This Chapter relates the wonderful stories of two
gentlemen from Goa and Mrs. Aurangabadkar of Sholapur.
Two Gentlemen
Once two gentlemen came from Goa for taking darshan of
Sai Baba, and prostrated themselves before him. Though
both came together, Baba asked only one them to give Him
Rs.15/- as Dakshina which was paid willingly. The other
man voluntarily offered Rs. 35/-. This sum was rejected
by Baba to the astonishment of all. Shama, who was
present, asked Baba, "What is this? Both came together,
one's Dakshina you accept, the other, though voluntarly
paid, you refuse. Why this distinction? Baba replied, "Shama,
you know nothing. I take nothing from anybody. The
Masjidmayi (The presiding Deity of the Masjid) calls for
the debt, the donor pays it and becomes free. Have I any
home, property or family to look after? I require
nothing. I am ever free. Debt, enmity and murder have to
be atoned for, there is not escape". Baba then continued
in His characteristic way as follows:-
As first he was poor and took a vow to his God that he
would pay his first month's salary if he got an
appointment. He got one on Rs.15/- p.m. Then he steadily
got promotions, from Rs.15/- he got Rs. 30, 60, 100, 200
and ultimately Rs.700/- per month. But in his prosperity
he forgot clean the vow he took. The force of his karma
has driven him here and I asked that amount (Rs.15/-)
from him as Dakshina.
Another story, While wandering by the sea-side I came to
a huge mansion and sat on its verandah. The owner gave
me a good reception and fed me sumptuously. He showed me
a neat and clean place near a cupboard for sleeping. I
slept there. While I was sound asleep, the man removed a
literite slab and broke the wall entered in and
scissored off all the money from my pocket. When I woke
up, I found that Rs.30,000/- were stolen. I was greatly
distressed and sat weeping and moaning. The money was in
currency notes and I thought that the Brahmin had stolen
it. I lost all interest in food and drink and sat for a
fortnight on the verandah, bemoaning my loss. After the
fortnight was over, a passing fakir saw me crying, and
made enquiries regarding the cause of my sorrow. I told
him everything. He said, "If you act according to my
bidding, you will recover your money; go to a fakir, I
shall give his whereabouts, surrender yourself to him,
he will get back your money; in the meanwhile give up
your favourite food till you recover your money." I
followed the fakir's advice and got my money. Then I
left the Wada and went to the sea-shore. There was a
steamer, but I could not get into it as it was crowded.
There a good-natured peon interceded for me and I got in
luckily. That brought me to another shore, where I
caught a train and came to the Masjidmayi.
The story finished and Baba asked Shama to take the
guests and arrange for their feeding. Then Shama took
them home and fed them. At dinner, Shama said to the
guests that Baba's story was rather mysterious, as He
had never gone to the sea-side, never had any money
(Rs.30,000/-), never travelled, never lost any money and
never recovered it, and enquired whether they understood
it and caught its significance. The guests were deeply
moved and were shedding tears. In a choking voice they
said that Baba was omniscient, infinite, the One (Para
Brahma) without a second. The story He gave out is
exactly our story, What He spoke has already taken place
in our case. How He knew this, is a wonder of wonders!
We shall give all the details after the meals.
Then after the meals while they were chewing betel-leaves,the
guests began to tell their stories. One of them said:-
"A hill-station on the ghats is my native place. I went
to Goa to earn my living by securing a job. I took a vow
to God Datta that if I got any service, I would offer
Him my first month's salary. By His grace I got an
appointment of Rs.15/- and then I got promotions as
described by Baba. I did forget all about my vow. Baba
has just reminded me of it in this way and recovered Rs.
15/- from me. It is not Dakshina as one may think it to
be, but a repayment of an old debt and fulfillment of
long forgotten vow".
Moral
Baba never, in fact, actually begged any money, nor
allowed His Bhaktas to beg. He regarded money as a
danger or bar to spiritual progress and did not allow
His Bhaktas to fall into its clutches. Bhagat Mhalsapati,
is an instance on tis point. He was very poor and could
hardly make both ends meet. Baba never allowed him to
make any money, nor gave him anything from the Dakshina
amount. Once a kind and liberal merchant named Hansaraj
gave a large amount of money to Mhalsapati in Baba's
presence, but Baba did not allow him to accept it.
Then the second guest began his tale. "My Brahmin (cook)
was serving me faithfully for 35 years. Unfortunately he
fell into bad ways, his mind changed and he robbed me of
my treasure. By removing a laterite slab from my wall
where my cup-board is fixed, he came in while we were
all asleep and carried away all my accumulated wealth,
Rs. 30,000/- in currency notes. I know not how Baba
mentioned the exact amount. I sat crying day and night.
My enquiries came to nothing. I spent a fortnight in
great anxiety. As I sat on the verandah, sad and
dejected, a passing fakir noted my condition and
enquired of its cause, and I told him all about it. He
told me that an Avalia by name Sai lives in Shirdi,
Kopergaon Taluka. Make vow to Him and give up any food
that you like best and say to Him mentally that 'I have
given up eating that food till I take your darshan'.
