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My young friends, A picture, like the one on the cover, you have no doubt seen in many places. In many homes, in the bazar, in shops and in taxis you will find this picture. It is of Sai Baba, the Great Saint, who lived at Shirdi, District Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India. He was extremely fond of children, because he himself had childlike simplicity and purity of heart. Whence did be come to Shirdi, how he attained a name and fame, what experiences people had about him - all these wonderful stories I will tell you in the following pages. Having read these once, you will feel like reading them again and again till you get them by heart. Like countless other people, you will come to love Baba. You will offer him daily prayer and ask for his blessings, which he will certainly bestow on you. Introducing you to Baba, This is your chacha D.D. Parchure
In Maharashtra, there is a district named Aurangabad, in which there is a village named Dhoopkhede. Chandbhai was the patel of that village. Once he lost his horse. Chandbhai searched and searched, but to no avail. A week after, while he was on the search, he noticed by the roadside a young lad of sixteen, having sedate looks and wearing the garb of a fakir. This beautiful boy with lustrous eyes at once captured Chandbhai's heart. Reading, as if the onlooker's mind, the fakir beckoned Chandbhai and asked, "What are you looking for, patel? "I have lost my horse. For this whole week, I am searching him," said Chand, approaching the fakir, with folded hands. "Then why go further? Your animal is grazing beyond that hedge, there, look!" told the fakir, with. a gentle smile, pointing to a thick hedge beyond which nothing could really be seen. Chandbhai went and saw, and Io! The horse was found quietly grazing there. Chandbhai was awe-struck. How did this fakir recognise him as the patel, how did the boy know that there, was a horse beyond the hedge and that it belonged to him all this struck him with wonder. He was convinced that the boy had a spark of Divinity in him. As Chandbhai related this incident among his friends and neighbours, the boy's fame spread like a drop of oil on the surface of water. A few months later, a marriage procession went from Dhoopkhede to Shirdi. The boy fakir also accompanied it. When the procession reached the outskirts of Shirdi,it stopped to pay homage to God Khandoba. Mhalsapati, the priest of Khandoba temple, eyed the fakir, and out of spontaneous admiration, exclaimed, "Welcome, ye Sai Baba". It was as if the Divine Will that had given the boy this name, for that very naw stuck to him all his life. From that day (1854), the boy stayed in Shirdi. But what was his real name and his native place none ever came to know. People at Shirdi soon discovered the perfect Saintliness of the fakir and by and by, many of them became his devotees (bhaktas). A few, however, who were themselves of a saintly nature, saw the real worth of this Godly person. Sadhu Gangagir said, "This is a gem. By your great good luck, you have got him." Anandnath said, "This is a jewel you will know its worth in the immediate future."
From places like Bombay and Poona, you can now go to Shirdi directly by State Transport buses. You can also travel upto Manmad or Kopargaon by Central Rly and then take a bus to Shirdi. When Sai Baba first came to Shirdi, it was a little known, underdeveloped village. But as Baba came and his fame spread in all quarters, Shirdi also grew and improved. Like Pandharpur, it is now a great place of pilgrimage. Thousands and thousands go there everv year to have a darshan of Baba's, Samadhi (Tomb). Devotees still get the same experiences of Baba as they did when Baba lived in flesh. Baba entered Samadhi in 1918. Now let us see Wherein lay Baba's greatness and read the Bhaktas' actual experiences about Baba.
Baba's Devotees
Mhalsapati and Kashiram were the two earliest devotees of Baba. They assigned to Baba a dilapidated mosque to live in. Baba named it 'Dwarkamai'. People who came to Shirdi visited Baba and had his darshan at this place. Many structures, small and, big came up at Shirdi later on. But Baba lived all his life in Dwarkamai only. This place is, therefore, regarded as very holy. Mhalsapati spent almost his whole day with Baba and served him with utmost devotion. Kashiram supplied Baba all necessary things. There was not even a stint of selfishness in this. He did this all out of puire love and sense of service. Once when he was traveling on business, he had a bloody encounter with robbers. He was remembering Baba all the time. While he was, on the point of fainting due to exhaustion, a drama was taking place in Shirdi. Baba, throwing up his hands was shouting in Kashiram's direction. This gave Kashiram such a sudden spurt of strength that the robbers, being overpowered, fled away. This was a clear indication of Baba's supernatural powers. Next, Madhavrao Deshpande of Shirdi was strongly attracted towards Baba. He completely merged himself in Baba's service. Baba lovingly called him 'Shama'. So great was Shama's authority that Baba deputed Shama to go in his own place wherever needed. What Arjuna was to Lord Krishna, the same was Shama to Sai Baba. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, a highly placed Govt. officer, also became Baba's unflinching devotee. Das Ganu Maharaj was serving in the Police Dept. But, after meeting Baba, be left the service and turned to the Path of devotion. He became one of the greatest kirtankars in modern times. He and Nanasabeb spread the fame of Baba in all quarters. Sathe built the first wada at Shirdi and this became a good resting place for visitors. Another wada, a bigger one, was built bv Dixit. This provided further amenities. But the biggest wada, a spacious stone and masonry structure, Was built by Gopalrao Buti of Nagpur. The present Samadhi Mandir is housed here. Radhakrishna Mai came and settled at Shirdi, after her husband's death. She lived only ten years more. But due to her tireless and imaginative work during that short span of life, she eiitirely changed the very face of Shirdi. The present discipline and daily routine at Shirdi were laid down bv her. That Shirdi soon attained the status of a Sansthan (Institution) is a testimony to her fiery zeal.
Baba's Dhuni
After settling in Shirdi, Baba lit up a fire by his yogic powers. It is still kept burning. It is called Dhuni and the holy aslies emerging from it are called "udi". Baba gave medicines for several ailments and himself served the patients. Later on, Baba gave his patients only the 'Udi' for external use as well as for oral administration. Some wonderful stories of the use of Udi, I will relate to you in another chapter. Appa Bhil supplied the fuel for Baba's dhuni. When be sold two stacks, he gave one for the dhuni. There was a saint named Tajuddin. His dargah (place of worship) once caught fire. At the same time. Sai Baba in Shirdi, sitting before the Dhuni, made certain movements with his hands. People asked, "what are you doing Baba ?" "There is a fire at Tajuddin's dargah. I am putting, it out," said Baba. The next day, a word came from Tajuddin that a fire had broken out at the dargah, but as soon as he remembered Baba, the fire had subsided. A blacksmith was an ardent devotee of Baba. Once Baba put both his hands in the burning dhuni and took them out as if 'rescuing' something. "Poor girl, if I had delayed a moment longer, she would have been burnt to death". What had happened was that the blacksmith's daughter, while playing about, had run into the furnace and Baba 'seeing' it, bad rescued her. Baba's hands were scalded, but the girl was saved.
On the way from Dwarkamai to Lendi Baug you will notice a neem tree. Under it there is a cavern containing a tomb. Baba himself pointed out this place and said, "This is my Guru's Samadhi. I have practiced my penance here. When going to Lendi Baug and back, Baba unfailingly stopped here and adoringly bowed to the Samadhi. Baba, with his own hands, daily prepared 'prasadam' in a big handi. This consisted of rice, dal, vegetables and even meat with appropriately ground masala. AlI Bhaktas were eager to partake even a morsel of it. Without distinction of caste, creed or religion, they all assembled in a spirit of bon homie. It was a sight worth seeing. It was the Gopal kala of Baba. Baba himself went a-shopping to buy all the articles required for the prasadam. In wordly dealings, Baba was very practical. Here is an instance. Once a woman came with a bunch of seeta-fals --- the first flush of the season --- to sell the same to Baba. After much higgling and haggling, Baba fixed the price at 10 annas. Presently, another woman came with a similar bunch. But Baba now fixed the price at 6 annas . Why? Because, the need at the second deal was much less, and so was the price offered. However, while making payment, Baba paid Re 1/- to each. Thus Baba was a liberal giver, but could not be cheated to give. Baba had no temptation as regards his body or the household. He begged alms as a vow at five houses only and lived in the ramshackle mosque Dwarkamai with perfect satisfaction. In Dwarkamai, there was a shelf 5 ft. long and barely 9 inches in width, hung by slender shreds. Many a time, Baba was found sleeping on that shelf. How could those shreds support the weight of the shelf with Baba lying on it was a mystery never solved. But how Baba got up there and back again was a mystery deeper still.
