Kaka Mahajani’s Friend and Master – Bandra Insomnia Case – Bala Patil Newaskar
This Chapter also continues the subject of the importance of the Udi; it also gives two cases in which Baba was tested and not found wanting. These cases will be taken up first.
Preliminary
In spiritual matters or endeavors, sectarianism is the greatest bar to our progress. Those who believe that God is without form, are heard saying that, to believe that God is with the form is an illusion; and that the saints are only human beings. Then why should they bow down their heads before them and offer dakshina?
Persons belonging to other sects will also raise objections and say : “Why should they bow and offer allegiance to other saints, leaving their own Gurus?” Similar objections regarding Sai Baba were heard before and even now. Some said that when they went to Shirdi, Baba asked for dakshina from them; is it good that saints should collect money in this fashion? If they do so, where is their sainthood? But there are many instances where men went to Shirdi to scoff but remained there to pray. Two such instances are given below.
[Kaka Mahajani]
Kaka Mahajani’s Friend
A friend of Kaka Mahajani was a worshipper of Nirgun, God without form, and was averse to idolatry. Out of curiosity he agreed to go to Shirdi with Kaka Mahajani on two conditions, viz : (1) that he would neither bow down to Baba, (2) nor pay Him any dakshina. Kaka agreed to these conditions and they both left Mumbai on a Saturday night and reached Shirdi the next morning. As soon as they put their feet on the steps of the Masjid, Baba, looking at the friend from a little distance addressed him in sweet words as follows : “Oh, welcome sir”. The tone in which He uttered these words, was a very peculiar one. It exactly resembled the tone of the friend’s father. It reminded him of his departed father and sent a thrill through his body. What an enchanting power the tone had! Being surprised the friend said, “This is no doubt the voice of my father”. Then, he at once went up and forgetting his resolution, placed his head upon Baba’s Feet.
Then Baba asked for dakshina twice, once in the morning and again at noon, at the time of their taking leave but, He asked it from Kaka only and not from the friend. The latter whispered to Kaka, “Baba asked for dakshina from you twice. I am with you why does He ignore me?” “You ask Baba yourself” was Kaka’s reply. Baba asked Kaka, what his friend was whispering, then the friend asked Baba himself whether he should pay any dakshina. Baba replied,
“You had no inclination to pay, so you were not asked, but if you want to pay now you may.”
Then the friend paid Rs. 17 as dakshina, the same amount that Kaka paid. Baba then addressed him with a few words of advice,
“You destroy the Teli’s wall (sense of difference) between us, so that we can see and meet each other face to face.”
Then, Baba allowed them to leave. Though the weather was cloudy and rough, Baba assured them of their safe journey, and both of them reached Mumbai safely. When he reached home and opened the door and windows of his house, he found two sparrows dead on the ground and one just flying out through a window. He thought that if he had left the windows open, two sparrows would have been saved but thought again that, they had met their destiny, and that Baba had sent him back soon just to save the third sparrow.
Kaka Mahajani’s Master
Kaka was the Manager in the firm of Thakkar Dharamsey Jethabhai, a solicitor of Mumbai. Both the Master and the Manager, were on intimate terms. Mr. Thakkar knew that Kaka would often go to Shirdi, stay there for some days and return, when Baba permitted him. Out of curiosity Mr. Thakkar decided to go to Shirdi with Kaka, during Shimga holidays. As Kaka’s return was uncertain, he took another man with him, for his company. The three started together and Kaka bought two seers of raisins (dried grapes with seed), on the way for presentation to Baba. They reached Shirdi in due time, and went to the Masjid for darshan. Babasaheb Tarkhad was also there, and Mr. Thakkar asked him, why he came there. “For darshan”, Tarkhad replied. Mr. Thakkar asked if miracles took place there. Tarkhad replied that it (to see miracles) was not the concern, the earnest intentions of the devotees were satisfied here. Then, Kaka prostrated himself before Baba and offered the raisins to Him. Baba ordered them to be distributed. Mr. Thakkar also got a few of them. He did not want to have the raisins, as he was advised by his doctor not to eat them without washing and cleaning them. So he was in a fix. He did not want to eat them, nor could he reject them. To keep up formalities, he put them into his mouth but did not know, what to do with the seeds. He could not spit them out on the floor of the Masjid, so he pocketed them against his wish. He then said in his mind that, if Baba was a Saint, how could He be ignorant of his dislike for the raisins, and how could He force them on him. When this thought arose in his mind Baba again gave him some more raisins He could not eat them but held them in his hand. Then Baba asked him to eat them up. He obeyed and found to his surprise that, they were all seedless. He wanted to see miracles and here was one. He knew that Baba read his thought and as per his wish converted raisins (with seeds) into seedless grapes. What a wonderful power! Again to test further, he asked Tarkhad, who was sitting by and who also got some raisins, “What kind of grapes you got?” He replied, “The variety with seeds.” Mr. Thakkar was still more surprised to hear this. Then to confirm his faith further Thakkar thought in his mind that, if Baba was a real saint, the raisins should be now given to Kaka first. Reading this thought also, Baba ordered that, distribution should be commenced from Kaka. These proofs were sufficient for Thakkar.
Then Shama introduced Mr. Thakkar, as the master of Kaka, upon which Baba said, “How could he be his master? He has got a different Master altogether.” Kaka appreciated this reply. After forgetting his resolve, Thakkar saluted Baba and returned to the wada.
