||chapter thirty-five||

|| sri sai satcharitra ||

|| chapter thirty - five ||

|| the greatness of udi - 3 ||

|| Sri Ganeshaya Namaha || Sri Saraswatye Namaha ||

|| Sri Venkateshaya Namaha || Sri Sai Nathaya Namaha ||

|| Sri Sadgurubhyo Namaha ||

In this chapter, Hemad Pant tells us about Kaka Mahajani’s friend and master, Bandra Insomnia case, Balaji Patil Newaskar and other matters.

SECTARIANISM:

Sectarianism implies a narrow minded adherence to a single concept. To cite an example, some of the people who practice Nirguna Brahma form of worship, are heard to comment that Saguna form of worship is not ideal. Their method of worship alone is superior. Such dogmatic approaches are always big barriers in the path of spiritual progress. Everyone is free to follow his own path depending on his requirements. There are some others who hold the view that saints are, after all, only human beings. Every saint has proved time and again that in this human form itself God realization could be achieved. Similarly, some comment bitterly about the Dakshina taken by the saints. They say that if the saints take Dakshina, then where is their sainthood? We have seen in the discussion on Dakshina Meemaamsa that the saints accept Dakshina, not because they need money but because by accepting Dakshina they are liberating us from the effects of the misdeeds of our previous lives. There are others who boast that they would never visit Shirdi and even if they visit, they will never bow to a human being or they would never give Dakshina. It is the same people who do visit Shirdi, when their turn comes, and it is the same people who bow at the divine feet of our beloved Baba and ultimately offer Dakshina. Some instances of this are narrated in this chapter.

KAKA MAHAJANI’S FRIEND:

Though Kaka Mahajani was a staunch devotee of Baba, he had friends who had different ideas. One of them had a firm view that idol worshipping was no good and spiritual progress can be achieved only by worshipping the Nirguna form of God. He also did not believe in giving Dakshina to saints. So, when Kaka wanted to go to Shirdi and asked this friend to join him, he agreed to accompany on two conditions:
1. He would not bow to Baba and
2. He will not give any Dakshina to Baba.
Kaka agreed for both the conditions and took him to Shirdi. They left Bombay on Saturday night and reached Shirdi by next morning on Sunday. They went to the masjid and as soon as they neared the entrance, Baba came out and addressed Kaka’s friend, “Oh, please come, Sir.” Though it did not mean much, the tone with which Baba welcomed the friend was so sweet that the friend was reminded of his departed father. It was as if his father was calling him to come inside. The friend was so much thrilled by hearing his father’s voice that he forgot the entire surroundings, went up at once and forgetting all his resolutions, fell at the feet of Baba and washed His feet with the tears of joy from his eyes.

As soon as Kaka prostrated at Baba’s feet, Baba asked him for Dakshina. Baba again asked for Dakshina in the afternoon, when they came to Baba to seek His permission to leave. The peculiarity was that at both the times, Baba asked Dakshina, only from Kaka. He did not ask his friend. The friend thought it odd. He thought that as he had accompanied Kaka, Baba should have asked him also. So, he nudged Kaka and asked, “Baba asked Dakshina, only from you. Why did He not ask me?” Kaka replied, “Ask Baba yourself.” Then the friend asked Baba whether he should also pay any Dakshina. By now he had forgotten his second condition also. Baba replied, “You had no mind to pay, so you were not asked. If you want to pay, you may do so.” As Kaka had paid Rs.17/- the friend also paid the same amount. Baba then gave him a piece of advice, “Destroy the Teli’s wall (sense of difference) between us. Only then, we can see each other face to face.” Baba then gave them permission to leave and though the weather was cloudy and threatening to rain, Baba assured their safe journey. They reached Bombay safely. When the friend reached home and opened the door and windows of his house, one sparrow flew away and two were dead on the floor. He thought that if he had kept the windows open, the two sparrows could have been saved. He again thought that anyway they had met their fate and Baba had sent them back soon to save the third sparrow.

KAKA MAHAJANI’S MASTER:

Kaka Mahajani was working as a manager in the firm of Thakkar Dharamsey Jethabhai, solicitors in Bombay. Both the manager and the master were on very intimate terms. Thakkar had observed that Kaka used to go to Shirdi frequently and would stay there indefinitely, saying that he could not get Baba’s permission to return. Though Thakkar did not grudge Kaka the leave, he became curious and wanted to test Baba. With that intention, he accompanied Kaka to Shirdi during the Shimga (Holi festival) holidays. He asked Kaka if he was coming back with him. Kaka said that once he went to Shirdi, returning from there was at the discretion of Baba. Knowing that Kaka’s return was uncertain, Thakkar took another friend also with them. Whoever goes to Shirdi, whether to test Baba or with devotion to Baba, they will always return with contentment and peace of mind. Thakkar knew that when visiting a saint or a God, something has to be offered. So, he bought two seers of grapes (with seeds) to be offered to Baba. With this, they reached Shirdi.

