At the end of the last chapter, it was barely stated
that the Bhaktas, who obeyed Baba's orders at the time
of taking leave, fared well and those, who disobeyed
them, suffered many a mishap. This statement will be
amplified and illustrated, with a few striking
instances; and by other matters dealt with in this
Chapter.
Characteristic of Shirdi - Pilgrimage
One special peculiarity of Shirdi-pilgrimage was this,
that none could leave Shirdi, without Baba's permission;
and if he did, he invited untold sufferings, but if any
one was asked to quit Shirdi, he could stay there no
longer. Baba gave certain suggestions or hints, when
Bhaktas went to bid good-bye and take leave. These
suggestions had to be followed. If they were not
followed or were departed from, accidents were sure to
befall them, who acted contrary to Baba's directions. We
give below a few instances.
Tatya Kote Patil
Tatya Kote was once going in a tanga to Kopargaon bazar.
He came in haste to the Masjid, saluted Baba, and said
that he would go to Kopargtaon bazar. Baba said, "Don't
make haste, stop a little, let go the bazar, don't go
out of the village". On seeing has anxiety to go, Baba
asked him to take Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande) at least
with him. Not minding this direction, Tatya Kote
immediately drove his tanga. Of the two horses one,
which cost Rs.300/- was very active and restless. After
passing Sawul well, it began to run rashly, got a sprain
in its waist and fell down. Tatya was not much hurt, but
was reminded of Mother Sai's direction. On another
occasion while proceeding to Kolhar village, he
disregarded Baba's direction, and drove in a tanga,
which met with a similiar accident.
European Gentleman
One European gentleman of Bombay once came to Shirdi,
with an introductory note from Nanasaheb Chandorkar, and
with some object in view. He was comfortably
accommodated in a tent. He wanted to kneel before Baba
and kiss His hand. Therefore, he tried thrice to step
into the Masjid, but Baba prevented him from doing so.
He was asked to sit in the open court-yard below and
take Baba's darshan from there. Not pleased with this
reception he got, he wanted to leave Shirdi at once and
came to bid good-bye. Baba asked him to go the next day
and not to hurry. People also requested him to abide by
Baba's direction. Not listening to all this, he left
Shirdi in a tanga. The horses ran at first all right,
but when Sawul well was passed, a bicycle came in front,
seeing which the horses were frightened and ran fast.
The tanga was turned topsy-turvy and the gentleman fell
down and was dragged some distance. He was immediately
released; but had to go and lie in Kopargaon hospital
for the treatment of the injuries. Because of such
experiences all people learnt the lesson, that those who
disobeyed Baba's instruction met with accidents in one
way or the other, and those who obeyed them were safe
and happy.
The Necessity of Mendicancy
Now to return to the question of mendicancy. A question
may arise in the minds of some that if Baba was such a
great personage - God in fact, why should He have
recourse to the begging bowl, all His lifetime? This
question may be considered and replied from two
standpoints. (1) Who are the fit persons, who have a
right to live by the begging-bowl? Our Shastras say that
those persons, who, getting rid of, or becoming free
from the three main Desires, viz. (1) for progeny, (2)
for wealth, (3) for fame, accept Sannyas, are the fit
persons to live by begging alms. They cannot make
cooking arrangements and dine at home. The duty of
feeding them rests on the shoulders of house-holders.
Sai Baba was neither a house-holder nor Vanaprastha. He
was a celibate sannyasi, i.e., sannyasi from boyhood.
His firm conviction was that the universe was His home,
He was the Lord Vasudeo - the Supporter of the universe
and the Imperishable Brahman. So He had the full right
to have recourse to the begging-bowl. (2) Now from the
standpoint of (1) Pancha-soon - five sins and their
atonement. We all know that in order to prepare
food-stuffs and meals, the householders have to go
through five actions or processes, viz. (1) Kandani-Pounding,
(2) Peshani-Grinding, (3) Udakumbhi - Washing pots, (4)
Marjani - Sweeping and cleaning, (5) Chulli-Lighting
hearths. These processes involve destruction of a lot of
small insects and creatures, and thus the householders
incur a lot of sin. In order to atone for this sin, our
Shastras prescribe five kinds of sacrifices, viz. (1)
Brahma-Yajna, (2) vedadhyayan - offerings to Brahman or
the study of the Vedas. (3) Pitra-Yajna-offerings to the
ancestors, 4)Deva-Yajna - offerings to the Gods, (5)
Bhoota-Yajna-offerings to the beings, (6)
Manushya-Atithi-Yajna-offerings to men or uninvited
guests. If these sacrifices, enjoined by the Shastras
are duly performed, the purification of their minds is
effected and this helps them to get knowledge and
self-realization. Baba, in going from house to house,
reminded the inmates of their sacred duty, and fortunate
were the people, who got the lesson at their homes from
Baba.
