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SRI SHIRDI SAI SAMSTHAN, MI
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28875 W Seven Mile Rd,
Livonia, MI-48152
Phone: 248-471-6474
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| Miracles of Sai Baba - Baba's Leelas |
The villagers of
Shirdi and afar soon found out that this was no ordinary fakir
but an avatar (incarnation) of a very high order. He
demonstrated through his miracles and utterances, the purpose
and intention for which he had come. He would often say, "My Leela is inscrutable". To each one he met, he imparted
knowledge according to the capacity of the recipient to absorb
it. Baba's Leela's (miracles) were plenty and varied, and we
recount just a few which occurred during and after his
lifetime.
Lighting lamps with water:
Long before Sai Baba's fame spread, he was fond of burning
lights in his Masjid and other Temples. But for the oil needed
in those little earthenware lights that he lit, he depended on
the generosity of the grocers of Shirdi. He had made it a rule
to light earthenware lamps in the masjid every evening and he
would call on the grocers for small donations. But there came
a time when the grocers got tired of giving oil free to Sai
Baba and one day they bluntly refused to oblige him, saying
they had no fresh stocks. Without a word of protest Sai Baba
returned to the masjid. Into those earthenware lamps he poured
water and lighted the wicks. The lamps continued to burn deep
into the midnight. The matter came to the notice of the
grocers who now came to Sai Baba with profuse apologies.
Wouldn't Sai Baba kindly pardon them? Sai Baba pardoned them,
but he warned them never to lie again. "You could have refused
to give me the oil, but did you have to say that you didn't
have fresh stocks?" he admonished them. But he had made his
point.
Premonition of burning fields:
Once, harvesting in Shirdi had been completed and the food
grains of the entire village had been stored in a yard. The
summer was on. The heat was intense as only those who have
lived in Shirdi know. One afternoon Sai Baba summoned Kondaji
Sutar and said to him: "Go, your field is on flrel"
Frightened, Kondaji ran to his field and. frantically looked
around for any sign of fire. There wasn't any. He returned to
the masjid and informed Sai Baba that he had looked everywhere
but had found no trace of fire and why did Baba have to
frighten him? Unfazed, Baba said: "You better turn back and
look again." Baba was right after all. Kondaji noticed that a
sheaf of corn was indeed on fire and smoke was billowing from
it. A strong wind was fanning the fire and word had gone round
to the villagers who now came running to the scene. "Sai
Baba," the people shouted "help us; help us put the fire out!"
Thereupon, Sai Baba walked casually towards the yard,
sprinkled some water on a stack of sheaves and said: "There
now! The fire will die down!" And so it happened.
Stopping the rain:
There is the story of one Rao Bahadur Moreshwar Fradhan who
had come to Shirdi to take Sai Baba's darshan along with his
wife. As the couple were about to leave, it began to rain
heavily. Thunder and lightning rent the air. As the Pradhan
couple looked round in dismay, Sai Baba prayed. "Oh Allah!" he
intoned, "let the rains cease. My children are going home. Let
them go peacefully!" The storm thereupon ceased, the downpour
reduced to slight drizzle and the Pradhans were able to reach
their destination safely.
Raising the water level in well:
When Sai Baba first came to Shirdi it had of no basic
facilities. There was a well put only in name. It had no
natural spring water and if ever there had been one, it must
long ago have dried up. Water had to be fetched from a
distance. When, therefore, Sai Baba gave his permission to the
villagers to celebrate the Ram Navami Fair, (Baba's Birthday)
the big problem facing the organizers was one of water supply.
So what should they do but go to Sai Baba with their problem?
"'Oh yes," said Sai Baba, 'so you want plenty of water, do
you? Here, take this and drop it in the well and wait and
see." "'This," turned up to be a platter of flowers on which
some prasad (blessed food) had been placed along with the
remnants of alms Baba had received earlier in the day. The
villagers had no qualms about doing as they were did. Their
faith in Sai Baba was total. No sooner had that platter of
leaves been dropped in the well, it is said, water rose from
the bottom as if by divine command and completely filled it.
And great was the rejoicing of the people.
Saving a child from drowning:
One report has it that word had spread that the 3-year old
daughter of a poor man called Babu Kirwandikar had fallen into
the well and had been drowned. When the villagers rushed to
the well they saw the child suspended in mid-air as if some
invisible hand was holding her up! She was quickly pulled out.
Sai Baba was fond of that child who was often heard to say: I
am Baba's sister!" After this incident, the villagers took her
at her word. "it is all Baba's Leela", the people would say
philosophically. They could offer no other explanation.
