A GREAT AND BLESSED SAI DEVOTEE - LATE TATYASAHEB NOOLKAR 3 of 6 (SHRI SAILEELA MAY JUNE 1991)

A GREAT AND BLESSED SAI DEVOTEE  - LATE TATYASAHEB NOOLKAR 3 of 6

(SHRI SAILEELA MAY JUNE 1991)

 

 

 

Desire to stay permanently at Shirdi

 

While working as Sub-Judge at Pandharpur, a court case regarding "Arati" rights of the famous Vithoba Temple came before him and as per his usual truthful nature gave a decision generally not expected by the public. Then he took leave and went to Shirdi along with his family. When Tatyasaheb went to see Sai Baba, He lovingly said, "Tatyaba! It's good you have come. How long are you staying?" Thereupon Tatyasaheb replied, "Baba! I do not feel like leaving this place. Now please let me stay here. In the court I have decided a case concerning Lord Vithoba Himself. Now do not make me hold the pen again to write decisions on cases concerning human beings. It is enough now." On this Baba uttered, "Yes so will it be" as if prophetically.

 

Arrival of a school-friend

 

Tatyasaheb Noolkar and Babasaheb alias Nilkanth Ramachandra Sahasrabuddhe were close friends while studying at Pune High School. But afterwards for 25-30 years they never came across each other. Now while Tatyasaheb was sitting in Sathe Wada, one gentleman came near and wished him. So Tatyasaheb said to him, "There is no doubt that you have recognized me but I am sorry that I cannot recollect you".

 

Thereupon the gentleman said, "You are physically such that having seen you once nobody can forget you, while like me there must be hundreds of individuals. We have also not met for 25-30 years. So it is quite natural that you cannot recognize me. But now see if you can remember a person called Nilkanth Sahasrabuddhe known to you from Pune High School." No sooner Tatyasaheb heard this; he jumped and embraced Babasaheb lightly. After inquiries about each other's welfare and whereabouts were over, Babasaheb narrated to Tatyasaheb as to how he landed up at Shirdi from Bombay on insistence by Nanasaheb Chandorkar and Kakasaheb Dixit, who not only paid him the railway fare but also gave a note to Shri Madhavrao Deshpande. On this Tatyasaheb said, "We will of course send for Madhavrao Deshpande, but from now onwards you are my guest and making all arrangements of your comfortable stay at Shirdi is my right only."

 

After bath etc. they all along with Bapusaheb Jog went to the Masjid for Arati. When Sahasrabuddhe bowed to Sai Baba, He said to him, "Serve Tatyaba". This order to Sahasrabuddhe was repeated by Baba on second and third day also. Both Tatyasaheb and Babasaheb could not understand the implication of such order. Later on when Babasaheb, time and again, started jokingly asking Tatyasaheb, "What service should I do to you as per your Guru's orders?" Tatyasaheb once replied, "What is the implication of His orders, Baba alone knows. We will know when the time comes. Both you and I are of the same class and after coming here I am absorbed here completely. Perhaps you may also be similarly absorbed soon. However, please stop your joking manners. I feel very hurt thereby."

 

In between, Madhavrao used to open the topic with Baba about Babasaheb's going back from Shirdi, but every time Baba used to say, "He will go after 4 days." Then at last one day he said, "Let him lie down in front of Masjid like a dog. We want him here in future for some big job. You do not know. He has not come here without any reason."

 

Last sickness mid service of the school friend

 

Ten fifteen days after this, Tatyasaheb because of his diabetes, got a carbuncle (inflamed boil) on his buttock and became sick. Slowly the number of carbuncles increased and Tatyasaheb's sickness started getting worse. Babasaheb, his school-friend was always ready to serve others. Moreover this was a friend's cause and ordered by Sai Baba Himself. So Babasaheb placed himself day and night next to Tatyasaheb and decided not to fail even slightly in serving Tatyasaheb and not to think of leaving Shirdi until Tatyasaheb was completely cured.

 

Tatyasaheb's two sons were present and were also serving to their best ability. The elder son Wamanrao was a doctor having passed his L.M. & S. degree recently. In that small village there was no possibility of getting neither any allopathic medicines nor any facilities for carrying out an operation. Dr. Wamanrao therefore wired to Bombay and got medicines and equipment, operated on the carbuncles and bandaged them. Babasaheb also like an expert hospital nurse was very alert all the time. Even if Tatyasaheb at night called out in a slow voice, Babasaheb would get up immediately and asking what is required, would attend to accordingly.

Shri Sai Satcharitra Parayana - Chapter – 31 Assigned for June 01, 2016,

Shri Sai Satcharitra Parayana

Chapter – 31 Assigned for June 01, 2016,

The Passing Away In Baba's Presence of – (1) Sannyasi Vijayanand – (2) Balaram Mankar – (3) Noolkar – (4) Megha – and (5) The Tiger.

