Arrival of Embodiment of Wisdom in Shirdi

Arrival of Embodiment of Wisdom in Shirdi

 

Oh listeners! On the second day, Sri Sai Baba went to Chandubhai's house in Dhupkheda village. All the people of Dhupkheda went and had the darshan of Sai Baba. They wondered, "Is he a Hindu? Is he a Moslem?" Each who saw him formed his own opinion as to his religion. The Muslims thought he was an aulia. The Hindus considered him a siddha. Both the groups had a common feeling towards Baba devotion. They all prostrated at his feet and paid him their respects.

 

Chandubhai's brother-in-law's marriage was arranged with a girl from Shirdi village. Baba too joined the marriage party, which went to Shirdi from Dhupkheda village. As he stepped on to the soil of Shirdi, that village was blessed. Shirdi is the surely equal to Gokula. Krishna was born in Mathura but lived in Gokula. In the same way, Selu or Manawat is Mathura. Shirdi is Gokula. Sri Sai Baba stayed on in Shirdi purifying it and it has now become a great pilgrimage centre. As he entered Shirdi, he met the pious devotee Mahalsapati. As he reached the Khandoba temple, Mahalsapati said, "Oh Sai! It is not seemly that you come here. This is a temple for the Hindus. You look like a Moslem to me. You better go to the Masjid or the Thakiya."

 

The able Sai was surprised by the words of Mahalsapati. He said, "It is one God who has created both these people. Hindu, Moslem are mere words - know this to be the truth. The sadhaka should never feel that religion has any importance. He should not differentiate between people based on their religion. Never show intolerance towards people of other religions. Reform yourself. Try to see the God who is one for all of us. He is Allah-I-llahi. He is the Maha Vishnu reclining on the serpent Adisesha! There is nothing which is other than your Khandoba, my son. Know clearly as to who the real Khandoba is! Those who know the truth care not a whit for these differences based on religion. There are temples in this world and there are masjids too. God has not constructed any of them. Oh pious one! Do not think that these temples or the masjids are the only ones to lead you to God. I will not trouble you. I will respect your feelings and have the darshan of Khandoba from afar. I hope you have no objection to that? Your Puranas tell a tale. There was a low caste man called Chokha Mela who was very dear to Panduranga. He was a hundred times better person than those high caste Brahmin priests who did the daily ceremonial worship of Panduranga. Know you, that all those who sincerely try to reach the lotus feet of the almighty keeping their minds and hearts pure are the high castes. All others are low caste irrespective of the caste they were born in. Whose interior is pure is pure everywhere."

 

Mahalsapati was ecstatic with happiness on hearing these words of wisdom from Sri Sai Baba. He prostrated at his feet and saluted him with devotion. He said, "You are truly the embodiment of wisdom. It is the accumulated merit of my past lives which has led me to you." He prayed, "Please stay on in our Shirdi village." Baba agreed to do so. They both entered the village. Sri Sai Baba settled in the Masjid. He stayed for many days in the shade of the Neem tree, which was close by. Sri Sai Baba liked to be alone. He would light the Dhuni and resting his elbow on the right knee and placing his palm on his ear would gaze at the fire for hours together with half closed eyes. He used to smoke the chillim. He was never in a hurry. He was always looking inwards and his mind was steadfast. He was always immersed in the bliss of constant communion with God. He would go to five houses for alms every day. He would ask for alms and stand at the door for a very short time. He would go to Vaman, Sakharam,  Ganapati, Kumar Tatyaba, Nandu and Sawairams houses for alms. How fortunate are they, who had the merit of giving alms to that embodiment of wisdom?

 

(SRI SAIGURUCHARITRA - by devotee Ganpatrao Dattatreya Sahasra-buddhebetter known as Das Ganu Maharaj)

 

Experiences of the Tarkhad Family with Shirdi Sai Baba 10 of 21 – Baba’s Footprint became Gold

Experiences of the Tarkhad Family with Shirdi Sai Baba  10 of 21 – Baba's Footprint became Gold

Author: Virendra Jyotindra Tarkhad

 

Sai's Golden Test -  "Om Shri Sainathaya Namaha."

 

Dear Sai devotee readers I am inclined to think that you all must have liked the experiences I have narrated so far. Our normal lifecycle is such that we first put on the mantle of family hood and then come across all the sweet/bitter experiences of life. On going through them we get attracted towards spiritualism for final peace of mind. But this cycle was exactly reversed in case of my father. He first went through all holy experiences and then had to grind the axe of tough family life. One thing was clear that because of his association with Sai Baba, he had possibly learnt the art of facing any eventuality. I also believe that the path of Bhakti is such that when one starts practicing it, he gets better equipped to face any kind of fear in life.

 

