Spiritual Gems from Sri Sai Satcharitra - Chapter 9

Shri Sai Satcharitra - Chapter 9

Effect of compliance and Non-compliance with Baba's Orders at the Time of Taking Leave - A few Instances - Mendicancy and Its Necessity - Devotees' (Tarkhad family's) Experiences - Baba fed sumptuously - How? At the end of the last chapter, it was barely stated that the Bhaktas, who obeyed Baba's orders at the time of taking leave, fared well and those, who disobeyed them, suffered many a mishap. This statement will be amplified and illustrated, with a few striking instances; and by other matters dealt with in this Chapter. Sai Ram. This statement needs a little clarification. It is not as if Sai wished misfortunes on those who disobeyed Him. It is just that He was able to look ahead and warn the devotees of the consequences of some actions and advised them to desist from that. He could have prevented them from taking up that action if He wished to do so. However, He chose not to exercise that power and allowed the individual to act freely and learn the Spiritual and Karmic lessons there from. Sai Ram. Characteristic of Shirdi - Pilgrimage One special peculiarity of Shirdi-pilgrimage was this, that none could leave Shirdi, without Baba's permission; and if he did, he invited untold sufferings, but if any one was asked to quit Shirdi, he could stay there no longer. Baba gave certain suggestions or hints, when Bhaktas went to bid good-bye and take leave. These suggestions had to be followed. If they were not followed or were departed from, accidents were sure to befall them, who acted contrary to Baba's directions. We give below a few instances. Sai Ram. This is in line with what is written above. Guru / God gives us the freedom of choice at the ego level since we are supposed to have the viveka, power of discrimination between good and bad, between right and wrong. One of the important dharmas of a disciple / chela is to surrender the ego at the feet of Guru and obey His directions implicitly. Pativrata Dharma is also like that and we have seen how Anasuya could change the Trinity into babies with the spiritual power gained through such dharma. Sri Guru Charitra has several stories extolling the greatness of a sishya (disciple) who treats Guru as God, nay even greater than Brahma, Vishnu or Siva. Guru Gita is also worth reading for spiritual sadhakas like us to become better disciples. Sai Ram. Tatya Kote Patil Tatya Kote was once going in a tanga to Kopargaon bazar. He came in haste to the Masjid, saluted Baba, and said that he would go to Kopargaon bazar. Baba said, "Don't make haste, stop a little, let go the bazar, don't go out of the village". Sai Ram. Pl. see the sequence of Baba's words. Since Tatya was in such a great hurry, He first told him "Don't make haste". HE then asked him to stop a little. Then He told him further to forget about the bazar. Finally He asked him not to go out of the village. This is similar to what Kabir's Guru Nipatiranjan told: "Do not be afraid; hold fast to the handle of knowledge of this mill, as I do, and do not wander far away from the same but turn inward to the Centre, and you are sure to be saved." Going away from the centre, Guru, knowledge of self, is not good. One can go anywhere if one has his Guru in his heart and remembers Him constantly. Sai Ram. On seeing his anxiety to go, Baba asked him to take Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande) at least with him. Not minding this direction, Tatya Kote immediately drove his tanga. Of the two horses one, which cost Rs.300/- was very active and restless. After passing Sawul well, it began to run rashly, got a sprain in its waist and fell down. Tatya was not much hurt, but was reminded of Mother Sai's direction. On another occasion while proceeding to Kolhar village, he disregarded Baba's direction, and drove in a tanga, which met with a similar accident. Sai Ram. Baba's above statement is very significant. When some devotee was insistent to do something, which Baba was advising against, Baba was offering Shama as protection. In Sri Sai Satcharitra, there is another incident where Baba asks another devotee to take Shama along with him. That man first declines but later takes Baba's advice and is saved. Similarly when Nanasaheb and Kakasaheb Dixit insist for Baba attending some ceremonies in their respective houses, Baba asks them to take Shama instead. It is thus clear that Baba gave Shama a special place in His Darbar. Tatya was young and rather impetuous it looks. And he had great love for Baba but also thought that he is against the rules and regulations that apply to other devotees. So, sometimes he took liberties. Baba did protect him but taught him an important lesson that a Chela, a devotee, a disciple has to follow Guru's directions totally. And in another story, we read Baba catching hold of Tatya's neck and forcibly removing his turban and throwing into fire. That story too gave me a similar message that the devotee sometimes takes some liberties (out of an unripe ego) but God protects the devotee.

