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Bhimaji Patil Story – Maya Theory
In Sai Satcharita, Bhimaji Patil story has lot of importance. This introduces Maya theory in the introduction of 13th Chapter. Bhimaji Patil started Sai Satyavrata along the lines of Sri Satyanarayana Swami Vrata. But this chapter starts with theory of Maya and talks about all kinds of diseases, how they were cured by Baba. So let us explore why Maya theory was talked about it here.
Baba’s comments regarding Maya;
“O h! Though I am a fakir and have no home nor household, sitting uninvolved in one place, leaving aside all mundane matters, yet, Maya is inevitable. She even harasses me often. I forget her but she does not forget me. She always comes and embraces me. Adi Maya originates from God and bewilders even Brahma and others. Then what could be said about a poor fakir like me! Only the mercy of God can save you from its clutches. Without continuously reciting God’s name, this attachment will not be destroyed”
Recitation of God’s name is the best way to overcome Maya. He also said! If you recite ‘Sai, Sai,” always, I will take you beyond the seven seas. If you believe in these words, you will be certainly benefitted. I do not need elaborate worship either sixteen fold1 or eight fold2. Where there is infinite faith, I reside there”.
These tender words will make anyone comfortable, that’s why Bhimaji went to Dwarakamai and got rid of his tuberculosis.
Maya theory:
Before we proceed to the real story of 13th chapter, we will learn about the how Maya was portrayed in our scriptures.
According to Agni Purana
Himsa (violence) married Adharma (foul deeds).
They had two children Anrutham (lack of action) and Nikruthi (dishonesty).
These two children in turn produced four children
Bhayam (fear),
Narakam (hell),
Maya (illusion)
Vedana (pain).
Maya begot Mruthyu (death) and Vedana begot Dukha (sorrow).
Mruthyu produced these children
1) Vyadhi (disease),
2) Jara (old age),
3) Soka (sorrow),
4) Trushna (attraction)
5) Krodha (anger).
Our physical and mental problems are all coming from Maya. Now we can see why Maya was mentioned in the 13th chapter along with the diseases cured.
We heard and read Bhimaji Patil story several times, but we will talk briefly here again;
Bhimaji Patil is from Narayangaon village of Junnar Taluka; of Pune District. Bhimaji was a well-to-do person and is very hospitable to everyone. In 1909, Bhimaji was miserable. He started having cough and tuberculosis. He developed high temperature. His cough became unbearable; the fever greatly increased and day by day became persistent. Bhimaji lost hopes. He was always frothing at the mouth, had bad taste in the mouth and vomited blood. He had chronic stomach ache, felt nauseous and restless. He became a bed-ridden patient. He lost vigor, his limbs weakened, he became thinner. All kinds of treatments were tried. He was extremely miserable. Patil was depressed; he felt he would survive only for a few days; day by day he became more tired and started counting his days. Doctors were tried, hakims were tried, all remedies failed. Nobody could do anything. All efforts were futile.
Patil was extremely sad. He said: “Oh Lord, what have I done? Why is it that nothing avails? What kind of a sin is this? ”
Then he will find Baba through Nana Chandorkar, goes to Baba and his Tuberculosis disease was cured. That is the story we know. Now let’s examine real meanings in this story;
When Bhimaji came to Dwarakamai; Baba said these words:
Looking at Patil, Baba said, “Shyama, from where do you get hold of these scoundrels? And dump them on me? Does this become you? ” .
Bhimaji put his head at the feet of Sai and said: “Oh, Sainatha, have pity on this hapless creature. Protect me, oh caretaker of the weak”
Here Bhimaji was saying “I am surrendering to you. I have nobody”. What this means is if he is going to die from this dreadful disease, he cannot count on his relatives, wife or other family members. He has to leave everyone behind and die. He has to take another birth with new circumstances. We are all like him one day Then Sainatha took pity on him. Baba Said “Sit down and stop worrying. Wise people do not worry. No sooner you stepped into Shirdi, your destined miseries have got over. However deeply immersed in the ocean of trouble or buried deep in the valley of miseries, know that when he climbs the steps of the Masjidmai, he will ride on a wave of happiness. The fakir here is very kind. He will destroy your troubles from the very roots and will look after you lovingly. He has tender feelings towards all.
