7
The Narration of Various Stories
I bow down to Sree Ganesh
I bow down to Sree Saraswati
I bow down to the *XU.
I bow down to the Family Deity
I bow down to Sree Sita-Ramachandra
I bow down to Sree Sadguru Sainath.
1.
Let us pick up the threads of the previous chapter. Let us
recollect, how much Baba loved the renovation of temples!
2.
How he would strive to be benevolent to others! How he looked
after and protected his devotees! How he would wear out
himself! How he would suffer for the sake of his devotees!
3.
He would take ‘samadhi’1 doing ‘khand-yoga’ practices. He
would do ‘dhoti-poti’ and other practices. Sometimes he would
separate his head, legs and arms from the body and bring them
together as before.
4.
If you call him a Hindu, he looked a Muslim! If a Muslim, he
had all the auspicious signs of a Hindu! Such was this
extraordinary avatar! Which wise person can describe him!
5.
Whether he was a Hindu or a Muslim, nobody was able to make
the least conjecture! His behaviour was always the same
towards both the communities.
6.
Ramnavami was a Hindu festival. He would celebrate this as
his own, by having the cradle tied up in the ‘Sabha-mandap’
and have ‘kathas and kirtans’ said.
7.
In the square, in his presence, the cradle would be tied and
he would have the ‘kirtan’ performed. And, the same night he
would permit the Muslims to hold a ‘Sandal’ procession2
8.
As many Muslims, as wished to come, would join the ‘Sandal’
procession with pomp and glory. He got both the functions
celebrated equally happily.
9. When the Ramnavami day dawned, he was fond of arranging
wrestling bouts and giving away prizes such as horses,
anklets and headgears very enthusiastically.
10. When the Gokulashtami3 festival would come, he would have the
Gopal Kala done; and similarly, when it was Id-day4, the
Muslims were not restricted from ‘namaz’.
11. Once, when the Muhurram festival came, some Muslims came to
the Masjid and asked for permission to have the ‘Taziya’5
procession in the village.
12. According to his orders, the ‘Taziya’ was built. It was kept
for four days and on the fifth day was asked to be removed.
He had no feeling of either pleasure or displeasure.
13. If he was a Muslim, he had pierced ears. If he was a Hindu,
he believed in circumcision. Thus – neither Hindu, nor Muslim
– such was the sanctified avatar of Sai.
14. If he was a Hindu, he lived always in a Masjid. If he was a
Muslim, there was the sacred fire burning day and night in
the Masjid.
15. In the Masjid itself was the grinding stone on which the
grinding was done; in the masjid the bells would chime and
the conch would be blown; and in the masjid the offerings to
the sacred fire were made. What kind of a Muslim was he?
16. In the masjid there were recitations of ‘bhajans’ always,
free distribution of food, offerings to God, worship of feet
and puja. What kind of a Muslim was he?
17. If he be called a Muslim, then the elite of Brahmins would
come and do his puja; the ‘agnihotris’6 would prostrate to
him having surrendered their pride of purity to him.
18. This way, the people were astonished at heart. Whatever they
would experience, they would behave accordingly and keep
silent at the time of ‘darshan’.
19. So long as a person is surrendered to God, can he be called a
Hindu or a Muslim? He may be of a low birth, or low caste, or
without a caste (outside the pale of society). Caste is not
the criteria of importance for Him.
20. One who does not have body consciousness, whether he is a
Hindu or a Muslim, for him all castes and creeds are equal.
The discrimination born of caste is not applicable to him.
21. He took meat with the fakirs or on his own ate fish; and
would not be disgusted even if a dog put his mouth into his
food.
22. A farmer stores grains obtained in the current year by
building storehouses so that in case there is a shortage, in
the next year, it would prove useful.
23. Similarly a gunny bag full of wheat was stored, and also a
grinding stone7 to grind the grain in the Masjid. There were
also scuttles to winnow the grain. Nothing fell short of a
householder’s life.
24. In the pandal there was a decorative, beautiful and special
‘Tulsi Vrindavan’8. Nearby there is a wooden chariot,9
beautifully carved.
25. Because of my good deeds of the previous births that I could
come in contact with all these good things. I will hold these
in my heart and will feel lack of nothing till the end.
26. Thanks to the good fortune of the previous births, I have
been able to attain his feet, get peace of mind and
contentment in household matters.
27. Afterwards, however much I may prosper, that happiness will
never be regained which I experienced and was blessed to
receive in the company of the great Sree Sai.
28. Sai is the store of ultimate happiness! How could I describe
his uniqueness? Whoever surrendered to him was permanently
settled for good.
29. Those sanyasis who have performed penance, holding ‘danda’
and who use deer skins for clothing and for sitting; those
who have visited Haridwar and been to Tirthas; those who have
practised hard penance; those who have renounced the world
and those who are non-attached came there.
30. He would talk, walk and laugh a lot; he would always recite
“Allah Malik”; he did not like arguments and discussions
and he always carried a ‘satka’10 .
31. Ascetic, non-attached by nature, of moderate passions, with
malice towards none, his speech flowed with vedantic
philosophy (well-versed in vedanta)! Till the end none could
fathom, who Baba was.
32. The rich or the poor were treated equally by him. The son of
a wealthy person or of a penniless beggar would be measured
by the same yardstick.
33. He would know the good and bad deeds of anyone and the inner
most desires. He would tell them their confidential secrets
by some hint which would astound the devotees.
34. He was the epitome of knowledge and wisdom which he kept
under cover. It was a burden for him to be honoured. Such
were the characteristics of Sree Sai.
