My Leela is inscrutable - Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi
Miracles of Sai Baba
The villagers of Shirdi and afar soon found out that this was no
ordinary fakir but an avatar (incarnation) of a very high order. He
demonstrated through his miracles and utterances, the purpose and
intention for which he had come. He would often say, "My Leela is
inscrutable" . To each one he met, he imparted knowledge according to
the capacity of the recipient to absorb it. Baba's Leela's (miracles)
were plenty and varied, and we recount just a few which occurred
during and after his lifetime.
Lighting lamps with water
Long before Sai Baba's fame spread, he was fond of burning lights in
his Masjid and other Temples. But for the oil needed in those little
earthenware lights that he lit, he depended on the generosity of the
grocers of Shirdi. He had made it a rule to light earthenware lamps
in the masjid every evening and he would call on the grocers for
small donations. But there came a time when the grocers got tired of
giving oil free to Sai Baba and one day they bluntly refused to
oblige him, saying they had no fresh stocks. Without a word of
protest Sai Baba returned to the masjid. Into those earthenware lamps
he poured water and lighted the wicks. The lamps continued to burn
deep into the midnight. The matter came to the notice of the grocers
who now came to Sai Baba with profuse apologies. Wouldn't Sai Baba
kindly pardon them? Sai Baba pardoned them, but he warned them never
to lie again. "You could have refused to give me the oil, but did you
have to say that you
didn't have fresh stocks?" he admonished them. But he had made his
point.
Premonition of burning fields
Once, harvesting in Shirdi had been completed and the foodgrains of
the entire village had been stored in a yard. The summer was on. The
heat was intense as only those who have lived in Shirdi know. One
afternoon Sai Baba summoned Kondaji Sutar and said to him: "Go, your
field is on flrel" Frightened, Kondaji ran to his field and.
frantically looked around for any sign of fire. There wasn't any. He
returned to the masjid and informed Sai Baba that he had looked
everywhere but had found no trace of fire and why did Baba have to
frighten him? Unfazed, Baba said : "You better turn back and look
again." Baba was right after all. Kondaji noticed that a sheaf of
corn was indeed on fire and smoke was billowing from it. A strong
wind was fanning the fire and word had gone round to the villagers
who now came running to the scene. "Sai Baba," the people
shouted "help us, help us put the fire out!" Thereupon, Sai Baba
walked casually towards the yard, sprinkled
some water on a stack of sheaves and said: " There now! The fire
will die down!" And so it happened.
Stopping the rain
There is the story of one Rao Bahadur Moreshwar Fradhan who had come
to Shirdi to take Sai Baba's Darshan along with his wife. As the
couple were about to leave, it began to rain heavily. Thunder and
lightning rent the air. As the Pradhan couple looked round in dismay,
Sai Baba prayed. "Oh Allah!" he intoned, "let the rains cease. My
children are going home. Let them go peacefully!" The storm thereupon
ceased, the downpour reduced to slight drizzle and the Pradhans were
able to reach their destination safely.
Raising the water level in well
When Sai Baba first came to Shirdi it had of no basic facilities.
There was a well put only in name. It had no natural spring water and
if ever there had been one, it must long ago have dried up. Water had
to be fetched from a distance. When, therefore, Sai Baba gave his
permission to the villagers to celebrate the Ram Navami Fair, (Baba's
Birthday) the big problem facing the organizers was one of water
supply. So What should they do but go to Sai Baba with their
problem? "'Oh yes," said Sai Baba, 'so you want plenty of water, do
you? Here, take this and drop it in the well and wait and
see." "'This," turned up to be a platter of flowers on which some
prasad (blessed food) had been placed along with the remnants of alms
Baba had received earlier in the day. The villagers had no qualms
about doing as they were did. Their faith in Sai Baba was total. No
sooner had that platter of leaves been dropped in the well, it is
said, water rose from the bottom as if
by divine command and completely filled it. And great was the
rejoicing of the people.
Saving a child from drowning
One report has it that word had spread that the 3-year old daughter
of a poor man called Babu Kirwandikar had fallen into the well and
had been drowned. When the villagers rushed to the well they saw the
child suspended in mid-air as if some invisible hand was holding her
up! She was quickly pulled out. Sai Baba was fond of that child who
was often heard to say : I am Baba's sister!" After this incident,
the villagers took her at her word. "it is all Baba's Leela", the
people would say philosophically. They could offer no other
explanation.