DIRECT DOWN LOAD LINKS IN MAJOR INDIAN LANGUAGES:

 

Shri SaiSatcharitra in English Ch31

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsUFo0NjZQWHFNazg

Shri SaiSatcharitra in Hindi Ch 31

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-Csc0QzcHBFVlpaVmc

Shri SaiSatcharitra in Marathi Ch31

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsMkZaMnJYVlllcFU

Shri SaiSatcharitra in Tamil Ch31

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsYUZwSEI2OXVjNXM

Shri SaiSatcharitra in Telugu Ch31

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsVDIxYWNuTWgxM0k

Shri SaiSatcharitra in Malayalam Ch 31

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Shri SaiSatcharitra in KannadamCh 31

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsR0tqVlhKSnk0clU

Shri SaiSatcharitra in Konkani Ch31

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsQld0NVpNRzNpRG8

Shri SaiSatcharitra in Bengali Ch31

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsQ3BYQkQtMjg5Mm8

Shri SaiSatcharitra in Gujarati Ch31

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsU1RPNVlkNUJFbU0

Shri SaiSatcharitra in OdiaCh31

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsVmJDSDJnc1ZCRHc

Shri SaiSatcharitra in Punjabi Ch31

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsU3dfVkV3M3NNTlk

Shri SaiSatcharitra Sindhi Ch31

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsNmhDbE41WWxpMmM

 

SHRI SAI SATCHARITRA IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES:

 

Shri SaiSatcharitra in Nepali

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B1bwnkVMR-Csb0Q4T0JfR3dlY2M&usp=sharing

Shri SaiSatcharitra in German

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsRXd1TW5QSWhjN1U&usp=sharing

Shri SaiSatcharitra in French

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsY0JCdGdsYV9lWUE/view?usp=sharing

Shri SaiSatcharitra in Spanish

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsOXJSaVBSZjN2ckU/view?usp=sharing

Shri SaiSatcharitra in Urdu

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsclNCdlBjTlA3X1U/view?usp=sharing

 

SHRI SAI SATCHARITRA IN AUDIO MP3 FORMAT: 

 

Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in English Ch. 31

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsdGY1dWdndmlHc3c/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in Hindi Ch. 31

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Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in Marathi Ch. 31

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsajBtYkhQQXU5YXM/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in Tamil Ch. 31

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsZ3JsVjEtUl9IeWs/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in Telugu Ch. 31

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsV1lLU2lKX0lzdEk/view?usp=sharing

 

Chapter XXXI

 

The Passing Away In Baba's Presence of – (1) Sannyasi Vijayanand – (2) Balaram Mankar – (3) Noolkar – (4) Megha – and (5) The Tiger.

 

In this Chapter Hemadpant describes the passing away of certain persons and a tiger in Baba's presence.

Preliminary

The last wish or thought that a man has at the hour of death, determines his future course. Shri Krishna has said in Gita (VIII-5-6) that "he who remembers Me in his last moments, comes verily to Me, and he that meditates otherwise at that time goes to what he looks for." We cannot be certain that we can entertain a particular good thought at our last moment, for, more often than not, we are more likely to be frightened and terrified by many causes. Hence constant practice is necessary for enabling us to fix our mind on any desired good thought at any or the last moment. All Saints, therefore, recommended us to always remember God and chant His name always, so that we may not be puzzled when the time for departure comes. The devotees on their part surrender themselves completely to the Saints, fully believing that the all-knowing Saints would guide and help them in their last moments. A few such cases will be noted here.

(1) Vijayanand

A Madrasi Sannyasi named Vijayanand started on a pilgrimage to Manasa-Sarovar. En route, hearing Baba's fame, he halted at Shirdi. There he met one Somadevaji Swami of Hardwar and enquired of him about the particulars of the Manasa-Sarovar trip. The Swami told him that the Sarovar was 500 miles above the Gangotri and described to him the difficulties of the journey, viz. plenty of snow and the change of dialect every 50 koss and the suspicious nature of the people of Bhutan who give a lost of trouble to the pilgrims on the way. Hearing this, the Sannyasi was dejected and cancelled the trip. Then when he went to Baba and prostrated himself before Him, Baba got enraged and said, "Drive out this useless Sannyasi, his company is of no use". The Sannyasi did not know Baba's nature. He felt discomforted, but sat there watching things that were going on. It was the morning Darbar and the Masjid was overcrowded. Baba was being worshipped in various ways. Some were washing His Feet, some taking the Tirth (holy water) from His toe and drinking it heartily and some touching their eyes with it, some were applying sandal-paste, and some scents to His body. And all were doing these things forgetting the distinction of caste and creed. Though Baba got enraged with him, he was filled with affection for Baba and he did not like to leave the place.

