Baba worship had and has all stages in it, and all sorts of worshippers.
Baba who first objected to his worship, did by his own Antarjnana or prophetic vision foreseeing what was to follow, namely, not only individual benefits to millions, but also national benefit and ultimately benefit to the cause of religion itself for the sake of humanity.
That is why HE gradually promoted and then developed HIS worship:-
Individual worship of Baba attracted larger and larger numbers from the immediate neighbourhood and
from distant places and this developed into congregational worship;
and that again from simple congregational worship to the highly complicated forms, which are seen in famous places of worship like Pandharpur.
Worship like Pandarpur and Tirupati were developed for Baba worship at Shirdi, including ritual, hymnology, music, processions, cars, palanquin horse and pujaris.
575. Adam Dalali (to Baba): My son has to be married. Unless you bless and give permission, how am I to get the money for it?
B.: “Wait.”
After a time, Baba said to A.D. : ‘Now, celebrate your son’s marriage.”
A.D. then got very good brokerage business and with the money got, he performed his first son’s marriage.
Similar blessing from Baba enabled him to perform the marriage of his two other sons.
(b)L.G. Munge
576. Laxman Govind Munge went in 1890 to Rahata and there met Sai Baba.
B.: “Come child, I was thinking of you yesterday. Come, eat this mango and shampoo my leg”; ” What for have you come?”
Munge: My marriage is settled. I have no jewels. I have come to borrow jewels (from my relations).
B.: “Who is whose? Who gives? Who receives? None will give timely help. If you need 1,000 Rupees or 2,000 Rupees (worth of ornaments), receive it from me.”
Munge (thinks): How is this poor fakir to give me 2,000 Rupees jewels.
His relations (as foretold by Baba) refused to help. Then a Gujarati Sowcar at Sinner was induced by M.’s friend, to lend him 2,000 Rupees worth of jewels, for a payment of 25 rupees cash. Thus the marriage was celebrated.
(c) Damodar Rasane
577. Damodar Rasane had four offers of marriage for his son Nana (Daulat Shah), one of which had Rs.2,500/ or 3,000 of dowry.
D.R.: Baba, which of these girl’s horoscopes shall I accept for my son?
Baba, Picking up a poor girl’s Horoscope: “Damia, let this be your daughter-in-law. (That girl was married to Daulat Shah and proved a good choice).
Id) S.B.Dhumal
577B. S.B. Dhumal became a widower at 36 without issue. The Question about his marrying again was raised by his father-in-law Rao Bahadur B.D.Kinkhede. Rao Bahadur approached Baba. Baba’s eyes gave the negative reply. Baba did not permit him to marry at all. Hence Rao Bahadur S.B.D. remained single till the end of his life.
Para Number in the Book & About His Watch and Fore-knowledge
(a) G.G. Narke (cf.608)
558. In 1916 a halwa-maker usually supplying halwa (cake) for Baba’s Arati died of plague.
Baba to G.G.N: “Go to the halwayi’s shop and bring naivedya.“
G.G.N. going to the place asked Mrs. H: Baba wants Naivedya.
Mrs.H: Look there. My husband’s plague-stricken corpse is there. The Halwa is in the almirah. Take it if you please.
G.G.N. took it, trembling for himself and for others who were going to take naivedya, with the possibility of catching plague: and he placed the Halwa before Baba.
B.: ” You think you will live if you are away from Shirdi and that you would die if you stay at Shirdi.
That is not so. Whoever is destined to be struck will be struck. Whoever is to die will die. Whoever is to be caressed will be caressed, (cf. 298,608)
The Halwa was given as naivedya and none caught plague’ from the Halwa.
(b) S. B. Dhumal
559. S.B. Dhumal at Nasik found plague in the town and plague rats in his house. He wrote to Shama at Shirdi asking him to consult Baba whether he should leave the house and go to the bungalow. Baba’s answer permitting the removal to the bungalow, came.
But on the very night of going to the bungalow, a dead rat was found in one of the beds and a letter was sent to Baba as to whether he should move away. S.B.D. continued to remain in the bungalow till the reply should come. The reply came advising continued stay.