35. Though he had a mortal body, his deeds were singularly
uncommon like that of God. He was definitely the deity of
Shirdi. All the people believed this faithfully.
36. How many were the miracles of Baba! How much can I, an
insignificant person describe! Baba had the renovation of
numerous deities and temples undertaken.
37. In Shirdi itself, by the hands of Tatya Patil, he improved
the temples of Shani, Ganpati, Shankar-Parvati, the village
deity and Maruti.
38. The money that he collected from people as ‘dakshina’11 was
spent in charity partly, and some was simply given away.
39. To some he would daily give Rupees. thirty; to some Rupees.
ten, fifteen or fifty! Likewise, he would happily distribute
according to his sweet will.
40. This money belonged to people of all religions; and those who
accepted it were aware of this. Baba had the wish that it
should be spent in a good way.
41. May it be so! Many people prospered only because of his
‘darshan’; many wicked people turned good; many were cured of
diseases (leprosy) and a lot of people achieved their
welfare.
42. Without putting collyrium, or ointments or herbal juices many
blind regained their sight. Those who were lame started
walking just by surrendering at his feet.
43. Such was his infinite greatness that nobody was able to gauge
its extent. From all four quarters, countless people started
streaming in.
44. He sat at the same place near the ‘dhuni’. He eased himself
there itself. He would remain at the same spot, sometimes
with and at other times without a bath. He was always intent
in meditation.
45. On his head he would have a special white headgear and tie a
clean ‘dhoti’ to his waist, put on a shirt or a ‘pehran’ –
such was his dress at the beginning.
46. Initially, he would practice ayurvedic medicine in the
village. He would examine patients and give the medicines. He
had a healing touch and became a famous ‘hakim’12 .
47. Once upon a time a devotee’s eyes were swollen and were like
red balls. Both pupils were blood-red and no ‘vaid’12 was
available in Shirdi.
48. The simple and pious devotees showed his eyes to Baba.
Immediately, Baba got the marking-nut13 ‘beeba’14 pounded and
made into balls.
49. Under the circumstances some may have put surma (powdered
pearl); some may have put wet pieces of cloth dipped in cow’s
milk; others may have kept cool camphor cakes on the eyes or
some would have used collyrium.
50. But Baba’s remedy was absolutely different. He picked up each
‘beeba’ ball in his own hands and pressed as much as possible
one in each eye and then tied a cloth around them.
51. The next day, the cloth tied around the eyes was removed and
the eyes were washed with cold water poured in a steady
stream. All the swelling had disappeared and the pupils were
clear.
52. Although a delicate organ like the eye was treated by
‘beeba’, there was no burning and the disease was cured. Such
were the countless experiences.
53. He knew the yogic practices of ‘dhoti-poti’. Without
anybody’s knowledge he would go to a secluded place and while
bathing, vomit out his intestines, wash them and put them to
dry out.
54. At the same distance, as the Masjid to the well, there was
further on a banyan tree at a certain spot; and, beyond it,
another well, where he would go every third day.
55. Right at noon, in the blazing sun, having made sure that
there was no one around, he would take out water from the
well with his own hands and wash his face and perform his
ablutions.
56. On one such occasion while he was having his bath, he took
out his intestines quickly and started washing them on the
spot.
57. When a goat is slain, his intestines are turned inside out.
After being thoroughly washed, they are cleaned and folded.
58. Similarly, he removed his own intestines, washed them inside
out, and spread them on the rose-apple tree. People were
extremely amazed.
59. Amongst those who have witnessed this feat with their own
eyes, some are still living in Shirdi. They say that he was
an unique Saint.
60. Sometimes he would practise ‘khand-yoga’ and separate his
arms and legs. This way, they would be scattered here and
there in the Masjid.
61. In this way, the body would be broken in bits and pieces. The
whole sight would be very gruesome. When a number of people
ran to see this, they would find Baba intact.
62. Once having seen such an incident, the onlooker got terribly
frightened and thought that some wicked person had killed
Baba and committed this outrage.
63. In the Masjid, here and there, the limbs could be seen in all
the four corners. It was midnight and no one was around. He
was worried.
64. To whom should he tell this incident? On the contrary, he may
be hanged! Thinking this, he went and sat outside.
65. It did not even occur to him, even in his dreams, that it was
the yogic powers of Sai; and looking at the fragments of the
body, his heart thumped with fright.
66. Someone should be informed of this incident. This thought
occurred to him over and over again. But being the first
person to give the information, he might be held as the
culprit!
67. Therefore, he did not tell anybody. Many ideas came to him.
Therefore, in the early morning, he went to look again and
was surprised at what he saw.
68. There was not a sign of the earlier happening. Baba was
sitting hale and hearty at his usual place. The onlooker was
astounded and wondered if he had had a dream.
69. These practices of yoga – of ‘dhoti-poti’ – were practised by
Baba since his childhood. Nobody could understand the depth
of it and fathom his yogic state.
70. He never took a penny from anybody. By his own virtues, he
became famous. The weak and the poor were bestowed with good
health by him and he became a famous ‘hakim’ in that
province.
71. He was a ‘hakim’ only for the sake of others. He was totally
disinterested for his own gain. To achieve the good of
others, he endured a lot of hardship and pain.
72. To explain this I will tell an unusual story, for the sake of
the listeners, which will make known Baba’s compassion and
his universal (all-pervading) powers.
73. In the year 1910, on Dhanteras day15, Baba was casually
sitting near the ‘dhuni’ and burning firewood.
74. The ‘dhuni’ was very hot and brightly lit up. He inserted his
own arm into the fire and peacefully sat there. The arm came
out scorched.