He stayed in Shirdi for two days when he got a letter from Madras stating that his mother was very ill. He felt very dejected and wanted to be by his mother's side; but he could not leave without Baba's permission. So he saw Baba with the letter in hand and asked for His permission to return home. The omniscient Baba knowing the future said to him – "If you so loved your mother, why did you take Sannayasa? Fondness or attachment ill becomes an ochre garb. Go and sit quiet at your lodging, wait with patience for a few days. In the Wada there are many robbers, bolt your doors, be very vigilant, the thieves will carry everything. Wealth and prosperity are transient and the body is subject to decay and death. Knowing this, do your duty, leaving all attachment to the things of this world and next. He who does this and surrenders himself to the Feet of Hari (Lord) will get free from all troubles and attain bliss. The Lord runs and helps him who remembers and meditates on Him with love and affection. Your store of past merits is considerable, so you have come here. Now attend to what I say and realise the end of your life. Being desireless, begin from tomorrow the study of Bhagwat. Do three 'saptahas' i.e. three reading during three weeks, conscientiously. The Lord will be pleased with you and destroy your sorrows, your illusions will vanish and you will get peace." Seeing that his end was approaching, Baba prescribed that remedy and made him read 'Ramavijaya' which pleases the God of death. Next morning after bathing and other purifying rites he commenced to read Bhagwat in a secluded part in the Lendi garden. He completed two readings and thereafter felt much exhausted. He returned to the Wada and stayed in his lodging for two days and on the third day he breathed his last on Fakir (Bade) Baba's lap. Baba asked the people to preserve the body for a day for a good reason. The police afterwards came and on making proper enquiries gave permission for the disposal of the body. It was buried in a proper place with due rites. In this way Baba helped the Sannyasi and ensured him Sadgati (salvation).

(2) Balaram Mankar

There was a house-holder devotee of Baba by name Balaram Mankar. When his wife passed away, he got dejected and entrusting his household to his son, left his home and came to Shirdi and lived with Baba. Being pleased with his devotion, Baba wanted to give a good turn to his life and He did this in this wise. He gave him Rs. 12/- and asked him to go and live in Macchindragad (District Satara). Mankar was first unwilling to go and stay away from Baba, but Baba convinced him that he was giving the best course for him and asked him to practise mediation thrice a day on the Gad. Believing in Baba's words, Mankar came to the Gad. He was much pleased with the lovely sight, pure water, healthy air and the surroundings of the place, and began to practice assiduously the meditations as recommended by Baba. After some days he got a revelation. Generally Bhaktas get revelation in their Samadhi or trance states, but in Mankar's case he got it, when he came down to his ordinary consciousness from his trance. Baba appeared to him in person. Not only that Mankar saw Him, but he also asked Him why he was sent there. Baba replied – "In Shirdi many thoughts and ideas began to rise in your mind and I sent you here to rest your unsteady mind. You thought that I was in Shirdi with a body composed of the five elements and three and a half cubits in length, and not outside of it. Now you see and determine for yourself whether the person you see here now is the same you saw at Shirdi. It is for this reason that I sent you here." Then after the period was over, Mankar left the Gada and proceeded to his native place Bandra. He wanted to travel by rail from Poona to Dadar, but when he went to the booking office to get a ticket, he found it very much crowded. He could not get his ticket soon, when, a villager with a langoti (piece of cloth) on his waist and kambali on his shoulder turned up and said – "Where are your going?" "To Dadar." replied Mankar. Then he said – "Please take this Dadar ticket of mine; as I have some urgent business here, I have cancelled my Dadar trip." Mankar was very glad to receive the ticket and was just taking out money from his pocket, when the rustic disappeared in the crowd. Mankar tried to find him out in the crowd, but it was in vain. He waited for him till the train left the station but found no trace of him. This was the second revelation Mankar got in a strange form. Then Mankar after visiting his home, again returned to Shirdi and remained there at Baba's feet, always following His biddings and advice. In the end, he was very fortunate to leave this world in the presence, and with the blessings of Baba.

(3) Tatyasaheb Noolkar

Hemadpant gives no particulars regarding Tatyasaheb Noolkar, except the bare mention of the fact that he up his ghost in Shirdi. A brief summary of his account that appeared in the Sai Leela magazine is given here.

Tatyasaheb was a Sub-Judge at Pandharpur in 1909, when Nanasaheb Chandorkar was Mamalatdar there. Both met often and exchanged talks. Tatyasaheb did not believe in saints, while Nanasaheb loved them. Nanasaheb often told him the Leelas of Sai Baba and pressed him to go to Shirdi and see Baba. He finally agreed to go to Shirdi on two conditions:- (1) he must get a Brahmin cook, and (2) must get good Nagpur oranges for the presentation. Both these conditions were providentially fulfilled. A Brahmin came to Nanasaheb for service and he was sent to Tatyasaheb and a fruit parcel containing 100 beautiful oranges was received by Tatyasaheb, the consigner being not known. As the conditions were fulfilled, Tatyasaheb had to go to Shirdi. At first Baba was much enraged with him. But by and by Tatyasaheb got such experiences that he was convinced that Baba was God incarnate. So he was enamoured of Baba and stayed there till his death. As his end was approaching, sacred literature was read out to him and at the last hour Baba's Pada-tirth was brought and given to him for drinking. Baba on hearing of his death, said, "Oh, Tatya went ahead of us, he won't be reborn."

(4) Megha

The story of Megha has been already described in Chapter 28. When Megha died, all the villagers followed the funeral procession. Baba also accompanied them and showered flowers on Megha's body. After the obsequies were performed, tears flowed from Baba's eyes and like an ordinary mortal, Baba showed Himself overcome with grief and sorrow. Then covering the body with flowers and crying like a near relation, Baba returned to the Masjid.

