| |
Shirdi Sai and Sathya Sai are One
and the Same
By Arjan D. Bharwani
12. STRIKING SIMILARITY OF WORDS
Sri Sathya
Sai always addresses Shirdi Sai as, "My previous body". He often
indicates and relates vents and gives explanations to bring out
the identity and similarity between the two Forms. He speaks of
His dealings with people, circumstances that occurred there, the
examples He had been giving in the Shirdi Form to explain
certain points, the queries that used to be raised before Him at
that time. He often recounts what He had told certain devotees
like Das Ganu and Mahalaspathy when He was at Shirdi and says,
"Just as you nowadays witness My Leelas simllar ones had aiso
been there in My Shirdi days". Sometimes while replying to a
question, He is heard saying, "The same doubt was raised by such
and such man when He had come to Shirdi and he too had asked the
same query". Baba would continue then to give the same answer
which He had given to the devotee earlier whilst at Shirdl. He
recognises very well all the devotees, disciples and sadhakas
associated with Him at Shirdi. He acknowledges them as His own
devotees and disciples. In fact He often tells them, "I have
known you for the past many years". At times He is heard
reminding a devotee that, "Though this is the first time you
have come in the Presence of this body, I have seen you twenty
years ago, when you had come to Shirdi". The person concerned
is invariably able to recollect about his, visit to Shirdi
twenty years ago. Not only that, but He is also known to
encourage, induce, attract and inspire devotees to visit Shirdi.
He give, full details and instructions about the way to reach
Shirdi and varied details of the place, which could be known
only to a person who has lived there sufficiently long. He has
even told as to how water was being drawn from a well in those
days to irrigate the areas around and describes the beautiful
life-like idol of Shirdi Sai installed n the Shirdi Mandir. He
is often heard muttering the same sayings that Shirdi Sai used
to utter, "Why fear when I am here". "You look to Me, I look at
you". To some devotees who were going to Shirdi, He had told at
Parthi, "When you reach Shirdi, go and sleep at Dwarkamayi where
I will come in your dream". He answers questions which He had
left unanswered at Shirdi. Many have experienced this.
Infinite in
fact are the incidents of such recognitions that have kept on
sprouting in the vast 'Kshetra (field)' of the unfoldment of the
Divine drama of reincarnation. Suffice to mention a couple of
them - one that occurred during Baba's visit to Coorg, where He
singled out from among the multitude gathered there for Darshans,
a fervent devotee of the previous "Sariram". Baba conveyed His
pleasure, at the said devotee being a life member of the Sai
Baba Trust.
Let us not
forget the awe inspiring occurrence that took place when He
reminded the mother of a well-built man that she had placed her
son under His care some fifteen years ago. In stunned amazement,
the lady did recollect, having placed in sheer desperation her
seriously ill child at Shirdi Sai's Feet in the shrine room of
her dwelling at Madras!
The thread
of sameness continues unbroken through these two consecutive
beads of the phenomenon of Avatharhood, when we recapitulate
some of their sayings. At Shirdi, Sainath said, "This Dwarkamayi
is the dankapuri of Dakurnath, the Pandhari of Vithala and the
Dwarka of Ranchhod (Lord Krishna)". In the reappearance at
Parthi, He has gone on to announce, that the present Dwarkamayi(Prasanthi
Nilayam)is another Mathura, another Badrinath and another
Tirupathi. "My favourite abode", said the Sai of Shirdi, "is the
heart of a true Bhakta". In an identical saying, Parthi Baba has
vouchsafed, "I am the Indweller of your heart".
Go to
Index - Chapter
11 - Chapter 13 |
