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Ayodhya Vaasi Ram Ram Ram Dasaratha Nandana Ram Pateetha Pavana Janaki Jeevana Seetha Mohana Ram

(Lord Ram, residing in Ayodya, son of Dasaratha; purifier of sin, the enchanter of Seetha, the very life of Janaki.)

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SHRI SAI SATHCHARITHA

"Sada Nimbarvrikshasya mooladhiwasat,
Sudhasravinam tiktamapi-apriyam tam, 
Tarum Kalpavrikshadhikam sadhayantam 
Namameeshwaram Sadgurum Sai Natham"

annababre

Chapter XXI

sunderraonavalkar

Anantrao Patankar

One gentleman from Poona, by name Anantrao Patankar wished to see Baba. He came to Shirdi, and took Baba's darshan. His eyes were appeased, he was much pleased. He fell at Baba's Feet; and after performing proper worship said to Baba - "I have read a lot, studied Vedas, Vedants and Upanishads and heard all the Purnas, but still I have not got any peace of mind; so I think that all my reading was useless. Simple ignorant devout persons are better than myself. Unless the mind becomes calm, all book-learning is of no avail. I have heard, from many people, that you easily give peace of mind to so many people by your mere glance, and playful word; so I have come here; please take pity on me and bless me". Then Baba told him a parable, which was as follows:-

Parable of Nine Balls of Stool (Nava-vidha Bhakti)

"Once a Soudagar (merchant) came here. Before him a mare passed her stool (nine balls of stool). The merchant, intent on his quest, spread the end of his dhotar and gathered all the nine balls in it, and thus he got concentration (peace) of mind".

Mr. Patankar could not make out the meaning of this story; so he asked Ganesh Damodar, alias Dada Kelkar, "What does Baba mean by this?" He replied - "I too do not know all that Baba says and means, but at His inspiration I say, what I come to know. The mare is God's grace and the nine balls excreted are the nine forms or types of Bhakti, viz., (1) Shravana (Hearing); (2) Kirtana (Praying); (3) Smarana (Remembering); (4) Padasevana (resorting to the feet); (5) Archana (Worship); (6) Namaskara (Bowing); (7) Dasya (Service); (8) Sakhyatva (Friendship); (9) Atmanivedana (surrender of the self). These are the nine types of Bhakti. If any of these is faithfully followed, Lord Hari will be pleased, and manifest Himself in the home of the devotee. All the sadhanas, viz. Japa (vocal worship), Tapa (penance), Yoga practice and studying the scriptures and expounding them are quite useless unless they are accompanied by Bhakti, i.e., devotion. Knowledge of the Vedas, or fame as a great Jnani, and mere formal Bhajan (worship) are of no avail. What is wanted is Loving Devotion. Consider yourself as the merchant or seeker after the truth and be anxious and eager like him to collect or cultivate the nine types of devotion. Then you will attain stability and peace of mind".

Next day, when Patankar went to Baba for saluation, he was asked whether he collected the 'nine balls of stool'. Then he said that he, being a poor fellow, should first be graced by Baba, and then they will be easily collected. Then Baba blessed and comforted him, saying that he would attain peace and welfare. After hearing this, Patankar became overjoyed and happy.

Bow to Shri Sai -- Peace be to all

Devotees Experiences

THE SAPATNEKAR FAMILY'S SHIRDI PILGRIMAGE

The next day was a Thursday and we attended the Chavadi Festival. The glory of that festival cannot be explained in words - it has to be experienced to be known in its totality. It was a beautiful sight. The festival procession was led by devotees with various musical instruments, such as drums, cymbals and gongs. The decorated silver palanquin came next, and lastly Baba, accompanied by his devotees. One devotee held Baba's ceremonial umbrella, others held the ceremonial whisks and waved them as is done to royalty. We were told that Baba never sat in the palanquin, although sometimes the devotees lifted him forcibly and placed him in it. But the next second he would vanish and reappear on the ground, to the amazement of all the devotees present. When the devotees danced in joy, immersed in devotion to Baba, Baba would also dance, immersed in the joy of devotion. It was wonderful, the way Baba danced. He would rhythmically place now a foot forward, now a foot back, all in tune with the pulsating drums and the clashing cymbals. It was the dance of a master of the art. I can still see Baba's dance in my mind's eye. Baba's awesome glory and his effulgence was a thing to be seen and experienced during the Chavadi festival. Words could never do justice to explaining the festival or its glory. I was surprised to see the same divine aura around Baba that I saw around Panduranga in Pandaripur."

We decided to leave for Madhegaon the next day. When we were setting out for the mosque to get Baba's permission to leave, my husband said, "I have decided to give one rupee as dakshina (gift given to a holy person or God) to Baba. If he asks for more I will give him another rupee. I would like to give him more but we don't have any more money on us. So we might have to sell my ring and your bangles to raise the money for dakshina."

We went to the mosque, saluted Baba with devotion in our hearts, and asked him for permission to leave for home. Baba assented and asked for dakshina. My husband offered the rupee to Baba. Again Baba asked him for more dakshina and my husband put the second rupee in Baba's hand. Baba took it and said, "Don't worry - I won't ask you for more or you will have to sell your ring and your wife's bangles, won't you?" My husband was speechless with awe that Baba knew our private conversation. He was enchanted by the omniscience of Baba. This reverence for Baba helped to strengthen his devotion and confidence in Baba's abilities and divinity. Any remaining doubts he had about Baba vanished."

to be continued.........

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