Shri Sai Satcharitra-Chapter 43, 44-Part I

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Preparation - Samadhi-Mandir - Breaking of the Brick - 72 Hours' Samadhi - Jog's Sannyas - Baba's Nectar-like Words.

Chapters 43 and 44 continue the story of Baba's Passing away, and therefore they are taken together.

Previous Preparation

It is the general practice amongst the Hindus that when a man is about to die, some good religious scripture is read out to him with the object that his mind should be withdrawn from worldly things and fixed in matters spiritual, so that his future progress should be natural and easy. Everybody knows that when king Parikshit was cursed by the son of a Brahmin Rishi and was about to die after a week, the great sage Shuka expounded to him the famous Bhagawat Puran in that week. This practice is followed even now and Gita, Bhagawat and other sacred books are read out to dying persons.

Sai Ram. Satsangatve Nissangatvam, Nissangatve Nirmohatvam, Nirmohatve Nischala Tatvam, Nischala Tatve Jeevanmuktih Bhaja Govindam Bhaja Govindam Govindam Bhaja Mudha Mathe says Sri Adi Sankara also in His Bhaja Govinda Stotram. The efficacy of Sadhu Satsang and remembering God (God's name) is well known. The idea is to remind the ego that the body is not permanent and the goal of the birth was to realise one's true nature and at least in the last few days, hours and final moments the mind should be fixed on the feet, name and form of the Lord so that the latent seeds of desires are burnt and liberation from the cycle of births and deaths is achieved.

It is also told clearly in Gita and many other scriptures that the last thoughts of a man determine his future birth (seed now sown will grow into a plant in future). That was also the reason that Baba asked Sanyasi Vijayanand to take up the reading of Ramavijayam and Srimad Bhagawatam in his last days. Sai Ram.

Baba being an incarnation of God needed no such help, but just to set an example to the people, He followed this practice. When He knew that He was to pass away soon, He ordered one Mr.Vaze to read Ramavijayam to Him. Mr.Vaze read the book once in the week. Then Baba asked him to read the same again day and night and he finished the second reading in three days. Thus eleven days passed. Then again he read for three days and was exhausted. So Baba let him go and kept Himself quiet. He abided in His Self and was waiting for the last moment.

Sai Ram. Though Baba was fully enlightened and was a Jeevan Mukta, He always behaved not like the Master that He was, but as a humble servant and disciple of God. Allah Malik was His constant refrain. The three times reading of Ramavijayam is significant since each reading was cleaning one layer of ignorance and impurity in the devotees surrounding Him and thus making them ready to witness the final shedding of the mortal coil by Baba. Sai Ram.

About the author

S.V. Swamy

Swarna.Venkateswara Swamy, (also known as Venkateswara Swamy Swarna, S.V.Swamy or simply Swamy) is a physicist and a metallurgist by education. He considers Sai Baba of Shirdi as his Sadguru but respects all Gurus. He is an avid reader, a book reviewer and an editor. He has an abiding interest in holistic health systems.