Stories of Sai Baba for Children

7/28/2019 Stories of Sai Baba for Children

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ForewordMy young friends,

A picture, like the one on the cover, you have no doubt seen in many places. In many

homes, in the bazar, in shops and in taxis you will find this picture. It is of Sai Baba, theGreat Saint, who lived at Shirdi, District Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India. He wasextremely fond of children, because he himself had childlike simplicity and purity ofheart. Whence did be come to Shirdi, how he attained a name and fame, whatexperiences people had about him - all these wonderful stories I will tell you in thefollowing pages. Having read these once, you will feel like reading them again andagain till you get them by heart. Like countless other people, you will come to loveBaba. You will offer him daily prayer and ask for his blessings, which he will certainlybestow on you.Introducing you to Baba,

This is your chacha

D.D. Parchure


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In Maharashtra, there is a district namedAurangabad, in which there is a village namedDhoopkhede. Chandbhai was the patel of thatvillage. Once he lost his horse. Chandbhai searchedand searched, but to no avail. A week after, while he

was on the search, he noticed by the roadside ayoung lad of sixteen, having sedate looks andwearing the garb of a fakir. This beautiful boy withlustrous eyes at once captured Chandbhai's heart.Reading, as if the onlooker's mind, the fakirbeckoned Chandbhai and asked, "What are youlooking for, patel?

"I have lost my horse. For this whole week, I am searching him," said Chand,approaching the fakir, with folded hands. "Then why go further? Your animal is grazingbeyond that hedge, there, look!" told the fakir, with. a gentle smile, pointing to a thick

hedge beyond which nothing could really be seen. Chandbhai went and saw, and Io!The horse was found quietly grazing there.Chandbhai was awe-struck. How did this fakir recognise him as the patel, how did theboy know that there, was a horse beyond the hedge and that it belonged to him all thisstruck him with wonder. He was convinced that the boy had a spark of Divinity in him.As Chandbhai related this incident among his friends and neighbours, the boy's famespread like a drop of oil on the surface of water.

A few months later, a marriage procession wentfrom Dhoopkhede to Shirdi. The boy fakir also

accompanied it. When the procession reached theoutskirts of Shirdi,it stopped to pay homage to GodKhandoba. Mhalsapati, the priest of Khandobatemple, eyed the fakir, and out of spontaneousadmiration, exclaimed, "Welcome, ye Sai Baba". Itwas as if the Divine Will that had given the boy thisname, for that very naw stuck to him all his life.From that day (1854), the boy stayed in Shirdi. Butwhat was his real name and his native place noneever came to know.People at Shirdi soon discovered the perfect

Saintliness of the fakir and by and by, many of them became his devotees (bhaktas). Afew, however, who were themselves of a saintly nature, saw the real worth of this Godlyperson. Sadhu Gangagir said, "This is a gem. By your great good luck, you have gothim." Anandnath said, "This is a jewel you will know its worth in the immediate future."


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From places like Bombay and Poona, you can now go to Shirdi directly by StateTransport buses. You can also travel upto Manmad or Kopargaon by Central Rly andthen take a bus to Shirdi.When Sai Baba first came to Shirdi, it was a little known, underdeveloped village. But as

Baba came and his fame spread in all quarters, Shirdi also grew and improved. LikePandharpur, it is now a great place of pilgrimage. Thousands and thousands go thereeverv year to have a darshan of Baba's, Samadhi (Tomb). Devotees still get the sameexperiences of Baba as they did when Baba lived in flesh. Baba entered Samadhi in1918.Now let us see Wherein lay Baba's greatness and read the Bhaktas' actual experiencesabout Baba.


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Baba's Devotees

Mhalsapati and Kashiram were the two earliest devotees of Baba. They assigned to

Baba a dilapidated mosque to live in. Baba named it 'Dwarkamai'. People who came toShirdi visited Baba and had his darshan at this place. Many structures, small and, bigcame up at Shirdi later on. But Baba lived all his life in Dwarkamai only. This place is,therefore, regarded as very holy.

Mhalsapati spent almost his whole day with Baba and served him with utmost devotion.Kashiram supplied Baba all necessary things. There was not even a stint of selfishnessin this. He did this all out of puire love and sense of service. Once when he wastraveling on business, he had a bloody encounter with robbers. He was rememberingBaba all the time. While he was, on the point of fainting due to exhaustion, a drama wastaking place in Shirdi. Baba, throwing up his hands was shouting in Kashiram's

direction. This gave Kashiram such a sudden spurt of strength that the robbers, beingoverpowered, fled away. This was a clear indication of Baba's supernatural powers.

