1Now to continue the story from the previous chapter… Baba disappeared from Shirdi and reappeared with Chand Patil. Listen to how all this happened.
2How Baba created and tended the garden by himself watering it ; of the gathering of Gangagir and other saints. Listening to this narration will be sanctifying.
3Later on, Baba who had disappeared for some time, how this gem of a person returned to Shirdi in the Barat[1] of a Muslim.
4Before that, Devidas had taken up residence at Shirdi and later Jankidas, the ascetic, also came there.
5How all this happened, I will recount in detail. Listeners, listen to it attentively and with respect.
6In a small village called Dhoop, in the district of Aurangabad, there was a fortunate Muslim, whose name was Chand Patil.
7While he was travelling to Aurangabad, he lost one of his mares and there was no trace of her for two months. He lost all hope.
8Patil became completely despondent and was greatly distressed by the loss of the mare. Carrying the saddle on his back, he began his return journey.
9Leaving Aurangabad four and half kos[2] behind, he came across, on the way a mango tree, underneath which he saw this gem.
10Wearing a cap on his head and a kafni on his body, a wooden stick under his arm, crushing tobacco and preparing it for filling his chillum for a smoke – when a strange thing happened.
11As Chand Patil was passing by, he heard the fakir calling out to him: “Come along here, have a smoke and then proceed further. Sit for a while in the shade”.
12The fakir asked him what was the saddle for and Patil answered that he had lost his mare. Then he told him “Go and search for it near the stream”. The horse was found immediately.
13Chand Patil was wonderstruck and thought to himself that he had met an ‘aulia’[3] ‘There is no limit to his powers. He cannot be called an ordinary being’.
14Afterwards Patil returned with the mare to the original place. The fakir made him sit next to him. He then picked up in his hands a pair of tongs.
15Then he thrust it into the soil there, took out a burning coal and put it on his ‘chillum’[4] which was in his hands. Then he picked up his ‘satka’[5].
16Next, there was no water around to wet the ‘chappi’[6] for his chillum, so he beat the ‘satka’ on the ground and water began to spring.
17The ‘chappi’ was soaked in the water and then squeezed dry. He wound it around the ‘chillum’. He smoked it himself and made Patil smoke too. Patil was dazed.
18He made a request to the fakir to sanctify his house by his presence; and the fakir, who had manifested himself only for such divine leelas, obliged him.
19He went to the village the next day, stayed with Patil for some time; and, then, returned to Shirdi.
20This Chand Patil, ‘Karbhari’, was the headman of the village. A marriage was arranged with a girl from Shirdi, for his wife’s nephew.
21It was fortunate that an alliance with the bride from Shirdi was fixed for the nephew of Chandbhai’s wife, who had become of a marriageable age.
22Along with carts and horses the marriage procession started for Shirdi. Out of love for Chandbhai, Baba also joined in the procession.
23The marriage was over and the marriage party returned. Only Baba stayed behind and stayed on for good. Thus Shirdi became blessed.
24Sai, the Eternal, the Ancient One was, neither Hindu nor Muslim. He had no caste, nor family, nor ‘gotra’. Know him to be the Self-Realised Soul.
25People called him “Sai, Sai”. How was this name given to him? “Welcome Sai”, is the reverence, with which he was welcomed and that is how this name remained.
26Near Khandoba’s temple, in Mhalsapati’s threshing ground, when Baba alighted with the marriage party, on that day, he was given this name.
27Originally, the threshing ground belonged to Mhalsapati. Later on, it belonged to Aminbhai. When the marriage procession came, it was here that it halted under the banyan tree.
28The bullocks were unyoked at the threshing ground, in the extensive open space in front of Khandoba’s temple. Baba, along with the marriage guests, alighted there.
29When the youthful fakir got down from the cart, and was first seen by Bhagat (Mhalsapati), he went forward to him saying “Welcome Sai”. Since then he has been called by that name.
30Later on from that time, everybody called him “Sai, Sai”. And that became his proper name.
31He smoked his chillum there, resided in the Masjid, enjoyed the company of Devidas, and felt happy in Shirdi.
32Sometimes he would sit in the Chavadi, sometimes in Devidas’ company, sometimes in the Maruti temple, absorbed completely in the Self.
