
weaving a beautiful garland of flowers studded with Lord Hari's
name he placed it on Baba's samadhi and gave a mass-feeding in
Baba's name.
Charity to Laxmibai
D asara or Vijayadashami is regarded by all
the Hindus as the most auspicious time and it is befitting that
Baba should choose this time for His crossing the border-line. He
was ailing some days before this, but He was ever conscious
internally. Just before the last movement He sat up erect without
anybody's aid, and looked better. People thought that the danger
had passed off and He was geeting well. He knew that He was to
pass away soon and therefore, He wanted to give some money as
charity to Laxmibai Shinde.
Baba Pervading All Creatures
T his Laxmibai Shinde was a good and
well-to-do woman. She was working in the Masjid day and night.
Except Bhagat Mhalasapati, Tatya and Laxmibai, none was allowed to
step in the Masjid at night. Once while Baba was sitting in the
Masjid with Tatya in the evening, Laxmibai came and saluted Baba.
The latter said to her - "Oh Laxmi, Iam very hungry." Off she
went saying - "Baba, wait a bit, I return immediately with
bread." She did return with bread and vegetables and placed the
same before Baba. He took it up and gave it to a dog. Laxmibai
then asked - "What is this, Baba, I ran in haste, prepared
bread with my own hands for You and You threw it to a dog without
eating a morsel of it; You gave me trouble unnecessarily." Baba
replied - "Why do you grieve for nothing? The appeasement of
the dog's hunger is the same as Mine. The dog has got a soul; the
creatures may be different, but the hunger of all is the same,
though some speak and others are dumb. Know for certain, that he
who feeds the hungry, really serves Me with food. Regard this as
an exiomatic Truth." This is a ordinary incident but Baba thereby
propounded a great spiritual truth and showed its practical
application in daily life without hurting anybody's feelings. From
this time onward Laxmibai began to offer Him daily bread and milk
with love and devotion. Baba accepted and ate it appreciatingly.
He took a part of this and sent the remainder with Laxmibai to
Radha-Krishna-Mai who always relished and ate Baba's remnant
prasad. This bread-story should not be considered as a digression;
it shows, how Sai Baba pervaded all the creatures and transcended
them. He is omnipresent, birthless, deathless and immortal.
Baba remembered Laxmibai's service. How could He
forget her? Just before leaving the body, He put His hand in His
pocket and gave her once Rs.5/- and again Rs.4/-, in all Rs.9/-.
This figure (9) is indicative of the nine types of devotion
described in chapter 21 or it may be the Dakshina offered at the
time of Seemollanghan. Laxmibai was a well-to-do woman and so she
was not in want of any money. So Baba might have suggested to her
and brought prominently to her notice the nine characteristics of
a good disciple mentioned in the 6th verse of chapter ten, skandha
eleven of the Bhagwat, wherein first five and then four
characteristics are mentioned in the first and second couplets.*
Baba followed the order, first paid Rs.5/- and then Rs.4/- in all
Rs.9/-. Not only nine, but many times nine rupees passed through
Laxmibai's hand, but Baba's this gift of Nine, she will
ever remember.
Being so watchful and conscious, Baba also took
other precautions in His last moment. In order that He should not
be embroiled or entangled with love and affection for His
devotees, He ordered them all to clear off. Kakasaheb Dixit,
Bapusaheb Booty and others were in the Masjid anxiously waiting
upon Baba, but He asked them to go to the Wada and return after
meals. They could not leave Baba's presence, nor could they
disobey Him. So with heavy hearts and heavy feet they went to the
Wada. They knew that Baba's case was very serious and that they
could not forget Him. They sat for meals, but their mind was
elsewhere, it was with Baba. Before they finished, news came to
them of Baba's leaving the mortal coil. Leaving their dishes, they
ran to the Masjid and found that Baba rested finally on Bayaji's
lap. He did not fall down on the ground nor did He lie on His bed,
but sitting quietly on His seat and doing charity with His own
hand threw off the mortal coil. Saints embody themselves and come
into this world with a definite mission and after that is
fulfilled they pass away as quietly and easily as they came.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Back to Index
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapters XLIII & XLIV
Baba's Passing Away (Continued)
P reparation - Samadhi-Mandir - Breaking of
the Brick - 72 Hours' Samadhi - Jog's Sannyas - Baba's Nectar-like
Words.
