Shri Sai Satcharitra Chapter 40

Chapter – 40

Stories of Baba (1) Attending Mrs. Deo’s Udyapan Ceremony as a Sannyasi with Two Others (2) Attending the Shimga party in Hemadpant’s House in the Form of His Picture

In this chapter we describe two stories: (1) How Baba attended the udyapan ceremony of Mr. B.V. Deo’s mother at his house in Dahanu and (2) How Baba attended the Shimga dinner party in Hemadpant’s house in Bandra.

Preliminary

Blessed is Shri Sai Samartha, who gives instructions in both temporal and spiritual matters to His devotees and makes them happy by enabling them to achieve the goal of their life. Sai who, by placing His hand on His bhaktas’ heads, transfers His powers to them, destroying their sense of differentiation and duality, thus making them attain Self-realization. Sai, with no sense of duality or difference, embraces the bhaktas who prostrate themselves before Him. For just as rivers merge into the sea and become one with the mighty ocean, so Sai becomes one with His bhaktas, giving them His power as He embraces them.

It follows from this, that he who sings the leelas of God’s bhaktas is equally, or more dear to Him, than one who only sings the leelas of God. Now to revert to the stories of this chapter.

Mrs. Deo’s Udyapan Ceremony

Mr. B.V. Deo was the mamlatdar in Dahanu (Thana District). His mother had observed twenty-five or thirty different vows and an udyapan (concluding) ceremony in connection with such was to be performed. This ceremony included the feeding of one to two hundred Brahmins. Mr. Deo set a date for the ceremony and wrote a letter to Bapusaheb Jog asking him to request Sai Baba to attend the ceremonial dinner, as without His attendance, the ceremony would not be duly completed. Bapusaheb Jog read the letter to Baba. Baba noted carefully the pure hearted invitation and said, “I always think of he who remembers Me. I require no conveyance, carriage, tanga, train, nor airplane. I run and manifest Myself to him who lovingly calls Me. Write him a pleasing reply that the three of us (the trio), Myself, you (Bapusaheb Jog) and a third person will go and attend the dinner.” Mr. Jog thus informed Mr. Deo of what Baba had said. Mr. Deo was extremely pleased, but knew Baba never went to any place except Rahata, Rui and Nimgaon in person. He also thought nothing was impossible for Baba, as He was all pervading and He might suddenly come in any form He likes to fulfill His words.

A day before this, a sannyasi with Bengali dress and professing to work for the cause of the protection of cows, came to the station master at Dahanu to collect subscriptions. The station master told him to go into town and see the mamlatdar (Mr. Deo) and with his help, collect funds. Just then, the mamlatdar happened to arrive. The station master then introduced the sannyasi to him. Both sat talking on the platform. Mr. Deo told him that a subscription list for some other charitable cause had already been opened by the leading citizen, Rao Saheb Narottam Shetti, and so it would not be good to start another subscription list at this time. It would be better if he would come back in two to four months. Hearing all this, the sannyasi left the place. About a month later, the sannyasi arrived in a tanga and stopped in front of Mr. Deo’s house at about 10 a.m. Deo thought he had come for subscriptions again. Seeing him busy with the preparations for the ceremony, the sannyasi said he had come not for money, but for meals. Deo responded, “Alright, I’m very glad. You are most welcome in my home.” The sannyasi then said, “Two lads are with me.” Deo replied, “Well, bring them too.” Then, as dinner would not be served for two hours, Deo inquired where he should send for them. The sannyasi replied that would not be necessary, as he would come at the proper time, and so Deo asked him to come at noon.

At exactly twelve noon, the trio came and joined the dinner party, then, after the meal, they left. After the udyapan ceremony was finished, Deo wrote a letter to Bapusaheb Jog complaining of Baba’s breach of promise. Jog went to Baba with the letter, but before it was opened, Baba spoke, “Ah, he says I promised I would come, but did not keep My word. Inform him that I did attend his dinner, along with two others, but he failed to recognize Me. Why then did he call Me at all? Tell him that he thought the sannyasi came to ask for subscription money. Did I not remove his doubt in that respect and did I not say that I would come with two others? Did the trio not come in time and take their meals? To keep My words, I would sacrifice My life. I would never be untrue to My words.” This reply gladdened Jog’s heart and he communicated the entire reply to Deo. As soon as Deo heard the explanation, he burst into tears of joy, but at the same time he took himself to task mentally for vainly charging Baba. Deo wondered how he was deceived by the sannyasi’s prior visit when he came for subscriptions, and too, how he failed to catch the significance of the sannyasi’s words that he would come with two others for meals.

