Shri Sai Satcharitra Chapter 13

Chapter – 13

More Sai Leelas - Diseases Cured - (1) Bhimaji Patil - (2) Bala Shimpi - (3) Bapusaheb Booty - (4) Alandi Swami - (5) Kaka Mahajani - (6) Dattopant of Harda

The Inscrutable Power of Maya

Baba’s words were always short, pithy, deep, full of meaning, efficient and well balanced. He was ever content and never cared for anything. He said, “As I have become a fakir, I have no house or wife. I have stayed in one place, and though leaving off all cares, the inevitable maya teases Me often. Though I forgot myself, I cannot forget her. She always envelops Me. This maya (illusive power) of the Lord (Shri Hari) teases God Brahma and others, so what can be said of a poor fakir like Me? Those who take refuge in the Lord will be freed from her clutches with His grace.”

In such terms Baba spoke about the power of maya. Lord Shri Krishna has said to Uddhava in the Bhagavad Gita that the saints are His living forms. This is what Baba said for the welfare of His devotees, “Those who are fortunate and whose demerits have vanished, take to My worship. If you always say ‘Sai Sai’ I shall take you over the seven seas. Believe in these words and you will certainly be benefitted. I do not need any paraphernalia for worship - either eight-fold or sixteen-fold. I rest where there is full devotion.”

The following describes what Sai Baba, the friend of those who surrendered themselves to Him, did for their welfare.

Bhimaji Patil

In 1909, Bhimaji Patil of Narayangaon, Taluka Junnar, District Poona, suffered from a severe and chronic chest disease which ultimately developed into tuberculosis. He tried all sorts of remedies, but to no effect. Losing all hope, he fervently prayed to God, “Oh Lord Narayan, help me now.” It is a well known fact that when our circumstances are well off, we do not remember God, but when calamities and adversities overtake us, we are reminded of Him. In this manner, Bhimaji now turned to God. It occurred to him to consult Nanasaheb Chandorkar, a great devotee of Baba. He wrote him a letter, giving all the details of his malady and asked for his opinion. In reply, Nanasaheb wrote him there was only one remedy left, which was to have recourse to Baba’s feet. Relying on Nanasaheb’s advice, Bhimaji made preparations for going to Shirdi. Upon his arrival, he was taken to the masjid and seated before Baba. Nanasaheb and Shama (Madhavarao Deshpande) were both present. Baba pointed out that Bhimaji Patil’s disease was due to previous evil karma and He was not at first disposed to interfere, but the patient cried out in despair that he was helpless and sought refuge in Baba as He was his last hope. As Bhimaji prayed for mercy, Baba’s heart melted and He said, “Stay, cast off your anxiety. Your sufferings have come to an end. However oppressed and troubled one may be, as soon as he steps in the masjid, he is on the pathway to happiness. The fakir here is very kind and He will cure the disease and protect all with love and kindness.” The patient had vomited blood every five minutes, but there was no vomiting in the presence of Baba. From the time Baba uttered the words of hope and mercy, the malady took a favorable turn. Baba asked Bhimaji to stay in Bhimabai’s house, which was neither a convenient nor healthy place, but Baba’s order had to be obeyed. While he was staying there, Baba cured him through two dreams. In the first dream, Bhimaji saw himself as a boy suffering the severe pain of flogging which he received for not reciting his ‘Swami-poetry’ lesson before his class master. In the second dream, someone caused him intense pain and torture by rolling a stone up and down his chest. Having suffered the awful pain in his dream, Bhimaji Patil’s cure was complete and he went home. He then came to Shirdi often and, gratefully remembering what Baba did for him, prostrated before Him. Baba did not expect anything from His devotees but grateful remembrance, unchanging faith, and devotion. People in the Maharashtra always celebrate Satya Narayana Puja in their homes every fortnight or month, but it was Bhimaji Patil who started a new Sai Satya Vrata Puja instead of Satya Narayana Vrata Puja in his house when he returned to his village.

Bala Ganpat Shimpi

Another devotee of Baba, Bala Ganpat Shimpi, greatly suffered from a malignant type of malaria. He tried all sorts of medicines and decoctions, but all were in vain. The fever did not abate a jot, so he ran to Shirdi and fell at Baba’s feet. Baba gave him a strange recipe in this case as follows: “Give a black dog some morsels of rice mixed with curd in front of the Laxmi temple.” Bala did not know how to execute this recipe, but no sooner had he gone home than he found rice and curd. He mixed the rice and curd together and brought the mixture with him on his way to the Laxmi temple. Near the temple he found a black dog waving its tail. He placed the curd and rice before the dog who ate it and, strange to say, Bala got rid of his malaria.

