"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: Divinity

  • BLESSINGS FOR ISSUE

    6–9 minutes

    Baba’s Says on children

    Para Number in the Book & About children birth

    (a) D.S. Rasane

    539. Damodar S. Rasane married one wife, had no issue and married another, hoping to get issue. But still the second marriage also was not fruitful. In his horoscope there was a papi in the fifth place from lagna. The stars evidently were against him. But he had great faith in Baba. When he went to Shirdi, Baba was waiting for him and gave him four mango fruits.

    B.: “Damia, take these fruits now.   Eat and die.”

    Damia was shocked, failing to see that begetting progeny and continuing in Samsara was Spiritual death. Again,

    B.: “Do not eat the fruits yourself.   Give them to your wife. Damia: Which wife?

    B.: “Junior wife. Let her eat the fruits. She will have two sons first, the first to be named Daulat Shan, and the second to be named Thana Shah.”

    Later Baba told him that he would have eight children in all. This proved to be exactly the case, Damia had two sons first. He took his first son to Baba and said’ ” How shall I name this child?”

    B.: “Have you forgotten what I told you? You have written it at page 3 of your notebook- Did I not say that he should be named Daulat Shah?”

    (He is Nanasaheb Rasane, Trustee of Baba Sansthan)

    (b) Rao Bahadur H. V. Sathe

    540.   H. V. Sathe, a deputy collector was at the age of 50, a widower with 2 daughters and without male issue and he hesitated very much to marry again to get male issue.   He came to Shirdi in 1904 along with the Mamlatdar.

    Mamlatdar: Saheb has no male issue, Baba.

    B.: “If Saheb marries, God will give him a son.”

    Thus assured, H.V.S. was prepared to marry. Next year, Dada Kelkar’s daughter was offered: but H.V.S. wished  to consult Baba. As soon as the girl was taken by Sharma and Dada Kelkar to Baba, Baba (putting Kumkum on the forehead of the girl) said: “Send this girl away to Ahemedabad (The place where H.V.S. then was). Then H.V.S. married her (1906); but during the next six years, two daughters only were born.

    In 1912, Dada Kelkar and his wife went to Baba and said: “Baba, when are we to have a grandson?”

    B.: “I am requesting Allah. He will comply with my request.” (In 1913 a son was born to H.V.S. and he is still (1940) hale and hearty.)

    (c) Sapatnekar

    541. One, Sapatnekar, a law student found his friend going up for the Law Examination with him and asked him what hopes of success, he could have with his insufficient preparation of his subjects. The latter replied that he was relying upon Sai Baba’s assurance to him of success despite insufficiency of preparation. Then Sapatnekar reviled both his friend and Baba. The Examination results came and proved the correctness of Baba’s statement.

    Sapatnekar, however, attributed the results to a fluke and still held Baba in low esteem. He then practised at Akkalkot as a lawyer and after ten years lost his only son. Then conscience began to prick him and he wished to visit Baba to apologise. He went and bowed to Baba.

    B: “Chal! Hut” (i.e., get away).

    A little later, again he bowed to Baba.

    B.: “Get away from here.” The man went back.

    A year later, Baba appeared in his wife’s dream and invited the pair to come to him. On this occasion Sapatnekar apologised humbly for his past contempt. Baba then addressed a shepherdess in S.’s presence and narrated the incidents of S.’s life, as his own.

    While S. was wondering at Baba’s thorough knowledge of things transpiring at distant places and at distant times. Baba spoke again to the shepherdess.

    B.: “This man (pointing to S.) blames me, thinking that I killed his son. Now I will again bring back that identical soul to his wife’s womb.”

    Baba then turned to S. placed his palm over his head and said: “Your object will be quickly attained.”

    Sapatnekar was full of joy and his faith grew and developed as Baba showed him, more and more of his Antarjnana. For instance Baba gave a full account of Mrs. Sapatnekar’s disease and foretold (or directed) its cure. In the face of such utterances, it was impossible to disbelieve Baba again, as he(S) did in his student days. At leave taking, Baba gave him a cocoanut and said “Put this in the Padar ( the frings of the upper cloth) of your wife and go away rejoicing”.

    In 12 months’ time he got a son, whom later he brought to Baba.

    (c) Mrs. Aurangabadkar 

    542.     One  Sakharam   Aurangabadkar  of Sholapur had no  issue  by his  second  wife. She never conceived even once during the 27 years she lived with him. Shama asked her to wait near the mosque, when he would call for her, after Baba should get into a pleasant mood.

    After Shama poured water on Baba’s food-soiled hand to wash it, Baba pinched his cheek. Shama feigning anger “What Deva, is it good for you to pinch me?”

    Baba: “During the 72 Janmas that you were with me. I never pinched you till now; and yet you resent my touching you.”

    Shama: Deva, we want a deva to give us sweet things, e.g.. Swargaloka, Vimana, etc.

    B.: “Yes indeed I have come for that”. Then Baba sat on his usual seat. Shama beckoned to the lady and she came, bowed and presented a cocoanut and scented sticks.

    Baba shook the cocoanut, which was dry.  The kernel within rolled and made a noise.

    Baba: (holding it in  “guduguduppandi” fashion) “Shama, this is rolling.  See what it says.”

    Shama: The lady here prays that a child might be similarly quickening in her womb. So give her the cocoanut with that blessing.

    B.: “Will the coconut given to her turn into a baby? How foolish people are to fancy such things!”

    S.: I know the power of the blessing and the cocoanut. Give her the coconut and the blessing.

    B.: “Break the coconut. “

    S.: Give the blessing and the coconut.

    This was repeated twice or thrice. S.: But when?

    B.: “In 12 months’ time.”

    Then the coconut was broken and one half was given to the lady.

    S.: Madam, you see what he said. If in 12 months time you do not get issue, I will break a coconut against his head and drag him out of the Masjid. If I do not, I will not call myself “Madhava Rao”.

    She was delivered of a son in one year’s time and the boy was brought to Baba in his fifth month; and the grateful father paid Rs.500/-, which was used for constructing a stall for Baba’s horse “Syamakarana“.

    (e) Cbintamani Rao

    543. Baba to Mahalsapathy: “Tell that man Chintamani Rao that, if he marries again, he will have one son and one daughter”. Chintamani married again and had just one son and one daughter.

    (f) Mahalasapathi

    544. Mahalsapathy had only female issue and yet resolved to lead a life of Brahmacharya and slept at the mosque or temple.

    Baba: “Bhagat, Go and live in your house. You will get a son. A son is a mango fruit. A daughter is a tamarind fruit.“

    Bhagat went on a Gokul Ashtami day and stayed at his house. Next Gokul Ashtami, a son was born to him.

    (g) Ratanji Sait

    545A. Ratanji Sapurji Wadia of Nanded (Nizam’s States) having no issue, gave a picnic party to Das Ganu Mahraj and Mouli Sahib, a Moulana at cost of Rs. 3-14-0 and went to Baba. He had no issue and wanted blessings from Baba for issue.

    B: “You have already given me Rs. 3-14-0. Give me now Rs. 2-2-0 Dakshina”.

    Ratatnji gave the required amount, but wondered how he had given Rs.3-14-0 to Baba, as he had sent him no money and never met him before.

