Shri Sai Satcharitra Chapter 27

Chapter – 27

Favor Shown by Giving Bhagvat and Vishnu Sahasra Nam - Dixit’s Vitthal Vision - Gita Rahasya – Khapardes

This chapter describes how Sai Baba favored His devotees by granting them religious books after He had touched and consecrated them for parayana (reading regularly) and certain other matters.

Preliminary

When a man takes a plunge into the sea, he gets the merit of bathing in all the tirthas and sacred rivers. Similarly, when a man takes refuge at the feet of the satguru, he gets the merit of bowing to the trinity, i.e. Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva) and also Para-Brahma. Victory be unto Shri Sai, the wish fulfilling tree and the ocean of knowledge, who gives us Self-realization. Oh Sai, create in us regard for Your stories. Let the readers and hearers devour them with the same relish with which the chatak bird drinks water from the clouds and becomes happy. May the readers experience all the sattwic emotions, (viz. let their bodies perspire, let their eyes be full of tears, let their prana be steady, let their minds be composed, let their hair stand on end, let them cry, sob and shake) and may all their hostilities and prejudices, great and small, vanish while reading Your stories. If this happens, it is a sign of the grace of the guru dawning upon them. When these emotions develop in you, the guru is most pleased and will certainly lead you on to the goal of Self-realization.

The best way, therefore, to become free from the shackles of maya, is complete and whole- hearted surrender to Sai Baba. The Vedas cannot take you across the ocean of maya. It is only the satguru who can do so and make you see the Lord in all creatures.

Granting Consecrated Book

The variety of imparting instructions given by Baba has already been noted in the previous chapters. In this one, we shall deal with one aspect of it. It was the habit of some devotees to bring special religious books which they wanted to study to Baba and ask Him to touch and consecrate them and then return the blessed books to them. While reading daily such books, they felt that Baba was with them. Once, Kaka Mahajani came to Shirdi with a copy of Ekanathi Bhagwat. Shama wanted to read the book and took it with him to the masjid. There, Baba took it from him, touched it and turning some pages here and there, gave it to Shama and asked him to keep it with him. Shama said that it belonged to Kaka and had to be returned to him. “No, no”, said Baba. “As I have given it to you, better keep it with you for safe custody. It will be of use to you.” In this way, many books were entrusted to Shama. After a few days, Kaka Mahajani brought another copy of Ekanathi Bhagwat and gave it to Baba to be blessed. Baba then gave it back as prasad and asked him to preserve it well and assured him that it would stand him in good stead. Kaka accepted it with a bow.

Shama and Vishnu Sahasra Nam

Shama was a very intimate devotee of Baba and Baba wanted to favor him in a particular way by giving him a copy of Vishnu Sahasra Nam as prasad. This was done in the following way. Once a Ramadasi (follower of saint Ramadas) came to Shirdi and stayed for some time. The routine he followed daily was as follows: he got up early in the morning, washed his face, bathed, and then, after putting on saffron colored clothes and besmearing himself with sacred ashes, read with faith Vishnu Sahasra Nam (a book giving a thousand names in praise of Vishnu and held second in importance to the Bhagavad Gita and Adhyatma Ramayana (esoteric version of Rama’s story). The Ramadasi read these books often.

After a few days, Baba thought of favoring and initiating Shama with Vishnu Sahasra Nam. He therefore called the Ramadasi to Him and said that He was suffering from intense stomach pain and unless He took senna pods, (sona mukhi - a mild purgative drug) the pain would not stop. Sai Baba then asked the Ramadasi to please go to the bazar and get the drug for Him. The Ramadasi closed his reading and went to the bazar. Baba then descended from His seat, went over to where the Ramadasi had been reading, took the copy of Vishnu Sahasra Nam and brought it back to where He had been sitting. Baba then called to Shama, “Oh Shama, this book is very valuable and efficacious, so I am presenting it to you. Read it. Once I suffered intensely. My heart began to palpitate and My life was in danger. At that critical time, I hugged this book to My heart and then, Shama, what a relief it gave Me. So I give this to you. Read it slowly, little by little. Read daily at least one name and it will do you much good.” Shama replied that he did not want the book and that the owner of it, the Ramadasi, a mad, obstinate, irritable fellow, would certainly pick a quarrel with him. Besides, Shama continued, as a rustic, he could not read distinctly the sanskrit (Devanagari) letters of the book.

