The Inscrutable Power of Maya
Baba's words were always short, pithy, deep, full of
meaning, efficient and well-balanced. He was ever
content and never cared for anything. He said, "Though I
have become a Fakir, have no house or wife, and though
leaving off all cares, I have stayed at one place, the
inevitable Maya teases Me often. Though I forgot Myself
I cannot forget Her. She always envelops Me.This Maya
(illusive power) of the Lord (Shri Hari) teases God
Brahma and others; then what to speak of a poor Fakir
like Me? Those who take refuge in the Lord wil be freed
from Her clutches with his grace".
In such terms Baba spoke about the power of Maya. Lord
Shri Krishna has said to Uddhava in the Bhagwat that the
Saints are His living forms; and see what Baba had said
for the welfare of His devotees: "Those who are
fortunate and whose demerits have vanished; take to My
worship. If you always say 'Sai, Sai' I shall take you
over the seven seas; believe in these words, and you
will be certainly benefited. I do not need any
paraphernalia of worship - either eight-fold or
sixteen-fold. I rest there where there is full
devotion". Now read what Sai, the friend of those, who
surrendered themselves to Him, did for their welfare.
Bhimaji Patil
One Bhimaji Patil of Narayanagaon, Taluka Junnar, Dist.
Poona, suffered in the year 1909 A.D. from a severe and
chronic chest-disease which ultimately developed into
Tuberculosis. He tried all sorts of pathos (remedies),
but to no effect. Losing all hopes, he ultimately prayed
to God - "Oh Lord Narayana, help me now". It is a well
known fact that, when our circumstances are well off, we
do not remember God, but when calamities and adversities
overtake us, we are reminded of Him, So Bhimaji now
turned to God. It occurred to him that he should consult
Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, a great devotee of Baba, in
this respect. So he wrote to him a letter, giving all
details of his malady, and asking for his opinion. In
reply, Mr. Nanasaheb wrote to him that there was only
one remedy left, and that was to have recourse to Baba's
Feet. Relying on Mr. Nanasaheb's advice, he made
preparations for going to Shirdi. He was brought to
Shirdi and taken to the Masjid, and placed before Baba.
Mr. Nanasaheb and Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande) were then
present. Baba pointed out that the disease was due to
the previous evil karma, and was not at first disposed
to interfere. But the patient cried out in despair that
he was helpless, and sought refuge in Him, as He was his
last hope, and prayed for mercy. Then Baba's heart
melted an He said, "Stay, cast off your anxiety, your
sufferings have come to an end. However, oppressed and
troubled one may be as soon as he steps into the Masjid,
he is on the pathway to happiness. The Fakir here is
very kind and He will cure the disease, and protect all
with love and kindness." The patient vomitted blood
every five minutes, but there wa no vomiting in the
presence of Baba. From the time, Baba uttered the words
of hope and mercy, the malady took a favourable turn.
Baba asked him to stay in Bhimabai's house, which was
not a convenient and healthy place, but Baba's order had
to be obeyed. While he was staying there, Baba cured him
by two dreams. In the first dream, he saw himself as a
boy suffering the severe pain of a flogging, which he
received for not reciting his 'Swami-poetry' lesson
before his class-master. In the second dream, some one
caused him intense pain, and torture, by rolling a stone
up and down over his chest. With the pain thus suffered
in dream, his cure was complete, and he went home. He
then often came to Shirdi, gratefully remembering what
Baba did for him, and prostrated before Him. Baba also
did not expect anything from devotees, but grateful
remembrance, unchanging faith and devotion. People in
the Maharashtra, always celebrate Satya-Narayana Puja in
their homes every fortnight or month. But it was this
Bhimaji Patil, who started a new Sai Satya-vrata Puja,
instead of Satya-Narayana-vrata Puja, in his house, when
he returned to his village.
Bala Ganpat Shimpi
Another devotee of Baba by name Bala Ganapat Shimpi,
suffered much from a malignant type of Malaria. he tried
all sorts of medicines and decoctions, but in vain. The
fever did not abate a jot and so he ran to Shirdi and
fell on Baba's Feet. Baba gave him a strage recipe, in
this case as follows:- "Give a black dog some morsels of
rice mixed with curds in front of the Laxmi temple".
Bala Shimpi did not know, how to execute this recipe;
but no sonner he went home, then he found rice and
curds. After mixing them together, he brought the
mixture near the Laxmi temple, when he found the a black
dog waving its tail. He placed the curds and rice before
the dog. The dog ate it and, strange to say, Bala got
rid of his Malaria.
