Shri Sai Satcharitra Chapter 31

Chapter – 31

The Passing Away in Baba’s Presence of: (1) Sannyasi Vijayanand (2) Balaram Mankar (3) Tatyasaheb Noolkar (4) Megha (5) Tiger

In this chapter Hemadpant describes the passing away of certain persons and a tiger in Baba’s presence.

Preliminary

The last wish or thought a man has at the hour of death determines his future course. Shri Krishna has said in the Gita (VII 5-6), “He who remembers Me in his last moments comes verily to Me, and he who meditates otherwise at that time goes to what he looks for.” We cannot be certain that we can entertain a particular good thought at our last moment, for more often than not, we are more likely to be frightened and terrified by many causes. Hence, constant practice is necessary for enabling us to fix our mind on any desired good thought at any or the last moment. All saints, therefore, recommend that we always remember God and chant His name so that we may not be puzzled when the time for departure comes. The devotees on their part, surrender themselves completely to the saints, fully believing that the all knowing saints would guide and help them in their last moments. A few such cases will be noted here.

(1) Vijayanand

A Madrasi Sannyasi named Vijayanand started on a pilgrimage to Manasa-Sarovar. En route, hearing of Baba’s fame, he stopped at Shirdi. There, he met a Somadevaji Swami from Hardwar and inquired of him about the particulars of the Manasa-Sarovar trip. The swami told him Sarovar was five hundred miles above the Gangotri and described the difficulties of the journey, viz. plenty of snow and the change of dialect every 50 koss, as well as the suspicious nature of the people of Bhutan who create a lot of trouble for the pilgrims on the way. Upon hearing this, the Sannyasi was dejected and cancelled his trip. Later, when he went to Sai Baba and prostrated before Him, Baba became enraged and said, “Drive out this useless Sannyasi! His company is of no use.” The Sannyasi did not know or understand Baba’s nature. He felt uncomfortable, but continued to sit there, watching things that were going on during the morning darbar when the masjid was overcrowded. Baba was being worshiped in various ways. Some were washing His feet; some were taking the tirth (holy water) from His toe and drinking it heartily. Still others were touching their eyes with tirth, and some were applying sandal paste and other fragrances to Baba’s body. All were doing these things, forgetting the distinction of caste and creed. Though Baba became enraged with Vijayanand, he was filled with affection for Baba and did not want to leave the masjid.

After being in Shirdi for two days, Vijayanand received a letter from Madras stating his mother was quite ill. He felt very dejected and wanted to be by his mother’s side, but he could not leave without Baba’s permission, so he took the letter and saw Baba, asking His permission to return home. The omniscient Baba, knowing the future, said to him, “If you so loved your mother, why did you take Sannyasa? Fondness or attachment ill becomes an ochre garb. Go and sit quietly at your lodging and wait with patience for a few days. In the wada, there are many robbers. Bolt your doors and be very vigilant. The thieves will carry away everything. Wealth and prosperity are transient and the body is subject to decay and death. Knowing this, do your duty and leave all attachment to the things of this world and the next. He who does this and surrenders himself to the feet of Hari (Lord) will become free from all troubles and attain bliss. The Lord runs and helps he who remembers and meditates on Him with love and affection. Your store of past merits is considerable, so you have come here. Now attend to what I say and realize the end of your life. Being desireless, begin tomorrow the study of the Bhagwat. Do three ‘saptahas’ i.e. three readings during three weeks, conscientiously. The Lord will be pleased with you and will destroy your sorrows. Your illusions will vanish and you will find peace.” Seeing that his end was approaching, Baba prescribed that remedy and made him read ‘Ramavijaya’ which pleases the God of death.

The next morning, after bathing and other purifying rites, he commenced to read Bhagwat in a secluded part of the Lendi garden. He completed two readings and thereafter felt quite exhausted. He returned to the wada and stayed in his lodging for two days and on the third day, he breathed his last on fakir (Bade) Baba’s lap. Baba asked the people to preserve the body for a day for a good reason because the police came, and on making proper inquiries, gave permission for the disposal of the body. It was buried in a proper place with due rites. In this way, Baba helped the Sannyasi and insured him sadgati (salvation).

(2) Balaram Mankar

There was a householder devotee of Baba by the name of Balaram Mankar. When his wife passed away, he became dejected and, entrusting his household to his son, left his home and came to Shirdi to live with Baba. Being pleased with his devotion, Baba wanted to give a good turn to his life and He did this in the following way.

