Devotion and faith on God

[Dipika]

OMSAIRAM!The firm faith in God was the secret of the power of child Prahalad who neither feared nor met with death when he was subjected to every unimaginable torture.


 Baba often used to say that once a person had faith in God he had achieved everything. There is nothing greater than faith.


Sri Rama who was God himself had to build bridge to cross the sea to Lanka, but Hanu-man who had immense faith in Rama cleared the sea in one jump.

 Draupadi by her devotion to Krisnna and on account of her sacrifice once by sparing the end of her saree to a rishi, who lost his loin cloth in the river, was saved when Kauravas attempted to strip her of her clothings.


 Loyalty and devotion of Arjuna made Krishna even to break his promise in the battlefield and went to kill Bhisma who was inflicting injuries on his devotee Arjuna, just to save him.

Sai Baba never asked us to worship him alone. On the other hand, Sri Baba asked the devotees not to change their religion or their Guru and not to neglect their worship of Ishta Devatha.


Bow to Sri Sai!


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

[Dipika]

Once a famous lawyer M. W. Pradhan who came to Shirdi wanted to return to Bombay but there was heavy rain at Shirdi and it was difficult for him to go to Kopergaon in the rain and catch the train. He prayed to Baba. As it is said in the 19th verse of 9th Chapter of Bhagwadgeetha, God alone can give rain or withhold it. Baba, his God came out of Dwarakamai and addressed the rain in a loud and thunderous voice. "Stop, Stop your fury and be calm." Rain subsided and he went to Kopergaon easily caught the train, attended the court in time and won his case


Bow to Sri Sai!


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

[Dipika]

Once Bhimji Patil, who was suffering from a dreadful disease, was brought to Shirdi and placed before Baba. Baba pointed out that the disease was due to the previous evil karma and was not at first disposed to interfere. But the patient cried out in despair, sought refuge in him as he was his last hope and prayed for mercy. Then Baba's heart melted and said, 'Stay ,cast off your anxiety your suffer¬ings have come to an end. However oppressed and troubled one may be, as soon as he steps into the Masjid, he is on the pathway to happi¬ness". Baba cured him by two dreams. In the first dream Bhimji Patil suffered flogging for not reciting a poem in the school, and in the second dream suffered pain and torture by rolling a stone up and down over his chest


Bow to Sri Sai!


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

[Dipika]

Once Dr. Pillai, an ardent devotee of Baba, not able to bear the pain of guinea worms sent word to Baba that the pain was unberable and transfer the working of his past Karma to 10 future births of his. Baba sent word: "Tell him to be fearless. In ten days he can wear out the suffering and consequences of his past karma. Bring him here on somebody's back." Dr. Pillai was brought to the Masjid. Baba said: "Now a crow will come and peck at you and then you will recover." After some time one devotee Abdul, who was working there turned up and his foot accidentally fell on the wound, pre¬ssed it and worms were squeezed. The pain was unbearable and Dr. Pillai bawled out. He asked Baba when the crow will come? Baba said Abdul was the crow "Go and rest. You will be all-right soon". Without any treatment or medicine the disease was completely cured in ten days as told by Baba. Thus Baba inter¬vened in the Karma of individual and rubbed it out.

Bow to Sri Sai!


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

[Dipika]

Once Narada thought that there was no other greater devotee than himself. Lord sent him to a village where one Ramanna a humble devotee of his was living. Narada found him to be an agriculturist, who rose in the morning, uttered the name of Lord krishna once and went out with a plough and tilled the ground all day . At night he went to bed after uttering Krishna once more. Narada went back and told Lord of Ramanna. Then Lord asked Narada to take a cupful of oil in his hands and go round the city. But asked him to be careful that a single drop of oil does not spill.Narada did as told and returned to the Lord. Lord asked him how many times did he think of him in the course of the walk round the city. "Not once", Narada said as he had to watch his cup brimming over with oil. Lord then told Narada that one cup of oil could divert his attention from Him altogether but the rustic, though carrying the heavy burden of a family still remembered Him twice a day.


Bow to Sri Sai!


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

[Dipika]

In 1916 A.D. I retired from Government Service. The pension that was settled in my case was not sufficient to maintain my family decently. On Guru-Pournima (15th of Ashadha) day of that year, I went to Shirdi with other devotees. There, Mr. Anna Chinchanikar, of his own accord, prayed to Baba for me as follows:- "Please look kindly on him, the pension he gets is quite insufficient, his family is growing. Give him some other appointment, remove his anxiety and make him happy." Baba replied - " He will get some other job, but now he should serve Me and be happy. His dishes will be ever full and never empty. He should turn all his attention towards Me and avoid the company of atheists, irreligious and wicked people. He should be meek and humble towards all and worship Me heart and soul. If he does this, he will get eternal happiness".

