| Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter I
Salutations -- The Story of Grinding Wheat and Its Philosophical Significance.
According to the ancient and revered custom, Hemadpant begins the work, Sai Satcharitra, with various salutations.
First, he makes obeisance to the God Ganesha to remove all obstacles and make the work a success and says that Shri Sai is the God Ganesha.
Then, to the Goddess Saraswati to inspire him to write out the work and says that Shri Sai is one with this Goddess and that He is Himself singing His own life.
Then, to the Gods; Brahma, Vishnu and Shankar - the Creating, Preserving and Destroying Deities respectively; and says that Sainath is one with them and He as the great Teacher, will carry us across the River of Wordly Existence.
Then, to his tutelary Deity Narayan Adinath who manifested himself in Konkan - the land reclaimed by Parashurama, (Rama in the Hindi version) from the sea; and to the Adi (Original) Purusha of the family.
Then, to the Bharadwaja Muni, into whose gotra (clan) he was born and also to various Rishis, Yagyavalakya, Bhrigu, Parashara, Narad, Vedavyasa, Sanak, Sanandan, Sanatkumar, Shuka. Shounak, Vishwamitra, Vasistha, Valmiki, Vamadeva, Jaimini, Vaishampayan, Nava Yogindra etc, and also modern Saints such as Nivritti, Jnanadev, Sopan, Muktabai, Janardan, Ekanath, Namdev, Tukaram, Kanha, and Narahari etc.
Then, to his grandfather Sadashiv, father Raghunath, his mother, who left him in his infancy, to his paternal aunt, who brought him up, and to his loving elder brother.
Then, to the readers and prays them to give their whole and undivided attention to his work.
And lastly, to his Guru Shri Sainath - an Incarnation of Shri Dattatreya, Who is his sole Refuge and Who will make him realize that Brahman is the Reality and the world an illusion; and incidentally, to all the Beings in whom the Lord God dwells.
Sai Ram. Om Sri Ganesaya namah. Om namo Venkatesaya. Om Sri Matre Namah. I offer what is written or rather keyed in to the PC by His inspiration to Him, Sadguru Sainath Maharaj. At His inspiration, it is proposed to share with all Sai Bandhus, various Spiritual Gems that were handed over to me, His instrument to be brought out at the appropriate time. As this writer was reading Sri Sai Satcharitra by Sri Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji (translated into English from the Marathi work of Sri Govind Raghunath Dabholkar, a.k.a. Annasaheb and on whom the title of Hemadpant was bestowed by Sai), various ideas, clarifications etc., used to float up as it were from the depths of Sai Satcharitra and Sai Philosophy. Earlier, these insights, which were given the name, “Spiritual Gems” were published without the full text of Sai Satcharitra, thus necessitating Sai devotees to separately read that book. Now, by His inspiration, the Spiritual Gems are integrated with the full text of Sri Sai Satcharitra, thus enabling Sai devotees to read the whole thing at one place.
At the appropriate time, Sai willing, it is proposed to bring out a eBook with the option to read only the original Sai Satcharitra or that with the Spiritual Gems. For now, those who want to do a Parayana of Sai Satcharitra may skip these interjections which are given in a different font and color for easy identification. Sai Ram.
Firstly, the author makes salutations to various Gods while asserting that Sai is One with all of them. Then why bow to all of them? Why not to Sai alone? Bowing in obeisance comes from a feeling of Dwaita, i.e. the feeling of separateness from the other person or Deity. Since most of us including the author are presently in that Dwaita state, it is proper to bow in worship to all the different Deities. It is like bowing to all the elders. Since Sai is our Sadguru and since the Sastras assert that Guru is Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, in fact Para Brahma and since all Deities are manifestations of the same Para Brahma - Para Shakti, it is also correct to say that Sai, our Sadguru is one with all of them. 'Sarva Deva Namaskaram Kesava Pratigacchati' - all namaskars reach Kesava, Sai Who is Para Brahma. Sai Ram.
After describing in brief the various modes of devotion according to Parashara, Vyasa and Shandilya etc., the author goes on to relate the following story:
"It was sometime after 1910 A.D. that I went, one fine morning, to the Masjid in Shirdi for getting a darshan of Sai Baba. I was wonder-struck to see the following phenomenon. After washing His mouth and face, Sai Baba began to make preparations for grinding wheat.
Sai Ram. In 2003, when this article was originally written, I used to regularly recite Aditya Hridayam (a Stotra in praise of Sri Sun God, Surya, also called popularly as Suryanarayana, signifying His oneness with Narayana, the Para Brahma, the origin of this whole Universe. This particular Stotra is a part of Sri Ramayana composed by that great Sage, Sri Valmiki, who was a hunter earlier. His transformation was effected through the great Ram Naam. Sage Agastya, gives the physical Rama, the Hridayam (the inner core, the heart) of Aditya (Sun) (the Atma Ram, the True Self) and assures Sri Rama that if He worships Sun God, i.e. understands the true nature of Atma, Self, He will be sure to conquer Ravana, the Ten-headed Rakshasa (our five body organs and five sense organs). Sri Rama too, worships Aditya after doing Achamanam three times (Trirachamya Suchirbhutva… says Aditya Hridayam, which can also be interpreted as cleaning body, mind and intellect). It is a common feature in all Hindu rituals to start any Puja, Yagna or Yaga (all Good Deeds) with Achamanam, i.e. cleaning oneself physically, mentally and spiritually by washing one’s hands and sipping water three times. So, Sri Sai also did Achamanam before His yogic ritual of grinding wheat, before His fight against the Cholera! Sai Ram.
He spread a sack on the floor; and thereon set a hand-mill. He took some quantity of wheat in a winnowing fan, and then drawing up the sleeves of His Kafni (robe); and taking hold of the peg of the hand-mill, started grinding the wheat by putting a few handfuls of wheat in the upper opening of the mill and rotoated it. I thought ‘What business Baba had with the grinding of wheat, when He possessed nothing and stored nothing, and as He lived on alms!’
