Let us now, in this Chapter, describe the manifested (Sagun)
Brahman Sai. How He was worshipped and how He controlled
the elements.
Sai as Sagun Brahman
There are two aspects of God or Brahman : (1) the
Unmanifested (Nirgun) and (2) the Manifested (Sagun).
The Nirgun is formless, while the Sagun is with form,
though both denote the same Brahman. Some prefer to
worship the former, some the latter. As stated in the
Gita (chapter XII) the worship of the latter is easy and
preferable. As man has got a form (body, senses, etc.),
it is natural and easy for him to worship the God with
form. Our love and devotion do not develop unless we
worship Sagun Brahman for a certain period of time, and
as we advance; it leads us to the worship (meditation)
of Nirgun Brahman. So let us start with Sagun worship.
Image, altar, fire, light, sun, water, Brahman are the
seven objects of worship, but Sadguru is better than all
these. Let us, on this occasion, bring to our mind the
form of Sai, Who was non-attachment Incarnate, and Who
was a resting-place for His whole-hearted devotees. Our
faith in His words is the seat of Asan; and our Sankalpa
(determination to start and finish the Puja) is the
abandonment of all our desires. Some say that Sai was a
Bhagwad-bhakta (devotee of the Lord), others say He was
a Maha-Bhagwat (a great devotee), but to us He is God
Incarnate. He was extremely forgiving, never irritable,
straight, soft, tolerant and content beyond comparison.
Though He looked embodied (as having the form), He was
really dis-embodied, emotionless, unattached and
internally free. The Ganges on its way to the sea, cools
and refreshes the creatures affected with heat, gives
life to the crops and trees, and quenches the thirst of
many. Similarly Saints (Souls) like Sai, while they live
their own life, give solace and comfort to all. Lord
Krishna has said that 'the Saint is My soul, My living
image, I am He or He is My pure form (Being).' This
in-describable Shakti or Power of God, known as Pure
Existence, Knowledge and Bliss, incarnated in the form
of Sai in Shirdi. The Shruti (Taitiriya Upanishad)
describes Brahman as Bliss. This we read or hear daily
in the books, but the devout people experienced this
Brahman or Bliss in Shirdi. Baba, the support of all,
required no prop or support (Asan) from anybody. He
always used a piece of sack-cloth for His seat, which
was covered with a small beautiful bed by His bhaktas
and has a bolster placed by them, as a rest to His back.
Baba respected the feelings of His devotees and allowed
them to worship Him as they liked. Some waved Chamara or
fans before Him, some played on musical instruments,
some washed His hands and Feet, some others applied
scent and chandan, some gave betel nut with leaves and
other things, and some others offered naivedya. Though
He looked like living in Shirdi, He was present
everywhere. This all-pervasiveness of His way daily
experienced by His devotees. Our humble prostration to
this all-pervasive Sadguru.
Dr. Pandit's Worship
One Dr. Pandit, a friend of Tatyasaheb Noolkar, once
came to Shirdi for Baba's darshana. After saluting Baba,
he stayed in the Masjid for some time. Baba asked him to
go to Dadabhat Kelkar. He went to Dadabhat, by whom he
was well received. Then Dababhat left his house for Puja
and Dr. Pandit accompanied him. Dadabhat worshipped
Baba. Nobody until then dared to apply sandal paste to
Baba's forehead. Only Mhalsapati used to apply it to His
throat. But this simple-hearted devout, Dr. Pandit, took
Dabadhat's dish containing Puja-materials and taking
sandal-paste out of it, drew a Tripundra, i.e. there
horizontal lines on Baba's forehead. To the surprise of
all, Baba kept silent without uttering a single word.
Then Dababhat that evening asked Baba, "How is it, that
though You object to the sandal-paste being applied by
others to Your forehead, but You allowed Dr. Pandit to
do so now?" Baba replied that Dr. Pandit believed Him to
be the same as his Guru, Raghunath Maharaja of
Dhopeshwar, known as Kaka Puranik, and he applied the
paste to His forehead, as he was doing to his Guru.
Hence He could not object. On enquiry, Dr. Pandit told
Dadabhat that he took Baba as his Guru Kaka Puranik, and
hence he marked the Tripundra on Baba's forehead, as he
did on his Guru's head.
Though Baba allowed the devotees to worship Him as they
pleased, still sometimes, He acted in a strange way.