Bow to Sri Sai!


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

[Dipika]

Turning Water into Oil

Sai Baba was very fond of lights. He used to borrow oil from shop-keepers, and keep lamps burning the whole night in the Masjid and temple. This went on for some time. The Banias, who supplied oil gratis, once met together and decided not to give Him oil. When, as usual, Baba went to ask for oil, they all gave Him a distinct No. Unperturbed, Baba returned to the Masjid and kept the dry wicks in the lamps. The banias were watching Him with curiosity. Baba took the Tumrel (tin pot) which contained very little (a few drops) of oil, put water into it and drank it and forced it fall in the container. After consecrating the tin-pot in this way, He again took water in the tin-pot and filled all the lamps with it and lighted them. To the surprise and dismay of the watching Banias, the lamps began to burn and kept burning the whole night. The Banias repented and apologized. Baba forgave them and asked them to be more truthful in future

Bow to Sri Sai!


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

[Dipika]

Where Real or Sad-Guru is the helmsman, he is sure to carry us safely and easily beyond the worldly ocean. The word Sadguru brings to mind Sai Baba.


Sai Baba’s words guaranteeing the welfare of the Bhaktas:-

"There will never be any dearth or scarcity, regarding food and clothes, in any devotees’ homes. It is my special characteristic, that I always look to, and provide, for the welfare of those devotees, who worship Me whole-heartedly with their minds ever fixed on Me. Lord Krishna has also said the same in the Gita. Therefore, strive not much for food and clothes. If you want anything, beg of the Lord, leave worldly honours, try to get Lord’s grace and blessings, and be honored in His Court. Do not be deluded by worldly honor. The form of the Deity should be firmly fixed in the mind. Let all the senses and mind be ever devoted to the worship of the Lord, let there be no attraction for any other thing; fix the mind in remembering Me always, so that it will not wander elsewhere, towards body, wealth and home. Then it will be calm, peaceful and care-free. This is the sign of the mind, being well engaged in good company. If the mind is vagrant, it cannot be called well-merged."

Bow to Sri Sai!


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

[Dipika]

Baba’s All-pervasiveness and Mercy

In the year 1910 A.D., Baba was sitting near the Dhuni on Divali holiday and warming Himself. He was pushing fire-wood into the Dhuni, which was brightly burning. A little later, instead of pushing logs of woods, Baba pushed His arm into the Dhuni; the arm was scorched and burnt immediately. This was noticed by the servant Madhava, and also by Madhavrao Deshpande (Shama). They at once ran to Baba and Madhavarao clasped Baba by His waist from behind and dragged Him forcible back ward and asked, "Deva, for what have You done this?" Then Baba came to His senses and replied, "The wife of a blacksmith at some distant place, was working the bellows of a furnace;her husband called her. Forgetting that her child was on her waist, she ran hastily and the child slipped into the furnace. I immediately thrust My hand into the furnace and saved the child. I do not mind My arm being burnt, but I am glad that the life of the child is saved."

Bow to Sri Sai!


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

[Dipika]

Master Khaparde’s Plague-Case

I shall now relate another instance of Baba’s wonderful Leela. Mrs. Khaparde, the wife of Mr. Dadasaheb Khaparde of Amraoti, was staying at Shirdi with her young son for some days. One day the son got high fever, which further developed into Bubonic plague. The mother was frightened and felt most uneasy. She thought of leaving the place for Amraoti, and went near Baba in the evening, when He was coming near the Wada (now Samadhi Mandir) in His evening rounds, for asking His permission. She informed Him in a trembling tone, that her dear young son was down with plague. Baba spoke kindly and softly to her, saying that the sky is beset with clouds; but they will melt and pass off and everything will be smooth and clear. So saying, He lifted up His Kafni up to the waist and showed to all present, four fully developed bubos, as big as eggs, and added, "See, how I have to suffer for My devotees; their difficulties are Mine." Seeing this unique and extraordinary deed (Leela), the people were convinced as to how the Saints suffer pains for their devotees. The mind of the saints is softer than wax, it is soft, in and out, as butter. They love their devotees without any idea of gain, and regard them as their true relatives.

Bow to Sri Sai!


