Importance of Human Birth – Sai Baba begging Food
– Baijabai’s Service – Sai Baba’s Dormitory – His
Affection for Khushalchand.
As hinted in the last chapter, Hemadpant now explains
at length in his preliminary remarks, the importance of
human birth and then proceeds to relate, how Sai Baba begged His
food; how Baijabai served Him; how He slept in the Masjid, with Tatya
Kote Patil and Mhalsapati and how He loved Khushalchand of Rahata.
Importance of Human Birth
In this wonderful universe, God has created millions (84 lakhs
according to Hindu shastra calculation) of creatures (including Gods,
demi-gods, insects, beasts and men) inhabiting heaven, hell, earth, ocean,
sky and other intermediate regions. Of these, those creatures or souls,
whose merits preponderate, go to heaven and live there till they enjoy
the fruits of their actions and when this is done, they are cast down;
while those souls, whose sins or demerits preponderate, go down to
hell and suffer the consequences of their misdeeds for as long as they
deserve it. When their merits and demerits balance each other, they are
born on earth as human beings and are given a chance to work out their
salvation. Ultimately, when their merits and demerits both are worked
out completely, they get their deliverance and become free. To put the
matter in a nutshell, souls get their birth or transmigration according
to their deeds and evolvement.
Special Value of the Human Body
As we all know, four things are common to all the creatures, viz.,
food, sleep, fear and sexual union. In the case of man, he is endowed
with a special faculty, viz, knowledge, with the help of which he can
attain God-vision, which is impossible in any other species. It is for this
reason that gods envy the human species and aspire to be born as men
on earth, so as to get their final deliverance.
Some say that there is nothing worse than the human body, which
is full of filth, mucus, phlegm and dirt and which is subject to decay,
disease and death. This is true to a certain extent, but in spite of these
drawbacks and defects, the special value of the human body is – that
man has got the capacity to acquire knowledge. It is only due to the
human body or on account of it, that one can think of the perishable
and transitory nature of the body itself and of the world, and have
aversion for sense-enjoyments, and can discriminate between the unreal
and the real, and thus attain God-vision. So, if we reject or neglect the
body, because it is filthy, we lose the chance of God-vision and if we
indulge it and run after sense-enjoyments, because it is precious, we go
to hell. The proper course, therefore, for us to pursue, is the following;
that the body should neither be neglected nor fondled, but should be
properly cared for, just as a traveller on horse-back takes care of his
horse on the way, till he reaches his destination and returns home.
Thus, the body should ever be used or engaged to attain God-vision or
self-realization, which is the supreme end of life.
It is said that, though God created various kinds of creatures, He
was not satisfied, for none of them was able to know and appreciate His
work. So he had to create a special being – man, and endow him with
a special faculty, viz, Knowledge; and when He saw that man was able
to appreciate His Leela, marvellous work and intelligence, He was
highly pleased and satisfied. (Vide, Bhagawat, 11-9-28) So really, it is
fortunate to get a human body, better still to be born in a Brahmin family
and best, to get an opportunity of being close to Sai Baba’s Feet and
surrendering to Him.
Man’s Endeavour
Realizing how precious human life is and knowing that death is
certain and may snatch us at any time, we should be ever alert to
achieve the object of our lives, we should not make the least delay, but
make every possible haste to gain our object, just as a king leaves no
stone unturned to seek his lost son. So with all earnestness, we should
strive to attain our end, i.e. self-realization. Casting aside laziness,
warding off drowsiness, we should day and night meditate on the self.
If we fail to do this, we reduce ourselves to the level of beasts.
How to Proceed?
The most effective and speedy way to gain our object is to approach
a worthy saint or sage – Sadguru, who has himself attained God-vision.
What cannot be achieved by hearing religious discourses and study of
religious texts is easily obtained in the company of such worthy souls.
Just as the sun only gives light, which all the stars put together cannot
do, so the Sadguru alone imparts spiritual wisdom, which all the
sacred books and sermons cannot do. His movements and simple talks
give us ‘silent’ advice. The virtues of forgiveness, calmness,
disinterestedness, charity, benevolence, control of mind and body,
egolessness etc. are observed by the disciples, as they are being practised
in such pure and holy company. This enlightens their minds and lifts
them up spiritually. Sai Baba was such a Sage or Sadguru. Though He
acted as a Fakir (mendicant), He was always engrossed in Self. He
always loved all beings, in whom He saw God or Divinity. By pleasures
He was not elated. He was not depressed by misfortunes. A king and
a pauper were the same to Him. He Whose glance would turn a beggar
into a king, used to go begging food from door to door in Shirdi, and
let us now see how He did it.
Baba Begging Food
Blessed are the people of Shirdi, in front of whose houses, Baba
stood as a beggar and called out, “Oh Mai, give Me a piece of bread!”
and spread out His hand to receive the same. In one hand He carried
a Tumrel (tinpot) and in the other a Zoli or Choupadari, i.e., a rectangular
piece of cloth. He visited certain houses daily. Liquid or semi-liquid
things, such as soup, vegetables, milk or butter-milk, were received in
the tinpot, while cooked rice, bread and such solid things were taken
in the Zoli. Baba’s tongue knew no taste, as He had acquired control
over it. So how could He care for the taste of different things mixed up
together? Whatever things He got in His Zoli and in the tinpot, were
mixed together and partaken by Baba to His heart’s content. Whether
particular things were tasty or otherwise, was never noticed by Baba,
as His tongue was devoid of the sense of taste altogether. Baba begged
till noon, but His begging was very irregular. Some days He went a few
rounds on other days up to twelve noon. The food thus collected was
kept in a Kundi, i.e., earthen pot. Dogs, cats and crows freely ate from
it and Baba never drove them away. The woman who swept the floor
of the Masjid, took some 10 or 12 pieces of bread to her house and
nobody prevented her from doing so. How could He, Who, even in
dreams never warded off cats and dogs by harsh words and signs,
refuse food to poor helpless people? Blessed indeed is the life of such
a Noble Person! People in Shirdi took Him in the beginning for a mad
Fakir. He was known in the village by this name. How could one, who
lived on alms by begging a few crumbs of bread, be revered and
worshipped? But this Fakir was very liberal of heart, detached and
charitable. Though He looked restless from outside, He was firm and
steady inside. His way was inscrutable. Still in that small village, there
were a few kind and blessed people, who recognized and regarded Him
as a Great Soul. One such person's account is given below.
Baijabai’s Brilliant Service
Tatya Kote’s mother, Baijabai, used to go to the woods every after
noon with a basket on her head containing bread and vegetables. She
roamed in the jungles kos (about 3 miles) after kos, trampling bushes
and shrubs in search of the mad Fakir and after finding Him, fell at His
Feet. The Fakir sat calm and motionless in meditation, while she placed
a leaf before Him, spread her things-eatables, bread, vegetables etc.
thereon, and fed Him. Wonderful was her faith and service. Every day
she roamed at noon in the jungles and insisted upon Baba to partake
of the lunch. Her service, Upasana or penance, by whatever name we
call it, was never forgotten by Baba till the end. Remembering fully what
service she rendered, Baba benefitted her son significantly. Both the son
and the mother, had great faith in the Fakir, Who was their God. Baba
often said to them that “Fakiri (mendicacy) is real, Lordship (riches) is
transient.” After some years Baba stopped going into the woods and
began to live in the village, and take His food in the Masjid thus,
Baijabai’s troubles of roaming in the jungles ended.
