Experiences of the Tarkhad Family with Shirdi SaiBaba 18 of 21 - Fight with Fire
Author: Virendra Jyotindra Tarkhad
Fight with Fire
Dear Sai Devotees you must be aware that Baba had saved the life of a potter's daughter who had accidentally fallen in the baking oven. In doing so his own hands had received severe burn injuries. A leper by name Bhagoji Shinde used to apply the Ghee (purified butter) to the wounds and then bandage the same with pieces of cloth. Baba also used to use his hands as a ladle for stirring hot Dal or mutton curry and these items were given as Prasad (consecrated food) to His devotees. Of course I am sure that the touch of that sacred hand must be inducing tremendous amount of medicinal properties in those substances. When one ate them as Prasad it must be driving away all acute diseases instantly.
However I am going to narrate to you all an unprecedented incident over here.
One fine morning my grandfather had a dream. In his dream he saw his Khatau Mills was in flames and as a result his sleep was disturbed. At the dining table when he broached the subject to my father they decided to inform the proprietor of the mills Mr. Dharamsi Khatau. As a secretary of the Group of mills he advised the proprietor to cover the mills with suitable insurance against fire. In those days the insurance cover was not common as the money spent was reducing the profits and the financial managers {Munimji} were against it. Finally my grandfather succeeded in convincing Mr. Dharamsi and they arranged for revaluation of the entire textile Mill and renewed the insurance cover for enhanced value of the Mill.
Five to six months later one morning they received an S O S call from the mill that there was a fire in the mill and they were summoned immediately. They rushed to the mill forthrightly. On reaching there they saw the weaving department was under fire. They both prayed to Baba and requested for his help to contain the fire and save the mill from being destroyed completely. As they climbed to the second floor where the weaving department was situated, to their utter surprise they saw one "Fakir" with his head tied with a piece of cloth and was in the midst of the fire and waving his both hands trying to contain the fire. My grandfather asked my father "Is he not our Baba trying to extinguish the fire?"
They got confirmation that Baba had responded to their prayers. It took around one more hour and the fire was under control. They all gave a sigh of relief, as the damage was only limited to the weaving department and there was no necessity of shutting down the mill. Also due to the insurance cover the financial losses were compensated. No sooner the normalcy of operations were reached they both visited Shirdi to convey their thanks to Baba. When they were near the steps of Dwarkamai, Baba almost coaxed my grandfather saying "Hey Old man (MHATARYA), who is operating your mill?" My grandfather prostrated at his feet and told him to continue his unfailing blessings to all of them. He profusely thanked him for fighting the fire. He there & then confirmed to Baba that He is the real secretary. On hearing this Baba got up from his seat, he lifted Babasaheb Tarkhad from the ground and said "Hey Old man, please get up & remember that I stand committed to pull out my devotees from the gravest of the dangers. I will fulfil all commitments given by me from this Dwarkamai to my devotees. No sooner my devotee sends a distress signal to me I am there at his service, whichever part of the world he may be."
I am sure you all will agree with me that it was an unprecedented incidence.
Oh Lord Sai, I sincerely bow before you and your Leelas.
