Favour Shown by Giving Bhagwat and Vishnu-SahasraNam – Dixit’s Vitthal Vision – Gita Rahasya – Khapardes.
This Chapter describes, how Sai Baba favoured 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 Sadguru, he gets the merit of bowing to the Trinity, i.e. Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh and also Para-Brahma.
Victory be unto Shri Sai the wish-fulfilling tree and the ocean of knolwedge, who gives us self-realization. Oh Sai, create in us regard for Your stories. Let the readers and audience devour them with the same relish with which the chatak bird drinks rain water and becomes happy. While listening to Your stories, let them and their families get all the sattwik 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, let their hostilities and their distinctions, great and small vanish. If these things happen, that 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 to get free from the shackles of Maya is our complete and whole-hearted surrender to Baba. The Vedas cannot take you across the ocean of Maya. It is only the Sadguru, who can do so and make you, see the Lord in all creatures.
Granting Consecrated Book
The various methods of imparting instructions followed by Baba has already been noticed in the previous Chapters. In this chapter, we shall deal with one aspect of it. It was the habit of some devotees to take some religious books, of which they wanted to make a special study, to Baba and to receive the same back from Him, after they were touched and consecrated by Him. While reading daily such books, they felt that Baba was with them. Once, Kaka Mahajani came to Shirdi with a copy of Ekanath Bhagwat. Shama took that book to read and taking it with him went to the Masjid. There Baba took it from him, touched it and turning some pages here and there gave it back to Shama and asked him to keep it with him. When 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, you better keep it with you, lt will be of use to you.” In this way many books were entrusted to Shama. After few days, Kaka Mahajani came again with another copy of the same Bhagwat and gave it in Baba’s hand. Then Baba 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 reverence.
Shama and Vishnu-SahasraNam
Shama was a very intimate devotee of Baba and Baba wanted to favour him in a particular way by giving him a copy of Vishnu-SahasraNam as Prasad. This was done in the following way. Once a Ramadasi (follower of Saint Ramadas) came to Shirdi and stayed for some time. His daily routine was as follows : He used to get up early in the morning, wash his face, bath and then after wearing saffron-coloured clothes and besmearing himself with sacred ashes, read Vishnu-SahasraNam (a book containing the thousand names in praise of Vishnu, and held second in importance to Bhagwad Gita) and Adhyatma-Ramayana (Esoteric version of Rama’s story) with faith. He read these books often. After some days Baba thought of favouring and initiating Shama with Vishnu-SahasraNam. He, therefore, called the Ramadasi and said to him 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; so he should please go to the bazar (market) and bring the drug. The Ramadasi closed his book and went to the bazar. Then Baba got up from his seat, to Ramadasi’s place of reading, took out the copy of Vishnu-SahasraNam, and after returning to His seat said to Shama:
“Oh Shama, this book is very valuable and efficacious, so I present it to you, you read it. Once I suffered intensely and 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! I thought that ‘Allah’ Himself came down and saved me. So I give this to you, read it slowly, little by little, read daily one name at least and it will do you good.”
Shama replied that he did not want it, and that the owner of the book, Ramadasi who was a bad tempered, obstinate and irritable fellow would certainly pick up a quarrel with him, besides, being a rustic himself, he could not read distinctly the Sanskrit (Devanagari script) text of the book.
Shama thought that Baba wanted to set him up against the Ramadasi by this act, but he had no idea of what Baba felt for him. Baba must have thought to tie this necklace of Vishu-SahasraNam around Shama’s neck, as he was an intimate devotee, though a rustic, and thus save him from the miseries of the worldly existence. The efficacy of God’s Name is well-known. It saves us from all sins and bad tendencies, frees us from the cycle of births and deaths. There is no easier ‘Sadhana’ than this. It is the best purifier of our mind. It requires no paraphernalia and no restrictions. It is so easy and so effective. Baba wanted Shama to practice this ‘Sadhana, though he did not crave for it. So Baba forced it on him. It is also reported that long ago, Eknath Maharaj, similarly forced this Vishnu-SahasraNam on a poor Brahmin neighbour, and thus saved him. The recital and study of Vishnu-SahasraNam is a broad open way of purifying the mind, and hence Baba thrust this on His devotee, Shama.
The Ramadasi returned soon with the Seena-pods. Anna Chinchanikar, who was then present and wanted to play the part of Narada (the Celestial Rishi who was well-known for setting up confrontations between Gods and demons and vice versa), informed him of what had happened. The Ramadasi at once flared up. He came down on Shama with all fury. He said that it was Shama, who set Baba to send him away under the pretext of stomach-ache for bringing the medicine and thus got the book. He began to scold and abuse Shama and remarked that if the book was not returned, he would dash his head. Shama calmly remonstrated with him, but in vain. Then Baba spoke kindly to him as follows:
“Oh Ramadasi, what is the matter with you? Why are you so turbulent? Is not Shama one among us? Why do you scold him unnecessarily. How is it that you are so quarrelsome? Can you not speak soft and sweet words? You read these sacred books daily and still your mind is impure and your passions uncontrolled? What sort of a Ramadasi are you! You ought to be indifferent to all things. Is it not strange that you should possess this book so strongly? A true Ramadasi should have no ‘Mamata’ (attachment) but have ‘Samata’ (equality) towards all. You are now quarreling with Shama for a mere book. Go, take your seat, one can have books in plenty for money, but not men; think well and be considerate. What worth is your book? Shama had no concern with it. I took it up Myself and gave it to him. You know the text of the book by heart. I thought Shama might read it and benefit thereby, and so I gave to it him.”