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

[Dipika]

Baba's Control over the Elements

We shall close this Chapter after describing two incidents showing Baba's control over the elements. (1) Once at evening time, there was a terrible storm at Shirdi. The sky was overcast with thick black clouds. The winds began to blow forcibly; the clouds roared and the lighting began to flash, and the rains began to descend in torrents. In a short time, the whole place was flooded with water, All the creatures, birds, beasts and men got terribly frightened; and they all flocked to the Masjid for shelter. There are many local deities in Shirdi, but none of them came to their help. So they all prayed to Baba - their God, Who was fond of their devotion, to intercede and quell the storm. Baba was much moved. He came out and standing at the edge of the Masjid, addressed the storm in a loud and thunderous voice - "Stop, stop your fury and the calm." In a few minutes the rains subsided, the winds ceased to blow, and the storm came to a stop. Then the moon rose in the sky, and the people then went back home well-pleased, (2) On another occasion at noon the fire in the Dhuni began to burn brightly, its flames were seen to be reaching the rafters above. The people who were sitting in the Masjid did not know what to do. They dared not to ask Baba to pour water or do anything to quench the flames. But Baba soon came to realize, what was happening. He took up His Satka (short stick) and dashed it against a pillar in front, saying - "Get down, Be calm." At each stroke of the Satka, the flames began to lower and slow down; and in a few minutes the Dhuni became calm and normal.

This is our Sai, an Incarnation of God. He will bless any man who will prostrate and surrender himself to Him.

Bow to Sri Sai!


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

[Dipika]

Moolay Shastri of Nasik

An orthodox Agnihotri Brahmin of Nasik, by name moolay Shastri, who had studied the six Shastras and was well-versed in astrology and palmistry, once came to Shirdi to see Mr. Bapusaheb Booty, the famous millionarire of Nagpur. After seeing him, he and others went to see Baba in the Masjid. Baba bought various fruits and other things from vendors with His own money, and distributed them to the persons present in the Masjid. Baba used to press the mango on all sides so skilfully that when any person received it from Baba and sucked it, he got all the pulp at once in his mouth and could throw away the stone and the skin forthwith. Plantains were peeled off by Baba and the kernel was distributed to the devotees, while the skins were retained by Baba for Himself. Moolay Shastri, as a palmist, wanted to examine Baba's hand or plam and requested Him to extend the same. Baba ignored his request and gave four plantains to him. Then, they all returned to the Wada and Moolay Shastri bathed, wore sacred clothes, and started his routine duties, viz. Agnihotra etc. Then Baba as usual started for Lendi and said - "Take some Geru (i.e. a red miry substance, to dye clothes in saffron-colour), we shall today don saffron-coloured cloth. None understood what Baba meant. Then after some time when Baba returned, and preparations for the noon-Arati were being made. Bapusaheb Jog asked Moolay Shastri, whether he would accompany him for the Arti. He replied that he would see Baba in the afternoon. Very soon Baba sat on his seat, was worshipped by the devotees and Arti commenced. Then Baba said - "Get some Dakshina from the new (Nasik) Brahmin." Booty himself went to get the Dakshina; and when he gave Baba's message to Moolay Shastri, he was sorely perplexed. He thought in his mind thus: "I am a pure Agnihotri Brahmin, why should I pay Dakshina? Baba may be a great Saint. I am not His dependent." But as a great Saint like Sai Baba was asking for Dakshina through a millionaire like Booty, he could not refuse. So leaving his routine unfinished, he forthwith started with Booty to the Masjid. Thinking himself holy and sacred, and the Masjid otherwise, he remained at a distance, and joining his hands threw flowers at Baba. Then lo! all of a sudden, he saw no Baba on the seat, but saw his late Guru Gholap Swami there. He was wonder-struck. Could this be a dream? No, it was not, as he was wide awake; but though awake, how could his late Guru Gholap be there? He was speechless for some time. He pinched himself and thought again, but could not reconcile the fact of his late Guru Gholap being in the Masjid. Ultimately, leaving all doubt, he went up, fell at his Guru's feet and then getting up stood there with folded hands. Other people sang Baba's Arati, while Moolay Shastri chanted his Guru's name. Then casting off all pride of caste and ideas about sacredness, he fell flat at his Guru's feet and closed his eyes. When he got up and opened his eyes, he saw Baba asking for Dakshina. Seeing Baba's blissful form, and His inconceivable power, Moolay Shastri forgot himself. He was extremely pleased, his eyes were full of tears of joy. He again saluted Baba and gave the Dakshina. He said that his doubt was removed and that he saw his own Guru. On seeing his wonderful Leela of Baba all the people, including Moolay Shastri, were much moved, and they realized the meaning of Baba's words, "Bring Geru, we shall don saffron-coloured garment." Such is the wonderful Leela of Baba.

The moral of all the stories mentioned above, specially, that of Moolay Shastri, is this that we should have firm faith in our Guru and nowhere else.

Bow to Sri Sai!