Many Saints have been seen giving Sadgati to men, but Baba's greatness is unique. Even a cruel animal like a tiger came to Baba's feet for being saved. It is this story which will be narrated now.

(5) Tiger

Seven days before Baba passed away, a wonderful incident occured at Shirdi. There came a country-cart and stopped in front of the Masjid. A tiger was on the cart, fastened with iron chains, with its fierce face turned to the rear. It was suffering from some pain or agony. Its keepers – three Derveshis – were taking it from place to place and making money by exhibiting it. It was the means of their subsistence. They tried all sorts of remedies to cure it from the malady it was suffering from, but all was in vain. Then they heard of Baba's fame and came to Him with the animal. They got it down the chains in their hands and made it stand at the door. It was naturally fierce, besides, disease ridden. So it was restless. The people began to look at it with fear and amazement. The Derveshies went in, told Baba everything about the animal and with His consent, brought it before Him. As it approached the steps, it was taken aback on account of the lustre of Baba and hung its head down. When both saw each other, it got on the step and looked at Baba with affection. Immediately it moved the tuft of its tail and dashed it thrice against the ground and then fell down senseless. On seeing it dead the Derveshis were first much dejected and full of sorrow, but on mature thought they came to their senses. They considered that as the animal was diseased and nearing its end, it was very meritorious on its part that it should meet its death at the feet and in the presence of Baba. It was their debtor, and when the debt was paid off it was free and met its end at Sai's Feet. When any creatures bow down their heads at saints' feet and meet death, they are saved; and unless they have got a good store of merit on their account, How could they get such a happy end?

Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all

This really means a lot to me and my family

This really means a lot to me and my family

 

"Who are His representatives and who appear here at proper times, help in their own way to fulfill that mission" – Shri Sai Satcharitra, Ch. 4.

 

Once when I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus. Finally, there was only one family between us and the ticket counter.

This family made a big impression on me. There were eight children, all probably under the age of 12. You could tell they didn't have a lot of money. Their clothes were not expensive, but they were clean.

The children were well-behaved, all of them standing in line, two-by- two behind their parents, holding hands. They were excitedly jabbering about the clowns, elephants and other acts they would see that night. One could sense they had never been to the circus before. It promised to be a highlight of their young lives.

The father and mother were at the head of the pack standing proud as could be. The mother was holding her husband's hand, looking up at him as if to say, "You're my knight in shining armor." He was smiling and basking in pride, looking at her as if to reply, "You got that right."

The ticket lady asked the father how many tickets he wanted. He proudly responded, "Please let me buy eight children's tickets and two adult tickets so I can take my family to the circus."

The ticket lady quoted the price. The man's wife let go of his hand, her head dropped, the man's lip began to quiver. The father leaned a little closer and asked, "How much did you say?"

The ticket lady again quoted the price. The man didn't have enough money.

How was he supposed to turn and tell his eight kids that he didn't have enough money to take them to the circus?

Seeing what was going on, my dad put his hand into his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill and dropped it on the ground. (We were not wealthy in any sense of the word!) My father reached down, picked up the bill, tapped the man on the shoulder and said, "Excuse me, sir, this fell out of your pocket."

The man knew what was going on. He wasn't begging for a handout but certainly appreciated the help in a desperate, heartbreaking, embarrassing situation. He looked straight into my dad's eyes, took my dad's hand in both of his, squeezed tightly onto the $20 bill, and with his lip quivering and a tear streaming down his cheek, he replied, "Thank you, thank you, sir. This really means a lot to me and my family."

My father and I went back to our car and drove home. We didn't go to the circus that night, but we didn't go without.

A GREAT AND BLESSED SAI DEVOTEE - LATE TATYASAHEB NOOLKAR 2 of 6 (SHRI SAILEELA MAY JUNE 1991)

A GREAT AND BLESSED SAI DEVOTEE  - LATE TATYASAHEB NOOLKAR 2 of 6

(SHRI SAILEELA MAY JUNE 1991)

 

 

Severe pain of eyes cured

 

Once Tatyasaheb had some dangerous disease of his eyes. He could not see properly and pain was unbearable. When no improvement occurred in spite of treatment from well-known eye specialists, Tatayasaheb as a last resort went to Shirdi.

 

Two days he sat in Sathe Wada praying Sai Baba and continuously repeating Sai-Nama. On the third day Baba placing His hand on His own eyes, said to Madhavrao Deshpande, "Shama! Today My eyes are paining severely". As soon as Baba said these words, Tatyasaheb's pain started becoming less and less and soon the eyes were cured completely. (In Shri Sai Saicharita Ch. XXI, Sai Baba's taunting a pleader from Pandharpur and teaching him not to indulge in any scandal or slander of others, was in reference to that pleader's criticism and discussion in the Bar Room of Tatyasaheb Noolkar's above stay at Shirdi for cure of his eyes only).

