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Chapter
XXVII
Favour
Shown by Giving Bhagwat and Vishnu-Sahasra Nam - Dixit's
Vitthal Vision - Gita Rahasya - Khapardes.
This
Chapter describes, how Sai Baba favoured His devotees by
granting them religious books after he had touched and
consecrated them, for parayana (reading regularly) and
certain other matters.
Preliminary
When
a man takes a plunge into the sea, he gets the merit of
bathing in all the Tirthas and sacred rivers. Similarly
when a man takes refuge at the feet of the Sad-guru, he
gets the merit of bowing to the Trinity, i.e. Brahma,
Vishnu and Mahesh and also Para-Brahma. Victory be unto
Shri Sai the wish-fulfilling tree and the ocean of
knolwedge, who gives us self-realisation. Oh Sai, create
in us regard for Your stories. Let the readers and
audience devour them with the same relish with which the
chatak bird drinks the water from the clouds and becomes
happy. While listening to Your stories, let them and their
families get all the sattwik emotions, viz. let their
bodies perspire, let their eyes be full of tears, let
their prana be steady, let their minds be composed, let
their hair stand on end, let them cry, sob and shake, let
their hostilities and their distinctions, great and small
vanish. If these things happen, that is a sign of the
grace of the Guru dawning upon them. When these emotions
develop in you, the Guru is most pleased and will
certainly lead you on to the goal of self-realisation. The
best way, therefore, to get free from the shackles of Maya
is our complete and whole-hearted surrender to Baba. The
Vedas cannot take you across the ocean of Maya. It is only
the Sad-guru, who can do so and make you, see the Lord in
all creatures.
Granting
Consecrated Book
The
variety of imparting instructions followed by Baba has
already been noticed in the previous Chapters. In this, we
shall deal with one aspect of it. It was the habit of some
devotees to take some religious books, of which they
wanted to make a special study, to Baba and to receive the
same back from Him, after they were touched and
consecrated by Him. While reading daily such books, they
felt that Baba was with them. Once, Kaka Mahajani came to
Shirdi with a copy of Ekanathi Bhagwat. Shama took that
book to read and taking it with him went to the Masjid.
There Baba took it from him, touched it and turning some
pages here and there gave it back to Shama and asked him
to keep it with him. When Shama said that it belonged to
Kaka and had to be returned to him. "No, no",
said Baba. "As I have given it to you, better keep it
with you for safe custody; it will be of use to you."
In this way many books were entrusted to Shama. Kaka
Mahajani after a some days came again with another copy of
the same Bhagwat and gave it in Baba's hand. Then Baba
gave it back as Prasad and asked him to preserve it well
and assured him that it would stand him in good stead.
Kaka accepted it with a bow.
Shama
and Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam
Shama
was a very intimate devotee of Baba and Baba wanted to
favour him in a particular way by giving him a copy of
Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam as Prasad. This was done in the
following way. Once a Ramadasi (follower of Saint Ramadas)
came to Shirdi and stayed for some time. The routine he
followed daily was as follows : He got up early in the
morning, washed his face, bathed and then after wearing
saffron-coloured clothes and besmearing himself with
sacred ashes, read Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam (a book giving a
thousand names in praise of Vishnu, and held second in
importance to Bhagwad Geeta) and Adhyatma-Ramayana
(Esoteric version of Rama's story) with faith. He read
these books often and often and then after some days Baba
thought of favouring and initiating Shama with Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam.
He, therefore, called the Ramadasi to Him and said to him
that, He was suffering from intense stomach-pain, and
unless He took Senna-pods (Sona-mukhi, a mild purgative
drug) the pain would not stop; so he should please go to
the bazar and bring the drug. The Ramadasi closed his
reading and went to the bazar. Then Baba descended from
His seat, came to the Ramadasi's place of reading, took
out the copy of Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam, and coming to His seat
said to Shama- "Oh Shama, this book is very valuable
and efficacious, so I present it to you, you read it. Once
I suffered intensely and My heart began to palpitate and
My life was in danger. At that critical time, I hugged
this book to My heart and then, Shama, what a relief it
gave me! I thought that Allah Himself came down and saved
Me. So I give this to you, read it slowly, little by
little, read daily one name at least and it will do you
good." Shama replied that he did not want it, and
that the owner of it, the Ramadasi who was a mad,
obstinate and irritable fellow would certainly pick up a
quarrel with him, besides, being a rustic himself, he
could not read distinctly the Sanskrit (Devanagari)
letters of the book.
