Shri Sai Satcharitra Chapter 48

Chapter – 48

Warding off Devotees’ Calamities, Stories of (1) Shevade and (2) Sapatnekar

Someone asked Hemadpant whether Sai Baba was a guru or a satguru. In order to answer the question, Hemadpant describes the signs of a satguru in this chapter as follows:

Signs which determine a satguru

Hemadpant begins by describing certain characteristics which satgurus may exhibit, but which by themselves individually, do not determine if a holy man is a satguru. He who teaches us Veda and Vedanta or the six Shastra (systems). He who controls the breath, or brands his body with mudras (metallic marks of Vishnu’s weapons), or gives pleasing discourses regarding Brahma. Hemadpant then continues to define characteristics which do not determine a satguru. For example: he who gives mantras (sacred syllables) to the disciples and orders them to chant the same a certain number of times, but does not assure them any result in a definite time; he, who by his spacious worldly knowledge, explains beautifully the Ultimate Principle, but has himself no experience of Self-realization, is not a satguru.

Hemadpant then describes the virtuous characteristics of a satguru: But he, who by his discourse, creates in us a distaste for the enjoyments of this world and the next, and gives us a taste of Self-realization, who is well versed in both theoretical and practical knowledge (Self-realization), deserves to be called a satguru. How can he, who is himself devoid of Self-realization, give it to his disciples? A satguru does not, even in his dream, expect any service or profit from his disciples. On the contrary, he wishes to serve them. He does not think that he is great and the disciple small. Not only does he love the devotee as a son or daughter, but he also regards him as equal to himself or as to Brahma. The main characteristic of a satguru is that he is the abode of peace. He is never restless, nor ruffled. He has no pride of his learning. The poor and the rich, the small and the great, are the same to him. Hemadpant thinks that on account of the store or accumulations of merits in his past births, he had the good fortune of meeting and being blessed by Sai Baba, a great satguru. Even in His youth, Sai Baba hoarded nothing (except perhaps his chillim). He had no family, no friend, no home, nor any support. Since He was eighteen, His control of mind was perfect and extraordinary. He lived in a secluded place, was fearless, and always abided in His Self. Seeing the pure devotion of His devotees, He always acted in their interests and hence, He was, in a way, dependent on them. The experiences he gave His devotees while He was living in the flesh, are even now, after His mahasamadhi, obtained by those who attach themselves to Him. Thus, devotees must do the following: trim their heart lamp of faith and devotion, and burn in it wicks of love, and when this is done, the flame of knowledge (Self-realization) will be lit up and shine brighter. Mere knowledge without love is dry. No one wants such knowledge. Without love, there is no contentment, so we should have unbroken and unbounded love. How can we praise love? Everything is Insignificant before it. Without love, our reading, hearing, and study are of no avail. In the wake of love, follows devotion, dispassion, peace and liberation with all their treasures. We do not develop love for anything unless we feel earnestly about it. So where there is real yearning and feeling permeated with love, God manifests Himself, and this is the means of liberation.

Now let us revert to the main story of this chapter. Let a man go to a true saint with a pure mind, and hold his feet; ultimately he is sure to be saved. This is illustrated by the following stories:

Mr. Shevade

Mr. Sapatnekar of Akkalkot (Sholapur District) was studying law. A co-student, Mr. Shevade, met him. Other fellow students also gathered together and compared notes regarding their studies. It was found by the questions and answers amongst themselves, that Mr. Shevade was the least prepared of all for the examination, and therefore, all the students derided him. But Mr. Shevade said that although he was not prepared, he was sure to pass the examination, as his Sai Baba was there to get him through it successfully. Mr. Sapatnekar was surprised at this remark. He took Mr. Shevade aside and asked him who this Sai Baba was, whom he extolled so highly. Shevade replied, “There lives in a masjid in Shirdi (Ahmednagar District), a fakir. He is a great satpurush. There may be other saints, but this one is unique. Unless there is a great store of merit in one’s account, one can’t see Him. I fully believe in Him, and what He says will never be untrue. He has assured me that I will definitely pass next year and I am confident that I will get through the final examination with His grace.” Mr. Sapatnekar laughed at his friend’s confidence and jeered at him and Baba.

Sapatnekar

Mr. Sapatnekar passed his examination, settled at Akkalkot, and practiced as a pleader there. Ten years after that, i.e., in 1913, he lost his only son due to a throat disease. He was broken-hearted. He sought relief by making a pilgrimage to Pandharpur, Ganagapur, and other holy places, but he found no peace of mind. He then read Vedanta, which also did not help him. In the meanwhile, he remembered Mr. Shevade’s remarks and his faith in Baba, and so Sapatnekar thought he, too, should go to Shirdi and see Baba. Sapatnekar then went to Shirdi with his younger brother, Panditrao, and was very pleased to see Baba from a distance. When he was able to get near Baba, he prostrated himself and placed a cocoanut before Baba with pure feeling and devotion. Baba immediately cried out, “Go away!” Sapatnekar hung down his head, moved back, and sat to the side. He wanted to consult someone who could advise him as to how to proceed. Someone then mentioned Bala Shimpi’s name. Sapatnekar searched and found him and sought his help. They bought some pictures of Baba and brought them to the masjid. Bala Shimpi took a photo in his hand, gave it to Baba, and asked Him whose photo it was. Baba said that the photo was the ‘yara’ (lover) of Him, pointing to Sapatnekar. Saying this, Baba laughed and all the others joined. Bala asked Baba the significance of the laugh and then beckoned Sapatnekar to come forward and take darshan. When Sapatnekar began to prostrate himself, Baba again cried out, “Get out!” Sapatnekar did not know what to do.