Devotee's Experiences
Now to return to the other more interesting subject.
Lord Krishna has said in the Bhagawadgeeta (9-26)
"Whosoever devoutly offers to me a leaf, a flower, or a
fruit or water, of that pure-hearted man, I accept that
pious offering." In the case of Sai Baba, if a devotee
really longed to offer anything to Sai Baba, and if he
afterwards forgot to offer the same, Baba reminded him,
or his friend about the offering, and made him present
it to Him, and then accepted it and blessed the devotee.
A few instances are given below.
Tarkhad Family (father and son)
Mr. Ramachandra Atmaran alias Babasaheb Tarkhad,
formerly a Prarthana-Samajist, was a staunch devotee of
Sai Baba. His wife and son loved Baba equally or perhaps
more. It was once proposed that Master Tarkhad should go
with his mother to Shirdi and spend his May vacation
there, but the son was unwilling to go, as he thought
that in case he left his home at Bandra, the worship of
Sai Baba in the house would not be properly attended to,
as his father being a Prarthana Samajist, would not care
to worship Sai Baba's enlarged portrait. However, on his
father's giving an assurance of oath, that he would
perform the worship exactly as the son was doing, the
mother and the son left for Shirdi on one Friday night.
Next day (Saturday) Mr. Tarkhad got up early, took his
bath and before proceeding with the Puja, prostrated
himself before the Shrine and said - "Baba, I am going
to perform the Puja exactly as my son has been doing,
but please let it not be a formal drill." After he
performed the Puja, he offered a few pieces of
lump-sugar as naivedya (offering), which were
distributed at the time of the lunch.
That evening and on Sunday, everything went on well. The
following Monday was a working day and it also passed
well. Mr. Tarkhad, who had never performed Puja like
this in all his life, felt great confidence within
himself, that every thing was passing on quite
satisfactorily according to the promise given to his
son. On Tuesday, he performed the morning Puja as usual
and left for his work. Coming home at noon, he found
that there was no Prasad (sugar) to partake of, when the
meal was served. He asked the servant - cook, who told
him that there was no offering made that morning, and
that he had completely forgotten then to perform that
part of the Puja (offering naivedya). After hearing that
he left his seat and prostrated himself before the
Shrine, expressed his regret, at the same time chiding
Baba for the want of guidance in making the whole affair
a matter of mere drill. Then he wrote a letter to his
son stating the facts and requested him to lay it before
Baba's feet and ask His pardon for his neglect.
This happened in Bandra at Tuesday noon.
At about the same time, when the noon Arati was just
about to commence in Shirdi, Baba said to Mrs. Tarkhad,
"Mother, I had been to your house in Bandra, with a view
to having something to eat. I found the door locked. I
somehow got an entrance inside and found to My regret,
that Bhau (Mr. Tarkhad) had left nothing for Me to eat.
so I have returned from there without eating anything."
The lady could not understand anything; but the son, who
was close by, understood that there was something wrong
with the Puja in Bandra and he, therefore, requested
Baba to permit him to go home. Baba refused the
permission, but allowed him to perform Puja there. Then,
the son wrote a letter to his father, stating all that
took place at Shirdi and implored his father not to
neglect the Puja at home.
Both these letters crossed each other and were delivered
to the respective parties the next day.
Is this not astonishing?
Mrs. Tarkhad
Let us now take up the case of Mrs. Tarkhad herself. She
offered three things, viz. (1) Bharit (roasted brinjal
egg plant mixed curds and spice). (2) Kacharya (circular
pieces of brinjal fried in ghee), (3) Peda (sweetmeat
ball). Let us see how Baba accepted them.