Then I took the vow and gave up eating rice and s0aid,
"Baba, I will eat it after recovering my property and
after taking your darshan".
Fifteen days passed after this. The Brahmin, of his own
accord, came to me, returned my money and apologized,
saying, "I went mad and acted thus; I now place my head
on your feet, please forgive me". Thus everything ended
well. The fakir that met me and helped me, was not seen
again. An intensive desire to see Sai Baba, whom the
fakir pointed out to me, arose in my mind. I thought
that the fakir who came all the way to my house was no
other than Sai Baba. Would He, who saw me and helped me
to get my lost money ever covet to get Rs.35/-? On the
contrary without expecting anything from us, He always
tries His best to lead us on the path of spiritual
progress.
I was overjoyed when I recovered my stolen property and
being infatuated, I forgot all about my vow. Then when I
was at Colaba, one night I saw Sai Baba in my dream.
This reminded me of my promised visit to Shirdi. I went
to Goa and from there wanted to start for Shirdi, by
taking a steamer to Bombay, en route. But when I came to
the harbour, I found that the steamer was crowded and
there was no place. The captain did not allow me, but on
the intercession of a peon, who was stranger to me, I
was allowed to get into the steamer which brought me to
Bombay. From there, I got in the train and came here.
Surely I think that Baba is all-pervading and
all-knowing. What are we and where is our home? How
great our good fortune that Baba got back our money and
drew us here to Himself? You Shirdi folk must be
infinitely superior and more fortunate than we; for Baba
has played, laughed, talked and lived with you for so
many years. I think that your store of good merits must
be infinite, for it attracted Baba into Shirdi. Sai is
our Datta. He ordered the vow. He gave me a seat in the
steamer and brought me here and thus gave proof of His
omniscience and omnipotence".
Mrs. Aurangabadkar
A lady from Sholapur, wife of Sakharam Aurangabadkar had
no issue during the long period of 27 years. She had
made a number of vows of Gods and Goddesses for an
issue, but was not successful. She then became almost
hopeless. To make a last attempt in this matter, she
came to Shirdi with her step-son Vishwanath and stayed
there for two months, serving Baba. Whenever she went to
the Masjid, she found it full and Baba surrounded by
devotees. She wanted to see Baba alone, fall at His feet
and open her heart and pray for an issue, but she got no
suitable opportunity. Ultimately she requested Shama to
intercede with Baba for her when He was alone. Shama
said to her that Baba's Darbar was open, still he would
try for her and that the Lord might bless her. He asked
her to sit ready with a cocoa-nut and joss-sticks on the
open courtyard at the time of Baba's meals and that when
he beckoned to her, she should come up. One day after
dinner, Shama was rubbing Baba's wet hands with a towel
when the latter pinched Shama's cheek. Shama feigning
anger said, "Deva, is it proper for you to pinch me like
this? We don't want such a mischievous God who pinches
us thus. Are we Your dependents, is this the fruit of
our intimacy?" Baba replied, "Oh Shama, during the 72
generations that you were with me, I never pinched you
till now and now you resent my touching you". Shama, "We
want a God that will give us ever kisses and sweets to
eat; we do not want any respect from You, or heaven,
balloon etc. Let our faith unto Your Feet be ever
wide-awake". Baba, "Yes, I have indeed come for that. I
have been feeding and nursing you and have got love and
affection for you".
Then Baba went up and took his seat. Shama beckoned to
the lady. She came up, bowed and presented the cocoa-nut
and joss-sticks. Baba shook the cocoa-nut which was dry.
The Kernal within rolled and made a noise. Baba said, "Shama,
this is rolling, see what it says". Shama, "The woman
prays that a child might be similarly rolling and
quickening in the womb. So give her the cocoa-nut with
Your blessings".
Baba, "Will the coconut give her any issue? How people
are foolish and fancy such things!"
Shama, "I know the power of Your word and blessing. Your
word will give her a string or series of children. You
are wrangling and not giving real blessing".
The parley went on for a while. Baba repeatedly ordering
to break the coconut and Shama pleading for the gift of
the unbroken fruit to the lady. Finally Baba yielded and
said, "She will have an issue". "When?" asked Shama. "In
12 months" was the reply. The cocoa-nut was therefore
broken into two part, one was eaten by the two, the
other was given to the lady.
The Shama turned up to the lady and said, "Dear madam,
you are a witness to my words. If within 12 months you
do not get any issue, I will break a cocoa-nut against
this Deva's head and drive him out of this Masjid. If I
fail in this, I will not call myself Madhav. You will
soon realize what I say".
She delivered a son in one year's time and the son was
brought to Baba in his fifth month. Both husband and
wife, prostrated themselves before Baba and the grateful
father (Mr. Aurangabadkar) paid a sum of Rs.500/- which
was spent in constructing a shed for Baba's house "Shyamakarna".
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