Then he and Bala Shimpi joined hands and sat before Baba praying, but Baba ordered Sapatnekar to clear out immediately. Both men were sad and dejected, but as Baba’s order had to be obeyed, Sapatnekar left Shirdi with a heavy heart, praying he should be allowed to take darshan next time.

Mrs. Sapatnekar

One year elapsed. Still, Sapatnekar’s mind was not at peace. He went to Ganagapur where he felt even more restless. He then went to Madhegaon for rest and finally decided to go to Kashi. Two days before starting, his wife had a vision. In her dream, she was carrying a pitcher to Lakadsha’s well. There, a fakir with a piece of cloth around his head, who was sitting at the foot of a neem tree, came close to her and said, “My dear lassie, why get exhausted needlessly? I’ll get your pitcher filled with pure water for you.” She was afraid of the fakir and hastened back with the empty pitcher. The fakir followed her. Just then she awoke from the dream. When she told her husband about the vision, they both thought the dream was an auspicious sign and decided to go to Shirdi. When they reached the masjid, Baba was not there. He had gone to Lendi. Both husband and wife decided to wait until He returned. When Baba returned, Mrs. Sapatnekar was surprised to see that He resembled exactly the fakir seen in her vision. She reverently prostrated before Baba and sat gazing at him. Seeing her humility, Baba was very pleased and began to tell a story in His peculiar characteristic fashion as a third party. He said, “My arms, abdomen and waist are causing Me pain for a long time. I took various types of medicine, but the pain did not abate. I became dissatisfied with all the medicine, as everything was ineffective, but now I am surprised to see how all the pain disappeared at once.” Though no name was actually mentioned, it was the very story of Mrs. Sapatnekar. Her pain, as described by Baba, soon left her and she was very happy. Then Mr. Sapatnekar went ahead to take darshan. He was, once again, welcomed with the former, “Get out!” This time, however, Mr. Sapatnekar was more penitent and persevering, for he acknowledged that Baba’s displeasure was due to his past deeds. He then resolved to make amends for such. He determined to see Baba alone and ask His pardon for his past actions. As he did this, he placed his head on Baba’s feet and Baba placed His hand on his head. Sapatnekar then began to massage and stroke Baba’s leg.

A shepherdess came along, sat down, and began to massage Baba’s waist. Baba, in his characteristic way, then began to tell the story of a bania. He related the various vicissitudes of Sapatnekar’s entire life, including the death of his only son. Sapatnekar was quite surprised that Baba’s story was exactly that of his very own life and he wondered how Baba knew every detail. Thus, Sapatnekar learned that Baba was omniscient and knew the hearts of all. Just as that thought crossed his mind, Baba, while still addressing the shepherdess, pointed to Sapatnekar and said, “This fellow blames Me and charges Me with killing his son. Do I kill people’s children? Why does this fellow come to the masjid and cry? Now then, this is what I will do. I will bring that very child who died back into his wife’s womb.” With these words, He placed His blessing hand on Sapatnekar’s head and comforted him saying, “These feet are old and holy. You are care free now. Place your entire faith in Me and you will soon receive that which you wish.” Sapatnekar was extremely moved with emotion. He bathed Baba’s feet with his tears and then returned to his residence.

Sapatnekar made preparations of worship and naivedya and then he and his wife went to the masjid. He offered everything to Baba every day and accepted prasad from Him. There was a crowd in the masjid, but Sapatnekar went there again and again. Seeing heads clashing against heads, Baba said to Sapatnekar, “Oh, why do you prostrate yourself again and again? One namaskar offered with love and humility is enough.” That night, Sapatnekar witnessed the Chavadi procession (described in a previous chapter). In the procession, Baba looked like a veritable Pandurang (Vitthal).

The following day, before Sapatnekar left to go back home, he thought he should pay one rupee as dakshina to Baba, and, if He asked again, instead of saying no, he should pay one more, reserving for himself sufficient money to cover the expenses of the journey back home. Thus, when he went to the masjid and offered one rupee, Baba, being omniscient, asked for another as per his intention, and when it was paid, Baba blessed him saying, “Take the cocoanut, put it in your wife’s oti (upper fold of her sari) and be at ease, with no anxiety.” Sapatnekar did as he was told and within a year, a son was born to him, whom they named Murlidhar. When the infant was eight months old, they went back to Shirdi and placed the infant at Baba’s feet, praying, “Oh Sainath, we do not know how to redeem Your obligations, therefore we prostrate ourselves before You. Bless us, please, we who are helpless. Henceforth, let Your holy feet be our sole refuge. Please turn our thoughts away from worry and troubled ideas, that our minds may dwell only on Your bhajan and the great absolute. Please bless us, Baba.” Baba blessed them. In time, the Sapatnekars had two more sons, Bhaskar and Dinkar. Thus, they realized that Sai Baba’s words were always true and brought fulfillment.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all