Hemadpant Part 3

హెమద్పంత్-3

Preparing Hemadpant to write Sai Satcharita

Here Baba is trying to help Hemadpant and teach how to deal with the inner enemies, so that he can be purified. He was preparing him for future endeavors. Here he gave an intense discourse.

“Without having an association from some earlier life, no one, not just human beings but even animals and birds, come across one another. Therefore, do not rebuff any one.

Respect the strangers who come to your doorstep. Offer water to the thirsty, give bread to the hungry, clothes to the naked and some space to rest in your verandah to the needy. This will please the Lord. If anybody is in need of money and you are not desirous of giving, do not give; but at least, don’t behave in an insulting manner and bark like a dog at him.

Anyone may call you names in a hundred ways, never retort with bitterness. Tolerate it with patience. You will gain tremendous happiness. Even if the world turns topsy-turvy, you should remain still. Be steadfast and observe passively.

Break down the wall between you and me. Then the way to approach each other will be clear and there will be no fear. The sense of duality between you and me is the wall between the Guru and the disciple. Till this wall is not completely demolished, the state of oneness is impossible to achieve.

‘Allah is the Master. Allah is the Master.’ There is no other protector than Him. His deeds are divine, invaluable and incomprehensible. It will be what He wills. He alone will show the path. When the time comes, without a moment’s delay, the wish will be granted.

People meet as destiny decides. We come together because of good fortune. We should, therefore nurture affection for each other and enjoy happiness and serenity. Who is immortal here? Blessed is he who has attained the supreme goal of life. Others only breathe to remain alive”.

When I heard these sacred words, my anxious mind was put to rest. My thirst was quenched. I was blissfully happy. One may possess incomparable intellect and also firm faith. But to have the support of a Guru like Sai, one’s luck must be in favor.

These are Baba’s sayings or charters. Whoever will accept these words as the truth, he will enjoy the mine of happiness in this world as well as the world beyond.  

A devotee should surrender unconditionally and observe the remarkable results of devotion. Each day will unfold a new miraculous deed of Sai. Be it so. 

If a good thought comes to your mind immediately on waking up in the morning, you should foster it. If such a thought continues to prosper, it will bring contentment, sharpen the intellect and please the mind.

Pledge to write about Great Sai:

After meeting Sai Maharaj, Hemadpant felt indescribable feeling with utmost mental peace. Baba knows our personalities and who should do what kind of service. In December of 1911 Hemadpant came to Shirdi again and he was unaware of the sweetness of this journey. Baba knows that this is the time to rescue all his devotees and world. At the same time Shirdi and other part of the country was worried about cholera. Hemadpant goes to Dwarakamai to see Baba. Baba was in front of a hand mill to grind wheat. When he was grinding the wheat, Hemadpant was going through some kind of special feeling.

By writing stories of great saints or even to talk about their holyness will dispel our ignorance. Lord will free us from worldly sufferings. Who ever resorts to Sai’s feet, will definitely reach their goals. These memorable thoughts made Hemadpant to take a pledge to write Sai’s story and his teachings. From this ocean of indescribable feelings, came the nectar of Sri Sai Satcharita.

Hemadpant did not tell any one about his intentions to write the story of Sai. After 5 years in 1916, he decided to put his thought to action. He took the help of Shyama to get permission from Baba. He starts this in 1917 and by 1918 October (Sai Mahasamadhi), he finished only 2 chapters. By 1929 he wrote 52 chapters. He declared that Sai himself was the writer and he was just an instrument. It was incredible that this Sree Sai Samartha’s Charita should have been written at my hands! If it had not been for Sai’s Grace, it would have been impossible for an insignificant person like me. My association with him was not of long standing. I had not the experience to know neither saints nor the discerning capacity. Moreover, I was always doubting and an unbeliever. I had never worshipped anyone exclusively and with singular devotion; I had never sat even for a moment to do ‘bhajans’. By getting his life story written at the hands of such a person, he demonstrated what he could do to the people.

In order to fulfill his own words, Sai himself reminds me about the incidents for this book and accomplishes his own aims. ‘Hemad’ is used only for name’s sake. Can a mosquito lift the Meru Mountain? Or can a lapwing empty out the ocean? But when the Sadguru’s support is there, the miraculous can happen.

Hemadpant’s life after Baba’s Mahasamadhi:  

Hemad retired from government service in 1916 and became immersed in Sai service. He was writing the Sri Sai Satcharita from his house which he built in 1912. His discipline was incredible. He was very pious and studying scriptures every day. In the morning he will recite Guru charitra and Vishnu Sahasranama. He loved to read Eknath Bhagavat. He was also involved in Sai Sansthan related issues and take part in Sai leela masik (magazine). He was very humble and did not turn any one down when some one came to meet him. He was caring and loving in his nature. He helped lot of poor students for their education. 

Even though he remained in worldly life, he was fully devoted and was able to give up every thing in his mind. On July 15^th 1929 he left his mortal body at his own house. His death was so peaceful, and it can only happen to great saints.

We are blessed to read about him and this can happen only if we have the blessing of our Great Sai Maharaj.

OM SAI RAM!