"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

Thanks SSS Trust, Shirdi

People from different Religious, Geographical, Economic, and Social backgrounds are brought together here. Their prayers are delivered and successfully resolved with the grace of the Indian spiritual SadGuru-God, Shirdi Sai Baba.

Category: Duty of devotee

Baba and Others Saints
Para Number in the Book -BCS & Baba’s appearance in the form of other saints
1. Keshav Naik of Tardev, when Akkalkote Maharaj was passing away
  (about 1878) thus addressed him: Maharaj, if you go away, what support have we?
  Akkalkote Maharaj (giving his shoes to be worshiped): My Avatar (spirit) will be at Shirdi in Ahmadnagar District. Go there always. Be devoted there. If you do so, you will not remember me. And you will be happy
  When Akkalkote Maharaj passed away, Keshav Naik and his son
  Ramachandra Naik, accompanied by two orthodox Brahmins went to Sai Baba at Shirdi. On the way the Brahmins referred to Baba as a mad moslem fakir to whom no Brahmins could bow. When all four reached Baba.
Baba to Keshav Naik: You and your son may come and visit me, if you like.
(Pointing to the other two); These are Karmata Brahmins.
Baba to Ramachandra Naik: Fetch Margosa (Neem) leaves.
Ramachandra Naik brought some leaves. Baba distributed the leaves to the four.
Baba: Eat the leaves. How do they taste?
Brahmis (with a wry face): Very bitter.
The two Naiks: The leaves are sweet. We ate plenty of the leaves.

Thus Baba parted his sheep from the goats, and confirmed the statement of Akkalkote Maharaj.
I am at Mirzgaon (‘Fakir Bua’)
Why come here? (To Kusa Bhav)
I am Bandra Moulana.
[I am Nanded Moulana] You have already given me Rs.3-14-0

