September 29, 1990In the former Nizams [Maharaj] dominion,there was a remote village called Pathri. In that village there were a couple named Gangabhavadya and Devagiriamma. They were grieving over the lack of children. In answer to their prayers, a son was born on September 28, 1835. Today is the anniversary of that day. This child was Sai Baba. As Gangabhavadya had developed afeeling of total detachment and renunciation, he decided to retire to a forest regardless of the child. Devagiriamma, who looked upon her husband as God, decided to follow the husband leaving the child.There was in the same village a Sufi fakir. As he was also childless, he took charge of this child and brought him up in his home. The boy stayed in the fakirs home for four years (1835 to 1839). The fakir passed away in the tide of time. The fakirs wife, who had lavished great affection on the child, was grief-stricken. To add to her worries, the boy was behaving in a troublesome manner. In those days, Hindu-Muslim differences in that area was growing alarmingly. There was considerable bitterness between members of the two communities.What the boy use to do was to visit a Hindutemple and sing songs in praise of Allah; I am God (Mein Allah ho), Allah is the Supreme Lord (Allah Malik hai). He used todeclaim in this manner in the temple. The Hindus used to chastise the boy in various ways for his misbehavior. Nor was that all. He would enter a mosque and declare, Rama is God, Shiva is Allah. His behaviour in singing about Allah in a Hindu temple and about Rama and Shiva in a mosque was a puzzle to the public. Members belonging to both the communities went to the fakirs wife and complained about the boys behaviour. Unable to deal with this situation the fakirswife handed over the boy to a high-souled, pious scholar named Venkusa, who was living near her house. The boy stayed in Venkusas ashram for 12 years from 1839 to 1851. Venkusa was extremely fond of the boy. In every matter, he used to give priority to the young Babas views. Seeing this, in course of time, members of the ashram developed envy towards the boy.One night in 1851, the boy left the ashram. He reached Shirdi, a very small village at the time. He stayed there for barely two months and then went about wandering from place to place. After strolling for manyyears, he reached a place called Dhoopkheda. When he was residing there, the marriage of Chandu Patels brothers son was celebrated there. Baba joined the marriage party and reached Shirdi again. That was in the year 1858. From that day, till 1918, he did not move out of Shirdi. He remained there for 60 years.At that time there was in the Maharashtra area, a Deputy Collector and Settlement Officer by name H.V. Sathe (Hari VinaayakaSathe). He was grief-stricken over the passing of his wife. Professor G.G. Narke, a friend of Sathe, came to his house and advised Sathe that there was no purpose ingrieving over his loss and that it was advisable for him to have a change of place to get over his sorrow. He suggested that it was good to have the dracaena of some saint and persuaded him to come to Shirdi.Sathe was quite an extraordinary person. On reaching Shirdi, he and Narke hadDarshanof Baba. On several occasions, looking at Sathe, Baba used to laugh, sing, and make strange gestures. Doubts arouse in Sathe’s mind whether Baba was a real sage or an eccentric person. No one mentioned anything about Sathe to Baba. Sathe and Narke merely went to see Baba and sat in his presence. Baba told Sathe,Dont worry about anything. Bodies are likewater bubbles. Don’t develop any attachment to the body. Develop your attachment to thedehi(indwelling spirit). Worries are passing clouds. Have courage. Protect your child.The last remark had a reference to the fact that Sathes wife had died after giving birth to a child. Even Narke had not heard about the survival of this child. On hearing Babaswords Sathe realised that Baba was not a crazy person but one who was aTrikala Jnani(one who knew the past, the present, and the future). Sathe, who had intended to stay for a short while just to have dracaena of Baba, prolonged his stay by two more days.Making frequent visits to Shirdi, Sathe was the first to realise that there were no proper amenities at Shirdi for those comingto Baba. The place where he provided residential accommodation for visitors [in Shirdi] is Sathe Wada. Sathe was the first toset up apartments at Shirdi.While serving in this manner, Sathe went again to Shirdi after he began to feel whether there was any purpose in his continuing to earn income and accumulate wealth. On seeing Sathe, Baba smilingly said, You appear to be losing interest in your job. You are wondering how to dispose of the wealth you have acquired. Why give it to anyone? Use it for a good cause. Build a Koti in Shirdi. Sathe told Baba, Swami! I am not a millionaire. How can I build a mansion here? Baba replied,Go on doing as much as you can. Why fear when I am here? Baba encouraged Sathe in this manner.In due course Sathes maternal uncle Kelkar settled down in Shirdi. Sathe used tosend funds from Poona and his uncle used to carry on the construction in Shirdi.In this way, Baba used Sathe as his instrument. He regarded Sathe as his right hand in regard to all matters. Because Baba was keeping Sathe close to him and relying on him for everything, the residentsof Shirdi grew jealous towards him.Many are content to do nothing themselves, but they cannot bear seeing others do things and will carry tales againstthem.(A Telugu verse)Several persons used to come to Baba and tell stories against Sathe. What is the appropriate name for such talebearers? They should be called enemies of beggars, namely, barking dogs!At Shirdi, Baba used to do two notable things. One was to receive money from whoever came to him. He used to ask forDakshina(cash offering). He did not ask for large sums. It was two rupees or five rupees. He would receive the money and give it away immediately in their presence.He kept nothing with himself.One day a man by name Pradhan came to Baba. He had intended to offer twenty rupees to Baba. In those days, there were no currency notes. Everything was in silver coins; not like the alloy coins of today. In those days, every rupee contained one fulltolaof silver. Pradhan thought instead of offering so many silver coins, it would be better to offer one gold sovereign to Baba. Baba turned the sovereign this way and that and remarked, How is it that I have not seen such a coin before? A person near Baba said, It is a gold coin. Baba then observed, I dont want this. Give me the money in rupees. He asked how much the sovereign was worth. At that time it was worth fifteen rupees. Getting back the sovereign, Pradhan gave fifteen rupees to Baba. Immediately Baba remarked,Pradhan! You have to give me five more rupees! Pradhan was a judge at the time. Pradhan as well as persons around him wondered why Baba was demanding five more rupees when a sovereign was worth only fifteen rupees.Noticing Pradhans hesitation, Baba told him, First hand over the five rupees and then think about it. Pradhan gave the five rupees. Then Baba observed, When you set out from your home, how much did youwant to offer to Baba? You intended to givetwenty rupees. You gave only fifteen. So I was entitled to ask for five more. When Pradhan heard these words he was stupefied. He admitted that Sai Baba was agood judge.In this manner, Baba was in the habit of collecting money from those who came to him and to give it away to the needy.One day, he summoned Kelkar and told him, Today is Guru Poornima. Perform Guru Puja to me. No one threw the meaning of Guru Puja. Kelkar asked Baba what Guru Puja meant. Baba asked, Who do you think is a guru? It is not those appointed of Maths [spiritual Organisations] who are gurus. Nor areSanyasis(renunciates) gurus; God alone is the Guru (preceptor). He is Brahma, He is Vishnu, He is Maheshwara, He is the Supreme Absolute. Salutations to the Supreme Guru. The true guru is one who combines the three forms of the Trinity, thegods who preside over creati
Posted on: Sun, 06 Apr 2014 00:59:52 +0000
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