Importance Of Baba's Punya Tithi (Contd)

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In Chapter 31, we have this wonderful story of Balaram Mankar, to whom Baba gave darshan at Machindragarh and to whom, Baba told: "In Shirdi many thoughts and ideas began to rise in your mind and I sent you here to rest your unsteady mind. You thought that I was in Shirdi with a body composed of the five elements and three and a half cubits in length, and not outside of it. Now you see and determine for yourself whether the person you see here now is the same you saw at Shirdi. It is for this reason that I sent you here." Sai Ram.

Sai Ram. It is thus clear that Sai was One with all Gods and Gurus and thus One with the Nirgun Para Brahma. Then, why did He take birth and why did He live in Shirdi for more than 60 years and why did He suffer from asthma, cough etc. and pass away after suffering from fever for a few days? These questions are bound to arise in the minds of people like us, who are bound by the physical senses. Sai Ram.

Sai Ram. The answer to the above questions is simple: Since the Nirgun form of God (Para Brahma, Guru) is difficult to be meditated upon, the Guru takes the Sagun form as a human being and goes through the motions of eating, suffering and all aspects of life attached to a mortal body like us. But He is all the time aware of His true nature, that He is not His body, mind, ego as beautifully expressed by Sri Adi Shankara in His Nirvana Shatkam: "Mano Buddhyahamkara Chittani Naaham,…. Chidananda Rupa, Sivoham, Sivoham.

Baba also gave several instances of His true nature but lived and played with His devotees so that they get the benefit of His physical presence. Here we are reminded of the Bhramara – Keeta Nyaya – The Honey bee goes on buzzing around the cocoon of the Pupa and thus converts the Pupa into a honeybee itself, indicating that the disciple becomes one with the Guru by constant remembrance and association. We are reminded of the Bhaja Govinda Stotram, again bestowed lovingly to us by Sri Adi Sankara: "Satsangatve Nissangatvam, Nissangatve Nirmohatvam, Nirmohatve Nischala Tatvam, Nischala Tatve, Jeevan Muktih, Bhaja Govindam…." Company of Saints is the best route to get detachment and get liberated. Sai Ram.

Sai Ram. In chapter 44, the author of Sri Sai Satcharitra says: "From this and other accounts, let the readers consider whether Sai Baba was the three and a half cubits' body that He occupied for some years and that He left thereafter or He was the Self inside. The body, composed of the five elements is perishable and transient, but the Self within is the thing - Absolute Reality which is immortal and in- transient. The pure Being, Consciousness or Brahma, the Ruler and Controller of the senses and mind is Sai. He pervades all things in the universe and there is no space without Him. For fulfilling His mission He assumed the body and after it was fulfilled, He threw away the body (the finite aspect), and assumed His infinite aspect.

Sai ever lives, as also the previous incarnation of God Datta, Shri Narasimha Saraswati of Ganagapur. His passing away is only an outward aspect, but really He pervades all animate and inanimate things and is their inner controller and ruler. This can be, and is even now experienced by many who surrender themselves completely to Him and worship Him with whole-hearted devotion.

Though it is not possible for us to see Baba's form now, still if we go to Shirdi, we shall find His beautiful life-like portrait adorning the Masjid. This has been drawn by Shamrao Jayakar, a famous artist and well-known devotee of Baba. To an imaginative and devout spectator this portrait can give even today the satisfaction of taking Baba's darshan. Though Baba has no body now, He lives there and everywhere, and will effect the welfare of the devotees even now as He was doing before when He was embodied.

Saints like Baba never die, though they look like men, they are in reality God Himself." And in addition to that beautiful portrait, Sai allowed His idols to be installed in many places for the benefit of the devotees like us. Sai Ram.

Just as Dasganu's Harikatha brought one Cholkar to Shirdi (Chapter 15), if this article brings even one reader closer to Sai in body, mind and spirit, the author would feel blessed. In any case, Sarvam Sri Sainatharpanamastu every thing is offered to Sri Sai.