Shama
thought that Baba wanted to set him up against the
Ramadasi by this act of His, but he had no idea of what
Baba felt for him. Baba must have thought to tie this
necklace of Vishu-Sahasra-Nam round the neck of Shama, as
he was an intimate devotee, though a rustic, and thus save
him from the miseries of the worldly existence. The
efficacy of God's Name is well-known. It saves us from all
sins and bad tendencies, frees us from the cycle of births
and deaths. There is no easier sadhana than this. It is
the best purifier of our mind. It requires no
paraphernalia and no restrictions. It is so easy and so
effective. This sadhana, Baba wanted Shama to practise,
though he did not crave for it. So Baba forced this on
him. It is also reported that long ago, Eknath Maharaj,
similarly, forced this Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam on a poor
Brahmin neighbour, and thus saved him. The reading and
study of this Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam is a broad open way of
purifying the mind, and hence Baba thrust this on His
Shama.
The
Ramadasi returned soon with the Seena-pods. Anna
Chinchanikar, who was then present and who wanted to play
the part of Narada (the Celestial Rishi who was well-known
for setting up quarrels between Gods and demons and vice
versa), informed him of what had happened. The Ramadasi at
once flared up. He came down at once on Shama with all
fury. He said that it was Shama who set Baba to send him
away under the pretext of stomach-ache for bringing the
medicine and thus got the book. He began to scold and
abuse Shama and remarked that if the book be not returned,
he would dash his head before him. Shama calmly
remonstrated with him, but in vain. Then Baba spoke kindly
to him as follows - "Oh Ramadasi, what is the matter
with you? Why are you so turbulent? Is not Shama our boy?
Why do you scold him unnecessarily. How is it that you are
so quarrelsome? Can you not speak soft and sweet words?
You read daily these sacred books and still your mind is
impure and your passions uncontrolled. What sort of a
Ramadasi you are! You ought to be indifferent to all
things. Is it not strange that you should covet this book
so strongly? A true Ramadasi should have no 'mamata'
(attachment) but have 'samata' (equality) towards all. You
are now quarrelling with the boy Shama for a mere book.
Go, take your seat, books can be had in plenty for money,
but not men; think well and be considerate. What worth is
your book? Shama had no concern with it. I took it up
Myself and gave it to him. You know it by heart. I thought
Shama might read it and profit thereby, and so I gave to
it him."
How sweet
were these words of Baba, soft, tender and nectar-like!
Their effect was wonderful. The Ramadasi calmed down and
said to Shama that he would take 'Panch-ratni' Geeta in
return. Shama was much pleased and said - "Why one, I
shall give ten copies in return".
So the
matter was ultimately compromised. The question for
consideration is "Why should the Ramadasi press for
Pancha-ratni Geeta, the God in which he never cared to
know, and why should he, who daily read religious books in
the Masjid in front of Baba, quarrel with Shama before
Him?" We do not know how to apportion the blame and
whom to blame. We only say that, had this procedure been
not gone through, the importance of the subject, the
efficacy of God's name and the study of Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam
would not have been brought home to Shama. So we see that
Baba's method, of teaching and initiating was unique. In
this cases Shama did gradually study the book and mastered
its contents to such an extent, that he was able to
explain it to Professor G.G. Narke, M.A. of the College of
Engineering, Poona, the son-in-law of Shriman Booty and a
devotee of Baba.
Vitthal-Vision
One
day, while Kakasaheb Dixit was in mediation after his
morning bath in his Wada at Shirdi he saw a vision of
Vitthal. When he went to see Baba afterwards, Baba asked
him - "Did vitthal Patil come? did you not see Him?
He is very elusive, hold Him fast, otherwise He will give
you the slip and run away". Then at noon a certain
hawker came there, with 20 or 25 pictures of Vitthal of
Pandharpur for sale. Mr. Dixit was surprised to see that
the form of Vithal he saw in his mediation exactly tallied
with that in the picture and he was also reminded of
Baba's words. He therefore, bought one picture most
willingly and kept it in his shrine for worship.
