Sri Sai Satcharitra Chapter 25

Chapter - 25

Damu Anna Kasar of Ahmednagar - (1) Speculations - (2) Amra Leela

Preliminary

We begin this chapter with a reverent bow to Sai Baba, who is an ocean of mercy, who is God incarnate, who is Para Brahma and the great Yogeshwara (Lord of Yoga). Victory be unto Sai Baba, the crest jewel of saints and the home of all auspicious things. He is our Atmaram and a refuge for devotees. We prostrate ourselves before Him who has attained the aim and end of life. Sai Baba is always full of mercy. What is wanted on our part is wholehearted devotion to Him. When a devotee has firm faith and devotion, his wishes are soon fulfilled.

When the desire arose in the mind of Hemadpant to write the life and leelas of Sai Baba, Baba immediately gave him the grace to do it. When the order ‘to keep the memos’ was given, Hemadpant was inspired and his intellect became strong and bold to undertake and finish the work. He was not, he says, qualified to write the work, but the gracious blessings of Baba enabled him to complete the undertaking. Thus, we now have the Shri Sai Satcharita which is a somakant jewel from which nectar in the form of Sai leelas oozes out for the readers to drink to their hearts’ content.

Whenever a devotee had complete and wholehearted devotion to Sai Baba, all his calamities and dangers were warded off and his welfare was protected by Baba. A story illustrating this of Damodar Savalaram Rasane, Kasar of Ahmednagar (now of Poona,) alias Damu Anna, is given below.

Damu Anna

Former mention of this gentleman was made in the 6th chapter regarding the celebration of the Rama Navami festival in Shirdi. Damu Anna went to Shirdi in 1895 when the Rama Navami Utsava celebration began, and from that time onward, he has been providing an ornamental flag for the occasion every year. He also feeds the poor and the fakirs that come there for the festival.

His Speculations: (1) Cotton

A Bombay friend of Damu Anna suggested they go into partnership in the cotton speculation business which would bring in an anticipated two lacs of rupees as profits. (In his statement to B.V. Narsimha Swami in 1936, Damu Anna clarified that the proposal regarding cotton speculation in Bombay was from a broker who was not to be a partner, and that he, Damu Anna, was to be the sole adventurer: vide. pg 75 of the Devotees’ Experiences Part II.) Although the broker wrote that the business was good, involved no risks, and therefore the opportunity should not be lost, Damu Anna was vacillating as to whether or not to invest in the speculation. He thought about this issue, and as he was a devotee of Baba, he wrote a detailed letter to Shama stating all the facts. He requested Shama to consult with Baba and said he would take Baba’s advice in the matter. Shama received the letter the next day and brought it to the masjid at noon. He placed the letter before Baba who then asked about the nature of the contents. Shama replied that Damu Anna of Nagar wanted to consult Him about an important matter. Baba then said, “What has he written and what is he planning? It seems he wants to catch the sky and he is not content with what God has given him. Read his letter.” Shama then said, “The letter contains what you have just now said. Oh Deva, You sit here so calm and composed, but You agitate the devotees. Then, when they get restless, you draw them here, some in person and others through letters. If you know the contents of the letter, why do you press me to read it?” Baba replied, “Oh Shama, read it please. I speak at random and who believes Me.”

While Shama read the letter, Baba listened attentively and then said with feeling, “The Shet (Damu Anna) has gone mad. Write to him in reply that nothing is wanting in his house. Let him be content with the half loaf (bread) he has now and let him not be bothered about lacs.” Shama then sent Baba’s reply which Damu Anna was anxiously awaiting. Reading it, Damu Anna found that all his hopes and prospects about making lacs of rupees as profit were dashed to the ground. He thought he had made a mistake in consulting Baba, but, as Shama had hinted in the reply, there was always a considerable difference between seeing and hearing, so Damu Anna decided to go to Shirdi personally and consult Baba about this pressing matter. He therefore went to Shirdi, saw Baba, prostrated himself before Him, and sat shampooing His legs. He was afraid to ask Baba openly about the speculation, but he thought in his mind that it might be better if a share in the business be assigned to Baba. Furthermore, he thought that if Baba were to help him in the transaction, he would surrender a portion of the profits to Him. Thus was Damu Anna secretly thinking in his mind, but nothing is ever veiled from Baba. Everything past, present and future is clear to Baba at all times. A child wants sweets, but its mother gives bitter pills; the former spoil its health, while the latter improve it. So the mother, looking to the welfare of her infant, coaxes it and gives it bitter pills. Baba, kind mother as He was, knew the present and future prospects of His devotees, and so reading Damu Anna’s mind, He openly spoke to him, “Bapu, I do not want to be entangled in such worldly things (sharing profits).” Seeing Baba’s disapproval, Damu Anna dropped the enterprise.

