Shirdi Baba

[SS91]

Shirdi SaiBaba  proved to his devotees that he knew what they were
thinking and saying and doing when  they were hundreds of miles away from him.
Frequently in crises he appeared wherever he was needed, either in his own
form or apparently in some other body - a beggar, a hermit, a workman, a
dog, a cat or something else. There was plentiful evidence that he
could project himself through space and take any material form he chose.
Those who were in the best position to know, his nearest disciples, had
no doubts whatever on this point.

Baba gave visions to people, as for instance, the visiting high
Brahmin who was dubious about going into the Moslem mosque. From outside
the mosque the Brahmin saw Sai Baba as the God-form he worshipped, Sri
Rama. So convincing was this vision of Rama that he rushed in and fell
at Baba's feet. Other types of miracle include the giving of protection
at a distance - protection against accident, plague, ill-fortune and
imminent death; the granting of issue to those who were childless or
desired to have a son; appearing to people in dreams with advice and help
in their problems.

 Baba was able to cast out evil spirits from those obsessed and cure the most terrible diseases, such as blindness, palsy and leprosy. For instance he allowed Bagoji, a man with advanced leprosy, to
come and shampoo his legs. People were afraid that Baba would himself
be infected, but on the contrary Bagoji was completely cured of his leprosy, only scars and marks remaining.

By the end of last century, in spite of India's primitive
communications at that time, Sai Baba's fame was snowballing rapidly. The high
peak was reached by about 1910 when an endless stream of visitors began
to flow in from Bombay and other places. Pomp and ceremony were thrust
upon the rugged, unsophisticated old saint. Loaded down with jewellery,
seated in a silver chariot with fine horses and elephants, he was taken
in grand and colourful procession through the streets.

Baba, it is said, disliked all this show, but he submitted to it to
please the people. Yet despite the royal treatment and the riches
offered him, he continued to beg his food as of old; perhaps this was to
show that humility is more than ever necessary when wealth and pomp and
power are striving to seduce the soul of man.



om sai sri sai jaya jaya sai