Greatness of Udi
Scorpion sting and Plague cases cured – Jamner
Miracle – Narayan Rao’s sickness – Balabua Sutar –
Appasaheb Kulkarni – Haribhau Karnik
In the last chapter we described the greatness of the Guru; now
in this we will describe the greatness of Udi. However both are
interlinked. The greatness of Udi is due to the spiritual grandeur of
Baba.
Preliminary
Let us now bow before the great saints. Their merciful glances will
destroy mountains of sins and do away with all the blemishes of our
character. Their talk gives us good teachings and confers on us
invaluable happiness. Their minds do not know any difference, such as
“This is ours and that is yours.” Such differentiation never arises in
their minds. Their debts (obligations) will never be repaid by us in this
birth, as well as in many future births.
Udi
It is well-known that Baba took dakshina from all and out of the
amount thus collected, He spent on charity and purchased fuel. This
fuel He put in the dhuni – the sacred fire, which He kept ever burning.
The ash from this fire was called Udi, and it was freely distributed to
the devotees, at the time of their departure from Shirdi.
What did Baba teach by this Udi? Baba taught by this Udi that all
the visible phenomena in the universe are as transient as the ash. Our
bodies composed of matter of the five elements, will fall down, after all
their enjoyments are over and be reduced to ashes. In order to remind
the devotees of the fact that, their bodies will be reduced to ashes, Baba
distributed Udi to them. Baba also taught by the Udi that the Brahma
is the only Reality and the universe is ephemeral, and that no one in
this world, be he a son, father or wife, is really ours. We come here (in
this world) alone and we have to go from here alone. It has been found
that the Udi cured many physical and mental maladies but Baba wanted
to repeat into the devotee’s ears the principles of discrimination between
the Unreal and the Real, He taught non-attachment for the unreal by
His Udi and Dakshina. The former (Udi) taught us discrimination and
the latter (Dakshina) taught us non-attachment. Unless we have these
two things it is not possible for us to cross over the sea of the mundane
existence. So Baba asked for dakshina, and while the devotees took
leave He gave Udi as Prasad, besmeared some of it on their foreheads
and placed His boon-conferring hand on them. When Baba was in a
cheerful mood He used to sing merrily. One such song was about Udi.
The meaning of this song was : “Oh, playful Ram, come, come and
bring with you sacks of Udi,” Baba used to sing in very clear and
tender tones.
So besides the spiritual implication of Udi, it had also its material
significance. It conferred health, prosperity, freedom from anxiety and
many other worldly gains. So, the Udi has helped us to gain both our
ends – material as well as spiritual. We shall now begin with the stories
about the Udi.
Scorpion-sting
Narayan Motiram Jani of Nasik was a devotee of Baba. He was
serving under another devotee of Baba, by name Ramchandra Vaman
Modak. Once he went to Shirdi with his mother and saw Baba. Then
Baba Himself told her that her son should start independent business.
Some days after this prophecy turned true. Narayan Jani left service and
started a boarding house – ‘Anand Ashram’, which thrived well. Once
a friend of this Narayanrao was stung by a scorpion and the pain
caused by it was severe and unbearable. Udi is most efficacious in such
cases; it is to be applied on the point of pain and so Narayanrao
searched for it but found none. Then he stood before Baba’s picture and
invoked Baba’s aid, chanted Baba’s name and taking out a pinch of the
ashes of the joss-stick burning in front of Baba’s picture and thinking
it as Baba’s Udi, applied it on the seat of pain and the sting. As soon
as he moved his fingers, the pain vanished and both the persons were
moved and felt delighted.
Bubonic plague case
Once a devotee in Bandra, came to know that his daughter who
was staying in another place was down with bubonic plague. He had
no Udi with him so he sent word to Nanasaheb Chandorkar to send
the same. Nanasaheb got this message enroute Thana Railway Station,
when he was travelling with his wife to Kalyan. He had no Udi with
him then. He therefore, took up some dust from the road, meditated
upon Sai Baba, invoked His aid and applied it to his wife’s forehead.
The devotee was very glad to learn that his daughter, who was suffering
for three days, began to improve from the very moment Nanasaheb
invoked Baba’s aid near the Thana Railway Station.
