Sai Leelas – Experiences of (1) Kaka Mahajani (2)
Dhumal Pleader (3) Mrs. Nimonkar (4) Mule Shastri
(5) A Doctor
Now, let us see in this chapter, how devotees were
received and treated by Baba.
Saints’ Mission
We have seen before, that the purpose or object of Divine
Incarnation is to protect the good and destroy the wicked. But, the
mission of the saints is quite different. To them the good and the
wicked are the same. First they draw the evil-doers and set them on
the right path. They are the Agasti to destroy the Bhava-sagar (the
ocean of worldly existence) or the sun to destroy the darkness of
ignorance. The God dwells in the saints. In fact, they are not different
from Him. Our Sai is One of these, Who incarnated for the welfare
of the devotees. Supreme in knowledge and surrounded with divine
aura, He loved all beings equally. He was unattached. Foes and
friends, kings and paupers, all were same to Him. Hear His Leelas!
For the sake of devotees, He gave His stock of merits and was ever
alert to help them. But, the devotees could never approach Him,
unless He meant to receive them. If their appointed time did not
come, they did not remember Baba, and His Leelas could not reach
their ears. Then, how could they think of seeing Him? Some men
desired to see Sai Baba, but they did not get any opportunity of
taking His darshan, till His Mahasamadhi. There are many such
persons, whose desire for Baba’s darshan was not thus satisfied.
If these persons, believing in Him, listen to His Leelas, there quest
for darshan will be, to a great extent, satisfied by the Leelas. Even
if some persons went there by sheer luck and took Baba’s darshan,
were they able to stay there longer? No. Nobody could go there of
his own accord and nobody could stay there longer if Baba did not
wish so. They could stay there, so long as Baba pemitted them to
stay, and had to leave the place, when asked to do so by Him so,
everything depended on Baba’s divine will.
Kaka Mahajani
Once, Kaka Mahajani went to Shirdi from Mumbai. He wanted to
stay there for one week and enjoy the Gokul Ashtami festival. As soon
as he took Baba’s darshan, Baba asked him, “When are you returning
home?” He was rather surprised at this question, but he had to give an
answer. He said that he would go home, when He ordered him to do
so. Then, Baba said, “Go tomorrow!” Baba’s word was law and had to
be obeyed. Kaka Mahajani, therefore, left Shirdi, immediately. When he
went to his office in Mumbai, he found his employer anxiously waiting
for him. His Munim, i.e. the manager, suddenly fell ill, hence, Kaka’s
presence was absolutely necessary. He had sent a letter to Kaka at
Shirdi, which was redirected to him at Mumbai.
Bhausaheb Dhumal
Now, listen to another story. Once, Bhausaheb Dhumal was going
to Niphad for a case. On the way, he came to Shirdi, took Baba’s
darshan and wanted to proceed to Niphad immediately. But, Baba did
not premit him to do so. He made him stay at Shirdi, for a week or more.
In the meanwhile, the magistrate at Niphad suffered intensely from
pain in his abdomen and the case was adjourned. Mr. Dhumal was
then, allowed to go and attend to his case. It went on for some months
and was tried by four magistrates. Ultimately, Mr. Dhumal won the case
and his client was acquitted.
Mrs. Nimonkar
Mr. Nanasaheb Nimonkar, Watandar of Nimon and Honorary
magistrate, was staying at Shirdi with his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Nimonkar
were spending most of their time in the Masjid with Baba and serving
Him. It so happened, that their son fell ill at Belapur and the mother
decided, with Baba’s consent, to go to Belapur and see her son and
other relatives, and stay there for a few days, but Mr. Nanasaheb asked
her to return the next day. The lady was in a fix and did not know, what
to do, but her God Sai came to her help. While leaving Shirdi, she went
to Baba, Who was standing in front of Sathe’s wada, with Mr. Nanasaheb
and others, and prostrated at His Feet and asked His permission to go.
Baba said to her, “Go, go quickly, be calm and unperturbed. Stay
comfortably at Belapur for four days! See all your relatives and then
return to Shirdi!” How opportune were Baba’s words! Mr. Nanasaheb’s
proposal was overruled by Baba’s decree.
