Thoughts About Chapter XI - Shri Sai Satcharitra

Shri Sai Satcharitra Chapter XI

Sai, as Sagun Brahman -- Dr. Pandit's Worship -- Haji Sidik Falke --Control over the Elements

Let us now, in this Chapter, describe the manifested (Sagun) Brahman Sai. How He was worshipped and how He controlled the elements.

Sai as Sagun Brahman

There are two aspects of God or Brahman : (1) the Unmanifested (Nirgun) and (2) the Manifested (Sagun). The Nirgun is formless, while the Sagun is with form, though both denote the same Brahman. Some prefer to worship the former, some the latter. As stated in the Gita (chapter XII) the worship of the latter is easy and preferable. As man has got a form (body, senses, etc.), it is natural and easy for him to worship the God with form. Our love and devotion do not develop unless we worship Sagun Brahman for a certain period of time, and as we advance; it leads us to the worship (meditation) of Nirgun Brahman. So let us start with Sagun worship. Image, altar, fire, light, sun, water, Brahman are the seven objects of worship, but Sadguru is better than all these. Let us, on this occasion, bring to our mind the form of Sai, Who was non-attachment Incarnate, and Who was a resting-place for His whole-hearted devotees. Our faith in His words is the seat of Asan; and our Sankalpa (determination to start and finish the Puja) is the abandonment of all our desires. Some say that Sai was a Bhagwad-bhakta (devotee of the Lord), others say He was a Maha-Bhagwat (a great devotee), but to us He is God Incarnate. He was extremely forgiving, never irritable, straight, soft, tolerant and content beyond comparison. Though He looked embodied (as having the form), He was really dis-embodied, emotionless, unattached and internally free. The Ganges on its way to the sea, cools and refreshes the creatures affected with heat, gives life to the crops and trees, and quenches the thirst of many. Similarly Saints (Souls) like Sai, while they live their own life, give solace and comfort to all. Lord Krishna has said that 'the Saint is My soul, My living image, I am He or He is My pure form (Being).' This in-describable Shakti or Power of God, known as Pure Existence, Knowledge and Bliss, incarnated in the form of Sai in Shirdi. The Shruti (Taitiriya Upanishad) describes Brahman as Bliss. This we read or hear daily in the books, but the devout people experienced this Brahman or Bliss in Shirdi. Baba, the support of all, required no prop or support (Asan) from anybody. He always used a piece of sack-cloth for His seat, which was covered with a small beautiful bed by His bhaktas and has a bolster placed by them, as a rest to His back. Baba respected the feelings of His devotees and allowed them to worship Him as they liked. Some waved Chamara or fans before Him, some played on musical instruments, some washed His hands and Feet, some others applied scent and chandan, some gave betel nut with leaves and other things, and some others offered naivedya. Though He looked like living in Shirdi, He was present everywhere. This all-pervasiveness of His way daily experienced by His devotees. Our humble prostration to this all-pervasive Sadguru.

Dr. Pandit's Worship

One Dr. Pandit, a friend of Tatyasaheb Noolkar, once came to Shirdi for Baba's darshana. After saluting Baba, he stayed in the Masjid for some time. Baba asked him to go to Dadabhat Kelkar. He went to Dadabhat, by whom he was well received. Then Dababhat left his house for Puja and Dr. Pandit accompanied him. Dadabhat worshipped Baba. Nobody until then dared to apply sandal paste to Baba's forehead. Only Mhalsapati used to apply it to His throat. But this simple-hearted devout, Dr. Pandit, took Dabadhat's dish containing Puja-materials and taking sandal-paste out of it, drew a Tripundra, i.e. there horizontal lines on Baba's forehead. To the surprise of all, Baba kept silent without uttering a single word. Then Dababhat that evening asked Baba, "How is it, that though You object to the sandal-paste being applied by others to Your forehead, but You allowed Dr. Pandit to do so now?" Baba replied that Dr. Pandit believed Him to be the same as his Guru, Raghunath Maharaja of Dhopeshwar, known as Kaka Puranik, and he applied the paste to His forehead, as he was doing to his Guru. Hence He could not object. On enquiry, Dr. Pandit told Dadabhat that he took Baba as his Guru Kaka Puranik, and hence he marked the Tripundra on Baba's forehead, as he did on his Guru's head.