75. His servitor Madhav16 saw it by chance and Madhavrao Deshpande
was also nearby. He also ran towards him immediately.
76. He went and sat cross-legged behind Baba, put his arms
tightly round his waist and pulled him back. He asked, “See
what has happened!”
77. “O deva, what have you done?” 17 At these words, Baba became
aware of the circumstances. “A child suddenly slipped into
the furnace from the arms being astride the waist (of the
mother).
78. Hearing her husband’s calls, and being afraid, the
blacksmith’s wife took her child into her arms and started
blowing the bellows of the furnace.
79. While blowing, she lost her concentration and forgot that the
child was in her arms. The child was extremely restless and
she slipped. Shama, no sooner had she dropped, that I picked
her up.
80. While I tried to take out the girl, that this incident
happened. Let my damned hand be scorched! The child’s life is
saved”.
81. For the pain and suffering due to the arm, what remedy and by
whom should it be done? Madhavrao decided to write a letter
to Chandorkar.
82. He wrote the letter in detail. Chandorkar arrived in Shirdi
immediately, bringing along with him the famous Dr.
Parmanand.
83. To ward off the burning sensation, Dr. Parmanand brought with
him a number of medicines which would be useful and came to
the feet of Sai to serve him, with Nana.
84. After having bowed down to Baba, he asked him about his wellbeing,
told him the reason for his coming and requested him
to show him his arm.
85. But since the time the arm was burnt, Bhagoji Shinde used to
apply ghee, place a leaf upon it and tightly bandaged it,
every day.
86. To remove the bandages, to show the arm to Dr. Parmanand, to
start taking medicines to heal Baba,
87. with this good intention, Nana implored a great deal; and
even Parmanand tried to remove the bandages and see the arm.
88. Not to-day, tomorrow – again, the same thing – thus he never
allowed his arm to be seen saying that his doctor was
‘Allah’. He was not the least disturbed about it.
89. Whatever medicines Parmanand had brought were never even
opened in Shirdi. But, it was his good fortune to have Sai’s
‘darshan’ and, therefore, perhaps this incident happened.
90. It was always Bhagoji who served him. It was only Bhagoji who
would massage the hand. Then, after some time the hand healed
and everyone was happy
91. In this way, although the hand was
completely cured, one doesn’t know what was
in Baba’s mind in allowing Bhagoji, every
morning, early in the day, to carry out the
ceremony of tying the bandages.
92. Although there was no pain, regularly and
for no reason, with the help of ghee a
massage was done and the hand was cared for
till death.
Bhagoji Shinde
93. These services were for the sake of Bhagoji. Siddha Sai never
needed them. He made Bhagoji render regular service with
love, as a devotee should.
94. Because of the sins of his previous birth, Bhagoji was
suffering from leprosy. But it was his good fortune that he
came in touch with Sai.
95. Whenever Baba started on his round to Lendi, Bhagoji held the
umbrella over Baba’s head. Though his body was covered with
black leprosy sores, he was the foremost in his service.
96. Whenever, early in the morning, Baba was seated restfully
against the pillar, near the ‘dhuni’ it was his good fortune
to be there to serve him.
97. He would remove the bandages, massage the respective muscles,
apply ghee to those parts, and thus be fortunate to serve
him.
98. Bhagoji Shinde was a great sinner in his past lives. His
whole body was bleeding with sores. He was greatly affected
by this deadly disease. But he was a matchless devotee of
Baba.
99. His fingers had become stumps because of leprosy and his
whole body emanated a nauseating smell. Thus, the one with
such a great misfortune, derived four-fold happines from his
services.18
100.How many such great miracles of Baba, can I describe to the
listeners! Once when plague came to the village, listen to
the miracle that happened.
101.Dadasaheb Khaparde’s19 young son was staying
with his mother and enjoying the pleasure of
Baba’s company.
102.As it is, the boy was very young and he got
very high fever. The mother’s heart grew
anxious and she became agitated.
103.Her home was at Amravati. Therefore, she
Dadasaheb
Khaparde
thought of going there. In the evening, at the proper time,
she came to take Baba’s permission.
104.While doing his evening rounds, Baba came near the wada.
There, the woman bowed down at his feet and told him what had
happened.
105.As it is women are timid by nature. And, besides, the son’s
trembling20 did not stop. Also, there was the scare of plague.
Therefore, she told him what had happened.
106.Baba lovingly assured her with these words. “Know that thBaba lovingly assured her with these words. “Know that the
skies are overcast. The rains will come and the harvest will
ripen. The clouds will clear up.
107.Why are you afraid?” saying this, he lifted his kafni upto
the waist and showed everybody the fully developed bubos.
108.In four places, there were four bubos of the size of a hen’s
egg. He said : “See, I have to bear this because of your
difficulties”.
109.People were amazed to witness this divine and unique ordeal.
How the Saints suffered for the sake of their devotees!
110.Their heart is softer than wax – just like butter appears,
outwardly. They have selfless love for the devotees as if
they are his kith and kin.
111.Once it so happened that Nanasaheb Chandorkar left Nandurbar
to go to Pandharpur.
112.Nana was very lucky. His whole-hearted devotion
to Sai had borne fruit. He had the earthly
paradise,21 as he had got the Mamlatdari of that
place.
113.When he received the orders at Nandurbar, he
had to leave immediately. Hurriedly he made all
the arrangements, desiring in his heart the
darshan22.
114.Along with his wife, and family circle, he
thought of going to Shirdi, as Shirdi was his Pandharpur; and
he wanted to pay his respects to Baba.
