Shri Sai Satcharitra - Chapter 7, Part 3

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Leper Devotee's Service

On hearing the news of Baba's hand being burnt from (Shama) Madhavrao Deshpande, Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, accompanied by the famous Doctor Parmanand of Bombay with his medical outfit consisting of ointments, lint and bandage etc. rushed to Shirdi, and requested Baba to allow Dr. Parmanand to examine the arm, and dress the wound caused by the burn. This was refused. Ever since the burn, the leper devotee, Bhagoji Shinde, dressed the arm. His treatment consisted in massaging the burnt part with ghee and then placing a leaf over it and bandaging it tightly with Pattis (bandages). Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar solicited Baba many a time to unfasten the Pattis and get the wound examined and dressed and treated by Dr. Parmanand, with the object that it may be speedily healed. Dr. Parmanand himself made similar requests, but Baba postponed saying that Allah was His Doctor; and did not allow His arm to be examined. Dr. Paramanand's medicines were not exposed to their air of Shirdi, as they remained intact, but he had the good fortune of getting a darshana of Baba. Bhagoji was allowed to treat the hand daily. After some days, the arm healed and all were happy. Still, we do not know whether any trace of pain was left or not. Every morning, Bhagoji went throught his programme of loosening the Pattis, massaging he arm with ghee and tightly bandaging it again. This went on till Sai Baba's Samadhi (death). Sai Baba, a perfect Siddha, as He was, did not really want this treatment, but out of love to His devotee, He allowed the 'Upasana' - service of Bhagoji to go on un-interrupted all along. When Baba started for Lendi, Bhagoji held an umbrella over Him and accompanied Him. Every morning, when Baba sat near the post close to the Dhuni, Bhagoji was present and started his service. Bhagoji was a sinner in his past brith. He was suffering from leprosy, his fingers had shrunk, his body was full of pus and smelling badly. Though outwardly he seemed so unfortunate, he was really very lucky and happy, for he was the premier servant of Baba, and got the benefit of His company.

Sai Ram. Bhagoji Shinde was chosen to dress the burns of Baba's hand. Dr. Paramanand, the famous doctor brought by Shri Nanasaheb Chandorkar from Bombay (present day Mumbai) had to remain a mute spectator to this Leela of Baba. Why did not Baba allow Dr. Paramanand to treat Him? It was not as if Baba was not kindly disposed towards Nanasaheb and Dr. Paramanand. It was because Baba wanted Nana and the good doctor to learn one important lesson - that it is God who heals in the form of a doctor (Vaidyo Narayano Hari goes the saying). And if God wills it, anything and everything can heal. And if God doesn't will it, nothing will help. Since Baba had full faith in Allah, He also had full control over who can treat His hand and who can't. Bhagoji was chosen because of his merits iof his past birth. So, though he was a sinner, his merits were taken up so that he can work out his salvation through Sadhu Sparshan and Darshan. The lesson to all of us is clear. We may be the worst sinners in our previous births, but we also had a small amount of merit, which brought us to Sai's feet. So, let us make best use of this opportunity and let us redeem ourselves to be His worthy devotees. Sai Ram.

Master Khaparde's Plague-Case

I shall now relate another instance of Baba's wonderful Leela. Mrs. Khaparde, the wife of Mr. Dadasaheb Khaparde of Amraoti, was staying at Shirdi with her young son for some days. One day the son got high fever, which further developed into Bubonic plague. The mother was frightened and felt most uneasy. She thought of leaving the place for Amraoti, and went near Baba in the evening, when He was coming near the Wada (now Samadhi Mandir) in His evening rounds, for asking His permission. She informed Him in a trembling tone, that her dear young son was down with plague. Baba spoke kindly and softly to her, saying that the sky is beset with clouds; but they will melt and pass off and everything will be smooth and clear. So saying, He lifted up His Kafni up to the waist and showed to all present, four fully developed bubos, as big as eggs, and added, "See, how I have to suffer for My devotees; their difficulties are Mine." Seeing this unique and extraordinary deed (Leela), the people were convinced as to how the Saints suffer pains for their devotees. The mind of the saints is softer than wax, it is soft, in and out, as butter. They love their devotees without any idea of gain, and regard them as their true relatives.

Sai Ram. Baba showed His merciful attitude to His devotees in Master Khaparde's plague case. He showed that He is fully aware of what is going on with any or all of His devotees. When Mrs. Khaparde approached Baba for permission to leave Shirdi and to go to Amraoti, her husband's place, Baba kindly showed her the fully developed buboes in his groin, thus indicating that He has taken upon Himself the disease. Our Faith in God or Guru is not really steadfast, and hence the need for occasional reinforcement of the same by God and Guru. If only our faith is really steadfast, we won't try to run away from problems and we will not appeal to God and Guru to alleviate the problems. We forget that they are always aware of what is going on and what is for our best welfare. Sai Ram.

Going to Pandharpur and Staying There

I shall now close this Chapter after relating a story illustrating how Sai Baba loved His devotees and anticipated their wishes and movements. Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who was a great devotee of Baba, was Mamlatdar at Nandurbar in Khandesh. He got an order of transfer to Pandharpur. His devotion to Sai Baba bore fruit, as he got an order to go and stay at Pandharpur, which is regarded as the 'BHUVAIKUNTHA' - Heaven on earth. Nanasaheb had to take immediate charge, so he left, immediately, for the place, without even writing or informing anybody at Shirdi. He wanted to give a surprise visit to Shirdi - his Pandharpur, see and salute his Vithoba (Baba), and then proceed. Nobody dreamt of Nanasaheb's departure for Shirdi, but Sai Baba knew all about this, as His eyes were everywhere (omniscient). As soon as Nanasaheb approached Neemgaon, a few miles from Shirdi, there was stir in the Masjid at Shirdi. Baba was sitting and talking with Mhalsapati, Appa Shinde and Kashiram, when He at once said, "Let us all four do some Bhajan, the doors of Pandhari are open, let us merrily sing." Then they began to sing in chorus, the burden of the song being "I have to go to Pandharpur and I have to stay on there, for it is the house of my Lord."

Baba sang and the devotees followed Him. In a short time Nanasaheb came there with his family, prostrated before Baba and requested Him to accompany them to Pandharpur and stay with them there. This solicitation was not necessary, as the devotees told Nanasaheb that Baba was already in the mood of going to Pandharpur and staying there. Hearing this Nanasaheb was moved and fell at Baba's Feet. Then getting Baba's permission, Udi (sacred ashes) and Blessings, Nanasaheb left for Pandharpur.

Sai Ram. This is another indication of Baba's knowledge of events far from Him in space or time. He knew of Nanasaheb's transfer from Khandesh to Pandharpur and He knew of Nana's impending arrival in Shirdi. Baba also showed His devotion to Vithoba of Pandharpur by singing bhajans in His praise. The devotee and the God become One when the ego is absent. And God favors His devotee's devotees more than His direct devotees. Thus devotees of Hanuman and Sai etc. get quicker results than those who worship say Rama and Krishna. This is purely my (this author's) view. Sai Ram.

There is no end to Baba's stories, but let me now make a halt here, reserving for the next Chapter other topics, such as importance of human life, Baba's living on alms, Bayajabai's service and other stories.