As Gangagir entered the Masjid, Baba smiled, "So, the mandir has come to the Masjid, very good". He invited him with all courtesy into the Masjid. After Gangagir sat, Baba said, "We are both from the same family. We were happily staying with god in his abode in Vaikuntha. Hari sent us to convince the people of the futility of wrong conduct and put them on the right, moral path. But it seems that the people are not going to change their ways even by an inch in these days. Wherever one looks, one sees the liquor taverns full of people. The prostitutes are brought here in the month of Phalguna to dance in the Chavadi. As the horse breaks free of the reins and gallops away, all classes of people are stopping work and galloping, without even bothering to see if they are properly clad to see the dance of the prostitute. Here it is all immodest behavior. They put red powder on each other as if it was a festival and dance about singing songs and playing loud music. In this age and in these days Hari has sent us here with pots of milk on our heads and asked us to convince the people to drink the milk. But every one who sees me laughs in derision and throws stones at the pot of milk on my head. Some put on devilish faces and laugh at me. Some bring presents for me. Some say, "I have got the Sai Fakir's spirit in me now, so (as he has no power now) listen to me. Come and listen to my words of wisdom - drink the liquor to your hearts content. Drink as much as you want to and make merry." The moment they hear the word liquor the majority of people run there. Not many people prefer milk to liquor. Only some have come to me and have drunk the milk. But of these some have the madness of Vedanta. So the world has termed all those who have taken milk from me as mad. The tendency of these people addicted to liquor is such. See how they are all saying, "All hail to the liquor Maharaj." This world is a strange place. I seek to give them nectar, they prefer poison.
They are losing the respect and confidence in the truth. They prefer the lie to the truth." Gangagir heard what Baba said. He said, "Maharaj, my experience is also the same as yours. I have tried to put at least a few people on the true path but I have failed. They have all decided that I am a madman and pay no heed to what I say. I have seen this happening and I have stopped even trying to change the people." Baba heard Gangagir saying these words with a voice that was dejected, the result of a lifetime of ridicule and rejection. Baba was saddened. He said, "Those that go will go to perdition. Those that will abide by us will abide by us. Let us seek no recompense and help with a pure heart all those who come to us sincerely."
They discussed many more matters. If I start to detail those matters here, that itself will become as big a book as the Mahabharata. After a while, Gangagir took have of Baba and went away from the Masjid. Baba continued to sit there in contemplation.
See how clearly and lucidly Baba has described the present day circumstances in this age of Kali? Baba has described this age of Kali as Phalguna month. Liquor is his term for bad habits and bad proclivities. The true path of wisdom and dharma is the milk which he wishes to give us.
Sri Sai Maharaj's method of teaching is unique and exhilarating. It is beyond me to explain them. Baba talks casually of some thing and the doubts plaguing the jijnasu are cleared in a second. No one has the expertise in teaching wisdom and the true knowledge as he had. His devotees, be they even so far away, continually experience his kind grace.
While this was so; Sri Vasudevananda Saraswati (Tembe Swamy) the great mahatma was staying at Rajamahendravaram on the banks of the holy Godavari at that time. He was going from place to place in the country and teaching the right path of the karma to the people. He was a great scholar.
The Rigveda would stand in respect when he entered. His knowledge was the fruit of long experience and not mere book learning. He was a self-realized man. He needed none to illumine him or teach him. Pundaleekarao of Nanded and others went to Rajamahendravaram for his darsan. Rajamahendravaram (Rajahmundry) is a beautiful town situated on the banks of the holy Godavari River. At a place nearby called Dhawaleswaram, Godavari splits into seven streams and is called Saptamukhi. With the musical sound of the water flowing brimful along the banks; the various calls of the birds residing in the huge trees which had grown thickly on its banks; with the rhythmic utterance of mantras such as "Imam me ganga" chanted by the Brahmins who come there for their ritual bath; with the colorful display of males and females who come to bathe in that holy river; that place is beautiful beyond description at dawn.
(Contributed by Source: "Sri Sai Gurucharithra" originally by Santkavi Sri Dasganu Maharaj. Translated from Telugu version by Sri SVL)
Bow to Shri Sai!
Sai baba let your holy lotus feet be our sole refuge.OMSAIRAM