Blessed Devotee who Experienced Baba’s Miracle before 1918 - Your Property will Come Back to You

Blessed Devotee who Experienced Baba's Miracle before 1918

Your Property will Come Back to You

 

 

Keshav was the grandson of Hari Bhau K. Karnik. He went on a pilgrimage festival of the goddess Mahalaxmi. The village was about ten miles away from his residence and was situated on the banks of a river. During his stay there, he often swam in the river. Just before returning home, he swam and bathed as usual, went to the temple, took Darshan of the goddess and returned home. On the way, he noticed that his golden ring weighing 1.5 tolas was missing. With a heavy heart, he returned home. He was sure that it must have slipped into the river while bathing.

 

About six months later, a Fakir came to his house and asked his grandfather whether his child had lost his ring in that very river. After ascertaining the identity of the ring, he returned it and left.

 

 

Leela- 56 in Ambrosia in Shirdi - Part-I

(Baba's Leelas before 1918)

 

 

Shri Sai Satcharitra Parayana - Chapter – 45 assigned for July 31. 2016

 Shri Sai Satcharitra Parayana

Chapter – 45 assigned for July 31. 2016

Kakasaheb's Doubt and Anandrao's Vision – Wooden Plank Baba's bed-stead and not Bhagat's.

DIRECT DOWN LOAD LINKS IN MAJOR INDIAN LANGUAGES:

 

Shri Sai Satcharita in English Ch 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsVEtDbG1xQzlMQnM/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharita in Hindi Ch 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsVkFNMXNoUTU3SHc/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharita in Marathi Ch 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsSGlNLUhVMUNCZnc/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Tamil Ch 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsNVhBUkNIQVhpVU0/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Telugu ch 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsWUwzTFZQSUVCcWs/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Malayalam 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsS25uOER4MXhKVUE/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Kannadam ch 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsYVQ0S3c3ZjZFRjg/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Konkani ch 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsT3VBSUlPRkVrWnc/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Bengali ch 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsejVNWDBtZ3dmN28/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Gujarati ch 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-Csd0lBUXlrNk5UcVU/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Odia ch 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsR3habUl5NXNfVGc/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Punjabi ch 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CscWxLMWwzZW9UaEU/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Sindhi ch 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsNEM3VUxyS0pBdU0/view?usp=sharing

 

SHRI SAI SATCHARITRA IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES:

 

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Nepali

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B1bwnkVMR-Csb0Q4T0JfR3dlY2M&usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra in German

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsRXd1TW5QSWhjN1U&usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra in French

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsY0JCdGdsYV9lWUE/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Spanish

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsOXJSaVBSZjN2ckU/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Urdu

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsclNCdlBjTlA3X1U/view?usp=sharing

 

SHRI SAI SATCHARITRA IN AUDIO MP3 FORMAT:

 

Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in English Ch. 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsVHJqMzRGdklzVFk/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in Hindi Ch. 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsYTRsQmNjcWQxeGM/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in Marathi Ch. 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsRmhMTERyUWQ0YlU/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in Tamil Ch. 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsZmZZeHFwUHhHMGc/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in Telugu Ch. 45

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsT2xFM3hJOFVnYnM/view?usp=sharing

 

Chapter XLV

 

Kakasaheb's Doubt and Anandrao's Vision – Wooden Plank Baba's bed-stead and not Bhagat's.

 

Preliminary

We have described in the last three chapters Baba's Passing away. His physical or finite form has no doubt disappeared from our view; but the infinite or spiritual form (Spirit of Baba) ever lives. The Leelas which occurred during His lifetime have been dwelt upon at great length up till now. Ever since His passing away, fresh Leelas have taken place and are even now happening. This clearly shows that Baba is ever-living and helping His devotees as before. The people who got the contact of Baba when He was living, were indeed very fortunate, but if any of them did not get a dispassion for the things and enjoyments of the world and had not their minds turned to the Lord, it was sheerly their ill-luck. What was then wanted and is now wanted is the whole-hearted devotion to Baba. All our senses, organs, and mind should co-operate in worshipping and serving Baba. It is no use in engaging some organs in the worship and deflecting others. If a thing like worhsip or meditation is to be done, it ought to be done with all our mind and soul.

The love that a chaste woman bears to her husband is sometimes compared to that which a disciple bears to his master (Guru). Yet the former falls far short of the latter, which is incomparable. No one, whether he be father, mother, brother or any other relation, comes to our aid in attaining the goal of life (self-realization). We have to chalk out and traverse the path of self-realization ourselves. We have to discriminate between the Unreal and the Real, renounce the things and enjoyments of this world and the next, control our senses and mind, and aspire for liberation only. Instead of depending upon others, we should have full faith in ourselves. When we begin to practice discrimination, we come to know, that the world is transient and unreal and our passion for worldly things becomes less and less, and ultimately we get dispassion or non-attachment for them. Then we know that the Brahma which is no other than our Guru is the sole reality and as It transcends and besets the seeming universe, we begin to worship It in all creatures. This is the unitive Bhajan or worship. When we thus worship the Brahma or Guru whole-heartedly, we become one with Him and attain self-realization. In short, always chanting the name of the Guru, and meditating on Him enables us to see Him in all beings, and confers eternal bliss on us. The following story will illustrate this.

