I am always with you
As usual, Shyamdas set out on another pilgrimage to Dwarka, Porbandar , Girnar, Somnath and many holy kshetras taking about three and a half months to do so. He, along with a group of pilgrims and his personal servant stopped at Girnar parvat. They chalked out a neat program to climb the girnar parvat and take darshan of the Dattatreya padukas, then to Ambaji Tekdhi (Ambadevi Temple atop the hill), then to Gorakshakarnath Temple. The day of the climb happened to be a Thursday. So, the group decided to have darshan first, and then a meal. Although they had an early start, nonetheless, they were delayed and had got late.
Shamdas, while ascending the mountain, clearly heard Baba say, "I am always with you." Happily, he continued up the hill, where some 30 to 40 steps were very steep and high and difficult to negotiate. The heat of the day was intense, the sun was beating on him with full intensity and the water he had brought was over. Still, another 200 to 300 steps were in front of him. Shyamdas was four to five steps ahead of the group, when he felt extremely exhausted. His throat was parched, he felt dizzy and fell down. When the group reached him, they found that he had fallen to the left. Had he fallen a bit to the right, there would have been no trace of him as there was a deep ravine. Quickly, Tarabai (one of the grou members) and the group came to his rescue. They found that he was unconscious, frothing at the mouth, and he had a heat stroke. Tarabai sat down next to him, and cradling his head in her lap, wiped his mouth and started fanning him with a piece of cloth. The group huddled together and were wondering what to do. The dire need for water was evident and there was nothing around them, except the steps leading to the top. It was decided that someone would retrace their steps to the bottom of the hill and fetch some water.
Just as they looked in that direction, they saw a Gosavi with a huge tamba (pot) of water, making his way towards them. He addressed Tarabai and said, "Mother, give the child this water, sprinkle some on his head and face and he will come around." So saying, he handed over the pot, and further added, "Make sure he drinks all this water. I've some work to do and I will meet you when you return." Then he ascended the steps. Mechanically, they did just what he said and Shyamdas started coming around. He could see the Gosavi had ascended about twenty steps or so and then he disappeared. It took about an hour for him to fully recover and they proceeded on. They had a wonderful darshan of all the temples. Meanwhile, the group was talking amongst themselves. "Who was this Gosavi? Why and how did he bring the water for Shyamdas? How specific were his instructions? " Shyamdas however knew that Baba had saved his life. Had not Baba assured him, saying, "I stand behind and in front of you and look after you, always, and at all times."
Where is Shirdi and where is Girnar? Yet the Guru Mauli is always at hand to help her child. When they returned to that very spot, he wished to wait for the Gosavi.
He did so for about an hour. But the group urged him to continue the descent. It was getting late, as it was now 5:00 p.m. and it would soon become dusk. Also, everyone was tired and hungry. Reluctantly, Shyamdas agreed and they reached the bottom of the hill at Junagadh Gaon, they had a meal and retired for the night.
But Shyamdas could not sleep. He was overwhelmed by what had happened. He had sustained no injury from the fall, except a few scratches and a grazed knee. Now, he was quite lucid and mentally alright, but he could not bare the thought of not having met his benefactor, the Gosavi. "Why?" he wondered. That night, he cried himself to sleep. That night, at about 4 a.m., in the morning, he had a vision. Baba said, "Arre Shyamdas, don't cry like this. There is a lot of work to be done. You will know that in the future. Okay? Now get up." Shyamdas was comforted, as he was enveloped in Baba's love and concern for him. After some months, he came to Shirdi. As soon as he entered Dwarkamai, Baba said, "Come Shyamdas, didn't I give you a lot of water to quench your thirst. " Shyamdas went and laid his head on Baba's feet and washed them with tears. Baba placed His palm of benediction on his head and gave him Udi.
(Source Sai Leela Magazine)
Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM
Topic: I am always with you (Read 1528 times)