Next, Madhavrao Deshpande of Shirdi was strongly attracted towards Baba. Hecompletely merged himself in Baba's service. Baba lovingly called him 'Shama'. Sogreat was Shama's authority that Baba deputed Shama to go in his own place whereverneeded. What Arjuna was to Lord Krishna, the same was Shama to Sai Baba.

Nanasaheb Chandorkar, a highly placed Govt. officer, also became Baba's unflinchingdevotee. Das Ganu Maharaj was serving in the Police Dept. But, after meeting Baba, beleft the service and turned to the Path of devotion. He became one of the greatest

kirtankars in modern times. He and Nanasabeb spread the fame of Baba in all quarters.

Sathe built the first wada at Shirdi and this became a good resting place for visitors.Another wada, a bigger one, was built bv Dixit. This provided further amenities. But thebiggest wada, a spacious stone and masonry structure, Was built by Gopalrao Buti ofNagpur. The present Samadhi Mandir is housed here.

Radhakrishna Mai came and settled at Shirdi, after her husband's death. She lived onlyten years more. But due to her tireless and imaginative work during that short span oflife, she eiitirely changed the very face of Shirdi. The present discipline and daily routineat Shirdi were laid down bv her. That Shirdi soon attained the status of a Sansthan

(Institution) is a testimony to her fiery zeal.


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Baba's Dhuni

After settling in Shirdi, Baba lit up a fire by his yogic

powers. It is still kept burning. It is called Dhuni andthe holy aslies emerging from it are called "udi".

Baba gave medicines for several ailments and

There was a saint named Tajuddin. His dargah

"There is a fire at Tajuddin's dargah. I am putting, it

The next day, a word came from Tajuddin that a fire

A blacksmith was an ardent devotee of Baba. Once

What had happened was that the blacksmith's

himself served the patients. Later on, Baba gavehis patients only the 'Udi' for external use as wellas for oral administration. Some wonderful storiesof the use of Udi, I will relate to you in anotherchapter. Appa Bhil supplied the fuel for Baba'sdhuni. When be sold two stacks, he gave one forthe dhuni.

(place of worship) once caught fire. At the sametime. Sai Baba in Shirdi, sitting before the Dhuni,made certain movements with his hands. Peopleasked, "what are you doing Baba ?"

out," said Baba.

had broken out at the dargah, but as soon as heremembered Baba, the fire had subsided.

Baba put both his hands in the burning dhuni andtook them out as if 'rescuing' something. "Poor girl,if I had delayed a moment longer, she would havebeen burnt to death".

daughter, while playing about, had run into the

furnace and Baba 'seeing' it, bad rescued her.Baba's hands were scalded, but the girl was saved.


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Baba's daily routine

Baba used to be in Dwarkamai the whole day.

Nearby there was a thick jungle of thorny shrubs. itwas called Lendi Baug. Baba went there for longhours to do yoga practices. Several Bhaktasoffered him dakshina (money) and Babaimmediately distributed it to the poor and needv.Sometimes, the sum thus distributed was as muchas Rs .500/-. Baba never delivered long sermons.He told simple parables, carrying particularlessons. The words came from Baba's heart anddirectiv entered the listeners' hearts. Sometimesthe parable was meant for a particular person. To

others, it appeared to be rnerely an amusing story,but it went home straight to the person concerned. Baba knew what was passing in thelistener's mind and spoke to him accordingly. Baba even knew the future andforewarned the people about it in suggestive terms. None, knew what 'education' Babahad. But his talk showed that he was well-versed as much in Veda and Upanishads as

in Koran Sharif. He analysed every word of Gitavery skillfully.

In Shirdi, there, were no good flowers for Baba'sworship. Only wild flowers had to be used, soPurandare kaka, an ardent devotee, brought a few

saplings from Bombay and asked for Baba'spermission to plant them. But Baba flatly refused,obviously because he detested all outward show.He wanted Shirdi to blossom forth with realdevotion. Purandare pleaded again and again butBaba was relentless. Purandare felt very sad.Three days passed without Purandare taking evena drop of water. In the meantime the saplings dried

up. At last seeing his agony, Baba's heart melted. He called Purandare and, patting himon the back, said lovingly, "Kaka, go and plant the saplings. Though dried up, they willtake roots. Go." And it happened exactly as Baba bad said. Something 'super' natural.