115.He did not send a letter to anybody nor did he send any
message. He gathered together all his belongings and got into
the carriage hurriedly.
116.In this way, Nana started and nobody in Shirdi knew of it.
But Sai knew everything, as Sai was all-pervading.
117.Nana started immediately. He must have been at the outskirts
of Nimgaon. Now listen carefully to the miracle that happened
at Shirdi, in truth, at that time.
118.Baba was in the Masjid with Mhalsapati. Appa Shinde and
Kashiram, the devotees, were seated chatting.
119.At that moment, Baba said casually, “Let four of us sing a
bhajan. The Doors of Pandharpur have opened. We can sing
joyously”.
120.Sai had knowledge of the past, present and future. He had
already learnt the news. Nana was near the stream at the
outskirts, when Baba was singing the bhajan zealously.
Nanasaheb
Chandorkar
Bhajan
“I am going to Pandharpur – going, going!
There I will stay! There I will stay, stay!
That is the abode of my Master!”
121.Baba himself sang the bhajan and the devotees who were
sitting around followed him. They were engrossed in their
love for Pandharpur. Just then Nana arrived.
122.He bowed down at his feet23, with his wife and said that
Maharaj should go with them to Pandharpur and settle there
undisturbed and without any worry.
123.This invitation was not necessary. Already Baba was in
joyous mood; and people told him24, that he was ready to go to
Pandharpur as the bhajan’s words indicated.
124.Nana was extremely surprised and seeing the leela was amazed.
He put his head at his feet and was deeply emotionally moved.
125.Taking his blessings, ‘udi’ and ‘prasad’, and bowing again,
Chandorkar set out for Pandharpur, after getting his
permission to go.
126.If such stories are to be narrated, this book will extend
beyond limits. Therefore, we shall curtail the subject of the
warding off of other’s sufferings.
127.Let us end this chapter now because there is no end to Baba’s
good deeds. In the next chapter, I’ll relate some other
stories, for my own well-being.
128.I have been unable to eradicate this ego of mine though I’m
trying to do so. Who am I, I cannot understand. Let Sai tell
his own stories.
129.He will tell of the importance of human life and will tell
why he believed in being a mendicant, of Bayjabai’s devotion
and what was his state of mind during the meals.
130.Also, how Baba would sleep in the Masjid together with
Mhalsapati and Tatya Ganpati Kote – listen to that.
131.Pant Hemad surrenders to Sai and calls himself an
insignificant devotee, as humble as the slippers on his feet.
He obeys Sai’s orders and has completed the narration upto
this point.
May there be well-being! This is the end of the seventh chapter
“The Narration of Various Stories” of Sree Sai Samartha
Satcharita, written by the devotee Hemadpant, impelled by Saints
and virtuous people.
This is offered to Sree Sadguru Sainath.
May there be auspiciousness!
Notes :
1.
State of ecstatic and complete trance, with absolute control over
all faculties, physical or mental. It is the highest state of Yoga.
2.
Particularly shaped vessel containing sandalwood taken to the niche
of the Masjid in a particular ritual.
3.
Krishna’s birth celebrations.
4.
Id days commemorate Muslim spiritual days.
5.
The bier supposed to be symbolically, the tombs of Hassan and
Hussein carried in procession at Muhurram.
6.
Brahmins that maintain a perpetual and sacred fire.
7.
One big grinding-stone was provided by Lakshmibai Shinde.
8.
Holy basil is planted in a little tower-form erection for worship.
9.
The chariot was donated by M.B. Rege, Dajisaheb Avasthi and others
to the Sansthan; but is presently kept in an adjoining room.
10.
A black wooden baton, about two-and-a-half feet long and thick as a
big toe of the foot, also remained near Baba always. When he went
to the chavadi from the Masjid and returned, he carried his chillum
and tobacco pouch in one hand and the baton in his other.
11.
Money given as a present at darshan to a saint.
12.
Knower of herbal remedies.
13.
Myrobalan.
14.
Myrobalan.
15.
Day on which the Goddness of wealth, Mahalaxmi, is worshipped – two
days before Diwali.
16.
Madhav Fasle.
17.
Madhavrao asked.
18.
Baba never objected to anyone rendering services to him. In fact,
he dealt with them lovingly. Once a woman came to him who was
suffering a grevious malady. Maharaj told a Maratha woman, by the
name of Bhimabai, to take her home and give her a place to stay
there. Bhimabai said: “Maharaj she has a grievous malady. Is it
not? How can I give her a place to stay in my home?” Maharaj
replied: “What if she has a grievous malady! She is my sister; my
very own sister. Take her to your home”. After Baba spoke those
words, Bhimabai took her to her home and kept her there. That woman
stayed there for a month and passed away there. Another incident
related to Balaji Patil Nevaskar. He came once to ask permission to
leave for his home village. Maharaj replied: “That Dagadu Bhau is
ill. You look after him”. That man was a Muslim, suffering from
black leprosy. Everyday, Patil would remove the worms from his
body, clean all the pus himself and bathe him too! He carried on
like this for a month. Then that Dagadu passed away and Patil was
given permission by Maharaj to go to his home.
19.
The Honourable Ganesh Shrikrishna Khaparde, Member of Legislative
Assembly.
20.
Due to high fever.
21.
Pandharpur is known as ‘Paradise on Earth’.
22.
Of Baba at Shirdi.
23.
Baba’s feet.
24.
Nana.
“O deva, what have you done?”At these words, Baba became aware of the
circumstances. “A child suddenly slipped into the furnace from the arms being astride the
waist (of the mother). (Ch.7, ovi 77)
Bhagoji Shinde
The Narration of Various Stories
I bow down to Sree Ganesh
I bow down to Sree Saraswati
I bow down to the *XU.
