The Eternal Sai- By S Maneey

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90.



Dr C.C Chang is a professor of Mathematics Newhall, California, U.S.A. His problem was he suffered from asthma since childhood. In the early years, the problem would come and go with proper medication. From the time he was 30 years old, the asthma became chronic.
He depended on drugs and medicines to keep it in check. He used to carry a pressurised spray container, wherever he went, and would require using it 3 or 4 times a day for inhalation. He tried prayers, japa, meditation, fasts, exercises, diets etc. the maximum length of time, he could manage without medicines was 72 hours. In the year 1982, while he was reading the book
“The Incredible Sai Baba”, by Arthur Osborne, a thought came to him and closing his eyes he prayed “Sai Baba, if you cure me of my asthma, I will agree that you are an incarnation of God”.

At that moment, he had a small quantity of udhi, given to him by a friend, who had visited Shirdi. His problem was this. To put a pinch of udhi into his mouth every time he felt the oncoming symptoms of asthma, would have exhausted the udhi in his possession in no time. How was he get a fresh supply of udhi from Shirdi? So Dr Chang thought of an idea, that he should meditate on the udhi.

So every time he felt an obstruction in his breathing he meditated on the udhi he had with him. Strange to say it worked! The obstruction in his breathing would gradually dissolve and sooner or later, normal breathing would be restored. He continued this method. His asthma cam under check and he says it is almost eliminated.

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91.


Sri B. Umamaheshwar Rao, Editor of Sai Prabha, and retired police officer, Hyderabad, suffered from a heart disease and heart pain, as a result of which, he would become unconscious. In 1983 while he was meditating on Sai Baba, a beam of light emerged from the photo of Sai Baba, which burnt the skin on the left side of his chest in a diameter of two and half inches. Since then he has not suffered from heart pain and has stopped all medicines. He became completely normal by the grace of Sai Baba. He left his body on May 23, 2000.

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92.


Sri R.S. Chitnis of Delhi, whom we have referred to earlier, visits the ancient Hanuman temple in New Delhi, every Saturday evening. After pooja and Prasad, he occupied a particular place on the platform in the hall, facing the idol of Sri Hanuman and recites Sri Bheemrupi stotra of Swami Ramdas in Marathi. Sri Hanuman Chalisa in hindi and Sri Vadvanal stotra in Sanskrit. He has been doing this from many years. He has always found his favourite place for doing the above.

It was Saturday and it happened to be 26th January, thousands of people had poured into Delhi from near and far.

He feared that he might not get his usual place at hanuman temple because of the influx of people and yet he secretly felt that Baba should reserve that seat for him. His worst fears became true. The entire temple was crowded with devotees and his favourite place was also occupied by not less than three to four people. He had no option but to join the long queue to offer garlands to Sri Hanuman. After a time which seemed ages, he found himself at the head of the queue, offered garlands took Prasad and bowed before the lord and come out into the hall. He took a furtive glance at his favourite seat, even in this situation, hoping against hope that it might be vacant.

Lo! The place occupied by three to four persons earlier, was occupied by a single person. The man was tall, and sturdy, had a green “achken” with a matching belt embroidered with zari, wore spotlessly white churidhar pyjamas, had a white turban with golden and red stripes. He had two trays hear his feet, one filled with pooja articles, and the other with fruits and flowers. Sri Chitnis noticed that the man was intently looking at him and suddenly he said “Welcome Sir, I am waiting for you (in Hindi). Looking up, Sri Chitnis found that the man was addressing him and none else.

 Putting away the two trays, the man beckoned Sri Chitnis to occupy the seat on the platform”. Sri Chitnis forgetting the elementary courtesy to thank the man eagerly occupied his favourite seat and began to read the stotras. A few minutes later, it dawned to him that he has failed to thank the benefactor. He immediately rose from the seat and looked around for the good man. He was nowhere.

He approached the priest who was known to him and who was also sitting a few places away. Nobody would miss to see the person with the distinctive dress, thought Sri Chitnis. The priest, who was sitting there for quite a long time, had not seen such a person as described by Sri Chitnis. But the person holding the seat for Sri Chitnis had beckoned him, “Welcome Sir, I am waiting for you…!” Who could he be other than Sai Baba who fulfils even the smallest wish of His devotees?

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93.