The flowering plants at present found in Shirdi thus owe their origin to Baba's kripa.


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On the way from Dwarkamai to Lendi Baug youwill notice a neem tree. Under it there is a caverncontaining a tomb. Baba himself pointed out thisplace and said, "This is my Guru's Samadhi. Ihave practiced my penance here. When going to

Lendi Baug and back, Baba unfailingly stoppedhere and adoringly bowed to the Samadhi.

Baba, with his own hands, daily prepared'prasadam' in a big handi. This consisted of rice,dal, vegetables and even meat with appropriatelyground masala. AlI Bhaktas were eager to partakeeven a morsel of it. Without distinction of caste,creed or religion, they all assembled in a spirit ofbon homie. It was a sight worth seeing. It was theGopal kala of Baba. Baba himself went a-shopping

to buy all the articles required for the prasadam.

In wordly dealings, Baba was very practical. Hereis an instance. Once a woman came with a bunchof seeta-fals --- the first flush of the season --- tosell the same to Baba. After much higgling andhaggling, Baba fixed the price at 10 annas.Presently, another woman came with a similarbunch. But Baba now fixed the price at 6 annas .Why? Because, the need at the second deal wasmuch less, and so was the price offered. However,

while making payment, Baba paid Re 1/- to each.Thus Baba was a liberal giver, but could not be cheated to give.

Baba had no temptation as regards his body or the household. He begged alms as avow at five houses only and lived in the ramshackle mosque Dwarkamai with perfectsatisfaction.

In Dwarkamai, there was a shelf 5 ft. long andbarely 9 inches in width, hung by slender shreds.Many a time, Baba was found sleeping on thatshelf. How could those shreds support the weightof the shelf with Baba lying on it was a mysterynever solved. But how Baba got up there and backagain was a mystery deeper still.


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Baba's Miracles

Baba was a Mahatma (Great Soul) with

uncanny,divine powers. But he called himself"Servant of God,' and the supernatural feats thatoccured at his hands, he ascribed to God Himself.He never called himself a Guru and had nodisciples too. He had only his devotees.Now I will tell you some of the earliest leelas ofBaba.Every night, Baba used to light earthen lamps inthe Dwarkamai. For this, he asked the grocers to

give him oil. In the beginning, people looked uponBaba as a mad fakir, and so the grocers gave himoil just for the fun of it. But soon they got fed upwith this daily practice and one day they allrefused to give him oil.With the empty oil-tin dangling from his hand,Baba came back to Dwarkamai, with a merry songon his lips :-

If no oil, I am not worried,Dwarkamai will supply the need.

He put a little water in the oil tin and drank it, as if to please the God within. Then hetook more water, poured it in the lamps and kindled them one by one. Alack and ... !God said, let there be light

And there was light !The 'water-lamps' burnt throughout the night.

Those who had come to scoff remained to praise.This incident established the supernatural powersof Baba beyond a shred of doubt.At another time, there was an epidemic of Cholerain Shirdi. Helpless people approached Baba forrelief. Baba daily used to grind corn in the


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Dwarkamai. Now he called the village women andasked them to lend a helping hand to grind somewheat, beckoning God all the time to save hischildren. Then he asked the women to throw thewheat-flour on the outskirts of the village.

Immediately, the calamity was driven away.

One evening, the sky suddenly became overcastwith clouds. There were strong winds and flashesof lightening. Soon there was a fierce hailstorm,followed by heavy rains. Again Baba ran to thevillagers' rescue. With satka (a foot-long black rod)in hand, he stood at Dwarkamai's door, andthrashing the pillars with satka, ordered the rainsto stop. And stop they did!

Once the fire in the dhuni blew up fiercely and the flames rose higher and higher. Babaordered the fire to calm down and the fire instantly obeyed.Many a time, Baba took the bhaktas' ailments on himself. He suffered their pangs andthe bhaktas' were were relieved. An instance in point is that of a young boy who hadcome to Shirdi with his mother. The mother was constantly in the service of Baba, whenher son had an attack of plague. The fever rose dangerously and the mother, 'thinkingthat nothing could be done in Shirdi, asked Baba whether the son should be takenhome. Consoling her, Baba said, "Mother, since you have thrown the burden on me,you need not worry. I am taking on your son's fever and the bubos, look". So saying, heshowed the bubos in his arm-pits. The fever too could be clearly felt. The boy soon

recovered.


