In this Chapter, Hemadpant relates the stories of
Vinayak Harishchandra Thakur, B.A., Anantrao Patankar of
Poona, and a pleader from Pandharpur. All these stories
are very interesting which if very carefully read and
grasped, will lead the readers on to the spiritual path.
Preliminary
It is a general rule, that it is our good luck in the
form of accumulation of merits in past births, that
enables us to seek the company of Saints and profit
thereby. In illustration of this rule, Hemadpant gives
his own instance. He was a resident Magistrate of Bandra,
A suburb of Bombay, for many years. A famour Mahomedan
Saint named Pir Moulana was living there and many
Hindus, Parsis and many others who followed different
religion used to go to him and take his darshan. His
Mujavar (priest) by name Inus pressed Hemadpant many a
time, night and day, for going to see him, but for some
reason or other he was not able to see him. After many
years his turn came and he was called to Shirdi where he
was permanently enlisted in Sai Baba's Darbar.
Unfortunate fellows do not get this contact of the
Saints. It is only the fortunate ones that get it.
Institution of Saints
There have been institutions of Saints in this world,
from time immemorial. Various Saints appear (incarnate)
themselves in various places to carry out the missions
allotted to them, but though they work in different
places, they are, as it were, one. They work in unison
under the common authority of the Almighty Lord and know
full well what each of them is doing in his place, and
supplement his work where necessary. An instance
illustrating this is given below.
Mr. Thakur
Mr. V.H.Thakur, B.A., was a clerk in the Revenue
Department and he once came to a town named Vadgaum near
Belgaum (S.M. Country) along with a Survey party. There
he saw a Kanarese Saint (Appa) and bowed before him. The
Saint was explaining a portion from the book "Vichar-Sagar"
of Nischaldas (a standard work on Vedanta) to the
audience. When Thakur was taking his leave to go, he
said to him, "you should study this book, and if you do
so, your desires will be fulfilled, and when you go to
the North in the discharge of your duties in future, you
will come across a great Saint by your good luck, and
then he will show you the future path, and give rest to
your mind and make you happy".
Then, he was transferred to Junnar, where he had to go
by crossing Nhane Ghat. This Ghat was very steep and
impassible, and no other conveyance, than a buffalo was
of use in crossing it. So he had to take a buffalo-ride
through the Ghat, which inconvenienced and pained him
much. Thereafter, he was transferred to Kalyan on higher
post, and there he became acquainted with Nanasaheb
Chandorkar. He heard much about Sai Baba from him and
wished to see Him. Next day, Nanasaheb had to go to
Shirdi, and he asked Thakur to accompany him. He could
not do so as he had to attend the Thana Civil Court for
a civil case. So Nanasaheb went alone. Thakur went to
Thana, but there the case was postponed. Then, he
repented for not accompanying Nanasaheb. Still he left
for Shirdi and when he went there, he found that
Nanasaheb had left the place the previous day. Some of
his other friends, whom he met there, took him to Baba.
He saw Baba, fell at His Feet and was overjoyed. His
eyes were full of tears of joy and his hair stood on
end. Then after a while the omniscient Baba said to him
- "The path of this place is not so easy as the teaching
of the Kanarese Saint Appa or even as the buffalo-ride
in the Nhane Ghat. In this spiritual path, you have to
put in your best exertion as it is very difficult". When
Thakur heard these significant signs and words, which
none else than he knew, he was overwhelmed with joy. He
came to know, that the word of the Kanarese Saint had
turned true. Then joining both hands and placing his
head on Baba's Feet, he prayed that he should be a
accepted and blessed. Then Baba said - "What Appa told
you was all right, but these things have to be practised
and lived. Mere reading won't do. You have to think and
carry out what you read, otherwise, it is of no use.
Mere book-learning, without the grace of the Guru, and
self-realization is of no avail". The theoretical
portion was read from the work `Vichar Sagar' by Thakur,
but the practical way was shown to him at Shirdi.
Another story given below will bring out this truth more
forcibly.
Anantrao Patankar
One gentleman from Poona, by name Anantrao Patankar
wished to see Baba. He came to Shirdi, and took Baba's
darshan. His eyes were appeased, he was much pleased. He
fell at Baba's Feet; and after performing proper worship
said to Baba - "I have read a lot, studied Vedas,
Vedants and Upanishads and heard all the Purnas, but
still I have not got any peace of mind; so I think that
all my reading was useless. Simple ignorant devout
persons are better than myself. Unless the mind becomes
calm, all book-learning is of no avail. I have heard,
from many people, that you easily give peace of mind to
so many people by your mere glance, and playful word; so
I have come here; please take pity on me and bless me".
