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Chapter
XXXV
Tested
And Never Found Wanting
Kaka
Mahajani's Friend and Master - Bandra Insomnia Case - Bala
Patil Newaskar.
This
Chapter also continues the subject of the importance of
the Udi; it also gives two cases in which Baba was tested
and not found wanting. These cases will be taken up first.
Preliminary
In
spiritual matters or endeavours, sectarianism is the
greatest bar to our progress. Those, who believe the God
is without form, are heard saying that to believe the God
is with the form is an illusion and that the Saints are
only human beings. Then why should they bend their heads
before them and offer Dakshina? Persons belonging to other
sects will also raise objections and say, "Why should
they bow and offer allegiance to other Saints, leaving
their Sadgurus?" Similar objections regarding Sai
Baba were heard before and are heard even now. Some said
that when they went to Shirdi, Baba asked for Dakshina
from them. Is it good that Saints should collect money in
this fashion? If they do so, where is their Sainthood? But
there are many instances where men went to Shirdi to
scoff; but remained there to pray. Two such instances are
given below.
Kaka
Mahajani's Friend
A
friend of Kaka Mahajani was a worshipper of God
without form and was averse to idolatry. Out of curiosity
he agreed to go to Shirdi with Kaka Mahajani on two
conditions, viz., (1) that he would neither bow to Baba,
(2) nor pay Him any Dakshina. Kaka agreed to these
conditions and they both left Bombay on a Saturday night
and reached Shirdi the next morning. As soon as they put
their feet on the steps of the Masjid, Baba, looking at
the friend from a little distance, addressed him in sweet
words as follows, "Oh, welcome sir". The tone
that uttered these words was a very peculiar one. It
exactly resembled the tone of the friend's father. It
reminded him of his departed father and sent a thrill of
joy through his body. What an enchanting power the tone
had! Being surprised the friend said, "This is no
doubt the voice of my father". Then he at once up
and, forgetting his resolution, placed his head upon
Baba's Feet.
Then Baba
asked for Dakshina twice, once in the morning and again at
noon at the time of their taking leave; but He asked it
from Kaka only and not from the friend. The latter
whispered to Kaka, "Baba asked for Dakshina from you
twice. I am with you, why does He omit me?" You ask
Baba Himself" was Kaka's reply. Baba asked Kaka what
his friend was whispering, then the friend asked Baba
himself whether he should pay any Dakshina. Baba replied,
"You had no mind to pay, so you were not asked; but
if you want to pay now you may." Then the friend paid
Rs.17 as Dakshina, the same amount that Kaka paid. Baba
then addressed him a few words of advice, "You do
away, destroy the Teli's wall (sense of difference)
between us, so that we can see and meet each other face to
face". Then Baba allowed them to depart. Thought the
weather was cloudy and threatening, Baba assured them of
their safe journey and both of them reached Bombay safely.
When he reached home and opened the door and windows of
his house, he found two sparrows fallen dead on the ground
and one just flying out through a window. He thought that
if he had left the windows open, two sparrows would have
been saved, but thought again, that they had met their lot
and that Baba had sent him back soon just to save the
third sparrow.
Kaka
Mahajani's Master
Kaka
was the Manager in the firm of Thakkar Dharmasey Jethabhai,
a solicitor of Bombay. Both the Master and the Manager
were on intimate terms. Mr. Thakkar knew that Kaka was
often going to Shirdi, staying there for some days and
returning, when Baba permitted him. Out of curiosity and
just to test Baba, Mr. Thakkar decided to go to Shirdi
with Kaka during Shimga holidays. As Kaka's return was
uncertain, he took another man with him as an associate.
The three started together and Kaka bought two seers of
raisins (dried grapes with seed) on the way for
presentation to Baba. They reached Shirdi in due time, and
went to the Masjid for darshan. Then Babasaheb Tarkhad was
there, Mr. Thakkar asked him why he came there. "For
darshan", Tarkhad replied. Mr. Thakkar asked if
miracles took place there. Tarkhad replied that it (to see
miracles) was not his attitude, but the earnest intentions
of the Bhaktas were satisfied here. Then Kaka prostrated
himself before Baba and offered the raisins to Him. Baba
ordered them to be distributed. Mr. Thakkar got a few of
them. He did not like the raisins and he was advised by
his doctor not to eat them without washing and cleaning
them. So he was in a fix. He did not like to eat them, nor
could he reject them. To keep up formalities, he put them
into his mouth, but did not know what to do with the
seeds. He could not spit them out on the floor of the
Masjid, so he pocketed them against his wish. He then said
in his mind that if Baba was a Saint, how could He be
ignorant of his dislike for the raisins and could He force
them on him. When this thought arose in his mind Baba
again gave him some more raisins. He could not eat them,
but held them in his hand. Then Baba asked him to eat them
up. He obeyed and found, to his surprise, that they were
all seedless. He wanted to see miracles and here was one.
He knew that Baba read his thought; and as per his wish
converted raisins (with seeds) into seedless grapes. What
a wonderful power! Again to test further he asked Tarkhad,
who was sitting by and who also got some raisins,
"What kind of grapes you got?" He replied
"They variety with seeds." Mr. Thakkar was still
more surprised to hear this. Then to confirm his growing
faith Thakkar thought in his mind that if Baba was a real
Saint, the raisins should be now given to Kaka first.
Reading this thought also, Baba ordered that distribution
should be commenced from Kaka. These proofs were
sufficient for Thakkar.