75. I am with you wherever you may be. I do not require conveyance to take me.
1. Baba (May 1914) addressing Mrs. T., a Bandra lady and her son Master T. : “Mother, I have to go thrice a day to your house.”
  Mrs. T.: Yes, Baba
  A local lady was astonished at this statement. She saw Baba daily at Shirdi. She said “Baba, what is this strange thing you say?”
  Baba: I do not speak falsehood. I am Mahalaxmi. Mother I come to your house. You give me things to eat, is that not true?
  Bandra Lady: Yes, Baba
  Shirdi Lady: Truly, does Baba go to you and do you feed him? Bandra Lady: Yes.
  Baba to Master T.: Do I not come to your house?
  Master T.: Yes, Baba.
  Baba to Shirdi Lady: Yes, mother, I go easily to Bhav’s house
  (at Bandra). In the middle, there is a wall. Jumping over it, next comes the railway line, and then Bhav’s house. (Here Baba described the crow’s flight from Shirdi to the lady’s house at Bandra).
  I have to fly across walls and excavations.
2. Mrs. Tendulkar of Bandra daily heaped up garlands of bakul (flower) over
  Baba’s picture in her house at Bandra for two months and then went to Shirdi.
  Baba : Hallo, Kaka (ie.To H.S. Dixit) these two or three months I have not been at Shirdi at all. This mother has smothered me with bakul flower and I was quite dizzy, and unconscious of myself. Now I am slowly coming around.
3. I went to Bandra and saw Bhav left nothing for me to eat, so I have returned hungry.
4. Do you think of me, at meal ? Am I not present near you ? Do you give me a morsel ?
5. I am not at Shirdi, but in all.
6. He who thinks that (Sai) Baba is in Shirdi (alone) has totally failed to see (i.e., know) Baba.
7. Why do you (weep and) behave so madly. Am I not there (at Bombay) by your side?
8. He (Sai) who is at Shirdi now is also at Machandragad here. It is to teach you this, I sent you here. (To Manker)
9. I have just been to Kasi and had a bath.
  I was at Jejuri, Bagat.
  I was at Dhulia, did you not see me? (To Upasani’s son)
  When you heard my voice, why doubt? Bolted doors do not bar access to me. (To Megha)
10. I will go with you (invisibly). Do not worry. Mother, I take thought for your family. Well, Go. I am by your side.
11. I am myself sitting there (invisibly), guarding you (Purandhare) and your wife.
12. Wherever you may be, think of me, and I am by your side.
13. Wherever you may be, whatever any of my devotees think, say or do, that very instant I am aware of it.
  (cf Quran-“And when my servants ask thee concerning me, then I nigh unto them and answer the cry of him that crieth unto me”
14. I look equally on all. Not a leaf moves, except by my grace. I look on all with equal eye.
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August 23, 2023
UBIQUITY OF BABA
Para Number in the Book-BCS & His Universalities
1. I am formless and everywhere.
  I am in everything.
  I am in everything and beyond.
  I fill all space. All that you see taken together is Myself. I do not shake or move.
2. All that is seen is my form; ant, fly, prince, pauper.
3. I am in the water, in dry places, in woods, amidst crowds, and in the solitary wilderness. I am in the fire and in ether. I am not limited to any place.
4. Feeding the hungry bitch is feeding me. I have the feeling of my hunger being satisfied, when hers is satisfied.
  Baba to Laxmi Bai Sciedhe: I am hungry.
  Laxmi Bai Scindhe; Shall I go and bring food?
  Baba; Do.
  Laxmi Bai Scindhe; Then brought food; Baba took nothing from it and placed the entire plate before a hungry bitch.
  Laxmi Bai Scindhe: Baba why do you do so?
  Baba: Is not the bitch also a Jiva? We talk, bitches do not. She is hungry; she and I are one and the same. It is the same if I eat or she eats.
5. I am still belching with the heavy feeding you gave the dog this morning. I am also in the mire besmirched pig (that you did not feed, though it came to you).
  To serve me, give up differentiation, (to Bombay Lady)
6. Sometimes I come as dog, sometimes as pig.
  The devotee who recognises me in each form and treats me adequately is blessed.
7. You have been with me eighteen years Nana. Does “Sai” mean to you only this 3’/2 cubits height of body?
  I am in the ant and fly.
  Whenever you see this sign, remember that I am there and that I can eat food through ants, flies etc.
  72-A. Baba: This body is but my house. My guru Mourshad has long ago taken me away from this.
8. I went as a cat to drink this man’s Hansraj’s curds to save him, despite his cussedness. But he beat me to day.
  I was the black dog.
  I was the sickly sudra. I am in everything, and beyond.
  I was the fakir who begged of you, at Bombay.
  I was the spirit, you saw at midnight under the tree.
  [I am Akkalkote Maharaj.] I gave you Rs. 2, Pitale(Devotee)
  73-A. Baba as a cat is beaten.
  Baba to Hansraj, an Asthma patient: Do not take curds or taste sour things. But Hansraj was daily preparing curds overnight to drink it, at the noon meal. Daily a cat drank it off and one day he beat the cat.
  Baba to others, in the presence of Hansraj: “There is an Urphatia. a cussed, cross-grained man. I told him not to take curds. But he daily prepared it. Daily I went as a cat and drank it off, to save his life. Today 1 went again. Do you know what he did? He beat me over the shoulder. See here. (Hansraj looked and found a fresh weal on Baba’s shoulder, though it was a cat, he beat with a stick on the shoulder) cf. 359.
  73-B. Baba as a dog and sickly Sudra:
  Kasinath Govind Upasani-KGU Maharaj, who lived at Shirdi in 1911-4, prepared his food which a black dog was watching. Offering nothing to the dog, K.G.U. went to the masjid and offered it to Baba.
  Baba: Why did you bring it here? I was there.
  K.G.U.: Baba, there was none there, except a black dog.
  Baba : I was that black dog.
  Baba refused to accept food that day.
  Next day K.G.U. prepared his meal at his quarters and found no dog there. But a sickly Sudra(Lower caste) was standing, leaning on a wall and looking at the food. The orthodox K.G.U. drove him away from that place and brought the food to S.Baba.
  Baba : Yesterday you did not offer me food. Today also you drove me away. Why bring the food here?
  K.G.U.: Where were you there, Baba?
  Baba.: I was leaning on the wall.
  K.G.U.: What! Could you be in such a person?
  Baba: Yes I am in all things and beyond.
  Purusha Sukta -i.e. HE pervades the earth and transcends it.
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August 22, 2023
Nine types of Devotion
Nine forms or types of Devotion (Bhakti) are, viz.,
- (1) Shravana (Hearing);
- (2) Kirtana (Praying);
- (3) Smarana (Remembering);
- (4) Padasevana (resorting to the feet);
- (5) Archana (Worship);
- (6) Namaskara (Bowing);
- (7) Dasya (Service);
- (8) Sakhyatva (Friendship);
- (9) Atmanivedana (surrender of the self). These are the nine types of Bhakti.
If any of these are faithfully followed, Lord Hari will be pleased and manifest Himself in the home of the devotee.

