Shri Shirdi Sai Guruvarul Thirukkoil, Coimbatore

The last Chapter described how Mr. Cholkar's vow of small offering was completed and accepted. In that story, Sai Baba showed that He would accept with appreciation any small thing offered with love and devotion, but if the same thing was offered with pride and haughtiness, He would reject it. Being Himself full of Sat-Chit-Anand (Existence, Knowledge and Bliss) He did not care much for more outward formalities but if an offering was made in meek and humble spirit, the same was welcome and He accepted it with pleasure and avidity. In fact there is no person more liberal and benevolent than a Sadguru, like Sai Baba. He cannot be compared to the Chintamani jewel (the Philosopher's stone which satisfies desires), the Kalpataru (the Celestial Tree which fulfills our desires) or the the Kamadhenu (the Celestial Cow which yields what we desire), for they give us only what we desire; but the Sadguru gives us the most precious thing that is inconceivable and inscrutable (The reality). Now let us hear, how Sai Baba disposed of a rich man, who came to Him and implored Him to give him Brahma-Jnana.

These was a rich gentleman (unfortunately his name and whereabouts are not mentioned) who was very prosperous in his life. He had amassed a large quantity of wealth, houses, field and lands, and had many servants and dependents. When Baba's fame reached his ears, he said to a friend of his, that he was not in want of anything, and so he would go to Shirdi and ask Baba to give him Brahma-Jnana which, if he got, would certainly make him more happy. His friend dissuaded him, saying, "it is not easy to know Brahman, and especially so for an avaricious man like you, who is always engrossed in wealth, wife and children. Who will, in your quest of Brahma-Jnana, satisfy you that won't give away even a pice in charity?"

Not minding his friend's advice, the fellow engaged a return-journey tanga and came to Shirdi. He went to the Masjid, saw Sai Baba, fell at His Feet and said, "Baba, hearing that You show the Brahman to all who come over here without any delay, I have come here all the way from my distant place. I am much fatigued by the journey and if I get the Brahman from You, my troubles will be well-paid and rewarded." Baba then replied, "Oh, My dear friend, do not be anxious, I shall immediately show you the Brahman; all My dealings are in cash and never on credit. So many people come to Me, and ask for wealth, health, power, honour, position, cure of diseases and other temporal matters. Rare is the person, who comes here to Me and asks for Brahma-Jnana. There is no dearth of persons asking for wordly things, but as persons interested in spiritual matters are very rare, I think it a lucky and auspicious moment, when persons like you come and press Me for Brahma-Jnana. So I show to you with pleasure, the Brahman with all its accompaniments and complications."

Saying this, Baba started to show him the Brahman. He made him sit there and engaged him in some other talk or affair and thus made him forget his question for the time being. Then He called a boy and told him to go to one Nandu Marwari, and get from him a hand-loan of Rs. five. The boy left and returned immediately, saying that Nandu was absent and his house ws locked. Then Baba asked him to go to Bala grocer and get from him, the said loan. This time also, the boy was unsuccessful. This experiment was repeated again twice or thrice, with the same result.

Sai Baba was, as we know, the living and moving Brahman Incarnate. Then, some one may ask - "Why did He want the paltry sum of five rupees, and why did He try hard to get it on loan? Really He did not want that sum at all. He must have been fully knowing, that Nandu and Bala were absent, and he seems to have adopted this procedure as a test for the seeker of Brahman. That gentleman had a roll or bundle of currency notes in his pocket, and if he was really earnest, he would not have sat quiet and be a mere onlooker, when Baba was frantically trying to get a paltry sum of Rs. five. He knew that Baba would keep His word and repay the debt, and that the sum wanted was insignificant. Still he could not make up his mind and advance the sum. Such a man wanted from Baba the greatest thing in the world, viz., the Brahma-Jnana! Any other man, who really loved Baba, would have at once given Rs. five, instead of being a mere onlooker. It was otherwise with this man. He advanced no money nor did he sit silent, but began to be impatient, as he was in a haste to return and implored Baba saying- "Oh Baba, please show me the Brahman soon." Baba replied - "Oh my dear friend, did you not understand all the procedure that I went through, sitting in this place, for enabling you to see the Brahman? It is, in short this. For seeing Brahman one has to give five things, i.e. surrender five things viz. (1) Five Pranas (vital forces), (2) Five senses (five of action and five of perception), (3) mind, (4) intellect and (5) ego. This path of Brahma-Jnana of self-realization is 'as hard as to tread on the edge of a razor'.