Mule Shastri of Nasik
An orthodox Agnihotri Brahmin of Nasik, Mule Shastri, who had
studied the six Shastras and was well-versed in astrology and palmistry,
once came to Shirdi to see Mr. Bapusaheb Buti, the famous millionaire
of Nagpur. After seeing him, he and others, went to see Baba in the
Masjid. Baba bought various fruits and other things from vendors with
His own money and distributed them to the people present in the
Masjid. Baba used to press the mango on all sides so skillfully that
when Baba sucked it, he got all the pulp at once in his mouth and could
throw away the seed. Plantains were peeled off by Baba and the pulp
was distributed to the devotees, while the skins were retained by Baba
for Himself. Mule Shastri, as a palmist, wanted to examine Baba’s palm
and asked Him to extend His hand. Baba ignored his request and gave
four plantains to him. Then, they all returned to the Wada and Mule
Shastri bathed, wore fresh clothes and started his routine duties, viz.
Agnihotra etc. Then, Baba as usual started for Lendi and said, “Take
some Geru (i.e. a red miry substance, used to dye clothes in saffroncolour),
we shall today don saffron-coloured cloth. None understood,
what Baba meant. Then after some time, when Baba returned and
preparations for the noon-Arati were being made, Bapusaheb Jog asked
Mule Shastri, whether he would accompany him for the Arati. He
replied that he would see Baba in the afternoon. Baba sat on his seat,
was worshipped by the devotees and Arati commenced. Then, Baba
said, “Get some Dakshina from the new (Nasik) Brahmin.” Buti himself
went to the Wada to get the Dakshina and when he gave Baba’s
message to Mule Shastri, he was sorely perplexed. He thought in his
mind thus, “I am a pure Agnihotri Brahmin, why should I pay Dakshina?
Baba may be a great Saint. I am not His dependent.” But, since a great
Saint, like Sai baba was asking for Dakshina through a millionaire like
Buti, he could not refuse. So, leaving his routine unfinished, he started
with Buti for Masjid. Thinking himself holy and the Masjid otherwise,
he remained at a distance, and after joining his palms threw flowers at
Baba from there. Then, lo! all of a sudden, he saw not Baba but his late
Guru Gholap Swami there. He was wonder-struck. Could this be a
dream? No, it was not, as he was wide awake, but how could his late
Guru Gholap be there? He was speechless for some time. He pinched
himself and thought again, but could not reconcile to the fact of his late
Guru Gholap being in the Masjid. Ultimately, leaving aside all doubt,
he went up, fell at his Guru’s feet and then, stood there with folded
hands. Other people sang Baba’s Arati, while Mule Shastri chanted
loudly his Guru’s name. Then, casting off all pride of caste and
sacredness, he fell at his Guru’s feet and closed his eyes. When he got
up and opened his eyes, he saw Baba asking for Dakshina. Seeing
Baba’s blissful form and His inconceivable power, Mule Shastri forgot
himself. He was extremely pleased, his eyes were full of tears of joy. He
again saluted Baba and gave the Dakshina. He said that his doubt was
removed and he saw his own Guru. On seeing this wonderful Leela of
Baba all the people, including Mule Shastri, were much moved and they
realized the meaning of Baba’s words, “Bring Geru, we shall don
saffron-coloured clothes.” Such is the wonderful Leela of Baba.
A Doctor
Once a Mamlatdar came to Shirdi, with a doctor friend of his. The
doctor said that his Deity was Ram and that, he woud not bow before
a Mohammeden and so, he was unwilling to go to Shirdi. The Mamlatdar
replied, that nobody would press him to bow down. So, he should come
and give the pleasure of his company. Accordingly, they reached Shirdi
and went to the Masjid for Baba’s darshan. All were wonder-struck to
see, the doctor going ahead and saluting Baba. They asked him, how
he forgot his resolve and bowed down to a Mussalman. Then, the
doctor replied that, he saw his beloved Deity, Ram, on the seat and he
therefore, prostrated himself before Him. Then, as he was saying this,
he again saw, Sai Baba there. Being dismayed, he again said, “Is this
a dream? How could He be a Mohammeden? He is a great
Yogasampanna (full of Yoga) Avatar.”
Next day, he made a vow and began to fast. He absented himself
from the Masjid, resolving not to go there, until Baba blessed him. Three
days passed and on the fourth day, a close friend of his, from Khandesh,
turned up; and with him, he went to the Masjid for Baba’s darshan.
After the salutation, Baba asked him, whether anybody had gone to call
him that he had come. Hearing this vital question, the doctor was
moved. The same night he was blessed by Baba and he experienced
Bliss Supreme, in his sleep. Then, he left for his town where he remained
in the same state for a fortnight. Thus, his devotion for Sai Baba increased
manifold.
The moral of all the stories mentioned above, specially, that of
Mule Shastri, is that, we should have firm faith in our Guru and on
none else.