 

Babu's favours to Tatyasaheb

 

In earlier days Sai Baba was not getting Himself worshipped. If somebody brought a garland, He did not accept it. But later on due to love of various devotees, He started permitting devotees to apply sandal-paste to His fore-head, offer Him flowers and perform Arati (waving of burning lamps). It was Tatyasaheb who had the privilege of first performing such Pooja on Guru Pournima Day. Tatyasaheb describes this incident in his letter to Nanasaheb Chandorkar thus:

 

"On Saturday just as I got up in bed, I remembered it was GURU POOJA DAY and made preparations. After Bhiksha (begging round of Sai Baba) we were permitted to perform Guru Pooja. Baba allowed us to do upachar (particulars and points of worship) quickly. He returned all Dakshina that was given at the time of Pooja. Then He sent word to Radhakrishnamai and Dadabhai (Dada Kalkar, father-in-law of Rao Bahadur Sathe) that Pooja and Arati was being done and they should come. So Radhakrishnamai sent her Pooja articles and Dada came with his Pooja articles."

 

Thus, with Tatyasaheb Noolkar, the congregational worship of Baba with singing of Arati and playing of musical instruments started which was continued further first by Megha and then later by Bapusaheb Jog.

 

Sai Baba's and Tatyasaheb's mutual love was really incomparable. Sai Baba used to call Tatyasaheb Tatyaba or 'mhatara (old man)'. At worship time, many dishes of different food items used to come and sometimes Sai Baba used to say, "Today I want Tatyaba's 'poli (wheat cake) and so saying He would accurately pick out poli received from Tatyaba's house out of the heap of pollies received.

 

Tatyasaheb once had a desire in his mind that he should get some words from Baba's sacred mouth for reciting. Baba having known this, once uttered some special words to satisfy Tatyasaheb who continued to recite the same till the end of his life. Tatyasaheb also wished to receive some article from Baba for placing it in his Poojaroom and worshipping. Then unexpectedly on Datta-Jayanti Day (Birthday of Sri Dattatreya in the month of Margasirsh), at about 9 p.m., Sai Baba sent a messenger for Tatyasaheb. The messenger had not even reached the Wada when Baba was in such a hurry that He sent two more messengers one after another. When Tatyasaheb arrived, Baba pulled out one 'Kafani' (a long robe such as used by Baba Himself) from the heap of kafanies and placed it on Tatyasaheb's body saying, "Let it be with you. It will protect you from severe wind and cold". Tatyasaheb felt that this was a sort of 'sanyas diksha' (initiation into the fourth stage of life, i.e. abandonment of all worldly possessions and earthly affections) as per his own liking and with tears of joy in his eyes he placed his head on the feet of Baba and resumed. Such were the many favors Tatyasaheb received from Sai Baba.

Shri Sai Satcharitra Parayana - Chapter – 30 Assigned for May 31, 2016

Shri Sai Satcharitra Parayana

Chapter – 30 Assigned for  May 31, 2016

Drawn To Shirdi – (1) Kakaji Vaidya of Vani – (2) Punjabi Ramalal of Bombay.

 

DIRECT DOWN LOAD LINKS IN MAJOR INDIAN LANGUAGES:

 

Shri Sai Satcharitra in English Ch 30

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CscjdxRXFad3NGT0E

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Hindi Ch 30

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsTHlVeXlFblVsdnM

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Marathi Ch 30

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsNjViQnUyYW16c3M

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Tamil Ch 30

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsOExoYTQwdHJGYVE

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Telugu Ch 30

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsYm5jVFdTdWE1blU

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Malayalam Ch 30

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsU1FSTHJoYVVPZm8

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Kannadam Ch 30

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsNFhEOU9ib1Z0T2c

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Konkani Ch 30

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsMTRUbnlySzFCcUk

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Bengali Ch 30

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsYjRmdEVWS0EzU3c

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Gujarati Ch 30

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsbUgwOEUyeFZINjg

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Odia Ch 30

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsZkJDMVNVQllQZEE

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Punjabi Ch 30

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsbUMtdktLazF6NHM

Shri Sai Satcharitra Sindhi Ch 30

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsbUMtdktLazF6NHM

 

SHRI SAI SATCHARITRA IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES:

 

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Nepali

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B1bwnkVMR-Csb0Q4T0JfR3dlY2M&usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra in German

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Shri Sai Satcharitra in French

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Chapter XXX

Drawn To Shirdi

 

(1) Kakaji Vaidya of Vani – (2) Punjabi Ramalal of Bombay.

 

In this Chapter the story of two more devotees that were drawn to Shirdi, is narrated.

 

Preliminary

Bow to the Kind Sai Who is the Abode of Mercy and Who is affectionate towards His devotees. By His mere darshan, He does away with their fear of this 'bhava' (samsar) and destroys their calamities. He was first Nirgun (formless), but on account of the devotion of His Bhaktas, He was obliged to take a form. To give liberation – self-realisation to the Bhaktas is the mission of the saints, and for Sai – the Chief of them, that mission is inevitable. Those who take refuge in His Feet have all their sins destroyed and their progress is certain. Remembering His Feet, Brahmins from holy places come to Him and read scriptures and chant the Gayatri mantra in His presence. We, who are weak and without any merits, do not know what Bhakti is but we know this much, that though all others may leave us, Sai won't forsake us. Those whom He favours get enormous strength, discrimination between the Unreal and the Real and knowledge.