The Jamner Miracle
In the year 1904-05, Nanasaheb Chandorkar was Mamlatdar at
Jamner, in the Khandesh district, which is more than 100 miles from
Shirdi. His daughter Mainatai, was pregnant and was due to deliver.
Her case was very serious and she was suffering from labour-pains for
the last two or three days. Nanasaheb tried all remedies but in vain; he
then remembered Baba and invoked His aid. There in Shirdi, one
Ramgirbua whom Baba called Bapugirbua, was leaving for his native
place, in Khandesh. Baba called him and told him to stop at Jamner on
his way home and give the Udi and Arati to Nanasaheb. Ramgirbua
said that he had only two rupees with him and this amount was barely
sufficient for the railway fare upto Jalgaon, and it was not possible for
him to go from Jalgaon to Jamner, a distance of about 30 miles. Baba
assured him that he need not care, as everything would be provided for.
Then Baba asked Shama to write a well-known Arati composed by
Madhav Adkar (Arati and translation of this is given at the end of this
work), and gave a copy of it with Udi to Ramgirbua, to be delivered to
Nanasaheb. Then relying on Baba’s words Ramgirbua left Shirdi and
reached Jalgaon at about 2:45 a.m. He had only two annas left with
him and he was in a plight. To his great relief he heard somebody
calling out, “Who is Bapugirbua of Shirdi?” He went to him and told
him that he was Bapugirbua. Then the person, professing to be sent by
Nanasaheb took him to an excellent tonga with a good pair of horses.
They both drove in it. The tonga ran fast and early in the morning they
came to a brooklet. The man took the horses for watering them and he
asked Ramgirbua to partake of some eatables. On seeing the beard,
moustache and the livery of that person, Ramgirbua suspected him to
be a Muslim, and was unwilling to take any refreshments from him, but
he satisfied Ramgirbua by saying that he was a Hindu, a Kshatriya of
Garhwal, and that Nanasaheb had sent these refreshments and there
should be no difficulty in its acceptance. Then both of them took the
refreshments and started again. They reached Jamner at dawn.
Ramgirbua alighted to attend a call of nature and returned within a few
minutes, but found that there was no tonga, and no driver. He was
dumbfounded. Then he went to the neighbouring Kachehri and on
making enquiries learnt that the Mamlatdar was at home. He went to
Nanasaheb’s house and gave to Nanasaheb, Baba’s Udi and Arati. At
this time, Mainatai’s case was in the most serious condition and all
were in deep anxiety about her. Nanasaheb called out his wife and
asked her to give the Udi, mixed with water, to their daughter to drink.
He thought that Baba’s help was most opportune. In a few minutes
came the news that, the delivery was safe and that the crisis had passed
away. When Ramgirbua thanked Nanasaheb for the peon, tonga and
the refreshments etc., the latter was greatly surprised as he had sent
none to the station, and was not aware of any person coming from
Shirdi.
Mr. B.V. Dev of Thana, retired Mamlatdar, made enquiries about
this matter with Bapurao Chandorkar son of Nanasaheb and Ramgirbua
of Shirdi, and after satisfying himself wrote an elaborate article – part
prose and part poetry – in the Shri Sai Leela magazine (Vol. 13 Nos. 11,
12 and 13). B.V. Narsimhaswami has also taken down the statements
of (1) Mainatai (No. V, page 14) and (2) Bapusaheb Chandorkar (No.
XX, page 50) and (3) Ramgirbua (No. XXVII, page 83), dated 1st June,
1936, 16th September, 1936 and 1st December, 1936 respectively, and
published them in his ‘Devotees Experiences, Part III’. The following is
quoted from Ramgirbua’s statement :
“One day Baba called me to him and gave me a packet of Udi and
a copy of Baba’s Arati. I had to go to Khandesh at that time. Baba
directed me to go to Jamner and told me to deliver the Arati and Udi
to Nanasaheb Chandorkar at Jamner. I said to Baba that all I had was
Rs. 2 and asked Him, how that could take me by train, from Kopergaon
to Jalgaon and next from Jalgaon to Jamner. Baba said, “God will give.”