By now my father had visited Shirdi ample number of times and was sufficiently rich with divine experiences to his credit. The time had come that he faced some twisting moments. Those were the winter days when days are shorter and the nights are longer. One such day, when it was dusk and twinkling stars could be seen in the sky, Baba told my father to accompany him. It was an out of the blue invitation because Baba would never leave Dwarkamai at that time of the day. He walked towards "Lendi Baug" and then passing through it they came to the bank of the rivulet as described in the earlier chapter. By then it was quite dark and the moon had risen in the sky. Then Baba told my father that he was going to show him some fun and that was the reason he had brought him to that place. My father was very pleased because he was getting some special personal attention. Then they sat down and Baba started moving the soft soil with his own hand. He then asked my father to look in the soil whether he was able to see anything. My father saw and replied in the negative. Baba then repeated the act and my father looked at the place for the second time and said that he could only see the soil. Then Baba repeated the act for the third time and this time he hit the back of my father's head with his hand and told him to look carefully. When my father looked at the place he saw some shining metal which was glittering even more because of the moonlight. Baba enquired with my father whether he could see anything. My father then replied that it was some metallic object and it was shining. Then Baba told him "Bhau that metal is nothing but gold and you can take as much as you want." Then my father told him "Baba I do not want this. With your blessings we have everything and I do not come to Shirdi with the intention of getting such materialistic returns from you." Then Baba cautioned him stating that "Bhau this is Goddess Laxmi, She is pleased with you and once you decline her boon she will never ever come back to you, at least not in this birth. So please rethink". Then my father told him that "Baba you are putting me to some acid test and I will not fall prey to this 'Maya' and once your blessings are there with me then I can live a peacefully comfortable life without this 'Maya'. Then Baba moved the mud back in its place and then both returned to Dwarkamai.

 

One interesting thing happened at that time. One of the natives of Shirdi had seen what was happening at the bank of the rivulet. He guessed that had shown some buried treasure to my father over there. He decided to visit that place late at night and dig the same and unearth the treasure. Accordingly he got up at midnight to venture for the treasure hunt. But alas! No sooner had he laid his hands to pick up the crow bar than a scorpion stung him on his fingers and he was uncomfortable throughout the night. By morning the pain was unbearable so wisely he decided to go to Sai Baba and pleaded guilty. He realized that he could not disclose his previous night's treasure hunt to anyone  other than Baba. When he entered Dwarkamai he was in severe pain. My father was present there. He saw the native was pleading to Baba with guilt and was saying that he would never ever commit such a sin again and was requesting Baba to relieve him from the agonizing pain due to the scorpion sting. Baba then told him that the one, who, was destined to have the treasure declined to take it, which does not mean that any other person could get it. In this world the Lord has made a rule that each one would get according to his own 'Karma' and if one tries to break this rule then he was bound to get punished from the Lord. My father understood the conversation. Baba then applied his sacred 'Udi' to the scorpion-stung finger of that native and told him not to misbehave in future. He blessed him that Lord would relieve him out of this agonizing pain.

 

So such was the 'Golden Test' my father was put through to at Shirdi and I think he was successful in the same because he did not fall a Prey to 'Maya'. But one thing was certain that in his future career he could not accumulate wealth. Goddess Laxmi had refrained from going to him and his financial status was so but we shall not go into that history.

Shri Sai Satcharitra Parayana - Chapter – 33 Assigned for March 01, 2016

Shri Sai Satcharitra Parayana

Chapter – 33 Assigned for March 01, 2016,

Greatness of Udi, Scorpion Sting and Plague Cases Cured - Jamner Miracle - Narayanarao's Sickness - Balabuvasutar - AppasahebKulkarni - HaribhauKarnik.

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Chapter XXXIII

Greatness of Udi

Scorpion Sting and Plague Cases Cured - Jamner Miracle - Narayanarao's Sickness - Balabuvasutar - AppasahebKulkarni - HaribhauKarnik.

In the last Chapter we described the greatness of the Guru; now in this we will describe the greatness of Udi.

Preliminary

Let us bow now before the great saints. Their merciful glances will destroy mountains of sins and do away with all the evil taints of our character. Their casual talk gives us good teachings and confers on us imperishable happiness. Their minds do not know any difference such as 'This is ours and that is yours.' Such differentiation never arises in their minds. Their debts (obligations) will never be repaid by us in this birth as well as in many future births.

Udi

It is well-known that Baba took Dakshina from all, and out of the amount thus collected, He spent a lot on charity and purchased fuel with the balance left with Him. This fuel He threw in the Dhuni - the sacred fire, which he kept ever burning. The ash from this fire was called Udi and it was freely distributed to the devotees at the time of their departure from Shirdi.

What did Baba teach or hint by this Udi? Baba taught by His Udi that all the visible phenomena in the universe are as transient as the ash. Our bodies composed of wood or matter of the five elements, will fall down, after all their enjoyments are over, and be reduced to ashes. In order to remind the devotees of the fact that their bodies will be reduced to ashes, Baba distributed Udi to them. Baba also taught by the Udi that the Brahman is the only Reality and the universe is ephemeral and that no one in this world, be he a son, father or wife, is really ours. We come here (in this world) alone and we have to go out alone. It was found and is even now found out, that the Udi cured many physical and mental maladies, but Baba wanted to din into the devotee's ears the principles of discrimination between the Unreal and the Real, non-attachment for the Unreal, by His Udi and Dakshina. The former (Udi) taught us discrimination and the latter (Dakshina) taught us non-attachment. Unless we have these two things, it is not possible for us to cross over the sea of the mundane existence. So Baba asked for and took Dakshina, and while the devotees took leave, He gave Udi as Prasad, besmeared some of it on the Bhaktas' foreheads and placed His boon-conferring hand on their heads. When Baba was in a cheerful mood, He used to sing merrily. One such song was about Udi. The burden of the Udi song was this,"Oh, playful Rama, come, come, and bring with you sacks of Udi." Baba used to sing in very clear and sweet tones.

So much about the spiritual implication of Udi. It had also its material significance. It conferred health, prosperity, freedom from anxiety, and many other worldly gains. So the Udi has helped us to gain both our ends - material as well as spiritual. We shall now begin with the stories about the Udi.