All the sadhanas, viz. Japa (vocal worship), Tapa (penance), and Yoga practice are quite useless. Studying the scriptures and expounding them are also quite useless. These activities need to be accompanied by Bhakti, i.e., devotion. Knowledge of the Vedas, or fame as a great Jnani, and mere formal Bhajan (worship) are of no avail. What is wanted is Loving Devotion.

Think of yourself as someone searching for the truth. Be anxious and eager like the seeker to collect or cultivate the nine types of devotion. Then you will attain stability and peace of mind.

SSSC Ch 21
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June 9, 2023
Who are the fit persons, who have a right to live by the begging-bowl
Sai Baba was neither a house-holder nor Vanaprastha. He was a celibate sannyasi, i.e., sannyasi from boyhood.

His firm conviction was that the universe was His home, He was the Lord Vasudeo – the Supporter of the universe and the Imperishable Brahman. So He had the full right to have recourse to the begging-bowl.

(2) Now from the standpoint of ‘Pancha-soon’ – five sins and their atonement. We all know that in order to prepare food- stuffs and meals, the householders have to go through five actions or processes, viz. (1) Kandani-Pounding, (2) Peshani-Grinding, (3) Udakumbhi – Washing pots, (4) Marjani – Sweeping and cleaning, (5) Chulli-Lighting hearths.

These processes involve destruction of a lot of small insects and creatures, and thus the householders incur a lot of sin. In order to atone for this sin, our Shastras prescribe six kinds of sacrifices, viz. (1) Brahma- Yajna, (2) vedadhyayan – offerings to Brahman or the study of the Vedas. (3) Pitra- Yajna-offerings to the ancestors, 4)Deva-Yajna – offerings to the Gods, (5) Bhoota- Yajna-offerings to the beings, (6) Manushya-Atithi-Yajna-offerings to men or uninvited guests. If these sacrifices, enjoined by the Shastras are duly performed, the purification of their minds is effected and this helps them to get knowledge and self-realization.

Baba, in going from house to house, reminded the inmates of their sacred duty, and fortunate were the people, who got the lesson at their homes from Baba.

SSSC Ch-9
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May 31, 2023
See God in all Beings.
Once, Mrs. Tarkhad was staying in a certain house in Shirdi. At noon, meals were ready and dishes were being served, when a hungry dog turned up there and began to cry, Mrs. Tarkhad got up at once and threw a piece of bread, which the dog gulped with great relish.

In the afternoon, when she went to the Masjid and sat at some distance, Sai Baba said to her, “Mother, you have fed Me sumptuously up to my throat, My afflicted pranas (life-forces) have been satisfied. always act like this, and this will stand you in good stead. Sitting in this Masjid I shall never, never speak untruth. Take pity on Me like this. First give bread to the hungry, and then eat yourself. Note this well.”

She could not at first understand the meaning of what Baba said. So she replied — “Baba, how could I feed You? I am myself dependent on others and take my food from them on payment.”

Then Baba replied — “Eating that lovely bread I am heartily contended and I am still belching. The dog which you saw before meals and to which you gave the piece of bread is, one with Me, so also other creatures (cats, pigs, flies, cows etc.) are one with Me. I am roaming in their forms.