That was a Friday and I started at once. I reached Manmad at 7:30 p.m.
and Jalgaon at 2:45 a.m. At that time plague regulations were in force
and I had much trouble. I was to discover, what I should do to get to
Jamner. At about 3 a.m. a peon in boots, turban, and equipped with
other details of good dress, came to me and took me to a tonga and
drove me on. On the way at Bhaghoor, I took refreshments. We reached
Jamner early in the morning and by the time I attended call of nature,
the tonga and its driver had disappeared (page 83).”
Narayanrao
Bhakta Narayanrao (father’s name and surname are not given)
had the good fortune to see Baba twice during the latter’s lifetime. Three
years after the passing away of Baba in 1918, he wanted to come to
Shirdi but could not. Within a year of Baba’s Mahasamadhi he fell sick
and suffered much. All possible remedies gave him no relief. So he
meditated on Baba day and night. One night he had a vision. Baba
came through a cellar comforted him saying, “Don’t be anxious, you
will be improving from tomorrow and within a week you will be on
your legs.” Narayanrao got perfectly well within the time indicated in
the vision. Now the point for consideration is this : Was Baba living
because He had the body, or was He dead because He left it? No, Baba
is ever alive for, He transcends both life and death. He who loved Him
whole-heartedly, gets response from Him at any time and at any place.
He is always by our side and will take any form, appear before the
devout bhakta and satisfy him.
Appasaheb Kulkarni
In 1917, Appasaheb Kulkarni was transferred to Thana and began
to worship Baba’s picture presented to him by Balasaheb Bhate. In real
earnest, he did the worship. He offered, flowers, sandal-paste, and
Naivaidya daily to Baba in the picture, and longed intently to see Him.
In this connection it may be remarked that, seeing Baba’s picture earnestly
is equivalent to seeing Him in person. The following story illustrates
this statement.
Balabua Sutar
A saint of Mumbai named Balabua Sutar, who on account of his
piety, devotion and style was called ‘Modern Tukaram’, came to Shirdi
for the first time in 1917. When he bowed before Baba, the latter said,
“I have known this man for four years”. Balabua wondered and thought
how could that be, as that was his first trip to Shirdi. But thinking about
it seriously, he recollected that he had prostrated himself four years ago
before Baba’s portrait at Mumbai, and was convinced about the
significance of Baba’s words. He said to himself, “How omniscient and
all-pervading are the saints and how kind are they to their devotees! I
merely bowed to His photo, but this fact was noticed by Baba, and in
due time He made me realize that, seeing His photo is equivalent to
seeing Him in person!”
Now we return to Appasaheb’s story. While he was in Thana, he
had to go on tour to Bhivandi and was expected to return after a week.
In his absence, the following wonderful thing took place on the third
day. At noon a Fakir turned up, at Appasaheb’s house. His features
resembled exactly those of Baba’s photo. Mrs. Kulkarni and the children
all asked him, whether he was Sai Baba of Shirdi. He said, “No”, but
that he was an obedient servant of His and came there at His order to
enquire after the well being of the family. Then he asked for dakshina.
The lady gave him a rupee. He gave her a small packet of Udi and asked
her to keep this in the shrine. Then he left the house and went away.
Now, hear the wonderful Leela of Sai!
Appasaheb could not proceed with his tour, as his horse fell sick
at Bhivandi. He returned home that afternoon, and learnt from his wife
about Fakir’s visit. He got very restless as he did not have the darshan
of the Fakir, moreover he did not like that only one rupee was paid to
him as Dakshina. He said that had he been present, he would have
paid not less than ten rupees. Then, he immediately started in quest of
the Fakir, and searched for him in the Masjid and other places, without
taking any food. His search was in vain. He then returned home and
took his food. The readers may remember here Baba’s dictum in chapter
32 that, God’s quest should not be made on an empty belly. Then, after
meals he went out for a walk with a friend, Mr. Chitre. After going some
distance, they saw a man approaching them rapidly. Appasaheb thought
that, he must be the Fakir that came to his house at noon, as his features
tallied with those of Baba in the photo. The Fakir immediately put forth
his hand and asked for Dakshina. Appasaheb gave him a rupee. He
demanded again and again, and so Appasaheb gave him two more.
Still he was not satisfied. Then he borrowed Rs. three from Mr. Chitre
and gave them to him. He wanted still more. Appasaheb asked him to
acompany him to his home. Then they all returned home and Appasaheb
gave him three rupees, in all nine. He looked unsatisfied and demanded
again. Then, Appasaheb told him that he had a currency note of Rs. ten.