Scorpion-Sting

Narayan MotiramJani of Nasik was a devotee of Baba. He was serving under another devotee of Baba, by name RamachandraVamanModak. Once he went to Shirdi with his mother and saw Baba. Then Baba Himself told her that he (her son) should serve no more, but start independent business. Some days after, this prophecy turned true. Narayan Jani left service and started a boarding house 'Anandashram' which thrived well. Once a friend of this Narayanrao was stung by a scorpion and the pain caused by it, was servere and unbearable.Udi is most efficacious in such cases; it is to be applied on the seat of pain, and so Narayanrao searched for it, but found none. Then he stood before Baba's picture and invoked Baba's aid, chanted Baba's name and taking out a pinch of the ashes of the joss-stick burning in front of Baba's picture and thinking it to be Baba's Udi, applied it on the seat of pain and the sting. As soon as he took out his fingers, the pain vanished and both the person were moved and felt delighted.

Bubonic Plague Case

Once a devotee in Bandra came to know that his daughter, who was staying in another place was down with bubonic plague. He had no Udi with him; so he sent word to NanasahebChandorkar to send the same. Nanasaheb got this message on a road near the Thana Railway Station when he was travelling with his wife to Kalyan. He had no Udi with him at that time. He, therefore, took up some earth from the road, meditated upon Sai Baba, invoked His aid and applied it on the forehead of his wife. The devotee saw all this and when he went to his daughter's house he was very glad to learn that his daughter, who was suffering for three days, began to improve from the very moment Nanasaheb invoked Baba's aid near the Thana Railway Station.

The Jamner Miracle

About 1904-05 NanasahebChandorkar was Mamlatdar at Jamner, in the Khandesh District, which is more that 100 miles distant from Shirdi. His daughter Mainatai was pregnant and was about to deliver. He case was very serious and she was suffering from labour pains for the last two or three days. Nanasaheb tried all remedies but they proved in vain; he then remembered Baba and invoked His aid. There in Shirdi, one Ramgirbuva, whom Baba called Bapugirbuva, wanted at this time to go to his native place in Khandesh. Baba called him and told him to take a little rest and stop at Jamner on his way home and give the Udi and Arati to Nanasaheb. Ramgirbuva said that he had only two rupees with him and that amount was barely sufficient for the railway fare uptoJalgaon and it was not possible for him to go from jalgaon to Jamner, a distance of about 30 miles. Baba assured him that he need not worry, as everything would be provided for him. Then Baba asked Shama to write the well-known Arati composed by MadhavAdkar (a translation of this is given at the end of this work) and give a copy of it with Udi to Ramgirbuva to be delivered to Nanasaheb. Then relying on Baba's words, Ramgirbuva left Shirdi and reached Jalgaon at about 2-45 a.m. He had only two annas left with him and was in a hard plight. To his great relief he heard somebody calling out "Who is Bapugirbuva of Shirdi?" He went to him and told him that he was the person Bapugirbuva. Then the peon, professing to be sent by Nanasaheb, took him out to an excellent tanga with a good pair of horses. They both drove in it. The tanga ran fast and early in the morning they came to a brooklet. The drive took the horses for watering them and the peon asked Ramgirbuva to partake of some eatables. On seeing the beard, moustache and the livery of the peon, Rangirbuva suspected him to be a Moslem and was unwilling to take any refreshments from him, but the peon satisfied him by saying that he was a Hindu, a Kshatriya of Garhwal and that Nanasaheb had sent these refreshments and that there should be no difficulty, nor any doubt about acceptance. Then both of them took the refreshments and started again. They reached Jamner at dawn. Ramgirbuva alighted to attend a call of nature (passing urine) and returned within a few minutes, but found that there was no tanga, no driver and no peon. He was dumbfounded. Then he went to the neighbouringKatcheri and making enquiries, learnt that the Mamlatdar was at home. He went to Nanasaheb's house, and announced himself and gave to Nanasaheb, Baba's Udi and Arati. At this time, Mainatai's case was most serious and all were in deep anxiety about her. Nanasaheb called out his wife and asked her to give the Udi, mixed with water, to their daughter to drink, and sing Baba's Arati. He throught that Baba's help was most opportune. In a few minutes came the news that the delivery was safe and that the crisis had passed away. When Ramgirbuva thanked Nanasaheb for the peon, tanga and the refreshments etc. the latter was greatly surprised as he had sent none to the station, and was not aware of any person coming from Shirdi.

Mr. B.V. Deo of Thana, Retired Mamlatdar, made enquiries about this matter with BapuraoChandorkar, son of Nanasaheb and Ramgirbuva of Shirdi and after satisfying himself wrote an elaborate article - part prose and part poetry - in Shri SaiLeela magazine (Vol. 13 Nos. 11, 12 and 13). Brother B.V. Narsimhswami has also taken down the statements of (1) Mainatai (No. V page 14) and (2) BapusahebChandorkar (No.XX page 50) and (3) Ramgirbuva (No. XXVII, Page 83) dated Ist June 1936, 16th September 1936 and Ist December 1936 respectively and published them in his "Devotees' Experiences, Part III." The following is quoted from Ramgirbuva's statement.

"One day Baba called me to him and gave me a packet of Udi and a copy of Baba's Arati. I had to go to Khandesh at the time. Baba directed me to go to Jamner and told me to deliver the Arati and Udi to NanasahebChandorkar, at Jamner. I said to Baba that all I had was Rs. 2, and asked Him how that could take me by train from Kopergaon to Jalgaon and next by cart from Jalgaon to Jamner. Baba said,"God will give." That was Friday and I started at once. I reached Manmad at 7-30 p.m. and Jalgaon at 2-45 a.m. At that time plague regulations were enforced and I had much trouble. I was to discover what I should do to get to Jamner. At about 3 a.m. a peon in boots, turban and well equipped with other details of good dress came to me and took me to a tanga and drove me on. I was in terror. On the way at Bhaghoor, I took refreshments. We reached Jamner early in the morning and by the time I attended my call of nature the tanga and its driver had disappeared (page 83)."