On reading this story again today, Sai Sadguru gave another message. In a later chapter He gives His another great devotee Sri Nanasaheb Chandorkar a very cryptic message about holding the reins of one's senses and by Sadguru Sai's grace, Sri Nana got the message correctly and explains it to another devotee who overheard it and was curious to know what Baba meant (see Chapter 49, Story of Nanasaheb Chandorkar and Baba's message about purity of heart and control of sense organs). Most of the time, we are poor in controlling our senses and our chariots (bodies) meet many accidents! Sai Sadguru is teaching us the need to have proper control through such incidents and if we are indeed poor riders and have little or no control, we should hand over the reins to the expert Sarathi, the Guru, Who is Krishna, who became Parthasarathi (charioteer for His devotee, disciple Sri Arjuna) in the great war of Mahabharatha. Kurukshetra in fact represents a war between our base desires and our better sense and god fearing / obeying nature. God / Guru helps those who try to obey His directions and protects them. Arjuna represents the ego who is trying hard to win the war over the demonic / selfish desires inherent in each of us. Krishna is the Guru, who takes control of the reins and helps win the war. Similarly Sai is the Krishna, and helps us once we seek His help.

I could relate well to this insight, this real spiritual gem since my own health suffered and I found that I am indeed unfit to drive any vehicle (I was falling and while I was not hurt much, the message was clear). While I have stopped driving vehicles now and allow Him to transport me around through various forms of His, I am sorry to say that I am still not able to rein in my desires, which are like wild horses with a will of their own. Here too, I keep falling and keep getting hurt in my mind and ego but He keeps protecting me. I hope His grace will soon come down and will take over my mind and the senseless sensual horses too! He is called Hrishikesa because of this great quality only! Om Hrishikesaya Namah. Om Sri Sai Sadgurave Namah. Sai Ram.

European Gentleman One European gentleman of Bombay once came to Shirdi, with an introductory note from Nanasaheb Chandorkar, and with some object in view. He was comfortably accommodated in a tent. He wanted to kneel before Baba and kiss His hand. Therefore, he tried thrice to step into the Masjid, but Baba prevented him from doing so. He was asked to sit in the open courtyard below and take Baba's darshan from there. Not pleased with this reception he got, he wanted to leave Shirdi at once and came to bid good-bye. Baba asked him to go the next day and not to hurry. People also requested him to abide by Baba's direction. Not listening to all this, he left Shirdi in a tanga. The horses ran at first all right, but when Sawul well was passed, a bicycle came in front, seeing which the horses were frightened and ran fast. The tanga was turned topsy-turvy and the gentleman fell down and was dragged some distance. He was immediately released; but had to go and lie in Kopargaon hospital for the treatment of the injuries. Because of such experiences all people learnt the lesson, that those who disobeyed Baba's instruction met with accidents in one way or the other, and those who obeyed them were safe and happy. Sai Ram. Baba had His own reasons for doing so. And when He did not will it, no one could step into that Dwarakamai. A haji tried for several months to enter the Masjid but could not do so. Each fruit has to be ripe. I wanted to visit Shirdi for many years but Baba knew when the time is ripe. Similarly I wanted to visit Arunachala (Rituvannamalai) and have the darshan of Arunachala and Ramana Maharshi. I had to wait more than 10 years for that desire to be fulfilled and finally when my turn came, I could visit the sacred place in the company of two more noble souls and I got very good mystical experiences and blessings in that place. "He was asked to sit in the open court-yard below and take Baba's darshan from there. Not pleased with this reception he got, he wanted to leave Shirdi at once and came to bid good-bye." Thus showing that his ego was as yet not ripe to receive Baba's grace. We are reminded of another great devotee of Vithal, Sri Namadev, Who had to go through similar trials for ripening of his ego. God is always anxious that we should become one with Him by dissolving our egos in His love. Guru is God in flesh, blood and or Spirit. Baba mentioned many times that He could see a bit further into the future and thus was acting in the best interests of those souls that were given into His charge. But He didn't always interfere with their freedom of choice since the humans were endowed with the faculty of discrimination and thus could be expected to take due care. They also had to realize that their egoistic vision had definite limits unlike Baba's who was one with all. So, Baba did allow some freedom of action like a watchful mother allows the child to play but rushes to its rescue when it gets into trouble. Recollect the incident related in Chapter 8. After a few such incidents, the child does realize that its own limited knowledge is inadequate and accepts the directions of the Mother willingly. Sai Ram. Now to return to the question of mendicancy. A question may arise in the minds of some that if Baba was such a great personage - God in fact, why should He have recourse to the begging bowl, all His lifetime? This question may be considered and replied from two standpoints. (1) Who are the fit persons, who have a right to live by the begging-bowl? Our Shastras say that those persons, who, getting rid of, or becoming free from the three main Desires, viz. (1) for progeny, (2) for wealth, (3) for fame, accept Sannyas, are the fit persons to live by begging alms. They cannot make cooking arrangements and dine at home. The duty of feeding them rests on the shoulders of house-holders. 