Shri Sai Satcharitra - Chapter 5 - Part I

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Sai Ram. Now, let us take up the spiritual gems from Chapter 5 of Sri Sat Charitra. Incidents from the earlier or later chapters or from other sources, as inspired by the Master, will also be connected. Sai Ram.

Baba's Return with Chand Patil's Marriage - party - Welcomed and Addressed as "Sai" - Contact with Other Saints - His Dress and Daily Routine - The Story of the Padukas - Wrestling Bout with Mohdin and Change in Life - Turning Water into Oil - The Pseudo - Guru Javhar Ali.

Return with Chand Patil's Marriage - Party

As hinted in the last Chapter, I shall now describe first how Sai Baba returned to Shirdi after His disappearance.

There lived in the Aurangabad District (Nizam State), in a village called Dhoop, a well-to-do Mahomedan gentleman by name Chand Patil.

Sai Ram. Dhoop means fragrant smoke. And where there is smoke there will be fire as the adage goes. So, from Dhoop (also spelt as Dhup), proceeded the man, heralding the Fire of Knowledge in the form of Sai. Chand means Moon, who rules over mind. Mind is the medium through which the body experiences the spirit. Thus Sai chose Chand Patil as the medium through which His greatness (fragrance) became available to the whole world. Sai Ram.

While he was making a trip to Aurangabad, he lost his mare. For two long months, he made a diligent search but could get no trace of the lost mare. After being disappointed, he returned from Aurangabad with the saddle on his back. After travelling four Koss and a half, he came, on the way, to a mango tree under the foot of which sat a RATNA (queer fellow). He had a cap on His head, wore Kafni (long robe) and had a "Satka" (short stick) under His armpit and He was preparing to smoke a Chilim (pipe). On seeing Chand Patil pass by the way, He called out to him and asked him to have a smoke and to rest a little. The Fakir asked him about the saddle. Chand Patil replied that it was of his mare, which was lost.

Sai Ram. The mare represents God's grace (Chapter 21, story of Anantrao Patankar), and like Chand Patil, we too have lost or misplaced the Grace. And the Sadguru, out of His kindness, draws us to him and helps us in regaining the lost mare. Sai Ram.

The queer fellow or Fakir asked him to make a search in the Nala close by. He went and the wonder of wonders! he found out the mare. He thought that this Fakir was not an ordinary man, but an Avalia (a great saint). He returned to the Fakir with the mare. The Chilim was ready for being smoked, but two things were wanting; (1) fire to light the pipe, and (2) water to wet the chhapi (piece of cloth through which smoke is drawn up). The Fakir took His prong and thrust it forcibly into the ground and out came a live burning coal, which He put on the pipe. Then He dashed the Satka on the ground, from whence water began to ooze. The chhapi was wetted with that water, was then wrung out and wrapped round the pipe. Thus everything being complete, the Fakir smoked the Chilim and then gave it also to Chand Patil.

Sai Ram. This is one form of Guru's uchhishta, i.e. prasad from Guru, the left over. Accepting it is the first step in one's spiritual progress. In chapter 50, the story of Shri Balaram Dhurandhar is given, where too Baba gave that gentleman, the Chillim to smoke. In that case, the gentleman was not used to smoking, but accepted it, took a few respectful puffs and handed the Chillim back to Baba, only to be wonder struck at finding that his long-standing asthma has gone! Chand Patil, no doubt was not having any such problems and was probably quite accustomed to smoking. But his accepting Baba's Chillim and smoking must have certainly helped him spiritually. It certainly made his name immortal, since millions of Sai devotees now know his name, long after he passed away. Is that not a wonderful gift from Baba?

On seeing all this, Chand Patil was wonderstruck. He requested the Fakir to come to his home and accept his hospitality. Next day He went to the Patil's house and stayed there for some time. The Patil was a village - officer of Dhoop. His wife's brother's son was to be married and the bride was from Shirdi. So Patil made preparations to start for Shirdi for the marriage. The Fakir also accompanied the marriage-party. The marriage went off without any hitch, the party returned to Dhoop, except the Fakir alone stayed in Shirdi, and remained there forever.

