Shri Sai Sat Charitra-Chapter XXVII-Part I (Continued)

Granting Consecrated Book

The variety of imparting instructions followed by Baba has already been noticed in the previous Chapters. In this, we shall deal with one aspect of it. It was the habit of some devotees to take some religious books, of which they wanted to make a special study to Baba and to receive the same back from Him, after they were touched and consecrated by Him. While reading daily such books, they felt that Baba was with them.

Sai Ram. Any thing touched by Guru caries with it, His vibrations and a holy book becomes holier when touched by one's Sadguru. Also, without Guru's grace, one cannot read Holy Books as brought out in another chapter. Thus, if Sai blessed and returned a book, it was a sign that the devotee can go ahead and study the same. Sai Ram.

nce, Kaka Mahajani came to Shirdi with a copy of Ekanathi Bhagwat. Shama took that book to read and taking it with him went to the Masjid. There Baba took it from him, touched it and turning some pages here and there gave it back to Shama and asked him to keep it with him. When Shama said that it belonged to Kaka and had to be returned to him. "No, no", said Baba. "As I have given it to you, better keep it with you for safe custody; it will be of use to you." In this way many books were entrusted to Shama. Kaka Mahajani after some days came again with another copy of the same Bhagwat and gave it in Baba's hand. Then Baba gave it back as Prasad and asked him to preserve it well and assured him that it would stand him in good stead. Kaka accepted it with a bow.

Sai Ram. It is interesting to note that Kaka Mahajani did not take the book directly the first time and Shama took it. Thus, it was already destined to pass on to Shama and Sai, who knew the past, present and the future knew that. When Kaka Mahajani presented the book the next time, he got it back. Sai Ram.