    Baba: “God will fulfil your heart’s desire.”

    With this blessing, Ratanji returned and learnt from D.G. that Baba’s receipt meant that Baba had received it in the form of the Maulana. Ratanji looked up the account and saw that Rs3-14-0 was the amount expended on the picnic.

    Ratanji thereafter was blest with the birth of a son

     (h) Re: Narayana Govind Sindhe

    545B. N.G.S who got one son (after 7 daughters were born) by prayer to Datta in 1903 was told by Baba, that Baba granted the prayer, though there was no male issue in the man’s prarabdha. See under “Powers”.

    545C. Baba’s blessings for longevity of children 

    B: “Has G.G Narke children?

    Devotee: Baba, they all died very young.

    Baba: “Allah will bless.”

    Four children were born to G.G. Narke, after that and all of them are alive (Baba blessed Mrs.Badave, with similar effect.)

    545D. 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,”

  • ANTARJNAN II

    7–11 minutes

    Baba’s Saying and his Antarjnan-Omniscience II

    Para Number in the Book & About antarjnan

    Gurjar and 1 Rupee

    427. One Dhundiraj V.Gurjar alias Babu Saheb was going to Shirdi and Mrs.Kanitkar delivered one rupee to him to be paid to Baba. At Shirdi he stayed for two or three days. Baba asked him for dakshina each day. On the last day,

    B.: These three days I have been noting with amusement that you are each time giving your own dakshina, hiding in your pocket the rupee delivered to you by the lady. Will you give it?

    Then Gurjar, thus reminded, gave the rupee. 

    Lizard’s tick

    428.    A lizard tic-ticked at Baba’s mosque.

    Some one: What is the meaning of the lizard’s tick?

    B.: She is rejoicing that her sister is coming from Aurangabad.

    Presently some one came on horseback from Aurangabad and threw out the contents of his pouch of gram. A lizard fell there from. That lizard ran into the mosque and was soon playing with the lizard already there.

    Cholkar’s Tea with sugar

    429. One cholkar had by Baba’s grace obtained success in an examination and employment and had to fulfil his vow of going to Shirdi. But as his pay was poor, he saved money for the trip by avoiding the use of sugar in his tea.

    Then he came to Shirdi, where Babu Saheb Jog was his host. Before he narrated the above facts,

    Baba (to Jog): “Give him plenty of sugar in his tea.“

    Pandari Vakil -Insincerity and scandalising exposed

    430. A pleader from Pandharpur known to H.S. Dixit came to Shirdi, went with others to Baba, prostrated and paid dakshina.

    B.: What humbugs people are ! They fall at one’s foot, pay dakshina and yet abuse one in their hearts.

    The pleader confessed later to H.S.Dixit that Baba referred to what he had done at the Bar room of Pandharpur, where he joined other pleaders in scandalising their munsiff or subjudge (Noolkar) “who despite his education went to Baba, an illiterate fakir, for overcoming his eye troubles, diabetes etc.”

    V.H.Takur’s Buffalo ride

    431. V.H. Takur B.A., a clerk in the Survey Department got a copy of Nichaldars’ Vicharasagara from a saint. Kanadi Appa, Who told him that in his later travel in the north, a saint with realisation, would teach him.

    On his way to some places, he had to ride on a buffalo in going up a hill and that galled him in his seat. When he came to Baba, Baba of his own initiative said:

    ‘You have been told by that saint that you will get teaching. But the spiritual path is rough. As in your buffalo ride, here also you must undergo much suffering’

    Modak’s Friend Resiling from intended gift

    432. V.L. Modak went with a friend to Shirdi. Each intended to give Rs. 2 to Baba as dakshina and set it apart in his pocket.

    Baba to V.L.M.: Will you give me dakshina?

    V.L.M.: Yes. And he paid Rs. 2

    Baba to V.L.M.s friend: Will you give me dakshina?

    The friend: yes. And he paid Rs. 1.

    B.: What liars some people are. They set apart Rs.2 in their pockets to be paid to the fakir, Why then pay only Rs. 1 now? If money is required for travelling expenses, is there not plenty of money in the other pocket?

    N.R.S.’s relationship

    433. N.R. Sahasrabudde treated a lady for incipient lunacy at Shirdi and cured her by Baba’s udhi and grace. This was mentioned to Baba as a matter to N.R.S’s credit.

    Baba: Whom has he helped? It is his own daughter-in-law.

    N.R.S. was not aware of the relationship; but when he enquired, he found out that the lady was the wife of his Sagotra Kinsman.

    Jaykar’s doubts cleared

    434. Jayakar sat by Baba one day at the mosque and Saryanarayana pothi (puran) was being read at the mantap, which is three feet lower in level than the floor of the mosque. Jayakar’s mind was much upset in trying to solve the conflicting merits and demerits of his stay near Baba at the mosque.

    • It is always good and meritorious to be near Baba.
    • But listening to Satyanarayana Pothi was a special attraction to him; and
    • Moreover, remaining on a higher level when Satyanarayana Pothi was read at a lower level, was not proper.

    When his mind was torn and undecided about these issues, Baba read his mind and said: “Go and attend Pothi.” This settled his course.

    Dixit’s dakshina of Rs. 25

    435. H.S. Dixit intending to give Baba Rs. 25 and a garland, went to Baba and gave the garland first.

    B.: This garland calls for Rs.25. Then H.S.D. gave the Rs.25 Dakshina.

    Dixit’s Betel

    436. H.S.Dixit one day in doing pooja of Baba’s picture failed to offer Tambool i.e., betel and nut. When he went to Baba,

    B.: “Kaka. give me betal and nut.”

    Khaparde’s Dakshina

    437. G.S. Khaparde’s son dreamt that Baba came to his house and had his meal. Next day he went to Baba,  to verify if really Baba  came  to  his  house. Baba anticipated his question.

    B.:   “Last night you fed me, but gave no Dakshina. Now give me dakshina.”

    UDDHAVESA’S LOSS OF MONEY AND THIRST

    438. Uddhavesa Bua of Dahanu starting with a party of friends, went to board a steamer to go to Dwaraka. When on the boat, his entire money and the tickets of all fell into the sea.

    At Dwaraka, having no money, he wrote a letter to Sai Baba at Shirdi wanting money and mentioned the above facts. That very night before his letter could reach Shirdi, a rich man at Dahanu had a dream in which he was told “Your father’s money had dropped into the sea. Send him money.” That man accordingly sent Rs. 50 to Uddhavesa Bua at Dwaraka. Then Uddhavesa Bua continued his pilgrimage.

    One day he climbed up a hill and went half way up felt scorching thirst, which was allayed after sometime by a fakir giving him water. When Uddhavesa Bua returned to Shirdi, Shama went up and reported his arrival to Baba, before Uddhavesa Bua reached Mosque.

    Baba at once: ‘I have seen him”. Baba then quoted two lines of verse.

    “How money fell into the sea and how God gave him money and water to drink”

    V.S. Mulherkar-Pucca Devotee

    439. V.S. Mulherkar, head clerk at Bandra was travelling to Shirdi along with N.G.C. and on the way at Kopergaon, he told someone that N.G.C. was a Pucca (ripe) Bhakta. On arrival at Shirdi, Baba repeated the pharse and asked him.