All the three went to the masjid for Baba’s Darshan. As soon as he entered inside the masjid, Thakkar was surprised to see Tarkhad there. He asked Tarkhad why he had come. Tarkhad told him that he had come for Baba’s Darshan. Then, Thakkar said, “I heard that miracles are performed here.” Tarkhad replied, “I didn’t come here for miracles. I came for seeing Baba. If someone is interested in miracles, then miracles will also take place.” By that time, Kaka had prostrated at the feet of Baba and offered Him the grapes brought by Thakkar. Baba distributed the grapes to all, and Thakkar also got some.

Thakkar was in a dilemma. He preferred only the seedless variety of grapes. His doctor had advised him that he should not eat grapes without washing them thoroughly with water. In a public place like the masjid, where every one is just eating, he alone washing grapes would look odd. Disposing off the seeds in a public place was equally embarrassing. As the grapes were offered by Baba, he could not refuse also. Very reluctantly, he ate the grapes and pocketed the seeds. While eating the grapes, he thought, “People say that Baba is Omniscient. Does He not know that I do not like the grapes with seeds? Why should Baba embarrass me like this?” Baba immediately called him and gave him some more grapes. Thakkar accepted them and kept in his hands only. Baba saw this and told him to put them in his mouth. Thakkar was hesitating. Then Baba said, “Come on, eat them, they are sweet.” Thakkar had no other way than to eat the grapes. To his utter bewilderment he found that there was not a single seed in those grapes. As Tarkhad was sitting next to him, Thakkar asked him, “What variety of grapes did you get?” Tarkhad replied, “The one with seeds.” When he had brought a variety with seeds, how could they become seedless? Thakkar understood that Baba had clarified all his doubts without saying anything. He wanted a miracle and Baba gave him one. Not satisfied with this, he wanted to test Baba some more. He thought that if Baba was a real saint, the grapes should be given this time to Kaka first. To his bewilderment once again, Baba ordered that distribution of grapes should start with Kaka. Thakkar was astounded. Shyama introduced him to Baba as Kaka’s master. Baba said, “How could he be Kaka’s Master? He has a different Master.” Kaka liked this very much. Thakkar forgot his resolve, and fell at the divine feet of Baba. They all returned to Wada.

All the three of them again went of the masjid for the noon arati. On the way, Thakkar told Kaka that he and his friend would not ask for permission to leave and that Kaka alone should ask for himself. Shyama who was with them told them that Baba would not permit Kaka at least for a week; hence it is better if they asked for permission to leave. After the noon arati was over, they all went to Baba to seek His permission to leave. Baba said, “There was a fickle minded person. He had health, wealth and was totally free from any physical or mental afflictions. He took on unnecessary burdens and anxieties on himself and wandered here and there. In this process, he lost his peace of mind. At times, he dropped those burdens, and at other times, picked them again. His mind was not steady. On seeing him thus, I took pity on him and said, ‘Focus your faith on any single point you like. Why wander around? Stick to one place.’”

Thakkar realized at once that Baba was speaking about him. He wanted Kaka also to return with him, but nobody expected that Baba would permit him. But, contrary to all expectations, Baba allowed Kaka also to return. Thakkar was convinced once again that Baba understood his thoughts.

When they were about to leave, Baba took Rs.15/- as Dakshina from Kaka. Then He told, “I don’t take Dakshina from anyone. If I take one rupee, I have to give back ten fold. I never take any gratis. I ask only from him whom the Fakir (My Guru) points out. The Fakir also points only those who are indebted to Him, either in this life or the previous ones. Giving Dakshina is like sowing seeds, only to reap a rich harvest in the future. If you don’t give now, you don’t get in the future. Wealth should be used as a means to spread Dharma. If you use it for personal enjoyment, it is wasted. Giving Dakshina develops Vairagya (non attachment) and thus, Bhakti and Jnana. Give one and take ten.” Listening to these divine mellifluous words, Thakkar also gave Rs.15/- as Dakshina. He thought that coming to Shirdi was the best thing he did in his life. He had become very much wiser.

Depending on their attitudes and their mental capabilities, Baba used to guide them in their own way to attain what they aspired. Though every one of the devotees who came to Him had his own mental frame, Baba was same for all of them. He was totally non - attached to them. Whether any one bowed to Him or not, whether anyone gave Him Dakshina or not, He was always equanimous. He never disrespected those who did not worship Him or those who did not give Him Dakshina. He was Dwandvaatheeta. He was beyond the dualities of good-bad, pain-pleasure, and worship-denigrate etc. His mind was steadily focused on ‘Allah Malik’ and His only thought was the welfare of His devotees. Let us all prostrate once again at the divine feet of such a magnificent God and seek His blessings.