Baba's Miracles
Baba was a Mahatma (Great Soul) with uncanny,divine powers. But he called himself "Servant of God,' and the supernatural feats that occured at his hands, he ascribed to God Himself. He never called himself a Guru and had no disciples too. He had only his devotees. Now I will tell you some of the earliest leelas of Baba. Every night, Baba used to light earthen lamps in the Dwarkamai. For this, he asked the grocers to give him oil. In the beginning, people looked upon Baba as a mad fakir, and so the grocers gave him oil just for the fun of it. But soon they got fed up with this daily practice and one day they all refused to give him oil. With the empty oil-tin dangling from his hand, Baba came back to Dwarkamai, with a merry song on his lips :If no oil, I am not worried, Dwarkamai will supply the need. He put a little water in the oil tin and drank it, as if to please the God within. Then he took more water, poured it in the lamps and kindled them one by one. Alack and ... ! God said, let there be light And there was light ! The 'water-lamps' burnt throughout the night. Those who had come to scoff remained to praise. This incident established the supernatural powers of Baba beyond a shred of doubt. At another time, there was an epidemic of Cholera in Shirdi. Helpless people approached Baba for relief. Baba daily used to grind corn in the
Dwarkamai. Now he called the village women and asked them to lend a helping hand to grind some wheat, beckoning God all the time to save his children. Then he asked the women to throw the wheat-flour on the outskirts of the village. Immediately, the calamity was driven away. One evening, the sky suddenly became overcast with clouds. There were strong winds and flashes of lightening. Soon there was a fierce hailstorm, followed by heavy rains. Again Baba ran to the villagers' rescue. With satka (a foot-long black rod) in hand, he stood at Dwarkamai's door, and thrashing the pillars with satka, ordered the rains to stop. And stop they did! Once the fire in the dhuni blew up fiercely and the flames rose higher and higher. Baba ordered the fire to calm down and the fire instantly obeyed. Many a time, Baba took the bhaktas' ailments on himself. He suffered their pangs and the bhaktas' were were relieved. An instance in point is that of a young boy who had come to Shirdi with his mother. The mother was constantly in the service of Baba, when her son had an attack of plague. The fever rose dangerously and the mother, 'thinking that nothing could be done in Shirdi, asked Baba whether the son should be taken home. Consoling her, Baba said, "Mother, since you have thrown the burden on me, you need not worry. I am taking on your son's fever and the bubos, look". So saying, he showed the bubos in his arm-pits. The fever too could be clearly felt. The boy soon recovered.
Baba's Festivals
Once Gopalrao Gund, another steadfast devotee of Baba, thought of celebrating the Ram Navami festival at Shirdi and holding also a fair along with it. Baba was exactly thinking of the same things and so he readily agreed to Gopalrao's proposal. The Ram Navami festival and the fair were started in 1911 and are continuing from year to year to this day on better and bigger scale. Thousands of devotees from all parts of the country attend this festival. Three days there is kirtan, at the end of which there is Gopal-Kala. Lord Krishna's birthday is celebrated on the Gokul Ashtarni day when the popular sport Dahi-handi is held. There are also wrestling bouts at which tempting prizes are given. Physical culture and solidarity among the people the two main features of Krishna's life - are achieved through this festival. This is the very foundation of a healthy society. Guru Pournima is celebrated in the month of Ashadh. This is the day of paying yearlv tribute to one's guru. Though Baba never called himself a Guru, still the Bhaktas offer special worships to Baba on this day out of love and veneration. Artists voluntarily present their performances before Baba. The underlying principle of the Ram-Krishna festivals is to foster a feeling of equality among different sections of the society. On such occasions people forget their differences and freely mix together. Mahatmas like Sai Baba want exactly to achieve this and that is why they celebrate various festivals.
Serpents and scorpions too were in Baba's command. Once a cobra bit Shama's foot and its poison began to go up. Shama was brought to Dwarkamai. Sensing the danger to Shama's life, Baba said sternly, stop going up. Come down." This was a command to the Serpent's poison and it obeyed the same immediately. A darvesh had tamed a tiger who used to do certain tricks and thus maintain himself and his master. As the tiger grew old, he could no longer play his tricks. Naturally, he and his master both had to face starvation. Ultimately, the tiger became mad and uncontrollable. As he was approaching his end, the darvesh brought him to Baba for a last grace. Baba asked the darvesh to release the animal who at once became quiet. Approaching Baba he prostrated himself at Baba's feet and as Baba was stroking his back, the tiger opened his jaw and breathed his last. Baba said, "This was a great bhakta of Lord Shiva. He has gone to Kailash (Lord Shiva's abode). Now bury his mortal remains in front of Shiva". It was done. Today his tomb can be seen in Shirdi.