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

[Dipika]

Bhimaji Patil

One Bhimaji Patil of Narayanagaon, Taluka Junnar, Dist. Poona, suffered in the year 1909 A.D. from a severe and chronic chest-disease which ultimately developed into Tuberculosis. He tried all sorts of pathos (remedies), but to no effect. Losing all hopes, he ultimately prayed to God - "Oh Lord Narayana, help me now". It is a well known fact that, when our circumstances are well off, we do not remember God, but when calamities and adversities overtake us, we are reminded of Him, So Bhimaji now turned to God. It occurred to him that he should consult Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, a great devotee of Baba, in this respect. So he wrote to him a letter, giving all details of his malady, and asking for his opinion. In reply, Mr. Nanasaheb wrote to him that there was only one remedy left, and that was to have recourse to Baba's Feet. Relying on Mr. Nanasaheb's advice, he made preparations for going to Shirdi. He was brought to Shirdi and taken to the Masjid, and placed before Baba. Mr. Nanasaheb and Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande) were then present. Baba pointed out that the disease was due to the previous evil karma, and was not at first disposed to interfere. But the patient cried out in despair that he was helpless, and sought refuge in Him, as He was his last hope, and prayed for mercy. Then Baba's heart melted an He said, "Stay, cast off your anxiety, your sufferings have come to an end. However, oppressed and troubled one may be as soon as he steps into the Masjid, he is on the pathway to happiness. The Fakir here is very kind and He will cure the disease, and protect all with love and kindness." The patient vomitted blood every five minutes, but there wa no vomiting in the presence of Baba. From the time, Baba uttered the words of hope and mercy, the malady took a favourable turn. Baba asked him to stay in Bhimabai's house, which was not a convenient and healthy place, but Baba's order had to be obeyed. While he was staying there, Baba cured him by two dreams. In the first dream, he saw himself as a boy suffering the severe pain of a flogging, which he received for not reciting his 'Swami-poetry' lesson before his class-master. In the second dream, some one caused him intense pain, and torture, by rolling a stone up and down over his chest. With the pain thus suffered in dream, his cure was complete, and he went home. He then often came to Shirdi, gratefully remembering what Baba did for him, and prostrated before Him. Baba also did not expect anything from devotees, but grateful remembrance, unchanging faith and devotion. People in the Maharashtra, always celebrate Satya-Narayana Puja in their homes every fortnight or month. But it was this Bhimaji Patil, who started a new Sai Satya-vrata Puja, instead of Satya-Narayana-vrata Puja, in his house, when he returned to his village.


The moral of all the stories mentioned above, specially, that of Moolay Shastri, is this that we should have firm faith in our Guru and nowhere else.

Bow to Sri Sai!


Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

[Dipika]

Dattopant of Harda

A gentleman from Harda by name Dattopant suffered form stomach-ache for fourteen yeas. None of the remedies gave him any relief. Then hearing of Baba's fame, that He cures diseases by sight he ran to Shirdi, and fell at Baba's Feet. Baba looked at him kindly and gave him blessings. When Baba placed His hand on his head, and when he got Baba's Udi with blessing, he felt relieved and there was no further trouble about the malady.

Towards the end ot his Chapter three cases are cited in footnotes:

1. Madhavrao Deshpande suffered from Piles. Baba gave him decoction of Sonamukhi (senna pods). This relieved him. Then after two years the trouble again recurred and Mahdavrao took the same decoction without consulting Baba. The result was that the disease aggravated but later on it was cured by Baba's grace.

2. Kaka Mahajani's elder brother, Gangadharpant, suffered for many years from stomach-pain. Hearing Baba's fame he came to Shirdi and requested Baba to cure him. Baba touched his belly and said, "God will cure". From that time there was no stomach-pain and he was completely cured.

3. Nanasaheb Chandorkar also once suffered from intense stomach-pain; he was restless the whole day and night. Doctors administered syringes which produced no effect. Then he approached Baba, who told him to eat Burfi (a kind of sweetmeat) mixed with ghee. This recipe gave him complete relief.

All these stories go to show, that the real medicine that cured the various diseases permanently was Baba's word, and grace, and not any medicines or drugs.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM

[Dipika]

Despite several warnings from his father Hiranyakashipu, Prahlada continues to worship Vishnu

Hiranyakashyap tried several ways to kill his son Prahlad but Lord Vishnu saved him every time.

Finally, he asked his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. For, Hiranyakashyap knew that Holika had a boon, whereby, she could enter the fire unscathed.

Prahlad prays to Lord Vishnu to keep him safe. When the fire starts, Holika burns to death, while Prahlada remains unharmed. This incident is celebrated as the Hindu festival of Holi

It teaches us that Constant faith in God leads to devotion and that the evil doers are always punished by God

Even today, people enact the scene of 'Holika's burning to ashes' every year to mark the victory of good over evil.


Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM