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Chapter
XI
Sai,
as Sagun Brahman -- Dr. Pandit's Worship -- Haji Sidik
Falke --Control over the Elements
Let
us now, in this Chapter, describe the manifested (Sagun)
Brahman Sai. How He was worshipped and how He controlled
the elements.
Sai
as Sagun Brahman
There
are two aspects of God or Brahman : (1) the Unmanifested (Nirgun)
and (2) the Manifested (Sagun). The Nirgun is formless,
while the Sagun is with form, though both denote the same
Brahman. Some prefer to worship the former, some the
latter. As stated in the Gita (chapter XII) the worship of
the latter is easy and preferable. As man has got a form
(body, senses, etc.), it is natural and easy for him to
worship the God with form. Our love and devotion do not
develop unless we worship Sagun Brahman for a certain
period of time, and as we advance; it leads us to the
worship (meditation) of Nirgun Brahman. So let us start
with Sagun worship. Image, altar, fire, light, sun, water,
Brahman are the seven objects of worship, but Sadguru is
better than all these. Let us, on this occasion, bring to
our mind the form of Sai, Who was non-attachment
Incarnate, and Who was a resting-place for His
whole-hearted devotees. Our faith in His words is the seat
of Asan; and our Sankalpa (determination to start and
finish the Puja) is the abandonment of all our desires.
Some say that Sai was a Bhagwad-bhakta (devotee of the
Lord), others say He was a Maha-Bhagwat (a great devotee),
but to us He is God Incarnate. He was extremely forgiving,
never irritable, straight, soft, tolerant and content
beyond comparison. Though He looked embodied (as having
the form), He was really dis-embodied, emotionless,
unattached and internally free. The Ganges on its way to
the sea, cools and refreshes the creatures affected with
heat, gives life to the crops and trees, and quenches the
thirst of many. Similarly Saints (Souls) like Sai, while
they live their own life, give solace and comfort to all.
Lord Krishna has said that 'the Saint is My soul, My
living image, I am He or He is My pure form (Being).' This
in-describable Shakti or Power of God, known as Pure
Existence, Knowledge and Bliss, incarnated in the form of
Sai in Shirdi. The Shruti (Taitiriya Upanishad) describes
Brahman as Bliss. This we read or hear daily in the books,
but the devout people experienced this Brahman or Bliss in
Shirdi. Baba, the support of all, required no prop or
support (Asan) from anybody. He always used a piece of
sack-cloth for His seat, which was covered with a small
beautiful bed by His bhaktas and has a bolster placed by
them, as a rest to His back. Baba respected the feelings
of His devotees and allowed them to worship Him as they
liked. Some waved Chamara or fans before Him, some played
on musical instruments, some washed His hands and Feet,
some others applied scent and chandan, some gave betel nut
with leaves and other things, and some others offered
naivedya. Though He looked like living in Shirdi, He was
present everywhere. This all-pervasiveness of His way
daily experienced by His devotees. Our humble prostration
to this all-pervasive Sadguru.
Dr.
Pandit's Worship
One
Dr. Pandit, a friend of Tatyasaheb Noolkar, once came to
Shirdi for Baba's darshana. After saluting Baba, he stayed
in the Masjid for some time. Baba asked him to go to
Dadabhat Kelkar. He went to Dadabhat, by whom he was well
received. Then Dababhat left his house for Puja and Dr.
Pandit accompanied him. Dadabhat worshipped Baba. Nobody
until then dared to apply sandal paste to Baba's forehead.
Only Mhalsapati used to apply it to His throat. But this
simple-hearted devout, Dr. Pandit, took Dabadhat's dish
containing Puja-materials and taking sandal-paste out of
it, drew a Tripundra, i.e. there horizontal lines on
Baba's forehead. To the surprise of all, Baba kept silent
without uttering a single word. Then Dababhat that evening
asked Baba, "How is it, that though You object to the
sandal-paste being applied by others to Your forehead, but
You allowed Dr. Pandit to do so now?" Baba replied
that Dr. Pandit believed Him to be the same as his Guru,
Raghunath Maharaja of Dhopeshwar, known as Kaka Puranik,
and he applied the paste to His forehead, as he was doing
to his Guru. Hence He could not object. On enquiry, Dr.
Pandit told Dadabhat that he took Baba as his Guru Kaka
Puranik, and hence he marked the Tripundra on Baba's
forehead, as he did on his Guru's head.