Dormitory of Trio
Ever blessed are the saints, in whose heart Lord Vasudeva dwells
and fortunate indeed are the devotees, who get the benefit of the company
of such saints. Two such fortunate fellows, Tatya Kote Patil and Bhagat
Mhalsapati, equally shared the company of Sai Baba. Baba also loved
them both. These three persons slept in the Masjid with their heads
towards the east, west and north, and with their feet touching one
another's at the centre. After spreading their beds, they lay on them,
chitchatting and gossiping till late at night. If any one of them showed
any signs of sleep, others would wake him up. For instance, if Tatya
began to snore, Baba at once got up and shook him from side to side
and pressed his head. If it was Mhalsapati, He pulled him close, stroked
his legs and patted his back. In this way for a period of 14 years, Tatya,
leaving his parents at home, slept in the Masjid on account of his deep
love for Baba. How happy and never to be forgotten were those days!
How to measure that love and how to value the grace of Baba! After the
passing away of his father, Tatya took charge of the household affairs
and began to sleep at home.
Khushalchand of Rahata
Baba loved Ganpat Kote Patil of Shirdi. He loved
Chandrabhansheth Marwadi of Rahata equally. After the demise of this
Sheth, Baba loved his nephew Khushalchand equally or perhaps more,
and looked after his welfare, day and night. Some times in a bullock
cart, at other times in a tonga, with intimate devotees Baba went to
Rahata. People of that village would come out with band and music
and receive Baba at the gate of the village and prostrate before Him.
Then He was taken into the village with great honour and ceremony.
Khushalchand took Baba to his house, seated Him on a comfortable
seat and gave Him a good meal. Then they talked freely and merrily for
some time, after which Baba returned to Shirdi, giving delight and
blessings to all.
Shirdi is midway and equi-distant from Rahata on one side (south)
and Nimgaon on the other (north). Baba never went beyond these
places during His life time. He never saw any train nor travelled by it.
Still He knew exactly the timings of arrivals and departures of all trains.
Devotees who acted according to Baba’s instructions given at the time
of taking His leave, fared well, while those who disregarded them,
suffered many a mishap and accident. More about this and other matters
will be told in the next chapter.
Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all
– Baijabai’s Service – Sai Baba’s Dormitory – His
Affection for Khushalchand.
As hinted in the last chapter, Hemadpant now explains
at length in his preliminary remarks, the importance of
human birth and then proceeds to relate, how Sai Baba begged His
food; how Baijabai served Him; how He slept in the Masjid, with Tatya
Kote Patil and Mhalsapati and how He loved Khushalchand of Rahata.
Importance of Human Birth
In this wonderful universe, God has created millions (84 lakhs
according to Hindu shastra calculation) of creatures (including Gods,
demi-gods, insects, beasts and men) inhabiting heaven, hell, earth, ocean,
sky and other intermediate regions. Of these, those creatures or souls,
whose merits preponderate, go to heaven and live there till they enjoy
the fruits of their actions and when this is done, they are cast down;
while those souls, whose sins or demerits preponderate, go down to
hell and suffer the consequences of their misdeeds for as long as they
deserve it. When their merits and demerits balance each other, they are
born on earth as human beings and are given a chance to work out their
salvation. Ultimately, when their merits and demerits both are worked
out completely, they get their deliverance and become free. To put the
matter in a nutshell, souls get their birth or transmigration according
to their deeds and evolvement.
Special Value of the Human Body
As we all know, four things are common to all the creatures, viz.,
food, sleep, fear and sexual union. In the case of man, he is endowed
with a special faculty, viz, knowledge, with the help of which he can
attain God-vision, which is impossible in any other species. It is for this
reason that gods envy the human species and aspire to be born as men
on earth, so as to get their final deliverance.
