DEATH IS NOT ALWAYS AN EVIL

DEATH IS NOT ALWAYS AN EVIL

 

We have already seen how Baba looked after Kaka's daughter Vatsali when an almirah tumbled down upon her. How did the fall of the almirah, with the heavy articles inside, not hurt the girl? In Baba's Charters and Sayings #35, Baba says, "I will not allow my devotees to come to harm I have to take thought for my devotees. I stretch out my hands, four hands, at a time to support them".

 

There were some cases, however, in which Baba finds himself prevented from doing anything, and that is what happened finally in the case of Vatsali. When she was in Shirdi, she got fever and Dixit was simply trusting Baba. But this time instead of saving her, when the fever had far advanced, Baba appeared to her in her dream, and said, "Why should you be down here? Come and be lying under the margosa tree". This was ominous, and the very next morning, Baba asked Shama, "Is Kaka's girl dead?" Shama replied, "O, Deva, why are you speaking so inauspiciously?" Then Baba replied. "She will die in the afternoon." She did accordingly at that time.

 

To enable Dixit to beat the blow, Baba gave him prescription. Kaka took in his hands Bhavartha Ramayana and handed it over to Baba. Baba then dipped hands into the book, and opening it, at the page in Kishkinda kanda, where Rama kills Vali and consoles his widow, asked Kaka to read and digest the same.

 

When death is inevitable, Baba wants his devotees to be strong-minded enough to recognise the fact of its inevitability and bear the separation. Death is not always an evil. Baba conveyed this truth to Kaka at least on one other occasion.

 

An old woman with her only son was at Shirdi, and a cobra bit that boy. The old woman ran to Baba, and asked for udhi to save the life of her son. Baba did not give any udhi, and then the woman went out. But soon she returned beating her breast wailing aloud that her son was dead. She implored Baba to revive her son. Baba gave neither udhi nor other help, and said nothing. But Dixit was there. His sympathy was very much excited, and he requested Baba to help her, "The woman's plight is heartening. Please revive her dead son for my sake."

 

Baba replied, "Bhav, do not get entangled in this. What has happened is for good. He has entered a new body. In that body, he will do specially good work which cannot be accomplished in this body, which is seen here. If I draw him back into this body, then the new body he has taken will die, and this body will live. I will do this for your sake. Have you considered the consequences? Have you any idea of the responsibility, and are you prepared to take it up?" H. S. Dixit desisted from pressing his request.

 

The current idea of the worldly man that death is always evil is incorrect and the wise man is he who cares for life only as long as it lasts and meets death without fear when it comes.

 

 

Written by: HH Pujyasri B V Narasimha Swamiji