The Fakir asked for the same, took it and returned the nine rupees and
went away. Appasaheb had earlier said that he would pay ten rupees
and that sum was taken from him and nine rupees, consecrated by
Baba’s touch, were returned to him. The figure 9 is significant. It denotes
the nine types of devotion (vide chapter 21). It may also be noted here
that, Baba gave nine coins to one Laxmibai Shinde, at His last moment.
Appasaheb examined the Udi-packet and found that it contained
some flower-leaves and Akshata. Then some time afterwards, he got a
hair from Baba, when he saw Him at Shirdi. He put the Udi-packet and
the hair in a Tabiz and wore it always on his arm. Appasaheb realized
the power of the Udi. Though he was very efficient, he got Rs. 40/- as
pay in the beginning; but after he secured Baba’s photo and His Udi,
he got many times more, and also got much power and influence, and
along with these temporal benefits, his spiritual progress was also
rapid. So those who are fortunate enough to get Baba’s Udi should, after
bath, apply it on the forehead and take some of it, mixed with water as
holy Tirth.
Haribhau Karnik
In 1917, Haribhau Karnik of Dahanu (Thana district) came to
Shirdi, on the Guru-pournima day (in the month of Ashadha) and
worshipped Baba with all formalities. He offered clothes and dakshina
and after taking Baba’s leave got down the steps of the Masjid. Then
he thought that, he should offer one more rupee to Baba and was just
turning to climb up again, when Shama signalled him by gesture that,
as he had got Baba’s leave he should go and not return. So he started
for home. On his way, when he went into the temple of Kala Ram at
Nasik for darshan, the saint Narsing Maharaj, who used to sit inside
the temple, came to Haribhau, caught him by his wrist and said, “Give
me my one rupee”. Karnik was surprised; he paid the rupee most
willingly and thought that, Sai Baba recovered the rupee, which he
intended in his mind to give, through saint Narsing Maharaj.
This story illustrates the fact that, all saints are one, and illustrates,
how they work in unison.
Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all
Scorpion sting and Plague cases cured – Jamner
Miracle – Narayan Rao’s sickness – Balabua Sutar –
Appasaheb Kulkarni – Haribhau Karnik
In the last chapter we described the greatness of the Guru; now
in this we will describe the greatness of Udi. However both are
interlinked. The greatness of Udi is due to the spiritual grandeur of
Baba.
Preliminary
Let us now bow before the great saints. Their merciful glances will
destroy mountains of sins and do away with all the blemishes of our
character. Their talk gives us good teachings and confers on us
invaluable happiness. Their minds do not know any difference, such as
“This is ours and that is yours.” Such differentiation never arises in
their minds. Their debts (obligations) will never be repaid by us in this
birth, as well as in many future births.
Udi
It is well-known that Baba took dakshina from all and out of the
amount thus collected, He spent on charity and purchased fuel. This
fuel He put in the dhuni – the sacred fire, which He kept ever burning.
The ash from this fire was called Udi, and it was freely distributed to
the devotees, at the time of their departure from Shirdi.
What did Baba teach by this Udi? Baba taught by this Udi that all
the visible phenomena in the universe are as transient as the ash. Our
bodies composed of matter of the five elements, will fall down, after all
their enjoyments are over and be reduced to ashes. In order to remind
the devotees of the fact that, their bodies will be reduced to ashes, Baba
distributed Udi to them. Baba also taught by the Udi that the Brahma
is the only Reality and the universe is ephemeral, and that no one in
this world, be he a son, father or wife, is really ours. We come here (in
this world) alone and we have to go from here alone. It has been found
that the Udi cured many physical and mental maladies but Baba wanted
to repeat into the devotee’s ears the principles of discrimination between
the Unreal and the Real, He taught non-attachment for the unreal by
His Udi and Dakshina. The former (Udi) taught us discrimination and
the latter (Dakshina) taught us non-attachment. Unless we have these
two things it is not possible for us to cross over the sea of the mundane
existence. So Baba asked for dakshina, and while the devotees took
leave He gave Udi as Prasad, besmeared some of it on their foreheads
and placed His boon-conferring hand on them. When Baba was in a
cheerful mood He used to sing merrily. One such song was about Udi.
