When we offer God some food as “Naivedya” and sometimes we
give money or some valuable thing. What goes through our mind? Why we feel like
giving these articles to God in fact all of this belongs to God. This
discussion has to happen internally. In this chapter Hemadpanth talks about the
importance of Offerings to Guru –God and also how he blessed a devotee from
Nanded.
The life of this Saint is naturally sweet in and out. His various doings, eating, walking and His natural sayings are also sweet. His life is Bliss incarnate. Sai gave it out as a means of His devotee's remembrance to Him. He gave them various stories of duty and action, which ultimately led them to true religion. His object may be that people should live happily in this world, but they should be ever cautious and gain the object of their life, viz. self-realization. We get human body as a result of merits in past births and it is worth-while that with its aid, we should attain devotion and liberation in this life. So we should never be lazy, but always be on the alert to gain our aim of life.
If you daily hear the Leelas (stories) of Sai, you will always see Him. Day and night you will remember Him in your mind, when you assimilate Sai in this way, your mind will lose its fickleness and if you go on in this manner, it will finally be merged in pure Consciousness.
Ruttonji Shapurji Wadia story
There was a Parsi mill-contractor and trader, by name Ruttonji Shapurji Wadia in Nanded, in the Nizam state. He is so rich that he has everything in his life. He had amassed a large amount of money and had acquired fields and lands. He had got cattle, horses and conveyances and was very prosperous. On the outside he was a happy and very rich person but inwardly he was suffering that he has no male child. In those days having a male child was so essential otherwise they used to feel all in vain. He was liberal and charitable, gave food and clothing to the poor and helped all in various ways. He did everything in his capacity and finally he opened his heart to Dasganu Maharaj. Dasganu Maharaj advised him to go to Shirdi, take Baba's darshan, fall at His Feet and seek His blessing and pray for issue. Ruttonji liked the idea, and after some days he went to Shirdi, took Baba's darshana and fell at His Feet. He offered a beautiful garland of flowers and placed it around Baba's neck and offered Him a basket of fruits. He surrenders to Baba with a pure mind and Baba then asked him for Dakshina of Rs. five which Ruttonji intended to give. Baba then says that he has already received Rs. 3-14-0 from him, and that he should pay the balance only. Hearing this, Ruttonji was rather puzzled because this was the first time he met Baba. He could not solve the riddle. But he sat at Baba's Feet and gave the balance of the Dakshina asked for, explained to Baba fully, as to why he came and sought His help, and prayed that Baba should bless him with a son. Baba was moved and told him not to be worried, and that time his bad days had ended. He then gave him Udi, placed His hand on his head and blessed him saying that Allah (God) would satisfy his heart's desire.
Then after taking Baba's leave, Ruttonji returned to Nanded and told Dasganu everything that took place at Shirdi. He said that everything went on well there, but he could not figure out how he gave Baba Rs.3-14-0 before. Then they came to understand that Ruttonji served a saint by name Moulisaheb in his house and had spent the exact amount of money for his reception. They all came to know, that Baba was omniscient and knew what happened outside far away from Shirdi. In fact He knew the past, present and future, and could identify Himself heart and soul with anybody. Ruttonji was satisfied with this explanation and his faith in Baba was confirmed and increased. In due time afterwards, he was blessed with a son and his joy knew no bounds. It is said that he had in all a dozen children out of which only four survived.
There was a Parsi mill-contractor and trader, by name Ruttonji Shapurji Wadia in Nanded, in the Nizam state. He is so rich that he has everything in his life. He had amassed a large amount of money and had acquired fields and lands. He had got cattle, horses and conveyances and was very prosperous. On the outside he was a happy and very rich person but inwardly he was suffering that he has no male child. In those days having a male child was so essential otherwise they used to feel all in vain. He was liberal and charitable, gave food and clothing to the poor and helped all in various ways. He did everything in his capacity and finally he opened his heart to Dasganu Maharaj. Dasganu Maharaj advised him to go to Shirdi, take Baba's darshan, fall at His Feet and seek His blessing and pray for issue. Ruttonji liked the idea, and after some days he went to Shirdi, took Baba's darshana and fell at His Feet. He offered a beautiful garland of flowers and placed it around Baba's neck and offered Him a basket of fruits. He surrenders to Baba with a pure mind and Baba then asked him for Dakshina of Rs. five which Ruttonji intended to give. Baba then says that he has already received Rs. 3-14-0 from him, and that he should pay the balance only. Hearing this, Ruttonji was rather puzzled because this was the first time he met Baba. He could not solve the riddle. But he sat at Baba's Feet and gave the balance of the Dakshina asked for, explained to Baba fully, as to why he came and sought His help, and prayed that Baba should bless him with a son. Baba was moved and told him not to be worried, and that time his bad days had ended. He then gave him Udi, placed His hand on his head and blessed him saying that Allah (God) would satisfy his heart's desire.
Then after taking Baba's leave, Ruttonji returned to Nanded and told Dasganu everything that took place at Shirdi. He said that everything went on well there, but he could not figure out how he gave Baba Rs.3-14-0 before. Then they came to understand that Ruttonji served a saint by name Moulisaheb in his house and had spent the exact amount of money for his reception. They all came to know, that Baba was omniscient and knew what happened outside far away from Shirdi. In fact He knew the past, present and future, and could identify Himself heart and soul with anybody. Ruttonji was satisfied with this explanation and his faith in Baba was confirmed and increased. In due time afterwards, he was blessed with a son and his joy knew no bounds. It is said that he had in all a dozen children out of which only four survived.
