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Chapter
XXI
Stories
of (1) V.H. Thakur (2) Anantrao Patankar and (3)
Pandharpur Pleader.
In this
Chapter, Hemadpant relates the stories of Vinayak
Harishchandra Thakur, B.A., Anantrao Patankar of Poona,
and a pleader from Pandharpur. All these stories are very
interesting which if very carefully read and grasped, will
lead the readers on to the spiritual path.
Preliminary
It
is a general rule, that it is our good luck in the form of
accumulation of merits in past births, that enables us to
seek the company of Saints and profit thereby. In
illustration of this rule, Hemadpant gives his own
instance. He was a resident Magistrate of Bandra, A suburb
of Bombay, for many years. A famour Mahomedan Saint named
Pir Moulana was living there and many Hindus, Parsis and
many others who followed different religion used to go to
him and take his darshan. His Mujavar (priest) by name
Inus pressed Hemadpant many a time, night and day, for
going to see him, but for some reason or other he was not
able to see him. After many years his turn came and he was
called to Shirdi where he was permanently enlisted in Sai
Baba's Darbar. Unfortunate fellows do not get this contact
of the Saints. It is only the fortunate ones that get it.
Institution
of Saints
There
have been institutions of Saints in this world, from time
immemorial. Various Saints appear (incarnate) themselves
in various places to carry out the missions allotted to
them, but though they work in different places, they are,
as it were, one. They work in unison under the common
authority of the Almighty Lord and know full well what
each of them is doing in his place, and supplement his
work where necessary. An instance illustrating this is
given below.
Mr.
Thakur
Mr.
V.H.Thakur, B.A., was a clerk in the Revenue Department
and he once came to a town named Vadgaum near Belgaum (S.M.
Country) along with a Survey party. There he saw a
Kanarese Saint (Appa) and bowed before him. The Saint was
explaining a portion from the book "Vichar-Sagar"
of Nischaldas (a standard work on Vedanta) to the
audience. When Thakur was taking his leave to go, he said
to him, "you should study this book, and if you do
so, your desires will be fulfilled, and when you go to the
North in the discharge of your duties in future, you will
come across a great Saint by your good luck, and then he
will show you the future path, and give rest to your mind
and make you happy".
Then, he
was transferred to Junnar, where he had to go by crossing
Nhane Ghat. This Ghat was very steep and impassible, and
no other conveyance, than a buffalo was of use in crossing
it. So he had to take a buffalo-ride through the Ghat,
which inconvenienced and pained him much. Thereafter, he
was transferred to Kalyan on higher post, and there he
became acquainted with Nanasaheb Chandorkar. He heard much
about Sai Baba from him and wished to see Him. Next day,
Nanasaheb had to go to Shirdi, and he asked Thakur to
accompany him. He could not do so as he had to attend the
Thana Civil Court for a civil case. So Nanasaheb went
alone. Thakur went to Thana, but there the case was
postponed. Then, he repented for not accompanying
Nanasaheb. Still he left for Shirdi and when he went
there, he found that Nanasaheb had left the place the
previous day. Some of his other friends, whom he met
there, took him to Baba. He saw Baba, fell at His Feet and
was overjoyed. His eyes were full of tears of joy and his
hair stood on end. Then after a while the omniscient Baba
said to him - "The path of this place is not so easy
as the teaching of the Kanarese Saint Appa or even as the
buffalo-ride in the Nhane Ghat. In this spiritual path,
you have to put in your best exertion as it is very
difficult". When Thakur heard these significant signs
and words, which none else than he knew, he was
overwhelmed with joy. He came to know, that the word of
the Kanarese Saint had turned true. Then joining both
hands and placing his head on Baba's Feet, he prayed that
he should be a accepted and blessed. Then Baba said -
"What Appa told you was all right, but these things
have to be practised and lived. Mere reading won't do. You
have to think and carry out what you read, otherwise, it
is of no use. Mere book-learning, without the grace of the
Guru, and self-realization is of no avail". The
theoretical portion was read from the work `Vichar Sagar'
by Thakur, but the practical way was shown to him at
Shirdi. Another story given below will bring out this
truth more forcibly.
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.
The
Pandharpur Pleader
We
shall close this Chapter with short story showing Baba's
omniscience and His using it for correcting people and
setting them on the right path. Once a pleader from
Pandharpur came to Shirdi, went to the Masjid, saw Sai
Baba, fell at His Feet and, without being asked, offered
some Dakshina, and sat in a corner eager to hear the talk,
that was going on. Then Baba turned His face towards him
and said - "How cunning the people are! They fall at
the feet, offer Dakshina, but inwardly give abuses behind
the back. Is not this wonderful?" This cap (remark)
fitted the pleader and he had to wear (take) it. None
understood the remark. The pleader grasped it, but kept
silent. When they returned to the Wada, the pleader said
to Kakasaheb Dixit - "What Baba remarked was
perfectly right. The dart (remark) was aimed at me, it was
a hint to me, that I should not indulge in reviling or
scandalizing others (calling by names). When the subjudge
or munsiff of Pandharput (Mr.Noolkar) came and stayed here
for the improvement of his health, a discussion about this
matter was going on in the bar-room at Pandharpur (as it
ever happens in many a bar-room). It was said or discussed
there whether the ailments, from which the sub-judge
suffered were, ever likely to be got rid of without
medicines, by merely going after Sai Baba, and whether it
was proper for an educated man, like the sub-judge, to
have recourse to such methods. The sub-judge was taken to
task, i.e. he was ciritisied, as also Sai Baba. I also
took some part in this affair; and now Sai Baba showed the
impropriety of my conduct. This is not a rebuke to me, but
a favour, an advice that I should not indulge in any
scandal or slander of others; and not interfere
unnecessarity in others' affairs".
Shirdi is
about 100 Koss (Koss=3 miles) distant from Pandharpur;
still Baba by His omniscience knew what transpired there
in the bar-room. The intervening places -- rivers, jungles
and mountains - were not a bar to His all-perceiving sight
and He could see or read the hearts of all. There was
nothing secret or veiled from Him. Everything, far or
near, was plain and clear to Him as broad as daylight. Let
a man be far or near, he cannot avoid the all-pervading
gaze of Sai Baba. From this incident, the pleader took the
lesson that he should never speak ill of others, nor
unnecessarily criticize them. This his evil tendency was
completely got rid of, and he was set on the right path.
Though
the story refers to a pleader, still it is applicable to
all. All should, therefore, take this lesson to heart and
profit thereby.
Sai
Baba's greatness is unfathomable, so are His wonderful
Leelas. His life is also such; for He is Para-Brahman
(Lord God) incarnate.
Bow
to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
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