Shri Sai Satcharitra Chapter 30

Chapter – 30

Drawn to Shirdi (1) Kakaji Vaidya of Vani (2) Punjabi Ramalal of Bombay

In this chapter the story of two more devotees who were drawn to Shirdi is narrated.

Preliminary

Bow to kind Sai who is an abode of mercy and who is affectionate with His devotees. By His mere darshan, He does away with their fear of this ‘bhava’ (samsar) and destroys their calamities. He was first nirgun (formless), but on account of the devotion of His bhaktas, He was obliged to take a form. The mission of the saints is to give liberation (Self-realization) to bhaktas, and for Sai Baba, a divine incarnation, it was His prime mission. Those who take refuge in His feet have all their sins destroyed and their progress is certain. Remembering His feet, Brahmins from holy places come to Him, read scriptures, and chant the Gayatri mantra in His presence. We, who are weak and without any merits, do not know what bhakti is, but we know this much, that though all others may leave us, Sai won’t forsake us. Those whom He favors get enormous strength, knowledge, and discrimination between the unreal and the real.

Sai knows fully the desires of His devotees and fulfils them according to His grace. Hence, the devotees get what they want and are grateful. We therefore invoke Baba and prostrate ourselves before Him. Forgetting all our faults, let Him free us from all anxieties. When overcome with calamities, we should remember and pray to Sai Baba, who will calm and pacify the mind through His grace.

Hemadpant says that Sai Baba, the ocean of mercy, favored him, and the result of this is the present work, Shri Sai Satcharita, for without Baba’s grace, what qualifications would he have and how would he be able to undertake such an enterprise? But as Baba took all the responsibility for the writing of Shri Sai Satcharita, Hemadpant felt no burden nor any care about this at all. When the powerful light of knowledge was there to inspire his speech and pen, Hemadpant entertained no doubt, nor felt any anxiety, to perform the service of writing the Shri Sai Satcharita. Sai Baba chose Hemadpant due to the accumulation of his merits in his past births, and therefore, Hemadpant considers himself fortunate and blessed indeed.

The following story is not a mere tale, but pure nectar. He who drinks it will realize Sai’s greatness and all pervasiveness. Those who want to argue and criticize, should not go in for these stories. What is wanted here is not discussion, but unlimited love and devotion. Learned, devout and faithful believers, or those who consider themselves as servants of the saints, will like and appreciate these stories. Others will take them to be fables. The fortunate bhaktas of Sai will find the Sai leelas as the Kalpataru (wish fulfilling tree). Drinking this nectar of Sai leelas will give liberation to ignorant jivas, satisfaction to householders, and a sadhana to spiritual aspirants. Now to the story of this chapter.

Kakaji Vaidya

There lived in Vani, Nasik District, a man named Kakaji Vaidya. He was the priest of the goddess Sapta Shringi. He was so overwhelmed with adverse circumstances and calamities that he lost his peace of mind and became quite restless. Under such circumstances, he went into the temple of the goddess one evening and prayed fervently to her from deep within his heart, invoking her aid to free him from anxiety. The goddess was pleased with his devotion and that same night appeared to him in his dream saying, “You should go to Baba, and then your mind will become calm and composed.” Kakaji was anxious to know which Baba the goddess meant, but before he could get any explanation, he was awakened. He then began to think as to which Baba the goddess had directed him. After some thinking, he resolved that the Baba of which the goddess spoke might be ‘Tryambakeshwar’ (Lord Shiva), so he went to ‘Tryambak’, a holy place in the Nasik District, and stayed there for ten days. During this period, he bathed early in the morning, chanted the ‘Rudra’ hymns, did the ‘Abhishekam’ (pouring fresh cold water unceasingly over the pindi) and performed other religious rites. But with all that, he was as restless as before. He then returned to the temple and again invoked the goddess most pitifully. That night she again appeared in his dream and said, “Why did you go to Tryambakeshwar in vain? I meant by Baba - Shri Sai Samarth of Shirdi.” The question before Kakaji now was, “How and when to go to Shirdi and how to see Baba?” If anyone is in real earnest to see a saint, not only the saint, but God also, fulfills his wish.

In fact, the ‘sant’ (saint) and the ‘anant’ (God) are one and the same. There is not the least difference between them. If anyone thinks he can choose to go and see a saint, that will be a mere boast. Unless the saint wills it, who is able to go and see him? Even the leaf of a tree won’t move without his bidding. The more anxious a bhakta is for the saint’s visit, and the more devout and faithful he is, the more speedily and effectively is his wish satisfied to his heart’s content. He who invites anyone for a visit, also arranges everything for his reception, and so it happened with Kakaji.

Shama’s Vows

While Kakaji was thinking about how and when he would go to Shirdi, a guest came to his home to take him to Shirdi. That visitor was none other than Shama, a very close and intimate devotee of Baba. How he came to Vani just at that juncture, we shall now see.

