SRI SANTARAM BALWANT NACHNE -1

నాచ్నే 

As humans we have so many paths to reach God. God himself showed us the path in the form of saints, Gurus, and incarnations. The great veda Vyasa gave us Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, ithihasas such as Mahabharata. He was not happy even after giving this to this world. He was asked to write Bhagavata which is about God and his leelas. In a similar way it is important to read Sai Satcharita and the stories of Sai for his devotees. 

To know Sai and developing a relationship with Sai is the primary task for all of us. Sai is an ocean of mercy. His love to mankind is indescribable. Sai can give us so many spiritual experiences with out major practices. He just asked us to show faith and patience. 

Of all the paths described to reach God, the easiest is to love God. That’s why Lord Sri Krishna emphasized the concept of love. Sai also shared the same concept. There is nothing in this world that can not yield to love. Because there is only one thing that exists in this universe, that is God or universal energy. This energy appears in different forms to the person who is in the state of Ignorance. If this energy is only one and that to it is inside us, who says that we can not understand this. We need Guru’s blessings to experience this. So Sai devotees we need to really understand Sai’s teachings and the spiritual imports behind his stories.

Nachne’s full name is Sri Santaram Balvanth Nachne.  Nachne was working as Head Clerk in a taluk office. He had originally in 1923, related part of his experience in Sai Lila Masik and gave full account of his experiences with Baba in 1936 to Sri B.V Narasimha Swami.   

Baba coming in the form of a saintly person to save his brother:

Nachne was blessed to have the protection of Baba due to his past life relationship. He had this benefit even before he met Baba.  His contact with Baba started in 1909. His older brother was then undergoing an operation in Bajekar's Hospital at Bombay for some throat related problem. At Dahanu, Santaram Nachne and his family were full of anxiety about the result of the operation. A Sainlty person (sadhu) approached their house, and from outside asked, ‘Will you give me a crumb or two of roti?’ Then he was invited inside, and a regular course of dished was served. But in doing so, Santaram’s sister-in-law deliberately omitted to give him Bendi baji lady’s finger curry, thinking that it was too poor a stuff to serve a saintly guest. The sadhu himself said, ‘I want Bendi baji’, and then it was served to him. He then blessed them all, and said that the operation in the Bombay hospital was safely performed and that there was no danger. 

Later in the day, Santaram’s friend, Mr. Haribhav Moreswar Panse, told him, ‘I hope the operation is safe by Sai Baba’s grace’. That was the first time that Santaram Nachne heard of Baba’s name. In the evening after that, Santaram’s father returned from Bombay with the news that the operation was really success and that a sadhu, after the operation had been performed, appeared in the hospital, came near the patient, passed his hands over the operated part, and said, ‘All will go on well’. The operation was quite successful, and his brother had recovered completely.

Later in that year his father attended Das Ganu’s kirtan wherein Das Ganu gave a full account of Sai Baba, and described him as the Datta Avatara having wonderful powers and wonderful kindness. He also brought the picture of Sai Baba home, and with it Baba’s puja began in the house.

First meeting with Baba:

In 1912, Santaram first visited Shirdi. Then he had appeared for a departmental examination, a revenue test and went to Shirdi with two friends Sankar Balakrishna Vaidya and Achyuta Date . At the Kopergaon railway station, the station master heard of their proposed visit to Baba, and began to abuse Baba saying that undue honor was being given to a mere hypnotist, who was cheating people like so many wandering jugglers. This made the impressionable Santaram very unhappy. He was beginning to have his doubts about Baba. Anyhow he reached Shirdi. 

The first sight that he caught of Sai Baba was walking from Lendi to Mosque. On the way Santaram and his friends met Baba. Baba looked straight at Santaram, and said, ‘What? Have you come away without taking leave from the Mamlatdar?’ The reply was ‘yes’. Baba said, ‘Don’t do so hereafter’. At once, the object of these remarks was evident. Baba revealed his power. Santaram being a Mamlatdar’s clerk and that he had come without permission and showed a motherly kindness towards his devotee who was wavering. This was only the beginning of a series of similar experiences during his three days of stay at Shirdi. At the end of three days, Santaram was perfectly assured and confident that Baba was the Datta Avatara, and not a juggler. Baba took udhi from Santaram’s hand and applied it to his forehead. This was a mark of favor.

Ekadasi day and fasting:

One day Santaram had gone very early for the arati in the Masjid, without taking his meal as it was Ekadasi day. Baba was no respecter of mere forms.

Baba asked Santaram, ‘Have you had your meal?’

He said, ‘No, because it is Ekadasi to-day’.

Baba said, ‘Never mind, you go and eat.’

His two friends were very orthodox, and, therefore, Baba did not ask them to take their food. 

Baba said, ‘They are mad. You better go and eat.’ 

Then Santaram went to the dining place at his Wada. The man in the Wada began grumble that on an Ekadasi day, and that too before arati was over, Santaram should ask for food. So Santaram quietly returned to Baba.

Again Baba asked, ‘Meals over?’ Santaram said, ‘No, Baba. I will take the meal after the arati.’

Baba said, ‘Go, arati will wait, and it will begin only after your meal is over’.

Santaram went and told the man in the Wada what Baba had said. So, he had to be given the meal. This is very good proof of Baba’s affection towards Santaram. Then, meals over, Santaram went back to Mosque for the arati. A lady had brought rolled up betel and nut, and Baba took some and asks him to chew. On Ekadasi days, people do not chew betel. But as Baba asked him to chew, Santaram had to chew. When the arati was over, Baba asked dakshina and took four rupees from Santaram and sixteen from Vaidya. From his friend Date, Baba did not ask for any dakshina. Date had no thought of giving any dakshina to Baba. In fact Date had very little reverence for Baba and Baba distinctively read each man’s heart.

During these three days, when H.S. Dixit, Jog and Dabolkar were present, Baba spoke, pointing to Santaram, and said, ‘I went to this man’s house for a meal, but he would not give me Bendi baji’. At once Santaram remembered the sadhu who cam to him three years ago in 1909, and was wonderstruck, for the sadhu who was then in his house looked different from Sai Baba at the Mosque. But from Baba’s remarks, Santaram understood that it was really Baba who came in that form to help the family and reassure them of the safety of the operation in the Bombay hospital. Santaram asked Baba what result of his departmental examination would be. Baba said, Allah Malik Hai and placed his palm on Santaram’s head. Santaram passed the examination.

On the third day, Santaram and his friends begged him for leave to go away. He gave them leave with udhi. Baba at that time gave another blessing to Santaram. Santaram badly wanted a transfer from mofussal Dahanu to metropolis Bombay. Baba of his own accord said, 'Come to Bombay for service’. This was either prophecy or control, and took six years for its fulfillment. In 1918, Santaram was transferred to Bandra, a suburban district of Bombay.

Santaram who had left the station without the Mamlatdar’s permission was noticed by the Mamlatdar B. V. Dev. He merely gave him a warning and no punishment. After this, Santaram repeated his visits to Shirdi whenever he could.

Baba protecting Panse from imprisonment:

When he was leaving in 1913 to go to Shirdi, his friend H. M. Panse, met him and said that he had been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment, but was let out on bail and that he was going to appeal. He wanted Santaram to tell Baba, ‘Panse is in trouble and says he is innocent, and wants Baba’s help.’ When Santaram reached Shirdi, the early morning arati at the chavadi was going on. Baba was then in a very angry mood. Yet when he saw Santaram, and before any words had been spoken, he said, “Tell that fellow that he need not have any anxiety, and that he will be acquitted on appeal.” And Panse was acquitted on appeal.

OM SAI RAM!