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Baba's Festivals

Once Gopalrao Gund, another steadfast devotee

of Baba, thought of celebrating the Ram Navamifestival at Shirdi and holding also a fair along withit. Baba was exactly thinking of the same thingsand so he readily agreed to Gopalrao's proposal.The Ram Navami festival and the fair were startedin 1911 and are continuing from year to year tothis day on better and bigger scale. Thousands ofdevotees from all parts of the country attend thisfestival. Three days there is kirtan, at the end ofwhich there is Gopal-Kala.

Lord Krishna's birthday is celebrated on the GokulAshtarni day when the popular sport Dahi-handi is held. There are also wrestling boutsat which tempting prizes are given. Physical culture and solidarity among the people -the two main features of Krishna's life - are achieved through this festival. This is thevery foundation of a healthy society.Guru Pournima is celebrated in the month of Ashadh. This is the day of paying yearlvtribute to one's guru. Though Baba never called himself a Guru, still the Bhaktas offerspecial worships to Baba on this day out of love and veneration. Artists voluntarilypresent their performances before Baba. The underlying principle of the Ram-Krishnafestivals is to foster a feeling of equality among different sections of the society. On

such occasions people forget their differences and freely mix together. Mahatmas likeSai Baba want exactly to achieve this and that is why they celebrate various festivals.


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Baba's all pervasiveness

Baba had become one with every being in the

world. Hence the service of any creature ultimatelyreached Baba.

A lady living at Shirdi would daily bake two breads- one for Baba and another for herself. One dayshe was taking the bread for Baba when a dogapproached her, licking its lips in hunger. Instantly,by some inner urge, she offered the bread to thedog. She went back and started again to take theother bread for Baba. Now a pig approached herand she offered him that bread too. Then realising

that she had nothing to give to Baba, she feltintensely sorry and mentally asked Baba's pardon.Later, she went to Baba and sat with folded hands.immediately Baba said, "Ma, today you offered me

bread twice, so that I was doubly satisfied." The lady thought Baba was taunting her fornot giving him anything. Remorsefully she cried, ."Baba, today I had nothing left withme. So what could I bring for you ?" Baba-replied, "Ma, you offered one bread to thedog and another to the pig. They both reached me, because I am one with them."

Once a lizard, perched on a wall in the Dwarkamaibegan chirping vigourously. This is considered to

be an ill-omen. So a devotee asked Baba what evilit portended. Baba said, "There is no evil portendin this. The lizard's sister will presently come herefrom Aurangabad to meet her. So she is singing injoy."Everyone there thought Baba was joking as washis habit. But very soon a bhakta arrived fromAurangabad for Baba's darshan (to meet and seekblessings). And as he opened his sack, a lizardjumped out. Straightaway she scaled the wall and

embraced her 'sister'. Their jesticulations definitelyshowed that they were overjoyed to meet each other. How could Baba know all thisbefore hand ? All were convinced that the two lizards were sisters. My young friends, ifyou were there to, see the meeting, would vou not feel the same ?


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Serpents and scorpions too were in Baba'scommand. Once a cobra bit Shama's foot and itspoison began to go up. Shama was brought toDwarkamai. Sensing the danger to Shama's life,Baba said sternly, stop going up. Come down."

This was a command to the Serpent's poison andit obeyed the same immediately.A darvesh had tamed a tiger who used to docertain tricks and thus maintain himself and hismaster. As the tiger grew old, he could no longer

play his tricks. Naturally, he and his master both had to face starvation. Ultimately, thetiger became mad and uncontrollable. As he was approaching his end, the darveshbrought him to Baba for a last grace. Baba asked the darvesh to release the animal whoat once became quiet. Approaching Baba he prostrated himself at Baba's feet and asBaba was stroking his back, the tiger opened his jaw and breathed his last. Baba said,

"This was a great bhakta of Lord Shiva. He has gone to Kailash (Lord Shiva's abode).Now bury his mortal remains in front of Shiva".It was done. Today his tomb can be seen in Shirdi.


