Baba’s kindness and power

Santaram’s father attended Das Ganu’s kirtan wherein Das Ganu gave a full account of Sai Baba, and described him as Datta Avatara, having wonderful powers and wonderful kindness.

He brought also a picture of Sai Baba home, and with it Baba puja began in the house. In 1912, Santaram first visited Shirdi.

Then he had appeared for a departmental examination (revenue test), and went to Shirdi with two friends. At the Kopergaon railway station, the Station Master heard of their proposed visit to Baba and began to abuse Baba saying that undue honour was given to a mere hypnotist, who was gulling people like so many wandering jugglers and thaumaturgists. This made the impressionable Santaram very unhappy. He was beginning to have his doubts about Baba

He reached Shirdi anyhow. The first sight that he caught of Sai Baba was when Baba was walking from the Lendi to the Mosque. On the way Santaram and his friends met Baba. Baba looked straight at Santaram, and said, “What? Have you come away without taking leave from the Mamlatdar?” The reply was Yes.

Baba said, “Don’t do so hereafter“. At once, the object of these remarks was evident. Baba revealed his Antarjnana (of Santaram, being a Mamlatdar’s clerk and his coming without permission) and motherly kindness towards his devotee who was wavering. The Antarjnana and the kindness showed the worthlessness of the Station Master’s remarks

It was for that purpose evidently that Baba addressed those words. This was only the beginning of a series of similar experiences during his three days of stay at Shirdi.

Each instance showed Baba’s kindness and powers more and more cleariy and forcefully. At the end of three days, Santaram was perfectly assured and confident that Baba was Datta God.