He, who sees Me in all these creatures is My beloved. So abandon the sense of duality and distinction, and serve Me, as you did today.” Drinking these nectar-like words, she was moved, her eyes were filled with tears, her throat was choked and her joy knew no bounds

Moral

“See God in all beings” is the moral of this. The Upanishads, the Geeta and the Bhagwat, all exhort us to perceive God or Divinity in all the creatures. Sai Baba has practically demonstrated to us how to put the Upanishadic teachings into practice. In this way Sai Baba stands as the best Exponent or Teacher of the Upanishadic doctrines
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May 30, 2023
Hemadpant, The Author of “Shri Sai Satcharita”
Govind Raghunath Dabolkar, called Anna Saheb Dabolkar, was Mamlatdar and first class resident Magistrate.

His work ‘Sai Satcharitra’ in Marathi Ovi verse extends to a thousand pages. Maharashtra Sai bhaktas treat it as Sai Ramayana or modern Guru Charitra. They give it the respect due to ancient puranas. Even others respect it when they gain access through N.V. Gunjaji’s English adaptation or translations in Telugu, etc.

This work is highly meritorious and has been the instrument for many people becoming Sai bhaktas. The verses are highly sonorous. The stories about Sai Baba collected from various individuals are based on actual experiences. These stories have great charm and are always fresh.

On his first visit to Shirdi and Sai Baba in 1910, went to the mosque. He and his friend Bala Saheb Bhate prostrated before Baba. Baba pointed to Dabolkar and said, ‘What talk was going on there at the wada? And what did this Hemad Pant say (pointing his chin to Dabolkar)?’. Dabolkar’s name was not Hemad Pant at all.

Hemadpant-“I began to think why Sai Baba should call me by the name Hemadpant. This word is a corrupt form of Hemadripant.

This Hemadripant was a wellknown Minister of the kings Mahadev and Ramadev of Devgiri of the Yadav dynasty. He was very learned and good-natured. He authored good works, such as Chaturvarga Chintamani (dealing with spiritual subjects) and Rajprashasti. He invented and started new methods of accounts and was the originator of the Ovi (Marathi Shorthand) script.

But I was quite the opposite, an ignoramus, and have dull, mediocre intellect. I could not understand why the name or title was conferred upon me. However, after thinking seriously about it, I thought that the title was a dart to destroy my ego. This way, I should always remain meek and humble. It was also a compliment paid to me for the cleverness in the discussion#. (# before he started from Wada/Lodge to Sai Temple, he had some hot discussion with Bala Saheb Bhate about”Guru’s essential ” for 30 minutes)”.

Looking to the future history, we think that Baba’s word (calling Mr. Dabholkar by the name Hemadpant) was significant and prophetic, as we find that he looked after the management of Sai Sansthan very intelligently, kept nicely all the accounts and helped greatly in the publications of ‘Sai Lila Masik (Magazine)’ also as the author of such a good work “Shri Sai Satcharita (SSSC)”, which deals with such important and spiritual subjects as Jnana, Bhakti and dispassion, self-surrender and self-realization.
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May 21, 2023
Earlier Publications on Sai Baba
The premier poet-saint of Maharashtra (India), Shri Jnaneshwar Maharaj, has stated that the Lord loves those who write the lives of saints;

and the saints also have a peculiar method of their own of getting the service, which the devotees long for, successfully accomplished.

The saints inspire the work; the devotee becomes only an indirect cause or instrument to achieve the end.