Sai Ram. Every act need not have a selfish motive and can be for universal welfare. Baba had no earthly business. His business (Busy ness!) was spiritual, to bring all of us to the path of the spirit. He believed and practiced Nishkama Karma to set an example to all of us. Sai Ram.
Some people who had come there thought likewise, but none had the courage to ask baba what He was doing. Immediately, this news of Baba's grinding wheat spread into the village, and at once men and women ran to the Masjid and flocked there to see Baba's act. Four bold women, from the crowd, forced their way up and pushing Baba aside, took forcibly the peg or handle into their hands, and, singing Baba's Leelas, started grinding. At first Baba was enraged, but on seeing the women's love and devotion, He was much pleased and began to smile.
Were the women the four directions of the village? Were the bodies of four ordinary simple devoted village women taken over momentarily by the Grama Devatas, the Village ruling deities? Who but Sai will know?
"He was much pleased and began to smile." Because He knew the past, present and the future and since He knew very shortly how the drama was going to unfold.
While they were grinding, they began to think that Baba had no house, no property, no children, none to look after, and He lived on alms, He did not require any wheat-flour for making bread or roti, what will He do with this big quantity of flour? Perhaps as Baba is very kind, He will distribute the flour amongst us. Thinking in this way while singing, they finished the grinding and after putting the hand-mill aside, they divided the flour into four portions and began to remove them one per head. Baba, Who was calm and quiet up till now, got wild and started abusing them saying, "Ladies, are you gone mad? Whose father's property are you looting away? Have I borrowed any wheat from you, so that you can safely take the flour? Now please do this. Take the flour and throw it on the village border limits." On hearing this, the women felt abashed and whispering amongst themselves, went away to the outskirts of the village and spread the flour as directed by Baba.
Sai Ram. The thinking of the women is true, in the worldly sense. But the whole Universe was His house, His property and all the living and non-living beings were His children. He had the whole world to look after! ”Perhaps, as Baba is very kind, He will distribute the flour amongst us...." Looked at from the ordinary human point of view, this episode brings home the truth that "thus even while doing good karmas, we get attached to the fruits or the result of the karma, action. Sai has rightly rebuked them and us and advised us to work without any expectation of the results for the work which we do." This is perfectly accordance with Sri Krishna's teaching to Sri Arjuna in Srimad Bhagavad Gita that one should do ones' duty but without attachment to the result.
"Ladies, are you gone mad?" Yes, those ladies and all of us who hanker after reward for actions are 'mad' with ajnan. Greed is the root cause of madness. "Have I borrowed any wheat from you, so that you can safely take the flour?" Pl. see the word, “safely” that was used by Baba. It has a deeper meaning. If we take what is ours, no problem. If we take what is not ours, we get into a deeper karmic debt, which we need to pay with interest later. Sai Ram.
I asked the Shirdi people - "What was this that Baba did?" They replied that as the Cholera Epidemic was spreading in the village and this was Baba's remedy against the same; it was not wheat that was ground but the Cholera itself was ground to pieces and pushed out of the village. From this time onward, the Cholera Epidemic subsided and the people of the village were happy. I was much pleased to know all this; but at the same time my curiosity was also aroused. I began to ask myself - What earthly connection was there between wheat flour and Cholera? What was the casual relation between the two? and how to reconcile them? The incident seems to be inexplicable. I should write something on this and sing to my heart's content Baba's sweet Leelas. Thinking in this way about this Leela, my heart was filled with joy and I was thus inspired to write Baba's Life - The Satcharita.
Sai Ram. The author asked the Shirdi people, "What was this that Baba did?" The most extraordinary things start in very ordinary way. The masterpiece Sai Satcharitra began thus from a very simple incident. "Cholera itself was ground..." not only cholera, but the desire to covet what is not ours, that was ground. "What earthly connection was there..." nothing. But in the astral planes, it becomes clear to those gifted with 'divine eyesight' that disease/illness is linked to our disharmony with nature and our transgression of dharma. So Baba used a magical ritual (white magic), which the simple village people did not understand consciously or intellectually but could feel in their auras and spiritual vibrations. Simple souls would just wonder and pray and accept. They don't question or look for logical explanations. But we, the educated, need intellectual curiosity to be satisfied. Hence explanations come when we surrender our ego and our intellect so that intuition can come forth and our faith can grow side by side with logic and discriminating intellect. Sai Ram.
And as we know, with Baba's grace and blessing this work was successfully accomplished.
Philosophical Significance of Grinding
Apart from the meaning which the people of Shirdi put on this incident of grinding wheat, there is, we think, a philosophical significance too. Sai Baba lived in Shirdi for about sixty years and during this long period, He did the business of grinding almost every day - not, however, the wheat alone; but the sins, the mental and physical afflications and the miseries of His innumerable devotees. The two stones of His mill consisted of Karma and Bhakti, the former being the lower and the latter the upper one. The handle with which Baba worked the mill consisted of Jnana. It was the firm conviction of Baba that Knowledge or Self-realization is not possible, unless there is the prior act of grinding of all our impulses, desires, sins; and of the three gunas, viz. Sattva, Raja and Tama; and the Ahamkara, which is so subtle and therefore so difficult to be got rid of.
Sai Ram. In extraction of metals, the raw materials that are in the form of ores, minerals need to be ground before they can be processed further. The law of comminution states that the finer something is, the more energy is needed to grind it to a finer state. Only Bhakti can provide that infinite energy to grind the subtle Ahankar and dissipate it into the five elments, pancha bhutas!
This reminds us of a similar story of Kabir who seeing a woman grinding corn said to his Guru, Nipathiranjana, "I am weeping because I feel the agony of being crushed in this wheel of wordly existence like the corn in the hand-mill." Nipathiranjana replied, "Do not be afraid; hold fast to the handle of knowledge of this mill, as I do, and do not wander far away from the same but turn inward to the Centre, and you are sure to be saved."