Sometimes, He threw away the Puja-dish and was wrath
Incarnate, then who could approach Him? Sometimes, He
scolded the devotees, at times, He looked softer than
wax, a statue of peace and forgiveness. Though He seemed
to shake with anger and His red eyes rolled round and
round, still, He was internally a stream of affection
and motherly love. Immediately, He called out His
devotees and said, that He ever angry with His devotees;
that if mothers kicked their children and if the sea
turned back the rivers, He would neglect the devotees'
welfare: that He, the slave of His devotees, always
stood by them, and responded to them, whenever they
called upon Him, and that He always longed for their
love.
Haji Sidik Falke
There was no knowing, when Baba would accept a devotee.
That depended on His sweet will. Sidik Falke's story is
to the point. One Mahomedan gentleman by name Sidik
Falke of Kalyan, after making a pilgrimage to Mecca and
Madina, came to Shirdi. He lived in a Chavadi, facing
north, and sat in the open court-yard of the Masjid. For
nine months, Baba ignored him, and did not allow him to
step into the Masjid. Falke felt much disconsolate, and
did not know what to do. Somebody advised him not to be
disappointed; but to try to approach Baba through Shama
(Madhavarao Deshpande), a close and intimate devotee of
Baba. He told him that as they approach the God Shiva
through his servant and devotee, Nandi, so Baba should
be approached through Shama. Falke liked the idea and
implored Shama to intercede for him. Shama agreed and on
a convenient occasion spoke to Baba about him thus:-
"Baba, why don't You allow the old Haji to step into the
Masjid, while so many persons freely come and go, after
taking Your darshan; why not bless him once?" Baba
replied "Shama, you are too young to understand things.
If the Fakir (Allah) does not allow, what can I do?
Without His grace, who will climb into the masjid? Well,
go to him and ask him whether he will come to the narrow
footpath near the Barvi well." Shama went and returned
with an affirmative answer. Again Baba said to
Shama,"Ask him whether he is willing to pay me the sum
of Rs. 40,000/- in four instalments." Shama went and
returned with the answer that he was willing to pay even
40 lacs. Again Baba said to Shama- "We are going to
butcher a goat in the Masjid, so ask him, whether he
would like to have mutton, haunch or testicles of the
goat." Shama returned with the answer that the Haji
would be happy to receive a small crumb from Baba's
kolamba (mudpot). Hearing this Baba got excited and with
His hands threw away the earthen jars and kolamba and
straightway advanced to the Haji and lifting His Kafni
up with His hands said - "Why do you brag and fancy
yourself great and pose yourself as an old Haji? Do you
read Koran like this? You are proud of your pilgrimage
to Macca, but you do not know Me." Being thus scolded,
the Haji was confounded. Baba then went back to the
Masjid, purchased a few baskets of mangoes and sent them
to the Haji. Then again Baba went to the Haji and taking
out Rs.55/- from His pocket, gave them to the Haji. From
that time, Baba loved the Haji, invited him for meals
and the Haji, thereafter, came into the Masjid whenever
he liked. Baba gave him at times some rupees, and thus
the Haji was enlisted in Baba's Darbar.
Baba's Control over the Elements
We shall close this Chapter after describing two
incidents showing Baba's control over the elements. (1)
Once at evening time, there was a terrible storm at
Shirdi. The sky was overcast with thick black clouds.
The winds began to blow forcibly; the clouds roared and
the lighting began to flash, and the rains began to
descend in torrents. In a short time, the whole place
was flooded with water, All the creatures, birds, beasts
and men got terribly frightened; and they all flocked to
the Masjid for shelter. There are many local deities in
Shirdi, but none of them came to their help. So they all
prayed to Baba - their God, Who was fond of their
devotion, to intercede and quell the storm. Baba was
much moved. He came out and standing at the edge of the
Masjid, addressed the storm in a loud and thunderous
voice - "Stop, stop your fury and the calm." In a few
minutes the rains subsided, the winds ceased to blow,
and the storm came to a stop. Then the moon rose in the
sky, and the people then went back home well-pleased,
(2) On another occasion at noon the fire in the Dhuni
began to burn brightly, its flames were seen to be
reaching the rafters above. The people who were sitting
in the Masjid did not know what to do. They dared not to
ask Baba to pour water or do anything to quench the
flames. But Baba soon came to realize, what was
happening. He took up His Satka (short stick) and dashed
it against a pillar in front, saying - "Get down, Be
calm." At each stroke of the Satka, the flames began to
lower and slow down; and in a few minutes the Dhuni
became calm and normal.
This is our Sai, an Incarnation of God. He will bless
any man who will prostrate and surrender himself to Him.
He, who will read the stories of this Chapter daily with
faith and devotion, will soon be free from all
calamities; not only this, but always attached and
devoted to Sai, he will get very soon God-vision: all
his desires will be fulfilled and being ultimately
desireless, he will attain the Supreme. Amen!
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