Some say that there is nothing worse than the human body, which
is full of filth, mucus, phlegm and dirt and which is subject to decay,
disease and death. This is true to a certain extent, but in spite of these
drawbacks and defects, the special value of the human body is – that
man has got the capacity to acquire knowledge. It is only due to the
human body or on account of it, that one can think of the perishable
and transitory nature of the body itself and of the world, and have
aversion for sense-enjoyments, and can discriminate between the unreal
and the real, and thus attain God-vision. So, if we reject or neglect the
body, because it is filthy, we lose the chance of God-vision and if we
indulge it and run after sense-enjoyments, because it is precious, we go
to hell. The proper course, therefore, for us to pursue, is the following;
that the body should neither be neglected nor fondled, but should be
properly cared for, just as a traveller on horse-back takes care of his
horse on the way, till he reaches his destination and returns home.
Thus, the body should ever be used or engaged to attain God-vision or
self-realization, which is the supreme end of life.
It is said that, though God created various kinds of creatures, He
was not satisfied, for none of them was able to know and appreciate His
work. So he had to create a special being – man, and endow him with
a special faculty, viz, Knowledge; and when He saw that man was able
to appreciate His Leela, marvellous work and intelligence, He was
highly pleased and satisfied. (Vide, Bhagawat, 11-9-28) So really, it is
fortunate to get a human body, better still to be born in a Brahmin family
and best, to get an opportunity of being close to Sai Baba’s Feet and
surrendering to Him.
Man’s Endeavour
Realizing how precious human life is and knowing that death is
certain and may snatch us at any time, we should be ever alert to
achieve the object of our lives, we should not make the least delay, but
make every possible haste to gain our object, just as a king leaves no
stone unturned to seek his lost son. So with all earnestness, we should
strive to attain our end, i.e. self-realization. Casting aside laziness,
warding off drowsiness, we should day and night meditate on the self.
If we fail to do this, we reduce ourselves to the level of beasts.
How to Proceed?
The most effective and speedy way to gain our object is to approach
a worthy saint or sage – Sadguru, who has himself attained God-vision.
What cannot be achieved by hearing religious discourses and study of
religious texts is easily obtained in the company of such worthy souls.
Just as the sun only gives light, which all the stars put together cannot
do, so the Sadguru alone imparts spiritual wisdom, which all the
sacred books and sermons cannot do. His movements and simple talks
give us ‘silent’ advice. The virtues of forgiveness, calmness,
disinterestedness, charity, benevolence, control of mind and body,
egolessness etc. are observed by the disciples, as they are being practised
in such pure and holy company. This enlightens their minds and lifts
them up spiritually. Sai Baba was such a Sage or Sadguru. Though He
acted as a Fakir (mendicant), He was always engrossed in Self. He
always loved all beings, in whom He saw God or Divinity. By pleasures
He was not elated. He was not depressed by misfortunes. A king and
a pauper were the same to Him. He Whose glance would turn a beggar
into a king, used to go begging food from door to door in Shirdi, and
let us now see how He did it.
Baba Begging Food
Blessed are the people of Shirdi, in front of whose houses, Baba
stood as a beggar and called out, “Oh Mai, give Me a piece of bread!”
and spread out His hand to receive the same. In one hand He carried
a Tumrel (tinpot) and in the other a Zoli or Choupadari, i.e., a rectangular
piece of cloth. He visited certain houses daily. Liquid or semi-liquid
things, such as soup, vegetables, milk or butter-milk, were received in
the tinpot, while cooked rice, bread and such solid things were taken
in the Zoli. Baba’s tongue knew no taste, as He had acquired control
over it. So how could He care for the taste of different things mixed up
together? Whatever things He got in His Zoli and in the tinpot, were
mixed together and partaken by Baba to His heart’s content. Whether
particular things were tasty or otherwise, was never noticed by Baba,
as His tongue was devoid of the sense of taste altogether. Baba begged
till noon, but His begging was very irregular. Some days He went a few
rounds on other days up to twelve noon. The food thus collected was
kept in a Kundi, i.e., earthen pot. Dogs, cats and crows freely ate from
it and Baba never drove them away. The woman who swept the floor
of the Masjid, took some 10 or 12 pieces of bread to her house and
nobody prevented her from doing so. How could He, Who, even in
dreams never warded off cats and dogs by harsh words and signs,
refuse food to poor helpless people? Blessed indeed is the life of such
a Noble Person! People in Shirdi took Him in the beginning for a mad
Fakir. He was known in the village by this name. How could one, who
lived on alms by begging a few crumbs of bread, be revered and
worshipped? But this Fakir was very liberal of heart, detached and
charitable. Though He looked restless from outside, He was firm and
steady inside. His way was inscrutable. Still in that small village, there
were a few kind and blessed people, who recognized and regarded Him
as a Great Soul. One such person's account is given below.