I bow down to the Family Deity
I bow down to Sree Sita-Ramachandra
I bow down to Sree Sadguru Sainath.
1.
Let us pick up the threads of the previous chapter. Let us
recollect, how much Baba loved the renovation of temples!
2.
How he would strive to be benevolent to others! How he looked
after and protected his devotees! How he would wear out
himself! How he would suffer for the sake of his devotees!
3.
He would take ‘samadhi’1 doing ‘khand-yoga’ practices. He
would do ‘dhoti-poti’ and other practices. Sometimes he would
separate his head, legs and arms from the body and bring them
together as before.
4.
If you call him a Hindu, he looked a Muslim! If a Muslim, he
had all the auspicious signs of a Hindu! Such was this
extraordinary avatar! Which wise person can describe him!
5.
Whether he was a Hindu or a Muslim, nobody was able to make
the least conjecture! His behaviour was always the same
towards both the communities.
6.
Ramnavami was a Hindu festival. He would celebrate this as
his own, by having the cradle tied up in the ‘Sabha-mandap’
and have ‘kathas and kirtans’ said.
7.
In the square, in his presence, the cradle would be tied and
he would have the ‘kirtan’ performed. And, the same night he
would permit the Muslims to hold a ‘Sandal’ procession2
8.
As many Muslims, as wished to come, would join the ‘Sandal’
procession with pomp and glory. He got both the functions
celebrated equally happily.
9. When the Ramnavami day dawned, he was fond of arranging
wrestling bouts and giving away prizes such as horses,
anklets and headgears very enthusiastically.
10. When the Gokulashtami3 festival would come, he would have the
Gopal Kala done; and similarly, when it was Id-day4, the
Muslims were not restricted from ‘namaz’.
11. Once, when the Muhurram festival came, some Muslims came to
the Masjid and asked for permission to have the ‘Taziya’5
procession in the village.
12. According to his orders, the ‘Taziya’ was built. It was kept
for four days and on the fifth day was asked to be removed.
He had no feeling of either pleasure or displeasure.
13. If he was a Muslim, he had pierced ears. If he was a Hindu,
he believed in circumcision. Thus – neither Hindu, nor Muslim
– such was the sanctified avatar of Sai.
14. If he was a Hindu, he lived always in a Masjid. If he was a
Muslim, there was the sacred fire burning day and night in
the Masjid.
15. In the Masjid itself was the grinding stone on which the
grinding was done; in the masjid the bells would chime and
the conch would be blown; and in the masjid the offerings to
the sacred fire were made. What kind of a Muslim was he?
16. In the masjid there were recitations of ‘bhajans’ always,
free distribution of food, offerings to God, worship of feet
and puja. What kind of a Muslim was he?
17. If he be called a Muslim, then the elite of Brahmins would
come and do his puja; the ‘agnihotris’6 would prostrate to
him having surrendered their pride of purity to him.
18. This way, the people were astonished at heart. Whatever they
would experience, they would behave accordingly and keep
silent at the time of ‘darshan’.
19. So long as a person is surrendered to God, can he be called a
Hindu or a Muslim? He may be of a low birth, or low caste, or
without a caste (outside the pale of society). Caste is not
the criteria of importance for Him.
20. One who does not have body consciousness, whether he is a
Hindu or a Muslim, for him all castes and creeds are equal.
The discrimination born of caste is not applicable to him.
21. He took meat with the fakirs or on his own ate fish; and
would not be disgusted even if a dog put his mouth into his
food.
22. A farmer stores grains obtained in the current year by
building storehouses so that in case there is a shortage, in
the next year, it would prove useful.
23. Similarly a gunny bag full of wheat was stored, and also a
grinding stone7 to grind the grain in the Masjid. There were
also scuttles to winnow the grain. Nothing fell short of a
householder’s life.
24. In the pandal there was a decorative, beautiful and special
‘Tulsi Vrindavan’8. Nearby there is a wooden chariot,9
beautifully carved.
25. Because of my good deeds of the previous births that I could
come in contact with all these good things. I will hold these
in my heart and will feel lack of nothing till the end.
26. Thanks to the good fortune of the previous births, I have
been able to attain his feet, get peace of mind and
contentment in household matters.
27. Afterwards, however much I may prosper, that happiness will
never be regained which I experienced and was blessed to
receive in the company of the great Sree Sai.
28. Sai is the store of ultimate happiness! How could I describe
his uniqueness? Whoever surrendered to him was permanently
settled for good.
29. Those sanyasis who have performed penance, holding ‘danda’
and who use deer skins for clothing and for sitting; those
who have visited Haridwar and been to Tirthas; those who have
practised hard penance; those who have renounced the world
and those who are non-attached came there.
30. He would talk, walk and laugh a lot; he would always recite
“Allah Malik”; he did not like arguments and discussions
and he always carried a ‘satka’10 .
31. Ascetic, non-attached by nature, of moderate passions, with
malice towards none, his speech flowed with vedantic
philosophy (well-versed in vedanta)! Till the end none could
fathom, who Baba was.
32. The rich or the poor were treated equally by him. The son of
a wealthy person or of a penniless beggar would be measured
by the same yardstick.
33. He would know the good and bad deeds of anyone and the inner
most desires. He would tell them their confidential secrets
by some hint which would astound the devotees.
34. He was the epitome of knowledge and wisdom which he kept
under cover. It was a burden for him to be honoured. Such
were the characteristics of Sree Sai.