Kakasaheb's Doubt and Anandrao's Vision

It is well-known, that Sai Baba had enjoined Kakasaheb Dixit to read daily two works of Shri Ekanath: (1) Bhagawat and (2) Bhawartha Ramayan. Kakasaheb read these daily while Baba was living and he followed the practice even after Baba's passing away. Once in Kaka Mahajani's house in Choupati, Bombay, Kakasaheb was reading Ekanathi Bhagawat in the morning. Madhavarao Deshpande alias Shama and Kaka Mahajani were then present and listened attentively to the portion read, viz., the 2nd Chapter, 11th skandha of the book. Therein the nine Nathas or Siddhas of the Rishabha family, viz., Kavi, Hari, Antariksha, Prabuddha, Pippalayan, Avirhotra, Drumil, Chamas and Karabhajan expounded the principles of the Bhagawat Dharma to King Janak. The latter asked all the nine Nathas most important questions and each of them answered them satisfactorily. The first, i.e., Kavi explained what is Bhagawat Dharma; Hari, the characteristics of a Bhakta (devotee); Antariksha, what is Maya; Prabuddha, how to cross Maya; Pippalayan, what is Para-Brahma; Avirhotra, what is Karma; Drumil, the incarnations of God and their deeds; Chamas, how a non-devotee fares after death; Karabhajan, the different modes of worship of God in different ages. The substance of all the exposition was that in this Kali age, the only means of liberation was the remembrance of Hari's (Lord's) or Guru's feet. After the reading was over, Kakasaheb said in a despondent tone to Madhavarao and others – "How wonderful is the discourse of the nine Nathas on Bhakti or devotion. But at the same time how difficult it is to put it into practice! The Nathas were perfect, but is it possible for fools like us to attain the devotion as delineated by them? we won't get it even after several births, then how are we to get salvation? It seems that there is no hope for us." Madhavarao did not like this pessimistic attitude of Kakasaheb. He said – "It is a pity that one who by his good luck got such a jewel (Guru) as Baba, should cry out so disparagingly; If he has unwavering faith in Baba, why should he feel restless? The Bhakti of the Nathas may be strong and wonderful, but is not ours' loving and affectionate? And has not Baba told us authoritatively that remembering and chanting Hari's and Guru's name confers salvation? Then where is the cause for fear and anxiety? Kakasaheb was not satisfied with Madhavarao's explanation. He continued to be anxious and restless, the whole day, thinking and brooding over how to get the powerful Bhakti of the Nathas. Next morning, the following miracle took place.

One gentleman, named Anandrao Pakhade came there in search of Madhavarao. The reading of the Bhagawat was then going on. Mr.Pakhade sat near Madhavarao and was whispering something to him. He was mentioning in low tone his dream-vision. As there was some interruption in the reading by this whispering, Kakasaheb stopped the reading, and asked Madhavarao what the matter was. The latter said – "Yesterday you expressed your doubt, now here is the explanation of it; hear Mr.Pakhade's vision which Baba gave him, explaining the characteristic of 'saving' devotion and showing that the devotion in the form of bow to, or worship of, Guru's feet is sufficient." All were anxious to hear the vision specially Kakasaheb. At their suggestion Mr.Pakhade began to relate the vision as follows.

I was standing in a deep sea in waist-deep water. There I saw Sai Baba all of a sudden. He was sitting on a beautiful throne studded with diamonds, with His Feet in water. I was most pleased and satisfied with the Form of Baba. The vision was so realistic that I never thought that it was a dream. Curiously enough Madhavarao was also standing there. He said to me feelingly – 'Anandrao, fall at Baba's Feet.' I rejoined – "I also wish to do so, but His Feet are in water, how can I place my head on them? I am helpless." Hearing this he said to Baba – "Oh Deva, take out Your Feet which are under water." Then Baba immediately took out His feet. I caught them without delay and bowed to them. On seeing this Baba blessed me saying – Go now, you will attain your welfare, there is no cause for fear and anxiety. He also added – "Give a silk-bordered dhotar to my Shama, you will profit, thereby."

In compliance with Baba's order, Mr.Pakhade brought the dhotar and requested Kakasaheb to hand it over to Madhavarao; but the latter refused to accept it, saying that unless Baba gave a hint or suggestion for acceptance, he would not accept it. Then after some discussion Kakasaheb decided to cast lots. It was the invariable practice of Kakasaheb to cast lots in all dubious matters and to abide by the decision as shown by the picked up chit or lot. In this particular case two chits, on one of which was written 'To accept' and on another 'To reject', were placed at the feet of Baba's picture and an infant was asked to pick one of them. The 'To accept' chit was picked up and the dhotar was handed over to, and accepted by, Madhavarao. In this way both Anandrao and Madhavarao were satisfied and Kakasaheb's difficulty was solved.