of a sudden to Ratanji's house. Ratauji treated him with utmost respect and offered him flowers and sweets. Mouli Babe blessed him. A few months later Ratanji went to Shirdi. As he sat before Baba with hands folded, Baba said to him, "you have already offered me a dakshina of Rs 3-14-0 and now you have yourself come to this Masjid. So don't worry. Allah will grant your wishes." So saying, Baba applied Udi to Ratanji's forehead. Ratanji returned with satisfaction. But he was puzzled as to the dakshina of Rs. 3-14-0 which Baba had referred to. He told about it to Das Canu. But he too couldn't make out anything. Then, in the course of conversation, Mouli Baba's visit cropped up and just for fun; they made a list of all the expenses done on that occasion. And what a wonder! The expenses added up exactlv to Rs. 3-14-0. it was clear that things offered to Mouli Baba in Nanded had reached Sai Baba in Shirdi ! The next year Ratanji was blessed with a son. Another merchant. Seth Hariischandra Pitale, had gone to Shirdi for the first time. His infant son was also with him. Baba gave him three silver rupees aiid said, "I have already given you two rupees. Keep these three with them and worship them together. They will lead to your welfare." Pitale returned home with satisfaction. But since he had gone to Baba for the first time, he could not understand Baba's words, 'I have already given you two rupees'. He asked his mother. She thought deeply and, as in a flash, she exclaimed, "Ah, I got it. When you were young your father had gone to Akkalkot Swami, who had given him two rupees for worship. Your father worshipped them in his lifetime. But, after him, they have been lying uncared for. Now the Swami is re-born as Sai Baba in Shirdi, and that is why he reminded vou of the 'two rupees already given and gave you three more. Henceforward, worship them all with devotion." These incidents show how Baba was a Trikal-gyani Siddha.
and fell at his feet. Smiling meaningfully, Baba blessed him. As they both started to come back, the friend asked, "What happened, doctor ? Did you forget your resolve ?" "As soon as I saw Baba, my resolve vanished, for in Baba's place there appeared Shri Ram of Ayodhya. Unaware of myself. I ran and fell at his feet," said the doctor with tears of joy. For a long time after this, he was immersed in a state of bliss. A staunch Shastri of Nasik had come to Shirdi with a similar resolve. His devotion was only to his Guru who had passed into Samadhi some time earlier. Baba gave him a darshan in the form of his late Guni, whereby the Shastri was completely transformed. Some students while appearing for their examinations, or even afterwards, ask an astrologer whether they would pass or not. The astrologer tells them some hotch-potch, and the students get uneasy thereby. Sai Baba discouraged such habits. He would advise the students to concentrate on their studies and for the rest put their trust in God. Baba would bless them and apply Udi on their forehead. Such students would always come out with flying colours.
he must have sent a word to Nanasaheb and asked him to make these arrangements. The sepoy gave him a few snacks, which he said, were sent bv Nanasaheb. Then the tonga started and by dawn, it arrived at Jamner. The sepoy, pointing to a distant 'building, said, "That is Nanasaheb's office." Ramgir alighted there to ease himself and went behind a bush. But as he came out, what did he find ? Nothing, no horses, no carriage, no sepoy. All had disappeared. Dumbfounded, he went to Nanasaheb's office and, obtaining Nanasabeb's address, went there. Saluting Nanasaheb, he said, "Baba has sent me here from Shirdi and has given you these things." A thrill went through Nanasaheb on hearing this. He said, 'Oh Baba, Baba! What should I say to you ? I called your name here and hearing my call in Shirdi, you at once ran here in the form of these things. A million pranams to you ! " Nanasaheb applied the Udi to his daughter and put a little in her mouth too. Then he sat by her bedside, reciting the arati. And would you believe it ? In half an hour, Maina delivered safely. Ramgir was waiting outside. Nanasabeb came out and thanked him profoundly. Eagerly Ramgir asked, "Nana, your tonga brought me to Jamner all right. But then as I got down to ease myself, it suddenly vanished. Where is that tonga ?" "Which tonga ?" asked the puzzled Nana. "Your tonga which you had sent for me to Jalgaon Station. Your sepoy met me there, g;ave me your delicious snacks and brought me here with great speed." With tears of gratitude, Nanasaheb said, "Ramgir, I had not the faintest idea that you were coming. So how could I have sent the tonga ? This is all no doubt done by Baba. How unbounded is your kripa, Oh mother Sai !" Later, Nanasaheb himself related this whole incident to the people assembled at Shirdi. It therefore bears a stamp of authority.