33This Devidas was already living in Shirdi before Baba came there. Later came the Sage Jankidas of the Mahanubhav sect[7].
34With that Jankidas, Maharaj would sit and chat; or, Jankidas would come where Maharaj used to sit.
35Both were fond of each other and would meet regularly. Their kinship developed and pleased everybody greatly.
36Similarly, a very famous Vaishnava householder-saint, called Gangagir, who hailed from Puntambe was a frequent visitor to Shirdi.
37Great was Gangagir’s surprise in the early days when he would see Sai carrying water from the well, in earthen pitchers, in both his hands.
38When he first set eyes on Sai, Buva openly proclaimed "It is the good fortune of Shirdi that this precious gem has associated itself with Shirdi.
39Although he is carrying water on his shoulders to-day, he is not an ordinary person. Blessed is the soil of Shirdi on which he has set his foot".
40Similarly, another well-known saint, named Anandnath, had predicted for him that he would perform miraculous deeds.
41This famous Anandnath had established a math in Yeola. He came to Shirdi once, along with some of the dwellers of Shirdi[8].
42Anandnath, who was the disciple of the great saint of Akkalkot when he saw Sai, exclaimed: "This is indeed a diamond, a real diamond.
43Though to-day he is lying on the garbage heap (i.e. neglected), it is not just a flint but a diamond". These were the words of Anandnath when Baba was a youngster.
44“Mark my words carefully. Later on you will recall them”. After prophesying thus, he returned to Yeola.
45Those were the days of his youth, when Sai did not shave his head but grew his hair long and dressed like a wrestler.
46Whenever Baba would go to Rahata, he would bring saplings of marigold and jasmine. He planted them in barren land and regularly watered them.
47Waman Tatya, a devotee, regularly supplied two unbaked earthen pots to Baba to water the plants with his own hands.
48Baba would carry the water on his shoulders from the tank near the well; and, at sunset would keep the pots at the base of the neem tree.
49No sooner were they kept on the ground they would break on the spot; and early next morning, Tatya would bring new ones for him.
50An oven-baked pot is more durable. But Baba required only the unbaked and new. So without undergoing the trouble of baking, the potter would sell the pots.
51For three years this continued and the wilderness was transformed into a garden. This is the place on which stands the wada to-day which provides the devotees, a place for close association with him.[9]
52Here[10], under the neem tree, a devotee named Bhai[11] installed the Padukas of Akkalkot Swami, for worship by devotees.
53Swami Samartha of Akkalkot was the chosen deity of Bhai, who worshipped his portrait regularly with devotion.
54He thought of going to Akkalkot to have the darshan of the padukas and to offer worship to them with his heart and soul.
55He got ready to start from Bombay the next day. But that decision remained unfulfilled and instead he left for Shirdi.
56One day before his departure he saw a vision. Akkalkot Swami commanded him: “At present Shirdi is my abode. You go there”.
57Obeying the command with reverence, Bhai left Bombay. He lived in Shirdi for six months and was at peace and happy.
58Bhai was full of devotion. So, to commemorate the vision he installed the Swami’s padukas under the neem tree.
59In ‘Shake’ 1834[12], in the bright half of the month of Shravan, on an auspicious day, the padukas were installed under the neem tree with the singing of bhajans and with great devotion.
60At the auspicious mahurat[13], the installation ceremony was done by Dada Kelkar, while the rites and rituals were performed by Upasani[14] according to the Shastras.
61For the future, arrangements were entrusted to a Brahmin named Dixit[15] who would perform the puja and a devotee by the name Sagun[16] looked after the management. This is the story of the padukas.
62Such are the unaffected saints, who are truly incarnations of God, and appear on earth for the salvation and benefit of mankind.
63Some days later, a strange thing happened. Listeners who listen with respect, will marvel about it.
64There was a seller of beetle-leaves by the name of Mohideenbhai. A dispute arose between him and Baba which flared up into a wrestling bout.
65Both were skilled wrestlers but destiny prevails over strength. Mohideen proved stronger. Baba being weaker lost.
66After this, he took a decision. Baba completely changed his attire. He put on a kafni and tied a loin cloth. He also wrapped a piece of cloth around his head.