Sai Ram. The corn may feel the pain while being ground, but as flour, it is useful, to appease the hunger, as food for ants etc., and as roti or bread, to other animals including humans. Similarly, we should not mind the troubles coming to us because we, like the corn get refined or transformed into flour and thus serve the purpose of our being created in this world. Sri Nipatiranjan, Kabir's guru, is advising him, not to wander from the path of knowledge, and to remain introverted. For the disciple, Guru is the axis, so if he does not wander far from Him, he need not fear being crushed by the wheel of Karma, which crushes only those who out of their spiritual ignorance, ajnan, are troubled by Kama, Moha etc., but does not touch those who know their true nature.
Bow to Shri Sai -- Peace be to all
Sri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter II
Object of Writing the Work - Incapacity and Boldness in the Undertaking - Hot Discussion - Conferring Significant and Prophetic Title of Hemadpant - Necessity of a Guru.
In the last Chapter, the author mentioned in the original Marathi book that he would state the reason that led him to undertake the work, and the persons qualified to read the same and such other points. Now in this chapter, he starts to tell the same.
Sai Ram. Yes, just as to write Satcharitra, Hemadpant had to seek the blessings of Sri Sai Baba, and to translate the same into English, Shri Gunaji got permission from Sai, (as nicely narrated by him in the first introduction), to read too, we need some minimum qualification, some merit, some poorva janma punyam, i.e. merits done in the previous birth. Later in Sri Sai Satcharitra, nine types of devotion have been mentioned, viz., Sravanam, Kirtanam, Vishnu Smaranam, Padasevanam, Archanam, Vandanam, Dasyam, Sakhyam and Atma nivedanam. Hearing, Loudly reciting and praising Vishnu (God), Remembering, Worshipping His feet, Doing formal Puja, Doing namaskar, i.e. bowing, Serving, Friendship and Self-surrender are the nine modes of devotion.
So, reading Sri Sai Satcharitra comes under Kirtanam category. Or when someone reads aloud, we may hear and that comes under Sravanam, i.e. hearing. As we keep reading or hearing, we do remember Him and His leelas often, so Smaranam, remembering takes place. We develop love to Him, so Sakhyam or Archanam also happens. Finally our ego gets sufficiently purified and we surrender to Him completely. Sai Ram.
Object of Writing the Work
In the first chapter, I described Sai Baba’s miracle of checking and destroying the epidemic of Cholera by grinding wheat and throwing the flour, on the outskirts of the village. I heard other miracles of Sai Baba to my great delight, and this delight burst forth into this poetic work. I also thought, that the description of these grand miracles of Sai Baba would be interesting, and instructive to His devotees; and would remove their sins, and so I began to write the sacred life and teachings of Sai Baba. The life of the saint is neither logical nor dialectical. It shows us the true and great path.
Sai Ram. Sri Sai is showing us the power or efficacy of true detachment. After assiduously grinding the wheat (putting so much effort), He asked that it be thrown on the village boundary) without any attachment. True Nishkama karma. It is thus a true Bali, sacrifice (Atma nivedanam, the last and highest form of Bhakti).
"I also thought that, the description of these grand miracles of Sai Baba would be interesting, and instructive to His devotees; and would remove their sins…" Miracles are the means of attracting the devotees by Sai so that they come nearer to Him, physically, mentally and spiritually. Faith improves and His grace starts flowing better through them. It is like tilling and watering a field, where the seeds of Bhakti are lying dormant. With the right inputs, Bhakti sprouts up and the field gets fulfilled. We are the Kshetra (Field) and He is the Ksetrajna (Knower of the field) as given in Srimad Bhagavat Gita.
Incapacity and Boldness in Undertaking the Work
Hemadpant thought that he was not a fit person to undertake the work. He said, "I do not know the life of my intimate friend nor do I know my own mind, then how can I write the life of a saint or describe the nature of Incarnations, which even the Vedas were unable to do? One must be a saint himself, before he could know other saints, then how can I describe their glory? To write the life of a saint is the most difficult, though one may as well measure the depth of the water of the seven seas or enclose the sky with cloth-trappings. I knew, that this was the most venturous undertaking, which might expose me to ridicule. I, therefore, invoked Sai Baba’s grace.
Sai Ram. Hemadpant thought that, he was not a fit person to undertake the work. The irony is that, if he thought he was fit, he would simply and certainly would have been unfit. In my childish enthusiasm, I (this writer) thought that I am very spiritual and so on and wanted to expound the great spiritual truths uncovered by my great intellect. Sai, the kind master that He is, removed such illusions and made me go through the Satcharitra several times before He started giving out the spiritual gems. He only knows who is fit for what seva. Sai Ram.
Shri Hemadpant thought that "One must be a saint himself, before he could know other saints, otherwise, how can I describe their glory?" True to a certain extent. But even sinners were drawn to Him because of the merits in their present or previous births. To truly know a saint or jnani, one has to be a saint or jnani himself, because if one were not, one’s ego blocks one from fully knowing and experiencing the saint’s and thus God’s grace. But even through a cloud, we perceive Sunlight, thus, even with our ego-limited perception, we are able to realize the greatness of Saints like Sai. So, unless we are totally blind, i.e. totally unfit, we do realize to some extent. As already stated above, we do have some merit and that is why, we are brought into His fold.
The premier poet-saint of Maharashtra, Shri Jnaneshwar Maharaj, has stated that the Lord loves those who write the lives of saints; and the saints also have a peculiar method of their own of getting the service, which the devotees long for, successfully accomplished. The saints inspire the work, the devotee becomes only an indirect cause or instrument to achieve the end. For instance, in 1700 Shaka year, the poet Mahipati aspired to write the lives of saints. Saints inspired him, and got the work done; so also in 1800 Shaka year, Das Ganu’s service was accepted. The former wrote 4 works-Bhakta Vijaya, Santa Vijaya, Bhakta Leelamrit and Santa Kathamrit, while the latter wrote two - "Bhakta Leelamrit and Santa Kathamrit", in which the lives of modern Saints were described. In chapters 31,32,33 of Bhakta Leelamrit and in chapter 57 of Santa Kathamrit, the sweet life and teachings of Sai Baba are very well depicted. These have been separately published in Sai Leela Magazine, Nos. 11 and 12, Vol. 17; the readers are advised to read these chapters. So also Sai Baba’s wonderful Leelas are described in a small decent book named Shri Sainath Bhajana Mala by Mrs. Savitribai Raghunath Tendulkar of Bandra. Das-Ganu Maharaj also has composed various sweet poems on Sai Baba. A devotee named Amidas Bhavani Mehta, has also published some stories of Sri Baba in Gujarathi; some Nos. of Sainath Prabha, a magazine published by Dakshina Bhiksha Sanstha of Shirdi, are also published. Then the question of objection comes in, that while so many works regarding Sai Baba are extant, why should this (Satcharita) be written? and where is its necessity?
