Shri Sai Satcharita Chapter IX
Effect of Compliance and Non-compliance with Baba’s Orders at the Time of
Taking Leave - (a few instances) - Mendicancy and Its Necessity - Devotees’
Experiences (Tarkhad family’s experiences) - Baba Fed Sumptuously - How?
The end of the last chapter briefly indicated that the bhaktas who obeyed Baba’s
orders at the time of taking leave fared well and those who disobeyed them, suffered many
a mishap. This statement will be amplified and illustrated with a few striking instances as
well as by other matters dealt with in this chapter.
One peculiarity of Shirdi pilgrims was this: none could leave Shirdi without Baba’s
permission, and if one did leave, he invited untold sufferings. However, if anyone was
asked to leave Shirdi, he could not stay any longer. Baba gave certain suggestions or hints
when bhaktas went to bid Him goodbye and take His leave. These suggestions had to be
followed. If they were not followed exactly, or were disregarded, accidents were sure to
befall those who acted contrary to Baba’s directions. Here are a few instances:
Tatya Kote Patil
Tatya Kote was once going in a tanga to Kopargaon bazar. He came in haste to the
masjid, greeted Baba, and said that he would go to Kopargaon bazar. Baba said, “Don’t
make haste. Stop a little. Forego the bazar! Don’t go out of the village.” Seeing his
anxiety to go, Baba asked him at the very least, to take Shama (Madhavarao Deshpande)
with him. Disregarding this advice, Tatya Kote immediately got in his tanga and drove off.
Of the two horses, one, which cost Rs. 300/, was very active and restless. After passing
Sawul well, it began to run rashly, got a sprain in its waist, and fell down. Tatya was not hurt much,
but was reminded of Sai Baba’s direction. On another occasion, while
proceeding to Kolhar village, he disregarded Baba’s instruction, and drove a tanga which
met with a similar accident.
European Gentleman
A European gentleman, with a specific object in mind, once came to Shirdi from Bombay
with an introductory note from Nanasaheb Chandorkar. He was comfortably
accommodated in a tent. The gentleman wanted to kneel before Baba and kiss His hand,
so he tried thrice to step into the masjid, but Baba prevented him from doing so. He was
asked to sit in the open courtyard below and take Baba’s darshan from there. Not pleased
with this reception, the man decided to leave Shirdi at once and came to bid Baba
goodbye. Baba asked him to go the next day and not to hurry and many people urged the
gentleman to abide by Baba’s direction. Not listening to all of this, he left Shirdi in a tanga.
At first, the horses ran alright, but when Sawul well was passed, a bicycle darted in front of
the horses and frightened them, causing them to run fast. The tanga was turned topsyturvy
and the gentleman fell down and was dragged some distance. He was immediately
released from the tanga, but had to go to Kopargaon hospital for treatment of the injuries
he received.
Because of such experiences, everyone learnt the lesson that those who disobeyed
Baba’s instructions met with accidents in one way or the other, and those who obeyed
them, were safe and happy.
The Necessity of Mendicancy
Now to return to the question of mendicancy. A question may arise in the minds of
some that if Baba was such a great being, God in fact, why should He have recourse to the
begging bowl all His life? This question may be considered and replied to from two
standpoints: (1) Who is fit to live by the begging bowl? Our Shastras state that those
individuals who have become free from the three main desires, viz. (1) for progeny (2) for
wealth and (3) for fame, and who accept sannyas, are those fit to live by begging alms.
They cannot make cooking arrangements and dine at home. The duty of feeding them
rests on the shoulders of the householders. Sai Baba was neither a householder nor a
vanaprastha. He was a celibate sannyasi, i.e. sannyasi from boyhood. His firm conviction
was that the universe was His home. He was the Lord Vasudeo - supporter of the universe
and the imperishable Brahma. He, therefore, had the full right to have recourse to the
begging bowl.
