Shri Sai Sat Charitra-Chapter XXVIII-Part VII

Trident and Pindi

Megha worshipped Baba in two places; in the Dwarakamayi he worshipped Baba in person and in the Wada, Baba's big picture, given by Nanasaheb Chandorkar. This he did for 12 months. Then in order to appreciate his devotion and confirm his faith, Baba gave him a vision. Early one morning when Megha was still lying down on his bed with eyes closed but internally awake, he saw clearly Baba's Form. Baba knowing him to be awake threw Akshata (rice-grains marked red with Kumkum) and said, "Megha, draw a Trident" and disappeared.

Megha on hearing Baba's words, eagerly opened his eyes but did not see Baba, but saw only rice grains spread here and there. He then went to Baba, told Him about the vision and asked permission to draw Trident. Baba said - "Did you not hear My words asking you to draw Trident? It was no vision but direct order and My words are always pregnant with meaning and never hollow." Megha said - "I thought you woke me up, but all the doors were closed, so I thought it was a vision". Baba rejoined - "I require no door to enter. I have no form nor any extension; I always live everywhere. I carry on, as a wire puller, all the actions of the man who trusts Me and merges in Me."

Sai Ram. In one of His rather rare utterances, Sai indeed accepts His Oneness with all other Gods and Goddesses, and thus the Universe. Sai Ram.

Megha returned to the Wada, and drew a red Trident on the wall near Baba's picture. Next day a Ramadasi Bhakta came from Poona, saluted Baba and offered Him Pindi (an image of Shiva). At this time Megha also turned up there. Baba said to him - "See, Shankar has come, protect (i.e., worship) Him now."Megha was surprised to see Pindi following Trident immediately. Then also in the Wada, Kakasaheb Dixit was standing with a towel on his head after having taken his bath, and was remembering Sai, when he saw a Pindi before his mental vision. While he was wondering about this, Megha came and showed him the Pindi presented to him by Baba. Dixit was happy to know that the Pindi exactly tallied with the one he saw a few minutes before in his vision. In a few days after the drawing of the Trident was complete, Baba installed the Pindi near the big picture which Megha was worshipping. The worship of Shiva was dear to Megha and by arranging the drawing of the Trident and the installation of the Pindi, Baba confirmed his faith therein.

Sai Ram. Kakasaheb Dixit was a great devotee of Baba and thus developed some special powers like this. In another vision, he saw Vithal and later when photographs of Vithal were brought by a seller, he was surprised to see that the picture tallied with his vision. Similarly, here too his vision was accurate. Such special powers should be used with love and devotion to one's Guru for the welfare of others. Sai Ram.

After continuous service of Baba for many years, doing regular worship and Arati every noon and evening, Megha passed away in 1912. Then Baba passed His hands over his corpse and said - "This was a true devotee of Mine." Baba also ordered that at His own expense the usual funeral dinner should be given to the Brahmins, and this order was carried out by Kakasaheb Dixit.

Sai Ram. Baba wept like a normal man and thus showed His special affection to His devotee. Megha means a cloud and all of us have our true nature clouded by Maya and can realise our true nature only through true devotion like Megha showed to Baba. Megha, being a cloud also pours down the sweet water to quench the thirst of people and animals, trees etc. Thus Megha too showers the grace of true devotion on us, Sai devotees through an example of a totally devoted life. Just as the clouds are dispersed by Sun and wind, our ignorance is dispelled by bhakti and by the Jnana obtained by His grace. Sai Ram.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all