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Chapter
XLVIII
Warding
off Devotee's Calamities
Stories
of (1) Shevade and (2) Sapatneker
At the
commencement of this chapter, some one asked Hemadpant
whether Sai Baba was a Guru or Sad-guru. In order to
answer the question Hemadpant describes the signs or marks
of a Sad-guru as follows:-
Signs
of Sad-guru
He
who teaches us Veda and Vedanta or the six Shastras
(systems), he who controls the breath, or brands his body
with Mudras (metallic marks of Vishnu's weapons) or gives
pleasing discourses regarding Brahma, he who gives mantras
(sacred syllables) to the disciples and orders them to
chant the same a certain number of times, but does not
assure them any result in a definite time, he who by his
spacious wordy knowledge explains beautifully the Ultimate
Principle, but has himself got no experience or
self-realization is not a Sad-guru. But he, who by his
discourse creates in us, a distaste for the enjoyments of
this world and the next, and gives us a taste of
self-realization, who is well-versed in both the
theoretical and practical knowledge (self-realization)
deserves to be called a Sad-guru. How can he, who is
himself devoid of self-realization, give it to the
disciples? A Sad-guru does not, even in his dream, expect
any service or profit from his disciples. On the contrary
he wishes to serve them. He does not think that he is
great and the disciple small. Not only he loves him as his
son but regards him as equal to himself or as Brahma. The
main characteristic of a Sad-guru is that he is the abode
of peace. He is never restless nor ruffled. He has no
pride of his learning. The poor and the rich, the small
and the great, are the same to him.
Hemadpant
thinks that on account of the store or accumulation of
merits in his past births, he had the good fortune of
meeting and being blessed by such a Sad-guru as Sai Baba.
Even in full youth He hoarded nothing (expect perhaps
chillim). He had no family, no friend, no home, nor any
support. Since He was eighteen, His control of mind was
perfect and extra-ordinary. He lived then fearless in a
secluded place and always abided in His Self. Seeing the
pure attachment of His devotees He always acted in their
interests and hence He was in a way dependent on them.
What experiences He gave to His devotees while he was
living in flesh, are even to-day, after His Mahasamadhi,
obtained now by those who attach themselves to Him. What
the devotees have to do is this - They have to trim their
heart-lamp of faith and devotion, and burn in it wicks of
love, and when this is done, the flame of knowledge
(self-realization) will be lit up and shine brighter. Mere
knowledge without love is dry; nobody wants such
knowledge. Without love there is no contentment; so we
should have unbroken and unbounded love. How can we praise
love? Everything is insignificant before it. Without love
our reading, hearing and the study are of no avail. In the
wake of love follow devotion, dispassion, peace and
liberation with all their treasures. We do not get love
for anything unless we feel earnestly about it. So where
there is real yearning and feeling, God manifests Himself.
It includes love and is the means of liberation.
Now let
us revert to the main story of this chapter. Let a man go
to a true saint with a pure mind, otherwise (fraudulently)
and hold his feet; ultimately he is sure to be saved. This
is illustrated by the following stories.
Mr.Shevade
Mr.
Sapatneker of Akkalkot (Sholapur District) was studying
for law. A co-student Mr.Shevade met him. Other fellow
students also gathered together and compared notes of
their study. It was found by the questions and answers
amongst themselves, that Mr.Shevade was the least prepared
of all for the examination, and therefore all the students
derided him. But he said that though he was not prepared,
he was sure to pass the examination, as his Sai Baba was
there to get him through it successfully. Mr.Sapatnekar
was surprised at this remark. He took Mr.Shevade aside and
asked him who this Sai Baba was whom he extolled so high.
He replied - "There lives in a Masjid in Shirdi (Ahmednagar
District) a fakir. He is a great Sat-purusha. There may be
other saints, but this is unique. Unless there is a great
store of merits on one's account, one can't see Him. I
fully believe in Him, and what He says will be never
untrue. He has assured me that I will pass definitely next
year and I am confident that I will get through the final
examination also with His grace." Mr.Sapatneker
laughed at his friend's confidence and jeered at him and
Baba.
Sapatnekars
Mr.Sapatnekar
passed his examination, settled at Akkalkot and practised
as a pleader there. Ten years after this, i.e., in 1913 he
lost his only son on account of a throat disease. This
broke his heart. He sought relief by making a pilgrimage
to Pandharpur, Ganagapur and other holy places. He got no
peace of mind. Then he read Vedanta, which also did not
help him. In the meanwhile he remembered Mr.Shevade's
remarks and his faith in Baba, and he thought that he too
should go to Shirdi and see Baba. He went to Shirdi with
his younger brother Panditrao and was much pleased to see
Baba from a distance. When he went near and prostrated
himself and placed a coconut before Baba with pure feeling
(devotion), the latter at once cried out "Get
away." Saptnekar hung down his head, moved back and
sat aside. He wanted to consult somebody who would advise
him how to proceed. Somebody mentioned Bala Shimpi's name.