Narayanarao

BhaktaNarayanrao (father's name and surname are not given) had the good fortune to see Baba twice during the Latter's lifetime. Three years after the passing away of Baba in 1918, he wanted to come to Shirdi, but he could not come. Within a year of Baba's Mahasamadhi he fell sick and suffered much. All ordinary remedies gave him no relief. So he meditated on Baba day and night. One night he had a vision in his dream. Baba coming to him through a cellar, comforted him saying, "Don't be anxious, you will be improving from tommorrow, and within a week you will be on your legs." Narayanrao got perfectly well within the time mentioned in the vision. Now the point for consideration is this:- Was Baba living because he had the body, and was He dead because He left it? No, Baba is ever alive, for He transcends both life and death. He who loved Him once whole-heartedly gets response from Him at any time and at any place. He is always by our side and will take any form and appear before the devout Bhakta and satisfy him.

AppasahebKulkarni

In 1917 the chance of one AppasahebKulkarni came. He was transferred to Thana and began to worship Baba's picture presented to him by BalasahebBhate. In real earnest he did the worship. He offered flowers, sandal-paste, and naivedya daily to Baba in the picture and longed intently to see Him. In this connection it may be remarked that seeing Baba's picture earnestly is equivalent to seeing Him in person. The following story illustrates this statement.

BalabuvaSutar

A Saint of Bombay named BalabuvaSutar, who on account of his piety, devotion and bhajan, was called "Modern Tukaram", came to Shirdi for the first time in 1917. When be bowed before Baba, the latter said "I know this man since four years". Balabuva wondered and thought, how could that be, as that was his first trip to Shirdi. But thinking about it seriously he recollected that he had prostrated himself four years ago before Baba's portrait at Bombay and was convinced about the significance of Baba's words. He said to himself,"How omniscient and all-pervading are the Saints and how kind are they to their Bhaktas! I merely bowed to His photo, this fact was noticed by Baba and in due time He made me realize that seeing His photo is equivalent to seeing Him in person!"

Appasaheb Kulkarni

To return to Appasaheb's story. While he was in Thana, he had to go on tour to Bhivandi and was not expected to return within a week. In his absence, the following wonderful thing took place on the third day. At noon a fakir turned up at Appasaheb's house. His features resembled exactly those of Baba's photo. Mrs. Kulkarni and the children all asked him whether he was Sai Baba of Shirdi. He said 'No', but that he was an obedient servant of His and came there at His order to enquire after the health of the family. Then he asked for Dakshina. The lady gave him a rupee. He gave her a small packet of Udi, and asked her to keep this in the shrine along with the photo for worship. Then he left the house and went away. Now hear the wonderful Leela of Sai.

Appasaheb could not proceed with his tour as his horse fell sick at Bhivandi. He returned home that afternoon and learnt from his wife about fakir's visit. He smarted in his mind as he did not get the darshan of the fakir and he did not like that only one rupee was paid as Dakshina. He said that had he been present, he would have offered not less than rupees ten. Then he immediately started in quest of the fakir and searched for him in the Masjid and other places, without taking any food. His search was in vain. He then returned home and took his food. The reader may remember here Baba's dictum in Chapter 32 that God's quest should not be made on an empty belly. Appasaheb got a lesson, here about this. Then after meals he went out for a walk with a friend Mr. Chitre. Going some distance they saw a man approaching them rapidly. Appasaheb though that he must be the fakir that came to his house at noon, as his features tallied with those of baba in the photo. The fakir immediately put forth his hand and asked for Dakshina. Appasaheb gave him a rupee. He demanded again and again and so Appasaheb gave him two more. Still he was not satisfied. Then he borrowed Rs. three from Mr. Chitre and gave them to him. He wanted still more. Appasaheb asked him to accompany him to his home. Then they all returned home and Appasaheb then gave him again three rupees, in all nine. He looked unsatisfied and demanded again. Then he told him that he had a currency of Rs. ten. The fakir asked for the same and took it and returned the nine rupees in cash and went away. Appasaheb had said that he would pay Rs. ten and that sum was taken from him and nine rupees, consecrated by Baba's touch, were returned to him. The figure 9 is significant. It denotes the nine types of devotion (vide Chapter 21). It may also be noted here that Baba gave Rs. nine to one LaxmibaiShinde at His last moment.

Appasaheb examined the Udi-packet and found that it contained some flower-petals and Akshata. Then some time afterwards he got hair from Baba when he saw Him at Shirdi. He put the Udi-packet and the hair in a talisman and always wore it on his arm. Appasaheb realized the power of the Udi. Though he was very clever he got Rs. 40/- as pay in the beginning, but after he secured Baba's photo and His Udi, he got many times forty rupees per month and also got much power and influence; and along with these temporal benefits, his spiritual progress was also rapid. So those who are fortune enough to get Baba's Udi should, after bath, apply it on the forehead and take some little of it mixed with water in the mouth as holy Tirth.

