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Chapter
VII
Wonderful
Incarnation - Behaviour of Sai Baba - His Yoga Practices -
His All-pervasiveness - Leper Devotee’s service - Master
Khaparde’s Plague-case - Going to Pandharpur.
Wonderful
Incarnation
Sai
Baba knew all Yogic Practices. He was well-versed in the
six processes including Dhauti (Stomach-cleaning by a
moistened piece of linen 3" in breadth and 22
1/2" in length), Khandayoga, i.e., separating His
limbs and joining them again, and Samadhi, etc. If you
think that He was a Hindu, He looked like a Yavan. If you
think Him to be a Yavan, He looked like a pious Hindu. No
one definitely knew whether He was a Hindu or a Mahomedan.
He celebrated the Hindu festival of Rama-Navami with all
due formalities, and at the same time permitted the
‘Sandal’ procession of the Mahomedans. He encouraged
wrestling bouts in this festival, and gave good prizes to
winners. When the Gokul Ashtami came, He got the
‘Gopal-Kala’ ceremony duly performed and on Id
festivals, He allowed Mahomedans to say their prayers (Namaj)
in His Masjid. Once in the Moharum festival, some
Mahomedans proposed to contruct a Tajiya or Tabut in the
Masjid, keep it there for some days and afterwards take it
in procession through the village. Sai Baba allowed the
keeping of the Tabut for four days, and on the fifth day
removed it out of the Masjid without the least
compunction. If we say that He was a Mahomedan, His ears
were pierced (i.e. had holes according to Hindu fashion).
If you think that He was a Hindu, He advocated the
practice of circumcision (though according to Mr.
Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who observed Him closely, He was not
Himself circumcised. Vide article in Sai Leela on
"Baba Hindu Ki Yavan" by B.V. Deo, page 562). If
you call Him Hindu, He always lived in the Masjid; if
Mahomedan, He had always the Dhuni - sacred fire there,
and the following things which are contrary to Mahomedan
religion, i.e., grinding on the handmill, blowing of the
conch and bells, oblation in the fire, Bhajan, giving of
food, and worship of Baba’s Feet by means of ARGHYA
(water) were always allowed there. If you think that He
was a Mahomedan, the best of Brahmins and Agnihotris,
leaving aside their orthodox ways, fell prostrate at His
Feet. Those who went to make enquiries about his
nationality, were dumb-founded and were captured by his
darshana. So none could definitely decide whether Sai Baba
was a Hindu or a Mahomedan*.(see below this paragraph)
This is no wonder; for he who completely surrenders
himself to the Lord, by getting rid of his egoism; and
body - consciousness thus becomes one with Him, and has
nothing to do with any questions of caste or nationality.
Such a one as Sai Baba was, saw no difference between
caste and caste and even beings and beings. He took meat
and fish with Fakirs, but did not grumble when dogs
touched the dishes with their mouths.
[*
Note--(1) Mhalsapati, an intimate Shirdi devotee of Baba,
who always slept with Him in the Masjid and Chavadi, said
that Sai Baba told him that He was a Brahmin of Pathari
and was handed over to a Fakir in his infancy, and when He
told this, some men from Pathari had come, and Baba was
enquiring about some men from that place. Vide sai Leela
1924, Page 179. (2) Mrs. Kashibai Kanitkar, the famous
learned woman of Poona says in the experience No.8,
published on Page 79, Sai Leela Vol. 11,1934, - "On
hearing of Baba’s miracles, we were discussing according
to our theosophic convention and fashion whether Sai Baba
belonged to Black or White Lodge. When once I went to
Shirdi, I was thinking seriously about this in my mind. As
soon as I approached the steps of the Masjid, Baba came to
the front and pointing to His chest and staring at me
spoke rather vehemently -"This is a Brahmin, pure
Brahmin. He has nothing to do with black things. No
Musalman can dare to step in here. He dare not."
Again pointing to his chest - "This Brahmin can bring
lacks of men on the white path and take them to their
destination. This is a Brahmin’s Masjid and I won’t
allow any black Mahomedan to cast his shadow here." ]
Such a
unique and wonderful incarnation was Sai Baba. On account
of the merits in my past birth, I had the good fortune to
sit at His Feet and enjoy His blessed company. The joy and
delight I derived therefrom was incomparable. In fact Sai
Baba was pure Anand and Consciousness. I cannot
sufficiently describle Him, His greatness and uniqueness.
He who took delight at His Feet, was established in His
own self. Many Sanyasis, Sadhakas and all sorts of men
aspiring for salvation came to Sai Baba. He always walked,
talked and laughed with them and always uttered with His
tongue ‘Allah Malik’ (God is the sole owner). He never
liked discussion or arguments. He was always calm and
controlled, though irritable at times, always preached
full Vedanta and nobody knew till the last Who was Baba.
Princes and poor people were treated alike by Him. He knew
the inmost secrets of all, and when He gave expression to
them, all were surprised. He was the repository of all
knowledge, still He feigned ignorance. He also disliked
honour. Such were the characteristics of Sai Baba. Though,
He had a human body, His deeds testified to HIS Godhood.
