Sri Sai Satcharita Chapter - 11

There are two aspects of God or Brahman : (1) the Unmanifested (Nirgun) and (2) the Manifested (Sagun). The Nirgun is formless, while the Sagun is with form, though both denote the same Brahman. Some prefer to worship the former, some the latter. Our love and devotion do not develop unless we worship Sagun Brahman for a certain period of time, and as we advance; it leads us to the worship (meditation) of Nirgun Brahman.

Shirdi Sai always emphasized the importance of faith in our devotion. He reassured us that he will bless us no matter what.  He appeared as Rama, Datta, Hanuman, Shiva, and all other forms when his devotees prayed to him in those forms. In this chapter Hemadpanth talks about Dr. Pandit’s story where Baba appeared as Sri Guru Raghunath from Dhopeswar (Kaka Puranik). Dr. Pandit came to to Shirdi only once to see Baba. When he went to Dwarakamai, Baba told him to go to Dada Bhat.  Later he came along

with  Dada for Baba's worhip. Dada is a staunch devotee of Baba and till then no one had dared to apply fragrant paste (gandh) “ tilak ” (circular, auspicious mark on the forehead) to Baba. Baba would not allow anyone to apply the fragrant paste to his forehead. Only Mhalsapati smeared it on his throat; others applied it to his feet. But this Pandit was full of devotion. He took away Dada's puja dish,  and holding Sree Sai’s head, he smeared him  with  the three  fingered  parallel  lines; (tripundra). Watching this Dada’s heart began to beat fast. He thought that Baba would be enraged. Thus the impossible had happened! Baba did not utter a word. On the contrary he seemed quite pleased and did not get angry with him at all. So be it.  He let that moment pass.  When Dada asked Baba why he let Dr. Pandit paste tilak and why not others.  Baba said, " He saw his Guru in me and I had no choice except to let him do the worship". Then when Dada spoke to Dr. Pandit he confirms that he saw his Guru Raghunath from Dhopeswar (kaka Puranik) in Baba. 

Sai is even greater than all the seven forms that we all worship – Image of God, Sacrificial altar, fire, supreme light, sun, water, Brahmin (those wearing the sacred thread). Through this story, Baba taught us how to merge with Guru with worship. Sai wanted us to learn how to love our Guru and to have single mindedness in worshiping your Guru.

Next Hemadpanth talks about Haji Siddik Falke from Kalyan who did the Pilgrimage to Mecca – Medina, arrived at Shirdi.  That old Haji stayed in the Chavadi facing the north. For the first nine months Baba was displeased with him and was not ready to meet him. He tried different ways and means but could never exchange glances with Baba. Falke became internally dejected.and somebody advised him to take the help of Shyama.  Then Falke approaches Shyama. Shyama spoke to Baba and told him that Haji has come to Shirdi seeking your blessings after doing the Mecca – Medina pilgrimage. How can you not be merciful to him? And not allow him to come into the Masjid?  Be merciful towards him, just once. Then Baba says "if God does not allow him to come what can I do". 

Then Baba says, There is a narrow foot path beyond the Barvi well. Go and ask him clearly if he will walk and come there correctly”. The Haji said: “However difficult it may be, I will walk correctly. But grant me a personal meeting, and let me sit near his feet”. 

Listening to the answer from Shama, Baba said, “Ask him further: Four times forty thousand rupees, will you give to me?” When Madhavrao gave him this message, the Haji said: “What are you asking? If he asks, I will give forty lakhs! Where lays the question of thousands! ”

Listening to this answer, Baba said: “Ask him. To-day we have a desire to slaughter a goat in our Masjid. What part of the meat, do you wish? Would he like bones with flesh, haunch or testicles? Go and ask that old man, what he definitely wants”.

Madhavrao related in detail to the Haji whatever Baba had said. Haji emphatically said: “I need nothing of all that. Give me whatever he wishes. But I have only one desire. If I only get a morsel from the kolamba, I will have attained my object and my well-being”.