    “Is Nana a Pucca Bhaktha and you a Kutcha (i.e.) unripe)?”

    Special Peda and Mrs.Mulherkar’s life

    440. Mulherkar bought special peda at Phandarpur and brought it to Shirdi and gave it to Baba.

    Baba, without being told about these facts-said: “This peda is from Pandarpur and it has been specially brought for me.”

    Baba gave a full description of the daily life of M.’s wife.

    D.D. Rasane-Money still left in pocket

    441. D.D. Rasane, and his cousin had paid dakshina several times. They had Rs. 25 left and had written for more money.

    B.: Give me dakshina.

    D.D.R. and Cousin: No money left, Baba.

    B.: Why talk humbug? you have Rs.25 left still with you and the money you have written for will arrive presently. (cf.R.B.P.)

    Babu Rao Boravke and the forgotten rupee

    442. Babu Rao Boravke when young was without money and was going to Shirdi. On the way, he went to his uncle, who told him not to go with empty hands to a saint and gave him Re. 1 to give Baba.

    Boravke arrived at Shirdi.

    B.: Give me Dakshina Re.l.

    Boravke(forgetting the newly acquired rupee):”I have nothing”

    B-: See. Re.  1 is in your pocket. You must give Re.l to a fakir,

    Boravke felt in his pocket, found the rupee and gave it

    Device Exposed of Printer, NV

    443.   D.V.Sambhare’s friend N.V., a Bombay printer knew that Baba would ask for Dakshina, and in order that he may conscientiously deny having money, left his money with Sambhare.

    Baba (to N.V.) “Give Rs. 2 Dakshina. Take it from that man (pointing to D.V.S.) and give it.”

    N.V.found that Baba’s all-seeing eye could not be hood-winked.

    Mr. T-one must correct himself after discovering a mistake

    444. Mr. T. (Tarkhad?) when starting from home was asked by his wife for money. He believed that he had none in this pocket, said so and came down. Then he discovered a rupee in his pocket, but did not go up to give it. He went away to office.

    Weeks later, Mrs. T. and Mr.T. went to Baba.

    Baba (addressing Mrs. T,); ‘Mother, nowdays how deceitful people are! He had a rupee in his pocket and yet said no” (Mr.T. then only confessed his mistake to his wife). 

    Lala Lachmichand

    445.    Lala Lachmichand, one night in 1910, saw in his dream a bearded old man (surrounded by his devotees), a   figure unknown to him, Later on he found that old Man’s   picture with Das Ganu Maharaj and learnt that it was Sai  Baba of Shirdi. He resolved to go to Shirdi and  borrowed  Rs,15 for the expense.  On the way L.L. questioned people  about Sai Baba, to learn  more him. When he reached Shirdi and came before Baba, the latter without any intimation of the above facts spoke at once. 

    Baba- “Rascal, he goes on questioning others. Why question others? Regarding what one sees with one’s own eyes, why ask others? One must decide for oneself whether what he has seen in his dream is true or not. He borrows from a Marwadi. What was the urgency for the darshan? Is the heart’s desire now satisfied?”

    L.L.’s Sanza-Baba’s Consideration for hunger

    446. L.L went to wada and came before Baba expecting Sanza semolina pudding and in a hungry state.

    Jog : Baba, what Naivedya shall I prepare?

    B.: Prepare Sanza. If one is hungry, that is good. (again)Now Sanza is ready, hurry up Arati worship.

    Rich Man’s adopted boy

    447. A rich man’s adopted boy was brought by him to Shirdi with great difficulty and sat with his adopting father before Baba. Then that boy thought within himself that he would decamp from the place without telling his adopted father.

    Baba, at once, spoke: “No one should leave Shirdi today without leave from me.”

    The boy found that he was found out and confessed his idea of decamping.

    Police Officer’s Rs.50 and Need for it

    448. Baba to police officer: “Give me dakshina”. 

    P.O.: I have none.

    B.: See, in you pocket is a 50 Rupees, note.

    P.O.: Here, take it. 

    B.: No Keep it, you will soon have need for it.

    P. O. went back and was in trouble very soon and had need for the note.

  • ANTARJNAN I

    10–15 minutes

    Baba’s Saying and his Antarjnan-Omniscience

    Para Number in the Book & About antarjnan

    ANTARJNAN (RITAMBHARA PRAJNA) (l)Baba’s avowal

    406. Baba at the close of the noon Arati one day declared, (a fact well-known to staunch devotees in their everyday experience): (para 9). “Be wherever you may, Do whatever you may. Remember this always, I ever know whatever you do or say,”

    Constant proof of his all knowing nature to H.S.D.

    407. In 1947 after Dusserah, Kaka Mahajani’s master’s (i.e. Takersay Sait’s) son told K.M, at Bombay, that Sait wanted him (K.M) to go to Sai Baba and learn Baba’s orders about Sait’s health.

    K.M. suggested that H.S.Dixit being at that time at Shirdi might be written to. But the Sait’s son insisted that K.M. should go personally and at once get Baba’s order, as that alone would satisfy the Sait. Thereupon. K.M. started for Shirdi

    “What discussions and deliberations go on there!” When K.M. arrived the next day and talked about the matter to Baba, Baba told H.S.Dixit “It is this matter I told you of yesterday.”

    Then K.M. and H.S. Dixit compared notes and found how Baba saw everything and knew everything at the same time at places hundreds of miles apart.

    Baba on Gajanan’s Passing away

    408. When Gajanan Maharaj passed away at Shegaon, Baba said at shirdi: “My Gajanan is gone.”

    Some Shirdi people at once wrote to Shegaon to inquire about Gajanan Maharaj and the reply came that he passed away on the day when Baba spoke of his death.

    Ubiquity: Antarjnan (Omniscience)

    Atharva Veda:

    “If two persons sit together and scheme, king varuna is there as a third and knows it.

    He that would flee beyond Heaven

    Far away could not flee from King Varuna.

    King Varuna sees through all that is between Heaven and earth and all that is beyond.    He has bounded the winks of men’s eyes.”

    Atharva Veda IV.   16-2,4.  5

    Varuns is immanent in a drop. Tho’  oceans are his loins

    DAS GANU’S SUB-INSPECTORSHIP

    409. Baba to Das Ganu (then a constable): “Ganu, you had better resign your police service?”

    Das Ganu: I will do so after becoming a sub-inspector (Fouzdar) and retaining the place for one year.

    Baba: But you are not going to get it.

    Ganu went without permission of his superiors to Nizam’s states and when he was about to cross the river Godavari, to get back to his station, he found a number of envious constables on the opposition shore watching to note his return and reported against him.

    Then he took up a palmful of Godavari water in hand and swore that if he escaped punishment at this time, he would give up his service. He turned back to the native state and found a robber gang dividing their booty. Arresting them and seizing the property, he returned to his station and pleading the seizure as the excuse for leaving the station, not only escaped punishment but also got good grounds for promotion. So he did not resign.

    As he rode past Shirdi, hoping to avoid Baba, Baba was on the road. Baba: “Ganu, who is it that took the vow with a palmful of Godavari water in hand?”

    Das Ganu: What harm is there? I am really going to resign after all.

