This Chapter also continues the subject of the
importance of the Udi; it also gives two cases in which
Baba was tested and not found wanting. These cases will
be taken up first.
Preliminary
In spiritual matters or endeavours, sectarianism is the
greatest bar to our progress. Those, who believe the God
is without form, are heard saying that to believe the
God is with the form is an illusion and that the Saints
are only human beings. Then why should they bend their
heads before them and offer Dakshina? Persons belonging
to other sects will also raise objections and say, "Why
should they bow and offer allegiance to other Saints,
leaving their Sadgurus?" Similar objections regarding
Sai Baba were heard before and are heard even now. Some
said that when they went to Shirdi, Baba asked for
Dakshina from them. Is it good that Saints should
collect money in this fashion? If they do so, where is
their Sainthood? But there are many instances where men
went to Shirdi to scoff; but remained there to pray. Two
such instances are given below.
Kaka Mahajani's Friend
A friend of Kaka Mahajani was a worshipper of God
without form and was averse to idolatry. Out of
curiosity he agreed to go to Shirdi with Kaka Mahajani
on two conditions, viz., (1) that he would neither bow
to Baba, (2) nor pay Him any Dakshina. Kaka agreed to
these conditions and they both left Bombay on a Saturday
night and reached Shirdi the next morning. As soon as
they put their feet on the steps of the Masjid, Baba,
looking at the friend from a little distance, addressed
him in sweet words as follows, "Oh, welcome sir". The
tone that uttered these words was a very peculiar one.
It exactly resembled the tone of the friend's father. It
reminded him of his departed father and sent a thrill of
joy through his body. What an enchanting power the tone
had! Being surprised the friend said, "This is no doubt
the voice of my father". Then he at once up and,
forgetting his resolution, placed his head upon Baba's
Feet.
Then Baba asked for Dakshina twice, once in the morning
and again at noon at the time of their taking leave; but
He asked it from Kaka only and not from the friend. The
latter whispered to Kaka, "Baba asked for Dakshina from
you twice. I am with you, why does He omit me?" You ask
Baba Himself" was Kaka's reply. Baba asked Kaka what his
friend was whispering, then the friend asked Baba
himself whether he should pay any Dakshina. Baba
replied, "You had no mind to pay, so you were not asked;
but if you want to pay now you may." Then the friend
paid Rs.17 as Dakshina, the same amount that Kaka paid.
Baba then addressed him a few words of advice, "You do
away, destroy the Teli's wall (sense of difference)
between us, so that we can see and meet each other face
to face". Then Baba allowed them to depart. Thought the
weather was cloudy and threatening, Baba assured them of
their safe journey and both of them reached Bombay
safely. When he reached home and opened the door and
windows of his house, he found two sparrows fallen dead
on the ground and one just flying out through a window.
He thought that if he had left the windows open, two
sparrows would have been saved, but thought again, that
they had met their lot and that Baba had sent him back
soon just to save the third sparrow.
Kaka Mahajani's Master
Kaka was the Manager in the firm of Thakkar Dharmasey
Jethabhai, a solicitor of Bombay. Both the Master and
the Manager were on intimate terms. Mr. Thakkar knew
that Kaka was often going to Shirdi, staying there for
some days and returning, when Baba permitted him. Out of
curiosity and just to test Baba, Mr. Thakkar decided to
go to Shirdi with Kaka during Shimga holidays. As Kaka's
return was uncertain, he took another man with him as an
associate. The three started together and Kaka bought
two seers of raisins (dried grapes with seed) on the way
for presentation to Baba. They reached Shirdi in due
time, and went to the Masjid for darshan. Then Babasaheb
Tarkhad was there, Mr. Thakkar asked him why he came
there. "For darshan", Tarkhad replied. Mr. Thakkar asked
if miracles took place there. Tarkhad replied that it
(to see miracles) was not his attitude, but the earnest
intentions of the Bhaktas were satisfied here. Then Kaka
prostrated himself before Baba and offered the raisins
to Him. Baba ordered them to be distributed. Mr. Thakkar
got a few of them. He did not like the raisins and he
was advised by his doctor not to eat them without
washing and cleaning them. So he was in a fix. He did
not like to eat them, nor could he reject them. To keep
up formalities, he put them into his mouth, but did not
know what to do with the seeds. He could not spit them
out on the floor of the Masjid, so he pocketed them
against his wish. He then said in his mind that if Baba
was a Saint, how could He be ignorant of his dislike for
the raisins and could He force them on him. When this
thought arose in his mind Baba again gave him some more
raisins. He could not eat them, but held them in his
hand. Then Baba asked him to eat them up. He obeyed and
found, to his surprise, that they were all seedless. He
wanted to see miracles and here was one. He knew that
Baba read his thought; and as per his wish converted
raisins (with seeds) into seedless grapes. What a
wonderful power! Again to test further he asked Tarkhad,
who was sitting by and who also got some raisins, "What
kind of grapes you got?" He replied "They variety with
seeds." Mr. Thakkar was still more surprised to hear
this. Then to confirm his growing faith Thakkar thought
in his mind that if Baba was a real Saint, the raisins
should be now given to Kaka first. Reading this thought
also, Baba ordered that distribution should be commenced
from Kaka. These proofs were sufficient for Thakkar.