All people considered Him as the Lord God in Shirdi.
Behaviour
of Sai Baba
Fool that
I am, I cannot describe Baba’s miracles. He got almost
all the temples in Shirdi repaired. Through Tatya Patil,
the temples of Shani, Ganapati, Shankar-Parvati, Village
Deity, and Maruti were put in order. His charity was also
remarkable. The money He used to collect as Dakshina was
freely distributed, Rs.20 to some, Rs.15 or 50, to others
everyday. The recipients thought that this was ‘pure’
charity money, and Baba wished that it should be usefully
employed.
People
were immensely benefited by having a darshana of Baba.
Some became hale and hearty; wicked people were turned
into good ones. Kushtha (Leprosy) was cured in some cases,
many got their desires fulfilled, without any drops or
medicine being put in the eyes, some blind men got back
their sight and some lame ones got their legs. Nobody
could see the end of His extraordinary greatness. His fame
spread far and wide, and pilgrims from all sides flocked
to Shirdi. Baba sat always near the Dhuni and eased
Himself there, and always sat in meditation; sometimes
with and on other times without a bath.
He used
to tie a white turban on his head; and wear a clean Dhotar
round his waist, and a shirt on his body. This was his
dress in the beginning. He started practicing medicine in
the village, examined patients and gave medicines. He was
always successful, and He became famous as a Hakim
(Doctor). A curious case may be narrated here. One devotee
got his eye balls quite red and swollen. No Doctor was
available in Shirdi. The other devotees took him to Baba.
Other Doctors would use ointments, Anjans, cow’s milk
and camphorated drugs etc., in such cases. Baba’s remedy
was quite unique. He pounded some ‘BEEBA’ (Some Carpus
Ana Cardium i.e. marking nuts) and made two balls of them,
thrust them on in each eye of the patient and wrapped a
cloth-bandage round them (eyes). Next day, the bandage was
removed and water was poured over them in a stream. The
inflammation subsided and the pupils became white and
clear. Though the eyes are very delicate, the BEEBA caused
no smarting; but removed the disease of the eyes. Many
such cases were cured and this is only an instance in
point.
Baba’s
Yoga Practices
Baba
knew all the processes and practices of Yoga. Two of them
will be described here:
(1)
DHAUTI or CLEANING PROCESS: Baba went to the well near a
Banyan tree at a considerable distance from the Masjid
every third day and washed his mouth and had a bath. On
one occasion, He was seen to vomit out his intestines,
clean them inside and outside and place them on a Jamb
tree for drying. There are persons in Shirdi, who have
actually seen this, and who have testified to this fact.
Ordinary Dhauti is done by a moistened piece of linen, 3
inches broad 22 1/2ft. long. This piece is gulped down the
throat and allowed to remain in the stomach for about half
an hour for being reacted there and then taken out. But
Baba’s Dhauti was quite unique and extraordinary.
(2)
KHANDA YOGA: In this practice, Baba extracted the various
limbs from His body, and left them separately at different
places in the Masjid. Once, a gentleman went to the Masjid,
and saw the limbs of Baba lying separately at separate
places. He was much terrified; and he first thought of
running to the village officers, and informing them of
Baba being hacked to pieces and murdered. He thought that
he would be held responsible, as he was the first
informant, and knew something of the affair. So he kept
silent. But next day when he went to the masjid, he was
very much surprised to see Baba, hale and hearty and
sound, as before. He thought, that what he had seen the
previous day, was only a dream.
Baba
practised Yoga since, His infancy and nobody knew or
guessed the proficiency He attained. He charged no fees
for His cures, became renowned and famous by virtue of His
merits, gave health to many a poor and suffering person.
This famous Doctor of doctors cared not for His interests,
but always worked for the good and welfare of others,
Himself suffering unbearable and terrible pain many a time
in the process. One such instance, I give below, which
will show the all-pervasive and most merciful character of
Sai Baba.
Baba’s
All-pervasiveness and Mercy
In
the year 1910 A.D., Baba was sitting near the Dhuni on
Divali holiday and warming Himself. He was pushing
fire-wood into the Dhuni, which was brightly burning. A
little later, instead of pushing logs of woods, Baba
pushed His arm into the Dhuni; the arm was scorched and
burnt immediately. This was noticed by the servant Madhava,
and also by Madhavrao Deshpande (Shama). They at once ran
to Baba and Madhavarao clasped Baba by His waist from
behind and dragged Him forcible back ward and asked,
"Deva, for what have You done this?" Then Baba
came to His senses and replied, "The wife of a
blacksmith at some distant place, was working the bellows
of a furnace;her husband called her. Forgetting that her
child was on her waist, she ran hastily and the child
slipped into the furnace. I immediately thrust My hand
into the furnace and saved the child. I do not mind My arm
being burnt, but I am glad that the life of the child is
saved."
Leper
Devotee’s Service
On
hearing the news of Baba’s hand being burnt from (Shama)
Madhavrao Deshpande, Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, accompanied
by the famous Doctor Parmanand of Bombay with his medical
outfit consisting of ointments, lint and bandage etc.
rushed to Shirdi, and requested Baba to allow Dr.