Sai Baba then gave rather a long discourse on the subject, the purport of which is given below

Qualifications for Brahma-Jnana or Self-Realization

All persons do not see or realize the Brahman in their life-time. Certain qualifications are absolutely necessary. (1) Mumuksha or intense desire to get free. He, who thinks that he is bound and that he should get free from bondage and works earnestly and resolutely to that end;and who does not care for any other thinks, is qualified for the spiritual life. (2) Virakti or a feeling of disgust with the things of this world and the next. Unless a man feels disgusted with the things, emoluments and honors, which his action would bring in this world and the next, he has no right to enter into the spiritual realm. (3) Antarmukhata (introversion). Our senses have been created by God with a tendency to move outward and so, man always looks outside himself and not inside. He who wants self-realization and immortal life, must turn his gaze inwards, and look to his inner Self. (4) Catharsis from (Purging away of) sins. Unless a man has turned away from wickedness, and stopped from doing wrong, and has entirely composed himself and unless his mind is at rest, he cannot gain self-realization, even by means of knowledge. (5) Right Conduct. Unless, a man leads a life of truth, penance and insight, a life of celibacy, he cannot get God-realization. (6) Preferring Shreyas, (the Good) to Preyas (the Pleasant). There are two sorts of things viz., the Good and the Pleasant; the former deals with spiritual affairs, and the latter with mundane matters. Both these approach man for acceptance. He has to think and choose one of them. The wise man prefers the Good to the Pleasant; but the unwise, through greed and attachment, chooses the Pleasant. (7) Control of the mind and the senses. The body is the chariot and the Self is its master; intellect is the charioteer and the mind is the reins; the senses are the horses and sense-objects their paths. He who has no understanding and whose mind is unrestrained, his senses unmanageable like the vicious horses of a charioteer, does not reach his destination (get realization), but goes through the round of births and deaths; but he who has understanding and whose mind is restrained, his senses being under control, like the good horse of a charioteer, reaches that place, i.e., the state of self-realization, when he is not born again. The man, who has understanding as his charioteer (guide) and is able to rein his mind, reaches the end of the journey, which is the supreme abode of the all-pervading, Vishnu (lord). (8) Purification of the mind. Unless a man discharges satisfactorily and disinterestedly the duties of his station in life, his mind will not be purified and, unless his mind is purified, he cannot get self-realization. It is only in the purified mind that Viveka (discrimination between the Unreal and the Real), and Vairagya (Non-attachment to the unreal) crop up and lead on the self-realization. Unless egoism is dropped, avarice got rid of, and the mind made desireless (pure), self-realization is not possible. The idea that 'I am the body' is a great delusion, and attachment to this idea is the cause of bondage. Leave off this idea and attachment therefore, if you want to get to the Self-realization. (9) The necessity of a Guru. The knowledge of the self is so subtle and mystic, that no one could, by his own individual effort ever hope to attain it. So the help of another person-Teacher, who has himself got self-realization is absolutely necessary. What others cannot give with great labour and pains, can be easily gained with the help of such a Teacher; for he has walked on the path himself and can easily take the disciple, step by step on the ladder of spiritual progress. (10) and lastly the Lord's Grace is the most essential thing. When the Lord is pleased with any body, He gives him Viveka and Vairagya; and takes him safe beyond the ocean of mundane existence, "The Self cannot be gained by the study of Vedas, nor by intellect, nor by much learning. He, whom the Self chooses, by him It is gained. To him the Self reveals Its nature", says the Katha Upanishad.

