Sri Sai Sat Charitra - Chapter 13 - Part V

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Alandi Swami
A Swami from Alandi, wishing to take Baba's darshana, came to Shirdi. He suffered form a severe pain in his ear, which prevented him from getting sleep. He was operated for this, but it did not serve the purpose. The pain was severe and he did not know what to do. While he was returning, he came to take Baba's leave, when Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande) requested Baba to do something for the pain in the Swami's ear. Baba comforted him saying, "Alla Accha Karega (God will do good)." The Swami then returned to Poona, and after a week sent a letter to Shirdi, stating that the pain in his ear had subsided though the swelling was there, and in order to get the swelling removed, he went to Bombay for operation, but the surgeon on examining the ear said that no operation was then necessary. Such was the wonderful effect of Baba's words.

Sai Ram. Baba always wished the welfare of the people and tried to help those who came to Him (they could not come to Him unless their Karma was ripe), but in a few cases, He did not interfere since He knew that they were better off in the other worlds. Sai Ram. Thus most of the people including Swamis, Sanyasis and others came to this wonderful, eccentric Saint of Shirdi! Sai Ram.

Kaka Mahajani
Another devotee named Kaka Mahajani suffered once from diarrhea. In order that there should be no break in his services to Baba, Kaka kept a tambya (pot) with water in some corner of the Masjid and whenever there was a call, he would go out. As Sai Baba knew everything, Kaka did not inform Him of his disease, thinking that Baba would of His own cure it soon.

The work of constructing the pavement in front of the Masjid was permitted by Baba, but when the actual work was begun, Baba got wild and shouted out loudly. Everybody ran away, and as Kaka was also doing the same, Baba caught hold of him and made him sit there. In the confusion that followed, somebody left the a small bag of groundnuts. Baba took a handful of groundnuts, rubbed them in His hands, blew away the skins, and gave the clean nuts to Kaka and made him eat them.

Scolding and cleaning the nuts, and making Kaka eat them, went on similtaneously. Baba Himself ate some of them. Then, when the bag was finished, Baba asked him to fetch water as He felt thirsty. Kaka brought a pitcher full of water. Then Baba drank some water and made Kaka also drink it. Baba then said, "Now your diarrhea has stopped, and you may attend to the work of the pavement." In the meanwhile other persons, who had run away, returned and started the work; and Kaka, whose motions had stopped, also joined them. Are groundnuts medicine for diarrhea? According to current medical opinion, groundnuts would aggravate the disease, and not cure it. The true medicine, in this as in other cases, was Baba's word.

Sai Ram. This story is wonderful and carries a significant aspect of spirituality . A true devotee, like in this case, Kaka Mahajani, need not even ask God or Guru for relief from the problems being faced, since the devotee knows that God/Guru is fully aware of the problem and will solve it at the right time. This is true Sraddha and Saburi (Faith and Patience) and is a good sign of Saranagati, surrender and comes from a very ripe ego, that is almost ready to drop off from this tree of samsar.

This truth is represented in this Mahamantra: Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam, Urvaaruka miva Bandhanan Mrutyor Muksheeya Maamrutat! Meaning:"We bow to the three- eyed Lord (Siva) who is full of sweet fragrance, who nourishes human being. May he free me from the bondage of births and deaths, just as the ripe cucumber is separated from the vine, and may I be fixed in immortality." Sai Ram. Kaka Mahajani certainly came close to the sort of ripening of the cucumber (ego) as also another great devotee, Sri Kakasaheb Dixit, as we will see. Sai Ram.

Chapter 13 to be continued.