How the Fakir Got the Name Sai

When the marriage - party came to Shirdi, it alighted at the foot of a Banyan tree in Bhagata Mhalsapati's field near Khandoba's temple. The carts were loosened in the open court-yard of Khandoba's temple, and the members of the party descended one by one, and the Fakir also got down. Bhagat Mhalsapati saw the young Fakir getting down and accosted Him "YA SAI" (Welcome Sai). Others also addressed Him as Sai and henceforth he became known as Sai Baba.

Sai Ram. It seems Sai has the meaning of a Saint, a holy man. To me, SAI means SPIRITUAL, ABSOLUTE and INFINITE;The SATCHIDANANDA PARA BRAHMA. The PURE AWARENESS or CONSCIOUSNESS. The marriage party of Chand Patil, a Muslim gentleman got down in the fields adjoining to Khandoba's ( a Hindu God) temple. And Mhalsapati, the priest of Khandoba welcomed Him as Sai. It is as if the main purpose of Sai's advent in Shirdi, viz., the integration of the two communities was made clear that day itself. It was as if one chapter of God's great Drama unfolded on that great day.

Baba told Seekers many times that He is not confined to the place Shirdi, or by time or by His 3 and a half cubit tall body. Thus He clearly identified Himself with the ULTIMATE. At some other time, He also said that He was not God, He was a servant of God. And sometimes, He said that He was an agent of God, that He was given vast powers. At other times, He also said that He is the indweller, the wire Puller. These apparently contradictory statements are all true, since they were told to different persons at different times, keeping their spiritual maturity or the lack of it in view. Ultimately the Seeker, the Guru and the God are one. The seeker or disciple is not aware of this unity, which the Guru is aware. Sai Ram.

Contact with Other Saints

Sai Baba began to stay in a deserted Masjid. One Saint named Devidas was living in Shirdi many years before Baba came there. Baba liked his company. He stayed with him in the Maruti temple, in the Chavadi, and some time lived alone. Then came another Saint by name Jankidas. Baba spent most of His time in talking with him, or Jankidas went to Baba's residence. So also one Vaishya householder Saint, from Puntambe by name Gangagir always frequented Shirdi. When he first saw Sai Baba, carrying pitchers of water in both hands, for watering the garden, he was amazed and said openly, "Blessed is Shirdi, that it got this precious Jewel. This man is carrying water to day; but He is not an ordinary fellow. As this land (Shirdi) was lucky and meritorious, it secured this Jewel." So also one famous Saint by name Anandnath of Yewala Math, a disciple of Akkalkot Maharaj came to Shirdi with some Shirdi people. When he saw Sai Baba, he said openly, "This is a precious Diamond in reality. Though he looks like an ordinary man, he is not a 'gar' (ordinary stone) but a diamond. You will realize this in the near future." Saying this he returned to Yewala. This was said while Sai Baba was a youngster.

Sai Ram. There is a saying that a flower can't hide its fragrance, a candle can't hide its light. Thus though Sai was at that point of time, trying to be anonymous and ordinary, it wasn't to be. The other saints were sufficiently advanced to realise the spiritual power silently radiating out of Sai, the youngster. Physically He might have been young, but spiritually He was quite old. Did He remember His past lives at that point of time? We don't know, but can only guess. He probably knew His mission even then. He was not the hurrying or worrying type. He knew that things will take place at the right time. Sai Ram.

Baba's Dress and Daily Routine

In his young days, Sai Baba grew hair and never had His head shaved. He dressed like an athlete.

Sai Ram. He probably adopted this dress and hairstyle to just look like an ordinary man, or He was trying to convey a great spiritual lesson that even ordinary men, who are caught up in materialistic desires can, at the appropriate time, change over to a spiritual mode of life. Sai Ram.