Shri Sai Satcharitra Chapter 9

Chapter – 9

Effect of compliance and non-compliance with Baba’s orders at the time of taking leave - (a few instances) - Mendicancy and Its necessity - Devotees’ experiences (Tarkhad family’s experiences) - Baba fed sumptuously - How?

The end of the last chapter briefly indicated that the bhaktas who obeyed Baba’s orders at the time of taking leave fared well and those who disobeyed them, suffered many a mishap. This statement will be amplified and illustrated with a few striking instances as well as by other matters dealt with in this chapter.

Characteristic of Shirdi Pilgrimage

One peculiarity of Shirdi pilgrims was this: none could leave Shirdi without Baba’s permission, and if one did leave, he invited untold sufferings. However, if anyone was asked to leave Shirdi, he could not stay any longer. Baba gave certain suggestions or hints when bhaktas went to bid Him goodbye and take His leave. These suggestions had to be followed. If they were not followed exactly, or were disregarded, accidents were sure to befall those who acted contrary to Baba’s directions. Here are a few instances:

Tatya Kote Patil

Tatya Kote was once going in a tanga to Kopargaon bazar. He came in haste to the masjid, greeted Baba, and said that he would go to Kopargaon bazar. Baba said, “Don’t make haste. Stop a little. Forego the bazar! Don’t go out of the village.” Seeing his anxiety to go, Baba asked him at the very least, to take Shama (Madhavarao Deshpande) with him. Disregarding this advice, Tatya Kote immediately got in his tanga and drove off. Of the two horses, one, which cost Rs. 300/, was very active and restless. After passing Sawul well, it began to run rashly, got a sprain in its waist, and fell down. Tatya was not hurt much, but was reminded of Sai Baba’s direction. On another occasion, while proceeding to Kolhar village, he disregarded Baba’s instruction, and drove a tanga which met with a similar accident.

                                                                                                                                     

European Gentleman

A European gentleman, with a specific object in mind, once came to Shirdi from Bombay with an introductory note from Nanasaheb Chandorkar. He was comfortably accommodated in a tent. The gentleman wanted to kneel before Baba and kiss His hand, so he tried thrice to step into the masjid, but Baba prevented him from doing so. He was asked to sit in the open courtyard below and take Baba’s darshan from there. Not pleased with this reception, the man decided to leave Shirdi at once and came to bid Baba goodbye. Baba asked him to go the next day and not to hurry and many people urged the gentleman to abide by Baba’s direction. Not listening to all of this, he left Shirdi in a tanga. At first, the horses ran alright, but when Sawul well was passed, a bicycle darted in front of the horses and frightened them, causing them to run fast. The tanga was turned topsy-turvy and the gentleman fell down and was dragged some distance. He was immediately released from the tanga, but had to go to Kopargaon hospital for treatment of the injuries he received.

Because of such experiences, everyone learnt the lesson that those who disobeyed Baba’s instructions met with accidents in one way or the other, and those who obeyed them, were safe and happy.

The Necessity of Mendicancy

Now to return to the question of mendicancy. A question may arise in the minds of some that if Baba was such a great being, God in fact, why should He have recourse to the begging bowl all His life? This question may be considered and replied to from two standpoints: (1) Who is fit to live by the begging bowl? Our Shastras state that those individuals who have become free from the three main desires, viz. (1) for progeny (2) for wealth and (3) for fame, and who accept sannyas, are those fit to live by begging alms. They cannot make cooking arrangements and dine at home. The duty of feeding them rests on the shoulders of the householders. Sai Baba was neither a householder nor a vanaprastha. He was a celibate sannyasi, i.e. sannyasi from boyhood. His firm conviction was that the universe was His home. He was the Lord Vasudeo - supporter of the universe and the imperishable Brahma. He, therefore, had the full right to have recourse to the begging bowl.