    Baba: “Wait, You will not listen to me while things are thus (smooth-running). “

    Sometime later he got into trouble. A fine which was collected, while he was in charge of the station and paid at the station was not sent up to Government, and his conviction and imprisonment seemed to be imminent. He vowed again he would leave the service, if he escaped. He promised to resign at the inquiry. He escaped and left service.

    Thembe Swami’s Cocoanut

    410. When Pundalikrao was touring, one Thembe Swami gave him a cocoanut to be presented to Sri Sai Baba, but on the way his companions ate up the cocoanut. Pundalikrao arrived at Shirdi, and went to Baba without the cocoanut. Baba accosted him with the words, “Here is a thief. Where is the cocoanut given for me by my brother?”

    Kaka Maharaj’s passing away(=214)

    411. Kaka Maharaj of Dopeshwar gave leave to H.G.Joshi, a pleader of Thana and another, to go to Sai Baba for paying their respects. But they waited a while, and kaka maharaj passed away.

    When they arrived at the Shirdi mosque, Baba was in a towering passion apparently ungovernable. But Baba saw them and said: “Bring those two persons, here into the mosque”.

    When they came in. Baba was calm and cool. 

    Baba- “You have killed that old man and come here? ” This was a reference to Kaka Maharaj’s death.

    Gadgil’s first visit-coming from Bhimasankar

    412. Chidambar Keshav Gadgil was told by a sadhu living at Bhima Sankar temple at Poona to go to the saint at Shirdi.

    Gadgil came to Shirdi for the first time. Gadgil to Schoolmaster Shama: Is there a saint here?

    Shama : There is none. You see that mad Muslim fakir seated in the mosque.

    That is the only man we have here.

    Anyhow Gadgil and his friends walked the few steps to the mosque.

    Baba- “(showering a lot of foul abuse) Don’t get up the mosque, I am a muslim. Go and fall at the foot of the sadhu at Bhima Sankar Temple.”

    Gadgil discovered at once the Antarjnan of Baba and became his staunch devotee.

    Gadgil’s Presents

    413. L.G.Munge accompanied Chidambar Keshav Gadgil, Mamlatdar of Sinnere and his friend Vaman Rao on their trip to Baba. On the way on the night before going to Shirdi, Gadgil set apart some dates, one rupee and a packet of Udh-Battis (scented sticks) to be given to Baba. As soon as they reached the Mosque.

    Baba (to Gadgil): “Give me my dates, my Udhu-bhati packet and my one rupee”, (cf Boravkes R.)

    Gadgil’s worship of Baba as Ganapathi

    414. C.K. Gadgil was worshipping Sai Baba, regarding him in his mind as Ganapathi.

    Baba- “This cunning man spies a rat under me.”

    R.S. Dev’s idea and Upadesh

    415. When R.S.Dev intending to go to Akkalkote called on the way at Shirdi, Baba said: “I must go to Akkalkote. “(thereby expressing the visitor’s predominating idea.).

    Again, when R.S.Dev. having his own Sampradaya Guru at Ratnagiri. asked Baba “Give me upadesh and be my Guru”

    Baba- “There is no need for a guru. It (the upadesh) is all within you. Try to listen within and follow the direction you get.   We must look at ourselves, i e., the monitor, the guru.”

    Baba was echoing back the ideas already in R.S. Devs mind in these words.

    Dr. Mulky’s Mistakes

    416. Dr D.M.Mulky, recovered from serious illness after vowing to Baba to go to Shirdi, but failed to do so. Once going as far as Manmad for that purpose, Dr.M. met the Railway booking clerk, who talked against Sai Baba and said he was an immoral and dangerous man. Dr. Mulky ran back to Bombay and later his sister-in-law induced him to visit Baba.

    Then Baba gave out details of the vow, the incidents at the Manmad Railway Station etc., and Dr. Mulky felt fully ashamed of believing the booking clerk.

    Dr.Mulky: “Baba, give me leave to go to my place”

    B.: Yes, go, read Jnaneswari and you will find an order on your table that you are transferred to Bijapur on promotion.

    Doctor went back and found the order on the table exactly as stated by Baba.

    G.G. Narke

    Baba is Mad, Begging bowl and Kupni gift

    417. At Baba’s Arati, G.G.Narke found HIM in a rage without any apparent cause and wondered if Baba was mad. This was a passing thought. Later in the evening when G.G.N. massaged Baba’s feet, Baba to G.G.N.: “I am not mad”

    418. One day G.G.N. thought that Baba should give him the opportunity to serve him, by going out at noon to beg food as his proxy in the village at the four customary places, as Vaman Rao Patel, B.A.. L.L.B., was then doing.

    Some Devotee :   “Baba, should not Vaman Rao be sent for Bhiksha ?”

    B.   (pointing to G.,G.N.}:  “Let this man go and beg food for me.”

    G.G.N. had that privilege for four months. 

    419, G.G.N. found Baba distributing Kupnis (gowns), and thought (from a distance) that Baba should give him a Kupni.

    Baba (not giving him one) :” Do not blame me for not giving you one.   That Fakir (God) has not permitted me.”

    [NB.- Kupni denotes asceticism,  G G.N.  was not to be an ascetic but a Grihasta, i.e., a family man]

    S.B.Nachoe, Leave

    420. S.B. Nachne, when going to visit Baba for the first time, alighted at Kopergaon station. The Station Master there told him “Baba is a mere hypnotist. He is deceiving people like so many jugglers all over the country.” This unsettled Nachne’s mind,

    Baba, as soon as he saw Nachne: “What, have you come away, without taking leave from the mamlatdar? .

    N.: Yes.

    B.: Do not behave like this. 

    Nachne wondered how Baba knew he was a mamlatdar’s clerk, who had come away without permission and was glad to note Baba’s kindness in giving the advice. The Antarjnan and kindness of Baba; thus shown freed him from the doubts created by the Station Master. Baba evidently used his Antarjnan and manifested his kindness  for that very purpose.

    S.B. Nachne and 2 annas

    421. S.B. Nachne was commissioned by a devotee to deliver to Baba annas two, a coconut etc. Nachne delivered only the articles, but not the money, as he forgot all about it.

    S.B.N:    Baba, give me leave to go.

    B.: Yes, you may go via Chitale. But why do you with hold a poor Brahmin’s two annas?

    Thus reminded, S.B.N. performed his duty and paid 2 annas to Baba.

    Baba: When you undertake anything, carry it out thoroughly, or do not undertake it.

    Date’s oranges

    422. Nachne went once with Date; and Date had kept some oranges in their cart, at their lodgings for Date’s palaharam faral, and brought only the remaining oranges to Baba and presented them. The oranges were distributed to persons present. A marwadi girl asked Baba for more.

    Baba – “Go and bring the oranges,”

    Rajabali Mohammad: Bark

    423. (Rajabali Mohammad went to Nasik for receiving tanning barks form a contractor at Nasik, found the barks not ready, and came to Shirdi. He wanted to go back.)

    Baba- “That man is not yet ready to deliver your goods.”