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 (1) Pancha-soona - 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 five kinds of sacrifices, viz. (1) Brahma-Yajna - offerings to Brahman involving Vedadhyayan - the study of the Vedas. (2) Pitra-Yajna - offerings to the ancestors, 3) Deva-Yajna - offerings to the Gods, (4) Bhoota-Yajna-offerings to the beings, (5) 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. Sai Ram. Baba never differentiated between His and others. So, why should He feel diffident to beg? He was begging from Himself! We saw how Baba begged His food though He was having great powers at His command. The reasons for this were also given. Shri Hemadpant gives nice arguments in support of mendicancy. He tells us about the five sins that accrue to any person engaged in processing of food. He also mentions that these sins have to be atoned by performance of five yagnas or offerings daily. The last and most important of these five yagnas is the Atithi Yagna. In Sri Guru Charitra, Sumati got the darshan of Lord Dattatreya by performing the Atithi Yagna even before Pitru-Yagna was completed in the house. Baba, by His begging, taught us the importance of Atithi Yagna, offering to uninvited guests, especially those who come at mid-day which is the normal time for taking food. Atithi literally means without tithi, the lunar day. What it means is that feeding Atithi is to be done without inquiring into the day, time and the person's merits etc. God Himself is supposed to come in some form, not even necessarily human as we shall shortly see, and partake the food offered by us and bless us. Eating food that is not offered to God is considered a great sin in many households. So, in addition to offering of Naivedya to idols and portraits of Gods in our houses, we should offer food to Atithis and also to Fire God. We should in any case, leave a small portion of the food aside and then consume the rest. The portion, which is left, is discarded along with the leaf. It was a custom to invariably eat in banana and other biodegradable plant leaves, not stainless steel or silver plates. The vegetable leaf and the left over food was food to dogs and other animals outside. The need to share, to protect and preserve the environment was greatly stressed in our Shastras and culture, without learned scientific tomes being written and published in journals etc. Sai Ram. Now to return to the other more interesting subject. Lord Krishna has said in the Bhagawadgeeta (9-26) "Whosoever devoutly offers to me a leaf, a flower, or a fruit or water, of that pure-hearted man, I accept that pious offering." In the case of Sai Baba, if a devotee really longed to offer anything to Sai Baba, and if he afterwards forgot to offer the same, Baba reminded him, or his friend about the offering, and made him present it to Him, and then accepted it and blessed the devotee. A few instances are given below. Tarkhad Family (father and son) Mr. Ramachandra Atmaram alias Babasaheb Tarkhad, formerly a Prarthana-Samajist, was a staunch devotee of Sai Baba. His wife and son loved Baba equally or perhaps more. It was once proposed that Master Tarkhad should go with his mother to Shirdi and spend his May vacation there, but the son was unwilling to go, as he thought that in case he left his home at Bandra, the worship of Sai Baba in the house would not be properly attended to, as his father being a Prarthana Samajist, would not care to worship Sai Baba's enlarged portrait. However, on his father's giving an assurance on oath, that he would perform the worship exactly as the son was doing, the mother and the son left for Shirdi on one Friday night. Next day (Saturday) Mr. Tarkhad got up early, took his bath and before proceeding with the Puja, prostrated himself before the Shrine and said - "Baba, I am going to perform the Puja exactly as my son has been doing, but please let it not be a formal drill." After he performed the Puja, he offered a few pieces of lump-sugar as naivedya (offering), which were distributed at the time of the lunch. That evening and on Sunday, everything went on well. The following Monday was a working day and it also passed well. Mr. Tarkhad, who had never performed Puja like this in all his life, felt great confidence within himself that every thing was passing on quite satisfactorily according to the promise given to his son. On Tuesday, he performed the morning Puja as usual and left for his work. Coming home at noon, he found that there was no Prasad (sugar) to partake of, when the meal was served. He asked the servant - cook, who told him that there was no offering made that morning, and that he had completely forgotten then to perform that part of the Puja (offering naivedya). After hearing that he left his seat and prostrated himself before the Shrine, expressed his regret, at the same time chiding Baba for the want of guidance in making the whole affair a matter of mere drill. Then he wrote a letter to his son stating the facts and requested him to lay it before Baba's feet and ask His pardon for his neglect. This happened