When Guru’s grace is yours, the difficulties of the worldly existence disappear, the doors to the right path are opened without effort and unhappiness is turned to true happiness. By constantly remembering the feet of the Sadguru, the obstacles cease to have any effect; death loses its sting; and the worldly sorrows are forgotten.
Previous Indication
In This chapter Hemadpanth talks about how Baba left his physical body and how he gave indication about this 2 years prior to that day. Baba developed fever on 28th September, 1918. The fever lasted for 2 or 3 days, but afterwards Baba gave up his food and thereby he grew weaker and weaker. On the 17th day, i.e., Tuesday, the 15th October 1918, Baba left His mortal coil at about 2-30 p.m. Two years before this, i.e., in 1916, Baba gave an indication of His Passing away, but nobody understood it then. It was as follows:- Baba got into wild rage on the Vijayadashmi (Dasara) day when people were returning from 'Seemollanghan' (crossing the border or limits of the village). Taking off His head-dress, kafni and langota etc., He tore them and threw them in the Dhuni. Then the fire in the Dhuni began to burn brighter and Baba shone still brighter. He stood there stark naked and with His burning red eyes shouted - "You fellows, now have a look and decide finally whether I am a Muslim or a Hindu." Everybody was trembling with fear and none dared to approach Baba. After some time Bhagoji Shinde, the leper devotee of Baba, went boldly near Him and succeeded in tying a langota (waist-band) round His waist and said - "Baba, what is all this? To-day is the Seemollanghan, i.e., Dasara Holiday." Baba striking the ground with His satka said - "This is my Seemollanghan (crossing the border)." Baba did not cool down till 11-00 p.m. and the people doubted whether the chavadi procession would ever take place that night. After an hour Baba resumed His normal condition and dressing Himself as usual and attended the chavadi procession as described before. By this incident Baba gave a suggestion that Dasara was the proper time for Him to cross the border of life, but none understood its meaning.
Baba gave also another indication as follows by averting death of Ramachandra Patil. Once he became very sick and asked Baba how long will he live? Then Baba tells him that he will be fine but he is worried about Tatya Patil who will die on vijayadasami day. Ramachandra Patil got better but he was worried about Tatya. He spoke to Bala Shimpe about this.True to Baba's word, Tatya fell sick and was bed-ridden; and so he could not come for Baba's darshan. Baba was also down with fever. Tatya had full faith in Baba. Tatya's illness began to grow from bad to worse and he could not move at all but always remembered Baba. The predicament of Baba began to grow equally worse. The day predicted, i.e., Vijayadashami was impending and both Ramachandra Dada and Bala Shimpi were terribly frightened about Tatya and with their bodies trembling and perspiring with fear, thought that as predicted by Baba, Tatya's end was imminent. Vijayadashami dawned and Tatya's pulse began to be weak. Everyone thought that Tatya won’t survive but a miracle happened. Tatya recovers but Baba left his body at that time. Everyone thought Baba exchanged his life for Tatya. Next morning (16th October) Baba appeared to Das Ganu at Pandharpur in his dream and said to him - "The Masjid collapsed, all the oilmen and grocers of Shirdi teased me a lot, so I leave the place. I therefore came to inform you here, please go there quickly and cover me with 'Bhakkal' flowers." Das Ganu got the information also from Shirdi letters. So he came to Shirdi with his disciples and started bhajan and kirtan and sang the Lord's name, all through the day before Baba's samadhi. He then made a beautiful garland of flowers studded with Lord Hari's name and he placed it on Baba's samadhi and gave a mass-feeding in Baba's name.
