Baba’s other powers II
Para Number in the Book & About HIS Powers II
AUTO-BIOGRAPHIC REMINISCENCES OF PAST BIRTHS
Snake and frog-Rebirth for revenge, Development of Vasanas, Justice of God
473. Sai Baba said “One’s sin (Papa) does not cease, till he falls at the feet of sadhus,” and told a tale.
Another moral of this tale told by Sai Baba is that lust for Pelf drags, one down to the lowest level.
Sai Baba said: “One morning at 8 a.m. I went out for a walk. I came to a river (like Rahata River) which was deep. But there was a footpath and a cart track also sheltered by shade trees. A gentle breeze was blowing. I sat in the shade and looked at the dense foliage of the trees. As I was wetting my hand-kerchif to smoke my chilm. I heard the croaking of a frog. I struck my flints and lit my pipe; and Wayfarer came, sat by me, bowed to me and invited me to dine at his house.
I agreed; and he lit the pipe and handed it over to me. He heard the croaking and tried to find out what it was due to. I told him, “A frog is in trouble, tasting the bitter fruit of its own Karma. See, what we do in our past lives, we reap the fruit of, now . Why cry out now (against fate)?”
Then he went out in the direction of the sound to see the cause. I told him, “The frog is caught by a huge serpent and is crying. Both were very wicked in their past lives and they have come into their present bodies to reap their fruit.” The wayfarer found these words true. There was a huge black serpent holding in its mouth, a big frog.
And he said. “In 10 or 20 minutes. it will be all over with the frog.” But I said to him, “I am its father and am here. Will I let the snake eat it? See how I effect its release”.
I took the man with me and went to the place of the serpent. The man went first, looked at the snake and came back in terror and said to me, “The snake might come here and attack us. Let us fly from here. Do not go there.”
Then I went and addressed the struggling creatures thus-“Hallo! Veerabadrappa! Even now, Have you no pity for your enemy Basappa, though he, has taken form as a frog?. You also have become a serpent, Be ashamed of your hatred. Give up hatred and be quiet.“
Hearing these words, the snake let go the frog quickly, entered the deep water and disappeared. The frog also went away and hid itself in the tree.
The wondering wayfarer said that he could not understand all that took place, why the serpent dropped the frog at the words spoken, who was Veerabadrappa among the two and who Basappa; and what was the bone of contention between the two, and asked me to tell him. We went back to our shade at the tree foot and smoking our chilm, I then explained it all to him.
Some 2 or 3 Kros from my place, there was a holy place, A dilapidated Mahadeva temple was there. People resolved to renovate it. They collected funds for the purpose. A very rich man was made the treasurer. He had strict and regular accounts. But he was a born miser. The building was left incomplete and fresh collections were made. Still no progress was made in the building work.
God sent his wife a dream, wherein she was told. “If you spend any money on this temple renovation, Siva will give it back to you a hundred fold”. She mentioned this to her husband. He feared that it was involving him in expense. So he laughed it out as a mere dream, and not a thing to be acted on. “Else, why did not God come to me and tell me? Am I very far from you?” he said.
Then God came to her again in a dream and said that she need not bother herself about his wealth and that she might (if she liked) give any little thing she could scrape up of her own.
She had her sridhan (marriage gift by parent) ornaments. She went and told her husband of the dream and of her desire to give her ornaments to God. Now this miser wanted to cheat God in this transaction.
The jewels were worth Rs.1,000. So he told his wife that he would take the jewels himself and give God a land. But that land he held only as a mortgagee (some poor widow was the mortgagor). It was an uncultivated piece of coastland which yielded nothing in the best of seasons.
This, he gave away to the God (or to the Poojari i.e., temp’e priest as an inam for worship?).
Then came later a terrible storm. Lightning burnt down his house. He and his wife died. In the next life, the rich man was born at Mathura (Muttra). She was born as the daughter of the Poojari of Siva and was named Gowri. Dubaki, the mortgagor was born as a man named Basappa and was adopted as Poojari’s heir. The rich man in his rebirth was named Virabadra.
The Poojari of Siva’s temple was a great friend of mine and he would come to smoke with me. His daughter also was devoted to me. Her father, the poojari, considered whom he should wed her to. I told him “Do not bother. A man will come to you for her hand. “
Veerabadrappa left his poor parents and begged his food wherever he went and finally came to poojari’s house, and offered to wed his daughter. Veerabadra married Gowri. Veerabadra also became my devotee.
