Warding
off Devotee's Calamities
Stories of
(1) Shevade and
(2) Sapatneker
At the commencement of this chapter, some one asked Hemadpant whether Sai
Baba was a Guru or Sad-guru. In order to answer the question Hemadpant
describes the signs or marks of a Sad-guru as follows:-
Signs of Sad-guru He who
teaches us Veda and Vedanta or the six Shastras (systems), he who controls the
breath, or brands his body with Mudras (metallic marks of Vishnu's weapons) or
gives pleasing discourses regarding Brahma, he who gives mantras (sacred
syllables) to the disciples and orders them to chant the same a certain number
of times, but does not assure them any result in a definite time, he who by his
spacious wordy knowledge explains beautifully the Ultimate Principle, but has
himself got no experience or self-realization is not a Sad-guru. But he, who by
his discourse creates in us, a distaste for the enjoyments of this world and
the next, and gives us a taste of self-realization, who is well-versed in both
the theoretical and practical knowledge (self-realization) deserves to be called
a Sad-guru. How can he, who is himself devoid of self-realization, give it to
the disciples? A Sad-guru does not, even in his dream, expect any service or
profit from his disciples. On the contrary he wishes to serve them. He does not
think that he is great and the disciple small. Not only he loves him as his son
but regards him as equal to himself or as Brahma. The main characteristic of a
Sad-guru is that he is the abode of peace. He is never restless nor ruffled. He
has no pride of his learning. The poor and the rich, the small and the great,
are the same to him.
Hemadpant thinks that on account of the store or accumulation of merits in
his past births, he had the good fortune of meeting and being blessed by such a
Sad-guru as Sai Baba. Even in full youth He hoarded nothing (expect perhaps
chillim). He had no family, no friend, no home, nor any support. Since He was
eighteen, His control of mind was perfect and extra-ordinary. He lived then
fearless in a secluded place and always abided in His Self. Seeing the pure
attachment of His devotees He always acted in their interests and hence He was
in a way dependent on them. What experiences He gave to His devotees while he
was living in flesh, are even to-day, after His Mahasamadhi, obtained now by
those who attach themselves to Him. What the devotees have to do is this - They
have to trim their heart-lamp of faith and devotion, and burn in it wicks of
love, and when this is done, the flame of knowledge (self-realization) will be
lit up and shine brighter. Mere knowledge without love is dry; nobody wants
such knowledge. Without love there is no contentment; so we should have
unbroken and unbounded love. How can we praise love? Everything is
insignificant before it. Without love our reading, hearing and the study are of
no avail. In the wake of love follow devotion, dispassion, peace and liberation
with all their treasures. We do not get love for anything unless we feel
earnestly about it. So where there is real yearning and feeling, God manifests
Himself. It includes love and is the means of liberation.
Now let us revert to the main story of this chapter. Let a man go to a true
saint with a pure mind, otherwise (fraudulently) and hold his feet; ultimately
he is sure to be saved. This is illustrated by the following stories.
Mr.Shevade Mr.
Sapatneker of Akkalkot (Sholapur District) was studying for law. A co-student
Mr.Shevade met him. Other fellow students also gathered together and compared
notes of their study. It was found by the questions and answers amongst
themselves, that Mr.Shevade was the least prepared of all for the examination,
and therefore all the students derided him. But he said that though he was not
prepared, he was sure to pass the examination, as his Sai Baba was there to get
him through it successfully. Mr.Sapatnekar was surprised at this remark. He
took Mr.Shevade aside and asked him who this Sai Baba was whom he extolled so
high. He replied - "There lives in a Masjid in Shirdi (Ahmednagar
District) a fakir. He is a great Sat-purusha. There may be other saints, but
this is unique. Unless there is a great store of merits on one's account, one
can't see Him. I fully believe in Him, and what He says will be never untrue.
He has assured me that I will pass definitely next year and I am confident that
I will get through the final examination also with His grace."
Mr.Sapatneker laughed at his friend's confidence and jeered at him and Baba.
Sapatnekars Mr.Sapatnekar
passed his examination, settled at Akkalkot and practised as a pleader there.
Ten years after this, i.e., in 1913 he lost his only son on account of a throat
disease. This broke his heart. He sought relief by making a pilgrimage to
Pandharpur, Ganagapur and other holy places. He got no peace of mind. Then he
read Vedanta, which also did not help him. In the meanwhile he remembered
Mr.Shevade's remarks and his faith in Baba, and he thought that he too should
go to Shirdi and see Baba. He went to Shirdi with his younger brother Panditrao
and was much pleased to see Baba from a distance. When he went near and
prostrated himself and placed a coconut before Baba with pure feeling
(devotion), the latter at once cried out "Get away." Saptnekar hung
down his head, moved back and sat aside. He wanted to consult somebody who
would advise him how to proceed. Somebody mentioned Bala Shimpi's name.
