Shri Sai Satcharitra-Chapter 42-Part I

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Previous Indication - Averting Death of Ramachandra Dada Patil and Tatya Kote Patil - Charity to Laxmibai Shinde - Last Moment.

This chapter describes the Passing away of Baba.

Sai Ram. Baba did not pass away any where but left His physical body. His presence is felt more than before. Sai Ram.

Preliminary

The stories given in the previous chapter have shown that the light of Guru's grace removes out fear of the mundane existence, opens the path of salvation and turns our misery into happiness. If we always remember the feet of the Sad-guru, our troubles come to an end, death loses its sting and the misery of this mundane existence is obliterated. Therefore those who care for their welfare should carefully listen to these stories of Sai Samarth, which will purify their minds.

In the beginning, Hemadpant dwells on Dr.Pandit's worship and his marking Baba's forehead with Tripundra, i.e., three horizontal lines; but as this has been already described in chapter XI, this has been omitted here.

Sai Ram. The English edition by Sri Gunaji is compact and concise. The original Marathi edition may be more poetic but since I (and many other Sai devotees) can't understand that language, we can continue to use Sri Gunaji's English translation. It has been my experience that this English translation is quite powerful and is infused with the grace of Sri Sai Baba. Sai Ram.

Previous Indication

The readers up till now heard the stories of Baba's life. Let them now hear attentively Baba's Passing away. Baba got a slight attack of fever on 28th September, 1918. The fever lasted for 2 or 3 days, but afterwards Baba gave up his food and thereby He grew weaker and weaker. On the 17th day, i.e., Tuesday, the 15th October 1918, Baba left His mortal coil at about 2-30 p.m. (Vide Professor G.G. Narke's letter, dated 5th November 1918, to Dadasaheb Khaparde, published in "Sai Leela" magazine, Page 78, first year). Two years before this, i.e., in 1916, Baba gave an indication of His Passing away, but nobody understood it then. It was as follows:-

On the Vijayadashmi (Dasara) day Baba at once got into a wild rage in the evening when people were returning from 'Seemollanghan' (crossing the border or limits of the village). Taking off His head-dress, kafni and langota etc., He tore them and threw them in the Dhuni before Him. Fed by this offering, the fire in the Dhuni began to burn brighter and Baba shone still brighter. He stood there stark naked and with His burning red eyes shouted - "You fellows, now have a look and decide finally whether I am a Moslem or a Hindu." Everybody was trembling with fear and none dared to approach Baba.

After some time Bhagoji Shinde, the leper devotee of Baba, went boldly near Him and succeeded in tying a langota (waist-band) round His waist and said - "Baba, what is all this? To-day is the Seemollanghan, i.e., Dasara Holiday." Baba striking the ground with His satka said - "This is my Seemollanghan (crossing the border)." Baba did not cool down till 11-00 p.m. and the people doubted whether the Chavadi procession would ever take place that night.

After an hour Baba resumed His normal condition and dressing Himself as usual attended the Chavadi procession as described before. By this incident Baba gave a suggestion that Dasara was the proper time for Him to cross the border of life, but none understood its meaning. Baba gave also another indication as follows...

Sai Ram. Dasara is the tenth day after Navaratri (9 nights) and Baba was indicating that Vijaya Dasami (Vijaya means victory and Vijaya Dasami represents the victory over the ego) was the right day to go beyond all dharmas and attributes (man, woman, Hindu, Muslim etc.). Baba was always against any one fasting but He Himself gave up food and allowed His body to waste away so that people have some reason to console themselves and prepare themselves about Baba's shedding His physical body. As indicated elsewhere, Baba was not limited to His physical body and is giving darshan even now to those in need. 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..