Sai Ram. "… The Lord loves those, who write the lives of Saints; and the saints also have a peculiar method of Their own of getting the service, which the devotees Long for, successfully accomplished." Many times, we are not aware of our own mission in life, but Sai knows and He gets the service and gives Us the results, which we need, so that we can proceed further.
The answer is plain and simple. The life of Sai Baba is as wide and deep as the infinite ocean; and all can dive deep into the same and take out precious gems (of knowledge and Bhakti), and distribute them to the aspiring public. The stories, parables, and teachings of Sai Baba are very wonderful. They will give peace and happiness to the people, who are afflicted with sorrows and heavily loaded with miseries of this worldly existence, and also bestow knowledge and wisdom, both in the worldly and in spiritual domains. If these teachings of Sai Baba, which are as interesting and instructive as the Vedic lore, are listened to and meditated upon, the devotees will get, what they long for, viz., union with Brahman, mastery in eight-fold Yoga, Bliss of meditation etc. So I thought, that I should call these stories together that would be my best Upasana. This collection would be most delightful to those simple souls, whose eyes were not blessed with Sai Baba’s darshana. So, I set about collecting Sai Baba’s teachings and expressions - the outcome of His boundless and natural self-realization. It was Sai Baba, who inspired me in this matter; in fact, I surrendered my ego at His feet, and thought that my path was clear; and that He would make me quite happy here, and in the next world.
I could not myself ask Sai Baba to give me permission for this work; so I requested Mr. Madhavrao Deshpande alias Shama, Baba’s most intimate devotee, to speak to Him for me. He pleaded for my cause and said to Sai Baba, "This Annasaheb wishes to write Your biography, don’t say that You are a poor begging Fakir, and there is no necessity to write it, but if You agree and help him, he will write or rather, Your feet (grace) will accomplish the work. Without Your consent and blessing, nothing can be done successfully." When Sai Baba heard this request, He was moved and blessed me by giving me His Udi (sacred ashes) and placing His boon-bestowing hand on my head said :- "Let him make a collection of stories and experiences, keep notes and memos; I will help him. He is only an outward instrument. I should write Myself My autobiography and satisfy the wishes of My devotees. He should get rid of his ego, place (or surrender) it at My feet. He who acts like this in life, him I help the most. What of My life-stories? I serve him in his house in all possible ways. When his ego is completely annihilated and there is left no trace of it, I Myself shall enter into him and shall Myself write My own life. Hearing my stories and teachings will create faith in devotees’ hearts and they will easily get self - realization and Bliss; let there be no insistence on establishing one’s own view, no attempt to refute other’s opinions, no discussions of pros and cons of any subject."
Sai Ram. "I could not myself ask Sai Baba to give me permission For this work; so I requested Mr.Madhavrao Deshpande Alias Shama, Baba’s most intimate devotee, to speak to Him for me." – I (this writer) too, could not bring myself to ask Baba directly and so approached Baba through, Saibanisa. "He is Only an outward instrument. I should write Myself My Autobiography and satisfy the wishes of My devotees." – That applies to this work also.
"He should get rid of his ego, place (or surrender) It at My feet." . So, Sai, I place my head at your lotus feet. Pl. blesses the readers and me. Sai Ram.
The word ‘discussion’ put me in mind of my promise to explain the story of my getting the title of Hemadpant and now I begin to relate the same. I was on close friendly terms with Kakasaheb Dixit and Nanasaheb Chandorkar. They pressed me to go to Shirdi and have Baba’s darshana, and I promised them to do so. But something in the interval turned up, which prevented me from going to shirdi. The son of a friend of mine at Lonavala fell ill. My friend tried all possible means, physical and spiritual, but the fever would not abate. At length he got his Guru to sit by the bed-side of his son, but this too was of no avail. Hearing this, I thought ‘what was the utility of the Guru, if he could not save my friend’s son? If the Guru can’t do anything for us, why should I go to Shirdi at all?’
Sai Ram. "What was the utility of the Guru, if he could not Save my friend’s son?" This episode served to trigger the thoughts about Guru in Shri Hemadpant. And yes, the Guru saved that boy’s Sukshma Sareera (the subtle astral body, of desires) by sitting at his bedside while the physical body was being shed. So the Guru’s sitting at the boy’s bedside was not in vain at all!
Thinking in this way, I postponed my Shirdi-trip; but the inevitable must happen and it happened in my case as follows : - Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who was a Prant Officer, was going on tour to Bassein. From Thana he came to Dadar and was waiting for a train bound for Bassein. In the meanwhile, a Bandra Local turned up. He, sat in it and came to Bandra; and sent for me and took me to task for putting off my Shirdi trip. Nana’s argument for my Shirdi trip was convincing and delightful, and so I decided to start for Shirdi, the same night. I packed up my luggage and started for Shirdi. I planned to go to Dadar and there to catch the train for Manmad, and so I booked myself for Dadar and sat in the train. While the train was to start, a Mahomedan came hastily to my compartment and seeing all my paraphernalia, asked me where I was bound to. I told him my plan. He then suggested that I should straight go to Boribunder, and not get down at Dadar, for the Manmad Mail did not get down at Dadar at all. If this little miracle or Leela had not happened, I would not have reached Shirdi next day as settled, and many doubts would have assailed me. But that was not to be. As fortune favoured me, I reached Shirdi the next day before 9 or 10 A.M. Mr. Bhausaheb (Kaka) Dixit was waiting for me there. This was in 1910 A.D., when there was only one place, viz., Sathe’s Wada for lodging pilgrim devotees. After alighting from the Tonga, I was anxious to have darshana, when the great devotee, Tatyasaheb Noolkar returned from the Masjid and said that Sai Baba was at the corner of the Wada, and that I should first get the preliminary darshana and then, after bath, see Him at leisure. Hearing this I ran and prostrated before Baba and then my joy knew no bounds. I found more than what Nana Chandorkar had told me. All my senses were satisfied and I forgot thirst and hunger. The moment I touched Sai Baba’s feet, I began a new lease of life. I felt myself much obliged to those who spurred and helped me to get the darshana; and I considered them as my real relatives, and I cannot repay their debt. I only remember them and prostrate (mentally) before them. The peculiarity of Sai Baba’s darshana, as I found it, is that by His darshana our thoughts are changed, the force of previous actions is abated and gradually non-attachment of dispassion towards worldly objects grows up. It is by the merit of actions in many past births that such darshana is got, and if only you see Sai Baba, really all the world becomes or assumes the form of Sai Baba.