Flow of Godavari (river) from Baba's feet:
These were instances of things they had seen with their own
eyes. It was not secondhand information they had gathered. Sai
Baba was to them as real as their homes and their fields and
their cattle and the distant hills.Das Ganu once had an
unforgettable experience. On a festive occasion, he sought
Baba's permission to go to a place called Singba on the banks
of the Godavari to have a bath in the holy waters. "No," Baba
replied resolutely, "where is the need to go all the way when
the Godavari is here right at my feet?" Das Ganu was vexed. He
was willing to concede that Ganga the holy river (Baba
frequently referred to Godavari as Ganga) rose from the feet
of Sri Narayana (one among the Hindu trinity of Gods) himself,
but his faith was not deep enough to believe that the waters
of the Godavari could spring form the feet of his master, Sri
Sai. Baba who was reading Das Ganu's mind decided that this
was the time to strengthen Das Ganu's faith. He told his
devotee: "come closer to me and hold the hollow of your palms
at my feet!" As soon as he did so water flowed freely out of
the toes of the master's feet and filled the hollow of Das
Ganu's palms in no time. His joy knew no limits. He sprinkled
the water on his head and his body and distributed some more
among the assembled devotees as tirtha (holy water).
Other miracles:
There was that other occasion when many thought that the
masjid which housed Sai Baba itself would be consumed by fire
from the flames which leapt up from the dhuni. All that Baba
did was to take some swipes at a wooden pillar in front of
him. With every blow the flames subsided and the fire died
down. "Miraculous," said his devotees. Often they would notice
him stirring some hot concoction over the kitchen fire, not
with a ladle but with his bare hands. There never was a time
when his hand was scalded. What supernatural powers did he
have? On yet another occasion, Sai Baba was partaking of food
with three of his devotees in the masjid when, without any
cause for provocation, he exclaimed- "Stop!" Then, as if
nothing had happened, the four continued with their meal.
Lunch over and the dishes cleared, they stepped out of the
masjid, when large chunks of the ceiling fell on the very spot
where they had been seated only a few minutes earlier. Did Sai
Baba's powers extend even to inanimate matter, the devotees
wondered. Instances have been quoted by his devotees as to how
Sai Baba commanded the rains to stop and the winds to cease.
Understanding Sai Baba:
Baba always maintained the "Dhuni" or the perpetual fire. The
realization that all the phenomenons of the nature are
perishable and unworthy of our craving is signified by "Udi"
which Sal Baba distributed to all. Baba never left Shirdi. He
talked to people who came to see Him. Sal Baba would often
speak in symbols and parables leaving his devotees to work out
the answer - such as, "A man had a beautiful horse, but no
matter what he did, it would not run in harness. An expert
suggested that it should be taken back to the place from where
it had come. This was done and it becomes traceable and
useful". The explanation of this story is that the horse is
the Ego. As commander of the physical and mental powers of
man, it is useful but self-willed and therefore causes endless
trouble. Taking it back to its source is re-absorbing it in
the spirit source which it arises. It is the return to the
source which purifies and enlightens. From there the ego
issues forth again, no longer an ego, but a conscious agent of
the spirit.
Baba would ask for Dakshina (money offered with respect to the
Guru) from some of those who came to see Him. This was not
because he needed their money. This was one of Baba's methods
for testing out the devotee's attachment to worldly things and
willingness to surrender his ego. Once one has surrendered
himself totally to Him, Baba takes care of all His spiritual
and temporal needs. Baba regarded money like everything else,
in a symbolical manner. He once said, "I ask only from those
who the fakir (God) points out and in exchange I give them ten
times as much". By the end of the day, all the money Baba had
earned was distributed to the destitute, poor, sick and the
needy. Baba used to feed the fakirs and devotees and even cook
for them. For those who were accustomed to meat, he cooked
meat and for the others vegetarian fare.
The Dwarakamayee of Sai Baba was open to all, irrespective of
caste, creed or religion. Among those who came to see him and
got his darshan (establishing spiritual contact with the Guru)
and blessings were ministers, government officials, business
people and village folk. He was the common man's God. He
stayed with them, he joked with them, He slept and ate with
them, he smoked a chillum (pipe) with them, and he sang and
danced with them, having no pretensions of a God. But all of
them knew that He protected them. Even today, though He has
left his gross body, they feel his presence and realize his
worth all the more. Baba would also refer to the sounding of
the drum of the beginning of eternity within the soul. This "anahat"
sound emerged from Baba's heart from every limb, every bone
and pore of his body. It was permeated with divine essence and
Baba claimed that though one day his physical body will not
exist, his remains will communicate with from the grave.
Therefore, the most important place in Shirdi is Baba's temple
- the Samadhi Mandir is his grave, which literally millions
have visited and still continues to draw many more.
72 HOURS' SAMADHI--a mile stone:
In the month of Margashirsh (December), on a full moon day(in
late1886), Shree Sai Baba made an 'attempt' to cross the
borderline and to enter deep Samadhi. Apparently to get rid of
an attack of Asthma, Shree Sai Baba went into Samadhi after
telling Mhalsapati: "Protect my Body for 3 days...If I don't
return, bury my Body in that place (pointing it out) and fix 2
flags there to mark it."
Sai Baba lay down at about 10 p.m. and His breathing and pulse
stopped. His Body was lifeless. All people and villagers
gathered there and wanted to hold inquest and bury His body.