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All Knowing Baba

J ust as Baba knew the present, so he knew the

past and future too. Such a person is known asTrikal-gyani or Siddha. This will be clear from thefollowing stories.

A certain lady was a life-long devotee of Baba.Once she came to Baba and bowed at his feet.Stroking her head, Baba said "Ma, you have a badheadache, isn't it ?"Looking up in surprise, she said, "Baba, it wasaching till this moment, but there is not a trace of it

now.""Well, it will never ache again," said Baba.The fact was that the lady's head was aching for the last six years. However, she hadnot come to Baba so that it could be cured by his grace. Yet Baba recognised herailment and cured it by his miraculous touch.At her residence, the lady used to offer naivedya (prasadam) to Baba thrice a day. Babatold her that he visited her house thrice daily to accept her offerings. Baba also told allthe details about her house and the inmates.A certain lady in Bombay asked her husband for a rupee to be offered to Baba in herhouse. The husband was in a hurry to go to his office. He opened his purse, but foundonly a ten-rupee note and no rupee coin. So he said, he would get the change in theevening and then give her the rupee she wanted. The gentleman descended thestaircase and, feeling his other pockets, found a rupee therein. But, instead of goingback and giving the coin to his wife, he proceeded to the office. But in the evening, noneremembered about it.A few days later, they both went to Shirdi. As thev were sitting before him, Baba said,"Ma, people have now-a-days become liars, isn't it ? Even though they have a rupee in

their pocket, they say they don't have it. The lady could not understand the meaning ofthese words. But the gentleman at once knew what Baba was saying. He fell at Baba'sfeet and asked for pardon.At Nanded, there was a wealthv merchant, named Ratanji. He had several daughters,but no son. He was therefore very, dejected. Das Ganu had advised him to go to Shirdiand have a darshan of Sai Baba. Ratanji earnestly wanted to do so, but due to pressureof work, he had not been able to go. Once a local Saint, Mouli Baba by name, came all


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of a sudden to Ratanji's house. Ratauji treated him with utmost respect and offered himflowers and sweets. Mouli Babe blessed him.A few months later Ratanji went to Shirdi. As he sat before Baba with hands folded,Baba said to him, "you have already offered me a dakshina of Rs 3-14-0 and now you

have yourself come to this Masjid. So don't worry. Allah will grant your wishes." Sosaying, Baba applied Udi to Ratanji's forehead.Ratanji returned with satisfaction. But he was puzzled as to the dakshina of Rs. 3-14-0which Baba had referred to. He told about it to Das Canu. But he too couldn't make outanything. Then, in the course of conversation, Mouli Baba's visit cropped up and just forfun; they made a list of all the expenses done on that occasion. And what a wonder!The expenses added up exactlv to Rs. 3-14-0. it was clear that things offered to MouliBaba in Nanded had reached Sai Baba in Shirdi !The next year Ratanji was blessed with a son.Another merchant. Seth Hariischandra Pitale, had gone to Shirdi for the first time. Hisinfant son was also with him. Baba gave him three silver rupees aiid said, "I havealready given you two rupees. Keep these three with them and worship them together.They will lead to your welfare."Pitale returned home with satisfaction. But since he had gone to Baba for the first time,he could not understand Baba's words, 'I have already given you two rupees'. He askedhis mother. She thought deeply and, as in a flash, she exclaimed, "Ah, I got it. Whenyou were young your father had gone to Akkalkot Swami, who had given him tworupees for worship. Your father worshipped them in his lifetime. But, after him, they

have been lying uncared for. Now the Swami is re-born as Sai Baba in Shirdi, and thatis why he reminded vou of the 'two rupees already given and gave you three more.Henceforward, worship them all with devotion."These incidents show how Baba was a Trikal-gyani Siddha.


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Oneness with God

Baba was God incarnate. God is only one - reallynameless and formless, but he appears in anyform which is dear to his bhaktas. This is whatBaba also did. Sometimes he appeared as Ram orKrishna, sometimes Vithal, sometimes AkkalkotSwami, sometimes a Moulvi, or a Guru.

