Shri Sai Sat Charitra-Chapter 13 - Part - III

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Sai Ram. Baba was the indweller of Bhimaji Patil too. It was He who pulled Bhimaji to Him. He pointed out a great spiritual truth that the problems which we face are most probably the fruits of past deeds, either in this birth or in the previous births. Thus He was reiterating what Lord Krishna told Arjuna in His Gita. Baba gave a similar message when the Ramadasi from Chennai saw Him in his dream. But Baba also taught a great spiritual truth in this. When the bad karma is ripe, the devotee is pulled to God/Saints and made to surrender the ego to God. Thus the bad deeds also act as correcting agents and bring one closer to God. Sai Ram.

Baba asked Bhimaji Patil to stay in the house of Bhima Bai and it was not a healthy place in the normal sense of hygiene. Sai Ram. This is most important to remember. Baba was giving some instructions, which may appear contrary to common sense. But surrender to Guru was a very important part of the cure. And this implicit obedience helped the devotee to make further spiritual progress too. Thus the devotees who obeyed Baba regained not only their physical and mental health but more importantly their spiritual health too.

"Baba cured Bhimaji by two dreams. In the first dream, he saw himself as a boy suffering the severe pain of a flogging, which he received for not reciting his 'Sawai-poetry' lesson before his class-master. In the second dream, some one caused him intense pain, and torture, by rolling a stone up and down over his chest. With the pain thus suffered in dream, his cure was complete, and he went home. He then often came to Shirdi, gratefully remembering what Baba did for him, and prostrated before Him."

Sai Ram. By Baba's grace, Bhimaji's residual bad karma was quickly finished. And most importantly one great spirtual truth is exposed to us. One should not forget favors received from fellow men or God/Saints. "Kritaghnaghna" is one of the names of God, that means one who destroys those who forget the good deeds of others. Lord Satyanarayana (Vishnu) also does not spare those who forget their promises. It is not as if God is in want of the material offerings of the devotee. It is simply that God wants us to be pure and true in mind, speech and action (Trikarana Suddhi). The story of Saptashringi goddess in Sri Sai Satcharitra in a later chapter also reinforces this same truth. Bhimaji Patil learnt his spiritual lesson. He also realized Sai's oneness with all Gods including Lord Satyanrayana Swamy. Bhimaji Patil was indeed fortunate. Let us bow to him and to Sai for this great spiritual lesson. Sai Ram.

Sai Sat Charitra Chapter 13 to be continued