But he was hankering after money. He told me that I was responsible for his marriage and should help him to get wealth. I said, “Wait, Better times are coming”.
The coastland suddenly rose in value and was sold for one lakh of rupees. Half the price was paid in cash. The rest was promised in 25 instalments of Rs. 2000 each. All agreed to this in joy.
Then Virabadrappa and Basappa quarrelled over that money. I said Gowri was the sole proprietrix of the priest’s property.
Gowri had a dream that she should hold the property herself and not allow any one to claim it. Gowri sought my protection. I gave her a pledge that I would cross 7 seas even to help her. (It appears as though in that Janrna, Baba was a Moslem with siddhies, living in the masjid).
Virabadrappa disputed with Basappa and both came to me. I tried in vain to appease Veerabadra. He was wrath with me, got mad and threatened to kill Basappa and cut him to pieces. Basappa was timid and sought my protection. I pledged myself to save him from the vindictive wrath of Veerabadrappa. Veerabadra became mad with rage and cursed and swore at me and all. Then Veerabadra died and was born as a serpent. Basappa died and was born as a frog.
Hearing Basappa’s miserable croaking and remembering my pledge, I have kept my word and saved Basappa, the frog from Veerabadra, the snake. God has saved his devotee Basappa by sending me. All this is God’s Lila.
474. “I went to place, and by the Patil’s compulsion, I made a plantation and also a hard footpath through it.”
- Once I had heart palpitation and my life was in great danger. I put Vishnu Saharanama over my chest. God descended it into my body and the disease left me and I was safe.
- Baba: “Once I was a little boy and I tried to earn my bread. I started in quest of employment. I went to bid and got employed in weaving lace cloth. I was never wearied in my work. By my fakir’s (master’s) ways, there was no feeling of fatigue. Each day I turned out as much work as four boys together tuned out. One boy produced Rs. 50/- cloth per diem, another Rs. 100/-, another Rs.150/- and I Rs. 600/- worth. My employer was pleased. He loved me and praised me to others. He gave me nice dress, a pagota for my head and shawl for upper cloth. I did not use them, but gave them away to others. What Sircar (God) gives lasts for ever, not what man gives.
- “I was Kabir and used to spin yarn.“
- “I had four brothers. The eldest had all the money. His wife starved us all. I earned money by a contract and fed all including the eldest brother. He became a leper and was shunned by all and cast out. I attended on him, fed him and looked after his comforts. Ultimately he died.”
- “I was with 4000 persons, then an epidemic broke out. They were in fear. Then I assured the 4000 and said, “I will die rather than let you die. I will not let you die.”
- In the place, where this Shirdi Masjid (i.e., Baba’s) stands, one Muzafar Shah lived. He owned property extending for miles, i.e., upto Nandurki, where his son lived. I stayed with him and cooked for him. He died where the Dhuni (fire) is glowing now in the mosque.
- A devotee: Baba, what is your native place?
Baba: I came here from Aurangabad. My maternal uncle (Mama) brought me down here.
Devotee: What is the name of that Mama? Where is he now?
Baba (Laughing): He was a mad man, having no name. He must be living somewhere now.
- Baba: “My brother once misbehaved and was consequently excommunicated. I looked after him and eventually had him re-admitted in to caste.”
- Baba: In 1913 gave out a long personal story of previous birth of his. “We were two brothers. We walked on. On the way my brother went ahead. He was bitten by animals and he died. Five or six men came up and asked me. “Where is your brother?”. I told them the facts and added ‘I made a shroud for him’. Refusing to believe me they went in search for him, despite my protest and were eaten up by animals. A stout lady came and made the same enquiry and the same search and shared their rate. I gave her also the shroud. Then as I went on, six or seven moslems were came with a sheep. They then began to force it into my mouth. I said, “I will pray to God and then eat.” I covered the flesh with a cloth and prayed to God. Then the mutton was converted into huge red rose. They were so big that you could not enclose one rose into your palm. The moslems went away. Then I walked on. I was walking on a footpath and was enclosed by a wide expanse of clear water. No path was visible from there. That is God’s work.
Baba, then turning to Shama: What is our duty? Behave properly. that is enough. Go to the Wada and read pothi.
- Baba said once: “As a boy, I was weaving shawls and my father was once so pleased with my work that he gave me a present of Rs. 5/- or so. “
- I was once eating food (i.e., living) in the East Coast (Coromandel Coast).
- Baba: “Pshaw, what of Akbar? I protected him in his infancy. He stood in awe of me.”
