Sri Saisatcharita Chapter 49

Sai’s attributes are such that no one can remain silent. All the scriptures also got exhausted in praising the sadguru. Sai leelas are indescribable and Sai fulfilled all the wishes. Sai is the adornment of all the saints. Sai is the refugee of his devotees and the destroyer of difficulties, the whirlpool of life.  Without being humble at the Sadguru’s feet, self-realization cannot be achieved. Saints are the embodiment of the Lord and I seek their hand of blessing. Love for the Guru’s feet, this itself is the attainment of everything. May the desire for the company of Saints, and the love for them be ours! He who is full of ego is not fit to be called a devotee. He is a true devotee who is totally without ego. One who is arrogant because of his knowledge and vain because he considers himself great is only the personification of pride. How could he be a reputed devotee? Unfortunate are the ones who do not sing the praises of their Guru, and those who do not hear them despite not being deaf are the embodiment of dull-wittedness. Practicing penance is better than pilgrimage, observing vows, sacrifice and charity. Worshipping the Lord is better than penance but meditation on one’s own Guru, is the best of all. Only Sai is the object of meditation for his devotees; only Sai is their deity for worship; only Sai is their hidden treasure, which should be protected but not in a miserly way.

 Next is a story of a person who had love for witnessing a miracle and his name is Hari kanoba. He was neither motivated by personal interest nor by any spiritual needs. He was ignorant of the greatness of Saints, yet he was told stories of Sai and he could not believe that. He left Bombay to test Sai. At Kopergaon, Haribhau got into a tonga with his friends, after having a bath in the Godavari. They left for Shirdi without delay. After arriving from Kopergaon, he washed his hands and feet and then Haribhau set off to have a look at the Saint and to know him. Haribhau was eager to have Sai Baba’s darshan with a new pair of sandals on his feet and a jari embroidered turban on his head. Then, when he came to the Masjid, and saw Sai from afar, he felt like going near him and prostrating at his feet. But he had a problem with his sandals as there was no safe place to keep them there. Finally, finding a corner there, he shoved them in. Then he went up for ‘darshan’, lovingly bowed at Sai’s feet, took ‘Udi and prasad’ and returned to go to the Wada. When he went to put on the sandals, he could not find them. After searching a lot, he returned without them, quite morose, losing hope of finding them. There was a large crowd there, coming and going. So whom would he really ask? He could not think of a solution. Thus he was in a disturbed state. The sandals alone appeared before his eyes; his mind was concentrated on his sandals; and his whole being was centered on the sandals. He had bought them with great eagerness but the sandals were gone and lost! He felt certain that they had been stolen by some thief. So be it. Later, he bathed, and after doing puja and naivedya, he sat down with others to eat. But he was not at peace. He goes out to wash his hands after the meal. Then a boy comes along says “Baba sent me, giving me this stick in my hand. Son go calling out for Hari, the son of Ka with a jari turban and give it to the one who claims it as his own, and grabs them anxiously. Haribhau’s eyes were filled with tears of happiness and he was choked with emotion on seeing his lost sandals. He was greatly amazed. He tells the boy that he is the Hari and his father’s name is Kanoba and he has the jari turban. Then boy gives the sandals to Haribhau. He then realizes no one knows his father’s name and this is definitely Baba showing a miracle. Later on he became very staunch devotee of Baba.

There are two ways to attain the favor of a Saint. One is devotion and the other is knowledge. The path of knowledge is deep and difficult. The means of devotion are simpler. If devotion is so easy and attainable, then why do not all follow it? For that, one needs to have the greatest good fortune. Then, alone, can it be attained. One meets a Saint only after lakhs of meritorious lives. Only the happiness of association with a Saint develops devotion. All of us just know about this daily existence, where there is attachment but we don’t know what is detachment? When such is the state of mind, can it be called devotion? We will be granted our desires according to the strength of our devotion. This is true for all times. There should not be the slightest doubt about it.