Sai knows fully the desire of His devotees and fulfills the same. Hence they get what they want and are grateful. So we invoke Him and prostrate ourselves before Him. Forgetting all our faults let Him free us from all anxieties. He who being overcome with calamities remembers and prays Sai thus, will get his mind calmed and pacified through His grace.

This Sai – the ocean of mercy, says Hemadpant, favoured him and the result of this, is the present work – Sai-Satcharia. Otherwise what qualifications had he and who would undertake this enterprise? But as Sai took all the responsibility, Hemadpant felt no burden, nor any care about this. When the powerful Light of knowledge was there to inspire his speech and pen, why should he entertain any doubt or feel any anxiety? Sai got the service in the form of this book done by him; this is due to the accumulation of his merits in the past births and, therefore, he thinks himself fortunate and blessed.

The following story is not a mere tale, but pure nectar. He who drinks it will realise Sai's greatness and all-pervasiveness. Those who want to argue and criticise, should not go in for these stories. What is wanted here, is not discussion but unlimited love and devotion. Learned, devout and faithful believers or those, who consider themselves as servants of the Saints, will like and appreciate these stories, others will take them to be fables. The fortunate Bhaktas of Sai, will find the Sai-leelas as the Kalpataru (Wish-fulfilling Tree). Drinking this nectar of Sai-leelas, will give liberation to the ignorant Jivas, satisfaction to the house-holders and a sadhana to the aspirants. Now to the story of this Chapter.

Kakaji Vaidya

There lived in Vani, Nasik District, a man named Kakaji Vaidya. He was the priest of the Goodness Sapta-Shringi there. He was so much overwhelmed with adverse circumstances and calamities that he lost peace of mind and became quite restless. Under such circumstances one evening he went into the temple of the Goodess and prayed unto Her from the bottom of his heart and invoked Her aid to free him from anxeity. The Goddess was pleased with his devotion and the same night appeared to him in his dream and said to him, "You go to Baba and then your mind will become calm and composed". Kakaji was anxious to know from Her who that Baba was, but before he could get any explanation, he was awakened. Then he began to think as to who might be that Baba, to whom the Goodess has asked him to go. After some thinking, he resolved that this Baba might be 'Tryambakeshwar' (Lord Shiva). So he went to the holy place 'Tryambak' (Nasik District) and stayed there for ten days. During this period, he bathed early in the morning, chanted the 'Rudra' hymns, did the 'Abhishekam' (pouring unceasingly fresh cold water over the Pindi) and did other religious rites; but with all that, he was as restless as before. Then he returned to his place and again invoked the Goddess most pitifully. They night She again appeared in his dream and said – "Why did you go to Tryambakeshwar in vain? I mean by Baba – Shri Sai Samarth of Shirdi."

The question before Kakaji now was 'How and when to go to Shirdi and how to see Baba? If anybody is in real earnest to see a Saint, not only the Saint but God also, fulfills his wish. In fact the 'Sant' (Saint) and the 'Anant' (God) are one and the same; there is not the least difference between them. If anybody thinks that he will go himself and see a Saint, that will be a mere boast. Unless the Saint wills it, who is able to go and see him? Even the leaf of the tree won't move without his bidding. The more anxious a Bhakta is for the saint's visit, the more devout anf faithful he is, the more speedily and effectively is his wish satisfied to his heart's content. He who invites anybody for a visit, also arranges everything for his reception, and so it happened with Kakaji.

Shama's Vows

When Kakaji was thinking his visit to Shirdi, a guest came to him at his place to take him to Shirdi. He was no other than Shama, a very close and intimate devotee of Baba. How he came to Vani at this juncture, we shall just see. Shama was severely ill when he was very young and his mother had taken a vow to her family Goddess Sapta-Shringi at Vani, that if the son got well, she would bring and dedicate him at Her feet. Then after some years the mother herself suffered much from ring-worms on her breasts. At that time she again took another vow to her Deity that if she got all right, she would offer Her two silver breasts. These two vows remained unfulfilled. At her death-bed she called her son Shama to her and drew his attention to the vows and after taking a promise from him that he would fulfills them, she breathed her last. After some time, Shama quite forgot about these vows and thus 30 years elapsed. About this time a famous astrologer had come to Shirdi and stayed there for a month. His predictions in the case of Shriman Booty and others came true and everybody was satisfied. Shama's younger brother Bapaji consulted him and was told that his mother's vows, which his elder brother promised to fulfill at her death-bed, were not yet fulfilled; hence the Goddess was displeased with them and bringing troubles on them. Bapaji told this to his brother Shama who was then reminded of the unfulfilled vows. Thinking that any further delay would be dangerous, he called a goldsmith and got a pair of silver breast prepared. Then he went to the Masjid, prostrated himself before Baba and, placing before Him the two silver breath, requested Him to accept them and free him from the vows as He was to him his Sapta-Shringi Goddess. Then Baba insisted upon him to go himself to the temple of Sapta-Shringi and offer them in person at the feet of the Goddess. Then after taking Baba's permission and Udi, he left for Vani and searching for the priest came to Kakaji's house. Kakaji was then very anxious to visit Baba and Shama went there to see him at that very time. What a wonderful coincidence is this!

