Sri Upasini Maharaj - Part 3

Sai’s teachings to Kasinath:

Sri Sai declared himself to be the one Iswara, the Antaryami of all and, therefore, he wanted his best pupils to realize him as their God first and next find him and feel him in every creature that they met.

To Kasinath as to most of us this was a very, very, tough lesson that all souls are one and the same, that Iswara or the Guru God was, and is, in all and was and is All. Yet Baba determined to teach, him this lesson. So, even in the first year of his probation, Baba taught him some portion of this truth.

Baba coming as a Black dog for food (Naivedyam):

 Kasinath was cooking his food at Khandoba temple, and naturally wanted to take the food to his Guru Sai Baba, and to get back the same or rather part of it as prasad from him to eat. But while he was cooking his food, a black dog was watching, and even when he took the food towards Sai's Masjid, it followed him part of the way and suddenly disappeared. When first the dog was present and anxiously looking for the food, Upasani with his orthodox ideas thought it would be absurd to give that low creature, a dog, any food before offering it to God and before men ate (for that was against orthodox ideas). So he did not give any food to that dog. But when he went in the hot sun at noon, with his food to Sai Baba, Baba asked him,  'What have you come for?' Kasinath said.  To bring you my naivedya',  'Why did you come all the way here in the sun? I was there'  Baba said. Kasinath said that there was none but a black dog there. Baba said 'I was that black dog. So, as you refused to give me food there, I am not going to take this food'. So, Upasani returned that day bitterly repenting his orthodox frame of mind refusing to give food first to the dog.

Baba coming as a low caste man for food (Naivedyam):

Next day, he was determined to avoid that mistake. So, when he was cooking his food, he looked out for the black dog but found no dog. Then, when he was proceeding with his cooking, he noticed that a sickly Sudra was leaning against a wall  and watching the cooking. To the orthodox mind of the Brahmin Kasinath, it was drishtii dosha and improper for a Sudra to look on when a Brahmin was cooking. So he said, 'Get away', and accordingly, the Sudra left.

When that day Kasinath came near Baba with his food, Baba was very angry. He said, 'Yesterday, you did not give me food, and today you told me to go away.' 'Where were you, Baba?'   asked  Kasinath.  Baba said, 'I was leaning against that wall'.  'Could it be you, that untouchable man?' Kasinath asked.  'Yes, I am in everything and beyond', said Sai.

Baba used these kinds of techniques to teach his devotees the omnipresence of God. His doctrine reveals that he exists in every living and nonliving thing. This way he eradicated the ignorance in his devotees.

Upasini emerging as Maharaj:

Kasinath was living in Khandoba temple. He was almost sleeping with snakes as there were more snakes in that area. He was fearless. He continued his penance. In this process he learns that his third wife also died. He got this news in February of 1912. Now Upasini is totally free of any close relations. He was wearing only a gunny bag wrapped around his waist.

One day Baba sent a lady by name Chandrabai to worship Upasini as she worships Baba. She followed the direction of Baba and came to Khandoba temple. Kasinath does not appreciate this. But she insisted saying this is Baba’s order. From that day onwards Baba made him a Sadguru. Baba started sending the crowds to Upasini Maharaj.

Upasini Maharaj leaving Shirdi:

Sai Baba would now send His devotees to Shri Sadguru Upasni Maharaj for darshan. In 1914 Shri Upasi Maharaj left Shirdi for the first time after several years and traveled to Sindi and Nagpur. Here also He would beg for food and live away from cleanliness and comforts. People started visiting Him to pay homage and would worship Him.

Upasini Maharaj’s stay in a poor man’s (low cast) house:

The Hindu social life of 1915 was full of the feelings of cast and creed barriers. To end this barrier of castism, in February 1915, Shri Upasni Maharaj moved to a poor man Namdeo Mahar's house in Kharagpur. Maharaj belonging to a high brahmin caste voluntarily stayed in a cow stable, and ate food in the house of Namdeo who belonged to a lower and untouchable class. The high caste disciples of Maharaj were forced to come to Namdeo Mahar's house to seek Maharaj's blessing, and be prepared to receive a warm welcome by Namdeo.

Return to Shirdi and moving to Sakori:

After some time Maharaj went to Nagpur and then returned to Shirdi to inhabit once again Khandoba's temple. But the atmosphere at the temple was different this time, as devotees began to gather in larger numbers, and happy times began. The seeker, who lived a life of hard penance at this temple, was now a Master. The beggar of truth was now the King.

Gradually it became customary for those who came for Sai Baba's darshan, to also visit the Khandoba temple and meet Upasni Maharaj. Even Baba would ask some of the disciples to go to Sakori, and Maharaj was now being known as His spiritual heir. It so happened one day that a Swami came to meet Sai Baba. This arrogant Swami considered himself next to none in spiritual knowledge. Sai Baba soon asked this Swami for a favor "Will you please go to Sakori and bring me four hundred rupees from Upasni, as I am in urgent need of money" said Sai. "It is very important", He further added. The Swami proudly walked up to Sakori, expecting a warm welcome, being an Ambassador of Sai Baba. Upasni Maharaj was as usual sitting naked under a tree when this arrogant Swami arrived, and started demanding for four hundred rupees. Upasni Maharaj got up immediately as if the matter was really urgent, and before the Swami could understand what he was going to receive so urgently, Maharaj grabbed the Swami and beat him up. The shaken Swami returned to Shirdi to find Sai Baba, smiling over the warm welcome at Sakori. Indeed the Swami had received the real blessings.

Surgery with out anesthesia:  Once Upasini Maharaj happened to go to Sindi where he had trouble with piles. The doctors suggest that they need to be cauterized otherwise they will cause lot of trouble to him. He gets ready for surgery and tells the doctors to go ahead and do surgery with out anesthesia. They were surprised to see his control of his body and mind. Te surgery was completed with out any problems. Upasini Maharaj was worshipped as a Siddha Guru by lots of people.  

Sakori ashram and Kanyasthan:

Upasini Maharaj finally settles down in Sakori after his travels to different places. Sakori is only 5 kilometers away from Shirdi. He was there in 1917 and when Sai left his mortal body in 1918, Upasini performed the last rites. He stayed in a wooden bamboo cage in 1921 for 13 months.

He used to do satsangh from the cage it self. That was so narrow and it was difficult to move even a little bit in the inside of cage. On January 31^st 1924, he comes out of it to welcome  a girl by name Godavari vasudev Hatawalikar. Later she will be known as Godavari maa.

Sri Meher Baba was one of his disciples. Meher Baba became world renowned and Upasini Maharaj’s name spread across the continent.  Kanyasthan became spiritual center for so many people. Lots of people were visiting the place. 

On December 29^th 1941, Upasini Maharaj left his mortal body. Next day all the last rites were performed. Upasini Maharaj was blessed by Sai and as Baba predicted, Upasini Maharaj showed the path to so many people. 

OM SAI RAM!