Shri Sai Sat Charitra - Chapter 12 - Part IV

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Moolay Shastri of Nasik

An orthodox Agnihotri Brahmin of Nasik, by name Moolay Shastri, who had studied the six Shastras and was well-versed in astrology and palmistry, once came to Shirdi to see Mr. Bapusaheb Booty, the famous millionarire of Nagpur. After seeing him, he and others went to see Baba in the Masjid. Baba bought various fruits and other things from vendors with His own money, and distributed them to the persons present in the Masjid. Baba used to press the mango on all sides so skilfully that when any person received it from Baba and sucked it, he got all the pulp at once in his mouth and could throw away the stone and the skin forthwith. Plantains were peeled off by Baba and the kernel was distributed to the devotees, while the skins were retained by Baba for Himself. Moolay Shastri, as a palmist, wanted to examine Baba's hand or plam and requested Him to extend His hand. Baba ignored his request and gave four plantains to him.

Sai Ram. Now let us see how the Guruputra of a great Guru was helped on his spiritual path by Sadguru Sainath who is One with all Gods and Gurus. When Moolay Shastri asked Baba to extend His hand so that he could see it, He ignored the request and gave him 4 plantains as prasad. Let us pause for a minute here and absorb the significance of the above. Why did Baba give the plantain fruit to the devotees and keep the skin to Himself? Baba was showing that He is the giver of the fruits of the Karma to the devotee through this. Also being a great Yogi, Baba could digest the plantain skins, which normal human beings can't. A friend of mine, who is a clairvoyant, told me that the inner fibers of the skins have great medicinal value. Baba knew such secrets, which were not known to ordinary people like us.

Also why did Baba give Moolay Shastri four plantains when he requested for Baba's hand so that as a palmist he could examine the same? Baba was beyond the Six Shastras and He did not need the services of a scholar to know His future. He, who knew the past, present and future of all people, animals etc., doesn't need to resort to astrologers and palmists, isn't it? At the same time, Baba's assurance that if a man takes one step towards Him, He will take ten steps towards the man needs to be remembered here. Since Moolay Shastri stretched out his hand to Baba to seek His hand, he cannot be sent empty handed. So Baba gave him four plantains. These four plantains were not simple, ordinary plantains, but were the four Purusharthas, namely Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Shastry was an orthodox Agnihotri brahmin and was thus well established in the ordinary dharma. He was also using his knowledge of astrology and palmistry etc. in the right way to earn a decent livelihood. He came to Shirdi not so much to see Sai as to see Shriman Bapusaheb Buty who was a millionaire and earn some money. Thus he was bound by Kama, desire. So, Sainath indicated to him that he should work for Moksha, liberation from the bonds of desires.

Then, they all returned to the Wada and Moolay Shastri bathed, wore sacred clothes, and started his routine duties, viz. Agnihotra etc. Then Baba as usual started for Lendi and said - "Take some Geru (i.e. a red miry substance, used to dye clothes in saffron-color), we shall today don saffron-colored cloth. None understood what Baba meant. Then after some time when Baba returned, and preparations for the noon-Arati were being made. Bapusaheb Jog asked Moolay Shastri, whether he would accompany him for the Arti. He replied that he would see Baba in the afternoon. Very soon Baba sat on his seat, was worshipped by the devotees and Arti commenced. Then Baba said - "Get some Dakshina from the new (Nasik) Brahmin." Booty himself went to get the Dakshina; and when he gave Baba's message to Moolay Shastri, he was sorely perplexed. He thought in his mind thus: "I am a pure Agnihotri Brahmin, why should I pay Dakshina? Baba may be a great Saint. I am not His dependent." But as a great Saint like Sai Baba was asking for Dakshina through a millionaire like Booty, he could not refuse. So leaving his routine unfinished, he forthwith started with Booty to the Masjid. Thinking himself holy and sacred, and the Masjid otherwise, he remained at a distance, and joining his hands threw flowers at Baba. Then lo! all of a sudden, he saw no Baba on the seat, but saw his late Guru Gholap Swami there.

Sri Sai Sat Charitra Chapter 12 to be continued