“What do you think yourself to be? Are you boasting in front of me?  You are giving yourself airs because of your age! Is that the way you recite the Koran! You are vain because you have done the pilgrimage to Mecca! But you do not realize who I am! ”

The Haji was dumbfounded. Baba then turned back. While entering the courtyard of the Masjid, he saw the gardener’s wife selling mangoes. He purchased all the baskets and sent them immediately to the Haji. In the same way, he turned back immediately, and went again towards that Haji. He took out Rs. 55/- from the pocket and counted them on his (Haji’s) hands. Thereafter, there developed affection. The Haji was invited to eat and both of them forgot all the past. The Haji was delightfully blissful. Then he left and frequently came again. He took full pleasure in Baba’s affection. Then Baba gave him gifts of monies, from time to time.

Meaning behind this story:

We can learn so much from this story.

Baba said “There is a narrow foot path beyond the Barvi well. Go and ask him clearly if he will walk and come there correctly”.                                                     

There is no such thing as Barvi well physically but it could be the means of Sadhana (practice) and narrow path means treading the path of austerity.          

They can include Samadamadhi Shat sampatti. They are the six virtues:  (a)Sama: Quietude in holding the mind steadily on the object of attention. (b)Dama: Control—mastering of the powers of perception and of action, holding them from running away. (c) Uparati: Cessation from leaning on outer things and external objects. (d) Titiksha: Endurance of afflictions without rebelling against them and without lamentation or grumbling. (e)Shraddha: Faith or firm conviction of the truth about the soul, the science of the soul and the Teachers of that science. (f)Samadhana: Self-settled ness in the Pure Eternal in an increasing measure till permanency therein is attained.

Viveka is discrimination—discernment between the Eternal and the non-eternal. These two are not distant, somewhere far away, but here, near at hand. Both the Eternal and the non-eternal envelop everything, and we have to discriminate between them in eating and drinking, in waking and sleeping, in all the affairs of life.

Vairagya is dispassion or desirelessness, and freedom from self-indulgence. When we indulge the self of sense we follow the non-eternal; when we free ourselves from the senses it is because the Eternal has been glimpsed, however dimly.

Mumukshatavam - Desire to be free from birth death cycle.

In this process we need to control the mind and make it still, have patience for Guru’s grace and move towards the ultimate goal.

Next question was:  “Ask him further: Four times forty thousand rupees, will you give to me?”

Baba is asking here purity of faculty of mind (Mind, Buddhi, Chitta and Ahankara). If we can annihilate these four then we can experience self realization.

The third question was:  “Ask him. To-day we have a desire to slaughter a goat in our Masjid. What part of the meat, do you wish? Would he like bones with flesh, haunch or testicles? Go and ask that old man, what he definitely wants”.

He wanted to test him to see whether he is really interested in worldly activities with a passion. Bones with marrow indicates the creation. Bone marrow is responsible for the birth of so many cells in the body. When we become dispassionate about these worldly objects, we become eligible to walk this path. We can have so many pilgrimages under our belt, it does not matter. We need to purify our mind.    

Guru keeps us straight with his harsh words, so that he can get rid of some bad tendencies from our psyche. In the end Baba gave Falke mangoes which indicate auspiciousness and Rs. 55. This denotes the 5 qualities that he needs to acquire Knowledge of Self. We should never misunderstand this as Guru getting angry at us. In reality this is a blessing. We should never leave the feet of Guru. We have to learn to live with out this egotism and we have to humble.

In the end Hemadpanth talks about how Baba controlled the natural elements. When terrible storm created a panic in Shirdi  and people prayed to Baba o stop this calamity. Then he said "stop, stop your fury and be calm". In a few minutes the rains subsided and skies cleared. In a similar way Baba once controlled the uncontrollable fire from Dhuni. This is our Sai an incarnation of God who had the control of all the 5 elements. Let us surrender to Baba with utmost faith and devotion. 

OM Sri Sainatharpanamasthu!