Shri Sai Satcharitra-Chapter 38-Part I

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In the last chapter we described Baba's Chavadi procession. In this we take up Baba's Handi (cooking pot) and some other subjects.

Preliminary

Oh, blessed Sad-guru Sai, we bow to You, Who have given happiness to the whole world, accomplished the welfare of the devotees and have removed the affliction of those who have resorted to Your Feet. Being very liberal and being the protector and saviour of the Bhaktas who surrender themselves to You, You incarnate yourself in this world to oblige the people and do them good. The liquid essence of Pure Self was poured into the mould of Brahma and out of this has come out the crest-jewel of the saints-Sai. This Sai is Atmarama Himself. He is the abode of perfect divine bliss. Having Himself attained all objects of life, He made His devotees free from desires and set them free.

Baba's Handi

Different sadhanas (means of accomplishments) are prescribed in our scriptures for different ages. Tapa (Penance) is recommended for Krita age, Jnana (Knowledge) for Treta age, Yajna (Sacrifice) for Dwapara age and Dana (Charity) for Kali (present) age. Of all the charities, giving food is the best one. We are much perturbed when we get no food at noon. Other beings feel similarly under similar circumstances. Knowing this, he who gives food to the poor and hungry, is the best donor or charitable person. The Taittiriya Upanishad says that "Food is Brahma; from food all the creatures are born and having been born, by food they live, and having departed, into food again they enter."

Sai Ram. Anna Dan (offering of food) is accepted as the best of dana (charity) since a man needs food to live and can't eat money. We are reminded of the story of Midas, who found that his touch turned food into gold and requested that the power be withdrawn! Similarly we see many rich people, who have enormous wealth unable to eat simple food! Such people are encouraged to do anna dan so that their karmic debts are cleared and good health restored. Sai Ram.

When an Atithi (uninvited guest) comes to our door at noon, it is our bounden duty to welcome him by giving him food. Other kinds of charities, viz., giving away wealth, property and clothes etc., require some discrimination, but in the matter of food, no such consideration is necessary. Let anybody come to our door at noon, he should be served forthwith; and if lame, crippled, blind and diseased paupers come, they should be fed first and the able-bodied persons and our relations afterwards. The merit of feeding the former is much greater than that of feeding the latter.

Other kinds of charities are imperfect without this Anna-dana (giving of food) as stars are without the moon, a necklace without its central medal, a crown without pinnacle, a tank without a lotus, bhajan without love, a married lady without the kumkum-mark, singing without a sweet voice or butter-milk without salt. Just as varan (Pulse-soup) excels all other dishes, Anna-dana is the best of all merits. Now let us see how Baba prepared food and distributed it.

Sai Ram. We know from Sri Guru Charitra that Sumati, the chaste and noble wife of Sri Appala Raju of Puitapuram served food to the Atithi in the full faith that he is none other than Lord Dattatreya Himself and her faith was amply rewarded when He manifested Himself in front of her and also gave her a boon that He would be born as her son. She knew the importance of this Atithi Vrat (serving Atithi as the very God) because she knew from the stories of Sati Anasuya and similar Pativratas the importance of Atithi Yagna (we have already seen about the Pancha Sunas - the five sins in preparation of food and the five yagnas that are needed to be performed - Sai Satcharitra Chapter 9 - Necessity of Mendicacny)

She gave food to the wandering monk who came to her house though Pitru Sraddha was going on at that time. Normally food is not served till the priests finish their lunch. But she knew that atithi is Narayana Himself verily and thus established the supremacy of atithi dharma over all other dharmas and the importance of anna dan. Sai Ram.

To be continued

About the author

S.V. Swamy

Swarna.Venkateswara Swamy, (also known as Venkateswara Swamy Swarna, S.V.Swamy or simply Swamy) is a physicist and a metallurgist by education. He considers Sai Baba of Shirdi as his Sadguru but respects all Gurus. He is an avid reader, a book reviewer and an editor. He has an abiding interest in holistic health systems..