Sai Sat Charitra, Chapter 33 - Part- IV

Bhakta Narayanrao (father's name and surname are not given) had the good fortune to see Baba twice during the latter's lifetime. Three years after the passing away of Baba in 1918, he wanted to come to Shirdi, but he could not come. Within a year of Baba's Mahasamadhi he fell sick and suffered much. All ordinary remedies gave him no relief. So he meditated on Baba day and night. One night he had a vision in his dream. Baba coming to him through a cellar, comforted him saying, "Don't be anxious, you will be improving from tomorrow, and within a week you will be on your legs." Narayanrao got perfectly well within the time mentioned in the vision. Now the point for consideration is this: Was Baba living because he had the body, and was He dead because He left it? No, Baba is ever alive, for He transcends both life and death. He who loved Him once whole-heartedly gets response from Him at any time and at any place. He is always by our side and will take any form and appear before the devout Bhakta and satisfy him.

Sai Ram. Baba came through a closed door into the room where Megha was sleeping (See Sai Satcharitra – Chapter 17?). Similarly Baba appeared to Balram Mankar at Machindragarh in His body. Saint Raghavendra Swamy of Mantralayam appeared to His bhaktas in several such visions. Mahavatar Babaji appeared in an energy body (but which felt perfectly like the normal body) as mentioned in “Autobiography of a Yogi" by Shri Paramahamsa Yogananda. Thus Gods and Saints (Yogis) have great powers beyond our comprehension. Sai Ram.

Appasaheb Kulkarni

In 1917 the chance of one Appasaheb Kulkarni came. He was transferred to Thana and began to worship Baba's picture presented to him by Balasaheb Bhate. In real earnest he did the worship. He offered flowers, sandal-paste, and naivedya daily to Baba in the picture and longed intently to see Him. In this connection it may be remarked that seeing Baba's picture earnestly is equivalent to seeing Him in person. The following story illustrates this statement.

Balabuva Sutar

A saint of Bombay named Balabuva Sutar, who on account of his piety, devotion and bhajan, was called "Modern Tukaram", came to Shirdi for the first time in 1917. When he bowed before Baba, the latter said "I know this man since four years". Balabuva wondered and thought, how could that be, as that was his first trip to Shirdi. But thinking about it seriously he recollected that he had prostrated himself four years ago before Baba's portrait at Bombay and was convinced about the significance of Baba's words. He said to himself,"How omniscient and all-pervading are the Saints and how kind are they to their Bhaktas! I merely bowed to His photo, this fact was noticed by Baba and in due time He made me realize that seeing His photo is equivalent to seeing Him in person!"

Sai Ram. Not only seeing and bowing to a photo, but remembering and uttering the name establishes a connection between us and the Saint / God. Though we may forget it at the conscious level, our subconscious stores everything and is open to Saints like Sai. Thus past, present and future are like the pages of an open book to Sai. Sai Ram.

To be continued

About the author

S.V. Swamy

Swarna.Venkateswara Swamy, (also known as Venkateswara Swamy Swarna, S.V.Swamy or simply Swamy) is a physicist and a metallurgist by education. He considers Sai Baba of Shirdi as his Sadguru but respects all Gurus. He is an avid reader, a book reviewer and an editor. He has an abiding interest in holistic health systems..