When Shama was very young he was sick, so his mother made a vow to her family goddess, Sapta Shringi at Vani, that if her son became well, she would bring him to the goddess’s temple and dedicate him at her holy feet. The goddess bestowed her blessings and the child became well. Then, after some years, the mother suffered greatly from ring worms on her breasts. She again made a vow to her deity, praying that if she was healed, she would offer the goddess two silver breasts. The goddess answered her prayers, but the mother neglected to fulfill her two vows. On her death bed, she called her son Shama to her and drew his attention to the vows and, after having him promise he would fulfil them, she breathed her last.

After some time, Shama quite forgot about these vows and thus, thirty years elapsed. About this time, a famous astrologer came to Shirdi and stayed there for a month. His predictions in the case of Shriman Booty and others came true and everyone was satisfied. Shama’s younger brother, Bapaji, consulted this astrologer and was told that his mother’s vows, which his elder brother (Shama) promised to fulfill at her death bed, were not yet fulfilled; hence, the goddess was displeased with them and was bringing troubles on them. Bapaji related this to his brother, Shama, who was then reminded of the unfulfilled vows. Thinking that any further delay would be dangerous, Shama called a goldsmith and had a pair of silver breasts prepared. He then went to the masjid, prostrated himself before Baba, and, placing before Him the two silver breasts, requested Baba to accept them and free him from the vows, as Baba was to him his Sapta Shringi goddess. But Sai Baba insisted Shama go to the temple himself and offer the silver breasts at the feet of the goddess. Thus, after receiving Baba’s permission and udi, Shama left for Vani where, while searching for a priest, he came to Kakaji’s house. Kakaji was quite anxious to visit Baba and was thrilled when he learned Shama was from Shirdi. Kakaji at once embraced him and felt overwhelmed with love. They talked about Sai leelas and together went to the temple to complete the rites of Shama’s mother’s vows. When finished, they both left Vani for Shirdi. Once they arrived in Shirdi, Kakaji went to the masjid and fell at Baba’s feet. His eyes became bedewed with tears and his mind attained calmness. Just as the goddess had predicted in his vision, no sooner did Kakaji see Baba, than his mind lost all its restlessness and became calm and composed. Kakaji began to think, “What a wonderful power this is! Baba did not speak. There were no questions and no answers. No benediction was pronounced. The mere darshan itself was so conducive to happiness.”

The restlessness of Kakaji’s mind disappeared by Baba’s darshan and consciousness of joy came upon him. This is what is called ‘the greatness of darshan’. Kakaji’s eyes were fixed on Sai’s feet and he could not utter a single word. Hearing Baba’s leelas, his joy knew no bounds. He surrendered himself completely to Baba, forgot his anxiety and cares, and was filled with undiluted happiness. Kakaji lived in Shirdi happily for twelve days and after receiving Baba’s udi and blessings, he took Baba’s leave and returned home.

Khushalchand of Rahata

It is said that a dream occurring in the small hours of the morning generally comes true in the waking state. This may be so, but regarding dreams blessed by Baba, there is no time restriction. For example, one afternoon Baba told Kakasaheb Dixit to go to Rahata and fetch Khushalchand and bring him to Shirdi, as He had not seen him for quite some time. Kakasaheb obeyed and took a tanga to Rahata. He met Khushalchand and gave him Baba’s message. Hearing it, Khushalchand was surprised and said that while taking his noon nap, Baba appeared in his dream and asked him to come to Shirdi immediately, and that he was most anxious to go. As he had no horse nearby, he had sent his son to inform Baba. Just as his son was leaving the village, Dixit’s tanga turned up. Dixit said he was sent specially to bring Khushalchand to Shirdi, and so both set out in the tanga to go to Sai Baba’s. Khushalchand arrived and saw Baba and all were pleased. Seeing this leela of Baba, Khushalchand was quite moved.

Punjabi Ramalal of Bombay

Once a Punjabi Brahmin of Bombay, Ramalal, had a dream in which Baba appeared and asked him to come to Shirdi. Baba appeared to him as a mahant (saint), but Ramalal did not know His whereabouts. Ramalal thought he should go and see Baba, but as he did not know His address, he did not know what to do. But He who calls anyone for an interview, makes the necessary arrangements for the same, and as such, that is what happened in this case. The same afternoon when Ramalal was strolling in the streets, he saw a picture of Baba in a shop. The features of the mahant he saw in his dream exactly tallied with those of the picture. After making inquiries, he discovered the picture was of Sai Baba of Shirdi. Soon after, he then went to Shirdi and stayed there till his death. In this way, Baba brought his devotees to Shirdi for darshan and satisfied their wants, material as well as spiritual.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace Be to All