Therefore, you be at rest. Stay at Bhimabai’s house. You will get relief within a couple of days”. Bhimaji Patil is rich and knows people in Shirdi, but Baba insisted him to live in Bhimabai’s house. He had to sleep on gunny bags on the floor. He obeyed Baba’s orders with extreme humility and devotion. Here is a rich man going through his past karmas and Baba is showing him the remedy for this. He was helping him to get rid of the Sanchita karma (Accumulated karmas from past lives) so that Prarabda karma (current karmas that you have to bear) can be alleviated. We all have to remember this and learn how to trust Baba in difficult circumstances.
Bhimaji experienced 2 dreams and Baba used these to help him.
A teacher hitting Bhimaji in a dream expecting him to recite a poem. What is the Poem?
‘She is known as a real or an ideal wife, who thinks she has stepped on the head of a serpent if she ever enters a stranger’s house. Her words are so rare that they are like wealth procured from a miser. She feels profoundly happy when she gives pleasure to her husband, even though there may not be money in the house. She behaves according to her husband’s wishes, without hesitation.’
Stranger rolling a stone on Bhimaji’s chest:
He saw that an unknown person came and forcibly sat on his chest. He used his chest as a grinding stone and took another stone, as a roller, in his hand; and as it were, started grinding. Bhimaji felt choked, as if he was heading towards heaven. Finally the dream ended. He slept with some measure of comfort. The sun rose and Patil woke up.
Why Baba used these two dreams. This is in relation to Bhimaji’s past karmas from past lives. To understand this we have to go through his dreams and analyze them.
1st dream analysis: In the first dream Bhimaji was beaten by a teacher with a stick. The poem talks about a lady and how she is supposed to live her life. We can either take the meaning as it is or we can analyze in a philosophical way. Was he a female in the past lives and did not follow the above principles or Baba is talking about spiritual meaning but in a parable.
If we pay attention to outward objects rather than God, then it corresponds to a lady stepping in to a stranger’s house.
We have to talk very minimal like a miser hesitates to spend his money. Here we have to realize that we cannot get involved in unnecessary matters and do not use our mouth to criticize others for little things.
She feels profoundly happy in the company of her husband, even though there may not be money in the house. We need to be happy with God alone but not get attached to worldly objects.
Living your life according to your husband’s wishes, that means, following scriptures and path of great guru Sai.
If we are unable to perform these prescribed duties, we fall in to this Maya (illusion) and get stuck in the ocean of birth and death.
2nd dream analysis: In the second dream a stranger rolls a stone on the chest of Bhimaji. Our scriptures talk about diseases that can occur if someone commits a specific karma. Who plugs up or blocks up the hole of a rat or a snake, whoever catches fish and causes them to die by suffocation, whoever stifles the life of any creature will suffer from major lung diseases. Sometimes humans have a tendency to cause lot of difficulties for other people for their own sake. People might enjoy short term benefits but in long term they have to suffer.
Final inference:
Here through these two dreams, Baba helped Bhimaji to burn his past karmas and takes him in to spiritual path. In a similar way Baba cured so many diseases some times in a strange way. Each one has its own meaning. All this was mentioned in Garuda Purana. This Purana describes what kind of karmas will give us what kind of life and how we suffer. Baba talks about this on several occasions and he wants us to be careful. He asks us to follow the Dharma. We should not deviate from the path. Whatever we did in past lives we have no control over them, so we have to leave that to Baba. We just have to believe in Sai and move on with our lives. He will guide us and protect us wherever he needs to. He will take us to other side of the ocean that is Mukti (salvation).
The solution to this Illusion (Maya) is God himself (Vishnu). Vishnu means one who is pervading all over the universe. He is the truth. That’s why we call him Sri Satyanarayana. Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara together are called as Sri Satyanarayana. That’s why Baba made Bhimaji to perform Sri Sai Satyavrata. This way Baba blessed us with this vrata. This is the reason why we do Sri Satyanarayana Puja also. Whoever believes in Baba as their Guru or God, they can do Sri Sai Satyavrata alone. This is nothing but the original vrata. Baba is himself Paramatma. So Sai Bandhus we have to understand the life in such a way, so that we do not have to go through all these consequences so badly. We should start living our lives according to scriptures and dharma. If we believe in Sai with complete faith he will take care of us in every aspect of life.
OM SAI RAM!
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