Shri Sai Satcharitra - Chapter 5 - III

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Sai Baba did not mix and speak with the people. He only gave answers when he was questioned. By day he always sat under the Neem tree, sometimes under the shade of a branch of a Babul tree near the stream at the outskirts of the village. In the afternoon, He used to walk at random and go at times to Nimgaon. There He frequented the house of Balasaheb Dengale. Baba loved Mr. Balasaheb. His younger brother, named Nanasaheb, had no son, though he married a second wife. Balasaheb sent Nanasaheb for taking darshana of Sai Baba, and after some time with His grace, Nanasaheb got a son. From that time onwards, people began to come in numbers to see Sai Baba, and His fame began to spread and reached Ahmednagar; from thence Nanasaheb Chandorkar and Keshav Chidamber, and many others began to come to Shirdi.

Sai Ram. He used these miracles to pull the devotees to Him, increase their Sraddha and thus help them on their spiritual journey. Sai Ram.

Baba was surrounded by His devotees during day; and slept at night in an old and dilapidated Masjid. Baba's paraphernalia at this time consisted of a Chilim, tobacco, a "Tumrel" (tin pot), long flowing Kafni, a piece of cloth round His head, and a Satka (short stick), which He always kept with Him. The piece of white cloth on the head was twisted like matted hair, and flowed down from the left ear on the back. This was not washed for weeks. He wore no shoes, no sandals. A piece of sackcloth was His seat for most of the day. He wore a coupin (waist-cloth-band) and for warding off cold he always sat in front of a Dhuni (sacred fire) facing south with His left hand resting on the wooden railing. In that Dhuni, He offered as oblation; egoism, desires and all thoughts and always uttered Allah Malik (God is the sole owner).

Sai Ram. Baba thus showed His affinity to Agni. No wonder Sri Tembe Maharaj (Sri Vasudevananda Saraswati, a great Datta Bhakta and considered as incarnation of Sri Datta) addressed Sai as His Elder brother. No wonder, Sai was a bit inclined towards the Nasik Brahmin, Moolay Sastri. (We will meet both in later chapters). Moolay Shastri was the disciple of another great Guru. Sai was always gentle with devotees of other Sadgurus who came to visit Him. Sai also showed that He is one with Siva, who burnt down Kama Deva, the God of Desire in the Fire, which emanated from His Third Eye. Sai Ram.

The Masjid in which He sat was only of two room dimensions, where all devotees came and saw Him. After 1912 A.D., there was a change. The old Masjid was repaired and a pavement was constructed. Before Baba came to live in this Masjid, He lived for a long time in a place called Takia, where with GHUNGUR (small bells) on His legs, Baba danced beautifully and sang with his tender voice.

Turning Water into Oil

Sai Baba was very fond of lights. He used to borrow oil from shopkeepers, and keep lamps burning the whole night in the Masjid and the 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.

In a later chapter, He tells Smt. Kasibai Kanitkar, who was wondering whether Sai belonged to Black or White Lodge of Magicians, ("When once I went to Shirdi, I was thinking seriously about this in my mind. As soon as I approached the steps of the Dwarakamai, Baba came to the front and pointing to His chest and staring at me spoke rather vehemently - "This is a Brahmin, pure Brahmin. He has nothing to do with black things." Again pointing to his chest - "This Brahmin can bring lacks of men on the white path...") It is not therefore surprising that Sai was fond of lights, the external light representing the internal spiritual light, which He was trying to light up in our hearts. His begging and borrowing oil from the grocers of Shirdi was for their benefit. Once they all joined hands (we are all united in our ignorance of our true nature!) and declined to oblige to Him with the daily supply of oil, He was unperturbed and used water instead. By His spiritual power, the water could keep the lamps burning in the Dwarakamai through out the night. So, what Baba was trying to teach us through that episode is that we should remain unperturbed in the face of adversities; God will take care of us. Our Faith is the lamp. Our Patience with those who try to oppose us (both external and internal enemies) is the oil. Faith and patience (Shraddha and Saburi) will light the spiritual lamp in us. Sai Ram.

The Pseudo-Guru Javhar Ali

Five years after the wrestling bout mentioned above, one Fakir from Ahmednager by name Javhar Ali, came to Rahata with his disciples and stayed in Bakhal (spacious room) near Virabhadra temple. The Fakir was learned, could repeat the whole Koran and had a sweet tongue. Many religious and devout people of the village came to him and began to respect him. With the help of the people, he started to build an Idgah ( a wall before which Mahomedans pray on Idgah day), near the Virabhadra temple. There was some quarrel about this affair, on account of which, Javhar Ali had to leave Rahata. Then he came to Shirdi and lived in the Masjid with Baba. People were captured by his sweet talk, and he began to call Baba his disciple. Sai Ram. Many of us fall into this trap of intellectual egoism and the pride of learning. True knowledge has no place for pride and only gives humility. Another trait of a true Jnani is Love. Let us see how Sai transformed this man. Sai Ram.

Baba did not object and consented to be his Chela. Then both Guru and Chela decided to return to Rahata and live there. The Guru (Teacher) never knew his disciple's worth, but the disciple knew the defects of the Guru, still he never disrespected him, observing carefully his duties. He even served the Master in various ways. They used to come to Shirdi off and on, but their main stay was in Rahata. The loving devotees of Baba in Shirdi did not like Baba staying away from them in Rahata. So they went in a deputation to bring Baba back to Shirdi. When they met Baba near the Idgah and told the purpose for which they came, Baba said to them that the Fakir was an ill-tempered fellow, he would not leave him and that they should better return to Shirdi without him, before the Fakir returned. While they were thus talking, the Fakir turned up and was very angry with them for trying to take away his disciple. There was some discussion and altercation and it was finally decided that both the Guru and Chela should return to Shirdi. And so they returned and lived in shirdi. But after a few days the Guru was tested by Devidas and he was found wanting. Twelve years before Baba arrived in Shirdi with the marriage-party, this Devidas aged about 10 or 11 came to Shirdi and lived in the Maruti temple. Devidas had fine features and brilliant eyes, and he was dispassion incarnate and a Jnani. Many persons, namely Tatya Kote, Kashinath and others regarded, him as their Guru. They brought Javhar Ali in his presence, and in the discussion that followed; Javhar was worsted and he fled from Shirdi. He went and stayed in Bijapur and returned after many years to Shirdi, and prostrated himself before Sai Baba. The delusion that he was Guru and Sai Baba his Chela, was cleared away, and as he repented, Sai Baba treated him with respect. In this case Sai Baba showed by actual conduct how one should get rid of egoism and do the duties of a disciple to attain the highest end, viz., self-realization. This story is told here according to the version given by Mhalsapati (a great devotee of Baba).

Sai showed through the above story that to be a good leader, one must first be a good follower. He also, showed that the disciple is not required to exercise any judgement about the Guru (the inappropriateness of a Kindergarten student judging his teacher's worth may be a good analogy). God actually sends the pseudo-Guru to test the disciple's ego-mind. The disciple who takes his Guru to be God will benefit and will be protected by that God. Any bad experience the disciple goes through will enrich him spiritually. Sai of course was imbued with all Divine qualities and was fully aware of the pseudo-Guru's faults, but He showed us a good example, by behaving like an ordinary person. The pseudo-Guru, later realized his mistake and surrendered to Sai. Doing one's duty sincerely leads to self-realization, i.e. realization that the same Self shines through various bodies and that the Guru and the Chela are two aspects of the same Self. Sai Ram.

In the next Chapter will be described Rama-Navami Festival, the Masjid, its former condition and later improvement etc.