Later, dead rats were found all over the house, in the servant’s quarters, in the well, as in the neighbourhood.
Then writing a letter again to Baba, S.B.D. packed his articles before reply came, and was about to unlock his house at Nasik for re-occupation. Just at the moment Baba’s reply came. It was: “Why should we give up (change) our residence?”
At once S.B.D. went back to the bungalow and lived there. By Baba’s supervision, S.B.D. and his family were, perfectly safe, (cf.9)
559A. Villagers (after Appa’s death): Baba, there is terrible cholera raging in the village. Save us.
Baba: “Do not fear. Only seven will die. After that this epidemic will disappear”.
Para Number in the Book ‘BCS’ , About His Watch over Devotees
(a) N.G. Chandorkar
When N.G.C. was transferred to Pandharpur and was approaching Shirdi to take leave of Baba, Baba addressed the devotees present and said to Mahalsapathy, Kasiram and Appa Scindhe:- “Let us four do Bhajan; The door of Pandari is wide open. Let us joyously do Bhajan.” Then Baba led with the song:
“To Pand’ri will I wend my way,
Therein to be staying.
To stay there. 0, therein to stay
For there my Lord is living.”
Joshi, younger brother of the Thana pleader Joshi, wanted to go to Baba Shirdi; but could not afford it. Some days later a Konkanath Brahmin was taking leave of Baba to go to Bombay.
Baba (to K.B.): “Take this packet of Udhi and give it to a man, who will meet you in the train and ask you for just a span of space to sit.”
K.B. (receiving it):If I do not find any man, I will send this packet back to you.
B. “You will find the man.”
Then K. B started from Kopergaon to Bombay and up to Kalyan found no one. At Kalyan the whole train and his compartment were overcrowded and Joshi, the younger rushed into his compartment and asked for a span of space. K.B. gave him the space and also the Udhi.
555. On the 3rd week of October 1917 at 5 p.m. Kaka at his office met the son of his master, the sait.
S.: My father writes from Nasik and wants to know, if Sai Baba would advise him to prolong his stay there or go back to Bombay. Please go to Shirdi and consult Baba.
KM:. H.S.Dixit is at Shirdi, we shall write to him to consult Baba and get his orders.
S.S. No, no. The sait is particular that you should go and get orders direct from Baba.
KM: I will go.
At that same time Baba was at the mosque with H.S.D. and 24 others.
Baba turning to H.S.D.: “Hallo! that matters are being bruited and what deliberation!”
Next day K.M. arrived at Shirdi.
Baba to K.M: “You have done well in coming.”
Baba (turning to H.S.D.): “Last evening we were thinking of this. Were we not? “
Then K.M. and H.S.D. compared notes and found how Baba was watching devotees both at Bombay and at Shirdi at the same time, (cf.para 9)
(d) Rao Bahadur M.W. Pradhan’s mother
556. Baba to M.W. Pradhan: “On this side of my body there is excruciating pain. It will be alright in two or four days.”
Baba, when saying this, was apparently healthy and M.W.P. could not make out its meaning at the time; but when he went home to Bombay, he found that his (M.W.P’s) mother’s body on one side (by reason of hemiplegia) had excruciating pain and it was alright in two or four days.
(e) Manager’s servant
557. Baba before Mr.Manager (Sadashiv Tarkhad): “My leg is paining. It will be alright. if Korphad (aloe) is spilt in two, warmed over a fire and applied. “
It was Manager’s servant that had pain (lumbago) and the suggested application of Korphad was adopted and the servant was cured
Para Number in the Book “BC&S” and about Baba’s Submission himself for Worship by Devotees.
551. Baba from the beginning disliked or avoided the worship of his body by devotees. But Mahlsapathy’s ardent devotion began the worship and could not be resisted. Bapu, a four year old son of N.G. Chandorkar extended it, and all (then) began to claim the same privilege as the child.
Still Baba did not wish to have sandal applied to his forehead e.g., in three horizontal lines. But Dr.Pandit came and put these lines of sandal on Baba’s forehead. Baba suffered it quietly.