67He used a gunny bag or sack for his seat and also as his bedding. He wore torn and worn-out rags and was content with them.
68Sai would always say: “Poverty is better than Kingship, far better than riches. The Lord is the befriender of the poor”.
69Gangagir also passed through the same phase. He was very fond of gymnastics. Once while engaged in a wrestling bout, he also had a similar feeling of dispassion.
70At the opportune moment he heard the words of a realised person: “One must realise that the body should be serving God and should wear out in the service of God”.
71While still engaged in wrestling, he heard these words of grace. Because of them, he discarded the worldly life and sought the path of spirituality.
72Near Puntambe, on an island in the middle of the river, stands Buva’s math, where some of his disciples also stayed to serve him.
73Enough about him. Later on, Sainath only answered questions put to him and would never talk to anybody on his own.
74During the day, he would sit under the neem tree; and, sometimes, under the shade of a protruding branch of the Babul tree by the side of a stream, near the outskirts of the village.
75Sometimes he would wander about at his pleasure during the day, or in the afternoon or in the early evening, near Nimgaon, a mile or so away.
76The famous family of Trimbak Dengle had the Jahagirdari[17] of Nimgaon. Babasaheb Dengle from that family was dearly loved by Baba.
77Whenever Baba took a round of Nimgaon, he would go to his home and with great affection spend the day talking with him.
78He had a younger brother whose name was Nanasaheb. He had no son so he was very dejected.
79There was no possibility of a child from his first wife. Therefore, he married for the second time. Still fate could not be altered. One cannot fathom destiny!
80Later Babasaheb sent him for Sai darshan. And with Sai’s blessings, he received the ‘prasad’ in the form of a son.
81As time went by, multitudes thronged to have the darshan of Sai. Sai’s fame increased and the news reached Ahmednagar.
82There, Nana[18] moved in the Government circles and was influential with the officials among whom was Chidambar Keshav, the Secretary to the District Collector,
83to whom he sent a letter, saying that the great Sai is worthy of darshan; and that he should have darshan bringing along with him his wife, son and family friends.
84One after another, thus many people started pouring into Shirdi. As Baba’s fame spread, so also his circle of devotees increased.
85Although he was not in need of company, he was surrounded by devotees during the day. But after sunset he would retire in the dilapidated Masjid.
86With chillum, tobacco and a tumbler, he always kept a ‘satka’ near him. He wore a ‘kafni’ reaching upto his ankles and a white piece of cloth round his head.
87He would tie around his head a white cloth, which was washed, and artistically twisted behind his left ear, like matted locks of hair.
88Dressed thus, he would go at times without a bath for eight days at a stretch and walked bare-footed. He only sat on the gunny bag cloth.
89His seat was always a piece of sacking. He did not know what a bolster was! How could there be any proper bedding or grandeur?
90During those days that old sack-cloth was his favourite seat. It always remained there for all the twenty-four hours.
91That was the only seat and the bed. He wore a ‘kaupin’[19] tied at the waist and had no other garment. Only the ‘dhuni’ was there to ward off the cold.
92Baba would sit cross-legged, facing South, with his left arm resting on the railing in the Masjid, gazing intently into the dhuni in front of him.
93Along with ego and passion, all kinds of desires were offered as oblation; and, also, worldly aspirations were thrown into the dhuni; by different ways and means.
94In this manner, he fed the log of the pride of knowledge in the brightly burning fire and also repeated “Allah Malik”, thus keeping the banner of the Lord’s name flying high.
95And how big was that Masjid? The whole place was the size of two rooms[20] in which he sat, lived, slept and received all visitors.
96The mattress and the cushion are a recent feature when devotees began gathering around him. In the early days one could not go near him without fear.
97It was from 1912 that the change came over. The renovation of the Masjid actually started since then.
98There were knee-deep pits in the flooring of the Masjid. But because of the faith of the devotees the flooring was paved with Shahabadi (hewn) stones one night.
99Before moving into the Masjid, Baba stayed at the takia[21]. He stayed there long, peacefully and untroubled by anyone.
100Here, tying jingling bells around his feet, he would dance gracefully and sing melodiously with devotion to the accompaniment of a tambourine.