    Mohammed   stayed   2   or   3   days   and   then went to Nasik and  found Baba’s statement true.  (cf.   535  B)

    Megha’s Caste pride

    424 Megha was an illiterate Brahmin sent by H.V. Sathe to go to Shirdi. On the way he was told that Baba was a Moslem and so he had a strong aversion to Baba. But H.V. Sathe prevailed upon him to go. As soon as Meghe went to Baba:

    B.:” Kick out that rascal, you are a high caste Brahmin and you will lose your caste by bowing to me. Get away. Do not come here. Why does that fool of a Saheb (H.V.S) send this idiot to me?”

    Megha then went away from Shirdi, stayed one year and a half at Triambak, had stomach and other pains, got faith in Baba, came to Baba and became His pujari in 1910.

    In 1912 when he passed away, Baba passed his hand over his corpse and said: “This is a true devotee of mine”. Megha regarded Baba as an avatar of Siva.

    N. Londa’s Caste Pride

    425. Narahari Londa of Nivas went with some others to Baba’s mosque to take darshan. On the way, he alone was oppressed by the doubt how he, a Brahmin, could bow to Baba, a Moslem. The other bowed and paid dakshina and were well received by Baba.

    When Londa was making up his mind to go near Baba, Baba darted a fierce glance as much as to say, “You dare not come near. Mind, if you do”.

    Again and again, he thought of going near but with the same result. Then he went over from the mosque, to the Khandoba temple, where Baba’s Brahmin devotee Upasani Maharaj was living, where also he was repulsed.

    UM sat with legs outstretched, but when N.L. repeatedly tried to take darshan, he shifted his leg and prevented darshan, saying, “You are a Brahmin. You can not take darshan of Sai Baba!! What business have you with me here?”

    Hari Kanoba’s Sandals

    426. Hari kanoba started from Bombay with friends for shirdi to test Sai Baba. He wore a lace turban on his head and sandals on his fee; Going to Baba, he left the sandals out and took darshan. When he came out, his sandals had disappeared and could not be discovered even after search. Then he went away to his lodgings.

    Baba, picking up the sandals, called a Maharatta boy and said: “Boy, perch these sandals on the top of a stick and go out crying, “Harika Beta, Jarika Peta”. If anyone claims the sandals, ask him if his name is Harika Beta and also if he has a lace turban and, if he has, give the sandals to him. When the boy came near H.K.’s lodgings, he claimed the sandals, saying that his name was Hari’s son and showing his lace turban. Kanoba was his father’s name. It means Hari; and Hari Kanoba being his name. Baba’s Harika Beta resembled it very much and he wondered how Baba discovered his name and sent the shoes.

    Soma Deva Swami: Baba’s Standards

    426-A. In 1911 Somadeva Swami came to Shirdi to see. But when he saw two giant standards floating over the masjid, he said to himself “Thus proudly floating a flag is inconsistent with a sadhu’s humility” and told his companions that he would not like to go to Baba; but finally he was persuaded to go and see Baba. When he went and saw Baba from the Mantap, he gazed at Baba’s eyes and was entranced. Tears suffused his eyes and choked his throat and he was quivering with joy. But, as he approached Baba, Baba was furious and thundered out abuse.

    Baba -“Get back to your house. Beware of entering in to my mosque again. Why take darshan of one who floats a flag or standard? Is that the sign of a Sadhu? You should not remain here one minute.”

    Somadeva Swami wondered at Baba’s  perfect Antarjnan.

  • CONTROL OTHERS’ MIND

    Baba’s controlling others’ mind

    Para Number in the Book ‘BCS’ , About controlling minds of others

    (I) G.S. K’s prosecution

    402. Baba “The Governor came with a lance to attack Dada Saheb (i.e.,G.S.K.), but I finally conciliated him”.

    (Just then G.S.Khaparde was in danger of prosecution at the hands of Govt. as a prominent “extremist”. Lokamanya having been sent to jail just then.

    G.S.K.. assured by Baba’s words “Why should any fear when I am here?” stayed 6 months with Baba. There was no prosecution launched against G.S.K.)

    402A.     When M.B.R.  was to start for Shirdi  for 1944 Christmas holidays, he wished to take P.R.A  with him. But P.R.A. received an order not to quit his post, till all judgements were delivered by him in part-heard cases.

    Ordinarily he could not write and deliver these within the 2 or 3 days available. But he sat up and tried, and he succeeded. Then when R. and A. were going from Indore, they passed Mhow a Contonment Station. There the train was commandeered and all passengers including R. and A. had to get down. Suddenly the commanding officer came up to R. and A. and allowed them to board their compartment as that alone was not commandeered.

    When they arrived at Shirdi, Baba said-“Look! He would not be content to come alone and insists on others being brought”. Again Baba said-‘They wanted to take down my children from the train. I asked the commander to let them come to me”.

    R. in his train journey was keeping awake all night and doing Baba’s bhajan. When he arrived at Shirdi, Baba said: “He gave me no sleep last night. All the night, there was the cry “Baba Baba” round my bedside.”

    1. Baba to B.V. Dev: “This is a contest about Rs.25. I said often ‘Give the Rs.25. But he does not listen. He will give it in 2 or 4 months”. [S.V.Dev’s promotion to a higher grade and increase in pay of Rs.25 was being withheld by his superiors at that time. He got both after 2 or 4 months]

    (II) Criminal Appeal of Baba’s servant

    1. Baba’s servant Raghu and five others were convicted of outraging the modesty of a Marwadi woman and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. Raghu cried in jail. Baba in dream assured him he would be released the next day. Before that, the case papers were seen by leading lawyers, who thought that success in appeal was hopeless.

    Tatya Patel : Baba, these are papers for the appeal.

    B.. Take them to Bhav (i.e., Rao Bahadur S.B. Dhumal, Pleader of Nasik). The papers were so taken. S.B.D. took the judgement and an appeal memo to the District Magistrate’s bungalow, at Ahmednagar.

    Dt. Magistrate : What have you come for?

    S.B.D.: For filing a criminal appeal on behalf of Raghu, a servant of Sai Baba and five others.

    Dt. Magistrate : What are the facts?

    S.B.D. stated the facts briefly.

    Dt. Magistrate : It looks like a strong case. What! Six eye-witnesses! What do you think?

    S.B.D.: Why six! In a faction-ridden village like Shirdi, you can get 60 eyewitness!

    Dt. Magistrate: Do you think so?

    S.B.D.: Think! Why, I am more than sure of it.

    Dt. Magistrate: “Alright. I acquit all your clients. Give me the appeal memo”.

    The Dt Magistrate without reading the judgement or other papers, without sending for the records or other papers or issuing notice, wrote out the facts and positions, relied upon by the appellants and acquitted them.

    Dt. Magistrate : Is your Sai Baba a Hindu or a Moslem?

    S.B.D. : Neither.    He is above both.

    Dt. Magistrate: What does he teach?

    S.B.D.: To learn that, you must go to him yourself.

    While the appellants were going from Ahmednagar to Shirdi that same day, Baba: (to some villagers):- “Come here. You will see a Chamatkar i.e., a wonder”.

    Shortly thereafter, S.B.D. and the appellants finally acquitted in the above remarkable way, came to Shirdi. That was the Chamatkar.

    Baba’s words and the Dt. Magistrate’s words showed that Baba had gripped the Magistrate’s mind to mete out summary justice, without heeding the usual forms of procedure, getting records & hearing the other side.