This story exhorts us to give respect to the words of other saints, but at the same time asks us to have full faith in our Mother, i.e., the Guru, and abide by His instructions: for he knows our welfare better than any other person. Carve out on your heart, the following words of Baba – "There are innumerable saints in this world, but 'Our father' (Guru) is the Father (Real Guru). Others might say many good things, but we should never forget our Guru's words. In short, love your Guru whole-heartedly, surrender to Him completely and prostrate yourselves before Him reverentially and then you will see that there is no sea of the mundane existence before you to cross, there is no darkness before the sun."

Wooden plank Baba's Bed-Stead, and not Bhagat's

In His earlier days, Baba slept on a wooden plank, 4 arms in length and only a span in breadth with panatis (earthen lamps) burning at the four corners. Later on He broke the plank into pieces and threw it away (Vide Chapter X). Once Baba was describing the greatness or importance of this plank to Kakasaheb. Hearing this the latter said to Baba – "If You still love the wooden plank, I will again suspend or hang up one in the Masjid again for You to sleep at ease." Baba replied – "I won't like to sleep up, leaving Mhalasapati down on the ground." Then Kakasaheb said – "I will provide another plank for Mhalasapati." Baba – "How can he sleep on the plank? It is not easy to sleep up on the plank. He who has many good qualities in him can do so. He who can sleep 'with his eyes wide open' can effect that. When I go to sleep I ask often Mhalasapati to sit by My side, place his hand on My heart and watch the 'chanting of the Lord's name' there, and if he finds Me sleepy, wake Me up. He can't do even this. He himself gets drowsy and begins to nod his head. When I feel his hand heavy as a stone on My heart and cry out – 'Oh Bhagat', he moves and opens his eyes. How can he, who can't sit and sleep well on the ground and whose asana (posture) is not steady and who is a slave to sleep, sleep high up on a plank? On many other occasions Baba said, out of love for His devotees – "What (whether good or bad) is ours, is with us, and what is another's is with him."

Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all

Sai Enables Your Fruit of Former Faith to the Present Faith

Sai Enables Your Fruit of Former Faith to the Present Faith

 

"The omniscient Baba knowing that he was a disciple of another Guru, assured him fearlessness and confirmed his faith in his own Guru." – Shri Sai Satcharitra Ch 26

 

A more recent instance occurring at Kumbakonam may be repeated. A staunch Vaishnavite Brahmin was worshipping God as Tirupati Venkatesa and refused to pay any regard to any other form. He was ailing from very acute and painful Sciatica and Rheumatism. His son-in-law gave him Baba's udhi and asked him to repeat Sai Baba's name with faith. At first, he resisted this attempt to subvert his faith in Venkatesa, as he termed it. But necessity is the mother of faith.

 

One night, when the pain in his body could not be endured any further, he suddenly took Baba's udhi and applied it to his legs thrice, calling on Sai Baba to remove his pain. The effect was instantaneous. The pain was off. Sleep that he could never obtain instantly supervened. He woke up in the morning freed from sciatica and was able to walk. He first thought that Venkatesa had led him into faith in Baba. He finally discovered that Baba was Venkatesa. Baba's Guru being Venkatesa, or one that had merged his self in Venkatesa. In fact, there is only one God, however necessary it may be to start one's faith in God by localizing God and attaching a particular form and name to Him.

 

Sai enables men ultimately to see that the fruit of former faith is the present faith, that Sai is no other than the Old Ishta Devata and guru and that the unifying and harmonizing influence molding their lives and selves points and leads to that ultimate unity-Sai-Chit-Ananda. Such experience has come to several. Reader, if it has not come to you yet, you also may get it one day. It is your own God who draws you through the Sai form.

 

(Source: Saipadananda April 1999)

 

 

 

Shri Sai Satcharitra Parayana - Chapter – 43 & 44 Assigned for July 30, 2016

Shri Sai Satcharitra Parayana

Chapter – 43 & 44 Assigned for July 30, 2016

Baba's Passing Away (Continued),

Preparation – Samadhi-Mandir – Breaking of the Brick – 72 Hours' Samadhi – Jog's Sannyas – Baba's Nectar-like Words.