Flow of Godavari (river) from Baba's feet
These were instances of things they had seen with their own eyes. It
was not secondhand information they had gathered. Sai Baba was to
them as real as their homes and their fields and their cattle and the
distant hills. Das Ganu once had an unforgettable experience. On a
festive occasion, he sought Baba's permission to go to a place called
Singba on the banks of the Godavari to have a bath in the holy
waters. "No," Baba replied resolutely, "where is the need to go all
the way when the Godavari is here right at my feet?" Das Ganu was
vexed. He was willing to concede that Ganga the holy river (Baba
frequently referred to Godavari as Ganga) rose from the feet of Sri
Narayana (one among the Hindu trinity of Gods) himself, but his faith
was not deep enough to believe that the waters of the Godavari could
spring form the feet of his master, Sri Sai. Baba who was reading Das
Ganu's mind decided that this was the time to strengthen Das Ganu's
faith. He told his
devotee: "come closer to me and hold the hollow of your palms at my
feet!". As soon as he did so water flowed freely out of the toes of
the master's feet and filled the hollow of Das Ganu's palms in no
time. His joy knew no limits. He sprinkled the water on his head and
his body and distributed some more among the assembled devotees as
tirtha (holy water).
Other miracles
There was that other occasion when many thought that the masjid which
housed Sai Baba itself would be consumed by fire from the flames
which leapt up from the dhuni. All that Baba did was to take some
swipes at a wooden pillar in front of him. With every blow the flames
subsided and the fire died down. "Miraculous, " said his devotees.
Often they would notice him stirring some hot concotion over the
kitchen fire, not with a ladle but with his bare hands. There never
was a time when his hand was scalded. What supernatural powers did he
have? On yet another occasion, Sai Baba was partaking of food with
three of his devotees in the masjid when, without any cause for
provocation, he exclaimed- "Stop!" Then, as if nothing had happened,
the four continued with their meal. Lunch over and the dishes
cleared, they stepped out of the masjid, when large chunks of the
ceiling fell on the very spot where they had been seated only a few
minutes earlier. Did Sai Baba's
powers extend even to inanimate matter, the devotees wondered.
Instances have been quoted by his devotees as to how Sai Baba
commanded the rains to stop and the winds to cease.
Understanding Sai Baba
Baba always maintained the "Dhuni" or the perpetual fire. The
realisation that all the phenomenons of the nature are perishable and
unworthy of our craving, is signified by "Udi" which Sal Baba
distributed to all. Baba never left Shirdi. He talked to people who
came to see Him. Sal Baba would often speak in symbols and parables
leaving his devotees to work out the answer - such as, "A man had a
beautiful horse, but no matter what he did, it would not run in
harness. An expert suggested that it should be taken back to the
place from where it had come. This was done and it become tracable
and useful". The explanation of this story is that the horse is the
Ego. As commander of the physical and mental powers of man, it is
useful but self-willed and therefore cause endless trouble. Taking it
back to its source is re-absorbing it in the spirit source which it
arises. It is the return to the source which purifies and enlightens.
From there the ego issues forth
again, no longer an ego, but a conscious agent of the spirit. Baba
would ask for Dakshina (money offered with respect to the Guru) from
some of those who came to see Him. This was not because he needed
their money. This was one of Baba's methods for testing out the
devotee's attachment to worldly things and willingness to surrender
his ego. Once one has surrendered himself totally to Him, Baba takes
care of all His spiritual and temporal needs. Baba regarded money
like everything else, in a symbolical manner. He once said, " I ask
only from those who the fakir (God) points out and in exchange I give
them ten times as much". By the end of the day, all the money Baba
had earned was distributed to the destitute, poor, sick and the
needy. Baba used to feed the fakirs and devotees and even cook for
them. For those who were accustomed to meat, he cooked meat and for
the others vegetarian fare.
The Dwarakamayee of Sai Baba was open to all, irrespective of caste,
creed or religion. Among those who came to see him and got his
darshan (establishing spiritual contact with the Guru) and blessings
were ministers, government officials, business people and village
folk. He was the common man's God. He Stayed with them, hejoked with
them, He slept and ate with them, he smoked a chillum (pipe) with
them, he sang and danced with them, having no pretensions of a God.
But all of them Knew that He protected them. Even today, though He
has left his gross body, they feel his presence and realise his worth
all the more. Baba would also refer to the sounding of the drum of
the beginning of eternity within the soul. This "anahat" sound
emerged from Baba's heart from every limb, every bone and pore of his
body. It was permeated with divine essence and Baba claimed that
though one day his physical body will not exist, his remains will
communicate with from the
grave. Therefore, the most important place in Shirdi is Baba's
temple - the Samadhi Mandir is his grave, which literally millions
have visited and still continues to draw many more.