When Das Ganu was staying with Baba in Shirdi,he once wished to go to Pandharpur to see Vithal.He asked for Baba's permission. Baba said."Ganu, for you Shirdi itself is Pandharpur. Why

leave Shirdi and go so far ?" Das Ganu had implicitfaith in Baba. But he thought, "if Shirdi isPandharpur, then who is the Vithal here ?" As, withthat thought in his mind, he looked up. Babaappeared to him in the form of Vithal. He has

composed a beautiful song on this incident.Gauli Buwa mostly lived at Pandharpur, servingVithal. But occasionally he used to go onpilgrimage and when he visited Shirdi, Baba wouldappear to him as Vithal Himself. At Prayag there is

a confluence of Ganga and J amuna. It isconsidered a very sacred place. Das Ganu oncewished to go there. Again Baba said, "Ganu, yourPrayag is here." At this, water began trickling downfrom both thumbs of Baba's feet. Das Ganu hadhis "Prayag tirth" there and then.Bapusaheb J og, a devout bhakta residing atShirdi, once longed to have a darshan of the lateAkkalkot Swami. When he expressed his desire,

Baba gave him a darshan in that form. To another Bhakta. Baba appeared as Gopal

Krishna - the bhakta's favourite deity.A doctor from Bombay was a staunch devotee of Ram. He regarded Baba not as agreat saint, but rather as a mad fakir. A close friend of his invited the doctor to go toShirdi with him. The doctor agreed on the express condition that he would come toShirdi merely as an onlooker, but not bow before Baba. On reaching Shirdi, the veryatmosphere there softened' the doctor's resolve. He accompanied his friend who hadstarted to go to Baba, and, on seeing Baba from a distance, the doctor ran towards him


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and fell at his feet. Smiling meaningfully, Baba blessed him. As they both started tocome back, the friend asked, "What happened, doctor ? Did you forget your resolve ?""As soon as I saw Baba, my resolve vanished, for in Baba's place there appeared ShriRam of Ayodhya.Unaware of myself. I ran and fell at his feet," said the doctor with tears of joy. For a longtime after this, he was immersed in a state of bliss. A staunch Shastri of Nasik hadcome to Shirdi with a similar resolve. His devotion was only to his Guru who had passedinto Samadhi some time earlier. Baba gave him a darshan in the form of his late Guni,whereby the Shastri was completely transformed. Some students while appearing fortheir examinations, or even afterwards, ask an astrologer whether they would pass ornot. The astrologer tells them some hotch-potch, and the students get uneasy thereby.Sai Baba discouraged such habits. He would advise the students to concentrate on theirstudies and for the rest put their trust in God. Baba would bless them and apply Udi ontheir forehead. Such students would always come out with flying colours.


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The Powers of Udi

Friends, I have told you what Udi is. It is not the ordinary ash. It is the ash from the

dhuni which Baba had lit by his yogic power. Hence the Udi has all the powers of Baba.It has banished the agonies and cured incurable diseases of innumerable persons. Hereare a few real instances.

A certain doctor's nephew had bone-cancer. The doctor tried all remedies, includingsurgical operation, but in vain. With acute pain, the boy cried pitiably. At last the doctorbrought the boy to Baba and threw all burden on him. Daily Baba placed a blessingglance on the wound and applied Udi on it. Within a week, the boy was completelycured.Another doctor had a guinea-worm in his leg, which was terribly swollen and caused

intense pain. He approached Baba with a request to release him from his mortal coiland thus end his agony for good. Baba daily applied Udi to his leg and alsoadministered it orally. One day, an attendant inadvertently stepped on the doctor'saffected leg with the result that the wound burst open and the guinea-wom was drivenout. The doctor was soon cured.There are countless instances of this kind. But I will tell you one, deserving specialmention.Nanasaheb Chandorkar, one of the earliest devotees of Baba, was a mamlatdar atJ amner, about 24 miles from J algaon in Khandesh. One can go upto J algaon by railway

and then take a tonga.Nanasabeb's daughter, Maina had come to J amner for delivery. For fortyeight hours,she was in labour and her very life was in danger. Nanasaheb was appealing to Baba tocome to her succour. Sai Baba as if 'heard' it in Shirdi. Ramgir, a resident bhakta, wasthen inspired to go to his village in Khandesh. He came to ask for Baba's permission.Baba said, "Yes. Start immediately. But first go to Nanasaheb at J amner, givehim Udiand Arati, and then proceed home". Baba gave him a packet of Udi from the dhuni withhis own hands and the Arati on a piece of paper to be recited at Maina's bedside.Ramgir took the two things, but, in a tone of anxiety, he asked, "Baba, I have only tworupees with me. With this much. I can barely go to J algaon. But how could I make a