"If this little miracle or Leela had not happened, I Would not reached Shirdi the next day, as settled, any Many doubts would have assailed me." Since Hemadpant’s time has come, the miracle did take place and he reached Shirdi (not only the physical place, but also his inner destination). Elsewhere in Satcharitra, Hemadpant recorded what Baba said, "Let His man be at any distance, a thousand koss away from Him, he will be drawn to Shirdi, like a sparrow, with a thread, tied to its feet." So Hemadpant too, and now, we, thewriter and the readers of these Spiritual Gems are drawn to the spiritual Dwarakamayi of Shirdi. And, when Hemadpant, (OK, he got that title later which he describes in the same chapter, but it has stuck him so well that we shall prefer that title) was pulled to Shirdi, when he alighted from tanga, he was greeted by Two great devotees of Baba, Shri Bhausaheb (Kaka) Dixit and Shri Tatyasaheb Noolkar. He was advised to take the ‘Dhooli Darshan’ (literally dusty sighting), since Guru is the best purifier and so bowing to Guru, wherever He is, in whatever condition we are, is the first and best purifier. Physical bath cleanses the body and refreshes and thus cleans the mind, but this namaskar to Guru, this Dhooli Darshan is the best purifier of the ego. The body consciousness will be removed. And please see what Hemadpant himself says about his experience: "and then my joy knew no bounds. I found more than what Nana Chandorkar had told me. All my senses were satisfied and I forgot thirst and hunger. The moment I touched Sai Baba’s feet, I began a new lease of life." In Ramayana, we are told about Sri Rama and Sri Lakshmana being given two mantras by Sage Viswamitra. The two mantras were "Bala" and "Ati bala" and by the grace of these two mantras they were freed from hunger, thirst and fatigue etc., i.e. they were freed from all the human body’s weaknesses. Sri Annasaheb Dabholkar, shortly going to be named as Hemadpant also forgot his thirst and hunger. He felt the sign of Guru’s grace, which is Bala and Ati Bala and also Maha Bala. Sai Ram.
Hot Discussion
On the first day of my arrival in Shirdi, there was a discussion between me and Balasaheb Bhate regarding the necessity of a Guru. I contended, "Why should we lose our freedom and submit to others? When we have to do our duty, why a Guru is necessary? One must try his best and save himself. What can the Guru do to a man who does nothing but sleeps indolently?" Thus I pleaded freewill, while Mr. Bhate took up the other side, viz., Destiny, and said, "Whatever is bound to happen must happen; even great men have failed, man proposes one way, but God disposes the other (contrary) way. Brush aside your cleverness; pride or egoism won’t help you." This discussion, with all its pros and cons went on for an hour or so, and as usual no decision was arrived at. We had to stop the discussion ultimately as we were exhausted. The net result of this was that I lost my peace of mind and found that unless there is strong body-consciousness and egoism, there would be no discussion; in other words, it is egoism which breeds discussion.
Sai Ram. "What can the Guru do to a man, who does nothing, but sleeps indolently?" asked Hemadpant, thus pleading free-will. But what did Guru (Sai) do to Hemadpant? He agitated his mind through his friend’s son’s death episode and brought him to Shirdi. So, the Guru does wake up the sleeping man too. He will create such situations in that man’s life that he starts running!
"Brush aside your cleverness; pride or egoism won’t help you." retorted Shri Balasaheb Bhate. But even these qualities of pride, cleverness, ego etc. help in ripening the destiny of the man quickly and a ripe fruit has to fall from the tree of sansar! In all the puranas, we come across stories of Daityas (sons of Diti, also called as Asuras, Rakshasas etc.), who met death at the hands of various forms of God (like Vishnu, Siva, Kartikeya, Durga etc.). “Results follow actions” is the inviolable law of karma. They (the Rakshasas) did great penance and so obtained boons. They misused the powers thus obtained and met their just end. But since they were powerful in a negative way, a positive power had to manifest itself in the form of Siva, Vishnu etc., to annihilate the negative power. If we need to eliminate or destroy an electron (a very tiny particle which is electrically negatively charged) we need to bring a positron (an electrically opposite positively charged particle, otherwise identical), near to it. The result? Both disappear and pure energy equal to the combined mass of both appears. Similarly if a proton and an electron combine, a neutron forms or vice-versa. Thus in the cosmic drama, good and bad are simply like light and shadow. "I lost my peace of mind and found that, unless there is strong body-consciousness and egoism, there would be no discussion; in other words, it is egoism, which breeds discussion." And may I add, desire too breeds karma. Unfulfilled desire leads to frustration, resentment, anger and all other evils.
Then when we went to the Masjid with others, Baba asked Kakasaheb Dixit the following:-
"What was going on in the (Sathe’s) Wada? What was the discussion about?" and staring at me, Baba further added, "What did this Hemadpant say?"
Hearing these words, I was much surprised. The Masjid was at a considerable distance from Sathe’s Wada where I was staying and where the discussion was going on. How could Baba know our discussion unless He be omniscient and Inner Ruler of us all?
