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Chapter
IX
Effect
of compliance and Non-compliance with Baba's Orders at the
Time of Taking Leave - A few Instances - Mendicancy and
Its Necessity - Devotees' (Tarkhad family's) Experiences -
Baba fed sumptuously - How?
At the
end of the last chapter, it was barely stated that the
Bhaktas, who obeyed Baba's orders at the time of taking
leave, fared well and those, who disobeyed them, suffered
many a mishap. This statement will be amplified and
illustrated, with a few striking instances; and by other
matters dealt with in this Chapter.
Characteristic
of Shirdi - Pilgrimage
One
special peculiarity of Shirdi-pilgrimage was this, that
none could leave Shirdi, without Baba's permission; and if
he did, he invited untold sufferings, but if any one was
asked to quit Shirdi, he could stay there no longer. Baba
gave certain suggestions or hints, when Bhaktas went to
bid good-bye and take leave. These suggestions had to be
followed. If they were not followed or were departed from,
accidents were sure to befall them, who acted contrary to
Baba's directions. We give below a few instances.
Tatya
Kote Patil
Tatya
Kote was once going in a tanga to Kopargaon bazar. He came
in haste to the Masjid, saluted Baba, and said that he
would go to Kopargtaon bazar. Baba said, "Don't make
haste, stop a little, let go the bazar, don't go out of
the village". On seeing has anxiety to go, Baba asked
him to take Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande) at least with him.
Not minding this direction, Tatya Kote immediately drove
his tanga. Of the two horses one, which cost Rs.300/- was
very active and restless. After passing Sawul well, it
began to run rashly, got a sprain in its waist and fell
down. Tatya was not much hurt, but was reminded of Mother
Sai's direction. On another occasion while proceeding to
Kolhar village, he disregarded Baba's direction, and drove
in a tanga, which met with a similiar accident.
European
Gentleman
One
European gentleman of Bombay once came to Shirdi, with an
introductory note from Nanasaheb Chandorkar, and with some
object in view. He was comfortably accommodated in a tent.
He wanted to kneel before Baba and kiss His hand.
Therefore, he tried thrice to step into the Masjid, but
Baba prevented him from doing so. He was asked to sit in
the open court-yard below and take Baba's darshan from
there. Not pleased with this reception he got, he wanted
to leave Shirdi at once and came to bid good-bye. Baba
asked him to go the next day and not to hurry. People also
requested him to abide by Baba's direction. Not listening
to all this, he left Shirdi in a tanga. The horses ran at
first all right, but when Sawul well was passed, a bicycle
came in front, seeing which the horses were frightened and
ran fast. The tanga was turned topsy-turvy and the
gentleman fell down and was dragged some distance. He was
immediately released; but had to go and lie in Kopargaon
hospital for the treatment of the injuries. Because of
such experiences all people learnt the lesson, that those
who disobeyed Baba's instruction met with accidents in one
way or the other, and those who obeyed them were safe and
happy.
The
Necessity of Mendicancy
Now
to return to the question of mendicancy. A question may
arise in the minds of some that if Baba was such a great
personage - God in fact, why should He have recourse to
the begging bowl, all His lifetime? This question may be
considered and replied from two standpoints. (1) Who are
the fit persons, who have a right to live by the
begging-bowl? Our Shastras say that those persons, who,
getting rid of, or becoming free from the three main
Desires, viz. (1) for progeny, (2) for wealth, (3) for
fame, accept Sannyas, are the fit persons to live by
begging alms. They cannot make cooking arrangements and
dine at home. The duty of feeding them rests on the
shoulders of house-holders. Sai Baba was neither a
house-holder nor Vanaprastha. He was a celibate sannyasi,
i.e., sannyasi from boyhood. His firm conviction was that
the universe was His home, He was the Lord Vasudeo - the
Supporter of the universe and the Imperishable Brahman. So
He had the full right to have recourse to the
begging-bowl. (2) Now from the standpoint of (1) Pancha-soon
- five sins and their atonement. We all know that in order
to prepare food-stuffs and meals, the householders have to
go through five actions or processes, viz. (1) Kandani-Pounding,
(2) Peshani-Grinding, (3) Udakumbhi - Washing pots, (4)
Marjani - Sweeping and cleaning, (5) Chulli-Lighting
hearths. These processes involve destruction of a lot of
small insects and creatures, and thus the householders
incur a lot of sin. In order to atone for this sin, our
Shastras prescribe five kinds of sacrifices, viz. (1)
Brahma-Yajna, (2) vedadhyayan - offerings to Brahman or
the study of the Vedas. (3) Pitra-Yajna-offerings to the
ancestors, 4)Deva-Yajna - offerings to the Gods, (5)
Bhoota-Yajna-offerings to the beings, (6)
Manushya-Atithi-Yajna-offerings to men or uninvited
guests. If these sacrifices, enjoined by the Shastras are
duly performed, the purification of their minds is
effected and this helps them to get knowledge and
self-realization. Baba, in going from house to house,
reminded the inmates of their sacred duty, and fortunate
were the people, who got the lesson at their homes from
Baba.