Bapusaheb Booty
Shriman Bapusaheb Booty suffered, once from dysentery
and vomitting. His cupboard was full of patent drugs and
medicines, but none of them had any effect. Bapusaheb
got very weak, on account of purgings and vomittings
and, therefore, was not able to go to the Masjid for
Baba's darshan. Baba then sent for him and made him sit
before Him and said, "Now take care, you should not
purge any more" and waving His index-finger "The
vomiting must also stop". Now look at the force of
Baba's words. Both the maladies took to their heels
(disappeared) and Booty felt well.
On another occasion he had an attack of Cholera, and
suffered from severe thirst. Dr. Pillai tried all sorts
of remedies but could give him no relief. Then he went
to Baba and consulted Him as what to drink that would
allay his thirst and cure the disease. Baba prescribed
an infusion of almonds, walnuts, pistachio (a kind of
dry fruit), boiled in sugared milk. This would be
considered, as a fatal aggravation of the disease by any
other doctor or physician, but in implicit obedience to
Baba's order, the infusion was administered and strange
to say, the disease was cured.
Alandi Swami
A Swami from Alandi, wishing to take Baba's darshan,
came to Shirdi. He suffered form a severe pain in his
ear, which prevented him from getting the sleep. He was
operated for this, but it served no purpose. The pain
was severe and he did not know what to do. While he was
returning, he came to take Baba's leave, when Shama (Madhavrao
Deshpande) requested Baba to do something for the pain
in the Swami's ear. Baba comforted him saying, "Alla
Accha Karega (God will do good)." The Swami then
returned to Poona, and after a week sent a letter to
Shirdi, stating that the pain in his ear had subsided
though the swelling was there, and in order to get the
swelling removed, he went to Bombay for operation, but
the surgeon on examining the ear said that no operation
was then necessary. Such was the wonderful effect of
Baba's words.
Kaka Mahajani
Another devotee named Kaka Mahajani suffered once from
diarrhea. In order that there should be no break in his
services to Baba, Kaka kept a tambya (pot) with water in
some corner of the Masjid and whenever there was a call,
he would go out. As Sai Baba knew everything, Kaka did
not inform Him of his disease, thinking that Baba would
of His own cure it soon. The work of constructing the
pavement in front of the Masjid was permitted by Baba,
but when the actual work was begun, Baba got wild and
shouted out loudly. Everybody ran away, and as Kaka was
also doing the same, Baba caught hold of him and made
him sit there. In the confusion that followed, somebody
left the a small bag of groundnuts. Baba took a handful
of groundnuts, rubbed them in His hands, blew away the
skins, and gave the clean nuts to Kaka and made him eat
them. Scolding and cleaning the nuts, and making Kaka
eat them, went on simultaneously. Baba Himself ate some
of them. Then, when the bag was finished, Baba asked him
to fetch water as He felt thirsty. Kaka brought a
pitcher full of water. Then Baba drank some water and
made Kaka also drink it. Baba then said, "Now your
diarrhea has stopped, and you may attend to the work of
the pavement." In the meanwhile other persons, who had
run away, returned and started the work; and Kaka, whose
motions had stopped, also joined them. Are groundnuts
medicine for diarrhea? According to current medical
opinion, groundnuts would aggravate the disease, and not
cure it. The true medicine, in this as in other cases,
was Baba's word.
Dattopant of Harda
A gentleman from Harda by name Dattopant suffered form
stomach-ache for fourteen yeas. None of the remedies
gave him any relief. Then hearing of Baba's fame, that
He cures diseases by sight he ran to Shirdi, and fell at
Baba's Feet. Baba looked at him kindly and gave him
blessings. When Baba placed His hand on his head, and
when he got Baba's Udi with blessing, he felt relieved
and there was no further trouble about the malady.
Towards the end ot his Chapter three cases are cited
in footnotes:
1. Madhavrao Deshpande suffered from Piles. Baba gave
him decoction of Sonamukhi (senna pods). This relieved
him. Then after two years the trouble again recurred and
Mahdavrao took the same decoction without consulting
Baba. The result was that the disease aggravated but
later on it was cured by Baba's grace.
2. Kaka Mahajani's elder brother, Gangadharpant,
suffered for many years from stomach-pain. Hearing
Baba's fame he came to Shirdi and requested Baba to cure
him. Baba touched his belly and said, "God will cure".
From that time there was no stomach-pain and he was
completely cured.
3. Nanasaheb Chandorkar also once suffered from intense
stomach-pain; he was restless the whole day and night.
Doctors administered syringes which produced no effect.
Then he approached Baba, who told him to eat Burfi (a
kind of sweetmeat) mixed with ghee. This recipe gave him
complete relief.
All these stories go to show, that the real medicine
that cured the various diseases permanently was Baba's
word, and grace, and not any medicines or drugs.
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