The meaning of this song was : “Oh, playful Ram, come, come and
bring with you sacks of Udi,” Baba used to sing in very clear and
tender tones.
So besides the spiritual implication of Udi, it had also its material
significance. It conferred health, prosperity, freedom from anxiety and
many other worldly gains. So, the Udi has helped us to gain both our
ends – material as well as spiritual. We shall now begin with the stories
about the Udi.
Scorpion-sting
Narayan Motiram Jani of Nasik was a devotee of Baba. He was
serving under another devotee of Baba, by name Ramchandra Vaman
Modak. Once he went to Shirdi with his mother and saw Baba. Then
Baba Himself told her that her son should start independent business.
Some days after this prophecy turned true. Narayan Jani left service and
started a boarding house – ‘Anand Ashram’, which thrived well. Once
a friend of this Narayanrao was stung by a scorpion and the pain
caused by it was severe and unbearable. Udi is most efficacious in such
cases; it is to be applied on the point of pain and so Narayanrao
searched for it but found none. Then he stood before Baba’s picture and
invoked Baba’s aid, chanted Baba’s name and taking out a pinch of the
ashes of the joss-stick burning in front of Baba’s picture and thinking
it as Baba’s Udi, applied it on the seat of pain and the sting. As soon
as he moved his fingers, the pain vanished and both the persons were
moved and felt delighted.
Bubonic plague case
Once a devotee in Bandra, came to know that his daughter who
was staying in another place was down with bubonic plague. He had
no Udi with him so he sent word to Nanasaheb Chandorkar to send
the same. Nanasaheb got this message enroute Thana Railway Station,
when he was travelling with his wife to Kalyan. He had no Udi with
him then. He therefore, took up some dust from the road, meditated
upon Sai Baba, invoked His aid and applied it to his wife’s forehead.
The devotee was very glad to learn that his daughter, who was suffering
for three days, began to improve from the very moment Nanasaheb
invoked Baba’s aid near the Thana Railway Station.
The Jamner Miracle
In the year 1904-05, Nanasaheb Chandorkar was Mamlatdar at
Jamner, in the Khandesh district, which is more than 100 miles from
Shirdi. His daughter Mainatai, was pregnant and was due to deliver.
Her case was very serious and she was suffering from labour-pains for
the last two or three days. Nanasaheb tried all remedies but in vain; he
then remembered Baba and invoked His aid. There in Shirdi, one
Ramgirbua whom Baba called Bapugirbua, was leaving for his native
place, in Khandesh. Baba called him and told him to stop at Jamner on
his way home and give the Udi and Arati to Nanasaheb. Ramgirbua
said that he had only two rupees with him and this amount was barely
sufficient for the railway fare upto Jalgaon, and it was not possible for
him to go from Jalgaon to Jamner, a distance of about 30 miles. Baba
assured him that he need not care, as everything would be provided for.
Then Baba asked Shama to write a well-known Arati composed by
Madhav Adkar (Arati and translation of this is given at the end of this
work), and gave a copy of it with Udi to Ramgirbua, to be delivered to
Nanasaheb. Then relying on Baba’s words Ramgirbua left Shirdi and
reached Jalgaon at about 2:45 a.m. He had only two annas left with
him and he was in a plight. To his great relief he heard somebody
calling out, “Who is Bapugirbua of Shirdi?” He went to him and told
him that he was Bapugirbua. Then the person, professing to be sent by
Nanasaheb took him to an excellent tonga with a good pair of horses.
They both drove in it. The tonga ran fast and early in the morning they
came to a brooklet. The man took the horses for watering them and he
asked Ramgirbua to partake of some eatables. On seeing the beard,
moustache and the livery of that person, Ramgirbua suspected him to
be a Muslim, and was unwilling to take any refreshments from him, but
he satisfied Ramgirbua by saying that he was a Hindu, a Kshatriya of
Garhwal, and that Nanasaheb had sent these refreshments and there
should be no difficulty in its acceptance. Then both of them took the
refreshments and started again. They reached Jamner at dawn.