Shama thought that Baba wanted to set him up against the Ramadasi by this act of His, but he had no idea how deeply Baba felt for him. Baba must have wanted to tie this necklace of Vishnu Sahasra Nam around Shama’s neck, even though he was a rustic, to save him from the miseries of worldly existence. Shama was Sai Baba’s intimate devotee. The efficacy of God’s name is well known. It saves us from all sins and bad tendencies and frees us from the cycles of birth and death. There is no easier sadhana than this. It is the best purifier of our mind and it requires no paraphernalia and no restrictions. It is so easy and so effective. Baba wanted Shama to practice this sadhana, although Shama did not crave it, so Baba forced this on him. It is reported that long ago, Ekanath Maharaj similarly forced this Vishnu Sahasra Nam on a poor Brahmin neighbor and thus saved him. The reading and study of the Vishnu Sahasra Nam is a broad open way of purifying the mind and so Baba thrust this on His Shama.

The Ramadasi returned soon with the senna pods. Anna Chinchanikar, who was present at that time and who wanted to play the part of Narada (the celestial rishi who was well known for setting up quarrels between gods and demons and vice versa), informed the Ramadasi of what had happened. The Ramadasi at once flared up and blasted Shama with all his fury. He said it was Shama who had Baba pretend to have a stomach ache so as to send him to buy medicine, taking his sacred book while he was gone. He began to scold and abuse Shama and remarked that if the book not be returned, he would dash his head before him. Shama calmly remonstrated, but in vain. Then Baba spoke kindly to the Ramadasi as follows, “Oh Ramadasi, what is the matter with you? Why are you so turbulent? Is not Shama our boy? Why do you scold him unnecessarily? How is it that you are so quarrelsome? Can you not speak softly with sweet words? You read daily these sacred books and still your mind is impure and your passions uncontrolled. What sort of Ramadasi are you? You ought to be indifferent to all things. Is it not strange that you should covet this book so strongly? A true Ramadasi should have no ‘mamata’ (attachment), but have ‘samata’ (equanimity) toward all. You are now quarrelling with the boy Shama for a mere book. Go, take your seat! Books can be had in plenty for money, but not men. Think well and be considerate! What worth is your book? Shama was not concerned with it. I took it Myself and gave the book to him. You know it by heart. I thought Shama might read it and profit thereby, so I gave it to him.”

How sweet were these words of Baba, so soft, tender and nectar-like! Their effect was wonderful. The Ramadasi calmed down and said to Shama that he would take Pancha Ratni Gita in return. Shama was very pleased and said, “Why one? I shall give ten copies in return!”

So the matter was ultimately brought to a peaceful resolution. The question for consideration is, “Why should the Ramadasi press for Pancha Ratni Gita, the God which he never cared to know, and why should he, who read religious books daily in the masjid in front of Baba, quarrel with Shama before Baba? We do not know how to apportion the blame and whom to blame, but had this incident not occurred, the importance of the book’s subject - the efficacy of God’s name and the study of Vishnu Sahasra Nam - would not have been instilled in Shama. Thus, we see that Baba’s method of teaching and initiating was unique. In this case, Shama gradually studied the book and mastered its contents to such an extent that he was able to explain it to Professor G.G. Narke, M.A., of the College of Engineering, Poona, who was the son-in-law of Shriman Booty and a devotee of Baba.

Vitthal Vision

One day, while Kakasaheb Dixit was meditating after his morning bath in his wada at Shirdi, he saw a vision of Vitthal. When he went to see Baba afterward, Baba asked him, “Did Vitthal Patil come? Did you see him? He is very elusive. Hold him fast, otherwise he will give you the slip and run away.” Then, at noon, a certain hawker came along with 20 or 25 pictures of Vitthal of Pandharpur for sale. Mr. Dixit was surprised to see that the form of Vitthal which he had seen in his meditation tallied exactly with the one in the picture and he was reminded of Baba’s words. He therefore bought one picture most willingly and kept it in his shrine for worship.