After the dissertation was over, Baba turned to the gentleman and said - "Well sir, there is in your pocket the Brahma (or Mammon) in the form of fifty-times five(Rs.250/-) rupees; please take that out." The gentleman took out from his pocket the bundle of currency notes, and to his great surprise found, on counting them, that there were 25 notes of 10 rupees each, Seeing this ominiscience of Baba, he was moved and fell at Baba's Feet and craved for His blessings. Then Baba said to him, "Roll up your bundle of Brahma viz. Currency notes. Unless you get rid completely of your avarice or greed, your will not get the real Brahma. How can be, whose mind is engrossed in wealth, progeny and prosperity, expect to know the Brahma, without removing away his attachment for the same? The illusion of attachment or the love for money is a deep eddy (whirlpool) of pain full of crocodiles in the form of conceit and jealousy. He, who is desireless, can alone cross this whirlpool. Greed and Brahma are as poles asunder, they are eternally opposed to each other. Where there is greed, there is no room for thought or meditation of the Brahma. Then how can a greedy man get dispassion and salvation? For a greedy man there is no peace, neither contentment, nor certainty (steadiness). If there be even a little trace of greed in mind, all the Sadhanas (spiritual endeavors) are of no avail. Even the knowledge of a well-read man, who is not free from the desire of the fruit or reward of his actions, and who has got no disgust for the same, is useless and can't help him in getting self-realization. The teachings of a Guru are of no use to a man, who is full of egoism, and who always thinks about the sense-objects. Purification of mind is absolutely necessary; without it, all our spiritual endeavors are nothing, but useless show and pomp. It is, therefore, better for one to take only what he can digest and assimilate. My treasury is full, and I can give anyone, what he wants, but I have to see whether he is qualified to receive what I give. If you listen to Me carefully, you will be certainly benefited. Sitting in this Masjid, I never speak any untruth."

When a guest is invited to a house, all the members of the household and other friends and relations that happen to be present, are entertained, along with the guest. So all those that were present in the Masjid at this time, could partake of the spiritual feast, that was served by Baba for the rich gentleman. After getting Baba's blessings, one and all, including the gentleman left the place quite happy and contented.

Special Characteristic of Baba

There are many Saints, who leaving their houses, stay in forest, caves or hermitages and remaining in solitude, try to get liberation or salvation for themselves. They do not care for other people, and are always self-absorbed. Sai Baba was not of such a type. He had no home, no wife, no progency, nor any relations, near or distant. Still, He lived in the world (society). He begged His bread from four or five houses, always lived at the foot of the (Neem) tree, carried on wordly dealings, and taught all the people how to act. and behave in this world. Rare are the Sadhus and Saints who, after attaining God-vision, strive for the welfare of the people. Sai Baba was the foremost of these and, therefore, says Hemadpant.

"Blessed is the country, blessed is the family, and blessed are the chaste parents where This extraordinary, transcendent, precious and pure jewel (Sai Baba) was born."

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Experiences of Dasganu’s wife

Experiences of Dasganu's wife

Dasganu's wife's name was Saraswati. She was also known by the name 'Baya', while Baba used to call her 'Tai'. Her mental condition was not stable and hence, she was brought and kept at Shirdi to be near Baba.

The story of how Baba asked Babasaheb Sahasrabuddhe to look after Dasganu's wife is worth listening.

Babasaheb was not inclined to pay a visit to Shirdi. However, in 1910, bowing to the persistence of Nanasaheb Chandorkar, Annasaheb Dabholkar and Kakasaheb Dixit, Babasaheb Sahasrabuddhe visited Shirdi for the first time. And, then onwards, he became a staunch devotee of Shri Sai Baba.

