More Sai Leelas – Diseases cured (1) Bhimaji Patil
(2) Bala Shimpi (3) Bapusaheb Buti (4) Alandi
Swami (5) Kaka Mahajani (6) Dattopant of Harda
The Inscrutable Power of Maya
Baba’s words were always short, deep, full of meaning, effective
and well-balanced. He was ever content and never cared for anything.
He said, “Though I am a Fakir, have no house or wife, and though,
leaving all care, I stay at one place, the inevitable Maya teases Me often.
Though, I forgot Myself but she cannot forget Me. She always envelops
Me. This Maya (illusive power) of the Lord (Shri Hari) harrasses even
Lord Brahma and others, then, what to speak of a poor Fakir, like Me?
Those, who take refuge in God, will be freed from Her clutches with His
grace.”
In such terms Baba spoke about the power of Maya. Lord Shri
Krishna has said to Uddhava in the Bhagwat that the saints are His
living forms and see, what Baba has said for the welfare of His devotees,
“Those, who are fortunate and whose demerits have vanished, take
to My worship. If you always say “Sai, Sai”, I shall take you over the
seven seas believe in these words, and you will be certainly benefitted.
I do not need any paraphernalia of worship – either eight-fold or
sixteen-fold. I rest there, where there is full devotion.” Now, read,
what Sai did for the welfare of those who surrendered themselves to
Him.
Bhimaji Patil
One Bhimaji Patil of Narayangaon, Taluka Junnar, Distt. Poona,
suffered in the year 1909 from a severe and chronic chest-disease,
which ultimately developed into tuberculosis. He tried all sorts of pathies
(remedies) but to no effect. Losing all hopes, he ultimately prayed to
God, “Oh Lord Narayan, help me now!” It is a well-known fact that,
when our circumstances are well, we do not remember God but when
calamities and adversities overtake us, we are reminded of Him. So,
Bhimaji now turned to God. It occured to him that, he should consult
Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, a great devotee of Baba, in this respect. So,
he wrote to him a letter, giving all details of his malady and asking for
his opinion. In reply, Mr. Nanasaheb wrote to him that, there was only
one remedy left; and that was to take recourse to Baba’s Feet. Relying
on Mr. Nanasaheb’s advice, he made preparations for going to Shirdi.
He was brought to Shirdi and taken to the Masjid and placed before
Baba. Mr Nanasaheb and Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande) were present
there. Baba pointed out that, the disease was due to the previous evil
Karma and was not disposed to interfere. But the patient cried out in
despair that, he was helpless and, sought refuge in Him, as He was his
last hope and prayed for mercy. Baba’s heart melted and He said, “Stay,
cast off your anxiety, your sufferings have come to an end. However,
oppressed and troubled one may be, as soon as he steps in the
Masjid, he is on the pathway to happiness. The Fakir here is very kind
and He will cure the disease and protect all with love and kindness.”
The patient used to vomit blood every five minutes, but there was no
vomitting in the presence of Baba. From the time, Baba uttered the
words of mercy, the malady took a favourable turn. Baba asked him to
stay in Bhimabai’s house, which was not a convenient and fit place but
Baba’s order had to be obeyed. While he was staying there, Baba cured
him by two dreams. In the first dream, he saw himself as a boy, suffering
the severe pain of a flogging, which he received for not reciting his
poetry lesson before his class-master. In the second dream, someone
caused him intense pain by rolling a stone up and down over his chest.
With the pain, thus suffered in dream, his cure was complete and he
went home. He then, often came to Shirdi, gratefully remembering what
Baba did for him and prostrated before Him. Baba also did not expect
anything from devotees but remembrance, unswerving faith and
devotion. People in Maharashtra always celebrate Satya-Narayan Puja
in their homes every fortnight or month but, it was this Bhimaji Patil,
who started a new Sai Satya-vrata Puja, instead of Satya-Narayan-vrata
Puja, in his house, when he returned to his village.
Bala Ganpat Shimpi
Another devotee of Baba, by name Bala Ganpat Shimpi, suffered
much from a malignant type of malaria. He tried all sorts of medicines
and decoctions, but in vain. The fever did not abate a jot and so, he ran
to Shirdi and fell at Baba’s Feet. Baba gave him a strange recipe, in this
case as follows: “Give a black dog some morsels of rice mixed with curd
in front of the Laxmi temple!” Bala did not know, how to execute this
recipe but no sooner he went home, then, he found rice and curd. After
mixing them together, he brought the mixture near the Laxmi temple,
where he found a black dog waving its tail. He placed the curd and rice
before the dog. The dog ate it and, strange to say, Bala got rid of his
malaria.
