Experiences of the Tarkhad Family with Shirdi Sai Baba 6 of 22 – Baba Controls Goddess MariAai
Author: Virendra Jyotindra Tarkhad
Frightful Sight of Goddess MariAai
Dear Sai devotee readers, we are passing through the 21st Century and hence I have a humble request to make to all of you to believe in this experience of Jyotindra which I will be narrating to you shortly. Those who have read Shri Sai Satcharitra would know that once there was an epidemic of Cholera in Shirdi. Village people believed that you have to pray to Goddess 'MariAai' when such an epidemic is widespread, in order to keep the deaths under control. Off course in those days the medical aids were not forthcoming and advanced like today and epidemics were a common phenomenon in Indian villages. Also the communication system was not that developed and as a result of which when my father reached Shirdi he was not aware that there was Cholera epidemic in Shirdi. Of course he had by then developed great faith in Baba and he knew that Baba would take care of him and as such if it is too dangerous to stay then Baba would instantly direct him to return to Mumbai. He therefore was unafraid and performed his rituals as usual. In the next two to three days he experienced that the death toll was on the increase and Cholera was increasing into menacing proportion in the villages around Shirdi. He was internally frightened. One evening, as per his ritual, he lighted the Petromax lamps and was placed them in Dwarkamai. No sooner had he climbed the steps where Baba used to normally sit in front of the Dhuni than Baba got angry with him. He started abusing him. This was a new experience for Jyotindra. Baba's anger was reaching high peak. In rage he told my father that he will cut him into seven pieces and bury him in the Masjid. Jyotindra was scared. He fell at Baba's feet and started pleading to be pardoned, because he thought he might have inadvertently made some mistake, which aroused anger in Baba. Then in the same mood Baba ordered him to sit there and press his legs. My father instantly obeyed his orders and was seated at his feet pressing his legs. He noticed that Baba was still murmuring something and continued to be in the angry mood he was in. After a little while Jyotindra started perspiring because he was seeing in front of him the Goddess Kali in a menacing posture and blood soaked tongue. On seeing this sight my father lost his senses completely. Automatically he held on to Baba's legs with all his might and strength in his body. He was trying to convey to Baba to save him from this, but the fright was so deep that words could not come out. He became speechless. His face was only turning in two directions from Baba to Kali and vice-versa. He was seeing Baba uttering something but was unable to hear and comprehend. In no time he became unconscious. When he woke up he realized that Baba was shaking him and asking him to wake up. He regained his consciousness and was drenched in sweat. Baba was telling him that "Hey Bhau I told you to press my legs but you were holding them so tight that your nails were hurting me." My father was very thirsty and he asked for some water. Baba gave him some water from the earthen pot (Kolamba) which used to be there in Dwarkamai. My father drank the water and he reached the NTP (Normal Temperature and Pressure) condition. He instantly told Baba not to show him such dreadful sights because he did not have the strength to withstand them. He told him that for the next four days he may not be able to gulp food and he would have to rethink whether he should come to Shirdi or not. Then Baba asked him "Hey Bhau please tell me what exactly did you see?" Then my father narrated the whole incident which was still fresh in his memory. He asked Baba "You were murmuring something with that dreadful person but I could not hear anything as I fell unconscious." Baba replied "Hey Bhau that dreadful person you are referring to was none other than Aai.'' She was asking for your soul and I was declining. She was refusing to go away, and then I told her you may take five more people but I will not part with my Bhau. Finally she gave up and left Dwarkamai." Baba went on to say "Bhau please remember I did not bring you to Shirdi to die, and when you are at my feet nobody can snatch you away from me." For my father, it was like he had taken rebirth. He fell at Baba's feet and once again pleaded not to show such dreadful sights as it was beyond his ability to withstand. Whenever my father used to narrate this incident he used to say that the very remembrance of that sight gave him a sleepless night.
Dear Sai devotee readers after going through this episode I am sure many of you may have some doubts and would like to seek some clarification but as said in the beginning please believe it. Shirdi Sai Baba was nothing but Lord Incarnation and therefore he possessed those supernatural powers which, when required he utilized to save a devotee. I am sure there must be ample number of people who must have undergone such life saving experiences. Baba used to declare that it was his ardent duty to protect his devotee from evil effect. "He told my father "Bhau after my bodily departure from Shirdi, people will come like ants to Shirdi, and please remember I do not utter lies while speaking from this Dwarkamai" Dear readers in this 21st century we all are seeing and experiencing what has transpired in Shirdi and I am sure this will go on till the end of this world.