Sai Ram. This was still in the early days of Sri Annasaheb’s spiritual sadhana and thus wonder and surprise at the miraculous powers of Sai was bound to be there. Later, as he became fully established in Sai’s darbar, he realized that Sai is One with the One whom we call, for want of a better name, Para Brahma. He stopped wondering about the miracles that happened. Sai Ram.
Significant and Prophetic Title
I began to think why Sai Baba should call me by the name Hemadpant. This word is a corrupt form of Hemadripant. This Hemadripant was a wellknown Minister of the kings Mahadev and Ramadev of Devgiri of the Yadav dynasty. He was very learned, good-natured and the author of good works, such as Chaturvarga Chintamani (dealing with spiritual subjects) and Rajprashasti. He invented and started new methods of accounts and was the originator of the Modi (Marathi Shorthand) script. But I was quite the opposite, an ignoramus, and of dull, mediocre intellect. So I could not understand why the name or title was conferred upon me, but thinking seriously upon it, I thought that the title was a dart to destroy my ego, so that, I should always remain meek and humble. It was also a compliment paid to me for the cleverness in the discussion.
Looking to the future history, we think that Baba’s word (calling Mr. Dabholkar by the name Hemadpant) was significant and prophetic, as we find that he looked after the management of Sai Sansthan very intelligently, kept nicely all the accounts and was also the author of such a good work "Sai Satcharita", which deals with such important and spiritual subjects as Jnana, Bhakti and dispassion, self-surrender and self-realization.
About the Necessity of a Guru
Hemadpant has left no note, no memo about what Baba said regarding this subject, but Kakasaheb Dixit has published his notes regarding this matter. Next day after Hemadpant’s meeting with Sai Baba, Kakasaheb went to Baba and asked whether he should leave Shirdi. Baba Said, "Yes". Then someone asked - "Baba, where to go?" Baba said, "High up." Then the man said, "How is the way?" Baba said, "There are many ways leading there; there is one way also from here (Shirdi). The way is difficult. There are tigers and wolves in the jungles on the way." I (Kakasaheb) asked - "But Baba, what if we take a guide with us?" Baba answered, - "Then there is no difficulty. The guide will take you straight to your destination, avoiding wolves, tigers and ditches etc. on the way. If there be no guide, there is the danger of your being lost in the jungles or falling into ditches." Mr. Dabholkar was present on this occasion and he thought that this was the answer Baba gave to the question whether Guru was a necessity (Vide Sai Leela Vol. I, No.5, Page 47); and he thereupon took the hint that no discussion of the problem, whether man is free or bound, is of any use in spiritual matters, but that on the contrary real Paramartha is possible only as the result of the teachings of the Guru, as is illustrated in this chapter of the original work in the instances of great Avatars like Rama and Krishna, who had to submit themselves to their Gurus, Vasishtha and Sandipani respectively, for getting self- realization and that the only virtues necessary for such progress are faith and patience. (Vide Sai Satcharita, Ch. II, 191-92).
Sai Ram. Baba said "The way is difficult. There are tigers and wolves in the jungles on the way." The tigers and wolves of desire, and cruelty, which are waiting to pounce upon the Sadhaka and finish him up. Luckily Guru(literally meaning One who dispels darkness, i.e. who is light) helps us to avoid them or face them with light (it is a known fact that wild animals like tigers, wolves etc., are afraid of fire, which is light) of true knowledge and faith. So, let us submit our cleverness, ego, body - consciousness, desires and all else at the feet of Sadguru Sai Maharaj, so that our path becomes clear like a Raja Marga (Royal Road). Sai Ram.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
Shri Sai Satcharitra
Chapter III
Sai Baba’s Sanction and Promise - Assignment of Work to Devotees - Baba’s Stories as Beacon - Light - His Motherly Love - Rohilla’s Story - His sweet and Nectar - like Words.
Sai Baba’s Sanction and Promise
As described in the previous chapter, Sai Baba gave His complete assent to the writing of the Sat-Charita and said, "I fully agree with you regarding the writing of Sat Charita. You do your duty, don’t be afraid in the least, steady your mind and have faith in My words. If my Leelas are written, the Avidya (nescience) will vanish and if they are attentively, and devoutly listened to, the consciousness of the worldly existence will abate, and strong waves of devotion, and love will rise up and if one dives deep into My Leelas, he would get precious jewels of knowledge."
Sai Ram. Dear Sai Bandhus, this one paragraph is worth its weight in pure gold and precious gemstones! This assurance of Sai Baba is the basis of this series of articles too!
Hearing this, author was much pleased, and he at once became fearless and confident, and thought that work was bound to be a success. Then turning to Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande) Sai Baba said.
"If a man utters My name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes, increase his devotion. And if he sings earnestly My life and My deeds, him I shall beset in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees, who are attached to Me, heart and soul, will naturally feel happiness, when they hear these stories. Believe Me that if anybody sings My Leelas, I will give him infinite joy and everlasting contentment. It is My special characteristic to free any person, who surrenders completely to Me, and who does worship Me faithfully, and who remembers Me, and meditates on Me constantly. How can they be conscious of worldly objects and sensations, who utter My name, who worship Me, who think of My stories and My life and who thus always remember Me? I shall draw out My devotees from the jaws of Death. If My stories are listened to, all the diseases will be got rid of. So, hear My stories with respect; and think and meditate on them, assimilate them. This is the way of happiness and contentment. The pride and egoism of My devotees will vanish, the mind of the hearers will be set at rest; and if it has wholehearted and complete faith, it will be one with Supreme Consciousness. The simple remembrance of My name as ‘Sai, Sai’ will do away with sins of speech and hearing".
