At the commencement of this chapter, some one asked
Hemadpant whether Sai Baba was a Guru or Sad-guru. In
order to answer the question Hemadpant describes the
signs or marks of a Sad-guru as follows:-
Signs of Sad-guru
He who teaches us Veda and Vedanta or the six Shastras
(systems), he who controls the breath, or brands his
body with Mudras (metallic marks of Vishnu's weapons) or
gives pleasing discourses regarding Brahma, he who gives
mantras (sacred syllables) to the disciples and orders
them to chant the same a certain number of times, but
does not assure them any result in a definite time, he
who by his spacious wordy knowledge explains beautifully
the Ultimate Principle, but has himself got no
experience or self-realization is not a Sad-guru. But
he, who by his discourse creates in us, a distaste for
the enjoyments of this world and the next, and gives us
a taste of self-realization, who is well-versed in both
the theoretical and practical knowledge
(self-realization) deserves to be called a Sad-guru. How
can he, who is himself devoid of self-realization, give
it to the disciples? A Sad-guru does not, even in his
dream, expect any service or profit from his disciples.
On the contrary he wishes to serve them. He does not
think that he is great and the disciple small. Not only
he loves him as his son but regards him as equal to
himself or as Brahma. The main characteristic of a
Sad-guru is that he is the abode of peace. He is never
restless nor ruffled. He has no pride of his learning.
The poor and the rich, the small and the great, are the
same to him.
Hemadpant thinks that on account of the store or
accumulation of merits in his past births, he had the
good fortune of meeting and being blessed by such a
Sad-guru as Sai Baba. Even in full youth He hoarded
nothing (expect perhaps chillim). He had no family, no
friend, no home, nor any support. Since He was eighteen,
His control of mind was perfect and extra-ordinary. He
lived then fearless in a secluded place and always
abided in His Self. Seeing the pure attachment of His
devotees He always acted in their interests and hence He
was in a way dependent on them. What experiences He gave
to His devotees while he was living in flesh, are even
to-day, after His Mahasamadhi, obtained now by those who
attach themselves to Him. What the devotees have to do
is this - They have to trim their heart-lamp of faith
and devotion, and burn in it wicks of love, and when
this is done, the flame of knowledge (self-realization)
will be lit up and shine brighter. Mere knowledge
without love is dry; nobody wants such knowledge.
Without love there is no contentment; so we should have
unbroken and unbounded love. How can we praise love?
Everything is insignificant before it. Without love our
reading, hearing and the study are of no avail. In the
wake of love follow devotion, dispassion, peace and
liberation with all their treasures. We do not get love
for anything unless we feel earnestly about it. So where
there is real yearning and feeling, God manifests
Himself. It includes love and is the means of
liberation.
Now let us revert to the main story of this chapter. Let
a man go to a true saint with a pure mind, otherwise
(fraudulently) and hold his feet; ultimately he is sure
to be saved. This is illustrated by the following
stories.
Mr.Shevade
Mr. Sapatneker of Akkalkot (Sholapur District) was
studying for law. A co-student Mr.Shevade met him. Other
fellow students also gathered together and compared
notes of their study. It was found by the questions and
answers amongst themselves, that Mr.Shevade was the
least prepared of all for the examination, and therefore
all the students derided him. But he said that though he
was not prepared, he was sure to pass the examination,
as his Sai Baba was there to get him through it
successfully. Mr.Sapatnekar was surprised at this
remark. He took Mr.Shevade aside and asked him who this
Sai Baba was whom he extolled so high. He replied -
"There lives in a Masjid in Shirdi (Ahmednagar District)
a fakir. He is a great Sat-purusha. There may be other
saints, but this is unique. Unless there is a great
store of merits on one's account, one can't see Him. I
fully believe in Him, and what He says will be never
untrue. He has assured me that I will pass definitely
next year and I am confident that I will get through the
final examination also with His grace." Mr.Sapatneker
laughed at his friend's confidence and jeered at him and
Baba.
Sapatnekars
Mr.Sapatnekar passed his examination, settled at
Akkalkot and practised as a pleader there. Ten years
after this, i.e., in 1913 he lost his only son on
account of a throat disease. This broke his heart. He
sought relief by making a pilgrimage to Pandharpur,
Ganagapur and other holy places. He got no peace of
mind. Then he read Vedanta, which also did not help him.
In the meanwhile he remembered Mr.Shevade's remarks and
his faith in Baba, and he thought that he too should go
to Shirdi and see Baba. He went to Shirdi with his
younger brother Panditrao and was much pleased to see
Baba from a distance. When he went near and prostrated
himself and placed a coconut before Baba with pure
feeling (devotion), the latter at once cried out "Get
away." Saptnekar hung down his head, moved back and sat
aside. He wanted to consult somebody who would advise
him how to proceed. Somebody mentioned Bala Shimpi's
name. Sapatnekar saw him and sought his help. They
bought Baba's photos and came with them to the Masjid.
