You always Hold the hand of the Devotee
The following words of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba as quoted in Chapter Six of Shri Sai Satcharita, guarantee the welfare of his devotees: “It is My special characteristic that I always look to, and provide for, the welfare of those devotees who worship Me wholeheartedly with their minds ever fixed on Me.” The following experience of Chandrabai, an ardent devotee of Baba confirms the above saying:
Baba was immensely kind to me. My husband Mr. Ramchandra Borkar never took Baba’s darshan; yet even to him, Baba showered his grace. Around 1909 my husband, who was an engineer, was engaged in the construction of a bridge at Pandharpur. His residence was, therefore, at Pandharpur. When he was there, I had visited Shirdi and was serving Baba. One day Baba told me, “you better go to Pandharpur and I will go with you”. So I started. When I reached Pandharpur, I found that my husband was not there, he had resigned his work and moved to Bombay. I learnt it for the first time and was in great predicament and sorrow. I had just a few rupees with me and had taken two companions with me. I had just enough money to take us back to Kurd-wadi. We went there. I was sad and was brooding over the situation. Suddenly a Fakir appeared before me, and asked me what I was grieving about. I evaded replying to him. He told me that my husband was at Dhond and that I should go at once with my two companions to Dhond. But, where was the railway fare to come from, I enquired. Then, he immediately gave me three tickets for Dhond and went away. I took the tickets and boarded the train for Dhond. Meanwhile, my husband was at Dhond drinking tea. A Fakir appeared before him and said, “How is it you are neglecting my mother? She is coming down by the train in carriage. No, such and such‘ and gave him the number of my carriage. He was startled and got up and looked up. But the Fakir had disappeared. When the train arrived, I stepped down and my husband was there to receive me and took me to his quarters. My husband told me of the Fakir’s appearance and wanted to see a photo of Shri Sai Baba whom I was worshipping. I showed the photo and he recognised therein the Fakir who appeared before him.
As quoted in Shri Guru Bhagavat:
Guru hey krupaara saagara || Bhaktara haata sadaa dhara
Shishya chaalile bhakti pathe || Saahaajya kara sabumate
Anaapekshita roope nije || Sahaayataa diya sahaje
Pratikula sthitiku kaata || Bataao anukoola baata
Dharmaacharana kalaabele || Bhaktaku bipada ghaarile ||
Aagaru kari saabadhaana || kara hey bipada bhanjana
Sahi Sahi jaga janjaala || Bhakata hoile byaakula
Bichitra roope taa’ra kashta || Hari nianti Guru ishta
[“Oh Guru, the sea of compassion, You always hold the hand of the devotee. When a devotee treads in the path of devotion, You help him in every conceivable manner. At times, You render help in an unexpected and uninvited manner. You remove his unfavourable circumstances and show him the favourable way.”
“If a devotee is surrounded with difficulties when practicing religion, You save him by forewarning him. When tolerating the tribulations of his worldly existence, the devotee feels distressed, the divine Guru removes his agony in a strange but wonderful manner.”]
Sources:
1. Devotees experiences of Shri Sai Baba (Vol. 3) by NARASIMHA SWAMI JI
2. Shri Guru Bhagavat Vol.2 by Dr. C B Satpathy
Karta hoon pranam guruvar tumhare charnon mein