Sai Ram. “Hearing this, the author was much pleased, and he, at once, became fearless and confident.....” So too did this author become confident, since it is Sai, Who is providing the momentum for the keyboard to work, the author's mind and fingers to work etc. Turning to Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande) Sai Baba said, "If a man utters my name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes, I shall draw out My devotees from the jaws of death." May I add, from the jaws of desire too, since desire is death? How? It is the desires, which bind us to the vicious circle of birth and death. "
Different Works Assigned to Devotees
The Lord entrusts different works to different devotees. Some are given the work of building temples and maths, or ghats (flight of steps) on rivers; some are made to sing the glories of God; some are sent on pilgrimages; but to me was allotted the work of writing the Sat Charita. Being a jack of all trades but master of none, I was quite unqualified for this job. Then why should I undertake such a difficult job? Who can describe the true life of Sai Baba? Sai Baba’s grace alone can enable one to accomplish this difficult work. So, when I took up the pen in my hand, Sai Baba took away my egoism and wrote Himself His stories. The credit of relating these stories, therefore, goes to Him and not to me. Though Brahmin by birth, I lacked the two eyes. (i.e. the sight or vision) of Shruti and Smriti and therefore was not at all capable of writing the Sat-Charita, but the grace of the Lord makes a dumb man talk, enables a lame man to cross a mountain. He alone knows the knack of getting things done as He likes. Neither the flute, nor the harmonium knows how the sounds are produced. This is the concern of the Player. The oozing of Chandrakant jewel and the surging of the sea are not due to the jewel and the sea but to the rise of the moon.
Sai Ram. “The Lord entrusts different works to different devotees. ...but to me was allotted the work of writing the Sat Charitra (Says Shri Hemadpant). Being a jack of all trades, but master of none, I was quite unqualified for this job." And if he feels like that, what can we say? "Neither the flute, nor the harmonium knows, how the sounds are produced. This is the concern of the player." So, let us also proceed with humility, and with the firm conviction that we are simply instruments in Sai's hands.
Baba’s Stories as Beacon- Light
Light houses are constructed at various places in the sea, to enable the boatmen to avoid rocks and dangers, and make them sail safely. Sai Baba’s stories serve a similar purpose in the ocean of worldly existence. They surpass nectar in sweetness, and make our worldly path smooth and easy to traverse. Blessed are the stories of the saints. When they enter our hearts through the ears, the body - consciousness or egoism and the sense of duality vanish; and when they are stored in the heart, doubts fly out to all sides, pride of the body will fall, and wisdom will be stored in abundance. The description of Baba’s pure fame, and the hearing of the same, with love, will destroy the sins of the devotee and, therefore, this is the simple Sadhana for attaining salvation. The Sadhana for Krita Age was Shamadama (tranquillity of mind and body), for Treta Age, sacrifice, for Dwapara, worship, and for Kali (present) Age, it is singing of the name and glory of the Lord. This last Sadhana is open to all the people of the four varnas (Brahmins, etc.). The other Sadhanas, viz. Yoga, Yagya (sacrifice), Dhyana (meditation) and Dharana (concentration) are very difficult to practice, but singing and hearing the stories and the glory of the Lord (Sai Baba) is very easy. We have only to turn our attention towards them. The listening and singing of the stories will remove the attachment to the senses and their objects, and will make the devotees dispassionate, and will ultimately lead them to self-realization. With this end in view, Sai Baba made me or helped me to write His stories, Sat-Charitamrita. The devotees may now easily read and hear these stories of Sai Baba and while doing so, meditate on Him, His form and thus attain devotion to Guru and God (Sai Baba), get detachment and self-realization. In the preparation and writing of this work, Sat-Charitamrita, it is Sai Baba’s grace which has accomplished everything, making use of me as a mere instrument.
Sai Ram. "Blessed are the stories of the saints. When they enter our hearts through the ears, the body-consciousness or egoism and the sense of duality vanish;" We already learnt the nine methods of devotion. Hearing is the first. Reading skills were less in the earlier days and so good souls were used by God and saints to spread the bhakti cult through Hari Kathas etc., (we shall see in Chapter XV how the Kirtans of Das Ganu Maharaj had a wonderful effect on Mr.Cholkar). Now, when reading skills are wide spread, eyes too help us in cultivating devotion. "The other Sadhanas, viz., Yog, Tyag (sacrifice), Dhyan (meditation) and Dhyan-Dharana (concentration) are very difficult to practice; but singing and hearing the stories and the glory of the Lord (Sai Baba) is very easy." How true! This writer can certainly vouchsafe the truth of Shri Hemadpant's words. With a very restless monkey of mind, the author was finding it impossible to concentrate or meditate even for a few seconds. But Sai, very kindly showed the way through reading of Sat Charitra. "The devotees may now easily read and hear these stories... get detachment and self-realization." Slowly but steadily Mother Sai has been pulling me to Her, and thus away from materialistic desires including subtle desires for name, fame etc. So, dear Sai Bandhus please follow this easy path and realize the aim of taking the human birth in this life itself! Sai Ram.
Motherly Love of Sai Baba
Everybody knows how a cow loves her infant calf. Her udder is always full and when the calf wants milk and dashes at the udder, out comes the milk in an unceasing flow. Similarly a human mother knows the wants of her child and feeds it, at her breast in time. In case of dressing and adorning the child, the mother takes particular care to see that this is well done. The child knows or cares nothing about this, but the mother’s joy knows no bounds, when she sees her child beautifully dressed and adorned. The love of mother is peculiar, extraordinary and disinterested, and has no parallel. Sadgurus feel this motherly love towards their disciples. Sai Baba had this same love towards me, and I give an instance of it below:-
In 1916 A.D. I retired from Government Service. The pension that was settled in my case was not sufficient to maintain my family decently. On Guru-Pournima (15th of Ashadha) day of that year, I went to Shirdi with other devotees. There, Mr. Anna Chinchanikar, of his own accord, prayed to Baba for me as follows:- "Please look kindly on him, the pension he gets is quite insufficient, his family is growing. Give him some other appointment, remove his anxiety and make him happy." Baba replied - " He will get some other job, but now he should serve Me and be happy. His dishes will be ever full and never empty. He should turn all his attention towards Me and avoid the company of atheists, irreligious and wicked people. He should be meek and humble towards all and worship Me heart and soul. If he does this, he will get eternal happiness".
The question Who is this HE, Whose worship is advocated, is already answered in a note on "Who is Sai Baba" in the prologue, at the beginning of this work.