101In the early days, the great Sai was very fond of burning oil lamps. Therefore, he himself used to go to the shopkeepers and ask for oil.
102Carrying a tumbler-like container in his hand, he begged for oil from the shops of the grocers and oil-mongers. After bringing it he would fill the earthern oil lamps.
103He burnt the lamps brightly in the temples and the Masjid. This continued for sometime.
104Out of love for the worship of the light, he even celebrated Deepavali with illumination. He would make twisted wicks from rags and would burn the lamps in the Masjid.
105He brought the oil, daily, free of charge. Therefore, the oil-mongers conspired against him to put an end to this nuisance.
106Later, when Baba went to ask for oil as usual, and when all refused, look what a wonder took place.
107Baba went back without a word and put the dry wicks in the earthern lamps. What could he do without the oil? The grocers watched that fun!
108Baba picked up a pot, which was on the parapet of the Masjid, in which there was little oil, not enough even to light the evening lamp.
109Then he put water into the oil and Baba drank it. Thus having offered it to Brahman, he took pure water.
110Then he poured the water in the lamp and soaked the dry wicks completely; struck the matchsticks and lit the lamps for all to see.
111Seeing the lamps burning with water, the grocers were dumbfounded. They felt disgusted with themselves that they had lied to Baba.
112Even though there was not a drop of oil, the lamps burnt throughout the night. People started commenting that the shopkeepers had now lost Sai’s grace.
113The grocers felt repentant for having harassed Baba (causing him anguish without any reason) and having committed the sin of uttering lies. They thought how great is Baba’s power!
114Baba never thought of this. He was never angry or hated any person. He had no friends or foes, and all creatures were equal for him.
115So be it. We will continue with the former episode – Mohideen’s victory in the wrestling bout. Further, the life story is very interesting. Please listen attentively.
116Five years after the wrestling bout, a fakir called Jawahar Ali of Ahmednagar came to reside in Rahata along with his disciple.
117Finding an open place near the temple of Veerabhadra, the fakir camped there. This fakir was very fortunate.
118If he were not fortunate how could he have acquired a delightful disciple like Sai, whose fame had already spread?
119There were many kinds of people in the village. Amongst them were also quite a few Marathas. Out of them was one Bhagu Sadaphal, who became his servitor.
120The fakir was a great scholar. He knew the Quran Sharif[22] like the palm of his hand. Many selfish people, genuine devotees and those desirous of ‘parmartha’[23], all alike, started worshipping him.
121He started the construction of Idgah[24]. After some time he was charged with having defiled Veerabhadra.
122Later the construction of the Idgah was stopped. The fakir was driven out of the village. He then came to Shirdi and stayed at the Masjid with Baba.
123The fakir was a very sweet-tongued person. The whole village started worshipping him. The way he behaved with Baba, the people said that he had hypnotised Baba and bewitched him.
124.“Be my disciple”, so said the fakir. Baba being of a sporting nature agreed to it. The fakir was pleased and took Baba along with him.
124He got an obedient disciple like Baba. Jawahar Ali became the Guru. Both of them together decided to stay on in Rahata.
125The Guru was not aware of the accomplishments of the disciple. But the disciple knew the shortcomings of the Guru. But, he never showed any disrespect and fulfilled the duties of a disciple.
126He did not consider the propriety or impropriety of the Guru’s orders, but carried them out meticulously. He did even the menial duties for the Guru such as carrying water.
127And so continued the service of the Guru. The visits to Shirdi became occasional. When this happened, I will tell you what followed.
128This went on awhile. He started residing in Rahata only. People thought he had left Shirdi and had completely gone under the fakir’s control.
129People thought that Jawahar Ali had captured Sai with his own yogic powers. But Sai’s attitude was different. He wanted to destroy the bodily pride.
130People will conjecture ‘Where was there any pride in Sai?’ But this behaviour was for the sake of the people, to set an example and this is exactly the purpose of his ‘avatar’.
131There were many loving devotees of Baba in Shirdi, who were greatly attached to Baba, and they thought it improper to stay away from Baba.
132But Sai had completely surrendered to him (Jawahar Ali); and the villagers were grieved over the situation. They began to seriously consider how to get him back.