After the noon-Arati was over, they all went to the Masjid for taking Baba’s leave for their departure. Shama spoke for them. Baba, then spoke as follows :
“There was a fickle-minded gentleman. He had health and wealth and was free from both, physical and mental afflictions, but he took on needless anxieties and burdens and wandered here and there, thus losing his peace of mind. Some times, he dropped the burdens and at other times carried them again. His mind knew no steadiness. On seeing his state, I took pity on him and said, “Now, keep your faith on one place you like, why roam like this?”
Thakkar at once understood that, this was an exact description of himself. He wished that Kaka should also return with him; but no one expected that Kaka would be allowed to leave Shirdi, so soon. Baba read this thought also and permitted Kaka to return with his master.
Then Baba asked Kaka for Rs. 15/- as dakshina and received it. He said,
“If I take one rupee as Dakshina from anybody, I have to return tenfold to him. I never take anything for free. I never ask any one, indiscriminately. I only ask and take from him, whom the Fakir (My Guru) points out. If any one is indebted formerly to the Fakir, Dakshina is received from him. The donor gives, i.e. sows his seeds, only to reap a rich harvest in future. Wealth should be the means to work out dharma. If it is used for personal enjoyment, it is wasted. Unless you have given it before, you do not get it now. So, the best way to receive is to give. The giving of ‘Dakshina’, advances ‘Vairagya’ (non-attachment), and thereby ‘Bhakti’ and ‘Dhyan’. Give one and receive tenfold!”
On hearing these words Mr. Thakkar himself gave Rs. 15/- in Baba’s hand, forgetting his earlier resolve, not to do so. He thought, it was good that he came to Shirdi as all his doubts were solved and he learnt so much. Baba’s skill in handling such cases was unique. Though He conducted all that, He was totally non-attached to them.
Whether anybody saluted Him or not, or whether anybody gave Him Dakshina or not, all was same to Him. He felt no pleasure, if He was worshipped and felt no pain, if He was disregarded. He had transcended the pairs of opposites, viz. pleasure and pain, etc.
Insomnia Case
A Kayastha Prabhu gentleman of Bandra suffered from insomnia for long. As soon as he lay down for sleep, his departed father appeared to him in his dream, abused and scolded him severely. This disturbed his sleep and made him restless the whole night. This went on every night and he did not know what to do. One day he consulted a devotee of Baba in this respect. He recommended the Udi, as the only infallible remedy he knew. He gave him some of the Udi and asked him to apply a little on his forehead before going to bed and keep the Udi packet, under his pillow. He tried this remedy and found to his great surprise and joy that he had a sound sleep, and there was no disturbance of any kind. He continued the remedy and always remembered Sai. Then he got a picture of Sai Baba, which he hung on the wall, near his pillow and started worshipping it daily, and on Thursdays offered garland, Naivedya etc. Then he got well and forgot his trouble altogether.
Balaji Patil Newaskar
This man was a great devotee of Baba. He rendered excellent and selfless service. Every day he swept and kept clean all the passages and streets in Shirdi, through which Baba passed in His daily routine. After him this work was done equally well by another devotee, Radhakrishnamai, and after her by Abdulla. When Balaji reaped his corn every year, he brought the whole quantity and presented it to Baba. He returned with what Baba gave him back and maintained himself and his family with it. This course was followed by him for many years and after him by his son also.
Power and Efficacy of Udi
Once it happened that, on Balaji’s death anniversary a certain number of guests were invited and the dinner was prepared for them. But at dinner time it was found that, thrice the number of people invited have turned up. Mrs. Newaskar was in a fix. She thought that the food would not suffice for the people assembled, and if it fell short, the honor of the family would be at stake. Her mother-in-law comforted her by saying, “Don’t be afraid, it is not ours but Sai’s food; cover every vessel with cloth, putting some Udi in it and serve from the same without opening it; Sai will save us from ignominy.” She did as advised, and it was found to their surprise and joy that, not only did the food suffice for all, but plenty of it remained after serving. “As one feels intently, so he realizes accordingly” was proved in this case*.
Sai appearing as Serpent
Once Raghu Patil of Shirdi visited Balaji Patil at Newase. That evening he found that a serpent entered the cow shed hissing. All the cattle were afraid and became restless. The inmates of the house were frightened, but Balaji thought that it was Sai, Who appeared in his house as a serpent. Without being afraid in the least, he brought a cup of milk and placing it before the serpent said, “Baba, why do You hiss like this? Do you want to frighten us? Take this cup of milk and drink it with a calm mind.” Saying this, he sat down close by. The other members were frightened and did not know what to do. In a short time the serpent disappeared of its own and nobody knew where it went. It was not found, though a thorough search was made in the cow shed.
Balaji had two wives and some children. Once they went to Shirdi, from Newase, for having Baba’s darshan. Then, Baba bought saris and other clothes, which were given to them with His blessings.
* A similar instance is reported to me by my friend Mr. B.A. Chougule, first class sub-judge and a great devotee of Baba. In February 1943, there was a pooja festival and dinner, at Karjat (Dist. Ahmednagar). About five times the number of people invited had turned up and they were all fed. To the astonishment of all, it was found that, by Baba’s grace there was no shortage of food.
Bow to Shri Sai – peace be to all