Once Mr. Raghuvir Bhaskar Purandare of Bandra, a great
devotee of Baba started for Shirdi with his family. Mrs
Tarkhad went to Mrs. Purandare, and gave her two
brinjals and requested her to prepare Bharit of one
bringal and Kacharya of the other, when she went to
Shirdi and serve Baba with them. After reaching Shirdi,
Mrs. Purandare went with her dish of Bharit to the
Masjid when Baba was just about to start his meals. Baba
found the Bharit very tasty. So He distributed it to all
and said that He wanted Kacharyas now. A word was sent
to Radha Krishna-Mai, that Baba wanted Kacharyas. She
was in a fix, as that was no season of brinjals. How to
get brinjals was the question? When an enquiry was made
as to who brought the Bharit, it was found that Mrs.
Purandare was also entrusted with the duty of serving
Kacharyas. Everybody then came to know the significance
of Baba's enquiry regarding Kacharyas, and was
wonderstruck at Baba's all-pervasive knowledge.
In December 1915 A.D., one Govind Balaram Mankar wanted
to go to Shirdi to perfrom the obsequies of his father.
Before he left, he came to see Mr. Tarkhad. Then Mrs.
Tarkhad wanted to send something with him to Baba. She
searched the whole house but found nothing, except a
Peda, which had already been offered as naivedya. Mr.
Mankar was in mourning. Still out of great devotion to
Baba, she sent the Peda with him, hoping that Baba would
accept and eat it. Govind went to Shirdi and saw Baba,
but forgot to take the Peda with him. Baba simply
waited. When again he went to Baba in the afternoon, he
went empty-handed without the Peda. Baba could wait no
longer and, therefore, asked him straight, "What did you
bring for me?" "Nothing" was the reply. Baba asked him
again. The same reply came forth again. Then Baba asked
him the leading question, "Did not the mother (Mrs.
Tarkhad) give some sweetmeat to you for Me at the time
of your starting?" The boy then remembered the whole
thing. He felt abashed, asked Baba's pardon, ran to his
lodging, brought the Peda and gave it to Baba. As soon
as Baba got it in His hand. He put it into His mouth and
gulped it down. Thus the devotion of Mrs. Tarkhad was
recognized and accepted. "As men believe in Me, so do I
accept them" (Gita, 4-11) was proved in this case.
Baba Fed Sumptuously, -- How?
Once, Mrs. Tarkhad was staying in a certain house in
Shirdi. At noon, meals were ready and dishes were being
served, when a hungry dog turned up there and began to
cry, Mrs. Tarkhad got up at once and threw a piece of
bread, which the dog gulped with great relish. In the
afternoon, when she went to the Masjid and sat at some
distance, Sai Baba said to her, "Mother, you have fed Me
sumptuously up to my throat, My afflicted pranas
(life-forces) have been satisfied. always act like this,
and this will stand you in good stead. Sitting in this
Masjid I shall never, never speak untruth. Take pity on
Me like this. First give bread to the hungry, and then
eat yourself. Note this well." She could not at first
understand the meaning of what Baba said. So she replied
-- "Baba, how could I feed You? I am myself dependent on
others and take my food from them on payment." Then Baba
replied -- "Eating that lovely bread I am heartily
contended and I am still belching. The dog which you saw
before meals and to which you gave the piece of bread
is, one with Me, so also other creatures (cats, pigs,
flies, cows etc.) are one with Me. I am roaming in their
forms. He, who sees Me in all these creatures is My
beloved. So abandon the sense of duality and
distinction, and serve Me, as you did today." Drinking
these nectar-like words, she was moved, her eyes were
filled with tears, her throat was choked and her joy
knew no bounds.
Moral
"See God in all beings" is the moral of this chapter.
The Upanishads, the Geeta and the Bhagwat, all exhort us
to perceive God or Divinity in all the creatures. By the
instance given at the end of this Chapter and others too
numerous to mention. Sai Baba has practically
demonstrated to us how to put the Upanishadic teachings
into practice. In this way Sai Baba stands as the best
Exponent or Teacher of the Upanishadic doctrines.
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