A PERSON WHO IS IMPORTANT TO THE SAI MOVEMENT

A PERSON WHO IS IMPORTANT TO THE SAI MOVEMENT

An important event in Mahlsapathy's life that he was connected with was Baba's trying to leave his body about 1886 and returning to it three days later. Baba had made him the guardian of his body and told him, "Arre Bhagat, look after this body for three days. I am going to Allah. If I do not return, then get it buried in due course at that place, (that is, near the sacred gode neem tree)" Mahlsapathy supported Baba's body on his own knee and when officers, including the village headman karnam, etc., held an inquest over the body, declared it dead, and wanted it to be buried, he with the support of others stoutly opposed their proposal and saved Baba from losing his body, as Sankaracharya's is said to have been lost (See Sankara Vijayam) when he tried a similar attempt to leave and re-enter his body in order to enter a grihasta royal body by parakaya pravesa. Thus he rendered a valuable service in 1886, after which Baba lived for 32 years to create this huge Sai movement that has covered this land. If Mahlsapathy had failed in his duty, and Baba had been buried perhaps the course of history might have been different.