Haribhau Karnik

In 1917 Haribhau Karnik of Dahanu (Thana District) came to Shirdi on the Guru-pournima day (in the month of Ashadha) and worshipped Baba with all formality. He offered clothes and Dakshina, and after taking Baba's leave through Sharma, got down the steps of the Masjid. Then he thought that he should offer one more rupee to Baba and was just turning to get up when Shama informed him by signs that as he had got Baba's leave, he should go and not return. So he started home. On his way, when he went into the temple of Kala Rama at Nasik for darshan, the Saint NarsingMaharaj who used to sit just inside the big door of the temple, left his Bhaktas there came to Haribhau, caught his wrist and said,"Give me my one rupee". Karnik was surprised. He paid the rupee most willingly and thought that Sai Baba recovered the rupee, which he intended in his mind to give, through saintNarsingMaharaj. This shows how the saints work in unison.

This story illustrates the fact that all saints are one and shows how they work in unison.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

NO PAIN NO SIGN

NO PAIN NO SIGN

 

"All our feelings of pain and pleasure depend upon the attitude of our mind." – Sri Sai Satcharitra, Ch. XX.

 

For the love of the Buddha, a nobleman's son became a bhikkhu. He renounced his wealth and comfort and accepted the hardships of a mendicant's life. He slept on the bare earth: he ate what he got by way of alms. He was happy.

 

One day, he got an attack of rheumatic pain. At first, he treated it with indifference. Days passed by: the pain persisted. He could not walk with ease: at times, he could not meditate properly. He felt miserable. Gone was the joy of life. However hard he tried, he could not recapture his lost peace. His mind became sluggish: he felt nerve tired and weary.

One day, as he was out begging alms, he found a little girl playing with her friends. She was a cripple: she had but one leg and hobbled on crutches. She was happy. She shouted and laughed and made merry with other children.

 

Seeing her, the bhikkhu felt ashamed of himself. "This little girl who has only one leg is bright and happy," he said to himself, "and I, a disciple of the Buddha, despair because of a little pain!" He returned as a new man. The pain no longer trouble him. He was free!

 

To Achieve Life’s Objective - Follow what you have studied

To Achieve Life's Objective - Follow what you have studied

 

 

"I, you, God, truth, in the same way Maruti, Vittoba of Pandarpur, Mahalsapati, Kashinath, Adkar, Sathe, Haripant, Kaka, Thatya, Ganesh Bere, Venu, Balachandra- all are God's forms. That is why we should not hate anyone. God lives in all beings. Do not forget this. The feeling of universal love will spring in the heart on its own. Once that feeling prevails in the heart one can achieve everything. Till such time one should try to keep his mind steady under control".

 

"As the fly revolves around the fire and goes away; so does the mind go everywhere but runs away on seeking Brahman. Unless we concentrate the mind on Brahman we cannot escape the cycle of births and deaths. Narayana, we must first escape from all this. We can have no better opportunity to do this than this birth in human form. This birth as a human presents us with an invaluable chance. The worship of God with form (murti puja) has been started to help us concentrate the mind."

 

"One should worship the statue or representation of God with the firm feeling that God is residing in it. By doing worship of the murti with devotion and faith one achieves concentration of the mind. Without concentration, the mind does not get stilled. So one should do worship, study spiritual texts, remember what one has studied and meditation. One should try to follow what one has studied or one has heard from the saints. Spiritual learning is the foremost of all learning. As the five-headed Shiva is the foremost in knowledge, as the Meru mountain, is the foremost among the mountains, in the same way liberation (mukti) comes by itself to one who has realized his self. The almighty God will become his servitor. The steps leading to the realization of self are most difficult. However, this is the easiest way to achieve Moksha. Let me explain this in even more detail. You, Maruti, Haripant, Bere, Kaka, Thatya and the others are all following this path. Surrender whole heartedly to God keeping in mind what I have told you and Nimonkar earlier. Visit and have the darshan of mahatmas frequently. One should follow the moral way of life punctiliously and do only those actions which brings merit. By such conduct your heart will be pure at the end of your time. Do not be deluded at your end by increasing your love or being infatuated by any person or object. Call upon God with a mind stilled in concentration.

 

Meditate upon your Ista. By such meditation, you will achieve samipya mukti at the end. Recently a lady called Bannu had left her body and achieved this state in Bodhegaon. In the same way Adkar and Venu will also achieve mukti". Baba concluded his discourse and kept his right hand on Chandorkar's head in benediction. Chandorkar was overcome with happiness. He prostrated and with his hands folded in reverence said, "Baba, Oh siddha of siddhas! Mountain of mercy! Thou art the father and mother and everything to me. Oh manifestation of the perfect eternal Brahman! Oh the receptacle of all auspiciousness in this world! Oh thou most munificent one! Oh thou who would enable us to cross this dangerous ocean of worldliness! Thou hast taught me the divine knowledge and hast taken me, an ignoramus, forward towards salvation! May your kind grace fall on us thus forever." Baba said firmly, "I will never let my devotee fall from grace. You need have no doubt about this. This is my promise. May the all merciful Allah-i-llahi bless you".

 

Dear listeners! The devotees prostrated at Baba's feet in devotion remembering Baba's infinite greatness in their minds. Their devotion is so great that we are not even equal to the dust of the dust of their feet. Baba is the mother and father of us orphans. He has incarnated in this world with the mission of leading us forward towards salvation. Baba and his devotees met today in that Maharaj's royal court. Baba has cooked with his own hands the delicious dishes of devotion, knowledge and dispassion to serve to his devotees. Let us all partake freely of that meal. Eat to your heart's content taking what you will. Enough, for now. Let us repair to that great saint - Sri Sai Baba. Let us wait like dogs at his door sill for the crumbs of knowledge from his table. We would achieve salvation if we can get even a single crumb from him. Our life would not have been spent in vain. Come, we may not get such a chance again. The merit of a thousand yajnas is obtainable here.

