APPEARANCE AS OTHERS

Baba’s appearance as others

Para Number in the Book ‘BCS”, About Appearance as others

To Mule Sastri, as Dholap Maharaj

352A Baba  appeared as  Dholap Maharaj,  the guru of Mule Sastri, to overcome Sastri’s prejudice against Baba at the mosque.

Baba assumes objector’s father’s voice

353. Kaka Mahajani’s friend who was a believer in nirakara worship alone and objected to all worship  of forms, agreed out of curiosity to go with Kaka to see Baba. He stipulated, however, that he would neither bow  to  sai nor pay any Dakshina.  As  that friend  was getting  up  the  steps  of the  mosque  at  Shirdi,  Baba  said “Kayaveji”   i.e., Welcome Sir.

But the voice that fell upon the friend’s ears was that of his father and thrilled him with joy. He at once fell down and placed his head upon Baba’s feet.

Baba asked Kaka thereafter, twice for Dakshina, but did not ask this man, who thereupon whispered to Kaka that he wanted to give Dakshina.

B.:    What is your friend saying? Kaka repeated his words.

B: He has not been asked, because he was unwilling to give it.   But if he wants to give it now, he may. Then the friend paid Baba Rs.17

B.(to that man): It is Teli’s wall[oil store, next to Baba place] that separates you from us. Pull it down and we can see each other clearly face to face.

Then Kaka and his friend were starting and the weather was cloudy and threatening.

B.: Shama, let them go without fear or anxiety.   There is no trouble from rain on their return journey.

There was no rain till they reached the train, despite the clouds and thunder.

Baba appears as or identifies with himself other saints

354. S. B. Nachne’s brother and family were anxious about a very serious operation, which was just being performed at Mumbai on his brother. Then a Sadhu appeared at Dahanu and was given food by Nachne’s sister-in-law. They kept aside Bendi Baji (lady’s fingers’ dish) as not fit for presentation; but the Sadhu himself called for it and it was then served. The Sadhu then went away blessing them and telling them that the operation at Mumbai was safe and successful. Three years later, Nachne went to Baba. Then,

Baba: “I had been to this man’s house (pointing to S.B. Nachne) for a meal. He did not give me Bendi Baji.”

That saint was obviously Hindu and markedly different in features from Baba.

355. Balakrishna G. Upasani Sastri, Professor of Sanskrit, went to Hardwar and Tapovan (Swargashram) and saw a saint who told him that a saligram held as an heirloom by the upasanis for many generations had been given by him. When asked about his identity, that saint said in Hindustani, “lo! There was a tree (or log). One came down. The other went up. You will come to know”. And then he went out of sight.

Many years later, at the end of 1911, he was going about to trace the whereabouts of his younger brother, Kasinath now known as upasani Baba. He alighted at Kopergaon at the request of the local mamlatdar who sent him to Shirdi. When he went to Baba,

Baba: Go to Khandoba’s

BGU: When I have seen you, Baba, I have seen all the Gods.

Again Baba: Go to Khandoba’s.

When BGU came out of the Mosque and mentioned Baba’s order, people told him that Kasinath upasani sastri was at Khandoba’s. Thus Baba without being told, found out BGU’s relationship and quest. When BGU returned to Baba, Baba spoke in Hindustani the same words that were spoken by the Sadhu at Tapovan.

“There was a tree (or log). Two persons were up over that. One came down and the other went up.”

Sai Baba thus showed that he was the Tapovan saint.

355-A. When Chandrabai R. Borkar was at Kopergaon during sravana or chaturmasya of 1908, an unknown fakir appeared before her and wanted Garlic chatni and bread. She said that she did not take garlic in chaturmasya and the fakir disappeared.

Having heard of Sai Baba and his taking onion everyday, she thought that fakir might be Sai Baba. So she went to Shirdi for the first time and bowed before Sai Baba. Baba told her, “You have not given garlic chatni and bread! Any why have you come here?” This confirmed her idea that the fakir who come to her was Baba and she answered “Yes, I have come to give garlic chatni and bread”. Baba then said that “she was his sister for seven generations and had always sought him out”

Baba identifying Himself with Anasuya and Datts

356. In 1911, on Datta Jayanti day Balawant Kohojkar went to Baba at Shirdi. At 5 p.m.,

B.: I am having pangs of labour and cannot bear the pain. So saying, he drove everyone out of the mosque.

He was evidently identifying himself with Anasuya. A little later, Baba called all people in. Kohojkar went first and on Baba’s gadi saw not Baba, but a small charming three headed baby (i.e.,) Datta. In a moment, Datta disappeared and Baba was seen instead.

357. B.V.Dev wished to perform an udhyapana ceremony, which included mass feeding and he wrote to Jog requesting Baba’s attendance at the dinner.

Then,

Jog : Baba, Dev wants you to attend the dinner at Dahanu on the prescribed date.

B.: Write and tell him that I shall attend the dinner with two others, that I require no train to travel by, and that as soon as a Bhakta calls out to me with love, I will appear immediately.

On the dinner day, Baba was not to be seen at the dinner party. A Sanyasi, previously known to Dev turned up with two others and saying, ‘I came only for dinner and not for money’ and dined with him.

Then Dev wrote to Jog complaining of Baba’s breach of promise. Jog was bringing the letter to Baba and even before it was opened, Baba spoke:

B.: Ah! He says that I made him believe that I would take his Udhyapana meal and that I deceived him. Inform him that I did attend the dinner with two others; but that he failed to recognise me. Tell him that I expressly said that I did not go there for money, but only for the dinner.

The reply was written and sent; and Dev was convinced that Baba ate in the form of the Sanyasi,

358. A Marwadi came to Adam Dalali and wanted food. And A.D. gave him some money and sent him to a Marwadi Hotel at Bandra. Later, A.D. went to Shirdi.

Baba (pointing to A.D): “I went to this man. He sent me to a Marwadi for food.”

Baba as Dog

359. Mrs.G.S.Khaparde when presenting Naivedya at the mosque was daily inviting Baba to go to her lodgings for a meal. Baba promised; but did not come.

One day when she was preparing dishes, a dog came near her and as she viewed it as an unclean and polluting animal, flung burning fuel at the dog and it ran away. That day at Naivedya time at the Mosque, Mrs. G.S.K. – “Baba, come to my lodgings for a meal.”

Baba :  “Yes.  when  I came,  you threw burning fuel at me.”

H.S.D.’s Brother

401. H.S.D.’s Brother was unwell at Nagpur and a letter intimating that fact came to H.S.D.’s at Shirdi, when he was before Baba.

H.S.D.: “I am of no service at all, Baba (to my brother), “(meaning that he could not help his brother any way.)

Baba- “I am of much service.”

The force of Baba’s words was understood by H.S.D. much later. At the time of his talk with Baba, someone had come to his brother at Nagpur and used the very same words, “1 am of much service”, and cured H.S.D.’s brother!