    Baba controls others’ minds and removes obstacles (III) Dev, Mamlatdar

    405. B,V.Dev, B.A., mamlatdar, wanted to read ‘Jnaneswari’ as Pothi. But whenever he tried to start it, obstacles invariably turned up. So he resolved not to read it again, till Sai Baba himself should order him to read it. So he went to Shirdi and gave Baba ‘Jnaneswari’ with one rupee, so that the book may be returned to him for study. 

    Baba: “Why one rupee? Bring Rs.20”

    Dev brought and gave Rs.20; but still Baba said nothing about Pothi. That night Dev was trying to talk to Balakram Manker, who was deriving much spiritual benefit from Baba and asked him to narrate his experiences with Baba, showing how he got into His grace. Balakram put off the narration till the next evening.

    Next day, Baba “Give me Rs.20”. Dev paid it and went back and was talking to Balakram. Balakram was just beginning his narration. Just then Baba sent for Dev, and Dev went.

    B.: What were you talking?   With whom? and Where? 

    B.V.  Dev:   At Dixitwada, I was talking with Balakram about your greatness and fame. 

    B.: Fetch Rs.25

    Dev fetched and paid Rs.25 to Baba. 

    B.: Sit here at the mosque.

    Baba then suddenly grew angry and said- “Why are you stealing my rag? Is it your way to steal and that, despite your grey hairs? I will kill you with a hatchet.”

    Dev was bewildered and did not know what the rag was and what the anger would lead to. After ten minutes of such fiery anger, Dev was sent back. Half an hour later, Baba sent for Dev and all others to come to the Masjid.

    Then Baba addressing Dev: “Tambye Bhav, have I wounded you by talking of the rag? If there is a theft, it has to be mentioned. There is no other go. Be it so. God will look to everything”. Then he asked Dev for Rs.12 dakshina which Dev procured and paid.

    B.: (to Dev): What are you doing? 

    Dev: Nothing.

    Baba.: Go on reading Pothi daily in the morning at the Wada. When I wished to give you a nice lace shawl in its entirety, why do you go and steal a tatter?

    Dev then began reading Jnaneswari as Pothi and thereafter there were no more obstacles. This was a grand personal experience of Baba’s controlling powers; and there was no necessity for him, thereafter to enquire about the experiences formed a full lace-shawl given by Baba and picking up second-hand information from other of their experiences amounted to stealing rags.

    Though Dev succeeded in reading Jnaneswari without obstacle, he had made no progress in understanding its meaning. Baba then appeared in his dream and asked, “Do you understand what you read?”

    Dev (with tears)- “No. How can I understand unless you grant it by your grace?

    B.: You are reading hastily.    Sit by my side and read. 

    Dev.: What shall I read?  B.: Adhyatma.

    Then Dev went and brought Adhyatma Ramayana. Then the dream ended and Dev woke up.

    Baba similarly removed Duradrishra of Gadgi Bua. He could not complete his chatrams, and so went to Sai Baba. Baba observed on him vile abuse, Bua laughed. His Duradrishta was removed. Funds came, chatramas were completed.

    405A. PARAMANANDA Baba, without words, directly illumines hearts of devotees, e.g. (1) N.G. Chandokar (2) Narayanan Asrama (3) Mrs.Manager i.e. Mrs.Sadasiva Tarkhad (4) G.S.Khaparde, by yogic glance (5) S.African doctor

  • Baba was identified with various Gods

    Baba was identified with various Gods

    To many Devotees, Baba was identified with various Gods or Avatars. Each man saw in Baba sometimes the very form of the deity that he wanted to worship.

    • A South African doctor would respect none but Rama and did not care to approach a Muslim as Sai Baba was supposed to be. But when that South African Brahmin doctor came to the Masjid on the express stipulation that he would not bow to a Muslim Baba, he stayed for a few minutes outside and, afterwards, darted into the Mosque and fell at Baba’s feet. When asked for an explanation, he gave the answer. ‘I saw that Baba’s form was really the wonderful form of Nila Megha Syama Rama. As I found my Rama in Baba, I worshipped him’ and Baba later filled him with Parama Ananda and love. This is a typical instance.
    • A Sub-Inspector of Police M.S. Nimonkar had regard for nothing except Hanuman, and when he was looking on, Baba appeared to his eyes exactly like Hanuman with all the hair and prognathous face.
    • N.G. Chandorkar’s relative Binnewalla did not care for anything except Datta, and was anxious to go away from Shirdi, where Baba was worshipped, to some place where Datta could be seen. Suddenly to his eyes, Baba appeared with three heads, that is, as Datta. Baba excercised these marvellous powers to induce faith in persons that approached him.
    • Thus, he was Siva to Megha, Rama to the South African doctor and Madrasi Ramadasini, Krishna or Vittal to Krishna bhaktas, Maruti to Maruti bhaktas,
  • Baba’s Yoga Practices

    Baba’s Yoga Practices

    Sai Baba knew all the processes and practices of Yoga. Some of them will be described here:

    • 1) DHAUTI or CLEANING PROCESS: Baba went to the well near a Banyan tree. It was at a considerable distance from the Masjid. Every third day, he washed his mouth and had a bath.
    • On one occasion, He vomited out his intestines. He cleaned them inside and outside. Then, he placed them on a Jamb tree for drying. There are persons in Shirdi, who have actually seen this, and who have testified to this fact.
    • Ordinary Dhauti is done by a moistened piece of linen, 3 inches broad 22 1/2ft. long. This piece is swallowed. It remains in the stomach for about half an hour to react there. Then, it is taken out. But Baba’s Dhauti was quite unique and extraordinary.
    • 2.) KHANDA YOGA: In this practice, Baba extracted the various limbs from His body. He left them separately at different places in the Masjid.
    • Once, a gentleman went to the Masjid, and saw the limbs of Baba lying separately at separate places. He was much terrified; and he first thought of running to the village officers, and informing them of Baba being hacked to pieces and murdered. He thought that he would be held responsible, as he was the first informant and knew something of the affair. So he kept silent. But the next day when he went to the masjid, he was surprised. Baba was hale, healthy, and sound, as before. He thought, that what he had seen the previous day, was only a dream.
    • 3) Baba was an adept of all the margas. (Path) . His chief marga was Bhakti marga. The special form of it is described as Guru Marga in the ‘Guru Gita’.
    • Jnana and siddhis, including yoga siddhis, came in the wake of his Guru bhakti.

    Baba had no particular marga, as the yoga marga etc. But if any person came to grief in his yoga marga, he could give relief. One yoga sadhaka had bleeding piles and came to Baba and got relief at Baba’s hands.

    • 4) Baba said, ‘Life is lived in vain if no yoga, yaga, tapas, or jnana be achieved’. He asked a devotee, ‘Will you sit idle merely eating your food? Have Saburi, that is patience and courage’.
    • Baba set the example himself of tapas. He kept awake the whole night, lying on a small narrow plank making Namasmaran, keeping his eyes open, and holding his mind in trance.
    • 5) What took place was the Baba’s conversion of water into oil. Somehow oil came into the lamp in a sufficient quantity, from Water to burn all night. Now this is not explicable to ordinary men with their notions of chemistry and physics.
    • Water is not converted into oil in a straightforward manner. Castor and other plants absorb water and combine it with their ingredients. They then produce oil in the seeds of their fruits. Without any such process, Baba was able to fill his lamps with oil.
    • 6) We take Baba’s first achievement at Selu of reviving the dead man with no other remedy or mantras than the throwing of his Guru’s pada duti on the corpse with a prayer for revival: or His taking water at his Shirdi Masjid and filling his lamps with that water for feeding the wicks with a prayer, we find his concentration on his Guru God is the only means.
    • 7) Baba was always thinking of God. Serving God is serving man and serving creation. He had evidently no need to determine the time of his death by noting the Arishta or omens or ripeness of his karma, according to Patanjali Yoga Sutra No. 23 for all knowledge to him was an open book.
    • His undertaking on behalf of his devotees to give them happy and blessed deaths, e.g., his promise to H. S. Dixit to carry him in a vimana, were fulfilled by him with remarkable accuracy of Dixit’s death, through his divine power.
    • 8) G.S. Khaparde was a highly cultured Sanskrit scholar and had evidently read yoga shastra. He has referred to certain instances and experiences of his in his diary in the year 1911-12, while he stayed at Shirdi.
    • In his Diary, he repeatedly mentions that Baba cast Yogic glances at certain persons. These individuals were immediately filled with a wave of bliss. This wave overpowered all their other mental activities. It kept them immersed in bliss for hours without break. Khaparde experienced such bliss after a yogic glance from Baba. This state lasted for three or four hours. He has noted this in his diary.
    • 9) Baba’s yoga sampoorna state enabled him to keep several people in such happy state, as they themselves have recorded in their experiences.
    • Mrs. Tarabai Sadasiva Tarkhad says that though she had physical pains in her body and mental worries, life was quite miserable. Yet when she went and sat before Baba, that very moment she felt steeped in Lethe. All her anxieties, pains, and cares, both physical and mental, vanished. Till her departure from Dwarakamayee, she was enjoying a happy state.

    What is this siddhi called? Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and Srimad Bhagavata, llth Skanda, 15th Chapter, amongst other books, give a list of siddhis attained by yoga processes. What Baba did would be called ‘Yatha Sankalpa Samsiddhih’ and ‘Apratihata Ajna.’ This means producing whatever one wants by mere will power or supreme command.

    Srimad Bhagavata says ‘When one gets laya in God, all powers, all knowledge, all wisdom, all perfection, that are termed divine, shine forth from such a person’. Baba was perfect in his concentration on God. Therefore in the above quoted instances as in the other innumerable instances to be found in the Gospel of Sai Baba (i.e. BCS) or other books on Baba, the powers exercised by Baba were the result of his laya in God, that is, they were really divine powers

    SSSC Ch-7

  • UBIQUITY

    Sai Baba declared the followings(Para Nos.) in the Book ‘Sai Baba’s Charters and Sayings‘

    • 66) 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.
    • 67) All that is seen is my form; Ant, Fly, Prince, Pauper.
    • 68) 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.
    • 69) Feeding the hungry Bitch is feeding me.

    I have the feeling of my hunger being satisfied, when hers is satisfied:

    (Baba to Laxmi Bai Scindhe: I am hungry.

    LBS; Shall I go and bring food?

    Baba; Do.

    LBS; Then brought food; Baba took nothing from it and placed the entire plate before a hungry bitch.

    LBS: 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.)

    70) Baba to A Bombay Lady:-

    I am still belching with the heavy feeding you gave the dog this morning.

    I was also in the mire besmirched pig (that you did not feed, though it came to you).

    To serve me, give up differentiation,

    71) Sometimes I come as dog, sometimes as pig. The devotee who recognises me in each form and treats me adequately is blessed.

    • 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, crossgrained 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 I 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)

    • 73-B) Baba as a dog and sickly Sudra:

    Kasinath Govind Upasani 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. to 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 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.

    i.e. He pervades the earth and transcends it.

  • What can the Snake do?”

    What can the Snake do?”

    Balasaheb Mirikar, son of Sirdar Kakasaheb Mirikar was Mamlatdar of Kopergaon. He was going on tour to Chitali. On the way he came to Shirdi to see Sai Baba.

    When he went to the Masjid and prostrated himself before Baba, usual conversation regarding health and other matters commenced, when Baba sounded a note of warning as follows:- “Do you know our Dwarakamayi?”

    As Balasaheb did not understand he kept quiet, Baba continued – “This is our Dwarakamayi, where you are sitting. She wards off all dangers and anxieties of the children, who sit on her lap. This Masjidmayi (its presiding Deity) is very merciful. She is the mother of the simple devotees. She will save them in calamities. Once a person sits on her lap, all his troubles are over. He, who rests in her shade, gets Bliss”.

    Then Baba gave him Udi, and placed His protecting hand on his head.

    When Balasaheb was about to depart, He again said- “Do you know the “Lamba Bava” (long gentleman), Viz. serpent?” And then he closed his left arm like a fist. He brought it near the right elbow. Moving his left arm like the hood of a serpent, Baba said, “He is so terrible. But what can he do to the children of Dwarakamayi? When the Dwarakamayi (its presiding deity) protects, what can the serpent do?”

    Everyone present there was curious. They wanted to know the meaning of all this and its reference to Mirikar. However, none had the courage to ask Baba about this. Then Balasaheb saluted Baba and left the Masjid with Shama. Baba called Shama back and asked him to accompany Balasaheb, and enjoy the Chitali trip.

    They reached Chitali at 9 P.M. and encamped in the Maruti temple. The office-people had not come; so they sat quiet in the temple, talking and chitchating.

    Balasaheb was sitting on a mat reading a newspaper. His Uparani (upper dhotar) was spread across his waist and on a part of it a snake was sitting unobserved. It began to move with a rustling sound which was heard by the peon. He brought a lantern, saw the snake and raised an alarm- ‘serpent, serpent’. Balasaheb was frightened and began to quiver.

    Shama was also amazed. Then he and others moved noiselessly and took sticks and clubs in their hands. The snake got down slowly from the waist and it moved away from Balasaheb; it was immediately done to death. Thus this calamity, which was prophesied by Baba, was averted and Balasaheb’s love for Baba was deeply confirmed.

  • H S Dixit alias Kaka

    H S Dixit alias Kaka

    H. S. Dixit was born in 1864 of parents enjoying a high position and affluence at Khandwa.

    His scholastic career was bright as he secured a first class in Matric and good marks in F.A., B.A, and LL.B. He very soon settled himself as a leading solicitor at Bombay, and his name frequently appeared in the Law Reports and in the press as distinguishing himself as an able advocate in sensational cases, e.g. Lok B.C. Tilak and Times of India, etc. He attained great fame and wide popularity and commanded high esteem both with the people and the Government.

    Baba’s kindness towards Dixit was manifested from the very beginning, and Baba expressed this to others also. He told Anna Saheb Dabolkar ‘Kaka Saheb is a good man. Be guided by what he says’. He told R.B. Purandhare to be with  Kaka Saheb and assist him. The greatest interest in a saint for any serious minded person is, and ought to be, spiritual interest.