Bapusaheb Booty

Shriman Bapusaheb Booty once suffered from dysentery and vomiting. His cupboard was full of patent drugs and medicines, but none of them had any effect. Bapusaheb got very weak due to the purging and vomiting and was unable to go to the masjid for Baba’s darshan. Baba then sent for him and made him sit before Him and said, “Now take care. You will not purge anymore,” and waving His index finger declared, “The vomiting must also stop.” Now look at the force of Baba’s words. Both the maladies disappeared and Booty felt well.

On another occasion, Booty had an attack of cholera and suffered from severe thirst. Dr. Pillay tried all sorts of remedies, but could give him no relief. Bapusaheb then went to Baba and consulted Him as to which drink would allay his thirst and cure the disease. Baba prescribed an infusion of almonds, walnuts, and pista (a kind of dry fruit) boiled in sugared milk. This would be considered by any other physician to cause a fatal aggravation of the disease, but in implicit obedience to Baba’s order, the infusion was administered. Strange to say, the disease was cured.

Alandi Swami

A swami from Alandi wishing to take Baba’s darshan came to Shirdi. He suffered from severe pain in his ear which prevented him from getting sleep. He was operated on, but the pain continued. The pain was severe and he did not know what to do. In preparing to leave Shirdi, the swami came to take Baba’s leave, when Shama (Madhavarao Deshpande) requested that Baba do something for the pain in the swami’s ear. Baba comforted him saying: “Allah achha karega” God will do good. The swami then returned to Poona. A week later, he sent a letter to Shirdi stating the pain in his ear had subsided, though there was still some swelling. In order to have the swelling removed, he went to Bombay for an operation, but the surgeon, on examining the ear, said no operation was necessary. Such was the wonderful effect of Baba’s words.

Kaka Mahajani

Another devotee named Kaka Mahajani once suffered from diarrhea. In order that there should be no interruption in his services to Baba, Kaka kept a tambya (pot) with water in a corner of the masjid and whenever there was a call, he would go out. As Sai Baba knew everything, Kaka did not inform Him of his disease, thinking that Baba would cure it soon. The work of constructing the pavement in front of the masjid was permitted by Baba, but when the actual work began, Baba became wild and shouted loudly. Everyone ran away and as Kaka was doing the same, Baba caught hold of him and made him sit there. In the confusion that followed, somebody left a small bag of ground nuts. Baba took a handful of these nuts, rubbed them in His hands, blew away the skins and gave the clean nuts to Kaka to eat. The scolding went along simultaneously with the cleaning of the nuts and making Kaka eat them. Baba Himself ate some of them. Then, when the bag was empty, Baba asked him to fetch some water as He felt thirsty. Kaka brought a pitcher full of water. Baba then drank some of the water and made Kaka drink it also. Baba then said, “Now your diarrhea has stopped and you may attend to the work on the pavement.” In the meanwhile, the other people who had run away, returned and started to work, and Kaka, whose motions had stopped, joined them too. Is groundnuts medicine for diarrhea? According to current medical opinion, ground nuts would aggravate the disease, not cure it. The true medicine in this case, as in other cases as well, was Baba’s word.

Dattopant of Harda

Dattopant, a gentleman from Harda, suffered from stomach aches for fourteen years. None of the remedies gave him any relief. Then, hearing of Baba’s fame, that He cures diseases by sight, Dattopant ran to Shirdi and fell at Baba’s feet. Baba looked at him kindly and gave him blessings. When Baba placed His hand on Dattopant’s head and gave him udi with blessings, he felt relieved and there was no further trouble about the malady.

Towards the end of this chapter, three cases are cited in footnotes:

1. Madhavarao Deshpande suffered from piles. Baba gave him a decoction of sonamukhi (senna pods) which relieved him. Then, after two years, the trouble again recurred and Madhavarao took the same decoction, without consulting Baba. The result was that the disease worsened, but later, it was cured by Baba’s grace.

2. Kaka Mahajani’s elder brother, Gangadharpant, suffered for many years from stomach pain. Hearing of Baba’s fame, he came to Shirdi and requested Baba to cure him. Baba touched his belly and said, “God will cure.” From that time on, there was no stomach pain and he was completely cured.

3. Nanasaheb Chandorkar also suffered from intense stomach pain at one time. He was restless the whole day and night. Doctors administered medication in syringes which produced no effect. Then Nanasaheb approached Baba, who told him to eat burfi (a kind of sweet) mixed with ghee. This recipe gave him complete relief.

All these stories show that the real medicine that cured the various diseases permanently was Baba’s word and grace and not any medicines or drugs.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all