Now another standpoint will be taken regarding pancha soona - the five sins and their
atonement. We all know that in order to prepare food stuffs and meals, householders have
to go through five actions or processes, viz. (1) kandani - pounding ( 2) peshani - grinding,
cleaning (3) udakumbhi - washing pots (4) marjani - sweeping and cleaning and (5) chulli
- lighting hearths. These processes involve the destruction of many small insects and
creatures, and thus the householders incur sin. In order to atone for this sin, our Shastras
prescribe five kinds of sacrifices, viz. (1) Brahmavajna or (2) Vedadhyayan - offerings to
Brahman or the study of the Vedas (3) Pitra-yajna - offerings to the ancestors (4) Deva
yajna - offerings to the gods (5) Bhoota yajna - offerings to the great beings (6) Manushyaatithi
yajna - offerings to men or uninvited guests. If these sacrifices enjoined by the
Shastras are duly performed, the mind becomes purified and this helps to gain knowledge
and Self-realization. Baba, in going from house to house, reminded those who dwelled
therein of their sacred duty, and fortunate were the people who received the lesson in their
homes from Baba.
Devotees’s Experiences
Another interesting subject will now be examined. Lord Krishna has said in the
Bhagavad Gita (9-26) “Whosoever devoutly offers to me a leaf, a flower, a piece of fruit or
water, from that pure hearted man, I accept that pious offering.” In the case of Sai Baba, if
a devotee really longed to offer anything to Him, and if he forgot to offer such, Baba would
remind him or his friend about the offering and make him present it to Him. Baba would
then accept the offering and bless the devotee. A few instances of this type are given
below.
Tarkhad Family (father and son)
Ramachandra Atmaram, alias Babasaheb Tarkhad, formerly a Prarthana-Samajist,
became a staunch devotee of Sai Baba. His wife and son loved Baba equally, or perhaps
even more, than he. It was once proposed that Master Tarkhad should go with his mother
to Shirdi and spend his May vacation there, but the son was unwilling to go. He was
concerned that if he left his home at Bandra, the worship of Sai Baba in their house would
not be properly performed, as his father, at that time, was a Prarthana-Samajist and would
not care to worship Baba’s portrait. When, however, the father gave an assurance on oath
that he would perform the worship in the exact manner as did the son, the mother and son
left for Shirdi that very Friday night.
The next day, Saturday, Mr. Tarkhad got up early, took his bath, and before
proceeding with the puja, prostrated himself before the shrine and said, “Baba, I am going
to perform the puja exactly as my son has been doing, but please let it not be a formal
drill.” After the father performed the puja, he offered a few pieces of lump sugar as
naivedya (offering) which were then distributed at lunch time.
That evening, and also on Sunday, everything went well. The following Monday was
a working day and the puja continued to be performed properly. Mr.Tarkhad, who had
never performed puja like that in his life, felt great confidence within himself, as everything
was going quite satisfactorily, according to the promise given to his son.
On Tuesday, he performed the morning puja as usual and left for work. Coming
home at noon, he found there was no prasad (sugar) to partake when the meal was
served. He asked the servant cook who told him no offering was made that morning and
that he had completely forgotten to perform that part of the puja (offering naivedya).
Hearing this, Mr. Tarkhad arose quickly from his seat and prostrated himself before the
shrine, expressing his regret and, at the same time, chiding Baba for the want of guidance
in making the whole affair a matter of mere drill. He then wrote a letter to his son stating
the facts, requesting him to lay it before Baba’s feet and to ask His pardon for his neglect.
This happened in Bandra on Tuesday at noon. At about the same time on that same
Tuesday in Shirdi, when the noon arati was just about to commence, Baba said to Mrs.
Tarkhad, “Mother, I have been to your house in Bandra with a view to have something to
eat. I found the door locked. I gained entrance inside and found to My regret that bhau
(Mr. Tarkhad) left nothing for me to eat, so I have returned from there without eating
anything.” The lady could not understand what Baba meant, but the son, who was close
by, understood that there was something wrong with the puja at Bandra and so he
requested Baba to permit him to go home. Baba refused permission, but allowed the son
to perform the puja there. The son then wrote a letter to his father stating all that took
place at Shirdi and implored his father not to neglect the puja at home.
It is astonishing that both these letters crossed each other and were delivered to the
respective parties the very same next day.
Mrs. Tarkhad
Let us now describe the case of Mrs. Tarkhad herself.
She offered three things viz. (1) roasted brinjal mixed with curds and spice), (2)
slices of brinjal fried in ghee, and (3) sweet meat balls. The following story illustrates how
Baba accepted them.