 

May all those who reverently read this chapter; or those who listen to it with concentration even once; achieve salvation. The history of that great saint Sri Sai Baba given in the three chapters of 'Bhakta leelamrit' is like the three holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati.  Come, gain the merit of bathing in the holy confluence of the three rivers by immersing yourself in the holy teaching of Baba given in these three chapters. May all weal be to you.

 

This is the end of 33rd chapter of 'Bhakta Leelamrit' written by Das Ganu Maharaj.

 

(SRI SAIGURUCHARITRA - by devotee Ganpatrao Dattatreya Sahasra-buddhebetter known as Das Ganu Maharaj)

Experiences of the Tarkhad Family with Shirdi Sai Baba 09 of 21 - Resurrection of a dead body

Experiences of the Tarkhad Family with Shirdi Sai Baba  09 of 21 - Resurrection of a dead body

Author: Virendra Jyotindra Tarkhad

 

Resurrection of a dead body

I am very certain that many of Sai Baba's devotees must have come across such spiritual experiences and as a result Baba's name & fame spread all over the continents. I came across one Ms. Bhakuni who was attached to Shri Sai Mandir at Chattarpur near New Delhi. She was doing her Ph D in literature and the subject she had selected was Sai Baba. She has done a lot of research work on Baba. Their trust is publishing a quarterly magazine in Hindi and it is quite educative. Of course during Baba's lifetime his message was spread over Mumbai and Maharashtra by mainly none other than Dasganu Maharaj. Baba used to address him as "Ganya". Dasganu Maharaj used to perform "Kirtans" through which he used to impress upon people the Leela's of Baba and also used to spread his message to the masses.

Once during Dasganu's stay in Shirdi he was called upon to give a performance in a village near Shirdi. Dasganu Maharaj used to keep Baba's Photo on a stool and used to garland the same before he began his Kirtan. Of course when conducted near Shirdi he used to take Baba's Blessings before proceeding. One afternoon he came to Dwarkamai and informed Baba that in the evening he would proceed to perform the Kirtan in a nearby village and hence he needed Baba's blessings. Baba told him that he was free to go but requested him to take Bhau (my father) along with him.

Dasganu said that he had no objection in taking along my father but he would not like to deprive him of his ritual of lighting lamps in Dwakamai in the evening. Hearing this Baba said that he need not worry about Dwakamai Lamps as somebody else would attend to that task, but insisted that Dasganu should take Bhau along with him. Both Dasganu and my father (who was present there) understood that this was Baba's order. Then as per the agreed time they left in the evening for that village, which was around 7 to 8 km away. In those days there was no transportation facility like today so they had to go by walking. By the time they reached the village the sun had already set they unfolded the mats on the ground, kept the stool with Baba's photograph on it and garlanded the same. They lighted the Petromax lamps & hung at Four Comers. Villagers had gathered and Dasganu Maharaj began his Kirtan. After about an hour when night had already set in they encountered trouble.

Around 7 to 8 people who were very dark complexioned possible from Bhil tribe came over there. They were carrying a dead body over their shoulders and were on the way to cemetery to perform the last rights. Their leader straight came to Dasganu Maharaj and threatened him. He inquired about the photograph on the stool. Dasganu explained politely stating that the photograph is of Sai Baba: who was stationed at Shirdi and he worshiped him as his Guru as well as his Deity. He went on to state that Sai Baba gave medicines to poor people and relieves them from their agony. He was performing the Kirtan, which would bring happiness to the villagers. Then that Bhil leader told his people to keep the bier down and he addressed Dasganu stating that if his Deity is mighty, then it should be possible for the Deity to bring back life into that dead body. He challenged him to do so otherwise he would kill him and his troupe. Dasganu was very scared and he approached my father seeking for his advice.

My father had realized that this could be probably Baba's creation and they should plead to him only and invoke his mercy to come to their rescue. He suggested to Dasganu to perform his famous Kirtan "SAI RAHAM NAZAR KARNA BACHHON KA PALAN KARANA" and leave it to Sai to decide the rest. Then Dasganu began his popular Kirtan and he got so much engrossed in it that my father had never seen him in that state ever before. He was literally dancing and all the villagers were positively responding to him. My father was rather keeping a watch on that dead body. About an hour must have passed and something unprecedented happened. The life had returned to the dead body. It broke open all the strings tied around him and sat on the bier and started clapping and joined the Kirtan along with the rest. My father was overjoyed to see that He got up from his place and went to Dasganu who was no more himself because he was in a trance. My father caught him with his both hands and told him to stop the Kirtan. Baba had saved them from fear of loosing their own lives. The Kirtan stopped. Those Bhils got up. They helped that dead body (which was no more dead then) to stand on his own feet. They told him to bow to Dasganu and then made all detailed inquiry about Baba and promised to visit Shirdi for his Darshan.

Next day when Dasganu and my father went to Dwarkamai Baba said, Hey Ganya, good that my Bhau was there with you yesterday, otherwise who would have saved you from the wrath of the Bhils?" and hearing this both of them told Baba that it was all his creation and they are totally dependant on him in situations like that and he should continue to shower his mercy and blessings upon them.

Dear readers here you may have all kinds of doubts. I can only plead you to please believe this. What is important is Baba knew in advance what is going to happen during the Kirtan or may be it was all his creation to imbibe confidence in Dasganu. Baba knows best how to pull people towards him and this will continue to happen. We must keep our strong faith in him.

