Shri Sai Satcharitra Chapter 23

Chapter – 23

Yoga and Onion - Shama Cured of Snake Bite - Cholera Ordinance Broken - Ordeal of Guru Bhakti

Preliminary

In reality, the jiva (human soul) transcends the three qualities viz. sattwa, rajas, and tamas, but being deluded by maya, the jiva forgets its true nature which is ‘existence knowledge- bliss’ and thinks it is the doer and enjoyer, thus becoming entangled in endless miseries without knowing the way of deliverance. The only way of deliverance is loving devotion toward the guru’s feet. The great player or actor, Lord Sai, has delighted His bhaktas and transformed them into Himself (His nature).

We regard Sai Baba as an incarnation of God for reasons already stated, but He always said that He was an obedient servant of God. Though an incarnation, He showed the people the way, and how to behave satisfactorily and carry out the duties of their respective stations (varnas) in this life. He never emulated others in any way, nor asked others to have something done for Him. For Him, who saw the Lord in all movable and immovable things of this world, humility was the most proper thing. None He disregarded or disrespected, for He saw Narayan (Lord) in all beings. He never said, “I am God,” but that He was a humble servant who always remembered the Lord and always uttered, “Allah Malik” (God is the sole proprietor or owner).

We do not understand the various saints, how they behave, what they do and eat etc. We only know that by God’s grace, they manifest themselves in this world to liberate ignorant and bound souls. If we have merits attained from our past lives, we get a desire to listen to the stories and leelas of the saints, otherwise we do not. Let us now turn to the main stories of this chapter.

Yoga and Onion

Once it so happened, a sadhak of yoga came to Shirdi with Nanasaheb Chandorkar. He had studied all the works on yoga, including the yoga-sutras of Patanjali, but had no practical experience. He could not concentrate nor attain samadhi for even a short time. He thought if Sai Baba were pleased with him, He would show him the way to attain samadhi for a sustained time. With this thought in mind, he came to Shirdi. When he went to the masjid and saw Sai Baba eating bread with onion, a thought arose in his mind, “How can this man, who is eating stale bread with raw onion, solve my difficulties and help me?” Sai Baba read his mind and said to Nanasaheb, “Oh Nana, he who has the power to digest onion should eat it, and none else.” Hearing this remark, the yogi was wonder struck and fell at Baba’s feet in complete surrender. With pure and open mind, he mentioned his difficulties to Baba who then gave him their solution. Thus, being satisfied and happy, he left Shirdi with Baba’s udi and blessings.

Shama cured of snake bite

Before Hemadpant begins this story, he compares the jiva with a parrot, stating that both are bound, one in a body, the other in a cage. Both think their present confined state is normal, for it is what they experience. It is only when a helper (i.e. guru) comes and, by God’s grace, opens their cage (consciousness) and liberates them from their limited perceptions, that they understand their former state was bondage. Through God’s grace, their consciousness expands to a larger state of existence so they can realize how limited their former life was. In the last chapter it was shown how Baba anticipated the calamity that was to befall Mr. Mirikar and how Baba rescued him from it. The following story is even more amazing. Once, Shama was bitten by a poisonous snake. The little finger of his hand was stung and the poison began to spread into his body. The pain was very severe and Shama thought he would pass away soon. His friends wanted to take him to the God Viroba where such cases were often sent, but Shama ran to the masjid to his Viroba - (Sai Baba). When Baba saw him, He began to scold and abuse. He became enraged and said, “Oh vile Bhaturdya (priest) do not climb up! Beware if you do so!” and then roared, “Go! Get away! Come down.” Seeing Baba thus red with wrath, Shama was greatly puzzled and disappointed. He thought the masjid was his home and Sai Baba his sole refuge, but if he is driven away like this, where should he go? He lost all hope of life and kept quiet. After a time, Baba became normal and was calm when Shama went up and sat near Him. Then Baba said to him, “Don’t be afraid. Don’t care a jot. The merciful fakir will save you. Go and sit quietly at home. Don’t go out. Believe in Me and remain fearless. Have no anxiety!” Then Shama was sent home. Immediately afterward, Baba sent Tatya Patil and Kakasaheb Dixit to him with instructions to the effect that he should eat what he liked, should move about in the home, but should never lie down and sleep. Needless to say, these instructions were acted upon and Shama was alright in a short time. It is important to remember in this connection that the words of Baba (or the five syllabled mantra, viz. ‘Go! Get away! Come down!’) were not addressed to Shama - as it had appeared – but were a direct order to the snake and its poison not to go up and circulate through Shama’s body. Like others well versed in mantrashastra, Baba did not need to use any incantation, charged rice or water, etc. His words only were most efficacious in saving the life of Shama.