CASE OF INSOMNIA:

A gentleman in Bandra had a strange problem. He belonged to Kayastha Prabhu sect, and whenever he went to sleep, his departed father appeared in his dream. Not content with that, the father used to abuse him severely and made him restless. The son’s sleep was always incomplete. This upset his health and he did not know what to do as night after night his father haunted him. One of his friends was a devotee of Baba and he suggested that Udi was the only solution. The friend told him to apply a small quantity of Udi on the forehead before he went to sleep and also to keep a small quantity of Udi beneath the pillow. He followed the advice sincerely and found that he got sound sleep. Due to his immense happiness at this development, he got a picture of Baba and started worshipping. He soon started offering flowers and naivedyam and was greatly benefited.

BALAJI PATIL NEWASKAR’S STORY:

Balaji Patil Newaskar was a great devotee of Baba. Though he was in this samsara, like a lotus flower he was aloof from it. He was a farmer who tilled his land and when the produce was available, gave it entirely to Baba and took only what Baba gave him. Newaskar thought that Baba was the owner of everything. Wherever Baba went in Shirdi, Newaskar used to clean all those streets, everyday. After him, this work was carried on by Abdul.

Once it happened that at one of Newaskar’s death anniversary day, some guests were invited. The food was prepared only for the limited guests. But at meal time, it was found that three times that number had actually come. Newaskar’s daughter in law was in a very embarrassing position. She was worried whether the food would be sufficient or not. Then Newaskar’s wife consoled her and said, “Don’t worry. It is not our food, it is Sai’s. Put some Udi in each vessel and cover it cloth. Serve from the same vessels without opening the cover. Sai will save us from ignominy.” She did as advised and found that the food not only sufficed but plenty of it also remained after serving. This was an instance of ‘yad bhaavam tad bhavati.’ As one feels intently, so he realizes. When Sai is there, why worry?

RADHAKRISHNAMAI’S STORY:

After Newaskar, it was Radhakrishna Mai who served Baba. Her name was Sunderbai Kheersagar. She used to call everyone by the same name ‘Radhakrishna’. So people started calling her Radhakrishna Mai. She had a small idol of Balakrishna. She kept the idol always with her. Baba called her ‘Ramakrishni’. Everyday, when He sat for taking meals, He used to send two rotis to her. She was a child widow and hence never entered inside the masjid. She was a staunch devotee of Baba. She used to sing Bhajans also. Like Newaskar, she used to get up very early in the morning and clean the streets on which Baba set his foot. She passed away in 1916 AD. After her demise, Abdul was doing her work.

SAI APPEARS AS SERPENT:

Once, Raghu Patil of Shirdi went to Balaji Patil at Newase. In the evening, people found a snake hissing in the cowshed. Whoever saw it was frightened. All the cattle and also those who were in the house were scared. Balaji, however, had different ideas. He thought that Baba had visited his house. Without being scared, he brought a cup of milk and placing it before the snake said, “Deva! Why do you hiss and make noise? Please accept this cup of milk, drink it and bless us.” Saying this, he calmly sat next to the snake totally unperturbed. The snake drank the milk and then slowly went its way. Balaji had two wives and some children. Whenever they visited Shirdi for Baba’s Darshan, Baba presented them with saris and other clothes and blessed them.

Sri Sai Satcharitra is a very sacred book to be read with utmost devotion. Wherever it is read, that place becomes as sacred as the banks of Godavari River, as holy as Shirdi and invariably Sai will manifest there. He will mitigate all the sorrows and tribulations of those who read it. There is no necessity of performing any japa or tapas or any other difficult sadhanas. Mere reading of Sri Sai Satcharitra will please our beloved Baba.

Bow to Sai everyday. Keeping His divine feet fixed in your mind, apply Udi to your forehead. As we have seen in these three chapters, Udi is very powerful. All your desires will be fulfilled. Sincere devotion is all that is required.

Before ending this chapter, let us once again prostrate at the divine feet of our beloved Baba who has made the spiritual path so easy and comfortable for all of us. Sri Samarth Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai!!!

With this, the thirty fifth chapter, called as The Greatness of Udi-3, is complete. In the next chapter, Hemad Pant tells us about the wonderful stories of two Goa gentlemen, Mrs Aurangabadkar and other matters.

|| Sri Sadguru Sainathaarpanamasthu || Shubham Bhavatu ||

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti