"Merely reading a book is not enough. It must result in bringing its
teachings into practice. Otherwise such reading would be like pouring water
on an inverted vessel. (means such vessel will not collect any water.)" --SAIBABA
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SHRI SAI SATHCHARITHA
"Sada Nimbarvrikshasya mooladhiwasat,
Sudhasravinam tiktamapi-apriyam tam,
Tarum Kalpavrikshadhikam sadhayantam
Namameeshwaram Sadgurum Sai Natham"
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Chapter 47
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Warding off Devotee's Calamities
Stories of (1) Shevade and (2) Sapatneker
At the commencement of this chapter, some one asked Hemadpant whether Sai
Baba was a Guru or Sad-guru. In order to answer the question Hemadpant describes
the signs or marks of a Sad-guru as follows:-
Signs of Sad-guru
He who teaches us Veda and Vedanta or the six Shastras
(systems), he who controls the breath, or brands his body with Mudras (metallic
marks of Vishnu's weapons) or gives pleasing discourses regarding Brahma, he who
gives mantras (sacred syllables) to the disciples and orders them to chant the
same a certain number of times, but does not assure them any result in a
definite time, he who by his spacious wordy knowledge explains beautifully the
Ultimate Principle, but has himself got no experience or self-realization is not
a Sad-guru. But he, who by his discourse creates in us, a distaste for the
enjoyments of this world and the next, and gives us a taste of self-realization,
who is well-versed in both the theoretical and practical knowledge
(self-realization) deserves to be called a Sad-guru. How can he, who is himself
devoid of self-realization, give it to the disciples? A Sad-guru does not, even
in his dream, expect any service or profit from his disciples. On the contrary
he wishes to serve them. He does not think that he is great and the disciple
small. Not only he loves him as his son but regards him as equal to himself or
as Brahma. The main characteristic of a Sad-guru is that he is the abode of
peace. He is never restless nor ruffled. He has no pride of his learning. The
poor and the rich, the small and the great, are the same to him.
Hemadpant thinks that on account of the store or accumulation of merits in
his past births, he had the good fortune of meeting and being blessed by such a
Sad-guru as Sai Baba. Even in full youth He hoarded nothing (expect perhaps
chillim). He had no family, no friend, no home, nor any support. Since He was
eighteen, His control of mind was perfect and extra-ordinary. He lived then
fearless in a secluded place and always abided in His Self. Seeing the pure
attachment of His devotees He always acted in their interests and hence He was
in a way dependent on them. What experiences He gave to His devotees while he
was living in flesh, are even to-day, after His Mahasamadhi, obtained now by
those who attach themselves to Him. What the devotees have to do is this - They
have to trim their heart-lamp of faith and devotion, and burn in it wicks of
love, and when this is done, the flame of knowledge (self-realization) will be
lit up and shine brighter. Mere knowledge without love is dry; nobody wants such
knowledge. Without love there is no contentment; so we should have unbroken and
unbounded love. How can we praise love? Everything is insignificant before it.
Without love our reading, hearing and the study are of no avail. In the wake of
love follow devotion, dispassion, peace and liberation with all their treasures.
We do not get love for anything unless we feel earnestly about it. So where
there is real yearning and feeling, God manifests Himself. It includes love and
is the means of liberation.
Now let us revert to the main story of this chapter. Let a man go to a true
saint with a pure mind, otherwise (fraudulently) and hold his feet; ultimately
he is sure to be saved. This is illustrated by the following stories.
Mr.Shevade
Mr. Sapatneker of Akkalkot (Sholapur District) was
studying for law. A co-student Mr.Shevade met him. Other fellow students also
gathered together and compared notes of their study. It was found by the
questions and answers amongst themselves, that Mr.Shevade was the least prepared
of all for the examination, and therefore all the students derided him. But he
said that though he was not prepared, he was sure to pass the examination, as
his Sai Baba was there to get him through it successfully. Mr.Sapatnekar was
surprised at this remark. He took Mr.Shevade aside and asked him who this Sai
Baba was whom he extolled so high. He replied - "There lives in a Masjid in
Shirdi (Ahmednagar District) a fakir. He is a great Sat-purusha. There may be
other saints, but this is unique. Unless there is a great store of merits on
one's account, one can't see Him. I fully believe in Him, and what He says will
be never untrue. He has assured me that I will pass definitely next year and I
am confident that I will get through the final examination also with His grace."
Mr.Sapatneker laughed at his friend's confidence and jeered at him and Baba.
Sapatnekars
Mr.Sapatnekar passed his examination, settled at
Akkalkot and practised as a pleader there. Ten years after this, i.e., in 1913
he lost his only son on account of a throat disease. This broke his heart. He
sought relief by making a pilgrimage to Pandharpur, Ganagapur and other holy
places. He got no peace of mind. Then he read Vedanta, which also did not help
him. In the meanwhile he remembered Mr.Shevade's remarks and his faith in Baba,
and he thought that he too should go to Shirdi and see Baba. He went to Shirdi
with his younger brother Panditrao and was much pleased to see Baba from a
distance. When he went near and prostrated himself and placed a coconut before
Baba with pure feeling (devotion), the latter at once cried out "Get away."