Geeta-Rahasya
Baba
always loved those who studied Brahma-vidya (metaphysics)
and encouraged them. To give an instance - Once Bapusaheb
Jog received a post-parcel. It contained a copy of
Geeta-Rahasya by Lokamanya Tilak. Taking it under his
armpit he came to the Masjid and prostrated himself before
Baba, when the parcel fell at Baba's Feet. Baba enquired
what it was. It was opened then and there and the book was
placed in Baba's hand. He turned some pages here and there
for a few minutes and took out a rupee from His pocket
placed it on the book and handed the same with the rupee
to Jog and said to him - "Read this completely and
you will be benefited".
Mr.
and Mrs. Khaparde
Let
us close this Chapter with a description of the Khapardes.
Once Dadasaheb Khaparde came with his family and lived in
Shirdi for some months. (The diary of his stay has been
published in English in the Shri Sai Leela Magazine first
Volume.) Dadasaheb was not an ordinary man. He was the
richest and the most famous advocate of Amraoti (Berar)
and was a member of the Council of State, Delhi. He was
very intelligent and a very good speaker. Still he dared
not open his mouth before Baba. Most devotees spoke and
argued with Baba off and on, but only three, viz. Khaparde,
Noolkar and Booty kept always silent. They were meek,
modest, humble and goodnatured. Dadasaheb, who was able to
expound Panchadashi (A well-known Sanskrit treatise on the
Adwaita Philosophy by the famous Vidyaranya) to others,
said nothing or uttered no word when he came to the Masjid
before Baba. Really a man, however learned he may be even
in Vedas, fades away before one, who was realised Brahman
and become one with it. Learning cannot shine before Self-reaisation.
Dadasaheb stayed for four months, but Mrs. Khaparde stayed
for seven. Both were highly pleased with their Shirdi
stay. Mrs. Khaparde was faithful and devout, and loved
Baba deeply. Every noon she brought naivedya herself to
the Masjid, and after it was accepted by Baba, she used to
return and take her meals. Seeing her steady and firm
devotion, Baba wanted to exhibit it to others. One noon
she brought a dish containing Sanza (wheat-pudding),
purees, rice, soup, and kheer (sweet rice) and other
sundry articles to the Masjid. Baba, who usually waited
for hours, got up at once, went up to His dining seat and
removing the outer covering from the dish began to partake
of the things zealously. Shama then asked Him - "Why
this partiality? You throw away dishes of others and do
not care to look at them, but this You draw to You
earnestly and do justice to it. Why is the dish of this
woman so sweet? This is a problem to us." Baba then
explained - "This food is really extra-ordinary. In
former birth this lady was a merchant's fat cow yielding
much milk. Then she disappeared and took birth in a
gardener's family, then in a Kshatriya family, and married
a merchant. Then she was born in a Brahmin family. I saw
her after a very long time, let Me take some sweet morsels
of love from her dish." Saying this, Baba did full
justice to her dish, washed his mouth and hands, gave out
some belches as a mark of satisfaction, and resumed His
seat. Then she make a bow and began to shampoo Baba's legs
and Baba began to talk with her and knead her arms which
were shampooing His Legs. On seeing this reciprocal
service Shama began to joke and said - "It is going
on well, it is a wonderful sight to see God and His Bhakta
serving each other. "After being pleased with her
sincere service, Baba asked her in low and fascinating
tone to chant 'Rajarama, Rajarama' then and always, and
said - "If you do this, your life's object will be
gained, your mind will attain peace and you will be
immensely benefited." To persons unfamiliar with
spiritual matters, this might appear as affair, but really
it was not so. It was a case of, what in technically
called, 'Shakti-pat', i.e. transference of power from the
Guru to the disciple. How forcible and effective were
Baba's words! In an instant, they pierced her heart and
found lodgement there.
This case
illustrates the nature of the relations that should
subsist between the Guru and the disciple. Both should
love and serve each other as One. There is no distinction
nor any difference between them. Both are One, and one
cannot live without the other. The disciple placing his
head on the Guru's feet is a gross or outward vision;
really and internally they are both one and the same.
Those who see any difference between them are yet unripe
and not perfect.
Bow
to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
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