35. Though he had a mortal body, his deeds were singularly
uncommon like that of God. He was definitely the deity of
Shirdi. All the people believed this faithfully.
36. How many were the miracles of Baba! How much can I, an
insignificant person describe! Baba had the renovation of
numerous deities and temples undertaken.
37. In Shirdi itself, by the hands of Tatya Patil, he improved
the temples of Shani, Ganpati, Shankar-Parvati, the village
deity and Maruti.
38. The money that he collected from people as ‘dakshina’11 was
spent in charity partly, and some was simply given away.
39. To some he would daily give Rupees. thirty; to some Rupees.
ten, fifteen or fifty! Likewise, he would happily distribute
according to his sweet will.
40. This money belonged to people of all religions; and those who
accepted it were aware of this. Baba had the wish that it
should be spent in a good way.
41. May it be so! Many people prospered only because of his
‘darshan’; many wicked people turned good; many were cured of
diseases (leprosy) and a lot of people achieved their
welfare.
42. Without putting collyrium, or ointments or herbal juices many
blind regained their sight. Those who were lame started
walking just by surrendering at his feet.
43. Such was his infinite greatness that nobody was able to gauge
its extent. From all four quarters, countless people started
streaming in.
44. He sat at the same place near the ‘dhuni’. He eased himself
there itself. He would remain at the same spot, sometimes
with and at other times without a bath. He was always intent
in meditation.
45. On his head he would have a special white headgear and tie a
clean ‘dhoti’ to his waist, put on a shirt or a ‘pehran’ –
such was his dress at the beginning.
46. Initially, he would practice ayurvedic medicine in the
village. He would examine patients and give the medicines. He
had a healing touch and became a famous ‘hakim’12 .
47. Once upon a time a devotee’s eyes were swollen and were like
red balls. Both pupils were blood-red and no ‘vaid’12 was
available in Shirdi.
48. The simple and pious devotees showed his eyes to Baba.
Immediately, Baba got the marking-nut13 ‘beeba’14 pounded and
made into balls.
49. Under the circumstances some may have put surma (powdered
pearl); some may have put wet pieces of cloth dipped in cow’s
milk; others may have kept cool camphor cakes on the eyes or
some would have used collyrium.
50. But Baba’s remedy was absolutely different. He picked up each
‘beeba’ ball in his own hands and pressed as much as possible
one in each eye and then tied a cloth around them.
51. The next day, the cloth tied around the eyes was removed and
the eyes were washed with cold water poured in a steady
stream. All the swelling had disappeared and the pupils were
clear.
52. Although a delicate organ like the eye was treated by
‘beeba’, there was no burning and the disease was cured. Such
were the countless experiences.
53. He knew the yogic practices of ‘dhoti-poti’. Without
anybody’s knowledge he would go to a secluded place and while
bathing, vomit out his intestines, wash them and put them to
dry out.
54. At the same distance, as the Masjid to the well, there was
further on a banyan tree at a certain spot; and, beyond it,
another well, where he would go every third day.
55. Right at noon, in the blazing sun, having made sure that
there was no one around, he would take out water from the
well with his own hands and wash his face and perform his
ablutions.
56. On one such occasion while he was having his bath, he took
out his intestines quickly and started washing them on the
spot.
57. When a goat is slain, his intestines are turned inside out.
After being thoroughly washed, they are cleaned and folded.
58. Similarly, he removed his own intestines, washed them inside
out, and spread them on the rose-apple tree. People were
extremely amazed.
59. Amongst those who have witnessed this feat with their own
eyes, some are still living in Shirdi. They say that he was
an unique Saint.
60. Sometimes he would practise ‘khand-yoga’ and separate his
arms and legs. This way, they would be scattered here and
there in the Masjid.
61. In this way, the body would be broken in bits and pieces. The
whole sight would be very gruesome. When a number of people
ran to see this, they would find Baba intact.
62. Once having seen such an incident, the onlooker got terribly
frightened and thought that some wicked person had killed
Baba and committed this outrage.
63. In the Masjid, here and there, the limbs could be seen in all
the four corners. It was midnight and no one was around. He
was worried.
64. To whom should he tell this incident? On the contrary, he may
be hanged! Thinking this, he went and sat outside.
65. It did not even occur to him, even in his dreams, that it was
the yogic powers of Sai; and looking at the fragments of the
body, his heart thumped with fright.
66. Someone should be informed of this incident. This thought
occurred to him over and over again. But being the first
person to give the information, he might be held as the
culprit!
67. Therefore, he did not tell anybody. Many ideas came to him.
Therefore, in the early morning, he went to look again and
was surprised at what he saw.
68. There was not a sign of the earlier happening. Baba was
sitting hale and hearty at his usual place. The onlooker was
astounded and wondered if he had had a dream.
69. These practices of yoga – of ‘dhoti-poti’ – were practised by
Baba since his childhood. Nobody could understand the depth
of it and fathom his yogic state.
70. He never took a penny from anybody. By his own virtues, he
became famous. The weak and the poor were bestowed with good
health by him and he became a famous ‘hakim’ in that
province.
71. He was a ‘hakim’ only for the sake of others. He was totally
disinterested for his own gain. To achieve the good of
others, he endured a lot of hardship and pain.
72. To explain this I will tell an unusual story, for the sake of
the listeners, which will make known Baba’s compassion and
his universal (all-pervading) powers.
73. In the year 1910, on Dhanteras day15, Baba was casually
sitting near the ‘dhuni’ and burning firewood.
74. The ‘dhuni’ was very hot and brightly lit up. He inserted his
own arm into the fire and peacefully sat there. The arm came
out scorched.