Saptnekar hung down his head, moved back and sat aside. He wanted to consult
somebody who would advise him how to proceed. Somebody mentioned Bala Shimpi's
name. Sapatnekar saw him and sought his help. They bought Baba's photos and came
with them to the Masjid. Baba Shimpi took a photo in his hand, gave it to Baba
and asked him whose photo it was. Baba said that this photo was the 'Yara'
(Lover) of him, pointing to Sapatnekar. Saying this Baba laughed and all others
joined. Bala asked Baba the significance of the laugh and beckoned Sapatnekar to
come forward and take darshan. When Saptnakar began to prostrate himself, Baba
again cried "Get out." Sapatnekar did not know what to do. Then they both joined
their hands and sat before Baba, praying. Baba finally ordered sapatnekar to
clear out immediately. Both were sad and dejected. As Baba's order had to be
obeyed, Sapatnekar left Shirdi with a heavy heart praying that he should be
allowed to take darshan next time.
Mrs.Saptnekar
One year elapsed. Still his mind was not at peace. He
went to Gangapur, where he felt more restless. Then he went to Madhegaon for
rest and finally decided to go to Kashi. Two days before starting, his wife got
a vision. In her dream she was going with a pitcher to Lakadsha's well. There a
fakir with a piece of cloth round his head, who was sitting at the foot of the
Neem tree, came close to her and said - "My dear lassie, why get exhausted for
nothing? I get your pitcher filled with pure water." She was afraid of the fakir
and hastened back with the empty pitcher. The fakir followed her. At this she
was awakened and opened her eyes. She told this vision to her husband. They
thought that this was an auspicious sign and they both left for Shirdi. When
they reached the Masjid, Baba was absent. He had gone to Lendi. They waited till
His return. When He returned, she was surprised to see that the fakir she saw in
her vision, resembled exactly Baba. She reverentially prostrated herself before
Baba and sat looking at him. Seeing her humility Baba was much pleased and began
to tell a story in his peculiar characteristic fashion to a third party. He said
- "My arms, abdomen and waist are paining for a long time. I took many
medicines, the pains did not abate. I got sick of the medicines as they gave me
no relief, but I am surprised to see now that all the pains have disappeared at
once." Though no name was mentioned it was the story of Mrs.Sapatnekar herself.
Her pains, as described by Baba, left her soon and she was happy.
Then Mr.Sapatnekar went ahead to take darshan. He was again welcomed with the
former "Get out." This time he was more penitent and persevering. He said that
Baba's displeasure was due to his past deeds and resolved to make amends for the
same. He determined to see Baba alone and ask his pardon for his past actions.
This he did. He placed his head on Baba's feet and Baba placed His hand on it
and Sapatnekar sat stroking Baba's leg. Then a shepherdess came and sat
massaging Baba's waist. Baba in his characteristic way began to tell the story
of a bania. He related the various vicissitudes of all his life, including the
death of his only son. Sapatnekar was surprised to see that the story which Baba
related was his own, and he wondered how Baba knew every detail of it. He came
to know that He was omniscient and knew the hearts of all. When this thought
crossed his mind, Baba still addressing the shepherdess and pointing to
Sapatnekar said - "This fellow blames Me and charges Me with killing his son. Do
I kill people's children? Why does this fellow come to the Masjid and cry? Now I
will do this I will again bring that very child back in his wife's womb." WIth
these words He placed His blessing and on his head and comforted him saying -
"These feet are old and holy, you are care-free now; place entire faith in Me
and you will soon get your object." Sapatnekar was much moved with emotion, he
bathed Baba's feet with his tears and then returned to his residence.
Then he made preparations of worship and naivedya and came with his wife to
the Masjid. He offered all this to Baba daily and accepted prasad from Him.
There was a crowd in the Masjid and Sapatnekar went there and saluted Baba again
and again. Seeing heads clashing against heads Baba said to Sapatnekar - "Oh,
why do you prostrate yourself now and then? The one Namaskar offered with love
and humility is enough." Then Sapatnekar witnessed that night the chavadi
procession described before. In that procession Baba looked like a veritable
Pandurang (Vithal).
At parting next day, Sapatnekar thought that he should first pay one rupee as
dakshina and if Baba asked again, instead of saying no, he should pay one more,
reserving with him sufficient amount as expenses for the journey. When he went
to the Masjid and offered one rupee, Baba asked for another as per his intention
and when it was paid, Baba blessed him him saying - "Take the coconut, put it in
your wife's oti (upper fold of her sari), and go away at ease without the least
anxiety." He did so, and within a year a son was born to him and with an infant
of 8 months the pair came to Shirdi, placed it at Baba's feet and prayed thus -
"Oh, Sainath, we do not know how to redeem Your obligations, therefore we
prostrate ourselves before You, bless us poor helpless fellows, henceforth let
Your holy feet be our sole refuge. Many thoughts and ideas trouble us in waking
and dream states, so turn away our minds from them to Your bhajan and bless us."
The son was named Murlidhar. Two others (Bhaskar and Dinkar) were born
afterwards. The Sapatnekar pair thus realized that Baba's words were never
untrue and unfulfilled, but turned out literally true.
Bow to Shri Sai -- Peace be to all