Sri Saisatcharita Chapter 36

The greatness of the saints is beyond limits! None is able to describe it fully. He, who is Absolute Knowledge Incarnate, shows the true form of God, remaining uninvolved except as a witness, by creating innumerable circumstances. Hemadpanth is acknowledging Baba’s greatness as a knower of ultimate truth. He gives darshan in different forms to those on whom he showers his grace by creating inconceivable occurrences. He who has enjoined himself to Vishnu (Chakrapani), and is fully engrossed in the spiritual attainment by leaving aside the worldly ties, has uplifted many beings.

Gentlemen from Goa:

Two gentlemen came from Goa and had darshan of Baba and Baba aksed one of them 15 rupees dakshina. He gave this happily. The other one also offered rupees 35 but Baba did not accept it. Then Shyama asks Baba for this selective act. Then Baba replies “Shyama, you do not know anything. I do not take anything from anybody. It is the Masjid Mai (presiding deity of the Masjid) who asks for what is owing to her. The giver is then free from debts. Do I have a home? Or do I have a family, that I should need money? I am free in all respects”. He also described that people take vows to some deity at a time of need and it is a problem for me when I am trying to uplift them. I am always pleased with those devotees of mine who have no debt. This gentle man was initially poor and took vow to give God his first salary and it was rupees 15. In course of time his salary went up to 700 rupees. He forgot to take care of his 15 rupees vow. That’s why I am accepting this dakshina.

 “Now listen to another story. Once when I was wandering on the sea shore, I came across a huge mansion and I sat down on its verandah. The owner of the mansion was a Brahmin, cultured and very rich. He welcomed me with affection and fed me sumptuously. There, in a nice, clean, selected place, with a sliding shutter, he gave me a place to sleep and I fell asleep. Seeing that I was sound asleep, someone removed the stone and broke the wall and cut my pocket without my knowledge. He stripped me of all that I had. When I woke up and realized what had happened, I was in tears, as I had been robbed of Rs. 30,000/-. I was devastated. The money was in bank notes. When I had this sudden loss, I was shocked. The Brahmin tried to console me.

I was too grief stricken to even eat or drink. For fifteen days, I sat at the same place on the verandah. After the fifteenth day, a wandering fakir, singing couplets in the Urdu language on a metaphysical theme, appeared suddenly and saw me crying. Upon his asking me the reason for my grief, I told him the whole tale. He told me that my difficulty would be solved provided; I acted as he told me.

He said that he would give me the name of a fakir and his whereabouts. If I surrendered to him, he would get back my money. But he asked me to observe a vow until I recovered what I desired by abstaining from my favorite food, whereupon my goal would be attained.

I acted upon the fakir’s advice, got my money back. Then I left the Wada and went back to the sea-shore. While thus walking, I saw a steamer but I could not get in as it was crowded. Then a good-natured peon interceded for me and got me a place in the steamer. By good fortune, the steamer reached the other shore. When I caught the train and came back home, I saw the Masjidmai”. Here Baba’s story ended. Later Shama was instructed to take the guests home and to feed them there. May it be whatsoever? Later, food was served on the leaf plates. Madhavrao was curious and asked the guests if they understood the story. The guests replied in voices choking with tears: “Sai is omniscient. He is the Parabrahma Avatar, without any duality. He is infinite and All-Pervading. Whatever he has said now is word to word our own story. As soon as this delicious repast is over we will tell you everything in detail. Whatever Baba said has actually taken place in every detail. How did he come to know without even knowing us? Therefore, it is beyond our comprehension”. Then the gentleman described how he got a job and how salary increased. Then they started praising Sai’ glory. They said that people in Shirdi are very fortunate as they get to spend time with this great soul every day. In this way, Sai showed his all-pervasive nature and how he resided in the hearts of all, bearing witness to all that happens everywhere.

Baba blessingAurangabadkar with a son
Next story is about wife of Sakharam Aurangabadkar who lived in Sholapur. She was anxious about a child and comes to Shirdi. Though she had been married for twenty seven years, she had not conceived. She got exhausted making vows to Gods and Goddesses. She had lost all hope. She is determined to have Baba’s darshan and ask for his blessings but he is surrounded by so many devotees all the time. It was difficult to approach him. She and her stepson stayed there for 2 months and then they approach Shyama to help her. After sometime the time has come Shyama finds an opportunity when Baba pinched him on his cheek. Baba was playful with Shyama. At that time Shyama brings up the issue of this lady seeking a child. She came up to Baba and offered coconut. She bowed to Baba’s feet. Then Shyama says “The lady wishes that a child may be similarly rolling in her womb. Grant her that. May she be enjoined to your feet always! And let her problem be solved! Cast a merciful glance on her. Place the coconut in her ‘oti’. May she have sons and daughters with your blessings” Then Baba told him; “Can the coconut give any issue? How can there be such foolish belief? I think the people have lost their mind”. Shyama said: “I know the marvel of your words. Your words are so valuable that she will have a series of children, spontaneously. But these days you are making a distinction. You are not giving her real blessings. You are only wrangling. Give her the coconut as ‘prasad’ ”. “Break the coconut”, Baba said. Shyama said: “Place it in her ‘oti’ ”. The higgling went on for quite a while, when Baba ultimately yielded. He said: “Go, she will have a child,” Shama said: “When? Give a reply”. Baba said: “After twelve months”. The coconut was forcefully broken. Half of it was eaten by both i.e. by Baba and Shyama. The remaining half was given to the lady. Madhavrao said to the lady: “You are a witness to my words. Lady, if from today before twelve months are complete you do not have a child, listen to what I will do. I will break such a coconut against this god’s head and drive him out of the Masjid. If I fail in this, I will not call myself Madhav. I will not allow such a God to live in the Masjid. I say this certainly. In course of time, you will realize the truth of these words. Believe this surely and firmly”.  The lady felt happy and returned home.

Baba fulfilled his promise. Within three months of the conversation, the lady conceived. She had a son. She came to Shirdi with her husband and five month old child for darshan. The husband too happily paid obeisance at Sai’s feet and offering five hundred rupees expressed his unspoken gratitude. This money was utilized to build the walls of the stable for Baba’s horse Shyamakaran, at the existing site where he used to be tethered.

Om Sri Sainatharpanamsthu!