Though Baba allowed the devotees to worship Him as they pleased, still sometimes, He acted in a strange way. Sometimes, He threw away the Puja-dish and was wrath Incarnate, then who could approach Him? Sometimes, He scolded the devotees, at times, He looked softer than wax, a statue of peace and forgiveness. Though He seemed to shake with anger and His red eyes rolled round and round, still, He was internally a stream of affection and motherly love. Immediately, He called out His devotees and said, that He ever angry with His devotees; that if mothers kicked their children and if the sea turned back the rivers, He would neglect the devotees' welfare: that He, the slave of His devotees, always stood by them, and responded to them, whenever they called upon Him, and that He always longed for their love.

Haji Sidik Falke

There was no knowing, when Baba would accept a devotee. That depended on His sweet will. Sidik Falke's story is to the point. One Mahomedan gentleman by name Sidik Falke of Kalyan, after making a pilgrimage to Mecca and Madina, came to Shirdi. He lived in a Chavadi, facing north, and sat in the open court-yard of the Masjid. For nine months, Baba ignored him, and did not allow him to step into the Masjid. Falke felt much disconsolate, and did not know what to do. Somebody advised him not to be disappointed; but to try to approach Baba through Shama (Madhavarao Deshpande), a close and intimate devotee of Baba. He told him that as they approach the God Shiva through his servant and devotee, Nandi, so Baba should be approached through Shama. Falke liked the idea and implored Shama to intercede for him. Shama agreed and on a convenient occasion spoke to Baba about him thus:- "Baba, why don't You allow the old Haji to step into the Masjid, while so many persons freely come and go, after taking Your darshan; why not bless him once?" Baba replied "Shama, you are too young to understand things. If the Fakir (Allah) does not allow, what can I do? Without His grace, who will climb into the masjid? Well, go to him and ask him whether he will come to the narrow footpath near the Barvi well." Shama went and returned with an affirmative answer. Again Baba said to Shama,"Ask him whether he is willing to pay me the sum of Rs. 40,000/- in four instalments." Shama went and returned with the answer that he was willing to pay even 40 lacs. Again Baba said to Shama- "We are going to butcher a goat in the Masjid, so ask him, whether he would like to have mutton, haunch or testicles of the goat." Shama returned with the answer that the Haji would be happy to receive a small crumb from Baba's kolamba (mudpot). Hearing this Baba got excited and with His hands threw away the earthen jars and kolamba and straightway advanced to the Haji and lifting His Kafni up with His hands said - "Why do you brag and fancy yourself great and pose yourself as an old Haji? Do you read Koran like this? You are proud of your pilgrimage to Macca, but you do not know Me." Being thus scolded, the Haji was confounded. Baba then went back to the Masjid, purchased a few baskets of mangoes and sent them to the Haji. Then again Baba went to the Haji and taking out Rs.55/- from His pocket, gave them to the Haji. From that time, Baba loved the Haji, invited him for meals and the Haji, thereafter, came into the Masjid whenever he liked. Baba gave him at times some rupees, and thus the Haji was enlisted in Baba's Darbar.

Baba's Control over the Elements

We shall close this Chapter after describing two incidents showing Baba's control over the elements. (1) Once at evening time, there was a terrible storm at Shirdi. The sky was overcast with thick black clouds. The winds began to blow forcibly; the clouds roared and the lighting began to flash, and the rains began to descend in torrents. In a short time, the whole place was flooded with water, All the creatures, birds, beasts and men got terribly frightened; and they all flocked to the Masjid for shelter. There are many local deities in Shirdi, but none of them came to their help. So they all prayed to Baba - their God, Who was fond of their devotion, to intercede and quell the storm. Baba was much moved. He came out and standing at the edge of the Masjid, addressed the storm in a loud and thunderous voice - "Stop, stop your fury and the calm." In a few minutes the rains subsided, the winds ceased to blow, and the storm came to a stop. Then the moon rose in the sky, and the people then went back home well-pleased, (2) On another occasion at noon the fire in the Dhuni began to burn brightly, its flames were seen to be reaching the rafters above. The people who were sitting in the Masjid did not know what to do. They dared not to ask Baba to pour water or do anything to quench the flames. But Baba soon came to realize, what was happening. He took up His Satka (short stick) and dashed it against a pillar in front, saying - "Get down, Be calm." At each stroke of the Satka, the flames began to lower and slow down; and in a few minutes the Dhuni became calm and normal.