Mrs. Vimala Kaiser, Hoffman Street, Darmstad, West Germany, had a daughter by name Meenakshi who was eight years old. Since birth the child suffered from a skin ailment which would become worse in the summer months due to the presence of pollen. The family are devotees of Sai Baba.

The child’s condition became worse in 1984, Mrs Kaiser’s sister who lives in Bombay, sent udhi for application. With the application of udhi, the condition became better. But after some months, the allergic condition spread all over the body. Hence the family from Germany comprising the husband, wife and the child and Mrs Kaiser’s sister, went to Shirdi in December 1986 and prayed before Baba. Since then the skin condition began to improve.

 The summer months, of 1987 approached. The child desired to visit her grandparent’s house in Germany and go for horse riding there. Mrs Kaiser was not sure how the child’s condition would react in view of the child being allergic to animals and pollen. So she asked her child to write a prayer to Sai Baba. The child wrote from her heart in German, to put an end to her allergic skin condition and asked the priest to place this letter on the Samadhi of Sai Baba in Shirdi.

Mrs Kaiser translated this letter to English and sent the same to Shirdi. The child immediately put the udhi in her mouth, and prayed to Sai Baba to cure her ailment and enable her to go for horse riding. Since then the child’s skin condition became completely cured. In July 1987, the summer vacation in Germany, the child went to her grandparent’s house, and enjoyed herself to the full. There was no skin reaction inspite of summer and inspite of contact with the animals.

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94.


A Children’s specialist got married and a son was born to him in June 1984. For two months everything went on fine and afterwards the child began to cry in the nights. He was examined but there was no problem. Then the child specialist, took his son to other doctors for their opinion.

They treated him, but the child continued to cry during nights. The husband and wife became weak and tired due to sleepless nights. The doctor who had earlier no faith in home medicines tried the same, but they were of no avail. The doctor’s brother, Sainath, Paper Town, Bhadravathi, who had been to Shirdi in April 1985 sent a packet of udhi to his brother.

The doctor, not being able to find out the reason for the baby’s crying, finally put a little udhi, in a talisman and tied round the baby’s waist. The baby’s crying stopped since that night and the baby became okay!

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95.

“Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai” Akhanda Nama Sapthaham was to be held at Vijayawada from 26/12/1985 to 13/2/1986. The venue was Sri Sai Baba temple near Marystella college, Ring Road, Vijayawada. For that purpose the “Holy Padukas” were brought by Sri Marthand, (Mahalsapathi’s grandson. He has inherited the pair of padukas given by Sri Sai Baba to his grandfather.) Shirdi.

The holy padukas were taken for darshan at various places in Andhra Pradesh.

Finally they came to Machilipatnam. The devotees decided to carry the padukas from Machilipatnam to Vijayawada by walk, a distance of about 45 kms. The wooden pallaki in which the holy Padukas were kept was heavy and the dvotees had to carry them and reach Vijayawada before the evening of 25th of December. After walking 2 to 3 kms, the organisers felt tired and hungry, but they were determined to walk the entire distance non-stop with namajapam on their lips.

One of them who had two halves of coconut which was offered to Sri Sai Baba, before starting, distributed them to the devotees. Exactly at that time, while the coconut pieces were being distributed, a Sadhu was seen standing to the left of the road with four or five vibuthi marks on his forehead and with kumkum between his eyebrows.

The Sadhu was offered a piece of coconut. They had covered quite a distance, at a good pace. Again the same Sadhu was seen standing ahead of them to the left of the road, quizzically looking at them. How could this old man cover the distance and overtake them, when no bus or any conveyance had passed them?

The devotees felt that he is not an ordinary Sadhu, but Sai Baba Himself in that form and they were thrilled. They carried the Pallaki and Padukas with more enthusiasm and more happiness, all the while singing praises of Sai. When they reached the temple and saw the idol of Sai Baba, they saw the same four lines of Vibuti on the forehead with kumkum between the eyebrows!

In a few minutes they were directed by the organisers to meet and old lady who had brought tea and biscuits for them. The old lady said that while she was drowsing at about 3 p.m in the afternoon, she dreamt Baba telling her to take something to His devotees who were coming tired and hungry. She did not know who the devotees were nor about the Padukas and Padayatra. She prepared tea in her house purchased biscuits and came to Baba’s temple by a city bus.

While she was coming in the bus, she saw the devotees coming carrying the Padukas in the pallaki. Then she realised what Baba had told her and to whom she had to serve tead and biscuits. 
 
 

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96.


