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

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A similar idea is conveyed by the story of Sri Gajendra Moksham given in Srimad Bhagavatam, where the King Elephant (Gajendra), caught in the jaws of the Crocodile (this world full of illusions and desires) prays to Sri Vishnu with a pure heart and surrenders to Him and He comes immediately from Vaikuntha and saves the elephant from the jaws of the crocodile (in that process He gives liberation to the crocodile too). Sai Ram.

Shama replied that he did not want it, and that the owner of it, the Ramadasi who was a mad, obstinate and irritable fellow would certainly pick up a quarrel with him, besides, being a rustic himself, he could not read distinctly the Sanskrit (Devanagari) letters of the book.

Shama thought that Baba wanted to set him up against the Ramadasi by this act of His, but he had no idea of what Baba felt for him. Baba must have thought to tie this necklace of Vishu Sahasra Nam round the neck of Shama, as he was an intimate devotee, though a rustic, and thus save him from the miseries of the worldly existence. The efficacy of God's Name is well-known.

God's name saves us from all sins and bad tendencies, frees us from the cycle of births and deaths. There is no easier sadhana than this. It is the best purifier of our mind. It requires no paraphernalia and no restrictions.

It is so easy and so effective. This sadhana, Baba wanted Shama to practise, though he did not crave for it. So Baba forced this on him. It is also reported that long ago, Eknath Maharaj, similarly, forced this Vishnu Sahasra Nam on a poor Brahmin neighbour, and thus saved him. The reading and study of this Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam is a broad open way of purifying the mind, and hence Baba thrust this on His Shama.