For instance, in 1700 Shaka* year (AD year=78 + Shaka year) the poet Mahipati aspired to write the lives of saints. Saints inspired him, and got the work done;

So also in 1800 Shaka year, Das Ganu’s service was accepted.
- The former wrote 4 works-Bhakta Vijaya, Santa Vijaya, Bhakta Leelamrit and Santa Kathamrit, while the latter wrote two – “Bhakta Leelamrit and Santa Kathamrit“, in which the lives of modern Saints were described. In chapters 31,32,33 of Bhakta Leelamrit and in chapter 57 of Santa Kathamrit, the sweet life and teachings of Sai Baba are very well depicted. These have been separately published in Sai Leela Magazine, Nos. 11 and 12, Vol. 17; the readers are advised to read these chapters.
- So also Sai Baba’s wonderful Leelas are described in a small decent book named Shri Sainath Bhajana Mala by Mrs. Savitribai Raghunath Tendulkar of Bandra.
- Das-Ganu Maharaj also has composed various sweet poems on Sai Baba.
- A devotee named Amidas Bhavani Mehta has also published some stories of Sri Baba in Gujarathi;
- some Nos. of Sainath Prabha, a magazine published by Dakshina Bhiksha Sanstha of Shirdi, are also published
- Sai Samasthan itself published Rao Bahadur M.W.
  Pradhan’s book ‘A glimpse of Indian spirituality‘ but it ran upto about 25 to 30 pages and set out just a handful of facts about Baba.
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May 19, 2023
Kakaji’s Experience
- Shama and Kakaji, both started for Shirdi. On reaching the place, Kakaji went to the Masjid, and fell at Baba’s Feet.
- His eyes were soon bedewed with tears, and his mind attained calmness.
- According to the vision of the Goddess, no sooner did he see Baba, that his mind lost all its restlessness and it became calm and composed.
- Kakaji began to think, in his mind,
  - “What a wonderful power is this!
  - Baba spoke nothing, there was no question and answer,
  - no benediction pronounced; the mere darshana itself was so conducive to happiness;
  - the restlessness of my mind disappeared by His mere darshan,
    
    consciousness of joy came upon me – this is what is called ‘the greatness of darshan’.”
    
    His vision was fixed on Sai’s feet and he could utter no word.
    
    Hearing Baba’s Leelas, his joy knew no bounds.
    
    He surrendered himself completely to Baba, forgot his anxiety and cares and got undiluted happiness.
    
    He lived happily there for twelve days and after taking Baba’s leave, Udi and blessings returned home.
SSSC-Ch30
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April 13, 2023
Granting Consecrated Book
The variety of imparting instructions followed by Baba has already been noticed in other places. In this, we shall deal with one aspect of it.

It was the habit of some devotees to take some religious books, of which they wanted to make a special study, to Baba and to receive the same back from Him, after they were touched and consecrated by Him. While reading daily such books, they felt that Baba was with them.

Once, Kaka Mahajani came to Shirdi with a copy of Ekanathi Bhagwat. Shama took that book to read and taking it with him went to the Masjid. There Baba took it from him, touched it and turning some pages here and there gave it back to Shama and asked him to keep it with him. When Shama said that it belonged to Kaka and had to be returned to him. “No, no”, said Baba. “As I have given it to you, better keep it with you for safe custody; it will be of use to you.”

Kaka Mahajani after a some days came again with another copy of the same Bhagwat and gave it in Baba’s hand. Then Baba gave it back as Prasad and asked him to preserve it well and assured him that it would stand him in good stead. Kaka accepted it with a reverence
```
"SO please buy a new Sai Book and take it to Baba Mandir;  Place it before Baba's feet, and then Start reading and felt that Baba is with you"
```
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April 3, 2023
My method is quite unique
“My method is quite unique. Remember well, this one story (About Mrs. Radhabai Deskmukh), and it will be very useful.

To get the knowledge (realization) of the Self, Dhyana (meditation) is necessary. If you practice it continuously, the Vrittis (subtle thoughts) will be pacified.

Being quite desireless, you should meditate on the Lord, Who is in all the creatures; When the mind is concentrated, the goal will be achieved.

Meditate always on My formless nature, which is knowledge incarnate, consciousness and bliss.

If you cannot do this, meditate on My Form from top to toe, as you see here night and day.

As you go on doing this, your Vrittis will be single-pointed and the distinction between the Dhyata (meditator), Dhyana (act of meditation), Dhyeya (this meditated upon) will be lost and the meditator will be one with the Consciousness and be merged in the Brahman.
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March 27, 2023