But Mhalsapati prevented them all. With Sai Baba's body in his
lap, he sat guarding it for 3 full days. After 3 days, Sai
Baba showed signs of life at 3 a.m. His breathing commenced
and his belly(stomach) began to move. He opened His eyes and
stretched His limbs as if rising from sleep. All were
overjoyed.
POST SAMADHI PERIOD:
After this 72 hour's samadhi experience, Shree Sai Baba's life
story seemed to pick up real momentum from the time Abdulla
arrived in Shirdi from Nanded (in 1889). It is true that there
are few records of stories or leelas before this milestone, as
most of the villagers were illiterate, but Hemadpant (G.
R.Dabholkar), author of "Shree Sai Satcharita" who first
visited Shirdi in 1910 and was assigned the work of writing
Sai Baba's life story at his own request, collected and kept
lots of notes of happenings in Shirdi even before his arrival.
Also, these "Sai Leelas" (stories of miracles and cures He
performed and a string of evolved devotees He attracted to the
Sai Durbar), which reflect favorably on His Spiritual
Advancement, omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscience, have
been extensively documented by some of His literate
contemporaries in books and throw additional light on these
leelas which not only make a wonderful reading but help
strengthen our faith and love for Shree Sai Baba. They would
in fact fill volumes but only some unique major events are
included in this Webpage constrained as it is by space
limitations.
H.H.Narasimha Swami, who literally took Shree Sai Baba to the
Southern India interviewed some of his contemporaries who were
alive around 1939 and had seen Shree Sai Baba in His Sagun
Swaroop.
These Sai Leelas are no doubt important but the reason we look
to Him even today is that He still " responds" to our humble
entreaties as if He was still sitting in Shirdi.
Ram & Rahim are ONE:
It appears to have been Shree Sai Baba's Mission in the
present Avatar to bridge the ever-widening gulf between the
two communities--Hindus & Muslims.
No one really knew whether Sai Baba was a Hindu or Muslim. For
He allowed Hindus to celebrate Festivals of Ram Navmi and
Gokul Ashtami and at the same time he allowed Sandal
Procession, Namaj Prayers on Id Days in Masjid and Tajiya or
tabut in Mohurram. His ears were pierced but he advocated the
practice of circumcision though he was not circumcised. He had
Dhuni (sacred fire of Hindus) in Masjid as also grinding,
blowing of conch and bells and bhajans in the Masjid. He
distributed Udi, the ash from Dhuni or fireplace, and a lot of
miracle cures are attributed to this Udi even to-day.
He always said: "Allah Malik" or "Sub Ka Mallik ek". Maybe,
because of His Love for both the communities, He also kept His
parentage a secret. Even when there appeared to be a stalemate
on the question of burial after He attained the Highest
Initiation, suddenly and swiftly agreement was reached between
the two communities on the very second day.
His constant advice was: "RAM and RAHIM were one and the same;
there was not the slightest difference between them; then why
should their devotees fall out and quarrel among themselves?
You ignorant folks join hands to bring both the communities
(Hindus & Muslims) together. Act sanely and you will quickly
gain your objective of "National Unity". It is good to neither
dispute nor argue amongst ourselves. Don't emulate others. The
Lord will protect you."
Dattatreya Avatars:
For fulfilling His Mission, Shree Sai Baba assumed a body and
after it was achieved, He threw away the body and assumed His
infinite aspect. Sai Baba ever lives like His previous
incarnation of God Dattratreya, Shree Narasimha Saraswati of
Gangapur, etc. His passing away is only an outward aspect but
really He pervades all animate and inanimate things and is
their Controller and Ruler and resides in our very hearts.
Therefore, even now those who totally surrender themselves to
Him and worship Him with wholehearted devotion, and follow the
precepts of "Shraddha" & "Saburi", experience Him and get
attuned with Him in Love, Harmony and Understanding and
immensely benefit from His bountiness.
He made no big speeches or left any concrete Teachings or
Sermons but He practiced the very sacred Bhagwat Geeta and
showed to all and sundry that it is still possible to live,
even in these days, as advocated by the Lord Krishna in
Bhagavadh Geeta. Hence, even though He established no Math or
Ashrams or Institutions to propagate His simple Teachings
(which appeal to all humanity) nor appointed any disciples,
the number of His devotees the world over is growing day by
day because He still runs to their succor whenever they really
need His help pretty badly, just the way He promised when He
said:" My tomb will speak to you when I am no more".
Sai Baba only asks for undiluted Love for all, Sincerity,
Shraddha( Faith) and Saburi (immense patience) but no fasting,
penance or elaborate rituals. He allows you to worship Him the
way you want and in the manner you want but He says your God
or Guru comes first. Such a liberal Satguru who understands
our weaknesses and human foibles has never been seen before.
His Divine Vibrations can still be experienced in Dwarkamai
today though He is no longer physically there but continues to
look at us all through His beautiful life-like portraits
adorning the Dwarkamai or through the images we see
everywhere. And like a Maharashtrian Saint said: "This
Universe is my Home". Saints like Sai Baba never die for they
are in reality God Himself.
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