Deo Mamledar
Balasabeb Deo, an enlightened Sai Bhakta was a magistrate at Dahanu. His mother had observed cer tain vows, at the conclusion of which a thousand Brahmins were to be fed in the month of Shravan. Balasaheb earnestly wished Baba to attend this function. So two months ahead, he sent a cordial invitation to Baba, who replied that he would attend along with two others. In Ashadh, the month before Shravan, a Sanyasi (recluse) came to Balasaheb and asked for his help to collect a fund for cow-protection. But as another fund had recently been collected in Dahanu, Balasabeb told the sanyasi to come to him in the Diwali season (four months later). The sanyasi went away, but appeared again exactly on the day of the concluding function. Seeing him, Balasaheb suspected that he had come for the fund too soon, and was about to rebuke him for his impatience. Anticipating what Balasabeb would say, the Sanyasi hastened to explain that he had not come for the fund, but for a square meal. "Oh, that's very fine," said Balasabeb almost apologetically, "We are feeding the Brahmins today. So it will be a pleasure to have you amongst us." But I have two others with me, waiting in the dharam-shala." "Bring them too ! It will add to our pleasure." The Sanyasi brought the two along with him and, after a hearty meal, they blessed Balasaheb and went away. The function was over, but Balasabeb thought that Baba had not come as promised. So he wrote to Baba expressing his displeasure and put in a mild hint that Baba had deceived him. Baba wrote back, "Your doubts have deceived you, not I. As promised, I came along with two others and we took meals at your place. But your mind was clouded with the doubt that it was the Sanyasi coming for funds. So your own doubt deceived you and in that state you did not recognise me." Balasaheb felt intense anguish and remorse that, though Baba had visited his place, yet he did not recognise the saint and had lost the opportunity of a life-time of surrendering at his feet.
Highly developed souls like Vasudevanand and Sai Baba can communicate with each other by means of their psychic powers. That is how Vasudevanand had informed Sai Baba about the coconut he was sending. Baba too had immediately received that message. This is called telepathy (communicating mentally over long distance).
Coming to know of this, the sahukar said to his wife, "Well, a piece of land is in mortgage with me for a thousand rupees. This is exactly the worth of your ornaments. So give me the ornaments and I will give you the land which you may dedicate to Shiva." In fact the land was barren. Dubki, a helpless woman, to whom it belonged, had mortgaged it to the sahukar for Rs. 200/- and had died. The rogue grabbed his wife's valuable ornaments and, in return, had given her that barren land to be offered to the God. Poor wife, she fell a victim to this chicanery. She sold her ornaments and gave the land to Lord Shiva. By custom, the ownership of the land vested in the pujari and the gurav (care taker) was supposed to look after it. Some time later, the sahukar and his wife both died by a stroke of lightening. The sahukar was reborn as a Brahmin in Mathura and was named Virbhadra. His wife was born as the daughter of Shiva's pujari and was named Gauri. Dubki was born as the son of the gurav and was named Basappa. When Gauri came Of age, her father, the pujari, was anxious about her marriage. He approached me and I told her, "you need not worry; this girl is fortunate A suitable boy will come here and woo her." As it happened, Virbhadra, while on business tour, visited the pujari's house. He came to like Gauri and the match was arranged with my approval. After a few vears, the barren land was purchased by a housing colony for the fabulous sum of Rs. one Lakh and as, in the mean time, the pujari had died, the sum now belonged to his daughter Gauri, and so by implication, to her husband Virbbadra. Gauri was the Sahakar's wife in former birth. She had bought' the land for Rs. 1000/- in lieu of her ornaments and dedicated it to Lord Shiva. Now in return, according to Shiva's promise, she had obtained a hundred fold i.e. one lakh. Thus Shiva's words had come true. But now Basappa, the Gurav's son and heir, argued that the temple's gurav has a claim on half the 'produce' of the land. So he claimed half of the lakh of rupees which the land had yielded. This brought him at logger heads with Virbhadra who would not entertain the gurav's claim. At last Virbhadra threatened to kill Basappa who came to my shelter and I promised to save him. Tempers rose so high that both of them died in fits of delirium. Virbhadra is now born as a serpent and Basappa as a frog --- the very same you saw a little while back. And, according, to my promise, I have saved Basappa from the jaws of Virbhadra.
The common meals which Sai Baba cooked and served with his own bands in Dwarkamai was an object-lesson in equality. It was just for this reason that Baba never consented to be a Guru and never made anv disciples, for this institution of Gurus leads to ownership and property rights which Baba strictly opposed. He wanted Shirdi affairs to be run in a spirit of democratic socialism. All this will show that Baba was a prophet of Modern India and a hundred years back he put into practice the principles of democracy, socialism and secularism which form the bulwork of our constitution today. That is Sai Baba's philosophy, if it can be so called.