Once, while he was sitting in the Masjid, Shri Baba suddenly pointed a finger at him and said, "This Tai is his daughter-in-law!" Hearing this, Kakasaheb Dixit and others jovially asked, "Then, should we handover the lady to him?" Baba replied, "Yes! Hand her over to this old man. He will take every care of her and nurse her – like he did in the case of Tatyaba (Tatyasaheb Nulkar)."

Tayasaheb was the college-mate of Neelkant Ramachandra Sahasrabuddhe. After a long gap, they met in Shirdi. During Tatyasaheb's last days, he had diabetes. On the directions of Shri Baba, Tatyasaheb's friend Sahasrabuddhe looked after him round the clock – like a trained nurse. Hence, the reference.

Taking care of Saraswatibai, was a herculean and delicate task. The lady had gone completely insane and, therefore, on many occasions she was not even aware of the state of her body. She used to incessantly murmur something or the other. She would roam about anywhere. Her hair and clothes were always unkempt. She would answer nature's call anywhere – even on her bed. She would enter anyone's house and try to occupy the bed there.

Her both hands were full of skin disease. Once, she even jumped into a well in Shirdi. However, Baba had directed Sahasrabuddhe to take care of her. And, His word was sacrosanct. He had even selected him for the second time – the first time being in case of Nulkar.

Babasaheb Sahasrabuddhe has himself noted down his experiences in this regard. He says - ''The moment I heard Baba's words, I immediately fetched Cuticura soap and Pulvis Glicerazyko and began the task of taking care of her. Every night at about 11 p.m., I arranged to send her with another lady to answer nature's call. Because of this, she stopped soiling her bed.

I used to wash her hands at least twice a day with the soap. Because of this, her body became clean in a very short time. I used to give her a bath every day. After that, I used to make her go 108 times around the deity in Sathe's wada. After completing every round, I made her do namaskar.''

In this manner Babasaheb's affectionate but strict nature was useful in her recovery. This routine was followed everyday for a month. Amazingly, she began showing signs of great improvement. Once, she approached Babasaheb and said, "Babasaheb, I am feeling better now. I want to prepare meals with my own hands and serve it to all these people." Everyone around was taken aback with what this lady (who was till recently believed to be utterly mad and beyond cure) had said! They immediately went to Baba and conveyed the improvement to Him.

Everyone was very happy and amazed at what Babasaheb had achieved. But, Baba retorted, "Has he done any favor to anyone? He has helped his own daughter-inlaw. So, what is so great about it?"

Babasaheb says - ''My friends were very eager to solve this riddle of daughter-in-law. They asked me the meaning of it. I began searching for an answer. I realized that Dasganu's surname was the same as mine – Sahasrabuddhe! He was much younger than me in age. Therefore, his wife became my daughter-in-law!''

Dasganu never had any family life worth mentioning. In fact, he never wanted it. Due to the resultant psychological pressures, his wife had lost mental balance. During these times, even the inner turmoil's faced by Dasganu must have been tremendous. It must have been difficult for him to either accept or reject his duties towards his lawfully wedded wife. His mind was engrossed in matters relating to spiritual bliss. He was totally absorbed in his writings, kirtans, and japa. To render kirtans, he had to travel to various places and thus, was away for days together from 'home'. On top of all this, Baba ordered him to reside at Nanded. Therefore, he entrusted his duties of looking after his wife to Baba. As 'Tai' was being looked after by Baba, Dasganu had complete peace of mind. Baba chose the proper person for taking care of the lady and released Dasganu from his family responsibilities.

In the year 1919, Dasganu's wife passed away.

https://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/new_eng%20template_shirdi/shri%20saibaba%20trust/saileela/2

011/saileela-english_mayjune2011/page22.htm

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

NOT EVEN A NEEDLE....

NOT EVEN A NEEDLE ….

Baba said, "Shri Hari (God) will be certainly pleased, if you give water to the thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothes to the naked, and your verandah to strangers for sitting and resting." In Sri Sai Satcharitra, Ch. XVIII, XIX.