A “Sai Sevika” Maitri Park, St Road, Chembur, Bombay, developed a big lump on her right breast in the year 1986. After the necessary medical examinations, the doctor advised removal of the lump by surgery. The lady was very much afraid. She would partake of any medicine, but not surgery. A date for operation was fixed. In the meanwhile, the lady told her sister, that she would try Baba’s udhi and prayer instead of operation. Her relatives said “if you have so much faith in Sai Baba, then we will also join in praying for your health.” They all went to Panvel Sai Baba temple and handed over the surgeons’ letter to Sri Narayan Baba and expressed their predicament. Sri Narayan Baba said that there was no need for operation, to have complete faith in Sai Baba, and apply udhi paste (vibuti mixed with water) five times a day after reading Sai Mahima. He also suggested till oil massage on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, after chanting Om Sai Ram 108 times. The lady carried out the instructions, and also visited the Sai Baba Mandir in Shirdi. On return from Shirdi, she noticed that the lump had started reducing. On 12/10/1986 (Dassera Day), she was completely relieved of the lump.

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97.



Sri R. Subramaniam, Lakshmipuram colony, Villivakam, Madras, and his friends visited holy places of North India and Nepal in March 1986. The group comprising ladies and gentlemen, purchased sarees, electronic goods, other items at Nepal which were cheaper than in India. On the way back from Nepal at Sowali, Gorakpur district Customs authorities verifying the purchases made, charged a duty of Rs. 4000.00 on the items. Sri Subramaniam who happened to be the only Hindi knowing person in the group pleaded with the authorities to reduce the duty, which was reduced to Rs 1000.

But the group members out of greediness or out of ignorance of law said that they could pay only Rs 500 in total. Sri Subramaniam who had not made any purchases, but was only pleading for his friends was aghast at the adamance of his groups. Unless the duty is paid, the Customs authorities would not allow the bus to proceed. Sri Subramaniam was embarrassed to meet the Customs officer to say that the group would pay only Rs 500/- as duty.

Sri Subramaniam silently prayed to Sai Baba to get him out of this embarrassing predicament. At this time an officer arrived in a jeep and entered the Customs office. Sri Subramaniam was called inside the Customs office. This officer told him that he is a Supervisory Customs Officer for Gorakhpur District, that he is a Sai devotee and that he had seen Sri Subramaniam in the Shrine at Shirdi on 2nd and 3rd February 1986. The officer apprised of the predicament being faced by Sri Subramaniam, suddenly produced from his pocket and asked him to pay the Customs duty and obtain receipt. He even said that “this Rs 500/- is your money, you had given me earlier.” Sri Subramaniam was perplexed, as he had not met this gentleman earlier, much less paid him Rs 500/-.

The officer on special duty got into his jeep and was off. The Customs officer now became very cordial and said that his boss usually does not visit on Sundays! When Sri Subramaniam reached Madras at the conclusion of the trip, his landlord handed over to him an envelope from Sri D Shankaraiah of Hyderabad, which contained receipt for Rs 500/which money was earlier collected by Sri Subramaniam and sent to Sri Shankaraiah for Akhanda Sai Nama Saptaham.

Sri Shankaraiah had mentioned that since he did not know the addresses of the individual contributors, he had requested Sri Subramaniam to pass on the receipts on his behalf. At this it flashed to him “Remember you had given me Rs 500/-. This is your own money.”

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98.

In 1987, Sri R.P.Kapur ICS (retd.) had completed 72 years of age. Recently he had undergone an

operation as a result of which his walk had become unsteady, and was finding it difficult even to sit

and pray. On his birthday, Sri Kapur prayed to Baba, that he cannot regain his active life again there is

no purpose in his living and that he should be removed from the scene. He had tried various medicines

and tonics earlier but they could not help him. Sri Kapur thought that his body cells were decaying with

 old age. Suddenly after two days of his prayer, a thought flashed to him to take Shilajit. But he had

taken it earlier and had not suited him and it was lying on the table. Reluctantly, Sri Kapur started

taking Shilajit again. Within a week, he was a different person altogether.

Obviously, it was not Shilajit which did the work but Baba’s grace.

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99.


Dr B.G Das was running a clinic in Kanpur. Mrs Das used to visit the clinic in her leisure time. The clinic was located in the ground floor of their residence. She had read in Sai Satcharita of Baba’s udhi working a cure in the case of Scorpion bites. A case of Scorpion bite came to her husband’s clinic and she and her husband were tempted to try the same, with all apologies to Sri Sai Baba.