Though
Baba allowed the devotees to worship Him as they pleased,
still sometimes, He acted in a strange way. Sometimes, He
threw away the Puja-dish and was wrath Incarnate, then who
could approach Him? Sometimes, He scolded the devotees, at
times, He looked softer than wax, a statue of peace and
forgiveness. Though He seemed to shake with anger and His
red eyes rolled round and round, still, He was internally
a stream of affection and motherly love. Immediately, He
called out His devotees and said, that He ever angry with
His devotees; that if mothers kicked their children and if
the sea turned back the rivers, He would neglect the
devotees' welfare: that He, the slave of His devotees,
always stood by them, and responded to them, whenever they
called upon Him, and that He always longed for their love.
Haji
Sidik Falke
There
was no knowing, when Baba would accept a devotee. That
depended on His sweet will. Sidik Falke's story is to the
point. One Mahomedan gentleman by name Sidik Falke of
Kalyan, after making a pilgrimage to Mecca and Madina,
came to Shirdi. He lived in a Chavadi, facing north, and
sat in the open court-yard of the Masjid. For nine months,
Baba ignored him, and did not allow him to step into the
Masjid. Falke felt much disconsolate, and did not know
what to do. Somebody advised him not to be disappointed;
but to try to approach Baba through Shama (Madhavarao
Deshpande), a close and intimate devotee of Baba. He told
him that as they approach the God Shiva through his
servant and devotee, Nandi, so Baba should be approached
through Shama. Falke liked the idea and implored Shama to
intercede for him. Shama agreed and on a convenient
occasion spoke to Baba about him thus:- "Baba, why
don't You allow the old Haji to step into the Masjid,
while so many persons freely come and go, after taking
Your darshan; why not bless him once?" Baba replied
"Shama, you are too young to understand things. If
the Fakir (Allah) does not allow, what can I do? Without
His grace, who will climb into the masjid? Well, go to him
and ask him whether he will come to the narrow footpath
near the Barvi well." Shama went and returned with an
affirmative answer. Again Baba said to Shama,"Ask him
whether he is willing to pay me the sum of Rs. 40,000/- in
four instalments." Shama went and returned with the
answer that he was willing to pay even 40 lacs. Again Baba
said to Shama- "We are going to butcher a goat in the
Masjid, so ask him, whether he would like to have mutton,
haunch or testicles of the goat." Shama returned with
the answer that the Haji would be happy to receive a small
crumb from Baba's kolamba (mudpot). Hearing this Baba got
excited and with His hands threw away the earthen jars and
kolamba and straightway advanced to the Haji and lifting
His Kafni up with His hands said - "Why do you brag
and fancy yourself great and pose yourself as an old Haji?
Do you read Koran like this? You are proud of your
pilgrimage to Macca, but you do not know Me." Being
thus scolded, the Haji was confounded. Baba then went back
to the Masjid, purchased a few baskets of mangoes and sent
them to the Haji. Then again Baba went to the Haji and
taking out Rs.55/- from His pocket, gave them to the Haji.
From that time, Baba loved the Haji, invited him for meals
and the Haji, thereafter, came into the Masjid whenever he
liked. Baba gave him at times some rupees, and thus the
Haji was enlisted in Baba's Darbar.
Baba's
Control over the Elements
We
shall close this Chapter after describing two incidents
showing Baba's control over the elements. (1) Once at
evening time, there was a terrible storm at Shirdi. The
sky was overcast with thick black clouds. The winds began
to blow forcibly; the clouds roared and the lighting began
to flash, and the rains began to descend in torrents. In a
short time, the whole place was flooded with water, All
the creatures, birds, beasts and men got terribly
frightened; and they all flocked to the Masjid for
shelter. There are many local deities in Shirdi, but none
of them came to their help. So they all prayed to Baba -
their God, Who was fond of their devotion, to intercede
and quell the storm. Baba was much moved. He came out and
standing at the edge of the Masjid, addressed the storm in
a loud and thunderous voice - "Stop, stop your fury
and the calm." In a few minutes the rains subsided,
the winds ceased to blow, and the storm came to a stop.
Then the moon rose in the sky, and the people then went
back home well-pleased, (2) On another occasion at noon
the fire in the Dhuni began to burn brightly, its flames
were seen to be reaching the rafters above. The people who
were sitting in the Masjid did not know what to do. They
dared not to ask Baba to pour water or do anything to
quench the flames. But Baba soon came to realize, what was
happening. He took up His Satka (short stick) and dashed
it against a pillar in front, saying - "Get down, Be
calm." At each stroke of the Satka, the flames began
to lower and slow down; and in a few minutes the Dhuni
became calm and normal.
This is
our Sai, an Incarnation of God. He will bless any man who
will prostrate and surrender himself to Him. He, who will
read the stories of this Chapter daily with faith and
devotion, will soon be free from all calamities; not only
this, but always attached and devoted to Sai, he will get
very soon God-vision: all his desires will be fulfilled
and being ultimately desireless, he will attain the
Supreme. Amen!
Bow
to Shri Sai -- Peace be to all
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