75. His servitor Madhav16 saw it by chance and Madhavrao Deshpande
was also nearby. He also ran towards him immediately.
76. He went and sat cross-legged behind Baba, put his arms
tightly round his waist and pulled him back. He asked, “See
what has happened!”
77. “O deva, what have you done?” 17 At these words, Baba became
aware of the circumstances. “A child suddenly slipped into
the furnace from the arms being astride the waist (of the
mother).
78. Hearing her husband’s calls, and being afraid, the
blacksmith’s wife took her child into her arms and started
blowing the bellows of the furnace.
79. While blowing, she lost her concentration and forgot that the
child was in her arms. The child was extremely restless and
she slipped. Shama, no sooner had she dropped, that I picked
her up.
80. While I tried to take out the girl, that this incident
happened. Let my damned hand be scorched! The child’s life is
saved”.
81. For the pain and suffering due to the arm, what remedy and by
whom should it be done? Madhavrao decided to write a letter
to Chandorkar.
82. He wrote the letter in detail. Chandorkar arrived in Shirdi
immediately, bringing along with him the famous Dr.
Parmanand.
83. To ward off the burning sensation, Dr. Parmanand brought with
him a number of medicines which would be useful and came to
the feet of Sai to serve him, with Nana.
84. After having bowed down to Baba, he asked him about his wellbeing,
told him the reason for his coming and requested him
to show him his arm.
85. But since the time the arm was burnt, Bhagoji Shinde used to
apply ghee, place a leaf upon it and tightly bandaged it,
every day.
86. To remove the bandages, to show the arm to Dr. Parmanand, to
start taking medicines to heal Baba,
87. with this good intention, Nana implored a great deal; and
even Parmanand tried to remove the bandages and see the arm.
88. Not to-day, tomorrow – again, the same thing – thus he never
allowed his arm to be seen saying that his doctor was
‘Allah’. He was not the least disturbed about it.
89. Whatever medicines Parmanand had brought were never even
opened in Shirdi. But, it was his good fortune to have Sai’s
‘darshan’ and, therefore, perhaps this incident happened.
90. It was always Bhagoji who served him. It was only Bhagoji who
would massage the hand. Then, after some time the hand healed
and everyone was happy
91. In this way, although the hand was
completely cured, one doesn’t know what was
in Baba’s mind in allowing Bhagoji, every
morning, early in the day, to carry out the
ceremony of tying the bandages.
92. Although there was no pain, regularly and
for no reason, with the help of ghee a
massage was done and the hand was cared for
till death.
Bhagoji Shinde
93. These services were for the sake of Bhagoji. Siddha Sai never
needed them. He made Bhagoji render regular service with
love, as a devotee should.
94. Because of the sins of his previous birth, Bhagoji was
suffering from leprosy. But it was his good fortune that he
came in touch with Sai.
95. Whenever Baba started on his round to Lendi, Bhagoji held the
umbrella over Baba’s head. Though his body was covered with
black leprosy sores, he was the foremost in his service.
96. Whenever, early in the morning, Baba was seated restfully
against the pillar, near the ‘dhuni’ it was his good fortune
to be there to serve him.
97. He would remove the bandages, massage the respective muscles,
apply ghee to those parts, and thus be fortunate to serve
him.
98. Bhagoji Shinde was a great sinner in his past lives. His
whole body was bleeding with sores. He was greatly affected
by this deadly disease. But he was a matchless devotee of
Baba.
99. His fingers had become stumps because of leprosy and his
whole body emanated a nauseating smell. Thus, the one with
such a great misfortune, derived four-fold happines from his
services.18
100.How many such great miracles of Baba, can I describe to the
listeners! Once when plague came to the village, listen to
the miracle that happened.
101.Dadasaheb Khaparde’s19 young son was staying
with his mother and enjoying the pleasure of
Baba’s company.
102.As it is, the boy was very young and he got
very high fever. The mother’s heart grew
anxious and she became agitated.
103.Her home was at Amravati. Therefore, she
Dadasaheb
Khaparde
thought of going there. In the evening, at the proper time,
she came to take Baba’s permission.
104.While doing his evening rounds, Baba came near the wada.
There, the woman bowed down at his feet and told him what had
happened.
105.As it is women are timid by nature. And, besides, the son’s
trembling20 did not stop. Also, there was the scare of plague.
Therefore, she told him what had happened.
106.Baba lovingly assured her with these words. “Know that thBaba lovingly assured her with these words. “Know that the
skies are overcast. The rains will come and the harvest will
ripen. The clouds will clear up.
107.Why are you afraid?” saying this, he lifted his kafni upto
the waist and showed everybody the fully developed bubos.
108.In four places, there were four bubos of the size of a hen’s
egg. He said : “See, I have to bear this because of your
difficulties”.
109.People were amazed to witness this divine and unique ordeal.
How the Saints suffered for the sake of their devotees!
110.Their heart is softer than wax – just like butter appears,
outwardly. They have selfless love for the devotees as if
they are his kith and kin.
111.Once it so happened that Nanasaheb Chandorkar left Nandurbar
to go to Pandharpur.
112.Nana was very lucky. His whole-hearted devotion
to Sai had borne fruit. He had the earthly
paradise,21 as he had got the Mamlatdari of that
place.
113.When he received the orders at Nandurbar, he
had to leave immediately. Hurriedly he made all
the arrangements, desiring in his heart the
darshan22.
114.Along with his wife, and family circle, he
thought of going to Shirdi, as Shirdi was his Pandharpur; and
he wanted to pay his respects to Baba.