A muslim lady had brought her 11 year old daughter whose index finger had been stung by Scorpion. The girl was tossing and howling in pain. Three ligatures were also tied by her parents, one at the base of the finger, second over the wrist and the third over her arm. After necessary examination the doctor intentionally avoided giving the patient any drug or anaesthesia. Only udhi was tried.

The udhi was rubbed on the index finger, forearm and arm, and a pinch of udhi in water was also given for drinking. The girl and her mother were asked to remain in the clinic for sometime. The doctor and his wife were wonderstruck, to see the girl completely relieved of pain in a short time, the girl and her mother went home happily.   
 
 

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100.

Shyamala of Chinglepet, Madras District, developed a hectic pain in her abdomen. The doctor after examining her required an X-ray to be taken. The X-ray showed stones in the gall bladder area. Shyamala who was a great devotee of Baba, prayed to Baba who is the doctor of doctors. A powerful Anjaneya upasaka by name Sri Raman Iyengar, lived near her place in Chinglepet in Singaperumal Koil (temple). She sought his guidance. The upasaka had a vision of Baba, who told him that surgery was not necessary and that she should drink more milk and eat less food. She followed Baba’s advice and in addition she was taking a pinch of udhi along with milk. A month of this medicine completely cured her of gall bladder stones.

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101.

Sri Narasimha Baba was in Calcutta in April 1996. The host’s sonin-law, an officer in the telephone Department, was introduced to him. Sri Narasimha Baba gave udhi and Sai Baba photo to him as Prasad. The son-in-law requested the Baba to put them both in the bag himself, and went to office. When he reached office, he found that he had kept the bag in the taxi and had forgotten to retrieve it. There was cash of Rs. 15,000/- and some important documents. He was more worried about the official documents. He made a fervent appeal mentally to Sri Sai Baba. In a few seconds his telephone rang, and the taxi driver was at the other end, who told him that the bag was safe and he could come and collect it from an address he gave. While handling over the bag, the taxi driver pointing to the picture of Sai Baba said “on opening this bad, the old man in the picture, spoke to me, not to touch any of its contents but return them to you.” The son-in-law being overwhelmed at the gesture of the taxidriver, offered him a reward of Rs 1000/-. The taxi driver, refusing to accept said, “Pray to Sai Baba for my welfare.”

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102.

The host’s daughter, requested Sri Narasimha Baba, to call on her friend a young doctor by name Dr. Geetha Rama Iyer, and pray for her recovery. The doctor in a road accident had injured her backbone, while riding on the pillion of a scooter. Inspite of surgery, physiotherapy and medication, she was totally bedridden and was unable to move. The Baba was requested to pray to Sai Baba for intervention and recovery. Sri Narasimha Baba found the doctor to be in her thirties, and was in a pitiable condition. She had been bedridden for months, with no mobility even to turn to the sides. Sri Narasimha Baba applied udhi to her back and prayed to Sai Baba, that he should give a new lease of life, a life of activity to the doctor. Two days after this visit, Sri Narasimha Baba received a telephone message that the doctor’s recovery started from the moment he applied udhi, and she even sat up. In the next tem days, she walked a few steps with support, and before the month-end she had reached near normalcy.

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As Ms Mani Sahukar Says “Sri Sai Baba is the most easily approachable God. Men and women can approach Him at any time, with any of their problems spiritual and temporal. No yearning of the human heart is too insignificant for this compassionate Avathar.” Sri Sai Baba is verily the Muralidhar, who temple Sri Bapu Saheb Buti, the millionaire of Nagpur, set out to construct which became the Samadhi Mandir, and where Sri Sai Baba lives for ever. Sai is so responsive to person’s appeal, that as a devotee puts it, “what is important for Him is Bhakti and love, no the rituals and poojas, so that if with true bhakti and love, we lie down and pray Sai sits up and listens, if we sit and pray, He stands up and listens; if we stand up and pray, Sai dances and listens.” To quote Sri Narasimha Swamiji, “Sri Sai Baba confers worldly benefits, cures diseases, provides mental peace and fills the devotees with gratitude and faith in Himself and in god. He strengthens their moral principles and lays firm foundation for spiritual upliftment”. When Sai Baba was asked what His mission was, He replied : “To take laksh of people to the feet of God.”


Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai