BABA'S KNOWLEDGE ON COMING EVENTS
Baba used his knowledge of coming events for "Bhagat" as Baba called this bhakta Mahlsapathy, and revealed them to him when necessary. He was poor, whose three daughters were married to people at various villages. His Sambandis (i.e., fathers-in-law of those daughters) had no regard for him. On one occasion, one of the Sambandis at a distance village invited him to dine with him, and Mahlsapathy wentto take Baba's leave. When granting leave, Baba said, "You are going to be insulted there." Mahlsapathy went along with his friend, but when he went to his Sambandi's house, he found the Sambandi's peoplehad already finished their meal and were washing their hands without caring to wait for the arrival of their poor relation Mahlsapathy. This was an obvious insult and he returned refusing to take his meal. He returned to Baba and told him all the facts.
On another occasion, one Ram Bhav Harde, a Sai Baba bhakta, invited Mahlsapathy to go to his village `Astinagram' some six or ten miles away from Shirdi. There was to be a Mahlsapathy Purana reading byMahlsapathy to be followed by a dinner. So it was an interesting occasion, and Mahlsapathy went to take leave of Baba. Baba said, "Do not go. There will be a fight there." Yet having been invited, he could not avoid going, and he went to that village. He sat and read Mahlsapathy Puranam there, and while that was going on the host's graceless, sturdy and rowdy boys with other boys sat for their meal and began to exchange hot words. From words they quickly came to blows with sticks, and on account of the free use of the cudgels, the audience that was present for the Purana reading fled in fright and Mahlsapathy also had to pack up his purana and follow their wise example. He returned to Shirdi and told to Baba, "Your words have proved true to the letter."
Long before N. G. Chandorkar and others arrived, i.e., in the 1880s; Baba spoke of the future of Shirdi. Baba told Bhagat and others who were with him at the chavadi, "In this place (Shirdi) there will behuge storied buildings rising, big fairs will be held, and big men, Subedars, and others will be coming. My Brahmins will gather and elephants, horses and Shankar Nana will also come. Guns will be fired(Dhadanga Dishe Udenga)." People hearing this began to smile. They thought, "What, all this for this worthless nook of an insignificant hamlet." But some decades later, every one of Baba's statement cametrue, and that nook of an insignificant village has already become a small town with big storied buildings, sugar factories with machinery, annual fairs, festivals etc., and the daily puja of Baba attracts thousands including ladies and gentlemen of the highest position from all parts of India.
Baba knew the future of this devotee but give him only hints. When Mahlsapathy got a male child in 1897 and took him to Baba and talked of Namakarana, i.e., the name to be given to the child, Baba, evidently to prevent his being too much attached to the son, told him "Look after the child for 25 years and that would be sufficient". The father's business is to look after this new arrival in a detached spirit, knowing that the connection is only for a fixed time. Mahlsapathy did not understand all this, or that 25 years period indicated the length of his life which was to end in 1922; but with true humility and submission he told Baba that "looking after" the child was not in his power – but only in Baba's power. Baba's replywas still more significant. "Be thou, the Nimitta" i.e., the apparent instrument, said Baba, reminding us of Sri Krishna's direction to Arjuna to fight the Mahabharata battles as a mere instrument in His hands "Nimittamatram Bhava Savyasachin". Mahlsapathy though a surrendered soul could not have banished his ego and risen then to the full height indicated above i.e., to treat all acts done by his body as the acts of the Supreme, Baba was leading him on to that height on the above and other occasions.
Courtesy: HH Pujyasri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji
Baba used his knowledge of coming events for "Bhagat" as Baba called this bhakta Mahlsapathy, and revealed them to him when necessary. He was poor, whose three daughters were married to people at various villages. His Sambandis (i.e., fathers-in-law of those daughters) had no regard for him. On one occasion, one of the Sambandis at a distance village invited him to dine with him, and Mahlsapathy wentto take Baba's leave. When granting leave, Baba said, "You are going to be insulted there." Mahlsapathy went along with his friend, but when he went to his Sambandi's house, he found the Sambandi's peoplehad already finished their meal and were washing their hands without caring to wait for the arrival of their poor relation Mahlsapathy. This was an obvious insult and he returned refusing to take his meal. He returned to Baba and told him all the facts.
On another occasion, one Ram Bhav Harde, a Sai Baba bhakta, invited Mahlsapathy to go to his village `Astinagram' some six or ten miles away from Shirdi. There was to be a Mahlsapathy Purana reading byMahlsapathy to be followed by a dinner. So it was an interesting occasion, and Mahlsapathy went to take leave of Baba. Baba said, "Do not go. There will be a fight there." Yet having been invited, he could not avoid going, and he went to that village. He sat and read Mahlsapathy Puranam there, and while that was going on the host's graceless, sturdy and rowdy boys with other boys sat for their meal and began to exchange hot words. From words they quickly came to blows with sticks, and on account of the free use of the cudgels, the audience that was present for the Purana reading fled in fright and Mahlsapathy also had to pack up his purana and follow their wise example. He returned to Shirdi and told to Baba, "Your words have proved true to the letter."
Long before N. G. Chandorkar and others arrived, i.e., in the 1880s; Baba spoke of the future of Shirdi. Baba told Bhagat and others who were with him at the chavadi, "In this place (Shirdi) there will behuge storied buildings rising, big fairs will be held, and big men, Subedars, and others will be coming. My Brahmins will gather and elephants, horses and Shankar Nana will also come. Guns will be fired(Dhadanga Dishe Udenga)." People hearing this began to smile. They thought, "What, all this for this worthless nook of an insignificant hamlet." But some decades later, every one of Baba's statement cametrue, and that nook of an insignificant village has already become a small town with big storied buildings, sugar factories with machinery, annual fairs, festivals etc., and the daily puja of Baba attracts thousands including ladies and gentlemen of the highest position from all parts of India.
Baba knew the future of this devotee but give him only hints. When Mahlsapathy got a male child in 1897 and took him to Baba and talked of Namakarana, i.e., the name to be given to the child, Baba, evidently to prevent his being too much attached to the son, told him "Look after the child for 25 years and that would be sufficient". The father's business is to look after this new arrival in a detached spirit, knowing that the connection is only for a fixed time. Mahlsapathy did not understand all this, or that 25 years period indicated the length of his life which was to end in 1922; but with true humility and submission he told Baba that "looking after" the child was not in his power – but only in Baba's power. Baba's replywas still more significant. "Be thou, the Nimitta" i.e., the apparent instrument, said Baba, reminding us of Sri Krishna's direction to Arjuna to fight the Mahabharata battles as a mere instrument in His hands "Nimittamatram Bhava Savyasachin". Mahlsapathy though a surrendered soul could not have banished his ego and risen then to the full height indicated above i.e., to treat all acts done by his body as the acts of the Supreme, Baba was leading him on to that height on the above and other occasions.
Courtesy: HH Pujyasri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji
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