Devotee's
Experiences
Now
to return to the other more interesting subject. Lord
Krishna has said in the Bhagawadgeeta (9-26)
"Whosoever devoutly offers to me a leaf, a flower, or
a fruit or water, of that pure-hearted man, I accept that
pious offering." In the case of Sai Baba, if a
devotee really longed to offer anything to Sai Baba, and
if he afterwards forgot to offer the same, Baba reminded
him, or his friend about the offering, and made him
present it to Him, and then accepted it and blessed the
devotee. A few instances are given below.
Tarkhad
Family (father and son)
Mr.
Ramachandra Atmaran alias Babasaheb Tarkhad, formerly a
Prarthana-Samajist, was a staunch devotee of Sai Baba. His
wife and son loved Baba equally or perhaps more. It was
once proposed that Master Tarkhad should go with his
mother to Shirdi and spend his May vacation there, but the
son was unwilling to go, as he thought that in case he
left his home at Bandra, the worship of Sai Baba in the
house would not be properly attended to, as his father
being a Prarthana Samajist, would not care to worship Sai
Baba's enlarged portrait. However, on his father's giving
an assurance of oath, that he would perform the worship
exactly as the son was doing, the mother and the son left
for Shirdi on one Friday night.
Next day
(Saturday) Mr. Tarkhad got up early, took his bath and
before proceeding with the Puja, prostrated himself before
the Shrine and said - "Baba, I am going to perform
the Puja exactly as my son has been doing, but please let
it not be a formal drill." After he performed the
Puja, he offered a few pieces of lump-sugar as naivedya
(offering), which were distributed at the time of the
lunch.
That
evening and on Sunday, everything went on well. The
following Monday was a working day and it also passed
well. Mr. Tarkhad, who had never performed Puja like this
in all his life, felt great confidence within himself,
that every thing was passing on quite satisfactorily
according to the promise given to his son. On Tuesday, he
performed the morning Puja as usual and left for his work.
Coming home at noon, he found that there was no Prasad
(sugar) to partake of, when the meal was served. He asked
the servant - cook, who told him that there was no
offering made that morning, and that he had completely
forgotten then to perform that part of the Puja (offering
naivedya). After hearing that he left his seat and
prostrated himself before the Shrine, expressed his
regret, at the same time chiding Baba for the want of
guidance in making the whole affair a matter of mere
drill. Then he wrote a letter to his son stating the facts
and requested him to lay it before Baba's feet and ask His
pardon for his neglect.
This
happened in Bandra at Tuesday noon.
At about
the same time, when the noon Arati was just about to
commence in Shirdi, Baba said to Mrs. Tarkhad,
"Mother, I had been to your house in Bandra, with a
view to having something to eat. I found the door locked.
I somehow got an entrance inside and found to My regret,
that Bhau (Mr. Tarkhad) had left nothing for Me to eat. so
I have returned from there without eating anything."
The lady
could not understand anything; but the son, who was close
by, understood that there was something wrong with the
Puja in Bandra and he, therefore, requested Baba to permit
him to go home. Baba refused the permission, but allowed
him to perform Puja there. Then, the son wrote a letter to
his father, stating all that took place at Shirdi and
implored his father not to neglect the Puja at home.
Both
these letters crossed each other and were delivered to the
respective parties the next day.
Is this
not astonishing?
Mrs.