Sapatnekar saw him and sought his help. They bought Baba's photos and came with
them to the Masjid. Baba Shimpi took a photo in his hand, gave it to Baba and
asked him whose photo it was. Baba said that this photo was the 'Yara' (Lover)
of him, pointing to Sapatnekar. Saying this Baba laughed and all others joined.
Bala asked Baba the significance of the laugh and beckoned Sapatnekar to come
forward and take darshan. When Saptnakar began to prostrate himself, Baba again
cried "Get out." Sapatnekar did not know what to do. Then they both
joined their hands and sat before Baba, praying. Baba finally ordered
sapatnekar to clear out immediately. Both were sad and dejected. As Baba's
order had to be obeyed, Sapatnekar left Shirdi with a heavy heart praying that
he should be allowed to take darshan next time.
Mrs.Saptnekar One year
elapsed. Still his mind was not at peace. He went to Gangapur, where he felt
more restless. Then he went to Madhegaon for rest and finally decided to go to
Kashi. Two days before starting, his wife got a vision. In her dream she was
going with a pitcher to Lakadsha's well. There a fakir with a piece of cloth
round his head, who was sitting at the foot of the Neem tree, came close to her
and said - "My dear lassie, why get exhausted for nothing? I get your
pitcher filled with pure water." She was afraid of the fakir and hastened
back with the empty pitcher. The fakir followed her. At this she was awakened
and opened her eyes. She told this vision to her husband. They thought that
this was an auspicious sign and they both left for Shirdi. When they reached
the Masjid, Baba was absent. He had gone to Lendi. They waited till His return.
When He returned, she was surprised to see that the fakir she saw in her
vision, resembled exactly Baba. She reverentially prostrated herself before
Baba and sat looking at him. Seeing her humility Baba was much pleased and
began to tell a story in his peculiar characteristic fashion to a third party.
He said - "My arms, abdomen and waist are paining for a long time. I took
many medicines, the pains did not abate. I got sick of the medicines as they
gave me no relief, but I am surprised to see now that all the pains have
disappeared at once." Though no name was mentioned it was the story of
Mrs.Sapatnekar herself. Her pains, as described by Baba, left her soon and she
was happy.
Then Mr.Sapatnekar went ahead to take darshan. He was again welcomed with
the former "Get out." This time he was more penitent and persevering.
He said that Baba's displeasure was due to his past deeds and resolved to make
amends for the same. He determined to see Baba alone and ask his pardon for his
past actions. This he did. He placed his head on Baba's feet and Baba placed
His hand on it and Sapatnekar sat stroking Baba's leg. Then a shepherdess came
and sat massaging Baba's waist. Baba in his characteristic way began to tell
the story of a bania. He related the various vicissitudes of all his life,
including the death of his only son. Sapatnekar was surprised to see that the
story which Baba related was his own, and he wondered how Baba knew every
detail of it. He came to know that He was omniscient and knew the hearts of
all. When this thought crossed his mind, Baba still addressing the shepherdess
and pointing to Sapatnekar said - "This fellow blames Me and charges Me
with killing his son. Do I kill people's children? Why does this fellow come to
the Masjid and cry? Now I will do this I will again bring that very child back
in his wife's womb." WIth these words He placed His blessing and on his
head and comforted him saying - "These feet are old and holy, you are
care-free now; place entire faith in Me and you will soon get your
object." Sapatnekar was much moved with emotion, he bathed Baba's feet
with his tears and then returned to his residence.
Then he made preparations of worship and naivedya and came with his wife to
the Masjid. He offered all this to Baba daily and accepted prasad from Him.
There was a crowd in the Masjid and Sapatnekar went there and saluted Baba
again and again. Seeing heads clashing against heads Baba said to Sapatnekar -
"Oh, why do you prostrate yourself now and then? The one Namaskar offered
with love and humility is enough." Then Sapatnekar witnessed that night
the chavadi procession described before. In that procession Baba looked like a
veritable Pandurang (Vithal).
At parting next day, Sapatnekar thought that he should first pay one rupee
as dakshina and if Baba asked again, instead of saying no, he should pay one
more, reserving with him sufficient amount as expenses for the journey. When he
went to the Masjid and offered one rupee, Baba asked for another as per his
intention and when it was paid, Baba blessed him him saying - "Take the
coconut, put it in your wife's oti (upper fold of her sari), and go away at
ease without the least anxiety." He did so, and within a year a son was
born to him and with an infant of 8 months the pair came to Shirdi, placed it
at Baba's feet and prayed thus - "Oh, Sainath, we do not know how to
redeem Your obligations, therefore we prostrate ourselves before You, bless us
poor helpless fellows, henceforth let Your holy feet be our sole refuge. Many
thoughts and ideas trouble us in waking and dream states, so turn away our minds
from them to Your bhajan and bless us."
The son was named Murlidhar. Two others (Bhaskar and Dinkar) were born
afterwards. The Sapatnekar pair thus realized that Baba's words were never
untrue and unfulfilled, but turned out literally true.
Bow to Shri sai - Peace be to all 