This is our Sai, an Incarnation of God. He will bless any man who will prostrate and surrender himself to Him. He, who will read the stories of this Chapter daily with faith and devotion, will soon be free from all calamities; not only this, but always attached and devoted to Sai, he will get very soon God-vision: all his desires will be fulfilled and being ultimately desireless, he will attain the Supreme. Amen!

Bow to Shri Sai -- Peace be to all

Thoughts  about this chapter 1) How to easily pray Baba Hemadpant in this Chapter clearly shows the path for praying Baba. The actual SAI whoever has known and experienced can see him and feel him in every atom around them which is the nirguna swaroopa (i.e formless). Whereas for the people who are into the path of realising SAI, it is practically difficult to understand the concept. For them the process to reach the formless will begin with form only. So easiest way is to look at the image of baba or look at the idol of baba. This once practiced, over a period of time, makes us realise that he is present in all beings and every atom. The question arises in the mind "Why is it difficult for nirguna (formless) puja". Everyone is habituated in recognising things with their form and name only. When someone says dog, immediately in our mind appears the image of the dog. But we never try or make any attempt to go deep at the subtle level where all the living beings have something in common known as life. So if we try to remove the name and form for each living being, then all are nothing but some life with different shapes. This life is nothing but a flow of universal life energy. It is just like the Electricity running through all the electrical appliances. Without this electricity none of the appliances like fan, light, grinder etc run. The electricity is the same, but the appliances are different. In the same manner, the universal life energy is the same, but the living forms are different. At the external level, they may appear different, but at the internal level, it is the same energy which is flowing through them all. So this Universal Life energy is nothing but SAI which doesnt have any one form, but all forms are of it only. Till we realise this truth, we need to do the puja for the external entity of SAI Photo and SAI Idol. The day we understand this reality, there is no need for Photo or Idol puja, because we can feel and experience him in every atom around us. 2) How baba is present all over This is a classic example for the discussion started by hemandpant that Baba is a sagun brahma. Actually where no one dares to apply chandan, baba silently accepted dr.pandit's worship and allowed him to apply chandan on his forehead. When Baba was asked the reason for this, he told that Dr. Pandit had treated him as his guru and applied the chandan, for which he could not resist him. What did Baba clearly conveyed through this. That 1) all the gurus are the same internally with different forms externally 2) When a devotee realises this truth and can see his guru in another guru and do the puja, this guru will not and cannot resist that puja because both are the same. The same concept which has been discussed  orally has been shown practically by Baba. 3) Important Words of Baba In this episode of baba blessing haji, there is a great importance of when and how baba will accept and bless a devotee. Initially the episode begins by baba not allowing haji into dwarakamayi (masjid)  and when someone suggests haji to go through Shama. There is a simplest and greatest indication and path for everyone that in getting the  permission to visit a guru, we should take the help of the devotees like shama, which will let the guru shower his grace for the love he has on his devotee. The second thing are the important words spoken by Baba to haji  "Why do you brag and fancy yourself great and pose yourself as an old Haji? Do you read Koran like this? You are proud of your pilgrimage to Macca, but you do not know Me.". In this Baba is clearly indicating that though haji had done mecca pilgramage, but he had not realized the SAI. i.e the nirguna brahma or the Universal Life form of Sai. That all are equal from internal and the external forms only are different. This episode also is another example for the discussion done in the beginning of the chapter. And Baba's words clearly indicates 1) Mere pilgramage for the sake of travelling without the end result of realisation is not of any use 2) The only result for a pilgramage should be the realisation of SAI. 4) Baba's  control over nature The final episode also gives more strength to the same discussion. That one who is present in every atom, he has the power and can control any element in the nature. At the external form, there are 5 basic elements in this nature namely earth, fire, water, air  and sky. But at the lowest level, everything is nothing but an atom, basing on which this entire thing is nothing but collection of atoms. SAI is filled in each and every atom and every thing is filled in SAI. Just like when we say x equals y, it also implies that y equals x. so SAI is filled in every atom is equivalent to all atoms are filled in SAI. For example if we consider hands and legs as part of our body we feel that we can control our hand and leg like folding our hand, bending our leg. In the similar fashion for SAI the entire universe is part of his body, so he can resist or release any part  and everything will be under his control.  In summary we can say that the essence of this chapter is that SAI is present all over and the end goal of everyone is to realise the same by any means of doing pilgramages, meditating on either SAI photo or SAI Idol, do bhajans or aarti, do satsang etc.
Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai Loka Samastha Sukhinobavanthu Sarve Jana Sukhinobavanthu Shanti Shanti Shanti