Parmanand to examine the arm, and dress the wound caused
by the burn. This was refused. Ever since the burn, the
arm was dressed by the leper devotee, Bhagoji Shinde. His
treatment consisted in massaging the burnt part with ghee
and then placing a leaf over it and bandaging it tightly
with Pattis (bandages). Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar solicited
Baba many a time to unfasten the Pattis and get the wound
examined and dressed and treated by Dr. Parmanand, with
the object that it may be speedily healed. Dr. Parmanand
himself made similar requests, but Baba postponed saying
that Allah was His Doctor; and did not allow His arm to be
examined. Dr. Paramanand’s medicines were not exposed to
their air of Shirdi, as they remained intact, but he had
the good fortune of getting a darshana of Baba. Bhagoji
was allowed to treat the hand daily. After some days, the
arm healed and all were happy. Still, we do not know
whether any trace of pain was left or not. Every morning,
Bhagoji went throught his programme of loosening the
Pattis, massaging he arm with ghee and tightly bandaging
it again. This went on till Sai Baba’s Samadhi (death).
Sai Baba, a perfect Siddha, as He was, did not really want
this treatment, but out of love to His devotee, He allowed
the ‘Upasana’ - service of Bhagoji to go on
un-interrupted all along. When Baba started for Lendi,
Bhagoji held an umbrella over Him and accompanied Him.
Every morning, when Baba sat near the post close to the
Dhuni, Bhagoji was present and started his service.
Bhagoji was a sinner in his past brith. He was suffering
from leprosy, his fingers had shrunk, his body was full of
pus and smelling badly. Though outwardly he seemed so
unfortunate, he was really very lucky and happy, for he
was the premier servant of Baba, and got the benefit of
His company.
Master
Khaparde’s Plague-Case
I
shall now relate another instance of Baba’s
wonderful Leela. Mrs. Khaparde, the wife of Mr. Dadasaheb
Khaparde of Amraoti, was staying at Shirdi with her young
son for some days. One day the son got high fever, which
further developed into Bubonic plague. The mother was
frightened and felt most uneasy. She thought of leaving
the place for Amraoti, and went near Baba in the evening,
when He was coming near the Wada (now Samadhi Mandir) in
His evening rounds, for asking His permission. She
informed Him in a trembling tone, that her dear young son
was down with plague. Baba spoke kindly and softly to her,
saying that the sky is beset with clouds; but they will
melt and pass off and everything will be smooth and clear.
So saying, He lifted up His Kafni up to the waist and
showed to all present, four fully developed bubos, as big
as eggs, and added, "See, how I have to suffer for My
devotees; their difficulties are Mine." Seeing this
unique and extraordinary deed (Leela), the people were
convinced as to how the Saints suffer pains for their
devotees. The mind of the saints is softer than wax, it is
soft, in and out, as butter. They love their devotees
without any idea of gain, and regard them as their true
relatives.
Going
to Pandharpur and Staying There
I
shall now close this Chapter after relating a story
illustrating how Sai Baba loved His devotees and
anticipated their wishes and movements. Mr. Nanasaheb
Chandorkar, who was a great devotee of Baba, was Mamlatdar
at Nandurbar in Khandesh. He got an order of transfer to
Pandharpur. His devotion to Sai Baba bore fruit, as he got
an order to go and stay at Pandharpur which is regarded as
the ‘BHUVAIKUNTHA’ - Heaven on earth. Nanasaheb had to
take immediate charge, so he left, immediately, for the
place, without even writing or informing anybody at Shirdi.
He wanted to give a surprise visit to Shirdi - his
Pandharpur, see and salute his Vithoba (Baba), and then
proceed. Nobody dreamt of Nanasaheb’s departure for
Shirdi, but Sai Baba knew all about this, as His eyes were
everywhere (omniscient). As soon as Nanasaheb approached
Neemgaon, a few miles from Shirdi, there was stir in the
Masjid at Shirdi. Baba was sitting and talking with
Mhalsapati, Appa Shinde and Kashiram, when He at once
said, "Let us all four do some Bhajan, the doors of
Pandhari are open, let us merrily sing." Then they
began to sing in chorus, the burden of the song being
"I have to go to Pandharpur and I have to stay on
there, for it is the house of my Lord."
Baba sang
and the devotees followed Him. In a short time Nanasaheb
came there with his family, prostrated before Baba and
requested Him to accompany them to Pandharpur and stay
with them there. This solicitation was not necessary, as
the devotees told Nanasaheb that Baba was already in the
mood of going to Pandharpur and staying there. Hearing
this Nanasaheb was moved and fell at Baba’s Feet. Then
getting Baba’s permission, Udi (sacred ashes) and
Blessings, Nanasaheb left for Pandharpur.
There is
no end to Baba’s stories, but let me now make a halt
here, reserving for the next Chapter other topics, such as
importance of human life, Baba’s living on alms,
Bayajabai’s service and other stories.
Bow
it Shri Sai -- Peace be to all
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