Shri Sai Satcharitra - Chapter 9 - Part III (Continued)

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Is this not astonishing?

Sai Ram. Baba always said that He Is within us. So, if any devotee sincerely wanted to offer something to Baba, as externally manifested in Shirdi, the same Baba seated in that devotee's heart ensured that the devotee's desire was fulfilled.

When one thinks that one is doing, such incidents like Mr. Tarkhad forgetting to offer naivedya are bound to happen. Puja is done for the pleasure of the devotee. So Sraddha is needed. It should be done with heart and soul. Ego and Maya makes one forget that one is but an instrument in the hands of God. So, one's actions give either happiness or unhappiness. Mr. Tarkhad thought that he mastered Baba's puja and so allowed his attention to slip, and thus forgot to offer himself, which is represented by the Naivedya.

The two letters crossed each other. Yes, it is astonishing if one forgets Baba's omniscience and omnipotence. If one remembers these aspects of Baba, there is no need to get astonished. Knowing our forgetfulness, Baba was showing such Leelas to make us remember. Sai Ram.

Mrs. Tarkhad

Let us now take up the case of Mrs. Tarkhad herself. She offered three things, viz. (1) Bharit (roasted brinjal egg plant mixed curds and spice). (2) Kacharya (circular pieces of brinjal fried in ghee), (3) Peda (sweetmeat ball). Let us see how Baba accepted them.

Once Mr. Raghuvir Bhaskar Purandare of Bandra, a great devotee of Baba started for Shirdi with his family. Mrs Tarkhad went to Mrs. Purandare, and gave her two brinjals and requested her to prepare Bharit of one bringal and Kacharya of the other, when she went to Shirdi and serve Baba with them. After reaching Shirdi, Mrs. Purandare went with her dish of Bharit to the Masjid when Baba was just about to start his meals. Baba found the Bharit very tasty. So He distributed it to all and said that He wanted Kacharyas now. A word was sent to Radha Krishna-Mai, that Baba wanted Kacharyas. She was in a fix, as that was no season of brinjals. How to get brinjals was the question? When an enquiry was made as to who brought the Bharit, it was found that Mrs. Purandare was also entrusted with the duty of serving Kacharyas. Everybody then came to know the significance of Baba's enquiry regarding Kacharyas, and was wonderstruck at Baba's all-pervasive knowledge.

In December 1915 A.D., one Govind Balaram Mankar wanted to go to Shirdi to perfrom the obsequies of his father. Before he left, he came to see Mr. Tarkhad. Then Mrs. Tarkhad wanted to send something with him to Baba. She searched the whole house but found nothing, except a Peda, which had already been offered as naivedya. Mr. Mankar was in mourning. Still out of great devotion to Baba, she sent the Peda with him, hoping that Baba would accept and eat it. Govind went to Shirdi and saw Baba, but forgot to take the Peda with him. Baba simply waited. When again he went to Baba in the afternoon, he went empty-handed without the Peda. Baba could wait no longer and, therefore, asked him straight, "What did you bring for me?" "Nothing" was the reply. Baba asked him again. The same reply came forth again. Then Baba asked him the leading question, "Did not the mother (Mrs. Tarkhad) give some sweetmeat to you for me at the time of your starting?" The boy then remembered the whole thing. He felt abashed, asked Baba's pardon, ran to his lodging, brought the Peda and gave it to Baba. As soon as Baba got it in His hand. He put it into His mouth and gulped it down. Thus the devotion of Mrs. Tarkhad was recognized and accepted. "As men believe in me, so do I accept them" (Gita, 4-11) was proved in this case.