Baba gave also another indication as follows by averting death of Ramachandra Patil. Once he became very sick and asked Baba how long will he live? Then Baba tells him that he will be fine but he is worried about Tatya Patil who will die on vijayadasami day. Ramachandra Patil got better but he was worried about Tatya. He spoke to Bala Shimpe about this.True to Baba's word, Tatya fell sick and was bed-ridden; and so he could not come for Baba's darshan. Baba was also down with fever. Tatya had full faith in Baba. Tatya's illness began to grow from bad to worse and he could not move at all but always remembered Baba. The predicament of Baba began to grow equally worse. The day predicted, i.e., Vijayadashami was impending and both Ramachandra Dada and Bala Shimpi were terribly frightened about Tatya and with their bodies trembling and perspiring with fear, thought that as predicted by Baba, Tatya's end was imminent. Vijayadashami dawned and Tatya's pulse began to be weak. Everyone thought that Tatya won’t survive but a miracle happened. Tatya recovers but Baba left his body at that time. Everyone thought Baba exchanged his life for Tatya. Next morning (16th October) Baba appeared to Das Ganu at Pandharpur in his dream and said to him - "The Masjid collapsed, all the oilmen and grocers of Shirdi teased me a lot, so I leave the place. I therefore came to inform you here, please go there quickly and cover me with 'Bhakkal' flowers." Das Ganu got the information also from Shirdi letters. So he came to Shirdi with his disciples and started bhajan and kirtan and sang the Lord's name, all through the day before Baba's samadhi. He then made a beautiful garland of flowers studded with Lord Hari's name and he placed it on Baba's samadhi and gave a mass-feeding in Baba's name.
Baba giving money to Laxmi Bai
Next Hemadpanth described how he Baba gave Rs. 9 to Laxmi Bai prior to his Mahasamadhi. Laxmi Bai was an ardent devotee of Baba. Once Baba asked her for some food saying that he was hungry. He saw a dog looking for food and then requested food from Laxmi Bai. She was so happy to bring the food to Baba but he gave this food to the dog. Then she asks him how come he gave the food to dog because she brought it for him. Then he told her that feeding the dog and appeasement of dog’s hunger is same as treating his. Then she understood how Baba is omniscient and present in all creatures. The dog has got a soul; the creatures may be different, but the hunger of all is the same,
though some speak and others are dumb. Know for certain, that he who feeds the hungry, really serves Me with food. Regard this as an axiomatic Truth."This incident was a simple one, connected with daily life, but the lesson was full of spiritual value. Sai’s words for such a lesson were perfectly flavored with love and kindness. Speaking in words of daily parlance, he imparted the outline of spiritual teaching. Without pinpointing anybody’s shortcomings and follies, he kept his devotees happy. From this time onward Laxmibai began to offer Him daily bread and milk with love and devotion. He took a part of this and sent the remainder with Laxmibai to Radha-Krishna-Mai who always relished and ate Baba's remnant prasad. Baba gave her special privilege as Tatya and Mahalsapathi when it comes to entering the Dwarakamai. She also served Baba with utmost devotion. Just before he left his body, Baba gave Rs. 5 first and then he gave Rs. 4. He gave in total 9 rupees depicting nine modes of Bakthi. Was it indicative of the nine types of devotion, or was it because of the worship ofAmbika at Navrathra had been completed and it was the Seemolanghan? Was it the ‘dakshina’ of Seemolanghan? Or was Baba giving a reminder of the nine good qualities required of a disciple as told by Sree Krishna to Uddhava of the Shrimad Bhagvat? In the eleventh skanda, tenth chapter and sixth verse there is a marvelous description of how the disciple should behave to acquire spiritual progress. She was exceedingly fortunate to have acquired such a grace, so that she received the nine jewels from Sai’s own lotus hands.
Baba also took other precautions in the last moment. He asked Kaka Saheb Dixit and Booty to go to wada as they were anxious about Baba’swell-being. He wanted them to go to wada and have meals. With heavy hearts they had to obey Baba even though they wanted to stay there with Baba. Before they finished their meal they got the news that Baba left his body. He did not fall down on the ground or lie on his bed, but sitting quietly on his seat. Baba rested finally on Bayyaji’s lap.
He who manifested for the benefit of the people ended the Avatar as soon as his mission was complete. Could he be bound by life and death, who takes a form by his own divine sport? How can there be a possibility of death for him whose glory is the Supreme Spirit? He who is the embodiment of detachment, how can existence or non-existence have any effect on him? Saints embody themselves and come into this world with a definite mission. Once they fulfill the mission they leave quietly and easily as they came.
OM SriSainatharpanamasthu!
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