Bapusaheb Buti
Shriman Bapusaheb Buti suffered, once from dysentery and
vomitting. His cupboard was full of patent drugs and medicines; but
none of them had any effect. Bapusaheb got very weak, on account of
purgings and vomittings and therefore, was not able to go to the Masjid
for Baba’s darshan. Baba then, sent for him and made him sit before
Him and said, “Now, take care, you should not purge any more,” and
gestured with His index-finger, “The vomitting must also stop.” Now,
look at the power of Baba’s words. Both the maladies disappeared and
Buti felt well.
On another occasion, he had an attack of cholera and suffered
from severe thirst. Dr. Pillai tried all sorts of remedies, but could give
him no relief. Then, he went to Baba and consulted Him as, to what to
drink, that would allay his thirst and cure the disease. Baba prescribed
an infusion of almonds, walnuts, pistachio (a kind of dry fruit), boiled
in sugared milk. This would be considered a cause for fatal aggravation
of the disease by any other doctor or physician, but in implicit obedience
to Baba’s order, the infusion was administered and strange to say, the
disease was cured.
Alandi Swami
A Swami from Alandi, with a desire for Baba’s darshan, came to
Shirdi. He suffered from severe pain in his ear, which prevented him
from getting sleep. He was operated for this, but it served no purpose.
The pain was severe and he did not know what to do. While he was
returning, he came to take Baba’s leave, when Shama (Madhavrao
Deshpande) requested Baba to do something for the pain in the Swami’s
ear. Baba comforted him saying, “Allah Accha Karega (God will do
good)!” The Swami, then, returned to Poona, and after a week sent a
letter to Shirdi, stating that the pain in his ear had subsided, though the
swelling was there and in order to get the swelling removed, he went
to Mumbai for operation but the surgeon on examining the ear said that,
no operation was necessary. Such was the wonderful and potent effect
of Baba’s words!
Kaka Mahajani
Another devotee, named Kaka Mahajani, suffered once from
diarrhoea. In order that, there should be no break in his services to
Baba, Kaka kept a Tambya (pot) with water in some corner of the Masjid
and whenever there was a call, he would go out. As Sai Baba knew
everything, Kaka did not inform Him of his disease, thinking that, Baba
would of His own cure it soon. The work of constructing the pavement
in front of the Masjid was permitted by Baba but when the actual work
began, Baba got wild and shouted out loudly. Everybody ran away and
as Kaka was also doing the same, Baba caught hold of him and made
him sit there. In the confusion that followed, somebody left a small
pouch of groundnuts there. Baba took a handful of groundnuts, rubbed
them in His hands, blew away the skins and gave the clean nuts to
Kaka and made him eat them. Scolding and cleaning the nuts and
making Kaka eat them, went on simultaneously. Baba Himself ate some
of them. Then, when the nuts were finished, Baba asked him to fetch
water, as He felt thirsty. Kaka brought a pitcher full of water. Then,
Baba drank some water and made Kaka also drink it. Baba declared,
“Now, your diarrhoea has stopped and you may attend to the work of
the pavement.” In the meanwhile other people, who had run away,
returned and started the work, and Kaka, whose motions had stopped,
also joined them. Are groundnuts medicine for diarrhoea? According to
current medical opinion, groundnuts would aggravate the disease and
not cure it. The true medicine, in this, as in other cases, was Baba’s
word.
Dattopant of Harda
A gentleman from Harda, by name Dattopant, suffered from
stomach-ache for about fourteen years. None of the remedies gave him
any relief. Then, on hearing Baba’s fame, that He cures diseases by
sight, he ran to Shirdi and fell at Baba’s Feet. Baba looked at him kindly
and gave him blessings. When Baba placed His hand on his head and
gave him udi with blessings, he felt relieved and there was no further
trouble about the malady.
Towards the end of this chapter, three cases are cited in footnotes :
1. Madhavrao Deshpande suffered from piles. Baba gave him
decoction of Sonamukhi (senna pods). This relieved him. Then,
after two years the trouble reocurred and Madhavrao took the
same decoction without consulting Baba. The result was that,
the disease aggravated, but later on it was cured by Baba’s
grace.
2. Kaka Mahajani’s elder brother, Gangadharpant, suffered for
many years from stomach-pain. Hearing Baba’s fame he came
to Shirdi and requested Baba to cure him. Baba touched his
belly and said, “God will cure.” From that time, there was, no
stomach-pain and he was completely cured.
3. Nanasaheb Chandorkar also once suffered from acute stomachpain,
he was restless the whole day and night. Doctors
administered injections, which produced no effect. Then he
approached Baba, Who told him to eat burfi (a kind of
sweetmeat) mixed with ghee. This recipe gave him complete
relief.
All these stories show that, the real medicine that cured the various
diseases permanently, was Baba’s word and grace, and not any
medicines or drugs.
Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all
(2) Bala Shimpi (3) Bapusaheb Buti (4) Alandi
Swami (5) Kaka Mahajani (6) Dattopant of Harda
The Inscrutable Power of Maya
Baba’s words were always short, deep, full of meaning, effective
and well-balanced. He was ever content and never cared for anything.
He said, “Though I am a Fakir, have no house or wife, and though,
leaving all care, I stay at one place, the inevitable Maya teases Me often.
Though, I forgot Myself but she cannot forget Me. She always envelops
Me. This Maya (illusive power) of the Lord (Shri Hari) harrasses even
Lord Brahma and others, then, what to speak of a poor Fakir, like Me?
Those, who take refuge in God, will be freed from Her clutches with His
grace.”
In such terms Baba spoke about the power of Maya. Lord Shri
Krishna has said to Uddhava in the Bhagwat that the saints are His
living forms and see, what Baba has said for the welfare of His devotees,
“Those, who are fortunate and whose demerits have vanished, take
to My worship. If you always say “Sai, Sai”, I shall take you over the
seven seas believe in these words, and you will be certainly benefitted.
I do not need any paraphernalia of worship – either eight-fold or
sixteen-fold. I rest there, where there is full devotion.” Now, read,
what Sai did for the welfare of those who surrendered themselves to
Him.
Bhimaji Patil
One Bhimaji Patil of Narayangaon, Taluka Junnar, Distt. Poona,
suffered in the year 1909 from a severe and chronic chest-disease,
which ultimately developed into tuberculosis. He tried all sorts of pathies
(remedies) but to no effect. Losing all hopes, he ultimately prayed to
God, “Oh Lord Narayan, help me now!” It is a well-known fact that,
when our circumstances are well, we do not remember God but when
calamities and adversities overtake us, we are reminded of Him. So,
Bhimaji now turned to God. It occured to him that, he should consult
Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, a great devotee of Baba, in this respect. So,
he wrote to him a letter, giving all details of his malady and asking for
his opinion. In reply, Mr. Nanasaheb wrote to him that, there was only
one remedy left; and that was to take recourse to Baba’s Feet. Relying
on Mr. Nanasaheb’s advice, he made preparations for going to Shirdi.
He was brought to Shirdi and taken to the Masjid and placed before
Baba. Mr Nanasaheb and Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande) were present
there. Baba pointed out that, the disease was due to the previous evil
Karma and was not disposed to interfere. But the patient cried out in
despair that, he was helpless and, sought refuge in Him, as He was his
last hope and prayed for mercy. Baba’s heart melted and He said, “Stay,
cast off your anxiety, your sufferings have come to an end. However,
oppressed and troubled one may be, as soon as he steps in the
Masjid, he is on the pathway to happiness. The Fakir here is very kind
and He will cure the disease and protect all with love and kindness.”
The patient used to vomit blood every five minutes, but there was no
vomitting in the presence of Baba. From the time, Baba uttered the
words of mercy, the malady took a favourable turn. Baba asked him to
stay in Bhimabai’s house, which was not a convenient and fit place but
Baba’s order had to be obeyed. While he was staying there, Baba cured
him by two dreams. In the first dream, he saw himself as a boy, suffering
the severe pain of a flogging, which he received for not reciting his
poetry lesson before his class-master. In the second dream, someone
caused him intense pain by rolling a stone up and down over his chest.
With the pain, thus suffered in dream, his cure was complete and he
went home. He then, often came to Shirdi, gratefully remembering what
Baba did for him and prostrated before Him. Baba also did not expect
anything from devotees but remembrance, unswerving faith and
devotion. People in Maharashtra always celebrate Satya-Narayan Puja
in their homes every fortnight or month but, it was this Bhimaji Patil,
who started a new Sai Satya-vrata Puja, instead of Satya-Narayan-vrata
Puja, in his house, when he returned to his village.
Bala Ganpat Shimpi
Another devotee of Baba, by name Bala Ganpat Shimpi, suffered
much from a malignant type of malaria. He tried all sorts of medicines
and decoctions, but in vain. The fever did not abate a jot and so, he ran
to Shirdi and fell at Baba’s Feet. Baba gave him a strange recipe, in this
case as follows: “Give a black dog some morsels of rice mixed with curd
in front of the Laxmi temple!” Bala did not know, how to execute this
recipe but no sooner he went home, then, he found rice and curd. After
mixing them together, he brought the mixture near the Laxmi temple,
where he found a black dog waving its tail. He placed the curd and rice
before the dog. The dog ate it and, strange to say, Bala got rid of his
malaria.