in Bandra at Tuesday noon. At about the same time, when the noon Arati was just about to commence in Shirdi, Baba said to Mrs. Tarkhad, "Mother, I had been to your house in Bandra, with a view to having something to eat. I found the door locked. I somehow got an entrance inside and found to My regret, that Bhau (Mr. Tarkhad) had left nothing for Me to eat. So I have returned from there without eating anything." The lady could not understand anything; but the son, who was close by, understood that there was something wrong with the Puja in Bandra and he, therefore, requested Baba to permit him to go home. Baba refused the permission, but allowed him to perform Puja there. Then, the son wrote a letter to his father, stating all that took place at Shirdi and implored his father not to neglect the Puja at home. Both these letters crossed each other and were delivered to the respective parties the next day. Is this not astonishing? Sai Ram. Baba always said that He Is within us. So, if any devotee sincerely wanted to offer something to Baba, as externally manifested in Shirdi, the same Baba seated in that devotee's heart ensured that the devotee's desire was fulfilled. When one thinks that one is doing, such incidents like Mr. Tarkhad forgetting to offer naivedya are bound to happen. Puja is done for the pleasure of the devotee. So Sraddha is needed. It should be done with heart and soul. Ego and Maya makes one forget that one is but an instrument in the hands of God. So, one's actions give either happiness or unhappiness. Mr. Tarkhad thought that he mastered Baba's puja and so allowed his attention to slip, and thus forgot to offer himself, which is represented by the Naivedya. The two letters crossed each other. Yes, it is astonishing if one forgets Baba's omniscience and omnipotence. If one remembers these aspects of Baba, there is no need to get astonished. Knowing our forgetfulness, Baba was showing such Leelas to make us remember. Sai Ram. Mrs. Tarkhad Let us now take up the case of Mrs. Tarkhad herself. She offered three things, viz. (1) Bharit (roasted brinjal egg plant mixed curds and spice). (2) Kacharya (circular pieces of brinjal fried in ghee), (3) Peda (sweetmeat ball). Let us see how Baba accepted them. Once Mr. Raghuvir Bhaskar Purandare of Bandra, a great devotee of Baba started for Shirdi with his family. Mrs Tarkhad went to Mrs. Purandare, and gave her two brinjals and requested her to prepare Bharit of one brinjal and Kacharya of the other, when she went to Shirdi and serve Baba with them. After reaching Shirdi, Mrs. Purandare went with her dish of Bharit to the Masjid when Baba was just about to start his meals. Baba found the Bharit very tasty. So He distributed it to all and said that He wanted Kacharya now. A word was sent to Radha Krishna-Mai, that Baba wanted Kacharya. She was in a fix, as that was no season of brinjals. How to get brinjals was the question? When an enquiry was made as to who brought the Bharit, it was found that Mrs. Purandare was also entrusted with the duty of serving Kacharya. Everybody then came to know the significance of Baba's enquiry regarding Kacharya, and was wonderstruck at Baba's all-pervasive knowledge. In December 1915 A.D., one Govind Balaram Mankar wanted to go to Shirdi to perfrom the obsequies of his father. Before he left, he came to see Mr. Tarkhad. Then Mrs. Tarkhad wanted to send something with him to Baba. She searched the whole house but found nothing, except a Peda, which had already been offered as naivedya. Mr. Mankar was in mourning. Still out of great devotion to Baba, she sent the Peda with him, hoping that Baba would accept and eat it. Govind went to Shirdi and saw Baba, but forgot to take the Peda with him. Baba simply waited. When again he went to Baba in the afternoon, he went empty-handed without the Peda. Baba could wait no longer and, therefore, asked him straight, "What did you bring for me?" "Nothing" was the reply. Baba asked him again. The same reply came forth again. Then Baba asked him the leading question, "Did not the mother (Mrs. Tarkhad) give some sweetmeat to you for me at the time of your starting?" The boy then remembered the whole thing. He felt abashed, asked Baba's pardon, ran to his lodging, brought the Peda and gave it to Baba. As soon as Baba got it in His hand. He put it into His mouth and gulped it down. Thus the devotion of Mrs. Tarkhad was recognized and accepted. "As men believe in me, so do I accept them" (Gita, 4-11) was proved in this case. Baba Fed Sumptuously, -- How? 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. Sai Ram. This is another example of Baba's Sarvagnatva, omniscience. This indeed is a wonderful story. Baba showed practically that He is not limited to body, space and time. He showed practically that He is One with every one. There are some more examples spattered through out Satcharitra, like Sai appearing to Balaram Mankar at Mahendraghad in a physical form etc. Moral "See God in all beings" is the moral of this chapter. The Upanishads, the Geeta and the Bhagwat, all exhort us to perceive God or Divinity in all the creatures. By the instance given at the end of this Chapter and others too numerous to mention. 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. Sai Ram. Yes, this Moral is indeed the best gem from this chapter. The same concept is reinforced in Chapter 18; yes, again very significant since 18 adds up to 9, when Dasganu is taught the underlying concepts of Isa Upanishad. This indeed is a great chapter. Sai Ram.