Every devotee's heart can be considered as Shirdi and we learned in the last chapter that how Baba arrived in Shirdi. If Baba is not there Shirdi has no significance. In a similar way if we do not have Baba in our hearts there is no use calling ourselves as devotees of Baba. In the sixth chapter of Sai Satcharita Hemadpanth talks about how Guru's touch and blessing changes our lives. Baba also gave us some important discourse on how to grow in spirituality. This chapter on the out side talks about Ursu festival, Chandan utsav and Srirama navami celebrations. But these incidents have so much spiritual significance behind them. We will try to learn these special aspects. There is so much scriptural points mentioned in this chapter and we will shed some light on all of them.
We worship Baba most of the time and the devotees experience some kind of bliss. We will try to experience similar kind of bliss right now. Let us close our eyes and let us immerse our selves in Sai's world. Let us imagine that we are at Dwarakamai and Sai arathi is just finished. After Arathi is done Baba is sitting on the steps of Dwarakamai and people are standing in line to get the blessings of Baba. We can see glowing and mesmerizing form of Baba in front of us. Baba is wearing the long white Kaphni and there is a scarf on his head. This scarf is tied in such way that part of it hanging by the side of his left ear. There is a glow behind him and the fire from Dhuni is lighting behind Sai. The back wall in the Dwaramai is decorated with garlands. This reminds us the formless Nirguna aspect of Sai. As we are thinking this way we approached Sai and our heart is filled with joy. We are seeing our Guru and the moment came so that we can get his blessings. As soon as the boon giving hand, which has the Udi from Dhuni touches my head, my heart goes into rapture with inner happiness and my eyes brim with love. Sai is filled in my heart and there is no such thing as mine anymore. Everything was Sai and I do not exist anymore. Sai is my Sriram, Srikrishna and Siva. He is the embodiment of all the Gods. He is also the formless Nirguna. Let this feeling stay forever. Like this Hemadpanth showed us the ecstasy of Baba's touch and his presence. This experience he compared to the ultimate experience of Self realization.
There was a circle inspector by name Gopal Rao Gund who had no children, came to Baba and was blessed with children. Then he had the urge to do Urs utsav on Srirama Navami day. They got the permission from Baba in 1897. But Shirdi had only 2 water wells at that time and one was empty without water and the other had salt water in it. Baba blessed these and put some flowers in those wells and the problem was solved. Tatya also got some water form other sources. So there was no problem during the Ursu festival. We all want to celebrate this kind of festivals in the name of Baba but we lack bakthi or it is tainted with the Arishad vargas (Anger, greed, desire etc.) These qualities are like the salt water in those wells. That's why we have to surrender to Baba with faith and patience. Then Baba will bless us so that we can become pure. Then Damu anna also joins the Ursu utsav by donating another flag for the procession. He also benefited and blessed by Baba with children. Later Amir Shakkar started Chandan utsav in the evenings. These two festivals went on from 1897 to 1911. Then comes Sri Krishna Jogiswar Bhisma who initiated the Sri Ramanavami festival on the same day along with tow other celebrations.
Because of Radhakrishna Mai Shirdi became an organizations with all the additional items like Pallaki, horse, bells and other items. She also sent a cradle on the day of Sri Ramanavami to Dwarakamai. People enjoyed the celebration and in the end they started throwing around the gulal (red powder). Little bit of this red powder fell in Baba's eyes and he became angry and started yelling. Some people got scared and ran away. Others who knows Baba stayed back as they know that he is trying to get rid of some bad luck by being angry. They felt these were Baba's blessings. Satcharita says that when ever there is a new task that is initiated Baba always blessed like this. Even when they started repairing the Dwarakmai, Baba got hold of Tatya, removed his head scarf and threw it in the Dhuni. Later on he calms down and gets a new Scarf and gives it to Tatya. We all want to celebrate these important festivals but some times we get carried away and forget the Bakthi part of it. The scarf here indicates the Ego which Baba wants us to get rid off. He has to throw this in the fire that is Jnana. Then only we will be in the right path. If we follow his path, he will then take away our head scarf that is ego.
If we have to get rid of our ego (ahamkara), what do we need to do and how we can stay close to Baba? These were well explained in the beginning of this chapter by Baba himself. Let us see what those words were because they are very useful to reach our goals. We need dispassion towards the worldly objects. This might be difficult to follow but if we have Baba in our lives nothing is difficult.
These are Baba's words and Hemadpanth compiled them in this chapter and please read them as spoken by Baba.
Those who wholeheartedly worship me and lovingly always serve me, I look after their well-being. This I know to be my motto. There will never be shortage of food and clothing. Therefore do not hanker after them.
One should seek honor at the door of God; and should beg only from God. Ask only for his blessings. Worldly prestige should be left aside.
Why are you satisfied by the honor given to you by the society? Why are you infatuated by this honor? Rather seek through intense devotion to move your chosen deity to compassion and to express your joy through copious streams of Satvik Bhava.
May you find joy in such striving. Let all the faculties be seized with such a devotional urge so that the passions of the senses may be transformed completely and sprout devotional worship. What desire will then remain?
May such devotion be your constant preoccupation leaving no relish fro anything else.
May the mind be engaged in constant chanting of my name and let everything else be forgotten. Then there will be no thought of body, home, and wealth. The heart will be fixed in infinite happiness. The mind will be balanced and serene; and it will find fulfillment in it self.
A contended mind is the surest sign of association with the holy.How can a wandering mind be considered as being surrendered to God?
These are most provocative words spoken by Baba and we need to remember them always.
Sri Sadguru Sainatharpanamasthu!
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