Shri Sai Sat Charitra-Chapter 30-Part III

By Super

Thursday, May 3, 2012, 17:27

Shama's Vows

When Kakaji was thinking of his visit to Shirdi, a guest came to him at his place to take him to Shirdi. He was no other than Shama, a very close and intimate devotee of Baba. How he came to Vani at this juncture, we shall just see.

Shama was severely ill when he was very young and his mother had taken a vow to her family Goddess Sapta-Shringi at Vani; if the son got well, she would bring and dedicate him at Her feet. Then after some years the mother herself suffered much from ring-worms on her breasts. At that time she again took another vow to her deity that if she got all right, she would offer Her two silver breasts. These two vows remained unfulfilled. At her death-bed she called her son Shama to her and drew his attention to the vows and after taking a promise from him that he would fulfill them, she breathed her last.

After some time, Shama quite forgot about these vows and thus 30 years elapsed. About this time a famous astrologer had come to Shirdi and stayed there for a month. His predictions in the case of Shriman Booty and others came true and everybody was satisfied. Shama's younger brother Bapaji consulted him and was told that his mother's vows, which his elder brother promised to fulfill at her death-bed, were not yet fulfilled; hence the Goddess was displeased with them and was bringing troubles on them.

Sai Ram. The Goddess was not displeased because of the paltry material value of the vows, but was displeased about the maya that enveloped the mind of Shama. We all know the story of Sri Satyanarayana Swamy and how He created a lot of difficulties to those people who took vows in the time of their difficulties and who forgot to fulfill those vows after wards.

God is Truth and once one forgets or deviates from the path of truth, God tries through all means to bring the person back to the path of truth. This is done with love and not with any selfish desires and anger on the part of God. Speaking what one thinks and doing what one speaks is called Trikarana Suddhi and in such a clear and clean mind, 'truth' reveals itself. Sai Ram.

Bapaji told this to his brother Shama who was then reminded of the unfulfilled vows. Thinking that any further delay would be dangerous, he called a goldsmith and got a pair of silver breasts prepared. Then he went to the Masjid, prostrated himself before Baba and, placing before Him the two silver breasts, requested Him to accept them and free him from the vows as He was to him his Sapta-Shringi Goddess.

Baba insisted upon Shama to go himself to the temple of Sapta-Shringi and offer them in person at the feet of the Goddess. Then after taking Baba's permission and Udi, he left for Vani and searching for the priest came to Kakaji's house. Kakaji was then very anxious to visit Baba and Shama went there to see him at that very time. What a wonderful coincidence is this!

Sai Ram. It is not coincidence and both the Goddess Saptha-Shringi and Guru Sai knew what was going to happen. They chose the timing perfectly! Sai Ram.