Dada Kelkar : Baba, How is it that though you objected to this form of sandal paste, you allow it now?
B.: “Pandit believes in his mind that I am the same as his Brahmin guru Dhopeswar Kaka Maharaj, and applied sandal to me as he was doing to that guru. Hence I could not object.”
Abdul Rangari, a moslem, came later and asked Baba.
A.R.: Baba, how is it that sandal is being pasted on you? This is not our custom.
B.: “Jaisa Desh, Vaisa Vesh (i.e., we must conform to our surroundings). The Hindus worship me as their God. Why should I displease them? I allow them to do so. I myself, am a devotee of God.”
Baba orders Guru Purnima Celebration
552. Baba’s (group) Arati and pooja on ordinary days was started in 1909; but for some time, there was no celebration of Guru Purnima by special worship of Baba on that day.
Baba himself sent for Dada Kelkar on Guru Purnima day and said “Do you not know that this is Guru Poornima; Bring your worship materials and do your Guru Pooja”. The Guru Pooja was done on that day and this practice of celebrating Guru Poornima by all the devotees worshipping Baba, then begun, has continued up-to-date.
But Baba objected to stealthy midnight worship of himself on Sivaratri, by H.V.Sathe.
Para Number in the Book “BCS”, About Baba’s Help in Business
(a) D.S.Rasane
548. Damodar S. Rasane had an offer for speculation in cotton at Bombay from a broker. The broker promised him lakhs of rupees by way of profit. D.S.Rasane wrote to Shama to gel Baba’s permission. Shama brought the letter to Baba. Before it was read, Baba spoke.
Baba: “Damia wants to catch at the sky. He is not content to keep what God has given him. Damia’s is confused. Write to him that his present state is not unhappy. His present half loaf is enough. Let him not bothered about lakhs.”
Then Damia went in person and, thinking of starting that speculation and giving Baba a share in the profits, massaged Baba’s feet.
Baba, loudly: “Damia, I am not in anything (i.e. I do not wish to get entangled in any samsara, like sharing profits.)”. So, that enterprise was given up.
Again Damia had a proposal, when prices of grains were running high to buy in a lot of grain; and store it for some months or years and then sell it. Damia went to Baba and said “Shall I trade in grain ?”
B.: “No, you will be buying at five seers [weight] and selling at seven (per Rupee).”
But for weeks, the rise in prices was kept up and Baba’s prophecy seemed to be falsified. But a month or two later i.e., in Sravan, there was abundant rain on all sides; and the prices suddenly fell and remained low for a long time. The grain storers had a serious loss. Baba saved Damia from that fate.
(b) Bayyaji patel
549 (1) Baba was giving regularly Rs.4/- per diem to Bayyaji Appaji patel for years.
B.: “Do not lend these moneys, nor give them away to others, Do not eat and excrete these.”
Baba evidently wanted the money to be invested in land Purchases. Accordingly Bayyaji purchased 84 acres of land, which he is still retaining.
(2) Sugarcane was the vogue, and everybody was planting the Godavari valley with sugarcane.
Bayayaji: Baba, shall I plant sugarcane? Baba. “Don’t.”
But the example of others and the hope of large profits from sugarcane, made Bayyaji disregard Baba’s advice and go in for sugarcane planting. What was the result?.
First, a loss of Rs.300/- in the money invested and next, the going without the usual supply of dry crops, he would have got on the land.
(c) Rao Bahadur S.B.Dhurnal
550. S.B. Dhumal was offered the pubic Prosecutor-ship at Nasik. He wrote to Shama for Baba’s approval.
B. “Why should he accept the new? The old is good enough.”
S.B.D. rejected the Public Prosecutorship and his income was still good.
Para Number in the Book & About Baba’s Help in Domestic Affairs
(a) Mr. and Mrs.Nimonkar
546. Nana Nimonkar (to his wife): See our boy at Belapur, and return immediately.
Mrs.N.N: How ? There are so many relations there to see.
N.N.: I cannot wait. Next day being Amavasya, you must return.
Mrs. N.N. was greatly worried and perplexed.
