Stealing the Rags and Reading of Jnaneshwari
Mr.B.V.Deo who was Mamlatdar of Dahanu (Thana District) wished for a long time to read Jnaneshwari -
(the well-known Marathi commentary on the Bhagawad-Gita by Jnaneshwar), along with other scriptures.
He could read daily one chapter of the Bhagawad-Gita, and some portion of other books;
but when he took Jnaneshwari in hand, some difficulties cropped up and he was precluded from reading it.
He took three months' leave, went to Shirdi and thence to his home at Pound for rest.
He could read there other books but when he opened Jnaneshwari, some evil or stray
thoughts came crowding in his mind and stopped him in the effort.
Try however he might, he was not able to read even a few lines of the book with ease.
So he resolved in his mind that when Baba would create love for the book and would order him to read it,
he would begin and not till then.
Then in the month of February 1914 he went with his family to Shirdi.
There Jog asked him whether he daily read Jnaneshwari.
Deo said that he was desirous of reading it, but he was not successful and that only
when Baba would order him to read it, he would commence.
Jog then advised him to take a copy of the book and present it to Baba
and to start the reading after it was consecrated and returned by Him.
Deo then replied that he did not want to resort to this device, as Baba knows his heart.
Would He not know his desire and satisfy it by giving him a clear order to read?
Deo then saw Baba and offered one rupee as Dakshina. Baba asked for Rs. 20/- which he gave.
At night, he saw one Balakram and enquired how he secured Baba's devotion and grace. Balakram told him that he would
communicate everything next day after arati. When Deo went for darshana next day, Baba asked for Rs.20/- which he gave
willingly. As the Masjid was crowded, Deo went aside and sat in a corner. Baba asked him to come close and sit with a calm mind,
which Deo did. Then after the noon-arati was over and after the men dispersed, Deo saw again Balakram and asked him his
previous history, what Baba told him and how he was taught meditation. Balakram was going to reply when Baba sent one
Chandru, a leper devotee to call Deo to Him. When Deo went to Baba, the latter asked him when and with whom and what he
was talking. He said that he talked with Balakram and heard from him His fame. Then Baba asked again Rs.25/- as Dakshina which
Deo gladly gave. Then Baba took him inside and sitting near the post charged him saying - "You stole away My rags without My
knowledge." Deo denied all knowledge of the rags, but Baba asked him to make a search. He searched but found none. Then
Baba got angry and said - "tThere is nobody here, you are the only thief, so grey-haired and old, you came here for stealing."
After this Baba lost His temper, got terribly wild, gave all sorts of abuses and scoldings. Deo remained silent and watching, and
thought that he might get a beating also. After about an hour or so, Baba asked him to go to the Wada. He returned to the Wada
and told Jog and Balakram all that had happened. Then in the after-noon Baba sent for all and Deo also, and said that His words
might have pained the old man (Deo) but as he committed the theft, He could not but speak out. Then Baba asked again for
Rs. 12/- Deo collected the amount, paid it and prostrated himself before Him. Then Baba said to him -
"What are you doing?" "Nothing" replied Deo. Then Baba - "Go on daily reading the Pothi (Jnaneshwari), go and sit in the Wada,
read something regularly every day and while reading, explain the portion read, to all with love and devotion. I am sitting here
ready to give you the whole gold-embroidered Shella (valuable cloth), then why go to others to steal rags, and why should you
get into the habit of stealing?"
Deo was much pleased to hear the words of Baba, for He asked him to start reading Pothi (Jnaneshwari). He thought that he got
what he wanted and that he could read the book with ease thenceforth. He again prostrated himself before Baba and said that
he surrendered himself to Him and that he should be treated as a child and be helped in his reading. He realized then what Baba
meant by 'stealing the rags'. What he asked Balakram constituted the 'rags' and Baba did not like his behaviour in this respect. As
He was ready to answer any question, He did not like him to ask others and make unnecessary enquiries and therefore He
harassed and scolded him. Deo thought that He really did not 'harass and scold' him but taught that He was ready to fulfill his
desires, and there was no use asking others in vain. Deo took these scoldings as flowers and blessings and went home satisfied
and contented.
The matter did not end here. Baba did not stop with only issuing an order to read. Within a year He went to Deo and enquired
about his progress. On 2nd April 1914, on Thursday morn, Baba gave him a dream-vision. He sat on the upper floor and asked him
whether he understood the Pothi. "No" answered Deo. Baba - "Then when are you going to understand?" Deo burst into tears
and said, "Unless You shower Your grace, the reading is mere worry and the understanding is still more difficult. I say this
definitely." Baba - "While reading you make haste, read it before Me, in My presence." Deo - "What shall I read?" Baba - "Read
Adhyatma (spiritualism)." Deo went to bring the book when he opened his eyes and was awakened. We leave the readers to
imagine what ineffable joy and bliss Deo felt after this vision.
JaiSaiRam.