Chapters 43 and 44 continue the story of Baba's
Passing away, and therefore they are taken together.
Previous Preparation
I t is the general practice amongst the
Hindus that when a man is about to die, some good religious
scripture is read out to him with the object that his mind should
be withdrawn from worldly things and fixed in matters spiritual,
so that his future progress should be natural and easy. Everybody
knows that when king Parikshiti was cursed by the son of a Brahmin
Rishi and was about to die after a week, the great sage Shuka
expounded to him the famous Bahagwat Puran in that week. This
practice is followed even now and Gita, Bhagawat and other sacred
books are read out to dying persons. Baba being an incarnation of
God needed no such help, but just to set an example to the people,
He followed this practice. When He knew that He was to pass away
soon, He ordered one Mr.Vaze to read Ramavijaya to Him. Mr.Vaze
read the book once in the week. Then Baba asked him to read the
same again day and night and he finished the second reading in
three days. Thus eleven days passed. Then again he read for three
days and was exhausted. So Baba let him go and kept Himself quiet.
He abided on His Self and was waiting for the last moment.
Two or three days previous, Baba had stopped His
morning peregrinations and begging rounds and sat in the Masjid.
He was conscious to the last and was advising the devotees not to
lose heart. He let nobody know the exact time of His departure.
Kakasaheb Dixit and Shriman Booty were dining daily with Him in
the Masjid. That day (15th October) after arati, He asked them to
go to their residence for dining. Still a few, viz., Laxmibai
Shinde, Bhagoji Shinde, Bayaji, Laxman Bala Shimpi and Nanasaheb
Nimonkar remained there. Shama was sitting down on the steps.
After giving Rs. 9/- to Laxmibai Shinde, Baba said that He did not
feel well there (in the Masjid) and that He should be taken to the
Dagadi (stone) Wada of Booty, where He would be alright. Saying
these last words, He leaned on Bayaji's body and breathed His
last. Bhagoji noticed that His breathing had stopped and he
immediately told this to Nanasaheb Nimonkar who was sitting below.
Nanasaheb brought some water and poured it in Baba's mouth. It
came out. Then he cried out loudly 'Oh Deva.' Baba seemed just to
open His eyes and say 'Ah' in a low tone. But it soon become
evident that Baba had left His body for good.
The news of Baba's passing away spread like a wild
fire in the village of Shirdi and all people, men, women and
children ran to the Masjid and began to mourn this loss in various
ways. Some cried out loudly, some wallowed on in the streets and
some fell down senseless. Tears ran down from the eyes of all and
every one was smitten with sorrow.
Then the question arose - How to dispose off
Baba's body? Some (Mahomedans) said that the body should be
interred in an open space and a tomb built over it. Even
Khushalchand and Amir Shakkar shared this opinion. But Ramachandra
Patil, the village officer said to the villagers with a firm and
determined voice, "Your thought is not acceptable to us.
Baba's body should be nowhere placed except in the Wada." Thus
people were divided on this point and discussion regarding this
point went on for 36 hours.
On Wednesday morning Baba appeared to Laxman Mama
Joshi in his dream and drawing him by His hand said - "Get up
soon; Bapusaheb thinks that I am dead and so he won't come; you do
the worship and the Kakad (morning) arati." Laxman Mama was the
village astrologer and was the maternal uncle of Shama. He was an
orthodox Brahmin and daily first worshipped Baba in the morning
and then all the village deities. He had full faith in Baba. After
the vision he came with all the pooja materials and not minding
the protests of the moulvis, did the Pooja and the Kakad arati
with all due formalities and went away. Then at noon Bapusaheb Jog
came with all others and went through the noon-arati ceremony as
usual.