Now another standpoint will be taken regarding pancha soona - the five sins and their atonement. We all know that in order to prepare food stuffs and meals, householders have to go through five actions or processes, viz. (1) kandani - pounding ( 2) peshani - grinding, cleaning (3) udakumbhi - washing pots (4) marjani - sweeping and cleaning and (5) chulli - lighting hearths. These processes involve the destruction of many small insects and creatures, and thus the householders incur sin. In order to atone for this sin, our Shastras prescribe five kinds of sacrifices, viz. (1) Brahmavajna or (2) Vedadhyayan - offerings to Brahman or the study of the Vedas (3) Pitra-yajna - offerings to the ancestors (4) Deva yajna - offerings to the gods (5) Bhoota yajna - offerings to the great beings (6)   Manushyaatithi yajna - offerings to men or uninvited guests. If these sacrifices enjoined by the Shastras are duly performed, the mind becomes purified and this helps to gain knowledge and Self-realization. Baba, in going from house to house, reminded those who dwelled therein of their sacred duty, and fortunate were the people who received the lesson in their homes from Baba.

Devotees’s Experiences

Another interesting subject will now be examined. Lord Krishna has said in the Bhagavad Gita (9-26) “Whosoever devoutly offers to me a leaf, a flower, a piece of fruit or water, from that pure hearted man, I accept that pious offering.” In the case of Sai Baba, if a devotee really longed to offer anything to Him, and if he forgot to offer such, Baba would remind him or his friend about the offering and make him present it to Him. Baba would then accept the offering and bless the devotee. A few instances of this type are given below.

Tarkhad Family (father and son)

Ramachandra Atmaram, alias Babasaheb Tarkhad, formerly a Prarthana-Samajist, became a staunch devotee of Sai Baba. His wife and son loved Baba equally, or perhaps even more, than he. It was once proposed that Master Tarkhad should go with his mother to Shirdi and spend his May vacation there, but the son was unwilling to go. He was concerned that if he left his home at Bandra, the worship of Sai Baba in their house would not be properly performed, as his father, at that time, was a Prarthana-Samajist and would not care to worship Baba’s portrait. When, however, the father gave an assurance on oath that he would perform the worship in the exact manner as did the son, the mother and son left for Shirdi that very Friday night.

The next day, Saturday, Mr. Tarkhad got up early, took his bath, and before proceeding with the puja, prostrated himself before the shrine and said, “Baba, I am going to perform the puja exactly as my son has been doing, but please let it not be a formal drill.” After the father performed the puja, he offered a few pieces of lump sugar as naivedya (offering) which were then distributed at lunch time.

That evening, and also on Sunday, everything went well. The following Monday was a working day and the puja continued to be performed properly. Mr.Tarkhad, who had never performed puja like that in his life, felt great confidence within himself, as everything was going quite satisfactorily, according to the promise given to his son.

On Tuesday, he performed the morning puja as usual and left for work. Coming home at noon, he found there was no prasad (sugar) to partake when the meal was served. He asked the servant cook who told him no offering was made that morning and that he had completely forgotten to perform that part of the puja (offering naivedya). Hearing this, Mr. Tarkhad arose quickly from his seat and prostrated himself before the shrine, expressing his regret and, at the same time, chiding Baba for the want of guidance in making the whole affair a matter of mere drill. He then wrote a letter to his son stating the facts, requesting him to lay it before Baba’s feet and to ask His pardon for his neglect. This happened in Bandra on Tuesday at noon. At about the same time on that same Tuesday in Shirdi, when the noon arati was just about to commence, Baba said to Mrs. Tarkhad, “Mother, I have been to your house in Bandra with a view to have something to eat. I found the door locked. I gained entrance inside and found to My regret that bhau (Mr. Tarkhad) left nothing for me to eat, so I have returned from there without eating anything.” The lady could not understand what Baba meant, but the son, who was close by, understood that there was something wrong with the puja at Bandra and so he requested Baba to permit him to go home. Baba refused permission, but allowed the son to perform the puja there. The son then wrote a letter to his father stating all that took place at Shirdi and implored his father not to neglect the puja at home. Both these letters crossed each other and were delivered to the respective parties the very same next day. Is this not astonishing?

Mrs. Tarkhad

Let us now describe the case of Mrs. Tarkhad herself. She offered three things viz. (1) roasted brinjal mixed with curds and spice), (2) slices of brinjal fried in ghee, and (3) sweet meat balls. The following story illustrates how Baba accepted them.

