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Chapter
XXXI
The
Passing Away In Baba's Presence of - (1) Sannyasi
Vijayanand - (2) Balaram Mankar - (3) Noolkar - (4) Megha
- and (5) The Tiger.
In this
Chapter Hemadpant describes the passing away of certain
persons and a tiger in Baba's presence.
Preliminary
The
last wish or thought that a man has at the hour of death,
determines his future course. Shri Krishna has said in
Gita (VIII-5-6) that "he who remembers Me in his last
moments, comes verily to Me, and he that meditates
otherwise at that time goes to what he looks for." We
cannot be certain that we can entertain a particular good
thought at our last moment, for, more often than not, we
are more likely to be frightened and terrified by many
causes. Hence constant practice is necessary for enabling
us to fix our mind on any desired good thought at any or
the last moment. All Saints, therefore, recommended us to
always remember God and chant His name always, so that we
may not be puzzled when the time for departure comes. The
devotees on their part surrender themselves completely to
the Saints, fully believing that the all-knowing Saints
would guide and help them in their last moments. A few
such cases will be noted here.
(1)
Vijayanand
A
Madrasi Sannyasi named Vijayanand started on a pilgrimage
to Manasa-Sarovar. En route, hearing Baba's fame, he
halted at Shirdi. There he met one Somadevaji Swami of
Hardwar and enquired of him about the particulars of the
Manasa-Sarovar trip. The Swami told him that the Sarovar
was 500 miles above the Gangotri and described to him the
difficulties of the journey, viz. plenty of snow and the
change of dialect every 50 koss and the suspicious nature
of the people of Bhutan who give a lost of trouble to the
pilgrims on the way. Hearing this, the Sannyasi was
dejected and cancelled the trip. Then when he went to Baba
and prostrated himself before Him, Baba got enraged and
said, "Drive out this useless Sannyasi, his company
is of no use". The Sannyasi did not know Baba's
nature. He felt discomforted, but sat there watching
things that were going on. It was the morning Darbar and
the Masjid was overcrowded. Baba was being worshipped in
various ways. Some were washing His Feet, some taking the
Tirth (holy water) from His toe and drinking it heartily
and some touching their eyes with it, some were applying
sandal-paste, and some scents to His body. And all were
doing these things forgetting the distinction of caste and
creed. Though Baba got enraged with him, he was filled
with affection for Baba and he did not like to leave the
place.
He stayed
in Shirdi for two days when he got a letter from Madras
stating that his mother was very ill. He felt very
dejected and wanted to be by his mother's side; but he
could not leave without Baba's permission. So he saw Baba
with the letter in hand and asked for His permission to
return home. The omniscient Baba knowing the future said
to him - "If you so loved your mother, why did you
take Sannayasa? Fondness or attachment ill becomes an
ochre garb. Go and sit quiet at your lodging, wait with
patience for a few days. In the Wada there are many
robbers, bolt your doors, be very vigilant, the thieves
will carry everything. Wealth and prosperity are transient
and the body is subject to decay and death. Knowing this,
do your duty, leaving all attachment to the things of this
world and next. He who does this and surrenders himself to
the Feet of Hari (Lord) will get free from all troubles
and attain bliss. The Lord runs and helps him who
remembers and meditates on Him with love and affection.
Your store of past merits is considerable, so you have
come here. Now attend to what I say and realise the end of
your life. Being desireless, begin from tomorrow the study
of Bhagwat. Do three 'saptahas' i.e. three reading during
three weeks, conscientiously. The Lord will be pleased
with you and destroy your sorrows, your illusions will
vanish and you will get peace." Seeing that his end
was approaching, Baba prescribed that remedy and made him
read 'Ramavijaya' which pleases the God of death. Next
morning after bathing and other purifying rites he
commenced to read Bhagwat in a secluded part in the Lendi
garden. He completed two readings and thereafter felt much
exhausted. He returned to the Wada and stayed in his
lodging for two days and on the third day he breathed his
last on Fakir (Bade) Baba's lap. Baba asked the people to
preserve the body for a day for a good reason. The police
afterwards came and on making proper enquiries gave
permission for the disposal of the body. It was buried in
a proper place with due rites. In this way Baba helped the
Sannyasi and ensured him Sadgati (salvation).
(2)
Balaram Mankar
There
was a house-holder devotee of Baba by name Balaram Mankar.
When his wife passed away, he got dejected and entrusting
his household to his son, left his home and came to Shirdi
and lived with Baba. Being pleased with his devotion, Baba
wanted to give a good turn to his life and He did this in
this wise. He gave him Rs. 12/- and asked him to go and
live in Macchindragad (District Satara). Mankar was first
unwilling to go and stay away from Baba, but Baba
convinced him that he was giving the best course for him
and asked him to practise mediation thrice a day on the
Gad. Believing in Baba's words, Mankar came to the Gad. He
was much pleased with the lovely sight, pure water,
healthy air and the surroundings of the place, and began
to practice assiduously the meditations as recommended by
Baba. After some days he got a revelation. Generally
Bhaktas get revelation in their Samadhi or trance states,
but in Mankar's case he got it, when he came down to his
ordinary consciousness from his trance. Baba appeared to
him in person. Not only that Mankar saw Him, but he also
asked Him why he was sent there. Baba replied - "In
Shirdi many thoughts and ideas began to rise in your mind
and I sent you here to rest your unsteady mind. You
thought that I was in Shirdi with a body composed of the
five elements and three and a half cubits in length, and
not outside of it. Now you see and determine for yourself
whether the person you see here now is the same you saw at
Shirdi. It is for this reason that I sent you here."
Then after the period was over, Mankar left the Gada and
proceeded to his native place Bandra. He wanted to travel
by rail from Poona to Dadar, but when he went to the
booking office to get a ticket, he found it very much
crowded. He could not get his ticket soon, when, a
villager with a langoti (piece of cloth) on his waist and
kambali on his shoulder turned up and said - "Where
are your going?" "To Dadar." replied Mankar.
Then he said - "Please take this Dadar ticket of
mine; as I have some urgent business here, I have
cancelled my Dadar trip." Mankar was very glad to
receive the ticket and was just taking out money from his
pocket, when the rustic disappeared in the crowd. Mankar
tried to find him out in the crowd, but it was in vain. He
waited for him till the train left the station but found
no trace of him. This was the second revelation Mankar got
in a strange form. Then Mankar after visiting his home,
again returned to Shirdi and remained there at Baba's
feet, always following His biddings and advice. In the
end, he was very fortunate to leave this world in the
presence, and with the blessings of Baba.
(3)
Tatyasaheb Noolkar
Hemadpant
gives no particulars regarding Tatyasaheb Noolkar, except
the bare mention of the fact that he up his ghost in
Shirdi. A brief summary of his account that appeared in
the Sai Leela magazine is given here.
Tatyasaheb
was a Sub-Judge at Pandharpur in 1909, when Nanasaheb
Chandorkar was Mamalatdar there. Both met often and
exchanged talks. Tatyasaheb did not believe in saints,
while Nanasaheb loved them. Nanasaheb often told him the
Leelas of Sai Baba and pressed him to go to Shirdi and see
Baba. He finally agreed to go to Shirdi on two
conditions:- (1) he must get a Brahmin cook, and (2) must
get good Nagpur oranges for the presentation. Both these
conditions were providentially fulfilled. A Brahmin came
to Nanasaheb for service and he was sent to Tatyasaheb and
a fruit parcel containing 100 beautiful oranges was
received by Tatyasaheb, the consigner being not known. As
the conditions were fulfilled, Tatyasaheb had to go to
Shirdi. At first Baba was much enraged with him. But by
and by Tatyasaheb got such experiences that he was
convinced that Baba was God incarnate. So he was enamoured
of Baba and stayed there till his death. As his end was
approaching, sacred literature was read out to him and at
the last hour Baba's Pada-tirth was brought and given to
him for drinking. Baba on hearing of his death, said,
"Oh, Tatya went ahead of us, he won't be
reborn."
(4)
Megha
The
story of Megha has been already described in Chapter 28.
When Megha died, all the villagers followed the funeral
procession. Baba also accompanied them and showered
flowers on Megha's body. After the obsequies were
performed, tears flowed from Baba's eyes and like an
ordinary mortal, Baba showed Himself overcome with grief
and sorrow. Then covering the body with flowers and crying
like a near relation, Baba returned to the Masjid.
Many
Saints have been seen giving Sadgati to men, but Baba's
greatness is unique. Even a cruel animal like a tiger came
to Baba's feet for being saved. It is this story which
will be narrated now.
(5)
Tiger
Seven
days before Baba passed away, a wonderful incident occured
at Shirdi. There came a country-cart and stopped in front
of the Masjid. A tiger was on the cart, fastened with iron
chains, with its fierce face turned to the rear. It was
suffering from some pain or agony. Its keepers - three
Derveshis - were taking it from place to place and making
money by exhibiting it. It was the means of their
subsistence. They tried all sorts of remedies to cure it
from the malady it was suffering from, but all was in
vain. Then they heard of Baba's fame and came to Him with
the animal. They got it down the chains in their hands and
made it stand at the door. It was naturally fierce,
besides, disease ridden. So it was restless. The people
began to look at it with fear and amazement. The
Derveshies went in, told Baba everything about the animal
and with His consent, brought it before Him. As it
approached the steps, it was taken aback on account of the
lustre of Baba and hung its head down. When both saw each
other, it got on the step and looked at Baba with
affection. Immediately it moved the tuft of its tail and
dashed it thrice against the ground and then fell down
senseless. On seeing it dead the Derveshis were first much
dejected and full of sorrow, but on mature thought they
came to their senses. They considered that as the animal
was diseased and nearing its end, it was very meritorious
on its part that it should meet its death at the feet and
in the presence of Baba. It was their debtor, and when the
debt was paid off it was free and met its end at Sai's
Feet. When any creatures bow down their heads at saints'
feet and meet death, they are saved; and unless they have
got a good store of merit on their account, How could they
get such a happy end?
Bow
to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
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