Paying due respect to Baba's words the people
decided to place His body in the Wada and started digging the
central portion there. In the evening of Tuesday the Sub-Inspector
came from Rahata and others from other places turned up and they
all agreed to the proposal. Next morning Amirbhai came from Bombay
and the Mamlatdar from Kopergaon. The people seemed divided in
their opinion. Some insisted on interring His body in the open
field. The Mamlatdar therefore took a general plebiscite and found
that the proposal to use the Wada secured double the number of
votes. He, however, wanted to refer the matter to the Collector
and Kakasaheb Dixit got himself ready to go to Ahmednagar. In the
meanwhile, by Baba's inspiration there was a change in the opinion
of the other people and all the people unanimously voted for the
proposal. On Wednesday evening Baba's body was taken in procession
and brought to the Wada and was interred there with due
formalities in the garbha, i.e., the central portion reserved for
Murlidhar. In fact Baba became the Murlidhar and the Wada became a
temple and a holy shrine, where so many devotees went and are
going now to find rest and peace. All the obsequies of Baba were
duly performed by Balasaheb Bhate and Upasani, a great devotee of
Baba.
Breaking of the Brick
S ome days before Baba's departure, there
occurred an ominous sign foreboding the event. There was, in the
Masjid an old brick on which Baba rested His hand and sat. At
night time He leaned against it and had His asan. This went on for
many years. One day, during Baba's absence, a boy who was sweeping
the floor, took it up in his hand, and unfortunately it slipped
from thence fell down broken into two pieces. When Baba came to
know about this, He bemoaned its loss, crying - "It is not the
brick but My fate that has been broken into pieces. It was My
life-long companion, with it I always meditated on the Self, it
was as dear to Me as My life, it has left Me to-day." Some may
raise here a question - "Why should Baba express this sorrow
for such an inanimate thing as a brick?" To this Hemadpant replies
that saints incarnate in this world with the express mission of
saving the poor helpless people, and when they embody themselves
and mix and act with the people, they act like them, i.e.,
outwardly laugh, play and cry like all other people, but inwardly
they are wide awake to their duties and mission.
72 Hours' Samadhi
T hirty two years before this, i.e., in 1886
A.D., Baba made an attempt to cross the border line. On a
Margashirsha Pournima (Full moon) day, Baba suffered from a severe
attack of asthma. To get rid of it Baba decided to take His prana
high up and go into samadhi. He said to Bhagat Mhalasapti -
"Protect My body for three days. If I return, it will be
alright; if I do not, bury My body in that open land (pointing to
it) and fix two flags there as a mark." Saying this, Baba fell
down at about 10 P.M. His breathing stopped, as well as His pulse.
It seemed as if His prana left the body. All the people including
the villagers came there and wanted to hold an inquest and bury
the body in the place pointed by Baba. But Mhalasapati prevented
this. With Baba's body on his lap he sat full three days guarding
it. After three days passed, Baba showed signs of life at 3 A.M.
His breathing commenced, the abdomen began to move. His eyes
opened and stretching His limbs, Baba returned to consciousness
(life) again.
From this and other accounts, let the readers
consider whether Sai Baba was the three and a half cubits' body
that He occupied for some years and that He left thereafter or He
was the Self inside. The body, composed of the five elements is
perishable and transient, but the Self within is the thing
- Absolute Reality which is immortal and intransient. The pure
Being, Consciousness or Brahma, the Ruler and Controller of the
senses and mind is the thing Sai. This pervades all things
in the universe and there is no space without it. For fulfilling
His mission He assumed the body and after it was fulfilled, He
threw away the body (the finite aspect), and assumed His infinite
aspect. Sai ever lives, as also the previous Incarnation of God
Datta, Shri Narsimha Saraswati of Ganagapur. His Passing away is
only an outward aspect, but really He pervades all animate and
inanimate things and is their Inner Controller and Ruler. This can
be, and is even now experienced by many who surrender themselves
completely to Him and worship Him with whole-hearted devotion.