Guru Nanak gave a needle to a wealthy man and asked that it be returned to him in the heaven-world.

Without giving any thought to the matter, the man agreed to do so.

When he came home, he passed on the needle to his wife, saying, "Keep this needle safe with you. I have to return to Guru Nanak when he meets me in the heaven-world."

"How can you do that?" the wife exclaimed" "Can you carry anything when you enter the Great Beyond?"

Wisdom dawned upon the wealthy man. Forthwith he returned to the Guru and said, "Pray, take this needle back, for I cannot carry anything out of this world!"

The Guru looked at him with the eye of mercy and said to him, "Dunichand (for that was the man's name), then of what use will your millions be to you? And you still keep on amassing more! When will you get ready for the inevitable journey?"

The message went home to Dunchand's heart. He fell at the feet of the Master and said, "I see myself embarking on the endless journey, empty-handed. O, tell me what may I do?"

Guru Nanak said to him, "Repeat the Name of God and spend your millions in the service of the suffering ones."

Shri Sai Satcharitra Parayana - Chapter – 15 Assigned for December 29, 2015

sai176

Shri Sai Satcharitra Parayana,

Chapter – 15 Assigned for December 29, 2015,

Naradiya Kirtan - Paddhati - Mr. Cholkar's Sugarless Tea - Two Lizards.

DIRECT DOWN LOAD LINKS IN MAJOR INDIAN LANGUAGES:

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SHRI SAI SATCHARITRA IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES:

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Shri Sai Satcharitra Audio in Hindi Ch. 15

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Chapter XV

Naradiya Kirtan - Paddhati - Mr. Cholkar's Sugarless Tea - Two Lizards.

The readers may remember that mention was made in the 6th Chapter regarding the Rama-Navami Festival in Shirdi; how the festival originated and how in the early years there was a great difficulty in getting a good Hardidas for performing Kirtan on that occasion, and how Baba permanently entrusted this function (Kirtan) to Dasganu permanently. Now in this Chapter we shall describe the manner in which Dasganu was performing the Kirtan.

Naradiya Kirtan-Paddhati

Generally our Haridasas, while performing the Kirtan, wear a gala and full dress. They put on a head-dress, either a pheta or a turban, a long flowing coat with a shirt inside, an uparane (short dhotar) on the shoulders and the usual long dhotar from the waist below. Dressed in this fashion for some Kirtan in the Shirdi village, Dasganu once went to bow to Baba. Baba asked him - "Well, bridegroom! where are you going dressed so beautifully like this?" 'For performing a Kirtan' was the reply. Then Baba said - "Why do you want all this paraphemalia-coat, uparani and pheta etc, doff all that before Me, why wear them on the body?" Dasganu immediately took them off and placed them at the Baba's Feet. From that time Dasganu never wore these things while performing the Kirtan. He was always bare from waist upwards, a pair of `chiplis' was in his hand and a garland round his neck. This is not in consonance with the practice generally followed by all the Hardidasa, but this is the best and the purest method. The sage Narada, from whom the Kirtan-Paddhati originated, wore nothing on his trunk and head. He carried a 'veena' in his hand, and wandered from place to place everywhere singing the glory of the Lord.

Mr. Cholkar's Sugarless Tea

Initially, Baba was known in Poona and Ahmednagar Districts, but Nanasaheb Chandorkar, by his personal talks and by Dasganu, by his splendid Kirtans, spread the fame of Baba in the Konkan (Bombay Presidency). In fact, it was Dasganu - May God bless him-who, by his beautiful and inimitable Kirtans, made Baba available to so many people there. The audience, who come to hear the Kirtans have different tastes. Some like the erudition of the Haridas; some his gestures, some his singing, some his wit and humour, some his preliminary dissertation on Vedanta, and some others, his main stories and so on; but among them, there are very few, who by hearing the Kirtan get faith and devotion or love for God or saints. The effect of hearing Dasganu's kirtan on the minds of audience was however electric, as it were. We give an instance here

