Shri Sai Sat Charitra-Chapter XXIX-Part I

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Sai Ram. These stories are like beacons in the stormy seas of the world. They help the sadhakas reach the shores of liberation safely. Sai Ram.

Madrasi Bhajani Mela

It was in the year 1916 that a Madrasi Bhajan Mela (Party of the Ramadasi Panth) started on a Pilgrimage to the holy city of Banaras. The Party consisted of a man, his wife, daughter and sister-in-law. Unfortunately their names are not mentioned. On their way, the party heard that there lived at Shirdi in Kopergaon Taluka, Ahmednagar District, a great sage named Sai Baba, who was calm and composed, and who was very liberal and who distributed money every day to His Bhaktas and to skillful persons, who went and showed their skill there.

A lot of money in the form of Dakshina was collected daily by Sai Baba and out of this amount, He gave daily one rupee to a three year old girl Amani, the daughter of a Bhakta Kondaji and Rs. 2 to 5 to some, Rs. 6 to Jamali, the mother of Amani and Rs. 10 to 20 and even Rs. 50 to other Bhaktas as He pleased.

Sai Ram. Knowing the names of the bhajan mela party is not important. It is important to note that they represent majority of seekers, who go to temples and to Saints for realising materialissic desires. Saints like Sai Baba pulled them to their feet so that they realise the real purpose of life and go after spiritual wealth. Sai Baba gave money to various people depending on their karma and to test them how they used the money so received. Some were greedy and others took it as His prasad. Sai Ram.

On hearing all this, the party came to Shirdi and stayed there. The Mela did very good bhajan and sang very good songs, but inwardly they craved for money. Three of the party were full of avarice, but the chief lady or mistress was of a very different nature. She had a regard and love for Baba. Once it so happened, that when the noon-day Arati was going on, Baba was much pleased with her faith and devotion, and was pleased to give her darshan of her Ishta (Beloved Deity). To her Baba appeared as Sitanath (Rama) while to all the others the usual Sainath. On seeing her beloved Deity, she was very much moved. Tears began to flow from her eyes and she clapped her hands in joy. The people began to wonder at her joyful mood; but were not able to guess its cause.

Late in the afternoon the lady disclosed everything to her husband. She told him how she saw Shri Rama in Sai Baba. He thought that she was very simple and devout, and her seeing Rama might be a hallucination of her mind. He pooh-poohed her, saying that it was not possible, that she alone should see Rama while they all saw Sai Baba. She did not resent this remark, as she was fortunate enough to get Ramadarshan now and then, when her mind was calm and composed and free from avarice.

Only a mind free from avarice can be calm and only a calm mind can reflect the glorious form of God. Sai Baba always said that He was not confined to His physical body and those who thought of Him confined to His physical body did not understand His true nature. We may recall that another Ram Bhakt (Doctor friend of Mamalatdar - Chapter 12) also saw Sri Ram in Sai Baba. Others saw Sri Ganesha, Sri Maruti, Sri Dattatreya etc. and Moole Shastri saw his Guru Gholap in Sai Baba. By appearing as other Gods and Gurus, Sai was conveying a clear message that He was one with the Almighty and was devoid of any size and shape.

Chat With Devoties Of Shirdi Saibaba