Though it is not possible for us to see Baba's
form now, still if we go to Shirdi, we shall find His beautiful
life-like portrait adorning the masjid. This has been drawn by
Shamrao Jaykar, a famous artist and well-known devotee of Baba. To
an imaginative and devout spectator this portrait can give even
to-day the satisfaction of taking Baba's darshana. Though Baba has
no body now, He lives there and everywhere, and will effect the
welfare of the devotees even now as He was doing before when He
was embodied. Saints like Baba never die, though they look like
men, they are in reality God Himself.
Bapusaheb Jog's Sannyas
H emadpant closes this chapter with the
account of Jog's sannyas. Sakharam Hari alias Bapusaheb Jog was
the uncle of the famous Varkari Vishnubuva Jog of Poona. After his
retirement from Govt. Service (He was a Supervisor in the P.W.
Department) in 1909 A.D., he came and lived in Shirdi with his
wife. He had no issue. Both husband and wife loved Baba and spent
all their time in worshipping and serving Baba. After Megha's
death, Bapusaheb daily did the arati ceremony in the Masjid and
Chavadi till Baba's maha-samadhi. He was also entrusted with the
work of reading and explaining Jnaneshwari and Ekanathi Bhagawat
in Sathe's Wada to the audience. After serving for many years, Jog
asked Baba - "I have served you so long, my mind is not yet
calm and composed, how is it that my contact with Saints has not
improved me? When will You bless me?" - Hearing the Bhakta's
prayer Baba replied - "In due time your bad actions (their
fruit or result) will be destroyed, your merits and demerits will
be reduced to ashes, and I shall consider you blessed, when you
will renounce all attachments, conquer lust and palate, and
getting rid of all impediments, serve God whole-heartedly and
resort to the begging bowl (accept sannyas)." After some time,
Baba's words came true. His wife predeceased him and as he had no
other attachment, he became free and accepted sannyas before his
death and realized the goal of his life.
Baba's Nectar-like words
T he kind and merciful Sai Baba, said many a
time the following sweet words in the Masjid - "He who loves
Me most, always sees Me. The whole world is desolate to him
without Me, he tells no stories but Mine. He ceaselessly meditates
upon Me and always chants My name. I feel indebted to him who
surrenders himself completely to Me and ever remembers Me. I shall
repay his debt by giving him salvation (self-realization). I am
dependent on him who thinks and hungers after Me and who does not
eat anything without first offering it to Me. He who thus comes to
Me, becomes one with Me, just as a river gets to the sea and
becomes merged (one) with it. So leaving out pride and egoism and
with no trace of them, you should surrender yourself to Me Who am
seated in your heart."
Who is this ME?
S ai Baba expounded many a time Who this
ME (or I) is. He said "You need not go far or anywhere in
search of Me. Barring your name and form, there exists in you, as
well as in all beings, a sense of Being or Consciousness of
Existence. That is Myself. Knowing this, you see Me inside
yourself, as well as in all beings. If you practise this, you will
realize all-pervasiveness, and thus attain oneness with Me."
Hemadpant, therefore, makes a bow to the readers
and requests them humbly and lovingly that they should love and
respect all Gods, saints and devotees. Has not Baba often said
"He who carps and cavils at others, pierces Me in the heart
and injures Me, but he that suffers and endures, pleases Me most."
Baba thus pervades all beings and creatures and besets them on all
sides. He likes nothing but love to all beings. Such nectar, pure
auspicious ambrosia always flowed from Baba's lips. He therefore,
concludes - Those who lovingly sing Baba's fame and those who hear
the same with devotion, both become one with Sai.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
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