How sweet were Baba’s words, soft, tender and nectar-like! Their effect was wonderful. The Ramadasi calmed down and said to Shama that he would take a ‘Panch-Ratni’ Gita in return. Shama was much pleased and said – “Why one, I shall give you ten copies in return”.
So the matter was ultimately settled. The question for consideration is “Why should the Ramadasi press for ‘Pancha-Ratni Gita’, the book for which he never cared to know, and why should he, who daily read religious books in the Masjid in front of Baba, quarrel with Shama before Him?” We do not know how to apportion the blame and whom to blame. We only say that, had this incident not happened, the importance of the subject, the efficacy of God’s name and the study of Vishnu-SahasraNam would not have been conveyed to Shama. So we see that Baba’s method, of teaching and initiating was unique. In this case, Shama did gradually study 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, the son-in-law of Shriman Buti and a devotee of Baba.
Vitthal Vision
One day, while Kakasaheb Dixit was in mediation after his morning bath in his Wada at Shirdi he saw a vision of Vitthal. When later he went to see Baba, Baba asked him – “Did Vitthal Patil come? Did you not see Him? He is very elusive, hold Him fast, otherwise He will slip from you and run away”. Then at noon a certain hawker came there, with 20 or 25 pictures of Vitthal of Pandharpur, for sale. Mr. Dixit was surprised to see that the form of Vithal, he saw in his mediation is identical with that in the picture and he was also reminded of Baba’s words. He therefore, bought one picture most willingly and kept it in his shrine for worship.
Gita Rahasya
Baba always loved those who studied Brahma-vidya (metaphysics) and encouraged them. To give an instance – Once Bapusaheb Jog received a parcel. It contained a copy of Gita Rahasya by Lokamanya Tilak. Tucking the book under his armpit, he came to the Masjid and prostrated before Baba, when the parcel fell at Baba’s feet. Baba enquired what it was. It was opened then and there and the book was placed in Baba’s hand. He turned some pages here and there for a few minutes and took out a rupee from His pocket placed it on the book and handed the same with the rupee to Jog and said to him, “Read this completely and you will be benefited”.
Mr. and Mrs. Khaparde
Let us close this Chapter with a description of the Khaparde family. Once Dadasaheb Khaparde came with his family and lived in Shirdi for few months. (The diary of his stay has been published in English in Shri Sai Leela Magazine Volume I) Dadasaheb was not an ordinary man. He was the richest and the most famous advocate of Amaravati (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 Buti kept always silent. They were meek, modest, humble and good-natured. Dadasaheb, who was able to expound ‘Panchadashi’ (well-known Sanskrit treatise on the Adwaita Philosophy by the famous Vidyaranya) to others, said nothing or uttered no word before Baba when he came to the Masjid.
A man, however learned he may be even in Vedas, fades away before one, who has realized Brahman and become one with it. Learning cannot shine before Self-reaization.
Dadasaheb stayed at Shirdi for four months, but Mrs. Khaparde stayed for seven months. Both were highly pleased with their Shirdi stay. Mrs. Khaparde was faithful and devout, and loved Baba deeply. Every noon she brought naivedya (offerings) herself to the Masjid, and only after it was accepted by Baba, she used to return and take her meals. On seeing her steady and firm devotion, Baba wanted to exhibit it to others. One noon she brought a dish containing Sanza (wheat-pudding), purees, rice, soup, and kheer (sweet rice) and other sundry articles to the Masjid. Baba, who usually waited for hours, got up at once, went up to His dining seat and removing the cover from the dish began to partake the food with a great delight. Shama then asked Him, “Why this partiality? You throw away dishes of others and do not care to look at them, but this appeals to You earnestly. Why ? Is the dish of this lady so tasty? This intrigues us.” Baba then explained,
“This food is really extra-ordinary. In 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. Then she was born in a Brahmin family. I saw her after a very long time, let me take some sweet morsels of love from her dish.”
After saying this, Baba finished the dish, washed his mouth and hands, bleched out as a mark of satisfaction and resumed his seat. Then Mrs. Khaparde bowed down and began to shampoo Baba’s legs and He began to talk with her and knead her arms, which were shampooing His Legs. On seeing this reciprocal service Shama began to joke and said, “It is going on well, it is a wonderful sight to see God and His devotee serving each other.” Pleased with her sincere service, Baba asked Mrs. Khaparde to always chant ‘Rajarama, Rajarama’ in low and fascinating tone and then said – “If you do this, your life’s aim will be attained, your mind will be peaceful and you will be immensely benefited.” To those unfamiliar with spiritual matters, this might appear as a polite gesture, but really it was not so. It was a case of, what in technically called, ‘Shakti-paat’, i.e. transference of power from the Guru to the disciple. How effective were Baba’s words! In an instant, they pierced her heart and remained there.
This case illustrates the nature of the relations that should exists between the Guru and the disciple. Both should love and serve each other, as One. There is no distinction or difference between them. Both are One, and one cannot live without the other. The disciple placing his head at the Guru’s feet is a gross or outward vision; really and internally they are both One and the same. Those who see any difference between them, are yet unripe and imperfect in the path of spirituality.
Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all