More Leelas of Sai Baba will be described in the next chapter.
Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all
Dhumal Pleader (3) Mrs. Nimonkar (4) Mule Shastri
(5) A Doctor
Now, let us see in this chapter, how devotees were
received and treated by Baba.
Saints’ Mission
We have seen before, that the purpose or object of Divine
Incarnation is to protect the good and destroy the wicked. But, the
mission of the saints is quite different. To them the good and the
wicked are the same. First they draw the evil-doers and set them on
the right path. They are the Agasti to destroy the Bhava-sagar (the
ocean of worldly existence) or the sun to destroy the darkness of
ignorance. The God dwells in the saints. In fact, they are not different
from Him. Our Sai is One of these, Who incarnated for the welfare
of the devotees. Supreme in knowledge and surrounded with divine
aura, He loved all beings equally. He was unattached. Foes and
friends, kings and paupers, all were same to Him. Hear His Leelas!
For the sake of devotees, He gave His stock of merits and was ever
alert to help them. But, the devotees could never approach Him,
unless He meant to receive them. If their appointed time did not
come, they did not remember Baba, and His Leelas could not reach
their ears. Then, how could they think of seeing Him? Some men
desired to see Sai Baba, but they did not get any opportunity of
taking His darshan, till His Mahasamadhi. There are many such
persons, whose desire for Baba’s darshan was not thus satisfied.
If these persons, believing in Him, listen to His Leelas, there quest
for darshan will be, to a great extent, satisfied by the Leelas. Even
if some persons went there by sheer luck and took Baba’s darshan,
were they able to stay there longer? No. Nobody could go there of
his own accord and nobody could stay there longer if Baba did not
wish so. They could stay there, so long as Baba pemitted them to
stay, and had to leave the place, when asked to do so by Him so,
everything depended on Baba’s divine will.
Kaka Mahajani
Once, Kaka Mahajani went to Shirdi from Mumbai. He wanted to
stay there for one week and enjoy the Gokul Ashtami festival. As soon
as he took Baba’s darshan, Baba asked him, “When are you returning
home?” He was rather surprised at this question, but he had to give an
answer. He said that he would go home, when He ordered him to do
so. Then, Baba said, “Go tomorrow!” Baba’s word was law and had to
be obeyed. Kaka Mahajani, therefore, left Shirdi, immediately. When he
went to his office in Mumbai, he found his employer anxiously waiting
for him. His Munim, i.e. the manager, suddenly fell ill, hence, Kaka’s
presence was absolutely necessary. He had sent a letter to Kaka at
Shirdi, which was redirected to him at Mumbai.
Bhausaheb Dhumal
Now, listen to another story. Once, Bhausaheb Dhumal was going
to Niphad for a case. On the way, he came to Shirdi, took Baba’s
darshan and wanted to proceed to Niphad immediately. But, Baba did
not premit him to do so. He made him stay at Shirdi, for a week or more.
In the meanwhile, the magistrate at Niphad suffered intensely from
pain in his abdomen and the case was adjourned. Mr. Dhumal was
then, allowed to go and attend to his case. It went on for some months
and was tried by four magistrates. Ultimately, Mr. Dhumal won the case
and his client was acquitted.
Mrs. Nimonkar
Mr. Nanasaheb Nimonkar, Watandar of Nimon and Honorary
magistrate, was staying at Shirdi with his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Nimonkar
were spending most of their time in the Masjid with Baba and serving
Him. It so happened, that their son fell ill at Belapur and the mother
decided, with Baba’s consent, to go to Belapur and see her son and
other relatives, and stay there for a few days, but Mr. Nanasaheb asked
her to return the next day. The lady was in a fix and did not know, what
to do, but her God Sai came to her help. While leaving Shirdi, she went
to Baba, Who was standing in front of Sathe’s wada, with Mr. Nanasaheb
and others, and prostrated at His Feet and asked His permission to go.
Baba said to her, “Go, go quickly, be calm and unperturbed. Stay
comfortably at Belapur for four days! See all your relatives and then
return to Shirdi!” How opportune were Baba’s words! Mr. Nanasaheb’s
proposal was overruled by Baba’s decree.