This story clearly shows that when devotees surrender themselves completely to their satguru, He sees that the religious functions in their houses are duly executed and complied with all the necessary formalities.

Hemadpant’s Shimga Dinner

Now let us take another story which shows how Baba appeared in the form of His picture and fulfilled the desire of His devotee. In 1917 on the morning of the full moon day, Hemadpant had a vision. Baba appeared to him in his dream in the form of a well dressed sannyasi, woke him up, and said that He would come to his home for meals that day. This awakening constituted a part of the dream. When Hemadpant fully awoke, he saw no Sai nor any sannyasi, but when he began to recall the dream, he remembered every word the sannyasi uttered in his dream. Though he was in contact with Baba for seven years, and even though he always meditated on Baba, he never expected Baba to come to his house for meals. However, being quite pleased with Baba’s words, he informed his wife that on this holy day, a sannyasi guest was coming for meals and extra rice should be cooked. His wife then inquired as to who the guest was and from whence was he coming. Not to lead her astray or to cause any misunderstanding, Hemadpant told her the truth about the dream he had had. She doubtingly asked whether it was possible that Baba would go from Shirdi, where He had special food, to visit them in Bandra, where He would receive only coarse food.

Hemadpant then assured her that Baba might not come in person, but He might attend in the form of a guest, and so they would lose nothing if they cooked some more rice. Thus, after the discussion, preparations for the dinner went on and the meal was ready at noon. The Holika worship was completed and the leaves (dishes) were spread and arranged with ‘rangoli’ marks around them. Two rows were set up with a central seat between them for the guest. All the members of the family - sons, grandsons, daughters and sons-in-law etc. came and occupied their proper seats and the serving of the various articles commenced. While that was being done, everyone was watching for the guest, but none turned up, even though it was past noon. The door was then closed and chained and the anna shuddhi (ghee) was served. This was a signal to start eating. The formal offering to the vaishwadeva (fire) and naivedya to Shri Krishna were also over and the members were about to begin to eat, when footsteps in the staircase were distinctly heard. Hemadpant immediately opened the door and saw two men standing there: (1) Alli Mahomed and (2) Moulana Ismu Mujavar. These two gentlemen, seeing that meals were ready and all the family members were about to begin eating, apologized to Hemadpant and requested him to excuse their interference. They said, “You left your seat and came running to us while the others are waiting for you. Please take this package now and we will relate all the wonderful details about it to you later at your convenience.” The package, which was wrapped in an old newspaper cover, was then placed on the table. Hemadpant uncovered the packet and saw, to his great wonder and surprise, a nice big picture of Sai Baba. Upon seeing it, Hemadpant was so moved, tears ran down his cheeks and his hair stood up all over his body. In reverence, he bent down and placed his head on the feet of Baba in the picture. He thought that Baba had blessed him by that miracle.

Then, out of curiosity, he asked Alli Mahomed where the picture had come from. Mahomed replied he had bought it in a shop and that he would relate all the details about it at another time, because Hemadpant needed to go back and join his guests who were waiting for him in the dining hall.

Hemadpant thanked Alli Mahomed and Moulana Mujavar and bade them goodbye. He then placed the picture on the central seat reserved for the guest, and after offering naivedya, the whole party began to eat. Everyone was extremely pleased to see the beautiful form in the picture and all were filled with awe as to how it all happened. Thus, this story described how Sai Baba kept and fulfilled His words which he had uttered to Hemadpant in a dream. Sai Baba’s ways are inscrutable and help us develop nishta (faith) and saburi (patience).

The story of Sai Baba’s picture, with all its details, viz. how Alli Mahomed obtained it and why he bought it and gave it to Hemadpant, is reserved for the next chapter.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all