Warding
off Devotee's Calamities
Stories of (1) Shevade and (2) Sapatneker
At the commencement of this chapter, some one asked
Hemadpant whether Sai Baba was a Guru or Sad-guru. In order to answer the
question Hemadpant describes the signs or marks of a Sad-guru as follows:-
Signs of Sad-guru
He who teaches us Veda and Vedanta or the six Shastras
(systems), he who controls the breath, or brands his body with Mudras (metallic
marks of Vishnu's weapons) or gives pleasing discourses regarding Brahma, he
who gives mantras (sacred syllables) to the disciples and orders them to chant the
same a certain number of times, but does not assure them any result in a
definite time, he who by his spacious wordy knowledge explains beautifully the
Ultimate Principle, but has himself got no experience or self-realization is
not a Sad-guru. But he, who by his discourse creates in us, a distaste for the
enjoyments of this world and the next, and gives us a taste of
self-realization, who is well-versed in both the theoretical and practical
knowledge (self-realization) deserves to be called a Sad-guru. How can he, who
is himself devoid of self-realization, give it to the disciples? A Sad-guru
does not, even in his dream, expect any service or profit from his disciples.
On the contrary he wishes to serve them. He does not think that he is great and
the disciple small. Not only he loves him as his son but regards him as equal
to himself or as Brahma. The main characteristic of a Sad-guru is that he is
the abode of peace. He is never restless nor ruffled. He has no pride of his
learning. The poor and the rich, the small and the great, are the same to him.
Hemadpant thinks that on account of the store or
accumulation of merits in his past births, he had the good fortune of meeting
and being blessed by such a Sad-guru as Sai Baba. Even in full youth He hoarded
nothing (expect perhaps chillim). He had no family, no friend, no home, nor any
support. Since He was eighteen, His control of mind was perfect and
extra-ordinary. He lived then fearless in a secluded place and always abided in
His Self. Seeing the pure attachment of His devotees He always acted in their
interests and hence He was in a way dependent on them. What experiences He gave
to His devotees while he was living in flesh, are even to-day, after His
Mahasamadhi, obtained now by those who attach themselves to Him. What the
devotees have to do is this - They have to trim their heart-lamp of faith and
devotion, and burn in it wicks of love, and when this is done, the flame of
knowledge (self-realization) will be lit up and shine brighter. Mere knowledge
without love is dry; nobody wants such knowledge. Without love there is no
contentment; so we should have unbroken and unbounded love. How can we praise
love? Everything is insignificant before it. Without love our reading, hearing
and the study are of no avail. In the wake of love follow devotion, dispassion,
peace and liberation with all their treasures. We do not get love for anything
unless we feel earnestly about it. So where there is real yearning and feeling,
God manifests Himself. It includes love and is the means of liberation.
Now let us revert to the main story of this chapter. Let a
man go to a true saint with a pure mind, otherwise (fraudulently) and hold his
feet; ultimately he is sure to be saved. This is illustrated by the following
stories.
Mr.Shevade
Mr. Sapatneker of Akkalkot (Sholapur District) was studying
for law. A co-student Mr.Shevade met him. Other fellow students also gathered
together and compared notes of their study. It was found by the questions and
answers amongst themselves, that Mr.Shevade was the least prepared of all for
the examination, and therefore all the students derided him. But he said that
though he was not prepared, he was sure to pass the examination, as his Sai
Baba was there to get him through it successfully. Mr.Sapatnekar was surprised
at this remark. He took Mr.Shevade aside and asked him who this Sai Baba was
whom he extolled so high. He replied - "There lives in a Masjid in Shirdi
(Ahmednagar District) a fakir. He is a great Sat-purusha. There may be other
saints, but this is unique. Unless there is a great store of merits on one's
account, one can't see Him. I fully believe in Him, and what He says will be
never untrue. He has assured me that I will pass definitely next year and I am
confident that I will get through the final examination also with His
grace." Mr.Sapatneker laughed at his friend's confidence and jeered at him
and Baba.
Sapatnekars
Mr.Sapatnekar passed his examination, settled at Akkalkot
and practised as a pleader there. Ten years after this, i.e., in 1913 he lost
his only son on account of a throat disease. This broke his heart. He sought
relief by making a pilgrimage to Pandharpur, Ganagapur and other holy places.
He got no peace of mind. Then he read Vedanta, which also did not help him. In
the meanwhile he remembered Mr.Shevade's remarks and his faith in Baba, and he
thought that he too should go to Shirdi and see Baba. He went to Shirdi with
his younger brother Panditrao and was much pleased to see Baba from a distance.
When he went near and prostrated himself and placed a coconut before Baba with
pure feeling (devotion), the latter at once cried out "Get away."