- “That Brahmin of Paithan (evidently referring to Eknath), I knew. Such excellent Brahmins are not to be found now a days.”
- Baba to Balakrishna Upasani Sastri: “I was at the battle in which the Rani of Jhansi took part. I was then in the army.”
- “My rich father had much buried wealth. I sat on one and became a big cobra. After a time, I left the treasure and regained human form.”
- Baba to (GSK): “I was here (at Shirdi or on the banks of Godavari) eight to ten thousand years ago.”
- “An old Patil was on this field, and he used to visit me. Detectives (Govindas) 4 or 12 used to watch the old man and they had disagreements and once they had a scuffle with him, and I helped the old man then. He was hauled up and taken to a big town to be dealt with. I intervened and got him released.”
- “When I was young, I was going away far from Jaina. There was a mango tree on the way. Its fruits all marred by insects, I struck iron nails in the tree. That cured the defect. The fruits produced thereafter were free from insects.”
- Baba: “I and Sakharam (of Angaonkavad) studied under the same Guru and we both planted mangoes with our own hands. Two fruits from them, I have sent just now (1909) for you, Mrs. Kanitkar.
Mrs. kanitkar next day received at Kopergaon on her way back two mango fruits from the Brahmachari of the temple who said, “Baba sent these for you.”
495. When I was young I went out one morning and suddenly became a girl and continued to be so for sometime thereafter.
496. Baba: I laboured very hard. I went without food for months and fed myself on leaves of Kala Tekkal, Neem, and other trees. God was very good to me. Life never became extinct though all flesh got wasted and bones appeared to be in danger of crumbling away.
497. My father found a bar-maid, selling date toddy in a garden to two hundred Rohillas, took to her (wedded or not) got sons by her. She refused to go with him and favoured many. Worms developed on her feet. As she was my father’s wife, I tended her feet and cured her. She dies later.
- “Once I wove cloths, turbans, pitambar, rugs etc, but still I could not get enough money to satisfy hunger.”
- “My mother was greatly rejoicing that she had got a son, i.e., me. I was for my part wondering at her conduct. When did she beget me? Was I begotten at all? Have I not been already in existence? Why is she rejoicing over this?”
Baba draws people by Rinanubanda
(l) N.G.Chandorkar
500. Nana : Baba, why did you send for me?
Baba: There are thousands in the world. Do I send for them all? Should there not be some special reasons to send for you?
M: May be. I am not able to see.
B.: Nana, you and I have been intimate with each other for the last four births. You do not know that; but I do. So be coming here, now and then when you find time.
(2) Bbagavant Rao Kshirsagar
501.“This man never worships Vittal, not gives Naivedya as his father did. He starves me and Vittal. His father was my friend. So I have now drawn him here to tell him to revive his Pooja.”
(3)
502.In a former birth, I, you (G.S.K.) Jog, Kaka (H.S.Dixit), Shama, and Dada Kelkar, were all living together with our Guru, in a blind alley. I have therefore now brought all these together.
(4)
Nana, this man has left a box with us, and now wants it back. It is not proper to refuse, (i.e., he has done us a good turn in a former Janma. We must now do him a good turn.) (s.c.227.)
(5) Do not drive away
503. “No one comes to us without Rinanubanda. i.e., some pre-natal connection. So when any dog, cat, pig, fly or person approaches, do not drive it or him away with a “Hat-Hat,” “Jit-Jit”.
(6) Rinanubanda for animals
504. Baba (to a performer whose tiger died): The tiger’s debt to you incurred in a former birth is now cleared.
Baba’s reference to his being a Brahmin in the present Janma
505.(a) This is a Brahmin’s mosque.
(b) This is a Brahmin, a pure Brahmin, a white Brahmin, who will carry thousands on through Subhra Marga.
506. (c) Baba (to Mrs. Chaubal who intended to pay 1/2 rupees as dakshina to Baba, paid only 1/4 rupee and retreated): “Why do you wish to dupe me, a poor Brahmin, of the other 1/4 ?”
(d) Baba (to S.B.Nachna. who asked him leave to start, but forgot to deliver 2 annas to Baba, though he had received it from V.C.S. for that purpose): “All right you may go back via Chitali, but do not dupe a poor Brahmin of his two annas.”
"I draw to Me, My man from far off or even across the seven Seas to Shirdi, like a sparrow with a string fastened to its feet"-Shirdi Sai Baba, Indian Spiritual Guru-God 