Baijabai’s Brilliant Service
Tatya Kote’s mother, Baijabai, used to go to the woods every after
noon with a basket on her head containing bread and vegetables. She
roamed in the jungles kos (about 3 miles) after kos, trampling bushes
and shrubs in search of the mad Fakir and after finding Him, fell at His
Feet. The Fakir sat calm and motionless in meditation, while she placed
a leaf before Him, spread her things-eatables, bread, vegetables etc.
thereon, and fed Him. Wonderful was her faith and service. Every day
she roamed at noon in the jungles and insisted upon Baba to partake
of the lunch. Her service, Upasana or penance, by whatever name we
call it, was never forgotten by Baba till the end. Remembering fully what
service she rendered, Baba benefitted her son significantly. Both the son
and the mother, had great faith in the Fakir, Who was their God. Baba
often said to them that “Fakiri (mendicacy) is real, Lordship (riches) is
transient.” After some years Baba stopped going into the woods and
began to live in the village, and take His food in the Masjid thus,
Baijabai’s troubles of roaming in the jungles ended.
Dormitory of Trio
Ever blessed are the saints, in whose heart Lord Vasudeva dwells
and fortunate indeed are the devotees, who get the benefit of the company
of such saints. Two such fortunate fellows, Tatya Kote Patil and Bhagat
Mhalsapati, equally shared the company of Sai Baba. Baba also loved
them both. These three persons slept in the Masjid with their heads
towards the east, west and north, and with their feet touching one
another's at the centre. After spreading their beds, they lay on them,
chitchatting and gossiping till late at night. If any one of them showed
any signs of sleep, others would wake him up. For instance, if Tatya
began to snore, Baba at once got up and shook him from side to side
and pressed his head. If it was Mhalsapati, He pulled him close, stroked
his legs and patted his back. In this way for a period of 14 years, Tatya,
leaving his parents at home, slept in the Masjid on account of his deep
love for Baba. How happy and never to be forgotten were those days!
How to measure that love and how to value the grace of Baba! After the
passing away of his father, Tatya took charge of the household affairs
and began to sleep at home.
Khushalchand of Rahata
Baba loved Ganpat Kote Patil of Shirdi. He loved
Chandrabhansheth Marwadi of Rahata equally. After the demise of this
Sheth, Baba loved his nephew Khushalchand equally or perhaps more,
and looked after his welfare, day and night. Some times in a bullock
cart, at other times in a tonga, with intimate devotees Baba went to
Rahata. People of that village would come out with band and music
and receive Baba at the gate of the village and prostrate before Him.
Then He was taken into the village with great honour and ceremony.
Khushalchand took Baba to his house, seated Him on a comfortable
seat and gave Him a good meal. Then they talked freely and merrily for
some time, after which Baba returned to Shirdi, giving delight and
blessings to all.
Shirdi is midway and equi-distant from Rahata on one side (south)
and Nimgaon on the other (north). Baba never went beyond these
places during His life time. He never saw any train nor travelled by it.
Still He knew exactly the timings of arrivals and departures of all trains.
Devotees who acted according to Baba’s instructions given at the time
of taking His leave, fared well, while those who disregarded them,
suffered many a mishap and accident. More about this and other matters
will be told in the next chapter.
Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all
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