Baba coming up just then from the mosque said: “Mother, you are going to see your convalescent son at Belapur. Go Quickly. Go unperturbed. See all your relations there and then return to Shirdi, after 2 or 4 days of stay.”
Thus Baba’s appellate decree reversed Nana Nimonkar’s. Nana proposes and Baba disposes.
547. Mrs.H.V. Sathe had agreed to go with her husband to see a land recently purchased near Shirdi. But her father persuaded her and she resolved not to go as. If she did, Babu’s widow (relative) would give trouble by claiming rights in the land.
So when the cart came and stood in front of Sathe wada; and her husband asked her to get in, she refused. The irate husband pulled out the whip from the cart-man and raised it aloft to chastise the wife. Suddenly, Megha rushed in.
Megha: Baba wants you urgently to go to Dawaraka Mayee.
H.V.S dropped the whip and went to Baba.
Baba: “What is the matter? What is it that has happened? Your land is there. Where is the necessity to go and see it?
H.V.S felt ashamed of his attempt at whipping his wife and was glad to note the watchful eye of Baba over himself and family.
Para Number in the Book & About His Watch and Care
(I) Dhulia Bahalkar’s boy’s illness
532. In March 1913, Raoji Balakrishna Upasani Bahalkar’s younger son had high fever for 5 or 6 days.
The doctor gave up hopes. Then R.B.U. prayed to Baba.
Baba, appearing at 2a.m. in his room at Dhulia and applying Udhi to the boy said: “Now, have no more anxiety. In two hours, your boy will perspire. In the morning he will feel better. After he gets well, bring him to me.”
In the morning the boy was better. This was about 6-3-1913.
On 8-3-1913 Shama wrote to Raoji, as follows: ‘Baba said, “I have been to your Dhulia friend’s house”. I (Shama) asked. Who is that friend?
B.: ‘Upasani Bahalkar Raoji, I am daily going to his house. You had better write to him.”
Therefore I have written this letter’
Fifteen days later, Raoji and his son were going to Shirdi. On the way at Kopergaon, the tonga driver was delaying them.
At Arati time, Baba told Shama : “Sharma, wait a bit for the is Arati to start. Your Dhulia friend is coming. The tonga driver is troubling him. On their arrival in time for receiving prasada.’
(After that) Baba (to the boy): “When you were ill, I came to Dhulia. Do You remember ?”
(2) Mahalsapathy – Snakes
533. B: “Bhagat, two serpents are moving about near your house”. Mahalsapathy (who was addressed by Baba as Bhagat, i.e. Bhakta) returning from Dwarkamayi saw one serpent at his own door and another at the potter’s beneath his pillow.
533B.Baba: ‘Bhagat. when you come here to night come with a lamp. You will meet thieves at the village gate.”
Mahalsapathy came that night with a lamp and found a serpent at the gate.
534. A devotee had gone out in the dusk to ease himself. There he heard the rustle of something. Believing it to be a snake, he hurried back to his quarters.
Later he met Baba.
B.: “Am I not in the place, where you go to ease yourself? Why do you fear?
534B Mrs. Manager i.e. Mrs Sadashiv Tarkad of Poona being saved from treading on a snake, merely by intuition.
Abhyam to Mirikar-Snake
535A. Mamlatdar Bala Saheb Mirikar, son of Sardar Mirikar (Dev Exp) was about to take leave of Baba.
B.: “Do you know there is Dwaraka Mayi of ours”. Merikar was puzzled, as he did not know.
B.: “This is Dwaraka Mayi, in which you are sitting; This wards off all dangers and anxieties from her children. Highly merciful is this Masudi Ayi. She is the mother of all those, who place entire faith in her. She will save them, in the hour of danger. Once a person trusts her all his troubles are over.”
B. (then giving udhi. added); “Do you know the elongated gentleman? (Baba extends both his arms at full length and moves one plam like the hood of a cobra). So terrible he is ! But what can it do against the children of Dwaraka Mayi ? If it appears, we shall be merely amused. When the Dwaraka Mayi protects, can the serpent strike?”