    Though originally Dixit’s  idea was to go to Baba for the cure of his lameness, he soon gave up that idea  and said ‘Lameness of the body does not matter much’ , and wanted Sai to cure  the lameness of his soul.

    Sai made distinct promises to Dixit, whom he always called ‘Kaka’, meaning uncle. As many persons called him ‘Kaka’, Sai Baba also called him ‘Kaka’. One of the early notable statements of Baba was “I will take my  ‘Kaka’ in a vimana” (B.C.S.,100) meaning thereby that he would give Kaka a  happy end.

    Accordingly, On 5-7-1926. i.e. on Ekadasi, Dixit was starting from Ville Parle to go to Dr. Deshmukh’s Dispensary at Bombay to see his ailing son Ramakrishna.

    Anna  Sabeb Dabolkar had spent with him some time in excellent bhajan and pothi and  was starting to go to his own station. When these (with Tendulkar) came up after  the scheduled time to the platform, they found the train also was late and came just in time for them to catch it.

    Both of them and Anna Saheb Dabolkar got in, and the words which came from Kaka Saheb were, ‘Anna Saheb, Just see! How merciful Baba is! He has given us this train this minute. He has not made us wait even a minute.’ He then looked into his pocket time table and said, “Baba has made the train come late and enabled us to catch it. Or else we would have to  be stranded at Colaba and be frustrated. So, this is Sai’s grace“.

    Thus, sitting facing Anna Saheb, Kaka Saheb remembered Baba’s loving grace and appeared  to fall asleep. Dabolkar first thought be was sleeping. When he went near him to  hold his head and asked him, ‘Are you sleeping?’ there was no reply. Then Dabolkar feared that Kaka Saheb had fainted. Making Kaka lie down, Dabolkar  noted the apparently hopeless condition of Kaka Saheb.

    The train was speeding  from station to station. Anna Saheb told his friend Tendulkar in the carriage that  he should tell the Guard so that they may carry down Kaka’s body from the carriage. But as there was a big crowd and heavy rain, he could not do this at Bandra, and so only at Mahim he got down and told the Guard.

    The Guard arranged to phone to Parel for a stretcher and doctor, and at Parel, the body was taken out. The doctor examined the body and said that life was extinct. On account of the suddenness of death,there would have been difficulties of Inquest. But luckily they got the doctor’s certificate, and the body was committed  to the care of Anna Saheb.

    The main point for us to see is how Baba carried out  his undertaking to carry Kaka in a vimana.

    Some readers may think that H. S, Dixit had the advantage of constantly meeting and hearing Sai Baba and getting strengthened thereby which they, the readers, do not have. But, if one is earnest in his desire to concentrate on Sai, one can hear and move with Sai now, not through any extraordinary chamatkars (though these do take place even now), but through very ordinary means available to all, such as getting the vast literature on Sai Baba in various languages, and having sravana, manana, nidhidyasana, etc. of the same. One can get the same pooja, bhajan, harikatha, meditation or concentration on Sai as H. S. Dixit had.
    No doubt, Kaka Dixit had the opportunity and power to serve Sai Baba and his Sansthan for 14 years at great self-sacrifice, but similar service is open now to many of us, each according to his own opportunities and abilities. Sai Seva and Sai dhyana, the two main factors that built him up under Sai are still available to all of us. Dixit had the sadhana prescribed by Baba of nine months of solitude and seclusion (Vanaprastha Asrama) to concentrate effectively and exclusively on Baba, Who prevents any of us from trying to get similar seclusion andconcentration? Some may think that Sai Baba when he was in the flesh,undertaking all responsibilities, could afford Dixit better protection in all affairs than Sai could afford to give us now; but this view is wrong. Dixit from 1918 to 1926, when Baba was not in the flesh, was enjoying Baba’s protection, see, for example, the provision of Rs. 30,000/- to meet his debts. It is only the fainthearted and ill-informed people that will doubt whether Baba will afford them protection now, and that from hour to hour. But if the readers were to take pains and read and zealously absorb the experiences of devotees after 1918, they will feel assured that Baba’s protection is as sure today as it was before 1918. To doubt it will only mean lack of faith in Baba and in his utterances, (see B.C.& S.51} where Baba says ‘Even after Mahasamadhi, the moment you think of me, I will be with you at any place’, and also lack of belief in such great personalities, like D.D.Rasane, S.B.Dhumal, M.B.Rege, and so many others. There are many amongst us now who experience the benefits of the kind and constant attention of this guardian angel Sai in daily affairs, assuring us that we are His men (Saduchya Ankita), and that he bears our burdens as promised, of Yoga kshemam Vahaamyaham. It is only a question of faith. If faith is strong, the response is quick, and the feeling of enjoying His superhuman protection gets established and makes the mind peaceful and happy.

  • When one gets laya in God, all powers, all wisdom, all perfection, termed divine, shine forth from such a person’.

    When one gets laya in God, all powers, all wisdom, all perfection, termed divine, shine forth from such a person’.

    Baba said, his nights were not intended for sleep. On the other hand, he used his divine eye of supervision.

    He kept watch over all his bhaktas in all their places. He averted danger from them. Look at this vast unimaginable task of one person trying to save hundreds in hundred different places. The task is simply unimaginable. No human  being could ever succeed in it.

    It is the divine Baba that could do it  and that did it. His divine power enabled him to do it. His divine kindness made him forego sleep and all comforts for that purpose.

    The  sacrifice of physiological well-being by giving up sleep night after night, was very serious, but Baba willingly consented to do it. Baba’s  body was human, though his soul was divine; Baba had to undergo all  the physiological evils of protracted loss of sleep and loss of comforts.

    ‘When one gets laya in God, all powers, all knowledge, all wisdom, all perfection, that are termed divine, shine forth from such a person‘.  Baba was perfect in his concentration on God.

    Therefore in the above quoted instances, as in the other innumerable instances to be found in the Gospel of Sai  Baba (i.e. BCS) or other books on Baba, the powers exercised by Baba were the result of his laya in God, that is, they were really divine powers.

    In many cases, the object of Baba was that a devotee should not merely get relief. The devotee should also develop full belief in him (Baba) as the Guru-God. This belief allows the devotee to attach himself firmly to Sai Baba and develop his life thereafter with his help. This is the great object with which siddhis were utilised by Baba.

    Temporal help was given by means of these chamatkars, but there was always a string attached to the temporal help. The man who got temporal benefit had at the same time a push in the spiritual direction.

    Patanjali Yoga Sutras in Chapter III, especially those about Pratibha and Sarva Bhava Athreshta Trithva and Sarve Jnathruthva. Patanjali  has said therein that by concentrating on the Purusha and developing Suddhasatva one attains pratibha (knowledge of everything), and one can do everything, i.e., achieve omnipotence and omniscience.

    Use of siddhis may be good or bad and both are referred to not only in Bhagavata, Skanda XI, but also in Baba’s advice and actions. Baba gave a warning to a devotee just beginning to develop powers. This is the stage when curiosity, ambition, and other worldly motives arise. These desires come from the appearance of siddhis within the grasp of the sadhaka or devotee.

    Regarding Baba’s action, anyone would note that Baba made ample use of innumerable siddhi powers. Therefore, there is nothing wrong in using siddhi powers. All great ones including Sri Krishna have used their divine powers or siddhis