115.He did not send a letter to anybody nor did he send any
message. He gathered together all his belongings and got into
the carriage hurriedly.
116.In this way, Nana started and nobody in Shirdi knew of it.
But Sai knew everything, as Sai was all-pervading.
117.Nana started immediately. He must have been at the outskirts
of Nimgaon. Now listen carefully to the miracle that happened
at Shirdi, in truth, at that time.
118.Baba was in the Masjid with Mhalsapati. Appa Shinde and
Kashiram, the devotees, were seated chatting.
119.At that moment, Baba said casually, “Let four of us sing a
bhajan. The Doors of Pandharpur have opened. We can sing
joyously”.
120.Sai had knowledge of the past, present and future. He had
already learnt the news. Nana was near the stream at the
outskirts, when Baba was singing the bhajan zealously.
Nanasaheb
Chandorkar
Bhajan
“I am going to Pandharpur – going, going!
There I will stay! There I will stay, stay!
That is the abode of my Master!”
121.Baba himself sang the bhajan and the devotees who were
sitting around followed him. They were engrossed in their
love for Pandharpur. Just then Nana arrived.
122.He bowed down at his feet23, with his wife and said that
Maharaj should go with them to Pandharpur and settle there
undisturbed and without any worry.
123.This invitation was not necessary. Already Baba was in
joyous mood; and people told him24, that he was ready to go to
Pandharpur as the bhajan’s words indicated.
124.Nana was extremely surprised and seeing the leela was amazed.
He put his head at his feet and was deeply emotionally moved.
125.Taking his blessings, ‘udi’ and ‘prasad’, and bowing again,
Chandorkar set out for Pandharpur, after getting his
permission to go.
126.If such stories are to be narrated, this book will extend
beyond limits. Therefore, we shall curtail the subject of the
warding off of other’s sufferings.
127.Let us end this chapter now because there is no end to Baba’s
good deeds. In the next chapter, I’ll relate some other
stories, for my own well-being.
128.I have been unable to eradicate this ego of mine though I’m
trying to do so. Who am I, I cannot understand. Let Sai tell
his own stories.
129.He will tell of the importance of human life and will tell
why he believed in being a mendicant, of Bayjabai’s devotion
and what was his state of mind during the meals.
130.Also, how Baba would sleep in the Masjid together with
Mhalsapati and Tatya Ganpati Kote – listen to that.
131.Pant Hemad surrenders to Sai and calls himself an
insignificant devotee, as humble as the slippers on his feet.
He obeys Sai’s orders and has completed the narration upto
this point.
May there be well-being! This is the end of the seventh chapter
“The Narration of Various Stories” of Sree Sai Samartha
Satcharita, written by the devotee Hemadpant, impelled by Saints
and virtuous people.
This is offered to Sree Sadguru Sainath.
May there be auspiciousness!
Notes :
1.
State of ecstatic and complete trance, with absolute control over
all faculties, physical or mental. It is the highest state of Yoga.
2.
Particularly shaped vessel containing sandalwood taken to the niche
of the Masjid in a particular ritual.
3.
Krishna’s birth celebrations.
4.
Id days commemorate Muslim spiritual days.
5.
The bier supposed to be symbolically, the tombs of Hassan and
Hussein carried in procession at Muhurram.
6.
Brahmins that maintain a perpetual and sacred fire.
7.
One big grinding-stone was provided by Lakshmibai Shinde.
8.
Holy basil is planted in a little tower-form erection for worship.
9.
The chariot was donated by M.B. Rege, Dajisaheb Avasthi and others
to the Sansthan; but is presently kept in an adjoining room.
10.
A black wooden baton, about two-and-a-half feet long and thick as a
big toe of the foot, also remained near Baba always. When he went
to the chavadi from the Masjid and returned, he carried his chillum
and tobacco pouch in one hand and the baton in his other.
11.
Money given as a present at darshan to a saint.
12.
Knower of herbal remedies.
13.
Myrobalan.
14.
Myrobalan.
15.
Day on which the Goddness of wealth, Mahalaxmi, is worshipped – two
days before Diwali.
16.
Madhav Fasle.
17.
Madhavrao asked.
18.
Baba never objected to anyone rendering services to him. In fact,
he dealt with them lovingly. Once a woman came to him who was
suffering a grevious malady. Maharaj told a Maratha woman, by the
name of Bhimabai, to take her home and give her a place to stay
there. Bhimabai said: “Maharaj she has a grievous malady. Is it
not? How can I give her a place to stay in my home?” Maharaj
replied: “What if she has a grievous malady! She is my sister; my
very own sister. Take her to your home”. After Baba spoke those
words, Bhimabai took her to her home and kept her there. That woman
stayed there for a month and passed away there. Another incident
related to Balaji Patil Nevaskar. He came once to ask permission to
leave for his home village. Maharaj replied: “That Dagadu Bhau is
ill. You look after him”. That man was a Muslim, suffering from
black leprosy. Everyday, Patil would remove the worms from his
body, clean all the pus himself and bathe him too! He carried on
like this for a month. Then that Dagadu passed away and Patil was
given permission by Maharaj to go to his home.
19.
The Honourable Ganesh Shrikrishna Khaparde, Member of Legislative
Assembly.
20.
Due to high fever.
21.
Pandharpur is known as ‘Paradise on Earth’.
22.
Of Baba at Shirdi.
23.
Baba’s feet.
24.
Nana.
“O deva, what have you done?”At these words, Baba became aware of the
circumstances. “A child suddenly slipped into the furnace from the arms being astride the
waist (of the mother). (Ch.7, ovi 77)
Bhagoji Shinde
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