 

DIRECT DOWN LOAD LINKS IN MAJOR INDIAN LANGUAGES:

 

Shri Sai Satcharita in English Ch 43 & 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsVTBNM2g5WXZPVkU/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharita in Hindi Ch 43 & 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsVy1TX0I4NE93N00/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharita in Marathi Ch 43

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsSlQ3czJHMkJmdXM/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharita in Marathi Ch 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsbkpucmJBaENVZ1E/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Tamil Ch 43 & 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsZ3hXR3luSXJNd0k/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Telugu ch 43 & 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsRi1nMEdueExPeWs/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Malayalam 43 & 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsMXQ0eDdwMWFiemM/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Kannadam ch 43

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsRWx1dzJBeS1wR0E/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Kannadam ch 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsSXZtQU1NcDA2Zzg/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Konkani ch 43

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsYTZHaGtnc0pJX0E/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Bengali ch 43 & 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsdWQxNEZ6Y0FIaU0/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Gujarati ch 43

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsS3pOYTlKQk9QYlk/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Gujarati ch 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsQktmV1RkZnJDRmM/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Odia ch 43 & 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsQnBmcHV4QldmZ1E/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Punjabi ch 43 & 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsRjA2QUJYU0phWjA/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Sindhi ch 43 & 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsdjBUX1FwdXR3NW8/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Saicharitra Nepali ch 43 & 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsVzlRdGdEWmFMQzg/view?usp=sharing

 

SHRI SAI SATCHARITRA IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES:

 

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Nepali

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B1bwnkVMR-Csb0Q4T0JfR3dlY2M&usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra in German

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B1bwnkVMR-CsRXd1TW5QSWhjN1U&usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra in French

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsY0JCdGdsYV9lWUE/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Spanish

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsOXJSaVBSZjN2ckU/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra in Urdu

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsclNCdlBjTlA3X1U/view?usp=sharing

 

SHRI SAI SATCHARITRA IN AUDIO MP3 FORMAT:

 

Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in English Ch. 43 & 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsQzhnY1ozbXZMcHM/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in Hindi Ch. 43 & 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsVG44Q1p5QS1Hc1k/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in Marathi Ch. 43

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsVE9uUDZremk3M3M/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in Marathi Ch. 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsSkhJdnBhMGdnX2M/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in Tamil Ch. 43 & 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsX1JDWHhfZGRMLVU/view?usp=sharing

Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in Telugu Ch. 43 & 44

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1bwnkVMR-CsUTdCb09xTThqUXM/view?usp=sharing

 

 

Chapters XLIII & XLIV

 

Baba's Passing Away (Continued)

Preparation – Samadhi-Mandir – Breaking of the Brick – 72 Hours' Samadhi – Jog's Sannyas – Baba's Nectar-like Words.

Chapters 43 and 44 continue the story of Baba's Passing away, and therefore they are taken together.

 

Previous Preparation

It is the general practice amongst the Hindus that when a man is about to die, some good religious scripture is read out to him with the object that his mind should be withdrawn from worldly things and fixed in matters spiritual, so that his future progress should be natural and easy. Everybody knows that when king Parikshiti was cursed by the son of a Brahmin Rishi and was about to die after a week, the great sage Shuka expounded to him the famous Bahagwat Puran in that week. This practice is followed even now and Gita, Bhagawat and other sacred books are read out to dying persons. Baba being an incarnation of God needed no such help, but just to set an example to the people, He followed this practice. When He knew that He was to pass away soon, He ordered one Mr.Vaze to read Ramavijaya to Him. Mr.Vaze read the book once in the week. Then Baba asked him to read the same again day and night and he finished the second reading in three days. Thus eleven days passed. Then again he read for three days and was exhausted. So Baba let him go and kept Himself quiet. He abided on His Self and was waiting for the last moment.

Two or three days previous, Baba had stopped His morning peregrinations and begging rounds and sat in the Masjid. He was conscious to the last and was advising the devotees not to lose heart. He let nobody know the exact time of His departure. Kakasaheb Dixit and Shriman Booty were dining daily with Him in the Masjid. That day (15th October) after arati, He asked them to go to their residence for dining. Still a few, viz., Laxmibai Shinde, Bhagoji Shinde, Bayaji, Laxman Bala Shimpi and Nanasaheb Nimonkar remained there. Shama was sitting down on the steps. After giving Rs. 9/- to Laxmibai Shinde, Baba said that He did not feel well there (in the Masjid) and that He should be taken to the Dagadi (stone) Wada of Booty, where He would be alright. Saying these last words, He leaned on Bayaji's body and breathed His last. Bhagoji noticed that His breathing had stopped and he immediately told this to Nanasaheb Nimonkar who was sitting below. Nanasaheb brought some water and poured it in Baba's mouth. It came out. Then he cried out loudly 'Oh Deva.' Baba seemed just to open His eyes and say 'Ah' in a low tone. But it soon become evident that Baba had left His body for good.

The news of Baba's passing away spread like a wild fire in the village of Shirdi and all people, men, women and children ran to the Masjid and began to mourn this loss in various ways. Some cried out loudly, some wallowed on in the streets and some fell down senseless. Tears ran down from the eyes of all and every one was smitten with sorrow.