Cholera Epidemic

Once cholera was raging virulently in Shirdi. The residents were very frightened and stopped all communication with outside people. The panchas of the village assembled together and decided upon two ordinances as a remedy to check and put down the epidemic. They were: (1) no fuel cart should be allowed to come into the village (2) no goat should be killed there. If anyone disobeyed these ordinances, they were to be fined by the village authorities and panchas. Baba knew all this was mere superstition, and so He cared not two pence for the cholera ordinances. While the ordinances were in force, a fuel cart came to Shirdi and wanted to enter the village. Everyone knew there was a dearth of fuel in the village, but still, the people began to drive away the fuel cart. Baba became aware of this. He went over to the spot and asked the cartman to take the fuel cart to the masjid. No one dared raise his voice against this action of Baba. Sai Baba wanted fuel for His dhuni and so He purchased it. Like an agnihotri keeping his sacred fire alive throughout his life, Baba kept His dhuni ever burning all day and night, and for this, He always stocked fuel. Baba’s home, i.e. the masjid, which had no lock or key, was free and open to all. Some people removed fire wood from there for their own use, but Baba did not grumble about this. Sai Baba saw the whole universe as pervaded by the Almighty and so He never bore enmity or ill will to anyone. Though perfectly detached, He behaved like an ordinary householder to set an example to the people.

Ordeal of Guru Bhakti

Let us now see how the second cholera ordinance fared with Baba. While it was in force, someone brought a goat to the masjid. It was weak and old and about to die. At that time, Fakir Pir Mohammed of Malegaon alias, Bade Baba, was near. Sai Baba asked him to cut it with one stroke and offer it as an oblation. (It should be noted, Bade Baba was very respected by Sai Baba. He always sat on the right hand side of Sai Baba. After the chillim (pipe) was first smoked by him, it was then offered to Baba and others. At noon mealtime, after the dishes were served, Baba respectfully called Bade Baba and made him sit on His left side, after which, all partook of the food. Baba paid him Rs. 50/ daily out of the amount collected as dakshina. Baba always accompanied him for one hundred paces when he was going away. Such was his position with Baba.) But when Baba asked him to cut the goat, he flatly refused saying, “Why should it be killed for no reason?” Then Baba asked Shama to kill it. Shama went to Radha Krishna Mai and brought back a knife from her which he placed before Baba. Knowing the purpose for which the knife was taken, she recalled it. Then Shama went to bring another knife, but stayed in the wada and did not return soon. Next, it was Kakasaheb Dixit’s turn. He was ‘pure gold’ no doubt, but had to be tested. Baba asked him to get a knife and kill the goat. He went to Sathe’s Wada and returned with a knife. He was ready to kill it at Baba’s bidding. He was born in a pure Brahmin family and never in his life knew of killing. Though quite adverse to do any act of violence, he made himself bold to kill the goat. All the people wondered that Bade Baba, a Mohammedan, was unwilling to kill the goat, while this pure Brahmin was making preparations to do so. Kakasaheb tightened his dhotar and with a semicircular motion, raised his hand with the knife and looked at Baba for the final signal. Baba said, “What are you thinking? Go on, strike!” Then, just as the hand was about to come down, Baba said, “Stop, you are so cruel! Being a Brahmin, why are you killing a goat?” Kakasaheb obeyed and, putting the knife down, said to Baba, “Your nectar like word is law unto us. We do not know any other ordinance. We remember You always, meditate on Your form, and obey You day and night. We do not know or consider whether it is right or wrong to kill. We do not want to reason or discuss things, because implicit and prompt compliance with the guru’s orders is our duty and dharma.” Then Baba said to Kakasaheb that He would Himself do the offering and killing business. It was settled that the goat should be disposed of near a place called Takkya where fakirs used to sit. When the goat was being removed to that place, it fell dead on the way.

Hemadpant closes this chapter with a classification of disciples. He says there are three kinds: (1) first or best (2) second or middling and (3) third or ordinary. The best kinds of disciples are those who guess what their gurus want and immediately carry out such. They serve the guru without waiting for an order from him. The middling disciples are those who carry out the orders of their masters to the last letter without any delay, and the third kind of disciples are those who go on postponing the carrying out of their orders and making mistakes at every step.

Disciples should have firm faith (nishta) backed up by intelligence, and if they also have patience and perseverance (saburi), their spiritual goal will not be distant. Control of breath, ingoing and outgoing, hatha yoga or other difficult practices, are not at all necessary. When the disciples develop the above mentioned qualities, they become ready for further instructions, and the masters then appear and lead them on in their spiritual path to perfection.

In the next chapter we will deal with Baba’s interesting wit and humor.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all