(2) Grain Dealing

Damu Anna then thought of trading in grain, rice, wheat and other groceries. Baba read this thought as well and said to him, “You will be buying at five seers and selling at seven seers.” So this business was also given up. The rise in the prices of grain continued for some time and Baba’s prophecy seemed to be falsified, but in a month or two, there was abundant rain everywhere and the prices suddenly fell down. Those who stored grain suffered a severe loss, but Damu Anna was saved from this fate. Needless to say, the cotton speculation which was conducted by the broker with the help of another merchant, also collapsed with a severe loss to the adventurers. Seeing that Baba had saved him from two severe losses, one in cotton and the other in grain, Damu Anna’s faith in Baba grew strong and he remained a true devotee of Baba.

Amra Leela (Mango Miracle)

Once a parcel of about 300 good mangoes arrived in Shirdi. It was sent from Goa to Sai Baba in care of Shama by a mamlatdar named Rale. When it was opened, all the mangoes were found to be in good condition. All but four mangoes were put in Shama’s charge, and the only four which were retained, were placed in the kolamba (pot) by Baba. He said, “These four fruits are for Damu Anna. Let them lie there.” Damu Anna had two wives, but had no issue. He consulted many astrologers and had also studied astrology to some extent. It was found that there was a ‘papi’ (inauspicious) planet in his horoscope and he therefore had no prospect of having children in this life. Nevertheless, Damu Anna had great faith in Sai Baba. When he arrived in Shirdi to worship Baba (two hours after the receipt of the mango parcel), Baba said, “Though other people are looking for mangoes, they are Damu Anna’s. He whose they are should eat and die.” Damu Anna, on hearing these words, was at first shocked, but Mhalasapati, a prominent Sai Baba devotee, explained that death meant the death of the little self, or ego, and that it is a blessing to receive such grace at Baba’s feet. Upon hearing this, Damu Anna said he would accept the mangoes and eat them, but Baba said to him, “Do not eat them yourself, but rather, give them to your junior wife. This amra leela (mango miracle of 4 mangoes) will give her four sons and four daughters.” Thus, the mangoes were given to Damu’s junior wife and ultimately, in due course, it was found Baba’s words turned out to be true, and not those of the astrologer. Whereas Baba’s words established their veracity while He was living in the flesh, their efficacy continued after His passing away as well. Baba said, “Believe Me, though I pass away, My bones in My tomb will give you hope and confidence. Not only Myself, but My tomb will be speaking, moving and communicating with those who surrender themselves wholeheartedly to Me. Therefore, do not be anxious that I will be absent from you. You will hear My bones speaking and discussing your welfare. Always remember Me, believe in Me, heart and soul, and then you will be most benefitted.”

Prayer

Hemadpant closes this chapter with a prayer. “Oh Sai, satguru, the wish fulfilling tree of the bhaktas, let us never forget and lose sight of Your feet. We have been troubled with the ins and outs (births and deaths) in this samsar. Free us now from this cycle of births and deaths. Restrain us from the outgoing of our senses to their objects, and introvert us and bring us face to face with the atma (Self). As long as this outgoing tendency of the senses and the mind is not checked, there is no prospect of Self-realization. Neither son, nor wife, nor friend, will be of any use in the end. It is only You, who will give us salvation and happiness. Destroy completely our tendency for discussions and other evil matters. Let our tongue get a passion for chanting Your name. Drive out our thoughts, good or otherwise, make us forget our bodies and houses, and do away with our egoism. Make us ever remember Your name and forget all other things. Remove the restlessness of our mind and make it steady and calm. If you just embrace us, the dark night of our ignorance will vanish and we shall live happily in Your light. That You made us drink the nectar of Your leelas and awakened us from our slumber is due to Your grace and our store of merit in past births.”

Note: In this connection, the following extract from Damu Anna’s statement mentioned above is worth perusal (page 76). “Once, when I sat at His feet along with many others, I had two questions in my mind and He gave answers to both. (1) There are so many crowding to Sai Baba. Do they all get benefit from Him? To this He replied, “Look at the mango tree in blossom. If all the flowers brought forth fruit, what a splendid crop it would be. But do they? Most fall off, either as flowers or as unripe fruits, by wind etc. Very few remain.” (2) The second question was about me. If Baba were to pass away, how hopelessly adrift I would be and how would I fare then? To this Baba answered that He would be with me when and wherever I thought of Him. (This was about 1910-11 when my brothers had separated from me, my sister had died, and when there had been a theft and police inquiry. All these incidents had upset me very much.) Sai Baba’s grace was with me during this difficult time and thus, His promise to be with me was kept. For example, when my sister died, my mind was very upset. I did not care for life and its enjoyments. When I went to Baba, He calmed me with His upadesh and made me eat a feast of pooran poli at Appa Kulkarni’s house. Even after His passing in 1918, Sai Baba’s grace continues to bless me. He is still guiding me and ever with me.”

Still another incident relates to a theft in my house committed by my friend of thirty years who stole my wife’s jewel box, including her auspicious nathi (nose ring). I wept before Baba’s photo. The next day, the man returned the jewel box and prayed for pardon.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace Be to All