Shri Sai Sat Charitra-Chapter XXVIII-Part IV

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Burhanpore Lady

Now let us turn to another sparrow (Baba's word meaning devotee). One lady in Burhanpore dreamt of Sai Baba coming to her door and begging khichdi (rice cooked with dal and salt) for His meals. On awakening she saw no body at her door. However, she was pleased with the vision and told it to all including her husband. He was employed in the Postal Department and when he was transferred to Akola, both husband and wife, who were devout, decided to go to Shirdi.

SSG: Sai Ram. Compare this with another lady who shared her dream or vision (where she saw Sri Ram in place of Baba) and her husband ridiculed her thinking her to be a simpleton. Bhakti and Sraddha are needed to see God either in the wakeful state or even in dreams. In fact, even to remember God or to write about Him and to read what is written needs some merit on our part. Sai Ram.

Then on a suitable day they left for Shirdi and after visiting Gomati Tirth on the way, reached Shirdi and stayed there for two months. Every day they went to the Dwarakamayi, performed Baba's worship and passed their time happily. The couple came to Shirdi to offer Khichdi as naivedya but for the first 14 days, somehow or other, it could not be offered. The lady did not like this delay.

SSG: Sai Ram. Her restlessness was also due to the grace of Sai. He made her restless to make her act. Read further to know what happened. Sai Ram.

SSS: Then on the 15th day she came at noon to Dwarakamayi with her khichdi. There she found that Baba and others were already sitting for meals, and that the curtain was down. Nobody dared to enter in when the curtain was let down, but the lady could not wait. She threw up the curtain with her hand and entered. Strange to say that Baba seemed hungry for khichdi and wanted to have it first. When the lady came in with the dish, Baba was delighted, and began to eat morsel after morsel of khichdi. On seeing the earnestness of Baba in this respect, everybody was wonderstruck and those, who heard the story of khichdi, were convinced about His extraordinary love for His devotees.

SSG: Sai Ram. Yes, that is the love which drew His children, His devotees, His disciples etc. from far and wide. Distances and time are not a barrier for Divine Love. Her removing the curtain aside indicates the powerful symbolism of the devotee breaking free of the veil of ignorance (Ajnana) due to sadhana (her worshiping Him for the first 14 days) and the Guru's grace that brought her to Him Sai Ram.

We will continue with the third and the biggest sparrow in the coming weeks.