Mule Shastri of Nasik
An orthodox Agnihotri Brahmin of Nasik, Mule Shastri, who had
studied the six Shastras and was well-versed in astrology and palmistry,
once came to Shirdi to see Mr. Bapusaheb Buti, the famous millionaire
of Nagpur. After seeing him, he and others, went to see Baba in the
Masjid. Baba bought various fruits and other things from vendors with
His own money and distributed them to the people present in the
Masjid. Baba used to press the mango on all sides so skillfully that
when Baba sucked it, he got all the pulp at once in his mouth and could
throw away the seed. Plantains were peeled off by Baba and the pulp
was distributed to the devotees, while the skins were retained by Baba
for Himself. Mule Shastri, as a palmist, wanted to examine Baba’s palm
and asked Him to extend His hand. Baba ignored his request and gave
four plantains to him. Then, they all returned to the Wada and Mule
Shastri bathed, wore fresh clothes and started his routine duties, viz.
Agnihotra etc. Then, Baba as usual started for Lendi and said, “Take
some Geru (i.e. a red miry substance, used to dye clothes in saffroncolour),
we shall today don saffron-coloured cloth. None understood,
what Baba meant. Then after some time, when Baba returned and
preparations for the noon-Arati were being made, Bapusaheb Jog asked
Mule Shastri, whether he would accompany him for the Arati. He
replied that he would see Baba in the afternoon. Baba sat on his seat,
was worshipped by the devotees and Arati commenced. Then, Baba
said, “Get some Dakshina from the new (Nasik) Brahmin.” Buti himself
went to the Wada to get the Dakshina and when he gave Baba’s
message to Mule Shastri, he was sorely perplexed. He thought in his
mind thus, “I am a pure Agnihotri Brahmin, why should I pay Dakshina?
Baba may be a great Saint. I am not His dependent.” But, since a great
Saint, like Sai baba was asking for Dakshina through a millionaire like
Buti, he could not refuse. So, leaving his routine unfinished, he started
with Buti for Masjid. Thinking himself holy and the Masjid otherwise,
he remained at a distance, and after joining his palms threw flowers at
Baba from there. Then, lo! all of a sudden, he saw not Baba but his late
Guru Gholap Swami there. He was wonder-struck. Could this be a
dream? No, it was not, as he was wide awake, but how could his late
Guru Gholap be there? He was speechless for some time. He pinched
himself and thought again, but could not reconcile to the fact of his late
Guru Gholap being in the Masjid. Ultimately, leaving aside all doubt,
he went up, fell at his Guru’s feet and then, stood there with folded
hands. Other people sang Baba’s Arati, while Mule Shastri chanted
loudly his Guru’s name. Then, casting off all pride of caste and
sacredness, he fell at his Guru’s feet and closed his eyes. When he got
up and opened his eyes, he saw Baba asking for Dakshina. Seeing
Baba’s blissful form and His inconceivable power, Mule Shastri forgot
himself. He was extremely pleased, his eyes were full of tears of joy. He
again saluted Baba and gave the Dakshina. He said that his doubt was
removed and he saw his own Guru. On seeing this wonderful Leela of
Baba all the people, including Mule Shastri, were much moved and they
realized the meaning of Baba’s words, “Bring Geru, we shall don
saffron-coloured clothes.” Such is the wonderful Leela of Baba.
A Doctor
Once a Mamlatdar came to Shirdi, with a doctor friend of his. The
doctor said that his Deity was Ram and that, he woud not bow before
a Mohammeden and so, he was unwilling to go to Shirdi. The Mamlatdar
replied, that nobody would press him to bow down. So, he should come
and give the pleasure of his company. Accordingly, they reached Shirdi
and went to the Masjid for Baba’s darshan. All were wonder-struck to
see, the doctor going ahead and saluting Baba. They asked him, how
he forgot his resolve and bowed down to a Mussalman. Then, the
doctor replied that, he saw his beloved Deity, Ram, on the seat and he
therefore, prostrated himself before Him. Then, as he was saying this,
he again saw, Sai Baba there. Being dismayed, he again said, “Is this
a dream? How could He be a Mohammeden? He is a great
Yogasampanna (full of Yoga) Avatar.”
Next day, he made a vow and began to fast. He absented himself
from the Masjid, resolving not to go there, until Baba blessed him. Three
days passed and on the fourth day, a close friend of his, from Khandesh,
turned up; and with him, he went to the Masjid for Baba’s darshan.
After the salutation, Baba asked him, whether anybody had gone to call
him that he had come. Hearing this vital question, the doctor was
moved. The same night he was blessed by Baba and he experienced
Bliss Supreme, in his sleep. Then, he left for his town where he remained
in the same state for a fortnight. Thus, his devotion for Sai Baba increased
manifold.
The moral of all the stories mentioned above, specially, that of
Mule Shastri, is that, we should have firm faith in our Guru and on
none else.
More Leelas of Sai Baba will be described in the next chapter.
Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all
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