Baba Shimpi took a photo in his hand, gave it to Baba
and asked him whose photo it was. Baba said that this
photo was the 'Yara' (Lover) of him, pointing to
Sapatnekar. Saying this Baba laughed and all others
joined. Bala asked Baba the significance of the laugh
and beckoned Sapatnekar to come forward and take darshan.
When Saptnakar began to prostrate himself, Baba again
cried "Get out." Sapatnekar did not know what to do.
Then they both joined their hands and sat before Baba,
praying. Baba finally ordered sapatnekar to clear out
immediately. Both were sad and dejected. As Baba's order
had to be obeyed, Sapatnekar left Shirdi with a heavy
heart praying that he should be allowed to take darshan
next time.
Mrs.Saptnekar
One year elapsed. Still his mind was not at peace. He
went to Gangapur, where he felt more restless. Then he
went to Madhegaon for rest and finally decided to go to
Kashi. Two days before starting, his wife got a vision.
In her dream she was going with a pitcher to Lakadsha's
well. There a fakir with a piece of cloth round his
head, who was sitting at the foot of the Neem tree, came
close to her and said - "My dear lassie, why get
exhausted for nothing? I get your pitcher filled with
pure water." She was afraid of the fakir and hastened
back with the empty pitcher. The fakir followed her. At
this she was awakened and opened her eyes. She told this
vision to her husband. They thought that this was an
auspicious sign and they both left for Shirdi. When they
reached the Masjid, Baba was absent. He had gone to
Lendi. They waited till His return. When He returned,
she was surprised to see that the fakir she saw in her
vision, resembled exactly Baba. She reverentially
prostrated herself before Baba and sat looking at him.
Seeing her humility Baba was much pleased and began to
tell a story in his peculiar characteristic fashion to a
third party. He said - "My arms, abdomen and waist are
paining for a long time. I took many medicines, the
pains did not abate. I got sick of the medicines as they
gave me no relief, but I am surprised to see now that
all the pains have disappeared at once." Though no name
was mentioned it was the story of Mrs.Sapatnekar
herself. Her pains, as described by Baba, left her soon
and she was happy.
Then Mr.Sapatnekar went ahead to take darshan. He was
again welcomed with the former "Get out." This time he
was more penitent and persevering. He said that Baba's
displeasure was due to his past deeds and resolved to
make amends for the same. He determined to see Baba
alone and ask his pardon for his past actions. This he
did. He placed his head on Baba's feet and Baba placed
His hand on it and Sapatnekar sat stroking Baba's leg.
Then a shepherdess came and sat massaging Baba's waist.
Baba in his characteristic way began to tell the story
of a bania. He related the various vicissitudes of all
his life, including the death of his only son.
Sapatnekar was surprised to see that the story which
Baba related was his own, and he wondered how Baba knew
every detail of it. He came to know that He was
omniscient and knew the hearts of all. When this thought
crossed his mind, Baba still addressing the shepherdess
and pointing to Sapatnekar said - "This fellow blames Me
and charges Me with killing his son. Do I kill people's
children? Why does this fellow come to the Masjid and
cry? Now I will do this I will again bring that very
child back in his wife's womb." WIth these words He
placed His blessing and on his head and comforted him
saying - "These feet are old and holy, you are care-free
now; place entire faith in Me and you will soon get your
object." Sapatnekar was much moved with emotion, he
bathed Baba's feet with his tears and then returned to
his residence.
Then he made preparations of worship and naivedya and
came with his wife to the Masjid. He offered all this to
Baba daily and accepted prasad from Him. There was a
crowd in the Masjid and Sapatnekar went there and
saluted Baba again and again. Seeing heads clashing
against heads Baba said to Sapatnekar - "Oh, why do you
prostrate yourself now and then? The one Namaskar
offered with love and humility is enough." Then
Sapatnekar witnessed that night the chavadi procession
described before. In that procession Baba looked like a
veritable Pandurang (Vithal).
At parting next day, Sapatnekar thought that he should
first pay one rupee as dakshina and if Baba asked again,
instead of saying no, he should pay one more, reserving
with him sufficient amount as expenses for the journey.
When he went to the Masjid and offered one rupee, Baba
asked for another as per his intention and when it was
paid, Baba blessed him him saying - "Take the coconut,
put it in your wife's oti (upper fold of her sari), and
go away at ease without the least anxiety." He did so,
and within a year a son was born to him and with an
infant of 8 months the pair came to Shirdi, placed it at
Baba's feet and prayed thus - "Oh, Sainath, we do not
know how to redeem Your obligations, therefore we
prostrate ourselves before You, bless us poor helpless
fellows, henceforth let Your holy feet be our sole
refuge. Many thoughts and ideas trouble us in waking and
dream states, so turn away our minds from them to Your
bhajan and bless us."
The son was named Murlidhar. Two others (Bhaskar and
Dinkar) were born afterwards. The Sapatnekar pair thus
realized that Baba's words were never untrue and
unfulfilled, but turned out literally true.
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