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*Editor’s Note: Through this incident, Baba demonstrates how the Ramdasi, with all his reading and studying of sacred books, had still not given up attachments nor learned to control his anger. In a later chapter in the Satcharita, Baba warns that mere reading of religious books without actual practice of the precepts therein develops pride of learning and little else. What is required is sarvaswa sharanagati (complete surrender) to the satguru as well as repetition of the name of God. Thus, this story not only teaches the importance of repeating the name of God, but stresses the necessity of practicing what we read to avoid the pit holes of pride and attachment.

Gita Rahasya

Baba always loved those who studied Brahma vidya (metaphysics) and encouraged them. To give an example: Once Bapusaheb Jog received a parcel post. It contained a copy of Gita Rahasya by Lokmanya Tilak. Taking it under his armpit, he went to the masjid and prostrated himself before Baba. As he did so, the parcel fell at Baba’s feet. Baba inquired as to what it was. The package was then opened and the book placed in Baba’s hand. He turned some pages here and there for a few minutes and, taking out a rupee from His pocket, placed it on the book and handed the same with the rupee to Jog, saying to him, “Read this completely and you will be benefitted.”

Mr. and Mrs. Khaparde

Let us close this chapter with a description of the Khapardes. Once, Dadasaheb Khaparde and his family came and lived in Shirdi for a few months. (The diary of his stay has been published in English in ‘Sai Leela’ magazine, volume one.) Dadasaheb was not an ordinary man. He was the richest and most famous advocate of Amraoti (Berar) and was a member of the Council of State, Delhi. He was very intelligent and a very good speaker. Still, he dared not open his mouth before Baba. Most devotees spoke and argued with Baba off and on, but only three, viz. Khaparde, Noolkar and Booty always kept silent. They were meek, modest, humble and good natured. Dadasaheb, who was able to expound Panchadashi (a well known Sanskrit treatise on the adwaita philosophy by the famous Vidyaranya) to others, said nothing or uttered no word when he came to the masjid and was in Baba’s presence. Indeed, a man however learned he may be, even in Vedas, fades away before one who has realized Brahma and become one with it. Learning cannot shine before Self-realization. Dadasaheb Khaparde stayed in Shirdi for four months, but Mrs. Kharpade stayed for seven.

Both were highly pleased with their Shirdi stay. Mrs. Khaparde was faithful and devout and loved by Baba deeply. Every noon she brought naivedya to the masjid and after it was accepted by Baba, she used to return and take her meals. Seeing her steady and firm devotion, Baba wanted to exhibit it to others. One noon, she brought a dish containing sanza (wheat pudding), as well as purees, rice, soup, kheer (sweet rice), and other sundry articles to the masjid. Baba, who usually waited for hours before His noon meal, got up at once and went to His dining seat. He then removed the outer covering from Mrs. Khaparde’s dish and began to partake of the delicacies zealously. Seeing this, Shama became confused and asked Baba directly, “Why this partiality? You throw away the dishes of others and do not even care to look at them, but this one, You select earnestly and do justice to it. Why is the dish of this woman so sweet? I don’t understand.”

Baba then explained, “This food is really extraordinary. In a former birth, this lady was a merchant’s fat cow yielding much milk. Then she disappeared and took birth in a gardener’s family, then in a kshatriya family, and married a merchant. Next, she was born in a Brahmin family. I now see her after a very long time. Let Me take some sweet morsels of love from her dish.” Saying this, Baba ate her dish heartily, washed His mouth and hands, gave out some belches as a mark of satisfaction, and resumed His seat. The woman then bowed and began to shampoo Baba’s legs. As she was caring for his legs, Baba began to talk with her and knead her arms. Seeing this reciprocal service, Shama began to joke saying, “It is going on well. It is a wonderful sight to see God and His bhakta serving each other!” Being pleased with her sincere service, Baba asked her in a low and fascinating tone to chant ‘Rajaram, Rajaram’ then, and always, and said, “If you do this, your life’s object will be gained, your mind will attain peace and you will be immensely benefitted.”

This action is what is technically called, “shakti-pat”, i.e. transference of power from the guru to the disciple. How forceful and effective were Baba’s words! In an instant they pierced her heart and found lodging there.

This case illustrates the nature of the relationship that exists between the guru and the disciple. Both should love and serve each other as one. There is no distinction, nor any difference, between them. Both are one, and one cannot live without the other. The disciple, placing his head on the guru’s feet, is a gross or outward vision.

The guru and his disciple are really, internally, one and the same. Those who see any difference between them are yet unripe and not perfect.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace Be to All