Sri Saisatcharita chapter 40

When the devotee whole-heartedly surrenders with faith to the Sadgurunatha, then he bestows upon the devotee his own greatness, taking into consideration the true devotion of the devotee. He embraces and holds near his heart those who prostrate themselves before him with no sense of duality and unconditionally surrender to him. Sai is exactly as caring towards his devotees as a mother is to her nursing child. He comes running wherever you may be. How can one repay his obligation?

Once Balasaheb Deo’s mother performed so many vows and wanted to do Udyapan to complete the process. As soon as a number of vows are completed, it is necessary to do the ‘Udyapan’. Otherwise one does not have the merit (‘punya’) and the vow is incomplete without it. So, a day was fixed according to the Hindu calendar to perform the Udyapan’. Deo wrote to Jog to make a request to Baba. In the letter he requested that without Baba’s presence the Udyapan is not complete. Then Jog took the letter to Baba and Baba knew what was in the letter before he even read it. Baba listened with full attention to this pure-hearted invitation and said: “He who remembers me is always in my mind. I need no conveyance – a carriage, or a horse, a plane or a train. I appear without an instant’s delay, when I am lovingly called”. He told him to write back that he along with two other people will visit him. Deo became very happy and felt blessed that Baba will attend. Deo had full faith now that Baba would certainly come. But when he would experience it, it would be a golden day. But Deo was also fully aware that besides Shirdi, there were only three villages where Baba rarely went. He used to remain at Shirdi always. Baba’s movements were impossible to understand. All that is movable and immovable is filled by him. Then, where is the question of coming and going for him? He manifests at his will. So be it.

Approximately a month prior to this, a Sanyasi came to the station master at Dahanu station, for his own work. He wanted to collect donations for protection of cows. The station master refers him to Deo. Deo told the sanyasi that someone is collecting the donations at that time so it is better to wait for another 2-4 months. So the sanyasi leaves. When the Udyapan day came this

sanyasi comes again. Deo thought he came for donation but he tells him that he came for meals. Deo happily agrees and the sanyasi brings with him two more people. Then everyone was served with all kinds of food and in the end was given betel leaves. The sanyasi leaves and Deo later thinks that Baba promised him but did not come. Then he writes a letter to Jog again. Baba asks Jog to write to him back saying that Deo did not recognize him when he came as sanyasi along with two other people. When Deo read the letter, his eyes overflowed with tears of love. He reproached himself for having unnecessarily blamed Sai and felt very dispirited.

Here Baba appeared to Deo way before he invited him for the Udyapan. This is Baba’s greatness that he knew the Udyapan will happen and he will be invited. So Deo thought that this sanyasi came for donations for the cow protection. But these are the ways of the Saints! Their leelas are unfathomable and their deeds marvelous! They themselves plan the functions in their devotees homes even before the devotees know of it. When the devotee is humbly surrendered at his feet, the execution of his auspicious work is accomplished without his knowledge. Inconceivable are the deeds of the Saints!  

Baba coming to Hemadpanth's house
One day in 1917 Baba appears in a dream as a sanyasi to Hemadpanth and tells him that he will be coming to lunch that day. This was an ealry morning dream and Hemadpanth was excited and felt blessed. He knows that Baba himself won't come but he can come in any form. So he tells his wife about this dream and asks her to cook extra food that day. It was Holi festival that day and all his family members and relatives were there. He arranged a center seat for Sai and that place was beautifully decorated with rangoli. All kinds of food items were served in leaf plates. He was hoping that someone will tap on the door anytime and he was wondering how long should he wait? As they were about to do prayer prior to taking the food, Hemadpanth heard some foot steps near the door. He goes there and opens the door. It was Ali Mohammad and a disciple of Saint Moulana by name Ismu Mujaver and by seeing everyone about to eat they asked their forgiveness. They gave him a packet and when they opened, it was Baba's picture. Hemadpanth felt blessed and prostrated to Baba's feet. He kept that picture in the center where Baba's plate was arranged. Ali told him that it was a long story and he will tell him later as they were all waiting to eat. Everyone was happy and they were expecting a guest but Baba came in the form a picture. Inscrutable are the ways of Sai. He made the dreams come true by coming in the form of a picture indicating that there is no difference between him and his picture. Hemadpanth kept this picture in the main puja mandir and worshiped Baba with utmost devotion.

Om SriSainatharpanamasthu!