Baba gave him Rs. 12/ and asked him to go and live in Macchindragad (District Satara). Mankar was at first unwilling to go and leave Baba, but Baba convinced him that He was giving the best course for him to follow and asked him to practice meditation three times a day on the Gad. Believing in Baba’s words, Mankar went to the Gad. He was very pleased with the lovely surroundings of the place, the pure water and healthy air, and he began assiduously to practice the meditation as recommended by Baba. After a few days, he had a revelation. Generally, bhaktas get a revelation in their samadhi or trance states, but in Mankar’s case, he had it when he came down to his ordinary consciousness from his trance. Baba appeared to him in person. Not only did Mankar see him, but he also asked Baba why he was sent to the Gad. Baba replied, “In Shirdi, many thoughts and ideas began to rise in your mind and I sent you here to rest your unsteady mind. You thought I was in Shirdi with a body composed of the five elements and three and a half cubits in length, and not outside of it. Now you see and can determine for yourself whether the person you see here this moment is the same one you saw in Shirdi. It is for this reason I sent you here.” Then, after the period was over, Mankar left the Gad and proceeded to his native place, Bandra. He wanted to travel by rail from Poona to Dadar, but when he went to the booking office to get his ticket, he found it quite crowded. Just as he was thinking it would take a long time to get his ticket, a villager with a langoti (piece of cloth) on his waist and kambali on his shoulder, turned up and said, “Where are you going?” “To Dadar,” replied Mankar. Then the stranger said, “Please take this Dadar ticket of mine, as I have some urgent business here and have had to cancel my Dadar trip.” Mankar was very glad to receive the ticket and was just taking money out of his pocket, when the rustic disappeared in the crowd. Mankar searched for him in the crowd, but to no avail. He even waited for him until the train left the station, but found no trace of him. This was the second revelation Mankar received in a strange form. Then, after Mankar returned home, he decided after some time, to return to Shirdi and remain with Baba, always following His biddings and advice.

In the end, he was very fortunate to leave this world in the presence, and with the blessings of Baba.

(3) Tatyasaheb Noolkar

Hemadpant gives no particulars regarding Tatyasaheb Noolkar, except the bare mention of the fact that he passed away in Shirdi. A brief summary of his account which appeared in the ‘Sai Leela’ magazine is given here. Tatyasaheb was a sub-judge at Pandarpur in1909 when Nanasaheb Chandorkar was mamlatdar there. Both met often and exchanged discussions. Tatyasaheb did not believe in saints, while Nanasaheb loved them. Nanasaheb often recounted Sai Baba’s leelas to him and pressed him to go to Shirdi and see Baba. He finally agreed to go to Shirdi on two conditions: (1) He must get a Brahmin cook and (2) He must get good Nagpur oranges for presentation. Both these conditions were providentially fulfilled. A Brahmin cook came to Nanasaheb for service and he was sent to Tatyasaheb, and a fruit parcel containing 100 beautiful oranges was received by Tatyasaheb, the consigner being unknown. As the conditions were fulfilled, Tatyasaheb had to go to Shirdi. At first, Baba was enraged with him. But, by and by, Tatyasaheb received such experiences that he was convinced Baba was God incarnate. He was enamored of Baba and stayed there until his death. As his end was approaching, sacred literature was read to him and at the last hour, Baba’s pada-tirth was brought and given to him for drinking. Baba, hearing of his death, said, “Oh, Tatya went ahead of us. He won’t be reborn.”

(4) Megha

The story of Megha has already been described in chapter 28. When Megha died, all the villagers followed the funeral procession. Baba accompanied them as well and showered flowers on Megha’s body. After the obsequies were performed, tears flowed from Baba’s eyes and, like an ordinary mortal, Baba showed Himself overcome with grief and sorrow. Then, covering the body with flowers and crying like a near relation, Baba returned to the masjid.

Many saints have been seen giving sadgati (salvation) to men, but Baba’s greatness is unique. Even a wild animal like a tiger came to Baba’s feet for being saved. This story will now be narrated.

(5) Tiger

Seven days before Baba passed away, a wonderful incident occurred at Shirdi. A country cart came to Shirdi and stopped in front of the masjid. A tiger was on the cart, fastened with iron chains, with its fierce face turned to the rear. It was suffering with pain and was in agony. Its keepers - three Derveshies - were taking it from place to place and making money by exhibiting it. It was the means of their subsistence. They tried all sorts of remedies to cure it from the malady from which it was suffering, but all was in vain.

Then they heard of Baba’s fame and came to Him with the animal. They took it down from the cart while it was in chains and made it stand at the door. It was naturally fierce, besides being disease ridden. The animal was restless and the people looked at it with fear and amazement. The Derveshies went in, told Baba everything about the animal and, with His consent, brought it before Him. As the tiger approached the steps of the masjid, it was taken back by Baba’s luster. It hung its head, but when the tiger looked up at Baba, it was with affection. It immediately began to move the tuft of its tail and dashed it thrice against the ground. It then fell down senseless. Seeing it dead, the Derveshies were first quite dejected and sorrowful, but on mature thought, they came to realize that as the animal was diseased and was nearing its end, it was very meritorious on its part that it should meet its death at the feet and in the presence of Sai Baba. The tiger was their debtor and when the debt was paid off, it was free and met its end at Sai Baba’s feet. When any creature bows its head down at the feet of a saint as it meets its death, it is saved. It must have a considerable store of merits to achieve such a fortunate end.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace Be to All