Kakaji asked him who he was and whence he had come, and on learning that he came from Shirdi, he at once embraced him. So overpowered was he with love! Then they talked about Sai-leelas and after finishing the rites of Shama's vows, they both started for Shirdi. On reaching the place, Kakaji went to the Masjid, and fell at Baba's Feet. His eyes were soon bedewed with tears, and his mind attained calmness. According to the vision of the Goddess, no sooner did he see Baba, that his mind lost all its restlessness and it became calm and composed. Kakaji began to think, in his mind, "What a wonderful power is this! Baba spoke nothing, there was no question and answer, no benediction pronounced; the mere darshana itself was so conducive to happiness; the restlessness of my mind disappeared by His mere darshan, consciousness of joy came upon me – this is what is called 'the greatness of darshan'." His vision was fixed on Sai's feet and he could utter no word. Hearing Baba's Leelas, his joy knew no bounds. He surrendered himself completely to Baba, forgot his anxiety and cares and got undiluted happiness. He lived happily there for twelve days and after taking Baba's leave, Udi and blessings returned home.

Khushalchand of Rahata

It is said that a dream, which we get in the small hours of the morning, generally comes out true in the walking state. This may be so, but regarding Baba's dreams there is no restriction of time. To quote an instance :- Baba told Kakasaheb Dixit one afternoon to go to Rahata and fetch Khushalchand to Shirdi, as He had not seen him since long. Kakasaheb accordingly took a tanga and went to Rahata. He saw Khushalchand and gave him Baba's message. Hearing it, Khushalchand was surprised and said that he was taking a noon nap after meals when Baba appeared in his dream and asked him to come to Shirdi immediately and that he was anxious to go. As he had no horse of his own nearby, he had sent his son to inform Baba; when his son was just out of the village-border, Dixit's tanga turned up. Dixit then said that he was sent specially to bring him. Then they both went in the tanga back to Shirdi. Khushalchand saw Baba and all were pleased. Seeing this Leela of Baba, Khushalchand was much moved.

Punjabi Ramalal of Bombay

Once a Punjabi Brahmin of Bombay named Ramalal got a dream in which Baba appeared and asked him to come to Shirdi. Baba appeared to him as a Mahant (Saint), but he did not know His whereabouts. He thought that he should go and see Him, but as he knew not His address, he did not know what to do. But He Who calls anybody for an interview makes the necessary arrangements for the same. The same happened in this case. The same afternoon when he was strolling in the streets, he saw a picture of Baba in a shop. The features of the Mahant, he saw in the dream, exactly tallied with those of the picture. Then making enquiries, he came to know that the picture was of Sai Baba of Shirdi. He then went soon after to Shirdi and stayed there till his death.

In this way Baba brought His devotees to Shirdi for darshan and satisfied their wants, material as well as spiritual.

 

Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all

நாமும் இவ்வாறு தான் அடுத்தவரது நிலைமைகள் புரியாது தவறாக முடிவெடுத்துவிடுகிறோம்.

ஒரு செல்வந்த முதலாளியின் வீட்டில் ஒருவர் காவலாளியாக வேலை பார்த்து வந்தார். முதலாளி தினமும் வீட்டுக்கு வரும் போது ஓடோடிச் சென்று வீதிக்கதவை திறந்து அவருக்கு வணக்கம் சொல்வது அவனது வழக்கம். ஆனாலும் ஒரு நாளேனும் அந்த முதலாளி பதில் கூறியதும் கிடையாது; காவலாளி முகத்தை ஏறெடுத்து பார்ப்பதும் கிடையாது. 

ஒரு நாள் பசியோடிருந்த அந்தக் காவலாளி வீட்டுக்கு வெளியே உள்ள குப்பத்தொட்டியில் வீசப்பட்ட உணவுகள் ஏதும் இருந்தால் எடுத்து சாப்பிடுவோம் என குப்பத்தொட்டியை கிளரும் போது முதலாளி அதனைக் கண்டார். ஆனாலும் வழக்கம் போல எதையுமே கண்டுகொள்ளாமல் சென்றுவிட்டார்.

அடுத்த நாள் அதே இடத்தில் காவலாளி உணவைத் தேடும் போது புதிதாக தயாரிக்கப்பட்ட சுத்தமான உணவுகள் ஒரு பையினுள் காணப்பட்டது. காவலாளி சந்தோஷத்தில் எங்கிருந்து வந்தது என்றெல்லாம் பார்க்காமல் எடுத்துச் சென்றான். 