Saptnekar hung down his head, moved back and sat aside. He wanted to consult
somebody who would advise him how to proceed. Somebody mentioned Bala Shimpi's
name. Sapatnekar saw him and sought his help. They bought Baba's photos and
came with them to the Masjid. Baba Shimpi took a photo in his hand, gave it to
Baba and asked him whose photo it was. Baba said that this photo was the 'Yara'
(Lover) of him, pointing to Sapatnekar. Saying this Baba laughed and all others
joined. Bala asked Baba the significance of the laugh and beckoned Sapatnekar
to come forward and take darshan. When Saptnakar began to prostrate himself,
Baba again cried "Get out." Sapatnekar did not know what to do. Then
they both joined their hands and sat before Baba, praying. Baba finally ordered
sapatnekar to clear out immediately. Both were sad and dejected. As Baba's
order had to be obeyed, Sapatnekar left Shirdi with a heavy heart praying that
he should be allowed to take darshan next time.
Mrs.Saptnekar
One year elapsed. Still his mind was not at peace. He went
to Gangapur, where he felt more restless. Then he went to Madhegaon for rest
and finally decided to go to Kashi. Two days before starting, his wife got a
vision. In her dream she was going with a pitcher to Lakadsha's well. There a
fakir with a piece of cloth round his head, who was sitting at the foot of the
Neem tree, came close to her and said - "My dear lassie, why get exhausted
for nothing? I get your pitcher filled with pure water." She was afraid of
the fakir and hastened back with the empty pitcher. The fakir followed her. At
this she was awakened and opened her eyes. She told this vision to her husband.
They thought that this was an auspicious sign and they both left for Shirdi.
When they reached the Masjid, Baba was absent. He had gone to Lendi. They
waited till His return. When He returned, she was surprised to see that the
fakir she saw in her vision, resembled exactly Baba. She reverentially
prostrated herself before Baba and sat looking at him. Seeing her humility Baba
was much pleased and began to tell a story in his peculiar characteristic
fashion to a third party. He said - "My arms, abdomen and waist are
paining for a long time. I took many medicines, the pains did not abate. I got
sick of the medicines as they gave me no relief, but I am surprised to see now
that all the pains have disappeared at once." Though no name was mentioned
it was the story of Mrs.Sapatnekar herself. Her pains, as described by Baba,
left her soon and she was happy.
Then Mr.Sapatnekar went ahead to take darshan. He was again
welcomed with the former "Get out." This time he was more penitent
and persevering. He said that Baba's displeasure was due to his past deeds and
resolved to make amends for the same. He determined to see Baba alone and ask
his pardon for his past actions. This he did. He placed his head on Baba's feet
and Baba placed His hand on it and Sapatnekar sat stroking Baba's leg. Then a
shepherdess came and sat massaging Baba's waist. Baba in his characteristic way
began to tell the story of a bania. He related the various vicissitudes of all
his life, including the death of his only son. Sapatnekar was surprised to see
that the story which Baba related was his own, and he wondered how Baba knew
every detail of it. He came to know that He was omniscient and knew the hearts
of all. When this thought crossed his mind, Baba still addressing the
shepherdess and pointing to Sapatnekar said - "This fellow blames Me and
charges Me with killing his son. Do I kill people's children? Why does this
fellow come to the Masjid and cry? Now I will do this I will again bring that
very child back in his wife's womb." WIth these words He placed His
blessing and on his head and comforted him saying - "These feet are old
and holy, you are care-free now; place entire faith in Me and you will soon get
your object." Sapatnekar was much moved with emotion, he bathed Baba's
feet with his tears and then returned to his residence.
Then he made preparations of worship and naivedya and came
with his wife to the Masjid. He offered all this to Baba daily and accepted
prasad from Him. There was a crowd in the Masjid and Sapatnekar went there and
saluted Baba again and again. Seeing heads clashing against heads Baba said to
Sapatnekar - "Oh, why do you prostrate yourself now and then? The one
Namaskar offered with love and humility is enough." Then Sapatnekar
witnessed that night the chavadi procession described before. In that
procession Baba looked like a veritable Pandurang (Vithal).
At parting next day, Sapatnekar thought that he should
first pay one rupee as dakshina and if Baba asked again, instead of saying no,
he should pay one more, reserving with him sufficient amount as expenses for
the journey. When he went to the Masjid and offered one rupee, Baba asked for
another as per his intention and when it was paid, Baba blessed him him saying
- "Take the coconut, put it in your wife's oti (upper fold of her sari),
and go away at ease without the least anxiety." He did so, and within a
year a son was born to him and with an infant of 8 months the pair came to
Shirdi, placed it at Baba's feet and prayed thus - "Oh, Sainath, we do not
know how to redeem Your obligations, therefore we prostrate ourselves before
You, bless us poor helpless fellows, henceforth let Your holy feet be our sole
refuge. Many thoughts and ideas trouble us in waking and dream states, so turn
away our minds from them to Your bhajan and bless us."
The son was named Murlidhar. Two others (Bhaskar and
Dinkar) were born afterwards. The Sapatnekar pair thus realized that Baba's
words were never untrue and unfulfilled, but turned out literally true.
Bow
to Shri sai - Peace be to all
No comments:
Post a Comment