Next Story illustrates the doubts that our minds create when we visit the saints. Somdev swamy had similar experience. He met Kaka Dixit’s brother Bhaiji in Uttarakashi once and they exchanged their information. Kaka’s brother asked him to visit Nagpur. Later when Somdev Swamy visited Bhaiji they talked about greatness of Baba. Then Somdev Swamy wanted to visit Shirdi. When he came near Shirdi he saw two flags near Dwarakamai and felt that why Baba was interested in flags. When he expressed his doubt about this, his travel comapnions told him “If you feel like this for flags, how about a horse, chariot and other paraphernalia”. Then he almost thought about not visiting Baba but other people convinced him to have a darshan of Baba as he came that far. When he saw Sree Samartha, Buva melted, his eyes were filling with loving tears and his throat was choked. He experienced supreme bliss, his eyes were zestfully joyous and he felt anxious to roll in the dust of Baba’s feet. Seeing that handsome and comely appearance, his eyes and his mind were wonderstruck and he remained staring intently. He was captured by love. The evil thoughts evaporated from his mind. The mind melted with joy of the darshan. His eyes were absorbed in the divine form.

 When he prostrated to Baba, he immediately said “Leave my false claims (humbug) to me. Leave and go back to your home. Beware! If you ever come back again to my Masjid! Why do you need to take the darshan of one who flies flags over the Masjid? Is this a sign of sainthood? Do not stay here even for a moment!” This confirmed Sai’s omniscience. Buva was deeply engrossed. Gazing at the great Saint, Somdev was supremely delighted. He felt at peace and desired to stay there forever.

Baba’s teaching to Nana Chandorkar

Baba's teaching about God's Beauty:

On one occasion when Nana was sitting next to Baba at the Dwarakamayee, two Muslim ladies were standing for a time at a distance, evidently waiting to see when this Hindu (Nana) would go away. They had to remove their veils at the time of taking darsan, which meant, putting their bare foreheads on Baba's feet; and being gosha ladies, they did not wish a Hindu to see their faces. When Nana tried to get up on this account and go away, Baba pulled him down and said, 'Let these people come if they care'. So, the ladies had to approach Baba and take darsan with Nana by his side. Nothing happened when the elderly lady removed her veil and took her darsan. But when the younger did the same, her face struck Nana as remarkably beautiful. The sheen of the eyes, the brilliance of the countenance, the perfect proportion of the features, and the indescribable charm of the whole person, were such that Nana was at once smitten with her beauty. When his mind was thus occupied, the lady finished her darsan and resumed her veil. Then the thought struck Nana, 'Shall I have another opportunity of seeing this angelic face? Baba at once slapped him on the thigh. Then the ladies departed. Baba asked him, 'Do you know why I slapped you?' Nana admitted that his thoughts were low and unfit for one in Baba's company. He asked, 'How is it that even when I am next to you, such low thoughts sway my mind?'

Baba replied, 'You are a man after all, and the body being full of desires, these spring up as sense objects approach.' Then Baba asked, 'Are there not lovely temples with well colored exterior? When we go there, do we admire the exterior beauty or the God within? When you are seeing God within, do you ever care for the outside beauty of the building? Similarly, remember God is not only in temples. He is found in every creature.

"Therefore when you see a beautiful face, remember that it is a temple and the image of the God within is the Jiva, a preeminent part of the Universal Soul. So, think at once of God—or the Universal Soul in every object, whether beauteous or ugly. These forms reveal the God within. There is nothing wrong in admiring beauty, but the thought must follow at once, "If this object is so beautiful, how much more beautiful and powerful must be the God who made this object and inhabits it? Thinking thus, you will not get smitten by a Muslin beauteous face hereafter". This was the upadesa given to Nana. Baba had not to go further and stop him from any sinful acts due to lust, as he had to do in another's case.

Sai is deeply indebted to him who repeats Sree Sai’s name, feels love for him in his heart and does all actions for his sake. There is no better means for breaking the bondage of this world. The story of Sai is very purifying and savoring it always gives happiness. Use the feet to circumambulate Sai, use the ears to listen to the Satcharita, embrace him lovingly with your whole body and use the eyes to have Sai’s darshan.

Om SriSainathaarpanamasthu!