Raghuvir Bhaskar Purandare of Bandra, a great devotee of Baba, was preparing to leave for Shirdi with his wife and family. Mrs. Tarkhad went to see Mrs. Purandare and gave her two brinjals, requesting her to prepare bharit of one brinjal and kacharya of the other, and then serve them to Baba. Upon reaching Shirdi, Mrs. Purandare took her dish of bharit, which she had prepared from one of Mrs. Tarkhad’s brinjals, to the masjid just as Baba was about to start His meal. Baba found the bharit very tasty, so He distributed it to all and said that He now wanted kacharyas. Word was sent to Radha Krishna Mai that Baba wanted kacharyas. She was in a fix as it was not the season for brinjals. How to get brinjals was the question! When an inquiry was made as to who brought the bharit, it was found that Mrs. Purandare had not only brought the bharit, but was also entrusted by Mrs. Tarkhad with the duty of preparing and serving kacharyas. Everyone then came to know the significance of Baba’s inquiry regarding kacharyas and were wonderstruck at Baba’s all pervasive knowledge.

Another incident regarding Mrs. Tarkhad took place in December, 1915 when Govind Balaram Mankar wanted to go to Shirdi to perform the obsequies of his father. Before he left Bombay, he came to see Mr. and Mrs. Tarkhad. Mrs. Tarkhad wanted to send something with Govind to Baba. She searched through the whole house, but found nothing except a pedha, which had already been offered as naivedya. Still, out of great devotion to Baba, she sent the pedha with Govind, hoping that Baba would accept it and eat it. Govind went to Shirdi and saw Baba, but forgot to take the pedha with him in morning. Baba simply waited, said nothing. Then later, when Govind went to Baba in the afternoon, he again went empty handed without the pedha. Baba could wait no longer and therefore asked him straight out, “What did you bring Me?” “Nothing” was the reply. Baba asked him again. The same reply came forth again. Then Baba asked him a leading question, “Did not the mother (Mrs. Tarkhad) give some sweet meat to you for Me when you were ready to leave?” The boy then remembered the whole thing. He felt abashed. He asked Baba’s pardon, ran to his lodging, brought the pedha, and gave it to Baba. As soon as Baba had it in His hand, He put it in His mouth and gulped it down. Thus, the devotion of Mrs. Tarkhad was recognized and accepted. “As men believe in Me, so do I accept them.” (Gita 4-11) was proved in this case.

Baba Fed Sumptuously - How?

Once Mrs. Tarkhad was staying in a certain house in Shirdi. At noon, when meals were ready and dishes were being served, a hungry dog turned up and began to whimper. Mrs. Tarkhad got up at once and threw it a piece of bread which the dog gulped with great relish. In the afternoon when she went to the masjid and was sitting at some distance, Sai Baba called out to her, “Mother, you have fed me sumptuously up to my throat. My afflicted pranas (life forces) have been satisfied. Always act like this, and this will stand you in good stead. Sitting in this masjid, I shall never, never speak untruth. Take pity on Me like this. First give bread to the hungry, and then eat yourself. Note this well.” At first, Mrs. Tarkhad could not understand the meaning of what Baba said, so she replied, “Baba, how could I feed You? I am dependent on others and must take my food from them on payment.” Then Baba replied, “Eating that lovely bread, I am heartily contented and I am still belching. The dog which you saw before the meal and to whom you gave the piece of bread is one with Me. So too, all other creatures (cats, pigs, fleas, cows etc.) are one with Me. I am roaming in their forms. He who sees Me in all these creatures is My beloved. So abandon the sense of duality and distinction and serve Me as you did today.” Hearing these nectar like words, she was so moved, her eyes were filled with tears, her throat was choked, and her joy knew no bounds.

Moral

“See God in all beings” is the moral of this chapter. The Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagwat all exhort us to perceive God or Divinity in all creatures. By the instance given at the end of this chapter, and others too numerous to mention, Sai Baba has practically demonstrated to us how to put the Upanishadic teachings into practice. In this way, Sai Baba stands as the best exponent or teacher of the Upanishadic doctrines.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all