Then the question arose – How to dispose off Baba's body? Some (Mahomedans) said that the body should be interred in an open space and a tomb built over it. Even Khushalchand and Amir Shakkar shared this opinion. But Ramachandra Patil, the village officer said to the villagers with a firm and determined voice, "Your thought is not acceptable to us. Baba's body should be nowhere placed except in the Wada." Thus people were divided on this point and discussion regarding this point went on for 36 hours.

On Wednesday morning Baba appeared to Laxman Mama Joshi in his dream and drawing him by His hand said – "Get up soon; Bapusaheb thinks that I am dead and so he won't come; you do the worship and the Kakad (morning) arati." Laxman Mama was the village astrologer and was the maternal uncle of Shama. He was an orthodox Brahmin and daily first worshipped Baba in the morning and then all the village deities. He had full faith in Baba. After the vision he came with all the pooja materials and not minding the protests of the moulvis, did the Pooja and the Kakad arati with all due formalities and went away. Then at noon Bapusaheb Jog came with all others and went through the noon-arati ceremony as usual.

Paying due respect to Baba's words the people decided to place His body in the Wada and started digging the central portion there. In the evening of Tuesday the Sub-Inspector came from Rahata and others from other places turned up and they all agreed to the proposal. Next morning Amirbhai came from Bombay and the Mamlatdar from Kopergaon. The people seemed divided in their opinion. Some insisted on interring His body in the open field. The Mamlatdar therefore took a general plebiscite and found that the proposal to use the Wada secured double the number of votes. He, however, wanted to refer the matter to the Collector and Kakasaheb Dixit got himself ready to go to Ahmednagar. In the meanwhile, by Baba's inspiration there was a change in the opinion of the other people and all the people unanimously voted for the proposal. On Wednesday evening Baba's body was taken in procession and brought to the Wada and was interred there with due formalities in the garbha, i.e., the central portion reserved for Murlidhar. In fact Baba became the Murlidhar and the Wada became a temple and a holy shrine, where so many devotees went and are going now to find rest and peace. All the obsequies of Baba were duly performed by Balasaheb Bhate and Upasani, a great devotee of Baba.

Breaking of the Brick

Some days before Baba's departure, there occurred an ominous sign foreboding the event. There was, in the Masjid an old brick on which Baba rested His hand and sat. At night time He leaned against it and had His asan. This went on for many years. One day, during Baba's absence, a boy who was sweeping the floor, took it up in his hand, and unfortunately it slipped from thence fell down broken into two pieces. When Baba came to know about this, He bemoaned its loss, crying – "It is not the brick but My fate that has been broken into pieces. It was My life-long companion, with it I always meditated on the Self, it was as dear to Me as My life, it has left Me to-day." Some may raise here a question – "Why should Baba express this sorrow for such an inanimate thing as a brick?" To this Hemadpant replies that saints incarnate in this world with the express mission of saving the poor helpless people, and when they embody themselves and mix and act with the people, they act like them, i.e., outwardly laugh, play and cry like all other people, but inwardly they are wide awake to their duties and mission.

72 Hours' Samadhi

Thirty two years before this, i.e., in 1886 A.D., Baba made an attempt to cross the border line. On a Margashirsha Pournima (Full moon) day, Baba suffered from a severe attack of asthma. To get rid of it Baba decided to take His prana high up and go into samadhi. He said to Bhagat Mhalasapti – "Protect My body for three days. If I return, it will be alright; if I do not, bury My body in that open land (pointing to it) and fix two flags there as a mark." Saying this, Baba fell down at about 10 P.M. His breathing stopped, as well as His pulse. It seemed as if His prana left the body. All the people including the villagers came there and wanted to hold an inquest and bury the body in the place pointed by Baba. But Mhalasapati prevented this. With Baba's body on his lap he sat full three days guarding it. After three days passed, Baba showed signs of life at 3 A.M. His breathing commenced, the abdomen began to move. His eyes opened and stretching His limbs, Baba returned to consciousness (life) again.

From this and other accounts, let the readers consider whether Sai Baba was the three and a half cubits' body that He occupied for some years and that He left thereafter or He was the Self inside. The body, composed of the five elements is perishable and transient, but the Self within is the thing – Absolute Reality which is immortal and intransient. The pure Being, Consciousness or Brahma, the Ruler and Controller of the senses and mind is the thing Sai. This pervades all things in the universe and there is no space without it. For fulfilling His mission He assumed the body and after it was fulfilled, He threw away the body (the finite aspect), and assumed His infinite aspect. Sai ever lives, as also the previous Incarnation of God Datta, Shri Narsimha Saraswati of Ganagapur. His Passing away is only an outward aspect, but really He pervades all animate and inanimate things and is their Inner Controller and Ruler. This can be, and is even now experienced by many who surrender themselves completely to Him and worship Him with whole-hearted devotion.

Though it is not possible for us to see Baba's form now, still if we go to Shirdi, we shall find His beautiful life-like portrait adorning the masjid. This has been drawn by Shamrao Jaykar, a famous artist and well-known devotee of Baba. To an imaginative and devout spectator this portrait can give even to-day the satisfaction of taking Baba's darshana. Though Baba has no body now, He lives there and everywhere, and will effect the welfare of the devotees even now as He was doing before when He was embodied. Saints like Baba never die, though they look like men, they are in reality God Himself.

Bapusaheb Jog's Sannyas

Hemadpant closes this chapter with the account of Jog's sannyas. Sakharam Hari alias Bapusaheb Jog was the uncle of the famous Varkari Vishnubuva Jog of Poona. After his retirement from Govt. Service (He was a Supervisor in the P.W. Department) in 1909 A.D., he came and lived in Shirdi with his wife. He had no issue. Both husband and wife loved Baba and spent all their time in worshipping and serving Baba. After Megha's death, Bapusaheb daily did the arati ceremony in the Masjid and Chavadi till Baba's maha-samadhi. He was also entrusted with the work of reading and explaining Jnaneshwari and Ekanathi Bhagawat in Sathe's Wada to the audience. After serving for many years, Jog asked Baba – "I have served you so long, my mind is not yet calm and composed, how is it that my contact with Saints has not improved me? When will You bless me?" – Hearing the Bhakta's prayer Baba replied – "In due time your bad actions (their fruit or result) will be destroyed, your merits and demerits will be reduced to ashes, and I shall consider you blessed, when you will renounce all attachments, conquer lust and palate, and getting rid of all impediments, serve God whole-heartedly and resort to the begging bowl (accept sannyas)." After some time, Baba's words came true. His wife predeceased him and as he had no other attachment, he became free and accepted sannyas before his death and realized the goal of his life.

Baba's Nectar-like words

The kind and merciful Sai Baba, said many a time the following sweet words in the Masjid – "He who loves Me most, always sees Me. The whole world is desolate to him without Me, he tells no stories but Mine. He ceaselessly meditates upon Me and always chants My name. I feel indebted to him who surrenders himself completely to Me and ever remembers Me. I shall repay his debt by giving him salvation (self-realization). I am dependent on him who thinks and hungers after Me and who does not eat anything without first offering it to Me. He who thus comes to Me, becomes one with Me, just as a river gets to the sea and becomes merged (one) with it. So leaving out pride and egoism and with no trace of them, you should surrender yourself to Me Who am seated in your heart."

Who is this ME?

Sai Baba expounded many a time Who this ME (or I) is. He said "You need not go far or anywhere in search of Me. Barring your name and form, there exists in you, as well as in all beings, a sense of Being or Consciousness of Existence. That is Myself. Knowing this, you see Me inside yourself, as well as in all beings. If you practise this, you will realize all-pervasiveness, and thus attain oneness with Me."

Hemadpant, therefore, makes a bow to the readers and requests them humbly and lovingly that they should love and respect all Gods, saints and devotees. Has not Baba often said "He who carps and cavils at others, pierces Me in the heart and injures Me, but he that suffers and endures, pleases Me most." Baba thus pervades all beings and creatures and besets them on all sides. He likes nothing but love to all beings. Such nectar, pure auspicious ambrosia always flowed from Baba's lips. He therefore, concludes – Those who lovingly sing Baba's fame and those who hear the same with devotion, both become one with Sai.

Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all

Baba Prayers - Group Prayer Effect - Devotee Experience - Miracles - : Subject "Feeling Blessed"

Date: Fri, Jul 29, 2016 at 12:20 AM

From: P.G.Vinotha 
Subject: Feeling Blessed

Message Body:

Om Sai Ram!!
               I would like to share my experience with you all..27th july, I have sent my prayers to baba in this blog. Really  I was worrying a lot on 27th. Because 6 placement drive has gone, but i faced only failures..yesterday we had a company visiting our campus for hiring!! i whole heartedly prayed baba and I went for the first round and by baba's blessings I got selected in the first round,the competition was really very high..I was telling about the worries that i had yon 27th  right!! on that day  by 9.00PM i was sitting in my room(I am in hostel) suddenly my  junior visited my room ,she never visited my room previously, but then she was talking to me for one hour, mean while she went to her room and brought a baba statue to my room and showing it to me, while she was returning to her room finally, she told me that , "baba's blessings is always there for you!! dont worry,,"" I was shocked, and I assure that baba sent the girl to me as I was sad!! his Blessings towards us is really unmeasureable...


     An another miracle is, yesterday  by 11.00PM only  we got our results, by the time i thought of seeing baba's online aarti prayer and opened chrome and started typing and pressed enter, to my surprise ---> my laptop didnt connected  to net, but then baba's video got loaded. other sites are not accessible due to no internet connection..No doubt in this...  obviously its our Sai Baba. Today(29th) I am having my HR rounds.I am praying Baba to be with me, without him  nothing would be possible.. Hoping for the best result by Sai baba's blessings.. I am relly lucky to be his devotee...Feeling blessed.
   SRI SAI DEVAAYA NAMAHA!!

--
This e-mail was sent from a contact form on Shirdi Sai Gurusthan Trust (http://shirdisaigurusthan.org)

Shri Sai Satcharitra Parayana - Chapter – 42 Assigned chapter for July 29, 2016

Shri Sai Satcharitra Parayana

Chapter – 42 Assigned chapter for July 29, 2016

Baba's Passing Away, 

Previous Indication – Averting Death of Ramachandra Dada Patil and Tatya Kote Patil – Charity to Laxmibai Shinde – Last Moment.

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Chapter XLII

Baba's Passing Away

 

Previous Indication – Averting Death of Ramachandra Dada Patil and Tatya Kote Patil – Charity to Laxmibai Shinde – Last Moment.

 

This chapter describes the Passing away of Baba.

Preliminary

The stories given in the previous chapter have shown that the light of Guru's grace removes out fear of the mundane existence, opens the path of salvation and turns our misery into happiness. If we always remember the feet of the Sad-guru, our troubles come to an end, death loses its sting and the misery of this mundane existence is obliterated. Therefore those who care for their welfare should carefully listen to these stories of Sai Samarth, which will purify their minds.

In the beginning, Hemadpant dwells on Dr.Pandit's worship and his marking Baba's forehead with Tripundra, i.e., three horizontal lines; but as this has been already described in chapter XI, this has been omitted here.

Previous Indication

The readers up till now heard the stories of Baba's life. Let them now hear attentively Baba's Passing away. Baba got a slight attack of fever on 28th September, 1918. The fever lasted for 2 or 3 days, but afterwards Baba gave up his food and thereby He grew weaker and weaker. On the 17th day, i.e., Tuesday, the 15th October 1918, Baba left His mortal coil at about 2-30 p.m. (Vide Professor G.G. Narke's letter, dated 5th November 1918, to Dadasaheb Khaparde, published in "Sai Leela" magazine, Page 78, first year). Two years before this, i.e., in 1916, Baba gave an indication of His Passing away, but nobody understood it then. It was as follows:- On the Vijayadashmi (Dasara) day Baba at once got into wild rage in the evening when people were returning from 'Seemollanghan' (crossing the border or limits of the village). Taking off His head-dress, kafni and langota etc., He tore them and threw them in the Dhuni before Him. Fed by this offering, the fire in the Dhuni began to burn brighter and Baba shone still brighter. He stood there stark naked and with His burning red eyes shouted – "You fellows, now have a look and decide finally whether Iam a Moslem or a Hindu." Everybody was trembling with fear and none dared to approach Baba. After some time Bhagoji Shinde, the leper devotee of Baba, went boldly near Him and succeeded in tying a langota (waist-band) round His waist and said – "Baba, what is all this? To-day is the Seemollanghan, i.e., Dasara Holiday." Baba striking the ground with His satka said – "This is my Seemollanghan (crossing the border)." Baba did not cool down till 11-00 p.m. and the people doubted whether the chavadi procession would ever take place that night. After an hour Baba resumed His normal condition and dressing Himself as usual attended the chavadi procession as described before. By this incident Baba gave a suggestion that Dasara was the proper time for Him to cross the border of life, but none understood its meaning. Baba gave also another indication as follows:-

Averting Death of Ramachandra and Tatya Patil

Some time after this, Ramachandra Patil became scriously ill. He suffered a lot. He tried all remedies, but finding no relief, despaired of his life and was waiting for the last moment. The one midnight Baba suddenly stood near his pillow. Patil held His Feet and said – "I have lost all hopes of life, please tell me definitely when I shall die." Merciful Baba said – "Don't be anxious, your hundi (death-warrant) has been withdrawn and you will soon recover, but Iam afraid of Tatya Patil. He will pass away on Vijayadashami of Shaka 1840 (1918 A.D.). Do not divulge this to anybody, nor to him, for he will be terribly frightened." Ramachandra Dada got well, but he felt nervous about Tatya's life, for he knew that Baba's word was unalterable, and that Tatya would breathe his last within two years. He kept this hint secret, told it to none but one Bala Shimpi (a tailor). Only these two persons – Ramachandra Dada and Bala Shimpi were in fear and suspense regarding Tatya's life.

Ramachandra Dada soon left his bed and was on his legs. Time passed quickly. The month of Bhadrapad of Shaka 1840 (1918 A.D.) was ending and Ashwin was in sight. True to Baba's word, Tatya fell sick and was bed-ridden; and so he could not come for Baba's darshana. Baba was also down with fever. Tatya had full faith in Baba and Baba in Lord Hari, who was His Protector. Tatya's illness began to grow from bad to worse and he could not move at all but always remembered Baba. The predicament of Baba began to grow equally worse. The day predicted, i.e., Vijayadashami was impending and both Ramachandra Dada and Bala Shimpi were terribly frightened about Tatya and with their bodies trembling and perspiring with fear, thought that as predicted by Baba, Tatya's end was nigh. Vijayadashami dawned and Tatya's pulse began to beat very slow and he was expected to pass away shortly. But a curious thing happened. Tatya remained, his death was averted and Baba passed away in his stead. It seemed as if there was an exchange. People said that Baba gave up His life for Tatya; why He did so? He alone knows as His ways are inscrutable. It seems, however, that in this incident, Baba gave a hint of His passing away, substituting Tatya's name for His.