Baba ordered Shama to accompany Mirikar. At Chitali, at 9 p.m. that night, Mirikar, Shama and some peons were at the Maruti temple. Mirikar was reading newspapers. Suddenly the peon heard a rustling sound on the newspaper. The peon took a lamp and saw what it was.
A part of Mirikar’s upper cloth was on a newspaper and a serpent lay on that end of the cloth. The peon cried “snake, snake !”and it moved off from Mirikar. People gathered and clubbed it to death. Mirikar was only amused and not terrified.
535B. One day at Shirdi, Baba made dolorous Sankha sound (indicative of coming death) and said “Hallo, Nana is about to die. But will I let him die?”.
At that time N.G. Chandorkar and Lela Sastri were near Poona. They were in a tonga, the horse of which reared and overturned the tonga. N.G.C. and Sastri were in peril of their life. But they picked themselves up and found that they had suffered no injury. When they reached Shirdi, they found that Baba had made the above declaration and had saved their lives.
535C. R.V. Modak feared that a special examination was being held, wherein his appearance might be a means for elevation or the certain means of dismissal on the score of inefficiency. He went to Baba and Baba detained him so as to miss the examination at Bombay.
At parting, Baba said “Go”
R.V.M.: “whither Baba? Home or Bombay?”
Baba: “Go home, your children are waiting for you.”
(4) Abhayam (Ganda) to Buti
536. Nana saheb Dengle (who was good at astrology) told Buti one day that there was Ganda, i e., danger to his life that day. Later both came to Baba.
B.: “what does Nana say? He sees death coming to you, eh? We have no need to fear. Strike! Strike! Let me see how you strike and kill.”
Later Buti went to ease himself and there saw a snake. His servant saw it and lifted up a stone. ‘A stick is safer and better’, said Buti. But before the stick came, the serpent moved away.
V. CONSIDERATION FOR HEALTH
537. Baba found Bala Shimpi on the road side, very ill with no one to attend to him. Baba had begged food in his (B.S’s.) house and was deeply attached to his family.
Baba told Bala Shimpi to go to Nana Saheb Dengle at Nimgoan. Nana Saheb had at that time a dream and Baba in that dream told him to undertake the care of Bala Shimpe,who would go to him. So when Bala went, he was cordially received and looked after by Nana Saheb Dengle.
Para Number in the Book ‘BCS” , About Baba’s consideration for Devotees
(a) For Mother’s Prayer (Haribhav Panse)
524. Haribhav Panse Dahanukar started for Rameswaram against his mother’s will, and she was observing a fast, that should last up to his return. Hearing that her son had stopped at Shirdi with Baba. She prayed thus, “If Baba is a true Sadhu, he should make my son cancel his pilgrimage and send him back to his house.”
(Here) Baba to Haribhav: “Give me Dakshina.”
Baba took from Haribhav the entire railway fare from Shirdi to Rameswaram and back.
Baba to Haribhav: “Go home, Rameswar is starving since you left home. If you do not go now, Rameswar will cease to exist and Badreswar will take its place.”
Haribhav went home and found his mother fasting and learnt of her prayers, which Baba thus granted.
(b) Kusal Bhav’s Pious wishes
525. Baba told H.S.Dixit one day to take a tonga and go to Rahata and fetch Kusal Bhav, a devotee greatly attached to Baba. What was the reason?.
K.B. thought on the previous day that for a long while he had not seen Baba; and that night, Baba came to him in his dream and said “Come to Shirdi”. In the morning K B found that he had no horse for his tonga and so he could not go. He sent his son on foot to Shirdi in his stead. Before the son came .
B.: “Kaka (H.S.Dixit), take a tonga and go to Rahata and bring Kusal Bhav.”
When H.S.D. came to K.B., he pleaded the absence of his horse.
H.S.D.: That is why Baba asked me to take a tonga and bring you in the tonga.
K.B. thereupon paid the visit, he was anxious to pay.
(c) Mavushe’s
526. B. (one day) said: “My stomach in aching.”
Then Mavushe applied a red-hot brick over Baba’s abdomen and then removing it, began pressing Baba’s sides with her hands with great violence. S.B. Nachne, then present, cried out: Hold. Hold. Be more gentle Baba will suffer.