Ramgirbua alighted to attend a call of nature and returned within a few
minutes, but found that there was no tonga, and no driver. He was
dumbfounded. Then he went to the neighbouring Kachehri and on
making enquiries learnt that the Mamlatdar was at home. He went to
Nanasaheb’s house and gave to Nanasaheb, Baba’s Udi and Arati. At
this time, Mainatai’s case was in the most serious condition and all
were in deep anxiety about her. Nanasaheb called out his wife and
asked her to give the Udi, mixed with water, to their daughter to drink.
He thought that Baba’s help was most opportune. In a few minutes
came the news that, the delivery was safe and that the crisis had passed
away. When Ramgirbua thanked Nanasaheb for the peon, tonga and
the refreshments etc., the latter was greatly surprised as he had sent
none to the station, and was not aware of any person coming from
Shirdi.
Mr. B.V. Dev of Thana, retired Mamlatdar, made enquiries about
this matter with Bapurao Chandorkar son of Nanasaheb and Ramgirbua
of Shirdi, and after satisfying himself wrote an elaborate article – part
prose and part poetry – in the Shri Sai Leela magazine (Vol. 13 Nos. 11,
12 and 13). B.V. Narsimhaswami has also taken down the statements
of (1) Mainatai (No. V, page 14) and (2) Bapusaheb Chandorkar (No.
XX, page 50) and (3) Ramgirbua (No. XXVII, page 83), dated 1st June,
1936, 16th September, 1936 and 1st December, 1936 respectively, and
published them in his ‘Devotees Experiences, Part III’. The following is
quoted from Ramgirbua’s statement :
“One day Baba called me to him and gave me a packet of Udi and
a copy of Baba’s Arati. I had to go to Khandesh at that time. Baba
directed me to go to Jamner and told me to deliver the Arati and Udi
to Nanasaheb Chandorkar at Jamner. I said to Baba that all I had was
Rs. 2 and asked Him, how that could take me by train, from Kopergaon
to Jalgaon and next from Jalgaon to Jamner. Baba said, “God will give.”
That was a Friday and I started at once. I reached Manmad at 7:30 p.m.
and Jalgaon at 2:45 a.m. At that time plague regulations were in force
and I had much trouble. I was to discover, what I should do to get to
Jamner. At about 3 a.m. a peon in boots, turban, and equipped with
other details of good dress, came to me and took me to a tonga and
drove me on. On the way at Bhaghoor, I took refreshments. We reached
Jamner early in the morning and by the time I attended call of nature,
the tonga and its driver had disappeared (page 83).”
Narayanrao
Bhakta Narayanrao (father’s name and surname are not given)
had the good fortune to see Baba twice during the latter’s lifetime. Three
years after the passing away of Baba in 1918, he wanted to come to
Shirdi but could not. Within a year of Baba’s Mahasamadhi he fell sick
and suffered much. All possible remedies gave him no relief. So he
meditated on Baba day and night. One night he had a vision. Baba
came through a cellar comforted him saying, “Don’t be anxious, you
will be improving from tomorrow and within a week you will be on
your legs.” Narayanrao got perfectly well within the time indicated in
the vision. Now the point for consideration is this : Was Baba living
because He had the body, or was He dead because He left it? No, Baba
is ever alive for, He transcends both life and death. He who loved Him
whole-heartedly, gets response from Him at any time and at any place.
He is always by our side and will take any form, appear before the
devout bhakta and satisfy him.
Appasaheb Kulkarni
In 1917, Appasaheb Kulkarni was transferred to Thana and began
to worship Baba’s picture presented to him by Balasaheb Bhate. In real
earnest, he did the worship. He offered, flowers, sandal-paste, and
Naivaidya daily to Baba in the picture, and longed intently to see Him.
In this connection it may be remarked that, seeing Baba’s picture earnestly
is equivalent to seeing Him in person. The following story illustrates
this statement.
Balabua Sutar
A saint of Mumbai named Balabua Sutar, who on account of his
piety, devotion and style was called ‘Modern Tukaram’, came to Shirdi
for the first time in 1917. When he bowed before Baba, the latter said,
“I have known this man for four years”. Balabua wondered and thought
how could that be, as that was his first trip to Shirdi. But thinking about
it seriously, he recollected that he had prostrated himself four years ago
before Baba’s portrait at Mumbai, and was convinced about the
significance of Baba’s words. He said to himself, “How omniscient and
all-pervading are the saints and how kind are they to their devotees! I
merely bowed to His photo, but this fact was noticed by Baba, and in
due time He made me realize that, seeing His photo is equivalent to
seeing Him in person!”