இவ்வாறே தினமும் அதே இடத்தில் ஒரு பையிருக்கும், அந்த பை நிறைய உணவுப்பொருட்கள் இருக்கும். அவனும் அதை தவறாமல் எடுத்து தன் மனைவி, குழந்தைகளுக்கு கொடுத்து வந்தான். இருந்தாலும் எந்த முட்டாள் இப்படி தினமும் பொருட்களை வாங்கி இங்கே விட்டுச் செல்கிறான் என மனதுக்குள் ஒரு நகைப்புடன் கூடிய கேள்வியும் வேற.

திடிரென ஒரு நாள் முதலாளி இறந்துவிட்டார். வீடு நிறைய முதலாளியின் உறவினர்களும், நண்பர்களும் வந்தனர். அன்று அதே இடத்தில் உணவுப்பொதியை தேடினான். உணவு இருக்கவில்லை. ஒரு வேளை பார்க்க வந்தவர் யாரேனும் எடுத்திருக்க முடியும் என நினைத்து விட்டுவிட்டான். இரண்டாம் நாள் பார்க்கிறான், அந்த இடத்தில் உணவுப்பை இல்லை; மூன்றாம் நாள், நான்காம் நாள் என பார்க்கிறான். உணவுப்பை இருக்கவில்லை.

இப்படியே சென்றதால் அந்தக் காவலாளிக்கு தன் குடும்பத்துக்கு உணவளிக்க பெரும் சிரமமாய் போயிற்று. உடனே தனது முதலாளியம்மாவிடம் போய் சம்பளத்தை உயர்த்தவும் இல்லையாயின் வேலையை விட்டு விடுவதாகவும் கூறினான். அதற்கு முதலாளியம்மா மறுத்துவிட்டார். 

வேறு வழியில்லாமல் வீதியோரம் எடுக்கும் உணவுப்பை கதையையும், அது இல்லாததால் தன் குடும்பம் படும் அவஸ்தையையும் சொன்னான். உடனே முதலாளியம்மா கேட்டார்; எப்போதிலிருந்து உணவுப் பை இல்லாமல் போனதென்று. அதற்கு அவனும் முதலாளி இறந்த நாளிலிருந்து என சொன்னதும், முதலாளியம்மா 'ஓ' என அழத்தொடங்கினார். இதனைப் பார்த்து கவலையடைந்த காவலாளி சம்பள உயர்வு வேண்டாம், நான் இங்கேயே வேலை செய்கிறேன், அழுவதை நிறுத்துங்கள் என கூறினான்.. 

அதற்கு முதலாளியம்மா, நான் அதற்கு அழவில்லை. என் கணவர் தினமும் ஏழு பேருக்கு உணவளித்து வந்தார். அதில் ஆறு பேரை ஏற்கனவே இனம் கண்டுவிட்டேன். ஏழாம் நபரைத்தான் இத்தனை நாளாய் தேடிக்கொண்டிருந்தேன். ஏழாவது நபர் நீதான் என தெரிந்து கொண்டதும் சந்தோஷத்தில் அழுகிறேன் என்றாள். 

நான் தினமும் தவறாமல் வணக்கம் சொல்லியும் ஏறெடுத்தும் கூட பார்க்காத நம்ம முதலாளியா இப்படி நமக்கு உணவு தந்தார் என நம்பியும் நம்பாமலும் யோசித்தபடியே அவன் சென்றான்.

அடுத்த நாளிலிருந்து முதலாளியின் மகன் தினமும் காவலாளியின் வீடு தேடி வந்து உணவுப்பையை காவலாளியின் கையிலே கொடுத்துச் சென்றான். காவலாளி நன்றி சொல்லியும் முதலாளி மகன் அதற்கு பதில் சொல்லாமலே செல்வான், அவனது தந்தையைப் போல.

ஒரு நாள் இப்படித்தான் முதலாளியின் மகன் வீடு தேடிவந்து கையில் உணவுப்பையை கொடுக்கும் போது வழக்கம் போல நன்றி சொன்னான் காவலாளி. அதற்கு அங்கிருந்து எந்த பதிலும் இல்லை. 
பொறுமையை இழந்த காவலாளி மிகவும் உரத்த குரலில் நன்றி சொன்னான். திரும்பிப்பார்த்த அந்த சிறுவன் "எனக்கும் என் தந்தையைப் போல் காது இரண்டும் கேட்காது" என்று சொல்லிவிட்டு திரும்பிப் போனான்.

நாமும் இவ்வாறு தான் அடுத்தவரது நிலைமைகள் புரியாது பார்த்த மாத்திரத்திலே அவர்களை தவறாக முடிவெடுத்துவிடுகிறோம். அடுத்தவரது நடவடிகைகளுக்கு பின்னால் ஒளிந்துள்ள உண்மைத்தன்மையை அறியாமல். 

இந்தக் கதையிலிருந்து இரண்டு விடயங்களை எடுத்க்கொள்ளதுலாம்;

01. எதையும், யாரையும் பார்த்த மாத்திரத்திலே நம்பி முடிவெடுக்கக் கூடாது.

02. நாம் சந்திக்கும் ஒவ்வொரு மனிதர்களும் வெவ்வேறு விதமான போராட்டக் களத்திலே வாழ்ந்து கொண்டிருக்கிறார்கள்.