In the previous chapter Hemadpanth mentioned how Sai’s
picture arrived unexpectedly through someone and how it fulfilled his desire at
the right time. He had a dream in which Baba told him that he will come for a
meal on Holi festival day. This picture was brought by Alli Mohammed and he was
asked to narrate the story behind this miracle. As everyone was about to eat,
Alli said that he will tell the story later and left. This chapter is a
continuation of chapter 40.
Once Alli was walking on the street
and saw a shopkeeper having pictures of all great people. He buys Sai’s picture
and hangs it in his house. Every day he used to have darshan of Baba and loved
Baba greatly. Three months
before he gave this picture to Hemadpanth, he was not well and had gone to live
with his sister’s husband (Noor Mohammed Peerbhoy). My leg was swollen and he
had surgery also. He stayed there for 3 months. There was no one at his home
during that period. Once Alli gave his brother-in-law the picture of Saint Baba
Abdul Rahman and he liked this picture so much that he printed this in bigger portrait
and made 6 copies. He gave it to different people and one copy he took 
Sai
always lovingly took care of his devotees. Sai is very fond of those who have
true love for spirituality. Removing all their difficulties, he enjoins them to
bliss. Balasaheb Deo also had similar experience. Once he had the desire to
read Jnaneswari (Bhagavadgita) but had some difficulty doing so. He was having
so many interruptions but he was able to read other religious books without any
problems. Once he took three months leave and wanted to read Jnaneswari but
could not read properly and even if he sat down to read he could not
understand. He felt frustrated. What is the point in being distressed when he
could not succeed in his resolution? He could not read even five stanzas every
day. Then he decided to read this only when Sai gives him his blessings. When
he goes to Shirdi Jog asked him about his reading and Deo mentioned his
difficulties. Then Jog suggested that he should give Baba his book and get
blessings from Baba. Jog also said “If Sai blesses the book and gives it to you
then you will have no problem reading”. Then next day they go to Dwarakamai and
it was crowded. Baba asked Deo Rs. 20 as dakshina and he happily gave it to
Baba. Deo goes to a corner and sits there. Then Baba asks him why he was hiding
in a corner and to come and sit near him with a calm mind. He goes and sits
near Baba while Arathi was going on. There Deo met Balakram in Wada and asked
him as follows. “Have you been told how to meditate? Please satisfy my desire,”
At the same time when he was about to answer Baba wanted Deo to come to
Dwarakamai. As soon as he went, Deo bowed to him. Baba then asked him, “Where,
with whom, and what were you talking?” Then Deo replied: “On the upper story of
Kaka’s house, I was hearing about your glory from Balakram and talking about it”.
Baba ordered Deo “Bring twenty-five rupees”. Bringing the money immediately, he
tendered them to Baba. “How many did you bring?” Baba asked. Deo replied: “Twenty-five”.
Baba said: “Come, sit down” and Deo went with Baba to the Masjid. Baba sat near the pillar
and there was no one else in the Masjid. He said: “You have stolen my rags, without my knowledge”. “I know
nothing about any rags”, explained Deo. “Then, look for them somewhere here”,
Sai told him. Deo could not find anything there and begged Baba to explain. Sai
became very angry and showers him with abuses. Seeing that Sainath was furious,
Deo stood still watching him with wonder and full of inner amazement. He then
goes to Wada and Baba asked again for dakshina. This time he did not have
enough money to give Baba. He collects the Rs.20 and gives it to Baba. Then
Baba says “Go and sit in Wada and read the Pothi regularly”. “I am sitting here
ready to give you a whole Zari embroidered mantle, then why should you steal
rags? Have you got in the habit of stealing? This assurance gave Deo confidence
that he got the blessings of Baba to read the Jnaneswari.
Here
Baba accusing Deo of stealing rags is nothing but asking Balakram about his
experience and how he worshiped Paramatma. Though Sai appeared outwardly to be
angry he was always calm within. He appeared angry outwardly but he was full of
bliss within. The anger that was shown outwardly was on account of affection
but Within he was in divine bliss. One must be fortunate to sing of the
grandeur of that Sai’s leela. Deo also later mentioned that on 2nd April 1914, on Thursday
morning, he had a boon of a dream. Sai Samartha
appeared in the dream and was sitting on the
first floor. He asked me if I understood the pothi, to which I replied in the negative. Another question then followed.
‘When will you understand it then?’ My eyes were filled with tears and hear the
answer I gave. ‘Reading the pothi is mere worry unless you shower your grace and understanding it is
even more difficult. Baba, I confess this clearly.’ Baba said: “While reading
the pothi, you
make too much haste. Read it, in my presence, sitting near me”. When Deo asked
what he should read, he was told to read Adhyatma. As Deo went to fetch the book, his eyes opened. Deo awakened then. The
devotees experienced on many occasions such leelas
of Sai Samartha
and enjoyed the heavenly bliss.
Om
SriSainatharpanamasthu!
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