Chapter XVI

Life History of Shirdi Sai Baba (Part II)

How Sai saved Sathe from Ruin.

Sathe moved close with Baba. But there was not much spiritual progress in him. Though he grew older he could not control his desire for lust. In Shirdi was a beautiful woman who attracted males desirous of satisfying their lust. Sathe once went to see Baba, before visiting her. On seeing him, Baba asked him whether he is on his way to ‘Saala’, the place of the ill-repute woman. But Sathe, not aware of this nickname for the place, thought Baba was asking him about school (meaning saala) and gave some vague answer. Afterwards, he went to the house of the woman and sat in the verandah, indulging in some pleasant talks. The talks appeared to take Sathe on a ruiness path. When he opened the doors of the room, he was shocked to find Baba standing there and staring at him with his sharp eyes, as if to caution Sathe. Baba also made some gestures with his hand which appeared as though he was questioning him whether he had all the way come to Shirdi only to get ruined. He immediately turned back and came to the mosque. He fell on the feet of Baba and took a vow not to visit that woman again during his life time. Then Baba blessed him with his hand raised. In this incident Baba did not speak much, but did everything silently. Baba corrected the wrongs of his devotees in such a way that only those who committed them would understand without others knowing about them.

Meghashyam
Meghashyam was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He regarded Baba as an Avatar of Shiva. When some devotees gave Baba Shiva’s idol from Panipat, he presented it to Megha in appreciation of his devotion to Shiva. Megha did abhishek to this idol everyday. After some time, the idol was put below the neem tree in Gurusthan, which can be seen even now.

One afternoon, Megha was sleeping in his room in Sathe Wada bolting it from inside. Baba appeared to him in his dream and said "Megha! Draw the trident (trishul) near the Shivalinga and sprinkle some akshatas (rice) on it." When Megha woke up and looked around, he did not find Baba. But he found the akshatas sprinkled by Baba all over the room.

Megha went to Dwarakamai and asked Baba whether he had come to Wada and ordered him to draw the trident (trishul) . Baba replied in the affirmative. Megha then asked him how he entered the room when it was bolted from inside. Baba replied, "Son, do you think that Baba is only the physical body that you are seeing? I am everywhere. Walls and doors cannot obstruct my movements."

Megha died in the year 1912. Baba touched his dead body and declared that he had been a real devotee, and tears fell from his eyes. He entrusted the work connected with cremation and the obsequies of Megha to Kaka Dixit. After a few days, Shama asked Baba when he was alone, "Baba, we are unable to understand your actions. You used to tell us that death is only to the body and not Atma which is permanent . But then Megha died you shed tears and also accompanied the body for some distance. Why did you have this special affection for Megha?" At this Baba smiled and said, "Shama! You have put a wise question. The two doubts you are entertaining are true. But it is necessary to understand properly the connection between them. Every issue is connected with the prevailing conditions in this world and also the timing of the actions. Keeping these in mind, one should try to understand the matter. When this is absent, sometimes the Guru will be viewed critically. When the disciple is in a position to criticise his Guru, he does not stand to benefit anything from him, but on the other hand misunderstandings may develop. Things which we cannot properly understand, should not be left to our limited knowledge. Every disciple will face such a situation. But those who offer everything to their Guru wholeheartedly, will consider the actions of the Guru for our good only. In such case, there will not be room for duality in thoughts and actions.

"In the present issue, it is a fact that Atma is permanent and the body only dies. Usually those who die are born again with some other body. But Megha had completely detached himself from all worldly things. He attained moksha (salvation). In the shape of Atma he is going far beyond the sun and the moon. That is the reason why I grieved about him." Mhalsapathi, hearing these clarifications of Baba, was pleased and satisfied with them. Baba looked at Mhalsapathi and said, "Bhagat! One who does not seek answer to his doubts will remain ignorant. But one who seeks answer will be ignorant only till he asks and after that he will be a learned person."

Baba Sanctifying the Religious Books
Some devotees of Baba, before reading the religious books gave them to Baba. Baba opened the books, looked into some pages and returned them to the devotees. The devotees believed that by reading those books touched by Baba, they would properly understand the contents, and the Parayana would continue unhindered.

Once Kaka Mahajan brought the book Eknath Bhagwat to Shirdi. Shama came to the mosque with this book, wanting to read it. Baba took the book from Shama, touched it and returned it to him, asking him to keep it with him only. But Shama told him that the book belonged to Kaka and therefore should be returned to him. But Baba replied, "I am giving this book to you." In this way Baba gave several books to Shama. Shama was an innocent person with a blind devotion. He had no education and had not read many religious books. Hence, Baba gave him a number of religious books.

Once a devotee Ramdas came to Shirdi. He was a great devotee of Lord Rama. He stayed at Shirdi for some days. Every day sitting in the front side of the mosque, he read Vishnu Sahasranamam and Aadyatmika Ramayana. He made this Parayan several times. One day, while he was reading the Vishnu Sahasranaman, Baba sent him out on an errand. He obeyed Baba and stopped the Parayana in the middle. After Ramdas left, Baba took the Vishnu Sahasranamam book of Ramdas and gave it to Shama, saying, "Shama, this Vishnu Sahasranamam book is very valuable, which gives good results. I am presenting this to you. You read this sincerely with devotion. Once when my heart was beating rapidly, I suffered a lot and thought that my life was in danger. Under such difficult conditions, I put this book on my heart. It did a lot good and the suffering reduced. I thought Allah had come personally and cured my ailment. I am giving such a powerful book to you. If you read daily one Namam also, a lot of good will happen to you."

But Shama hesitated to take the book as it belonged to Ramdas, who was an angry and quarrelsome person and a quarrel might take place when Ramdas returned. But he failed to understand that Baba’s aim was to do him good. On his return, Ramdas learnt about this and created a scene even though Shama narrated the facts. Then Baba called Ramdas and said to him, "Ramdas, why are you in an angry and quarrelsome mood? Shama had nothing to do in the matter. I gave the book to him. Is he not our man? Why are you quarreling with him unnecessarily ? Always talk softly and with love. Even though you read sacred religious books daily, your mind still is not purified. A real Rama bhakta should practice equality and detachment and not attachment. With money you can purchase any number of books but not persons. Think well and act intelligently . You know this book "by heart" . Let Shama also read this and be benefitted . If you desire, you can have some other book from Shama in exchange for your book."

Hearing this loving advice from Baba, Ramdas cooled down and took the book Pancharatna Gita from Shama, in exchange for his book. The above speech of Baba was not only intended for Ramdas but to all of us . Even though we read a lot of religious books or spend our time in the worship of God, there will not be any benefit unless our hearts get purified. Attachments to outside things and the words "I" and "mine" should be rid of from us. We must always think that all are one and equal. Everyone should try for such a change of hearts.

Once Bapu Saheb Jog took the Gita Rahasyam ( Secrets of Bhagawad Gita ) written by Tilak, along with him to Baba’s darshan. Baba took the book from Jog and after seeing some of the inside pages, he took out a rupee coin from his pocket and returned the book to Jog along with the dakshina, and blessed him saying that a lot of good would come to him if he read the book sincerely with devotion. In the same way as Baba used to touch the religious books, and bless his devotees even now when the devotees purchase the books, they keep them on the Samadhi of Baba and only then commence the Parayana. The same is also in the case when new articles are purchased by the devotees.

Saiyuga
Shirdi Sai Baba was the human incarnation of Lord Shiva of Kailash. For the good of the world, he stopped the poison in his throat and suffered for the sake of others. Repeating the name of such a Sai make us happy. Worship of Sai is auspicious. Devotees experienced complete bliss when they were in the company of Sai Baba frequently said, "Allah Malik". Sai, without aspiring for moksha or complete merger of God, has remained in the service of all living beings considered by him as facets of God. Sai means love, selfless love, sacred love. Sai’s love was not only to mankind but all living things. People in the name of wealth, caste religion, nationality, regions and political parties swindle and become millionaires. If necessary they are prepared to kill some. In the present society, we find a lot of such persons who call themselves leaders and servants of people. To curb this, we should publicise Sai philosophy on a large scale, spreading brotherly love in society. All should have peace and happiness permanently. This is shall be the aim of Sai philosophy in all nooks and corners of our towns and villages of the country. Sai Yuga is going to set in. All castes, all religions and all philosophies will merge into one and the philosophy of ‘One family’ will be established and we be lucky to be a part of this movement. Let us pray to Sai Baba to form an army of dedicated devotees (Sai Army) and establish a Sai empire.

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