Shri Sai Sat Charitra - Chapter 15 - Part II ...Contd

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Mr. Cholkar was in the Masjid with his host Bapusaheb Jog. When the host and the guest both got up and were about to leave the Masjid, Baba spoke to Jog as follows:- "Give him (your guest) cups of tea, fully saturated with Sugar." Hearing these significant words, Mr. Cholkar was much moved, he was wonderstruck, his eyes were bedewed with tears, and he fell at Baba's Feet again.

Mr. Jog was also curious about this direction, regarding the tea-cups to be given to his guest. Baba wanted by His words to create faith and devotion in Cholkar's mind. He hinted as it were, that He got the sugar-candy as per his vow and that He knew full well his secret determination not to use sugar in his diet.

Baba meant to say, "If you spread your palms with devotion before Me, I am immediately with you, day and night. Though, I am here bodily, still I know what you do beyond the seven seas. Go wherever you will, over the wide world, I am with you. My abode is in your heart and I am within you. Always worship Me, Who is seated in your heart, as well as, in the hearts of all beings, Blessed and fortunate, indeed, is he who knows Me thus."

What a beautiful and important lesson was thus imparted by Baba to Mr. Chokar !

Sai Ram. A beautiful story indeed and a valuable lesson to all of us. When we are in trouble, we are often reminded of God and His representatives,the Saints and Sadgurus. It was the good fortune of Shri Cholkar that he could listen to the wonderful Leelas of Sai in Koupineshwar Temple.

Koupineshwar is Siva with just a loin cloth. If readers recall, in the earlier chapter, Sai Maharaj said that His property consisted of "one koupin (codpiece), one stray piece of cloth, one Kafni and a tumrel (tinpot), and that all the people troubled Him by bringing all these unnecessary, useless and costly articles.

" Sai was a Saint of the poor though He also helped many well to do devotees like the millionaire Booty, and other well to do devotees like Sri Nanasaheb Chandorkar, Sri Kakasaheb Dixit etc.

Sai Ram. Is it just a coincidence that Shri Cholkar, a very poor man in materialistic terms but a very rich man spiritually first heard of Sai in a temple made famous by the name of Siva just wearing a loin cloth (Koupin)? , taking a vow to visit Shirdi and distribute sugar candies?, kept up his word when his wish was materialized? Most of us tend to forget God when our wishes are fulfilled.

Sri Satyanarayana Puja is performed all over India and the story that is an integral part of the Puja (Vrat) tells us that Sri Satyanaryanji punishes the devotees who forget Him after their desires are fulfilled and forgives when they are back to the path of truth.

Satya means Truth and Narayan is God. Sri Satyanaryan represents the facet of God that represents Truth. In Chapter 13, at the end of the story about Sri Bhimaji Patil, it was mentioned: "Baba also did not expect anything from devotees, but grateful remembrance, unchanging faith and devotion. People in the Maharashtra, always celebrate Sathya Narayana Puja in their homes every fortnight or month. But it was this Bhimaji Patil, who started a new Sai Satya-vrata Puja, instead of Satyanarayana vrata Puja, in his house, when he returned to his village."

Sai Ram. Sri Cholkar was a man of truth and that is why Baba was so much pleased with him. He wanted Sri Cholkar's devotion be made known to one and all through this beautiful story. Sai Ram.