Next morning (16th October) Baba appeared to Das Ganu at Pandharpur in his dream and said to him – "The Masjid collapsed, all the oilmen and grocers of Shirdi teased me a lot, so I leave the place. I therefore came to inform you here, please go there quickly and cover me with 'Bhakkal' flowers." Das Ganu got the information also from Shirdi letters. So he came to Shirdi with his disciples and started bhajan and kirtan and sang the Lord's name, all through the day before Baba's samadhi. Himself weaving a beautiful garland of flowers studded with Lord Hari's name he placed it on Baba's samadhi and gave a mass-feeding in Baba's name.

Charity to Laxmibai

Dasara or Vijayadashami is regarded by all the Hindus as the most auspicious time and it is befitting that Baba should choose this time for His crossing the border-line. He was ailing some days before this, but He was ever conscious internally. Just before the last movement He sat up erect without anybody's aid, and looked better. People thought that the danger had passed off and He was geeting well. He knew that He was to pass away soon and therefore, He wanted to give some money as charity to Laxmibai Shinde.

Baba Pervading All Creatures

This Laxmibai Shinde was a good and well-to-do woman. She was working in the Masjid day and night. Except Bhagat Mhalasapati, Tatya and Laxmibai, none was allowed to step in the Masjid at night. Once while Baba was sitting in the Masjid with Tatya in the evening, Laxmibai came and saluted Baba. The latter said to her – "Oh Laxmi, Iam very hungry." Off she went saying – "Baba, wait a bit, I return immediately with bread." She did return with bread and vegetables and placed the same before Baba. He took it up and gave it to a dog. Laxmibai then asked – "What is this, Baba, I ran in haste, prepared bread with my own hands for You and You threw it to a dog without eating a morsel of it; You gave me trouble unnecessarily." Baba replied – "Why do you grieve for nothing? The appeasement of the dog's hunger is the same as Mine. The dog has got a soul; the creatures may be different, but the hunger of all is the same, though some speak and others are dumb. Know for certain, that he who feeds the hungry, really serves Me with food. Regard this as an exiomatic Truth." This is a ordinary incident but Baba thereby propounded a great spiritual truth and showed its practical application in daily life without hurting anybody's feelings. From this time onward Laxmibai began to offer Him daily bread and milk with love and devotion. Baba accepted and ate it appreciatingly. He took a part of this and sent the remainder with Laxmibai to Radha-Krishna-Mai who always relished and ate Baba's remnant prasad. This bread-story should not be considered as a digression; it shows, how Sai Baba pervaded all the creatures and transcended them. He is omnipresent, birthless, deathless and immortal.

Baba remembered Laxmibai's service. How could He forget her? Just before leaving the body, He put His hand in His pocket and gave her once Rs.5/- and again Rs.4/-, in all Rs.9/-. This figure (9) is indicative of the nine types of devotion described in chapter 21 or it may be the Dakshina offered at the time of Seemollanghan. Laxmibai was a well-to-do woman and so she was not in want of any money. So Baba might have suggested to her and brought prominently to her notice the nine characteristics of a good disciple mentioned in the 6th verse of chapter ten, skandha eleven of the Bhagwat, wherein first five and then four characteristics are mentioned in the first and second couplets.* Baba followed the order, first paid Rs.5/- and then Rs.4/- in all Rs.9/-. Not only nine, but many times nine rupees passed through Laxmibai's hand, but Baba's this gift of Nine, she will ever remember.

Being so watchful and conscious, Baba also took other precautions in His last moment. In order that He should not be embroiled or entangled with love and affection for His devotees, He ordered them all to clear off. Kakasaheb Dixit, Bapusaheb Booty and others were in the Masjid anxiously waiting upon Baba, but He asked them to go to the Wada and return after meals. They could not leave Baba's presence, nor could they disobey Him. So with heavy hearts and heavy feet they went to the Wada. They knew that Baba's case was very serious and that they could not forget Him. They sat for meals, but their mind was elsewhere, it was with Baba. Before they finished, news came to them of Baba's leaving the mortal coil. Leaving their dishes, they ran to the Masjid and found that Baba rested finally on Bayaji's lap. He did not fall down on the ground nor did He lie on His bed, but sitting quietly on His seat and doing charity with His own hand threw off the mortal coil. Saints embody themselves and come into this world with a definite mission and after that is fulfilled they pass away as quietly and easily as they came.

Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all