Baba to Nachne: “Get out, do not interfere.”
(d) Baba asked Dada Kelker to get onions from S.B.N’s Mother-in-law (see under Baba’s Justice and Equality) (see 587)
(e)Vadhavkar’s Hunger
527. Sadashiv T. Vadhavkar went to Baba and sat before him. Though feeling hungry, delicacy prevented his mentioning it. A pocket of pedas was brought to Baba. Baba usually touched nothing when it was brought. But on this occasion, he opened that packet and threw one peda into Vadhavkar’s lap.
Vadhavkar retained it in his hand.
Baba: “It is not given to you for merely keeping.”
Then Vadhavkar ate it and his hunger was half appeased. Then Baba flung another peda at him. Vadhavkar held it in his hand, thinking of taking it home.
Baba: “This is not given to you for keeping.”
Vadhavkar ate that up and his hunger was wholly appeased.
Baba did not throw any more pedas.
(f) B.V.Vaiday’s health and safety
528. B V Vaidya in 1911 went with family to Shirdi and at 1 a.m. alighted at Sathe Wada. He took light tiffin (faral), went to bed.
In the morning, Baba (to the people at the Wada, angrily): “My children arrived, none looked after them and you made them upas i.e., eat faral” (With these words baba drove away the Bhaktas from Mosque)
When leaving Shirdi with intent to go Nasik, Vaidya went to Baba and asked leave.
Baba: “Going to Nasik! What for should you go to Nasik! There is plague there. Do not go there. Go back home, taking your little one with you.”
Vaidya took Baba’s photo and gave it to into his hands. Baba touched it and returned it (for worship)
Baba then said ” You had better go now.”
Vaidya and family go into the tonga and arrived at the station just in time to miss the train. They believed they were unlucky and spent some hours at the station for the next train. They arrived at Manmad by the next train and learnt that the previous train, which they would have boarded at Manmad had they arrived earlier, had an accident in which one carriage was smashed.
At the next visit Baba made them overstay their leave. B.. “Be quiet. Do not fear.”
When they returned three days after expiry of leave, they applied for extension of leave to the G.I.P and that was granted without any trouble.
(g) Consideration for Mrs. Pradhan’s baby’s cries
529. Mrs. M.W.Pradhan was doing her puja of Baba at Dwaraka-Mayi and suddenly Baba stopped her.
B.: “Stop. Go to you Wada (lodgings)”.
She stopped and went to her lodgings. There she found her baby was crying. She then comforted it, put it to sleep and came back to Baba. B.: “Now do your Puja.”
Baba had heard the baby’s cries by his Antarjnana, though the lady’s lodgings were far from the mosque. Such hearing is referred to in the well known song. i.e.,
Sai hears even the footfall of an ant.
(h) Purandare’s Obstinacy
530. When a palki was brought and silver ornaments there from were stolen, R.B. Purandhare and his friend were keen on erecting a room or garage, for it next to the mosque on northern side. For erecting a room, R.B.P. was boring some holes in the mosque wall, when Baba was absent. Baba came and ordered him to stop the work. R.B.P. however went on, in spite of Baba’s threats. He went on with the work, not minding his own mealtime.
B.: “See how bad it is. He won’t listen to me. I have to put up with all this.’
Again Baba said: “Go for your meal.”
R.B.P.: Baba, I will not, because you will undo my work in my absence.
Baba : “No, you may go for your meal.”
Then R.B. Purandhare went.
B: “What is to be done? If a child passes stools upon your leg, do we cut off the leg or the child ? We have to put up with it.”
(i) Varde’s Obstinacy
531. Varde : Baba, give me leave to do Satyanarayan Puja at this Mosque.
B.: “You may do it.”
Then Varde went out and brought young plantain trees and put them on all sides of Baba, treating Baba as the image.
Varde. Baba, I have not got money for expenses.
B.: “How much do you want ?”
Varde : Rs2-8-0.
B. (Pointing out Jayakar): “That man has it, borrow it from him.”
Though that was all the money Jayakar had, he had to lend it. And Varde’s Satyanarayana Pooja was finished.