Tarkhad
Let
us now take up the case of Mrs. Tarkhad herself. She
offered three things, viz. (1) Bharit (roasted brinjal egg
plant mixed curds and spice). (2) Kacharya (circular
pieces of brinjal fried in ghee), (3) Peda (sweetmeat
ball). Let us see how Baba accepted them.
Once Mr.
Raghuvir Bhaskar Purandare of Bandra, a great devotee of
Baba started for Shirdi with his family. Mrs Tarkhad went
to Mrs. Purandare, and gave her two brinjals and requested
her to prepare Bharit of one bringal and Kacharya of the
other, when she went to Shirdi and serve Baba with them.
After reaching Shirdi, Mrs. Purandare went with her dish
of Bharit to the Masjid when Baba was just about to start
his meals. Baba found the Bharit very tasty. So He
distributed it to all and said that He wanted Kacharyas
now. A word was sent to Radha Krishna-Mai, that Baba
wanted Kacharyas. She was in a fix, as that was no season
of brinjals. How to get brinjals was the question? When an
enquiry was made as to who brought the Bharit, it was
found that Mrs. Purandare was also entrusted with the duty
of serving Kacharyas. Everybody then came to know the
significance of Baba's enquiry regarding Kacharyas, and
was wonderstruck at Baba's all-pervasive knowledge.
In
December 1915 A.D., one Govind Balaram Mankar wanted to go
to Shirdi to perfrom the obsequies of his father. Before
he left, he came to see Mr. Tarkhad. Then Mrs. Tarkhad
wanted to send something with him to Baba. She searched
the whole house but found nothing, except a Peda, which
had already been offered as naivedya. Mr. Mankar was in
mourning. Still out of great devotion to Baba, she sent
the Peda with him, hoping that Baba would accept and eat
it. Govind went to Shirdi and saw Baba, but forgot to take
the Peda with him. Baba simply waited. When again he went
to Baba in the afternoon, he went empty-handed without the
Peda. Baba could wait no longer and, therefore, asked him
straight, "What did you bring for me?"
"Nothing" was the reply. Baba asked him again.
The same reply came forth again. Then Baba asked him the
leading question, "Did not the mother (Mrs. Tarkhad)
give some sweetmeat to you for Me at the time of your
starting?" The boy then remembered the whole thing.
He felt abashed, asked Baba's pardon, ran to his lodging,
brought the Peda and gave it to Baba. As soon as Baba got
it in His hand. He put it into His mouth and gulped it
down. Thus the devotion of Mrs. Tarkhad was recognized and
accepted. "As men believe in Me, so do I accept
them" (Gita, 4-11) was proved in this case.
Baba
Fed Sumptuously, -- How?
Once,
Mrs. Tarkhad was staying in a certain house in Shirdi. At
noon, meals were ready and dishes were being served, when
a hungry dog turned up there and began to cry, Mrs.
Tarkhad got up at once and threw a piece of bread, which
the dog gulped with great relish. In the afternoon, when
she went to the Masjid and sat at some distance, Sai Baba
said to her, "Mother, you have fed Me sumptuously up
to my throat, My afflicted pranas (life-forces) have been
satisfied. always act like this, and this will stand you
in good stead. Sitting in this Masjid I shall never, never
speak untruth. Take pity on Me like this. First give bread
to the hungry, and then eat yourself. Note this
well." She could not at first understand the meaning
of what Baba said. So she replied -- "Baba, how could
I feed You? I am myself dependent on others and take my
food from them on payment." Then Baba replied --
"Eating that lovely bread I am heartily contended and
I am still belching. The dog which you saw before meals
and to which you gave the piece of bread is, one with Me,
so also other creatures (cats, pigs, flies, cows etc.) are
one with Me. I am roaming in their forms. He, who sees Me
in all these creatures is My beloved. So abandon the sense
of duality and distinction, and serve Me, as you did
today." Drinking these nectar-like words, she was
moved, her eyes were filled with tears, her throat was
choked and her joy knew no bounds.
Moral
"See
God in all beings" is the moral of this chapter. The
Upanishads, the Geeta and the Bhagwat, all exhort us to
perceive God or Divinity in all the creatures. By the
instance given at the end of this Chapter and others too
numerous to mention. Sai Baba has practically demonstrated
to us how to put the Upanishadic teachings into practice.
In this way Sai Baba stands as the best Exponent or
Teacher of the Upanishadic doctrines.
Bow
to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
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