Dasganu was once performing his Kirtan and singing the glory of Sai Baba, in the Koupineshwar temple in Thana. One Mr. Cholkar, a poor man serving as a candidate in the Civil Courts in Thana, was amongst the audience. He heard Dasganu's Kirtan most attentively and was much moved. He there and then mentally bowed and vowed to Baba saying - "Baba, I am a poor man, unable to support my family. If by your grace, I pass the departmental examination, and get a permanent post, I shall go to Shirdi, fall at Your Feet and distribute sugar-candy in Your name." As good luck would have it, Mr.Cholkar did pass te examination and did get the permanent post and now it remained for him to fulfil his vow, the sooner the better. Mr. Cholkar was a poor man with a large family to support; and he could not afford to pay for the expenses of a Shirdi trip. As is well said, one can easily cross over Nahne ghat in Thana District or even the Sahyadri Range; but it is very difficult for a poor man to cross Umbareghat, i.e., the threshold of his house. As Mr. Cholkar was anxious to fulfill his vow as early as possible, he resolved to economize, cut down his expenses, and save money. He determined not to use sugar in his diet; and began to take his tea without it. After he was able to save some money in this way, he came to Shirdi, took Baba's darshan, fell at His Feet, offered a coconut, distributed it with a clean conscience along with sugar-candy as per his vow and said to Baba that he was much pleased with His darshan and that his desires were fulfilled that day. Mr. Cholkar was in the Masjid with his host Bapusaheb Jog. When the host and the guest both got up and were about to leave the Masjid, Baba spoke to Jog as follows:- "Give him (your guest) cups of tea, fully saturated with Sugar." Hearing these significant words, Mr. Cholkar was much moved, he was wonderstruck, his eyes were bedewed with tears, and he fell at Baba's Feet again. Mr. Jog was also curious about this direction, regarding the tea-cups to be given to his guest. Baba wanted by His words to create faith and devotion in Cholkar's mind. He hinted as it were, that He got the sugar-candy as per his vow and that He knew full well his secret determination not to use sugar in his diet. Baba meant to say, "If you spread your palms with devotion before Me, I am immediately with you, day and night. Though, I am here bodily, still I know what you do; beyond the saven seas. Go wherever you will, over the wide world, I am with you. My abode is in your heart and I am within you. Always worship Me, Who is seated in your heart, as well as, in the hearts of all beings, Blessed and fortunate, indeed, is he who knows Me thus."

What a beautiful and important lesson was thus imparted by Baba to Mr. Chokar !

Two Lizards

Now we close this Chapter, with a story of two little lizards. Once Baba was sitting in the Masjid. A devotee sat in front of Him, when a lizard tick-ticked. Out of curiosity, the devotee asked Baba whether this tick-ticking of the lizard signified anything; was it a good sign or a bad omen? Baba said that the lizard was overjoyed as her sister from Aurangabad was coming to see her. The devotee sat silent, not making out the meaning of Baba's words. Immediately, a gentleman from Aurangabad came on horse-back to see Baba. He wanted to proceed further, but his horse would not go, as it was hungry and wanted grams. He took out a bag from his shoulders to bring grams and dashed it on the ground to remove dirt. A lizard came out therefrom and in the presence of all, climbed up the wall. Baba asked the questioner devotee to mark her well. She at once went strutting to her sister. Both sisters met each other after a long time, kissed and embraced each other, whirled round and danced with love! Where is Shirdi and where is Aurangabad? How should the man on horse-back come there from Aurangabad with the lizard? And how should Baba make the prophesy of the meeting of the two sisters? All this is really very wonderful and proves the omniscience -- the all-knowing nature of Baba.