Then Shama introduced Mr. Thakkar as the master of Kaka,
upon which Baba said, "How could he be his master? He
has got a different Master altogether". Kaka appreciated
this reply. Forgetting his resolve, Thakkar saluted Baba
and returned to the Wada.
After the noon-Arati was over, they all went to the
Masjid for taking Baba's leave for their departure.
Sharma spoke for them. Baba then spoke as follows.
"There was a fickle-minded gentleman. He had health and
wealth and was free from both physical and mental
afflictions, but he took on him needless anxieties and
burdens and wandered hither and thither, thus losing his
peace of mind. Sometimes he dropped the burdens and at
other times carried them again. His mind knew no
steadiness. Seeing his state, I took pity on him and
said, "Now please keep your faith on any one place
(point) you like, why roam like this? Stick quietly to
one place.
Thakkar at once came to know that, that was an exact
description of himself. He wished that Kaka should also
return with him but no one expected that Kaka would be
allowed to leave Shirdi so soon. Baba read also this
thought to his and permitted Kaka to return with his
master. Thakkar got one more proof of Baba's capacity to
read another's mind.
Then Baba asked Kaka for Rs. 15/- as Dakshina and
received it. To Kaka He said, "If I take one rupee as
Dakshina from anybody I have to return it tenfold to
him. I never take anything gratis. I never ask any one
indiscriminately. I only ask and take from him whom the
Fakir (My Guru) points out. If any one is indebted
formerly to the Fakir money is received from him. The
donor gives, i.e. sows his seeds, only to reap a rich
harvest in future. Wealth should be the means to work
out Dharma. If it is used for personal enjoyment, it is
wasted. Unless you have given it before, you do not get
it now. So the best way to receive is to give. The
giving of Dakshina advances Vairagya (Non-attachment)
and thereby Bhakti and Jnana. Give one and receive
tenfold".
On hearing these words Mr. Thakkar himself gave Rs.15/-
in Baba's hand, forgetting his resolve not to do so. He
thought he did well in coming to Shirdi as all his
doubts were solved and he learnt so much.
Baba's skill in handling such cases was unique. Though
He did all those things He was totally non-attached to
them. Whether anybody saluted Him or not, or whether
anybody gave Him Dakshina or not, it was the same to
Him. None He disrespected. He felt no pleasure because
He was worshipped and no pain because He was
disregarded. He transcended the pairs of opposites, viz.
pleasure and pain, etc.
Insomnia Case
A Kayastha Prabhu gentleman of Bandra suffered from
Insomnia for long. As soon as he laid himself down for
sleep, his departed father appeared to him in his dream,
and abused and scolded him severely. This broke his
sleep and made him restless the whole night. Every night
this went on and the man did not know what to do. One
day he consulted a devotee of Baba in this respect. He
recommended the Udi as the only infallible remedy he
knew. He gave him some Udi and asked him to apply a
little of it to his forehead before going to bed and
keep the Udi-packet under the pillow. He tried this
remedy and found, to his great surprise and joy, that he
got sound sleep and that there was no disturbance of any
kind. He continued the remedy and always remembered Sai.
Then he got a picture of Sai Baba which he hung on the
wall near his pillow and started worshipping it daily
and on Thursdays, offering garland, naivedya etc. Then
he got on well and forgot altogether his past trouble.
Balaji Patil Newaskar
This man was a great devotee of Baba. He rendered most
excellent and disinterested service. Every day he swept
and kept clean all the passages and streets in Shirdi
through which Baba passed in His daily routine. This
work was, after him, equally well-done by another female
devotee named Rahda-Krishna-Mai, and after her by
Abdoola. When Balaji reaped his corn every year, he
brought the whole quantity and presented it to Baba. He
returned with what Baba gave him and maintained himself
and his family with it. This course was followed by him
for many years and after him by his son.
Power and Efficacy of Udi
Once it happened that at Balaji's death anniversary day,
a certain number of guests were invited and the dinner
was prepared for them. But at the dinner-time it was
found that thrice the number of people invited had
turned up. Mrs. Newaskar was in a fix. She thought that
the food would not suffice for the people assembled and
that if it fell short, the honour of the family would be
at stake. Her mother-in-law comforted her by saying,
"Don't be afraid, it is not ours, but Sai's food; cover
every vessel with cloth, putting some Udi in it, and
serve from the same without opening it : Sai will save
us from ignominy." She did as she was advised and it was
found to their surprise and joy that not only did the
food suffice for all, but plenty of it remained after
serving. "As one feels intently, so he realizes
accordingly" was proved in this case.
Sai Appearing as Serpent
Once Raghu Patil of Shirdi went to Balaji Patil at
Newase. That evening he found that a serpent entered the
cowshed hissing. All the cattle were afraid and began to
move. The immates of the house were frightened, but
Balaji thought that it was Sai Who appreared in his
house as a serpent. Without being afraid in the least he
brought a cup of milk and placing it before the serpent
said, "Baba, why do you miss and make noise? Do you want
to frighten us? Take this cup of milk and drink it with
a calm mind". Saying this, he sat close by unperturbed.
The other members were frightened and did not know what
to do. In a short time the serpent disappeared. Nobody
knew where it went. It was not found though a search was
made in the cowshed.
Balaji had two wives and some children. They sometimes
went to Shirdi from Newase for taking Baba's darshana.
Then Baba bought saris and other clothes which were
given to them with His blessings.
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