Then Baba told him a parable, which was as follows:-
Parable of Nine Balls of Stool (Nava-vidha Bhakti)
"Once a Soudagar (merchant) came here. Before him a mare
passed her stool (nine balls of stool). The merchant,
intent on his quest, spread the end of his dhotar and
gathered all the nine balls in it, and thus he got
concentration (peace) of mind".
Mr. Patankar could not make out the meaning of this
story; so he asked Ganesh Damodar, alias Dada Kelkar,
"What does Baba mean by this?" He replied - "I too do
not know all that Baba says and means, but at His
inspiration I say, what I come to know. The mare is
God's grace and the nine balls excreted are the nine
forms or types of Bhakti, viz., (1) Shravana (Hearing);
(2) Kirtana (Praying); (3) Smarana (Remembering); (4)
Padasevana (resorting to the feet); (5) Archana
(Worship); (6) Namaskara (Bowing); (7) Dasya (Service);
(8) Sakhyatva (Friendship); (9) Atmanivedana (surrender
of the self). These are the nine types of Bhakti. If any
of these is faithfully followed, Lord Hari will be
pleased, and manifest Himself in the home of the
devotee. All the sadhanas, viz. Japa (vocal worship),
Tapa (penance), Yoga practice and studying the
scriptures and expounding them are quite useless unless
they are accompanied by Bhakti, i.e., devotion.
Knowledge of the Vedas, or fame as a great Jnani, and
mere formal Bhajan (worship) are of no avail. What is
wanted is Loving Devotion. Consider yourself as the
merchant or seeker after the truth and be anxious and
eager like him to collect or cultivate the nine types of
devotion. Then you will attain stability and peace of
mind".
Next day, when Patankar went to Baba for saluation, he
was asked whether he collected the 'nine balls of
stool'. Then he said that he, being a poor fellow,
should first be graced by Baba, and then they will be
easily collected. Then Baba blessed and comforted him,
saying that he would attain peace and welfare. After
hearing this, Patankar became overjoyed and happy.
The Pandharpur Pleader
We shall close this Chapter with short story showing
Baba's omniscience and His using it for correcting
people and setting them on the right path. Once a
pleader from Pandharpur came to Shirdi, went to the
Masjid, saw Sai Baba, fell at His Feet and, without
being asked, offered some Dakshina, and sat in a corner
eager to hear the talk, that was going on. Then Baba
turned His face towards him and said - "How cunning the
people are! They fall at the feet, offer Dakshina, but
inwardly give abuses behind the back. Is not this
wonderful?" This cap (remark) fitted the pleader and he
had to wear (take) it. None understood the remark. The
pleader grasped it, but kept silent. When they returned
to the Wada, the pleader said to Kakasaheb Dixit - "What
Baba remarked was perfectly right. The dart (remark) was
aimed at me, it was a hint to me, that I should not
indulge in reviling or scandalizing others (calling by
names). When the subjudge or munsiff of Pandharput (Mr.Noolkar)
came and stayed here for the improvement of his health,
a discussion about this matter was going on in the
bar-room at Pandharpur (as it ever happens in many a
bar-room). It was said or discussed there whether the
ailments, from which the sub-judge suffered were, ever
likely to be got rid of without medicines, by merely
going after Sai Baba, and whether it was proper for an
educated man, like the sub-judge, to have recourse to
such methods. The sub-judge was taken to task, i.e. he
was ciritisied, as also Sai Baba. I also took some part
in this affair; and now Sai Baba showed the impropriety
of my conduct. This is not a rebuke to me, but a favour,
an advice that I should not indulge in any scandal or
slander of others; and not interfere unnecessarity in
others' affairs".
Shirdi is about 100 Koss (Koss=3 miles) distant from
Pandharpur; still Baba by His omniscience knew what
transpired there in the bar-room. The intervening places
-- rivers, jungles and mountains - were not a bar to His
all-perceiving sight and He could see or read the hearts
of all. There was nothing secret or veiled from Him.
Everything, far or near, was plain and clear to Him as
broad as daylight. Let a man be far or near, he cannot
avoid the all-pervading gaze of Sai Baba. From this
incident, the pleader took the lesson that he should
never speak ill of others, nor unnecessarily criticize
them. This his evil tendency was completely got rid of,
and he was set on the right path.
Though the story refers to a pleader, still it is
applicable to all. All should, therefore, take this
lesson to heart and profit thereby.
Sai Baba's greatness is unfathomable, so are His
wonderful Leelas. His life is also such; for He is
Para-Brahman (Lord God) incarnate.
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