Then
Shama introduced Mr. Thakkar as the master of Kaka, upon
which Baba said, "How could he be his master? He has
got a different Master altogether". Kaka appreciated
this reply. Forgetting his resolve, Thakkar saluted Baba
and returned to the Wada.
After the
noon-Arati was over, they all went to the Masjid for
taking Baba's leave for their departure. Sharma spoke for
them. Baba then spoke as follows.
"There
was a fickle-minded gentleman. He had health and wealth
and was free from both physical and mental afflictions,
but he took on him needless anxieties and burdens and
wandered hither and thither, thus losing his peace of
mind. Sometimes he dropped the burdens and at other times
carried them again. His mind knew no steadiness. Seeing
his state, I took pity on him and said, "Now please
keep your faith on any one place (point) you like, why
roam like this? Stick quietly to one place.
Thakkar
at once came to know that, that was an exact description
of himself. He wished that Kaka should also return with
him but no one expected that Kaka would be allowed to
leave Shirdi so soon. Baba read also this thought to his
and permitted Kaka to return with his master. Thakkar got
one more proof of Baba's capacity to read another's mind.
Then Baba
asked Kaka for Rs. 15/- as Dakshina and received it. To
Kaka He said, "If I take one rupee as Dakshina from
anybody I have to return it tenfold to him. I never take
anything gratis. I never ask any one indiscriminately. I
only ask and take from him whom the Fakir (My Guru) points
out. If any one is indebted formerly to the Fakir money is
received from him. The donor gives, i.e. sows his seeds,
only to reap a rich harvest in future. Wealth should be
the means to work out Dharma. If it is used for personal
enjoyment, it is wasted. Unless you have given it before,
you do not get it now. So the best way to receive is to
give. The giving of Dakshina advances Vairagya
(Non-attachment) and thereby Bhakti and Jnana. Give one
and receive tenfold".
On
hearing these words Mr. Thakkar himself gave Rs.15/- in
Baba's hand, forgetting his resolve not to do so. He
thought he did well in coming to Shirdi as all his doubts
were solved and he learnt so much.
Baba's
skill in handling such cases was unique. Though He did all
those things He was totally non-attached to them. Whether
anybody saluted Him or not, or whether anybody gave Him
Dakshina or not, it was the same to Him. None He
disrespected. He felt no pleasure because He was
worshipped and no pain because He was disregarded. He
transcended the pairs of opposites, viz. pleasure and
pain, etc.
Insomnia
Case
A
Kayastha Prabhu gentleman of Bandra suffered from
Insomnia for long. As soon as he laid himself down for
sleep, his departed father appeared to him in his dream,
and abused and scolded him severely. This broke his sleep
and made him restless the whole night. Every night this
went on and the man did not know what to do. One day he
consulted a devotee of Baba in this respect. He
recommended the Udi as the only infallible remedy he knew.
He gave him some Udi and asked him to apply a little of it
to his forehead before going to bed and keep the Udi-packet
under the pillow. He tried this remedy and found, to his
great surprise and joy, that he got sound sleep and that
there was no disturbance of any kind. He continued the
remedy and always remembered Sai. Then he got a picture of
Sai Baba which he hung on the wall near his pillow and
started worshipping it daily and on Thursdays, offering
garland, naivedya etc. Then he got on well and forgot
altogether his past trouble.
Balaji
Patil Newaskar
This
man was a great devotee of Baba. He rendered most
excellent and disinterested service. Every day he swept
and kept clean all the passages and streets in Shirdi
through which Baba passed in His daily routine. This work
was, after him, equally well-done by another female
devotee named Rahda-Krishna-Mai, and after her by Abdoola.
When Balaji reaped his corn every year, he brought the
whole quantity and presented it to Baba. He returned with
what Baba gave him and maintained himself and his family
with it. This course was followed by him for many years
and after him by his son.
Power
and Efficacy of Udi
Once
it happened that at Balaji's death anniversary day, a
certain number of guests were invited and the dinner was
prepared for them. But at the dinner-time it was found
that thrice the number of people invited had turned up.
Mrs. Newaskar was in a fix. She thought that the food
would not suffice for the people assembled and that if it
fell short, the honour of the family would be at stake.
Her mother-in-law comforted her by saying, "Don't be
afraid, it is not ours, but Sai's food; cover every vessel
with cloth, putting some Udi in it, and serve from the
same without opening it : Sai will save us from
ignominy." She did as she was advised and it was
found to their surprise and joy that not only did the food
suffice for all, but plenty of it remained after serving.
"As one feels intently, so he realizes
accordingly" was proved in this case.
Sai
Appearing as Serpent
Once
Raghu Patil of Shirdi went to Balaji Patil at Newase. That
evening he found that a serpent entered the cowshed
hissing. All the cattle were afraid and began to move. The
immates of the house were frightened, but Balaji thought
that it was Sai Who appreared in his house as a serpent.
Without being afraid in the least he brought a cup of milk
and placing it before the serpent said, "Baba, why do
you miss and make noise? Do you want to frighten us? Take
this cup of milk and drink it with a calm mind".
Saying this, he sat close by unperturbed. The other
members were frightened and did not know what to do. In a
short time the serpent disappeared. Nobody knew where it
went. It was not found though a search was made in the
cowshed.
Balaji
had two wives and some children. They sometimes went to
Shirdi from Newase for taking Baba's darshana. Then Baba
bought saris and other clothes which were given to them
with His blessings.
Bow
to Shri Sai - peace be to all
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