Eleven Assurances of Sai Baba
Whoever puts his feet on Shirdi soil, his sufferings would come to an
end.
The wretched and miserable would rise into plenty of joy and
happiness, as soon as they climb the steps of my Mosque.
I shall be ever active and vigorous even after leaving this earthly
body.
My tomb shall bless and speak the needs of my devotees.
I shall be active and vigorous even from my tomb.
My mortal remains would speak from my tomb.
I am Ever living to help and guide all, who come to me, who surrender
to me and who seek refuge in me.
If you look at me I look at you.
If you cast your burden on me, I shall surely bear it.
If you seek my advice and help, it shall be given to you at once.
There shall be no want in the house of my devotees
'Shri Sai Satcharitra'
The significance of 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' (written by C.B Satpathy)
are : -
This is the first and foremost book based on the life-story of Shri
Sai Baba, which was originally composed in Marathi verse form. The
writing of the book started in the lifetime of Baba with his
blessings.
The Hindi translation of this book is in simple Hindi language, which
can be understood even by a common man.
The divine truth imparted by this book is even greater than the
knowledge contained in the Vedas and Geeta, because all the
characters and events in it are real and authentic as also recorded
in details by many devotees.
Because of the expression in simple Hindi it is easy even for every
one to comprehend it. Today there are very few people who can
understand Sanskrit language properly and absorb the meaning and
substance easily.
The spiritual essence contained in all the religious scriptures like
Vedas, Geeta, Yoga Vashisht is found in the life-story of Shri
Sainath.
The concepts on God and spirituality are explained in such a simple
yet comprehensive manner in 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' that no additional
book, or commentary etc. is required to understand it. It has a
natural flow of which the readers starts feeling as if they had been
closely associated with its events in their past life.
I may mention here that the glory of Shri Sai is spreading in the
world, far and wide, in such an amazing way that detailed information
at the web sites on Internet about Shri Sai and 'Shri Sai
Satcharitra' is available for interested readers.
The foremost duty of a Sai devotee is therefore to read 'Shri Sai
Satcharitra' and absorb it by heart if possible. The more they read
this book, the more it will bring them closer to Baba and all their
doubts and apprehensions will be cleared.
It also has been experienced that during crisis if any devotee is
searching for an answer, if he randomly opens of 'Shri Sai
Satcharitra' praying Baba sincerely and with faith his answer can be
found in that open page.
Many people have got their desired benefits after reading 'Shri Sai
Satcharitra' for a week in a parayana form.
Therefore, 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' should be utilized by all Sai
devotees in the following manner:
Get the book, 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' in whatever language one chooses
to read. Neatly wrap it up in a piece of new cloth, and place it near
Baba's photograph or idol with due sanctity.
Whether at home or elsewhere, one should always read a few pages of
the book every night before going to sleep. Every devotee should try
to keep Baba as the last thought before sleep.
During crisis it should be read devotionally for a week, as is
mentioned in 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' . If possible, reading should
begin on a Thursday or on some other special day, such as Ramnavami,
Dussehra, Gurupurnima, Janmashtmi, Mahashivratri, Navratri, etc.
After it's completion on the seventh day one should feed the poor and
destitute either in the temple/home or wherever possible.
One should read it sitting in some isolated corner in the temple or
in front of Baba's statue or Photograph/painting . If other people are
present, then it should be read to them or with them as well. Group
reading should always be encouraged.
Wherever and whenever possible, it should be read continuously from
sunrise to sunset in the temples on auspicious days. Devotees may be
asked to read it by turn as is done in chanting the holy name i.e.
Naamjap. Encourage children to read this book. Question answer
competition from the "Shri Sai Satcharitra" can be organized in
temples.
'Shri Sai Satcharitra' should be read to the devotees - sick, old
aged and those nearing death as much as possible. All of them will
get peace.
'Shri Sai Satcharitra' is a reasonably priced book and is easily
available at Shirdi. Therefore, any devotee visiting Shirdi must
bring a few copies with him to distribute among the deserving people
free of cost.
At times, of distress and agony if one sincerely searches for the
answers from 'Shri Sai Satcharitra' he will not only find the answers
but also solace. His faith will grown in Baba. I pray Shri Sainath to
reveal the divine knowledge and mysteries contained in this book to
the devotees in the same manner in which he had inspired Hemandpant
to write this book sitting in his heart. Shri Sai Satcharitra should
be taken by all Sai devotees as Gita and Bible.