Sapatnekar saw him and sought his help. They bought Baba's
photos and came with them to the Masjid. Baba Shimpi took
a photo in his hand, gave it to Baba and asked him whose
photo it was. Baba said that this photo was the 'Yara'
(Lover) of him, pointing to Sapatnekar. Saying this Baba
laughed and all others joined. Bala asked Baba the
significance of the laugh and beckoned Sapatnekar to come
forward and take darshan. When Saptnakar began to
prostrate himself, Baba again cried "Get out."
Sapatnekar did not know what to do. Then they both joined
their hands and sat before Baba, praying. Baba finally
ordered sapatnekar to clear out immediately. Both were sad
and dejected. As Baba's order had to be obeyed, Sapatnekar
left Shirdi with a heavy heart praying that he should be
allowed to take darshan next time.
Mrs.Saptnekar
One
year elapsed. Still his mind was not at peace. He went to
Gangapur, where he felt more restless. Then he went to
Madhegaon for rest and finally decided to go to Kashi. Two
days before starting, his wife got a vision. In her dream
she was going with a pitcher to Lakadsha's well. There a
fakir with a piece of cloth round his head, who was
sitting at the foot of the Neem tree, came close to her
and said - "My dear lassie, why get exhausted for
nothing? I get your pitcher filled with pure water."
She was afraid of the fakir and hastened back with the
empty pitcher. The fakir followed her. At this she was
awakened and opened her eyes. She told this vision to her
husband. They thought that this was an auspicious sign and
they both left for Shirdi. When they reached the Masjid,
Baba was absent. He had gone to Lendi. They waited till
His return. When He returned, she was surprised to see
that the fakir she saw in her vision, resembled exactly
Baba. She reverentially prostrated herself before Baba and
sat looking at him. Seeing her humility Baba was much
pleased and began to tell a story in his peculiar
characteristic fashion to a third party. He said -
"My arms, abdomen and waist are paining for a long
time. I took many medicines, the pains did not abate. I
got sick of the medicines as they gave me no relief, but I
am surprised to see now that all the pains have
disappeared at once." Though no name was mentioned it
was the story of Mrs.Sapatnekar herself. Her pains, as
described by Baba, left her soon and she was happy.
Then
Mr.Sapatnekar went ahead to take darshan. He was again
welcomed with the former "Get out." This time he
was more penitent and persevering. He said that Baba's
displeasure was due to his past deeds and resolved to make
amends for the same. He determined to see Baba alone and
ask his pardon for his past actions. This he did. He
placed his head on Baba's feet and Baba placed His hand on
it and Sapatnekar sat stroking Baba's leg. Then a
shepherdess came and sat massaging Baba's waist. Baba in
his characteristic way began to tell the story of a bania.
He related the various vicissitudes of all his life,
including the death of his only son. Sapatnekar was
surprised to see that the story which Baba related was his
own, and he wondered how Baba knew every detail of it. He
came to know that He was omniscient and knew the hearts of
all. When this thought crossed his mind, Baba still
addressing the shepherdess and pointing to Sapatnekar said
- "This fellow blames Me and charges Me with killing
his son. Do I kill people's children? Why does this fellow
come to the Masjid and cry? Now I will do this I will
again bring that very child back in his wife's womb."
WIth these words He placed His blessing and on his head
and comforted him saying - "These feet are old and
holy, you are care-free now; place entire faith in Me and
you will soon get your object." Sapatnekar was much
moved with emotion, he bathed Baba's feet with his tears
and then returned to his residence.
Then he
made preparations of worship and naivedya and came with
his wife to the Masjid. He offered all this to Baba daily
and accepted prasad from Him. There was a crowd in the
Masjid and Sapatnekar went there and saluted Baba again
and again. Seeing heads clashing against heads Baba said
to Sapatnekar - "Oh, why do you prostrate yourself
now and then? The one Namaskar offered with love and
humility is enough." Then Sapatnekar witnessed that
night the chavadi procession described before. In that
procession Baba looked like a veritable Pandurang (Vithal).
At
parting next day, Sapatnekar thought that he should first
pay one rupee as dakshina and if Baba asked again, instead
of saying no, he should pay one more, reserving with him
sufficient amount as expenses for the journey. When he
went to the Masjid and offered one rupee, Baba asked for
another as per his intention and when it was paid, Baba
blessed him him saying - "Take the coconut, put it in
your wife's oti (upper fold of her sari), and go away at
ease without the least anxiety." He did so, and
within a year a son was born to him and with an infant of
8 months the pair came to Shirdi, placed it at Baba's feet
and prayed thus - "Oh, Sainath, we do not know how to
redeem Your obligations, therefore we prostrate ourselves
before You, bless us poor helpless fellows, henceforth let
Your holy feet be our sole refuge. Many thoughts and ideas
trouble us in waking and dream states, so turn away our
minds from them to Your bhajan and bless us."
The son
was named Murlidhar. Two others (Bhaskar and Dinkar) were
born afterwards. The Sapatnekar pair thus realized that
Baba's words were never untrue and unfulfilled, but turned
out literally true.
Bow
to Shri sai - Peace be to all
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