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?
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