Sai Ram. "He will get some other job; but now, he should serve Me and be happy!" Sai Baba was asking for the first and probably last Guru Dakshina from Shri Hemadpant, viz., surrender of ego! This is confirmed by His next few sentences: "His dishes will be ever full and never empty. He should turn all his attention to Me and avoid.... If he does this, he will get eternal happiness." Once the ego is dissolved, once the barriers between the ego and the Self are broken, the Jeevatma will be One with the Paramatma and will remain in a state of bliss. Sai Ram.
Rohilla’s Story
The story of the Rohilla illustrates Sai Baba’s all embracing love. One Rohilla, tall and well-built, strong as a bull, came to Shirdi, wearing a long Kafni (robe) and was enamoured of Sai who stayed there. Day and night he used to recite in a loud and harsh tone Kalma (verses from Holy Koran) and shout "ALLAH HO AKBAR" (God is Great). Most people of Shirdi, were working in their fields by day and when they returned to their homes at night, they were welcomed with the Rohilla’s harsh cries and shouts. They could get no sleep and felt much trouble and inconvenience. They suffered in silence this nuisance for some days, and when they could stand it no longer, they approached Baba, and requested Him to check the Rohilla and stop the nuisance. Baba did not attend to their complaint. On the contrary, Baba took the villagers to task, and asked them to mind their own business, and not the Rohilla. He said to them that the Rohilla had got a very bad wife, a Zantippi, who tried to come in and trouble the Rohilla and Himself; but hearing the Rohilla’s prayers, she dare not enter and they were at peace and happy. In fact, the Rohilla had no wife and by his wife Baba meant DURBUDDHI, i.e. bad thoughts. As Baba liked prayers and cries to God better than anything else, He took the side of the Rohilla, and asked the villagers to wait and suffer the nuisance, which would abate in due course.
Sai Ram. Baba supported Rohilla because when one is praying to God, one should leave all body consciousness behind and pray. Thus whether one has a good voice or not, whether one is looking elegant or not... if one starts to think of these things, the prayer becomes a show. The objective of prayer is to overcome the shackles of mind. Hence, Baba supported Rohilla. If one is blessed with a good voice, one should certainly sing God's praises, if one is endowed with a good body, one should use it to dance in praise of God. If one is blessed with a good eloquence, one should speak in glowing words about God. But God accepts all sincere prayers, whether the voice is melodious or not, whether the dancer is beautiful and proficient or not. Devotion is most important. Baba conveyed a good spiritual lesson through the above story. Sai Ram.
Baba’s Sweet and Nectar-like Words
One day at noon after the Arti, devotees were returning to their lodgings, when Baba gave the following beautiful advice:-
"Be wherever you like, do whatever you choose, remember this well that all what you do is known to Me. I am the Inner Ruler of all and seated in their hearts. I envelope all the creatures, the movable and immovable world. I am the Controller - the wire-puller of the show of this Universe. I am the mother - origin of all beings - the Harmony of three Gunas, the propeller of all senses, the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. Nothing will harm him, who turns his attention towards Me, but Maya will lash or whip him who forgets Me. All the insects, ants, the visible, movable and immovable world, is My Body or Form".
Sai Ram. This should make clear to all who wonder, Who is Sai? It is clear from the reading of Sat Charitra, that Sai is Paramatma, Para Brahma, the in-dweller of our heart. Like Sri Krishna gave Gita to Sri Arjuna, Baba has, through Shri Hemadpant, gave out this wonderful Upadesa. Rohila's story is an excellent example of keeping bad thoughts at bay through Nama-Smaran, singing of Lord's name. That was the reason, Baba sided with Rohilla and chided the villagers who were unable to see through Rohilla's harsh voice, his devotion.
Not only what we do, what we think is known to Sai. Nothing is secret from Him, as we shall see in later chapters. If Maya lashes us when we forget Him, can Yama be far behind? Actually Maya also is helping us to remember Sai by whipping or lashing us. So we should thank Maya and return to Sai's fold. "All the insects, ants, is My body or form." Sai is Viswatma, Viswaroopa. “Viswam, Vishnur Vashatkaro...” starts Sri Vishnu Sahsra Nama Stotram. This whole universe is His body. He pervades every atom and the space between. The same truth is expounded beautifully in Chapter 18.
Hearing these beautiful and precious words, I at once decided in my mind to serve no man henceforward, but my Guru only; but the reply of Baba to Anna Chinchanikar’s query (which was really mine) that I would get some job, began to revolve in my mind, and I began to think whether it would come to happen. As future events showed, Baba’s words came true and I got a Government job, but that was of short duration. Then I became free and solely devoted my self to the service of my Guru-Sai Baba.
Before concluding this Chapter, I request the readers to leave out the various hindrances viz. indolence, sleep, wandering of mind, attachments to senses, etc. and turn their whole and undivided attention to these stories of Sai Baba. Let their love be natural, let them know the secret of devotion; let them not exhaust themselves by other Sadhanas, let them stick to this one simple remedy, i.e. listening to Sai Baba’s stories. This will destroy their ignorance and will secure for them salvation. A miser may stay at various places; but he always thinks of his buried treasure. So let Sai Baba be enthroned in the hearts of all.
Sai Ram. "Let their love be natural...," says the author. No, even forced love is useful. As we eat, even neem becomes sweet, goes a proverb in Telugu. Swamy Sivanandaji Maharaj of Divine Life Society was once asked by a person about usefulness of Meditation in the absence of purity of mind. The kind Swamy told him to go on repeating the Lord's name even mechanically so that the mind becomes pure. So reading Sai's wonderful stories will lead to mental purifi-cation and that in turn will lead to better success in meditation and other advanced methods. Sai Ram.
In the next chapter, I shall speak of Sai Baba’s advent in Shirdi.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all |
Sai Ram. The above gives Shri Hemadpant's understanding of the Mission of the Saints in the light of what Shri Krishna stated in Shri Bhagavad Geeta (Gita). It is to be noted that Shri Hemadpant like all normal people, had certain inherent limitations of perspective due to his family background. Baba, was beyond all these considerations, but He never advocated any of His devotees to transgress their social religious duties. So the writings of Shri Hemadpant are to be understood keeping the social perspective in view.