Bapusaheb Buti
Shriman Bapusaheb Buti suffered, once from dysentery and
vomitting. His cupboard was full of patent drugs and medicines; but
none of them had any effect. Bapusaheb got very weak, on account of
purgings and vomittings and therefore, was not able to go to the Masjid
for Baba’s darshan. Baba then, sent for him and made him sit before
Him and said, “Now, take care, you should not purge any more,” and
gestured with His index-finger, “The vomitting must also stop.” Now,
look at the power of Baba’s words. Both the maladies disappeared and
Buti felt well.
On another occasion, he had an attack of cholera and suffered
from severe thirst. Dr. Pillai tried all sorts of remedies, but could give
him no relief. Then, he went to Baba and consulted Him as, to what to
drink, that would allay his thirst and cure the disease. Baba prescribed
an infusion of almonds, walnuts, pistachio (a kind of dry fruit), boiled
in sugared milk. This would be considered a cause for fatal aggravation
of the disease by any other doctor or physician, but in implicit obedience
to Baba’s order, the infusion was administered and strange to say, the
disease was cured.
Alandi Swami
A Swami from Alandi, with a desire for Baba’s darshan, came to
Shirdi. He suffered from severe pain in his ear, which prevented him
from getting sleep. He was operated for this, but it served no purpose.
The pain was severe and he did not know what to do. While he was
returning, he came to take Baba’s leave, when Shama (Madhavrao
Deshpande) requested Baba to do something for the pain in the Swami’s
ear. Baba comforted him saying, “Allah Accha Karega (God will do
good)!” The Swami, then, returned to Poona, and after a week sent a
letter to Shirdi, stating that the pain in his ear had subsided, though the
swelling was there and in order to get the swelling removed, he went
to Mumbai for operation but the surgeon on examining the ear said that,
no operation was necessary. Such was the wonderful and potent effect
of Baba’s words!
Kaka Mahajani
Another devotee, named Kaka Mahajani, suffered once from
diarrhoea. In order that, there should be no break in his services to
Baba, Kaka kept a Tambya (pot) with water in some corner of the Masjid
and whenever there was a call, he would go out. As Sai Baba knew
everything, Kaka did not inform Him of his disease, thinking that, Baba
would of His own cure it soon. The work of constructing the pavement
in front of the Masjid was permitted by Baba but when the actual work
began, Baba got wild and shouted out loudly. Everybody ran away and
as Kaka was also doing the same, Baba caught hold of him and made
him sit there. In the confusion that followed, somebody left a small
pouch of groundnuts there. Baba took a handful of groundnuts, rubbed
them in His hands, blew away the skins and gave the clean nuts to
Kaka and made him eat them. Scolding and cleaning the nuts and
making Kaka eat them, went on simultaneously. Baba Himself ate some
of them. Then, when the nuts were finished, Baba asked him to fetch
water, as He felt thirsty. Kaka brought a pitcher full of water. Then,
Baba drank some water and made Kaka also drink it. Baba declared,
“Now, your diarrhoea has stopped and you may attend to the work of
the pavement.” In the meanwhile other people, who had run away,
returned and started the work, and Kaka, whose motions had stopped,
also joined them. Are groundnuts medicine for diarrhoea? According to
current medical opinion, groundnuts would aggravate the disease and
not cure it. The true medicine, in this, as in other cases, was Baba’s
word.
Dattopant of Harda
A gentleman from Harda, by name Dattopant, suffered from
stomach-ache for about fourteen years. None of the remedies gave him
any relief. Then, on hearing Baba’s fame, that He cures diseases by
sight, he ran to Shirdi and fell at Baba’s Feet. Baba looked at him kindly
and gave him blessings. When Baba placed His hand on his head and
gave him udi with blessings, he felt relieved and there was no further
trouble about the malady.
Towards the end of this chapter, three cases are cited in footnotes :
1. Madhavrao Deshpande suffered from piles. Baba gave him
decoction of Sonamukhi (senna pods). This relieved him. Then,
after two years the trouble reocurred and Madhavrao took the
same decoction without consulting Baba. The result was that,
the disease aggravated, but later on it was cured by Baba’s
grace.
2. Kaka Mahajani’s elder brother, Gangadharpant, suffered for
many years from stomach-pain. Hearing Baba’s fame he came
to Shirdi and requested Baba to cure him. Baba touched his
belly and said, “God will cure.” From that time, there was, no
stomach-pain and he was completely cured.
3. Nanasaheb Chandorkar also once suffered from acute stomachpain,
he was restless the whole day and night. Doctors
administered injections, which produced no effect. Then he
approached Baba, Who told him to eat burfi (a kind of
sweetmeat) mixed with ghee. This recipe gave him complete
relief.
All these stories show that, the real medicine that cured the various
diseases permanently, was Baba’s word and grace, and not any
medicines or drugs.
Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all
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