The Wonderful Life and Teachings of Shri Sai Baba
by Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji
- Chapter I
The wondrous Saint grinding wheat – Obeisances – The story of grinding wheat and its philosophical significance - 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 - Chapter III
Sai Baba's sanction and promise – Assignment of work to the devotees – Baba's stories as beacon-light – His motherly love – Rohila's story – His sweet and nectar like words - Chapter IV
Mission of the saints – Shirdi a Holy Tirth – Personality of Sai Baba – Dictum of Goulibua – Appearance of Vitthal – Kshirsagar's story – Das Ganu's bath in Prayag – Immaculate conception of Sai Baba and His first advent in Shirdi – Three Wadas - Chapter V
Baba's return with Chand Patil's marriage party – Welcomed and addressed as "Sai" – Contact with other saints – His attire and daily routine – The story of the Padukas – Wrestling bout with Mohiddin and change in life – Turning water into oil – The Pseudo-Guru Javhar Ali - Chapter VI
Efficacy of the touch of the Guru's hand – Ram Navami Festival – Its origin, transformation etc. – Repairs to the Masjid - Chapter VII
Wonderful Incarnation – Behaviour of Sai Baba – His yogic practices – His all-pervasiveness and mercy – Leper devotee's service – Master Khaparde's plague case – Going to Pandharpur - Chapter VIII
Importance of human birth – Sai Baba begging food – Baijabai's service – Sai Baba's dormitory – His affection for Khushalchand - 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' (Tarkhad family's) experiences – Baba fed sumptuously - Chapter X
Sai Baba's mode of life – His sleeping plank – His stay in Shirdi – His teachings – His humility – Nanavali The easiest path - Chapter XI
Sai as Sagun Brahma – Dr. Pandit's worship – Haji Siddik Falke – Control over the elements - Chapter XII
Sai Leelas – Experiences of (1) Kaka Mahajani (2) Dhumal Pleader (3) Mrs. Nimonkar (4) Mule Shastri (5) A Doctor - Chapter XIII
More Sai Leelas – Diseases cured (1) Bhimaji Patil (2) Bala Shimpi (3) Bapusaheb Buti (4) Alandi Swami (5) Kaka Mahajani (6) Dattopant of Harda - Chapter XIV
Ratanji Wadia of Nanded – Saint Moulisaheb – Dakshina - Chapter XV
Naradiya Kirtan Paddhati – Mr. Cholkar's Sugarless tea – Two Lizards - Chapters XVI & XVII
Quick Brahma Gnyan - Chapter XVII & XIX
How Hemadpant was accepted and blessed – Stories of Mr. Sathe and Mrs. Deshmukh – Encouraging good thoughts to fruition – Variety in Upadesh – Teachings regarding slander and remuneration for labour - Chapter XX
Das Ganu's problem solved by Kaka's maid-servant - Chapter XXI
Stories of (1) V.H. Thakur (2) Anantrao Patankar and (3) Pandharpur pleader - Chapter XXII
Rescues from serpent-bites (1) Balasaheb Mirikar (2) Bapusaheb Buti (3) Amir Shakkar (4) Hemadpant – Baba's opinion regarding killing of serpents - Chapter XXIII
Yoga and onion – Shama cured of snake-bite – Cholera ordinances broken – Ordeal of Guru-bhakti - Chapter XXIV
Baba's wit and humour – Chana Leela – (1) Hemadpant (2) Sudama (3) Anna Chinchanikar vs. Maushibai - Chapter XXV
Damu Anna Kasar of Ahmednagar (1) Speculations (2) Amraleela - Chapter XXVI
Stories of (1) Bhakta Pant (2) Harishchandra Pitale (3) Gopal Ambadekar - Chapter XXVII
Favour shown by giving Bhagwat and Vishnu Sahastranaam – Dixit's Vitthal vision – Geeta-Rahasya – Khapardes - Chapter XXVIII
Sparrows drawn to Shirdi (1) Lakhshmichand (2) Burhanpore lady (3) Megha - Chapter XXIX
Stories of (1) Chennai's Bhajani Mela (2) Tendulkars (father and son) (3) Dr. Captain Hate (4) Waman Narvekar - Chapter XXX
Drawn to Shirdi (1) Kakaji Vaidya of Vani (2) Ramlal Punjabi of Mumbai - Chapter XXXI
The passing away in Baba's presence of (1) Sanyaasi Vijayanand (2) Balaram Mankar (3) Noolkar (4) Megha (5) Tiger - Chapter XXXII
In quest of Guru and God – Fasting disapproved - Chapter XXXIII
Greatness of Udi – Scorpion-sting and plague cases cured – Jamner miracle – Narayan Rao's sickness – Balabua Sutar – Appasaheb Kulkarni – Haribhau Karnik - Chapter XXXIV
Greatness of Udi (continued) – Doctor's nephew – Dr. Pilley – Shama's sister-in-law – Irani girl – Harda gentlemen – Mumbai lady - Chapter XXXV
Tested and found not wanting – Kaka Mahajani's friend and master – Bandra insomnia case – Bala Patil Newaskar - Chapter XXXVI
Wonderful stories of (1) Two Goa gentlemen (2) Mrs. Aurangabadkar - Chapter XXXVI
Chavadi procession - Chapter XXXVIII
Baba's Handi – Disrespect of shrine – Cup of butter milk - Chapter XXXIX
Baba's knowledge of Sanskrit – His interpretation of a verse from Gita – Construction of the Samadhi Mandir - Chapter XL
Stories of Baba (1) Attending Mrs. Dev's Udyapan ceremony as Sanyaasi with two others (2) Hemadpant's house in the form of His picture - Chapter XLI
Story of the picture – Stealing the rags and reading of Dnyaneshwari - Chapter XLII
Baba's passing away – Previous indication – Averting death of Ramchandra Dada Patil and Tatya Kote Patil – Charity of Laxmibai Shinde – Last moment - Chapter XLIII & XLIV
Baba's passing away (continued) – Preparation – Samadhi Mandir – Breaking of the brick – 72 hours' Samadhi – Jog's Sanyaas – Baba's nectar-like words - Chapter XLV
Kakasaheb's doubt and Anandrao's vision – Wooden plank – Baba's bed-stead and not Bhagat's - Chapter XLVI
Baba's Gaya trip – Story of the two goats - Chapter XLVII
Baba's reminiscences – Story of Veerbhadrappa and Chenbasappa (snake and frog) - Chapter XLVIII
Warding off devotee's calamities – Stories of (1) Mr. Shevade (2) Sapatnekar - Chapter XLIX
Stories of (1) Hari Kanoba (2) Somadev Swami (3) Nanasaheb Chandorkar - Chapter L
Stories of (1) Kakasaheb Dixit (2) Shri Tembe Swami (3) Balaram Dhurandhar