In a foot-note towards the end of this Chapter, it is stated
that Baba told Rao Bahadur Hari Vinayak Sathe, after the death of his first
wife, to remarry and that he would get a son. R.B. Sathe married second time.
The first two issues by this wife were daughters and he, therefore, felt very
despondent. But the third issue was a son. Baba's word did turn out true and he
was satisfied.
Dakshina and its meaning
Now Heamadpanth tackles the issue of Dakshina and Why Baba asked only certain people and not others. Somebody may ask a question, "If Baba was a Fakir and perfectly non-attached, why should he ask for Dakshina and care for money?" We shall consider this question broadly now.
During his initial stay at Shrdi he did not accept anything. He stored burnt matches and filled His pocket with them. He never asked anything from anybody--whether he be a devotee or otherwise. If anybody placed before Him some change, he purchased oil or tobacco. Then some persons thought that they could not see the Saints empty-handed, and they, therefore, placed some copper coins before Baba. If a pice was placed before Him, he used to pocket it; if it was a two pice coin, it was returned immediately. Then after Baba's fame had spread far and wide, people began to flock in numbers; and Baba began to ask Dakshina from them. The scriptures advised that people should give Charity. The teacher in the Taittiriya Upanishad exhorts his pupils to practice charity and other virtues. Regarding charity he says, "Give with faith, give with magnanimity, i.e. liberally, give with modesty, with awe and with sympathy.
In order to teach the devotees the lesson of charity and to remove their attachment to money and thus to purify their minds, Baba asked Dakshina from them; but there was this peculiarity, as Baba said, that He had to give back hundred times more of what he received. one such example is Mr. Ganpatrao Bodas, the famous actor, says in his Marathi autobiography, that Baba's pressed him often for Dakshina. He used to empty all the money he used to bring to Shirdi. He lived well off, and without any financial struggles in his later life.
Dakshina and its meaning
Now Heamadpanth tackles the issue of Dakshina and Why Baba asked only certain people and not others. Somebody may ask a question, "If Baba was a Fakir and perfectly non-attached, why should he ask for Dakshina and care for money?" We shall consider this question broadly now.
During his initial stay at Shrdi he did not accept anything. He stored burnt matches and filled His pocket with them. He never asked anything from anybody--whether he be a devotee or otherwise. If anybody placed before Him some change, he purchased oil or tobacco. Then some persons thought that they could not see the Saints empty-handed, and they, therefore, placed some copper coins before Baba. If a pice was placed before Him, he used to pocket it; if it was a two pice coin, it was returned immediately. Then after Baba's fame had spread far and wide, people began to flock in numbers; and Baba began to ask Dakshina from them. The scriptures advised that people should give Charity. The teacher in the Taittiriya Upanishad exhorts his pupils to practice charity and other virtues. Regarding charity he says, "Give with faith, give with magnanimity, i.e. liberally, give with modesty, with awe and with sympathy.
In order to teach the devotees the lesson of charity and to remove their attachment to money and thus to purify their minds, Baba asked Dakshina from them; but there was this peculiarity, as Baba said, that He had to give back hundred times more of what he received. one such example is Mr. Ganpatrao Bodas, the famous actor, says in his Marathi autobiography, that Baba's pressed him often for Dakshina. He used to empty all the money he used to bring to Shirdi. He lived well off, and without any financial struggles in his later life.
If Baba asked for Dakshina means there should have been a deeper meaning behind that. It was just not about money all the time. To quote two instances - (1) Baba asked Rs.15/- as Dakshina from Pro. G.G.Narke, who replied that he did not have even a pie. Then Baba said, "I know you have no money; but you are reading Yoga-Vashistha. Give Me Dakshina from that." Giving Dakshina in this case meant - `Deriving lessons from the book and lodging them in the heart where Baba resides'. (2) In the second case Baba asked Mrs. R. A. Tarkhad to give Rs.6/- as Dakshina. The lady felt pained, as she had nothing to give. Then her husband explained to her that Baba wanted six inner enemies (lust, anger, avarice etc.) to be surrendered to Him. Baba agreed with this explanation.
It is to be noted, that though Baba collected a lot of money by Dakshina, He would distribute the whole amount the same day, and the next morning he would become a poor Fakir as usual. When Baba took His Mahasamadhi, after receiving thousands and thousands of Rupees as Dakshina for about ten years, He had only a few Rupees in His possession.
Baba did not ask Dakshina from all. If some gave Dakshina without being asked, He sometimes accepted it; and at other times He refused it. He asked it from certain devotees only. If anybody offered it against His wish, He never touched it, He asked for small or big amounts from devotees, according to their wish, devotion and convenience. He asked it, even from women and children. He never asked all the rich for it, nor from all the poor." Baba never got angry with anyone who did not give dakshina. Sometimes, he asked more Dakshina from some, than what they originally intended to give and, if they had no money, asked them to borrow from others. From some, He demanded Dakshina three or four times a day."
"Out of the amount collected as Dakshina, Baba spent very little for His own sake, viz., for buying Chilim (clay pipe) and fuel for Dhuni (sacred fire), and all the rest, he distributed as charity in varying proportions to various people. He told Nanasaheb Chandorkar, that all His property consisted of one koupin (codpiece), one stray piece of cloth, one Kafni and a tumrel (tinpot), and that all the people troubled Him by bringing all these unnecessary, useless and costly articles."
In short, Baba's main object in taking Dakshina, from His devotees was to teach them the lessons of Renunciation and Purification.
OM SRI SAINATHAARPANAMASTHU!
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