Post Script

He who respectfully reads this Chapter or studies it daily, will get all his miseries removed by the grace of the Sadguru Sai Baba, Hence:

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Monday, December 28, 2015

The person who has this photograph, his calamities would vanish - Experiences of Rumalwala Baba

The person who has this photograph, his calamities would vanish - Experiences of Rumalwala Baba

In Madhya Pradesh, there is a big town named Indore. There is a big temple of Raja Vikramaditya's deity Goddess Harishiddhi. In the year 1915, there lived a Fakir named Rumalwala Baba besides the temple. He was called a Mast Fakir. He never used to beg, and he was in meditation of Sai Baba for 24 hours. Although there was no need to go to Shirdi for Baba's Darshan, he went to Shirdi many times to be engrossed in Baba.

In the year 1915, in the month of May on a Friday, he visited Shirdi for Sai Baba's Darshan. While he was meditating in Dwarkamai a photographer came and captured Baba's photo and ran away with the camera. Baba abused him a lot for his act. On the third day i.e. Sunday, the photographer came and gifted the photograph to Sai Baba in the presence of Rumalwala Baba. At that time Prof. Ganpatrao Narke, son-in-law of Shri Bapu Saheb Buti, was seated before Baba to talk about his job. Baba gave the photograph to him and said, "Take this! The person who has this photograph, his calamities would vanish (Beda Paar Ho Gayega).

Rumalwala Baba thought that how nice would be of Baba, if he had given me such an incomparable photograph. After that people sang Madhyayan Arti, stotras, Baba gave Udi to all and ordered everybody to go and have their lunch.

Like a bird is not happy without wings, so is a snake without a pearl, an elephant is not happy without its trunk, so Rumalwala Baba was unhappy without the photograph. He went to Balabhau's lodge to eat, but could not even eat a morsel. Some how he finished off his lunch and got up to give Balabhau eight annas for the lunch. Then along with the money the photograph also came out from his pocket. He became so happy and emotional that he started dancing and jumping. He said to everyone, "See I got Baba's divine photograph, see I got Baba's divine photograph. Baba had said whosoever preserves this photograph, his calamities would vanish". By getting Baba's divine photograph, there was no bound to happiness of Rumalwala Baba. He was very excited, his eyes overflowed with tears, he kept the photo near his heart and started embracing it again and again. After some days, Rumalwala went back to Indore; he kept the photograph in a recess of a wall.

Some years later, a devotee named Shri. Pathakji started visiting Rumalwala Baba. One day he took the photograph in his hands. Seeing this Rumalwala Baba, became very angry and said, "You have angered me by taking the photograph in your hands. Now don't keep it here. You take the photograph and keep it with you. Whoever has this photograph, preserves it, worships it, lights lamp and incense stick before it, their calamities would vanish. In this way the divine photograph of Baba passed away from Rumalwala Baba to Shri. Pathakji.

There was a Sai Baba devotee named Gajananrao Krishnarao Nirakhe. People used to call him Bapu Saheb, and for offering service visited frequently Shirdi. He lived in Gandhinagar. After getting the divine photograph of Sai Baba, Shri Pathakji, joined the team of Bapu Saheb for visiting Shirdi. Seeing the utmost devotion to Sai Baba, Shri Pathakji sent that divine photograph to Bapu Saheb through another devotee of Sai Baba named Shri Upasani. He danced and jumped with joy after getting the photo. He got the photograph framed and tied it around his neck. Devotees of Indore built a temple for Sai Baba. The idol of Sai Baba was duly installed by Bapu Saheb.

In the year 1987, on 10th and 11th October, in a huge hall of Shreyas School, Baroda, Akhil Bhartiya Sai Sammelan was held. Late Shri. Maganlal Jermanwala, author of Sai Sarovar Book was honored. Indore's Bapu Saheb was also present on the occasion. He had that divine photograph of Sai Baba which he himself tied around his neck. Sai Baba then inspired Bapu Saheb to give the photograph to Sai Sarovar.

Source: Translated from Gujarati Book "Sai Sarovar"