 

Shri Sai Satcharitra Parayana – Chapter – 32 Assigned for February 29, 2016

Shri Sai Satcharitra Parayana –

Chapter – 32 Assigned for February 29, 2016

In Quest of Guru and God – Fasting Disapproved.

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Chapter XXXII

In Quest of Guru and God – Fasting Disapproved.

In this Chapter Hemadpant describes two things:- (1) How Baba met His Guru in the woods, and through him God; and (2) How Baba made one Mrs. Ghokhale, who had made up her mind to fast for three days, eat Puran-Polis.

Preliminary

In the beginning, Hemadpant describes the samsara (visible world) by the allegory of Ashvattha (Banyan) tree which has, in the phraseology of the Geeta, roots above and branches below. Its branches are spread downwards and upwards and are nourished by the gunas (qualities), and its sprouts are the objects of the senses. Its roots, leading to actions, are extended downwards to this world of men. Its form cannot be known in this world, nor its end, its beginning nor its support. Cutting this Ashvattha tree of strong roots with the sharp weapon of non-attachment, one should seek the path beyond, treading which there is no return.

For traversing this path, the help of a good guide (Guru) is absolutely necessary. However learned a man may be, or however deep his study of Vedas and Vedangas (sacred literature) may be, he cannot go to his destination safely. If the guide be there to help him and show him the right way, he would avoid the pitfalls and the wild beasts on the journey, and everything will be smooth-sailing.

Baba's experience in this matter, the story which He gave out Himself, is really wonderful, which, when attended to, will give you faith, devotion and salvation.

The Quest

Once four of us were studying religious scriptures and other books and, being thus enlightened, we began to discuss the nature of the Brahman. One of us said that we should raise the self by the Self and not depend on others. To this the second replied that he who controls his mind is blessed; we should be free from thoughts and ideas and there is nothing in the world without us. The third said that the world (phenomenon) is always changing, the formless is eternal; so we should discriminate between the Unreal and the Real. And the fourth (Baba Himself) urged that bookish knowledge is worthless and added, "Let us do our prescribed duty and surrender our body, mind and five pranas (life) to the Guru's feet. Guru is God, all pervading. To get this conviction, strong unbounded faith is necessary."

Discussing in this wise, we four learned men began to ramble through the woods in the quest of God. The three wanted to make the quest with their free and unaided intellect. On the way a Vanjari (a man who trades in certain things, such as grain etc. by carrying them on bullock) met us and asked us, "It is hot now, where and how far are you going?". "To search the woods", we replied. He enquired, "On what quest are you bound?" We gave him an ambiguous and evasive reply. Seeing us rambling aimlessly, he was moved and said, "Without knowing the woods fully, you should not wander at random. If you want to walk through forests and jungles, you should take a guide with you. Why do you exert youselves unnecessarily at this sultry noon-time? You may not give out to me your secret quest; still you can sit down, eat bread, drink water, take rest and then go. Be always patient at heart." Though he spoke so tenderly, we discarded his request and marched on. We thought that we were self-contained men and needed nobody's help. The woods were vast and trackless, the trees therein grew so close and tall, that the sun's rays could not penetrate through them; so we lost our way and wandered here and there for a long time. Ultimately through sheer good luck, we came back to the place from were we started. The Vanjari met us again and said, "Relying on your own cleverness you missed your way; a guide is always necessary to show us the right way in small or great matters; and no quest can be successfully carried out on an empty stomach. Unless God wills it, no one meets us on the way. Do not discard offers of food; served dish should not be thrust away. Offers of bread and food should be regarded as auspicious signs of success." Saying this he again offered us food and asked us to be calm and patient. Again we did not like this good hospitality and discarded his offer and went away. Without doing any quest and without taking any food, the three began to move out. So obstinate were they. I was hungry and thirsty and I was moved with the Vanjari's extraordinary love; we thought ourselves very learned but were quite strangers to pity and kindness. The Vanjari was a quite illiterate and unqualified fellow and belonged to a low caste. Still he had love in his heart and asked us to eat the bread. In this way he who loves others disinterestedly is really enlightened and I thought acceptance of his hospitality was the best beginning of getting knowledge. So very respectfully I accepted the loaf of bread offered, ate it and drank water.

Then to! The Guru at once came and stood before us, "What was the dispute about?" He asked and I told him everything that had happened. Then he said, "Would you like to come with me? I will show you what you want; but he alone, who believes in what I say, will be successful." The others did not agree to what he said and left him; but I bowed to him reverently and accepted his dictum. Then he took me to a well, tied my feet with a rope and hung me – head downwards and feet up – from a tree near the well. I was suspended three feet above the water, which I could not reach with My hands, nor which could go into my mouth. Suspending me in this manner he went away, no one knew where. After 10 or 12 ghatakas (4 or 5 hours) he returned and taking me out quickly asked me how I fared. "In Bliss supreme, I was. How can a fool like me describe the joy I experienced?" I replied. On hearing my answer the Guru was much pleased with me, drew me near him and stroking my body with his hand kept me with him. He took care of me as tenderly as a mother-bird does of her young ones. He put me into his school; how beautiful it was! There I forgot my parents, all my attachment was snapped and I was liberated easily. I thought that I should embrace his neck and remain staring at him always. If his image were not fixed in my pupils, I would like better to be blind. Such was the school! No one, who entered it once, could return empty-handed. My Guru became my all-in-all, my home and property, mother and father, everything. All my senses left their places and concentrated themselves in my eyes, and my sight was centred on him. Thus was my Guru, the sole object of my meditation and I was conscious of none else. While meditating on him my mind and intellect were stunned and I had thus to keep quiet and bow to him in silence.