Now we return to Appasaheb’s story. While he was in Thana, he
had to go on tour to Bhivandi and was expected to return after a week.
In his absence, the following wonderful thing took place on the third
day. At noon a Fakir turned up, at Appasaheb’s house. His features
resembled exactly those of Baba’s photo. Mrs. Kulkarni and the children
all asked him, whether he was Sai Baba of Shirdi. He said, “No”, but
that he was an obedient servant of His and came there at His order to
enquire after the well being of the family. Then he asked for dakshina.
The lady gave him a rupee. He gave her a small packet of Udi and asked
her to keep this in the shrine. Then he left the house and went away.
Now, hear the wonderful Leela of Sai!
Appasaheb could not proceed with his tour, as his horse fell sick
at Bhivandi. He returned home that afternoon, and learnt from his wife
about Fakir’s visit. He got very restless as he did not have the darshan
of the Fakir, moreover he did not like that only one rupee was paid to
him as Dakshina. He said that had he been present, he would have
paid not less than ten rupees. Then, he immediately started in quest of
the Fakir, and searched for him in the Masjid and other places, without
taking any food. His search was in vain. He then returned home and
took his food. The readers may remember here Baba’s dictum in chapter
32 that, God’s quest should not be made on an empty belly. Then, after
meals he went out for a walk with a friend, Mr. Chitre. After going some
distance, they saw a man approaching them rapidly. Appasaheb thought
that, he must be the Fakir that came to his house at noon, as his features
tallied with those of Baba in the photo. The Fakir immediately put forth
his hand and asked for Dakshina. Appasaheb gave him a rupee. He
demanded again and again, and so Appasaheb gave him two more.
Still he was not satisfied. Then he borrowed Rs. three from Mr. Chitre
and gave them to him. He wanted still more. Appasaheb asked him to
acompany him to his home. Then they all returned home and Appasaheb
gave him three rupees, in all nine. He looked unsatisfied and demanded
again. Then, Appasaheb told him that he had a currency note of Rs. ten.
The Fakir asked for the same, took it and returned the nine rupees and
went away. Appasaheb had earlier said that he would pay ten rupees
and that sum was taken from him and nine rupees, consecrated by
Baba’s touch, were returned to him. The figure 9 is significant. It denotes
the nine types of devotion (vide chapter 21). It may also be noted here
that, Baba gave nine coins to one Laxmibai Shinde, at His last moment.
Appasaheb examined the Udi-packet and found that it contained
some flower-leaves and Akshata. Then some time afterwards, he got a
hair from Baba, when he saw Him at Shirdi. He put the Udi-packet and
the hair in a Tabiz and wore it always on his arm. Appasaheb realized
the power of the Udi. Though he was very efficient, he got Rs. 40/- as
pay in the beginning; but after he secured Baba’s photo and His Udi,
he got many times more, and also got much power and influence, and
along with these temporal benefits, his spiritual progress was also
rapid. So those who are fortunate enough to get Baba’s Udi should, after
bath, apply it on the forehead and take some of it, mixed with water as
holy Tirth.
Haribhau Karnik
In 1917, Haribhau Karnik of Dahanu (Thana district) came to
Shirdi, on the Guru-pournima day (in the month of Ashadha) and
worshipped Baba with all formalities. He offered clothes and dakshina
and after taking Baba’s leave got down the steps of the Masjid. Then
he thought that, he should offer one more rupee to Baba and was just
turning to climb up again, when Shama signalled him by gesture that,
as he had got Baba’s leave he should go and not return. So he started
for home. On his way, when he went into the temple of Kala Ram at
Nasik for darshan, the saint Narsing Maharaj, who used to sit inside
the temple, came to Haribhau, caught him by his wrist and said, “Give
me my one rupee”. Karnik was surprised; he paid the rupee most
willingly and thought that, Sai Baba recovered the rupee, which he
intended in his mind to give, through saint Narsing Maharaj.
This story illustrates the fact that, all saints are one, and illustrates,
how they work in unison.
Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all
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