Raghuvir Bhaskar Purandare of Bandra, a great devotee of Baba, was preparing to
leave for Shirdi with his wife and family. Mrs. Tarkhad went to see Mrs. Purandare and
gave her two brinjals, requesting she prepare bharit of one brinjal and kacharya of the
other, and then serve them to Baba. Upon reaching Shirdi, Mrs. Purandare took her dish
of bharit, which she had prepared from one of Mrs. Tarkhad’s brinjals, to the masjid just as
Baba was about to start His meal. Baba found the bharit very tasty, so He distributed it to
all and said that He now wanted kacharyas. Word was sent to Radha Krishna Mai that
Baba wanted kacharyas. She was in a fix as it was not the season for brinjals. How to get
brinjals was the question! When an inquiry was made as to who brought the bharit, it was
found that Mrs. Purandare had not only brought the bharit, but was also entrusted by Mrs.
Tarkhad with the duty of preparing and serving kacharyas. Everyone then came to know
the significance of Baba’s inquiry regarding kacharyas and were wonderstruck at Baba’s all
pervasive knowledge.
Another incident regarding Mrs. Tarkhad took place in December, 1915 when
Govind Balaram Mankar wanted to go to Shirdi to perform the obsequies of his father.
Before he left Bombay, he came to see Mr. and Mrs. Tarkhad. Mrs. Tarkhad wanted to
send something with Govind to Baba. She searched through the whole house, but found
nothing except a pedha, which had already been offered as naivedya. Still, out of great
devotion to Baba, she sent the pedha with Govind, hoping that Baba would accept it and
eat it.
Govind went to Shirdi and saw Baba, but forgot, as he was in mourning, to take the
pedha with him. Baba simply waited, saying nothing.
Then later, when Govind went to Baba in the afternoon, he again went empty
handed without the pedha. Baba could wait no longer and therefore asked him straight
out, “What did you bring Me?” “Nothing” was the reply. Baba asked him again. The same
reply came forth again. Then Baba asked him a leading question, “Did not the mother
(Mrs. Tarkhad) give some sweet meat to you for Me when you were ready to leave?” The
boy then remembered the whole thing. He felt abashed. He asked Baba’s pardon, ran to
his lodging, brought the pedha, and gave it to Baba. As soon as Baba had it in His hand,
He put it in His mouth and gulped it down. Thus, the devotion of Mrs. Tarkhad was
recognized and accepted.
“As men believe in Me, so do I accept them.” (Gita 4-11) was proved in this case.
Once Mrs. Tarkhad was staying in a certain house in Shirdi. At noon, when meals
were ready and dishes were being served, a hungry dog turned up and began to whimper.
Mrs. Tarkhad got up at once and threw it a piece of bread which the dog gulped with great
relish. In the afternoon when she went to the masjid and was sitting at some distance, Sai
Baba called out to her, “Mother, you have fed me sumptuously up to my throat. My
afflicted pranas (life forces) have been satisfied. Always act like this, and this will stand
you in good stead. Sitting in this masjid, I shall never, never speak untruth. Take pity on
Me like this. First give bread to the hungry, and then eat yourself. Note this well.”
At first, Mrs. Tarkhad could not understand the meaning of what Baba said, so she
replied, “Baba, how could I feed You? I am dependent on others and must take my food
from them on payment.” Then Baba replied, “Eating that lovely bread, I am heartily
contented and I am still belching. The dog which you saw before the meal and to whom
you gave the piece of bread is one with Me. So too, all other creatures (cats, pigs, fleas,
cows etc.) are one with Me. I am roaming in their forms. He who sees Me in all these
creatures is My beloved. So abandon the sense of duality and distinction and serve Me
as you did today.” Hearing these nectar like words, she was so moved, her eyes were
filled with tears, her throat was choked, and her joy knew no bounds.
* * * * *
Moral“See God in all beings” is the moral of this chapter. The Upanishads, the Bhagavad
Gita and the Bhagwat all exhort us to perceive God or Divinity in all creatures. By the
instance given at the end of this chapter, and others too numerous to mention, Sai Baba
has practically demonstrated to us how to put the Upanishadic teachings into practice. In
this way, Sai Baba stands as the best exponent or teacher of the Upanishadic doctrines.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
About Imran
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