There are other schools where you see an altogether different spectacle. The disciples go there to seek knowledge and spend their money, time and labour; but ultimately they have to repent. The Guru there boasts of his secret knowledge and his straight-forwardness. He makes a show of his sacredness and holiness, but he is not tender at heart. He speaks a lot and sings his own glory; but his own words do not touch the disciples' hearts and they are not convinced. So far as Self-realization is concerned, he has none. How can such schools be of any use to the disciples and how can they be benefited? The master (Guru) mentioned above was of different type. By his grace, realization flashed upon me of itself, without effort or study. I had not to seek anything, but everything became clear to me as broad day-light. The Guru alone knows how the topsy-turvy Suspension, 'with head down and feet up' can give happiness!

Among the four, one was a Karmatha (Ritualistic) who only knew how to observe, and abstain from, certain rites; the second was a Jnani, who was puffed up with pride of knowledge and the third was a Bhakta who surrendered himself completely to God, believing that he was the sole Doer. When they were discussing and arguing, the question of God turned up, and they, depending on their unaided knowledge, went in search of Him. Sai, who was Discrimination and Dispassion incarnate, was one of the four. Being Himself Brahman Incarnate, some may ask, "Why did He mix with them and act foolishly?" He did this for attaining the good of the public, and setting them an example to follow. Though an incarnation Himself, He respected a low Vanjari, by accpeting his food with the firm belief that "Food is Brahman" and showed how those who rejected Vanjari's hospitable offer suffered and how it was impossible to get Jnana without a Guru. The Shruti (Taittiriya Upanishad) exhorts us to honour and worship mother, father and preceptor, and to study (learn and teach) the sacred scriptures. These are the means of purifying our minds and unless this purification is effected, self-realization is not possible. Neither the senses, nor the mind and intellect reach the Self. Modes of proof, such as Perception and Inference will not help us in the matter. It is the grace of the Guru that counts. The objects of our life such as Dharma, Artha and Kama are attainable with our effort, but the fourth object, Moksha (liberation) can only he had with the help of the Guru.

In the Darbar of Shri Sai, many personalities appear and play their part; astrologers come and give out their predicitions; princes, noblemen, ordinary and poor men, Sannyasis, Yogis songsters and others come for darshan. Even a mahar comes and, making a Johar (his salutation), says this Sai is the Mai-Baap (True parents), Who will do away with our rounds of births and deaths. So many others such as Jugglers, Gondhalis, the blind and the lame, Nath-panthis, dancers and other players come and are given suitable reception. Biding his own time, the Vanjari also appeared, and played the part assigned to him. Let us now revert to the other story.

Fasting and Mrs. Gokhale

Baba never fasted Himself, nor did He allow others to do so. The mind of the faster is never at ease, then how could he attain his Paramartha (goal of life)? God is not attained on an empty stomach; first the soul has to be appeased. If there is no moisture of food in the stomach and nutrition, with what eyes should we see God, with what tongue should we describe His greatness and with what ears should we hear the same? In short, when all our organs get their proper nutrition and are sound, we can practise devotion and other sadhanas to attain God. Therefore, neither fasting nor overeating is good. Moderation in diet is really wholesome both to the body and mind.

One Mrs. Gokhale came to Shirdi with an introductory letter from Mrs. Kashibai Kanitkar (a devotee of Baba) to Dada Kelkar. She came to Baba with a determination to sit at Baba's Feet observing a three days fast. The day previous, Baba said to Dada Kelkar, that He would not allow his children to starve during the Shimga, i.e., Holi holidays, and that if they had to starve, why was He there? Next day when the woman went with Dada Kelkar and sat at Baba's Feet, Baba at once said to her, "Where is the necessity of fasting? Go to Dadabhat's house, prepare the dish of Puran POlis (wheat rotis with gram-flour and jaggery), feed his children and yourself too." Shimga holidays were on. Mrs. Kelkar was then in her menses and there was nobody to cook in Dadabhat's house. So Baba's advice was very timely. Then Mrs. Gokhale had to go to Dadabhat's house and prepare the dish as directed. She cooked that day, fed others and herself. What a good story and how beautiful its import!

Baba's Sircar

Baba gave a story of his boyhood as follows:- "When I was a youngester, I was in search of bread and went to Beedgaum. There I got embroidery work. I worked hard, sparing no pains. The employer was very much pleased with Me. Three other boys worked before Me. The first got Rs. 50/- the second Rs. 100/- and the third Rs. 150/-. And I was given twice the whole of this amount, viz. Rs. 600/-. After seeing my cleverness, the employer loved me, praised me and honoured me with a full dress, a turban for the head and a shell a for the body, etc. I kept this dress intact withoutusing it. I thought that what a man might give does not last long and it is always imperfect. But what My Sircar (God) gives, lasts to the end of time. No other gift from any man can be compared to His. My Sircar says "Take, take," but everybody comes to me and says 'Give, give.' Nobody attends carefully to the meaning of what I say. My Sircar's treasury (spiritual wealth) is full, it is overflowing. I say, "Dig out and take away this wealth in cartloads, the blessed son of a true mother should fill himself with this wealth. The skill of my Fakir, the Leela of my Bhagwan, the aptitude of my Sircar is quite unique. What about Me? Body (earth) will mix with earth, breath with air. This time won't come again. I go somewhere, sit somewhere; the hard Maya troubles Me much, still I feel always anxiety for My men. He who does anything (spiritual endeavour) will reap its fruit and he who remembers these words of Mine will get invaluable happiness."

Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all