Ramachandra Vasudev Ghaisas

I did not see Sai Baba. I knew Kaka Saheb Dixit. I was working in the R.M.S. Department at Manmad. Then Kaka Saheb Dixit was coming to my neighbourhood. He told me of Sai Baba. He said Baba called him to Shirdi and hence he was going to Shirdi. I asked “Baba is not alive. How does he call you?” Then he said “You will come to know”, and he gave me a photo of Baba. Some months elapsed. My wife fell ill. This was about 13 years back. Her condition appeared hopeless. It was post-parturition trouble. I prayed to Baba on her account and wanted to know if she would live. One or two days afterwards, I had a dream. In that I and a Moslem named Shaik Kabula were in a boat in the ‘Kadi’ or creek of the sea at Kalyan. Some one got into paddle our boat to ferry us across. The creek was in high tide. We were propelled up the current first. But, whereas we had to reach our landing place in the opposite shore, we were stranded in some muddy place lower down. That was because our propelling man had disappeared; we were two in the boat and neither of us knew how to propel the boat. So, we get to a much lower muddy place. However, we reached our shore. This was my dream. I inferred from it that my wife would survive, though after much trouble and lapse of time. From that date, she began to recover. Our doctor declared that the crisis had been passed and that she was safe, though recovery would be slow. I mentioned the dream to Kaka Sahib. Then he said that I would thereby understand Baba’s statement “My Samadhi will speak” (i.e.) “Baba though apparently dead is really alive.”

I was very uneasy in my mind at not getting a decently high position or higher grade (called selection grade) in my department. At that time, I got a dream. In the dream, I was talking with some one else on financial matters. Suddenly, some one appeared and told my companion “Why do you not grant him what he (i.e., myself) wants? Let him prepare Vanki (i.e.) upper armlets of ladies”. He disappeared after my companion said to the 3rd person, “yes, that will be done.” That was the dream. This like other dreams and experiences of mine, I communicated to Kaka Saheb. The 3rd person was obviously Baba. The reason why 3 armlets were to be prepared, while only pairs are worn, I did not first understand. But, Kaka Saheb explained it, saying that the 3rd person was Babaa Datta Avatar having 3 bodies in one. So 3 vankies were wanted. I accordingly got 3 silver vankies prepared and I placed them in my box of pooja, after making prana pratishta. The fourth day thereafter, I was given the selection grade.

I had doubts what spiritual reading I should go in for. Baba then appeared in my dream and said “Give me biksha of 53”. I thought that as I am poor, I should set apart 53 coins (of quarter anna) from my pay as soon as I get it. I did so for four months and was spending from those funds. Then I consulted Dabholkar about the dream. He showed me that the dream referred to the old standard Guru Charitra with 53 chapters. I then began to read that as my pothi.

Once I started the idea of having a Saptha (i.e.) a 7 days reading Baba’s Guru Charitra and ordered for Dabholkar’s book. After getting it, I had a dream of thieves entering my house. That showed me that Baba wanted me to keep on the old traditional pothi (i.e.) the standard Guru Charitra and not introduce an innovation. So, I gave up the idea of reading Dabholkar’s Satcharitra for the Saptha but kept up the old orthodox Pothi.

Some two years and half back, my wife had a serious attack of paralysis. Her life appeared to be in danger. But, she is a staunch devotee of Baba. She got a vision and in it saw Baba was sitting at the doorway or entrance of her room and telling her “I am here to guard you. I will not allow even Yamadhutas to enter”. She saw also (in that vision) some men bringing bamboos, a mud pot etc., and preparing a bier to carry her corpse. But, Baba asked them to clear off and go to the opposite place; and when they did not mind his words he kicked them away and broke their bamboos and mudpot. This was the vision and my wife was saved. This same night, a person in the opposite chawl (Rangari’s chawl opposite to our chawl (i.e.) Ghamat terrace or Ghamat Chawl) died. My wife’s life was saved and she recovered.

Mr.Dixit called me Bhau Saheb. There is published in the S.L.Masik an incident in which a devotee was given help by Baba, through me. I used to help devotees of Baba. I used to help devotes of Baba, in getting their bus or train to and from Shirdi. When I went to Shirdi, this devotee also recognized me and called me “Bhau Saheb”.