133As gold and its glitter or the lamp and its light, so is the state of complete unity between the Guru and his disciple.
134The group of devotees from Shirdi went to Rahata near the Idgah to try their utmost to convince Baba to return along with them.
135But Baba told them to the contrary. "The fakir is very hot-tempered. Do not cross swords with him. He will never leave me.
136You better leave from here. He will come back any moment from the village. He will abuse you. His wrath is terrible.
137As soon as he returns he will get red hot with rage. His rage is awful. Oh, you go, go away immediately. Set on your way to Shirdi".
138Now what turn will take place? Baba has given an opposite viewpoint. Just then the fakir returned unexpectedly and asked them thus:
139“Have you come for the lad? What were you talking about here? You have a design to take him back to Shirdi? But don’t take the trouble”.
140Even though he spoke so in the beginning, he yielded to the pressure of the villagers and said why not take me along and we will take the lad with us.
141So the fakir also went along with them. He could not leave Baba and Baba also could not part from him. No one could understand how this happened.
142Sai was the Incarnation of the Supreme Brahman. But Jawahar Ali was a fake. Devidas tested him and the cat was out of the bag in Shirdi.
143Devidas had a good physique, lustrous eyes and attractive looks. He was ten or eleven years old when he first came to Shirdi.
144At that tender age, with a loin-cloth round his waist, he came as a pilgrim and stayed in the Maruti temple.
145Appa Bhil, Mhalsapati were his regular visitors. Kashiram[25] and others would give him alms. Thus his fame spread.
146Twelve years before Baba came with the marriage party, Devidas had come and settled in Shirdi.
147Appa Bhil was taught to write on the slate and made to learn the Venkatesh Stotra. Everybody was also made to learn it by heart. These lessons were taken regularly.
148Devidas was very learned. Tatyaba[26] regarded him as his Guru. Kashinath and others became his foremost disciples and worshipped him.
149The fakir (Jawahar Ali) was brought before Devidas and a debate regarding the shastras took place. The Bairagi (Devidas) won over the fakir and the fakir was driven away from there.
150After he escaped from there, he stayed at Vaijapur. Later, he returned after many years and bowed down to Sainath.
151The misconception was cleared up that ‘I am the Guru and Sai the chela’[27]. Baba accepted him as before, since he had repented and was purified.
152Such were the inscrutable ways of Baba. Till the time the fakir’s illusion vanished, when it was destined to, Sai played upto it.
153Sainath honoured the concept of the teacher and student relationship by practising it himself. He let him cherish his status as a teacher and accepted his own status as a student.
154We should belong to somebody or somebody should belong to oneself. Anything different from this is not right. Without this the worldly ocean cannot be crossed.
155This is the only lesson learnt from his behaviour. It is rare to find such confidence, intrepidity and courage. One who can follow this example, he will attain the acme of humility.
156In such matters, ingenuity and intelligence are of no use. One who wants to achieve his own good should behave without pride.
157He who has burnt away his bodily pride is the person who alone has used his body for its proper purpose. To achieve the ultimate good, he may then become anybody’s follower or disciple.
158The young and the old were amazed to see this dispassionate state of mind in a boy so young and fair. All the people adored him and marvelled at him.
159The actions of a realised person happen according to his past karma but they are not a burden to him. He does not become the actual doer.
160Just as the sun cannot stay in darkness, so the man of enlightenment cannot remain in a state of duality. For him the whole universe is the incarnation of his own self. He dwells in unity (advaita).
161This story of Guru and his disciple’s behaviour was narrated by Mhalsapati, a great devotee of Sainath. I have narrated it from beginning to end, as I heard it from him.
162Let us end the narration now. The next one is more profound. It will be narrated in the proper sequence. Please listen with attention.
163What was the earlier condition of the Masjid; with what difficulty it was paved; and, whether Sai was a Hindu or a Muslim – no one knows this for a certainty.
164In the next chapter will come a detailed narration in its proper order, of Baba’s yogic practices such as ‘dhotipoti’[28] and ‘khandyoga’[29] and his taking upon himself the karmic sufferings of the devotees.
165Hemad surrenders to Sai. This narration of his life story is due to his grace only; and listening to this meritious and holy tale will remove the ignorance.