detour to J amner and thence to my place ?" "You need not worry," Said Baba, "You onlygo to J algaon. Everything will be arranged thereafter."With firm faith in Baba, Ramgir started. He had to pay Rs. 1-14-0 for railwav ticket andonly two annas were left with him. About midnight the train reached J algaon and Ramgirgot down. J ust then a sepoy in Khaki uniform approached him and said "Sir, you areRamgir from Shirdi, I hope". Ramgir said he was. "Then come along," said the sepoy,Nanasaheb has sent me with a tonga for you." Ramgir thought that as Baba had hinted


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he must have sent a word to Nanasaheb and asked him to make these arrangements.The sepoy gave him a few snacks, which he said, were sent bv Nanasaheb. Then thetonga started and by dawn, it arrived at J amner. The sepoy, pointing to a distant'building, said, "That is Nanasaheb's office." Ramgir alighted there to ease himself andwent behind a bush. But as he came out, what did he find ? Nothing, no horses, no

carriage, no sepoy. All had disappeared. Dumbfounded, he went to Nanasaheb's officeand, obtaining Nanasabeb's address, went there. Saluting Nanasaheb, he said, "Babahas sent me here from Shirdi and has given you these things." A thrill went throughNanasaheb on hearing this. He said, 'Oh Baba, Baba! What should I say to you ? Icalled your name here and hearing my call in Shirdi, you at once ran here in the form ofthese things. A million pranams to you ! "Nanasaheb applied the Udi to his daughter and put a little in her mouth too. Then he satby her bedside, reciting the arati. And would you believe it ? In half an hour, Mainadelivered safely. Ramgir was waiting outside. Nanasabeb came out and thanked himprofoundly. Eagerly Ramgir asked, "Nana, your tonga brought me to J amner all right.

But then as I got down to ease myself, it suddenly vanished. Where is that tonga ?""Which tonga ?" asked the puzzled Nana. "Your tonga which you had sent for me toJ algaon Station. Your sepoy met me there, g;ave me your delicious snacks and broughtme here with great speed."With tears of gratitude, Nanasaheb said, "Ramgir, I had not the faintest idea that youwere coming. So how could I have sent the tonga ? This is all no doubt done by Baba.How unbounded is your kripa, Oh mother Sai !"Later, Nanasaheb himself related this whole incident to the people assembled at Shirdi.It therefore bears a stamp of authority.


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Deo Mamledar

Balasabeb Deo, an enlightened Sai Bhakta was a magistrate at Dahanu. His mother

had observed cer tain vows, at the conclusion of which a thousand Brahmins were to befed in the month of Shravan. Balasaheb earnestly wished Baba to attend this function.So two months ahead, he sent a cordial invitation to Baba, who replied that he wouldattend along with two others.

In Ashadh, the month before Shravan, a Sanyasi (recluse) came to Balasaheb andasked for his help to collect a fund for cow-protection. But as another fund had recentlybeen collected in Dahanu, Balasabeb told the sanyasi to come to him in the Diwaliseason (four months later).The sanyasi went away, but appeared again exactly on the day of the concluding

function. Seeing him, Balasaheb suspected that he had come for the fund too soon, andwas about to rebuke him for his impatience. Anticipating what Balasabeb would say, theSanyasi hastened to explain that he had not come for the fund, but for a square meal. "Oh, that's very fine," said Balasabeb almost apologetically, "We are feeding theBrahmins today. So it will be a pleasure to have you amongst us."But I have two others with me, waiting in the dharam-shala.""Bring them too ! It will add to our pleasure." The Sanyasi brought the two along withhim and, after a hearty meal, they blessed Balasaheb and went away.The function was over, but Balasabeb thought that Baba had not come as promised. Sohe wrote to Baba expressing his displeasure and put in a mild hint that Baba haddeceived him.Baba wrote back, "Your doubts have deceived you, not I. As promised, I came alongwith two others and we took meals at your place. But your mind was clouded with thedoubt that it was the Sanyasi coming for funds. So your own doubt deceived you and inthat state you did not recognise me." Balasaheb felt intense anguish and remorse that,though Baba had visited his place, yet he did not recognise the saint and had lost theopportunity of a life-time of surrendering at his feet.


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Baba and Vasudevanand

Vasudevanand, a contemporary of Baba, was a

staunch fire-worshipper and a rigid observer ofreligious practices. He had also perfect commandover several mantras. Baba too, was a fire-worshipper. Hence these two saints regarded eachother as brothers.

When Vasudevanand was at Rajmahendry,Pundalikrao, a lawyer from Nanded and friendscame for his darshan. Pundalikrao was a SaiBhakta. So in the course of conversation, Baba'sname came up. Hearing it, Vasudevanand was

overwheImed with a feeling of reverence andfolding his hands, inquired, "when are you going to

Shirdi?""Right from here, I am going to Baba,"said Pundalikrao.Vasudevanand picked up a coconut, held it near his heart and, handing it over toPundalikrao, said, "Then, please give this to my brother."Soon Pundalikrao and his friends started for Shirdi. They took with them flowers, fruits,coconuts etc. to offer to Baba, and a few eatables for themselves. On their journey, they

ate some chivada, which tasted very hot. To appease the heat, one of them suggestedthat coconut be mixed with it. So a fruit was broken and, mixing it with chivada, they ateit with pleasure. Then it struck them that the coconut they broke was the same whichVasudevanand had given for Baba. They all felt very sorry. What could they tell Baba ?No hatched up account would do, for Baba would already be knowing everything. SoPundalikrao went and sat with his head hung down. Baba slyly asked, "Pundalikrao,where is the present from my brother?"Pundalikrao confessed everything and said he would go and bring another coconut."No other coconut would do," Baba intervened. "That coconut cannot be replaced by a

thousand others; for it was not a mere coconut; it was the very heart of my dear brother.Remember, how my brother had given it to you ?"Pundalikrao recollected that Vasudevanand had held the cocoanut near his heart andsaid, "Give this to my brother." He had put his very heart in the coconut before handingit to Pundalikrao.


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Highly developed souls like Vasudevanand and Sai Baba can communicate with eachother by means of their psychic powers. That is how Vasudevanand had informed SaiBaba about the coconut he was sending. Baba too had immediately received thatmessage. This is called telepathy (communicating mentally over long distance).


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Antar Gyani Baba

One who knows the inside (of a man or a beast or

even an ant) is called Antar-gyani. I will tell you astory which will show you how Baba was such aone.

Once Baba was walking along a road, by the sideof which there flowed a rivulet. A serpent therewas trying to swallow a frog which was piteouslydroning. A passer-by, hearing the cry, inquired,"What sound is this, Baba?" "A serpent isswallowing a frog who is crying with fright of death.Now come with me and see how I save the frog."

So saying, Baba took the passer-by down to the stream and, addressing the serpent, besaid in a stern voice, "Oh you, Virabhadra, are you still continuing your enmity with thisBasappa even in this birth? Shameless that you are, leave him at once and go away, Ibid you."Hearing these words, the serpent released the frog and humbly went away. The frogleapt in joy at Baba's feet and then took a dive into the water.Said the passer-by. "Oh Baba, who are these Virabhadra and Basappa ? And whatdoes vour rebuke signify "Oh, it's a pretty long tale" said Baba. "Now light the chillum (a

clay-pipe) and while smoking I will tell you everything."And taking a puff. Baba began- "In the village where I stayed formerly, there was an oldShiva temple. In order to renovate it, the villagers collected a fund and placed it in thehands of a rich sahukar. Their intention was that the sahukar will make up the shortfalland complete the renovation. But the sahukar, true to his clan, was a miser. Whateverwork could be done out of the villagers' fund, he did and kept quiet. The villagers toldhim to be generous and finish the work on his own. But he would not budge an inch.God Shiva then appeared in the dream of sahukar's wife. He told her to complete thework and promised that whatever she spent for the temple, He would give her a

hundredfold in return.She told this dream to her husband who merely laughed at it in derision.She then decided to sell the ornaments which her father had given her and utilize theamount for the temple's renovation.


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Coming to know of this, the sahukar said to his wife, "Well, a piece of land is inmortgage with me for a thousand rupees. This is exactly the worth of your ornaments.So give me the ornaments and I will give you the land which you may dedicate toShiva."In fact the land was barren. Dubki, a helpless woman, to whom it belonged, hadmortgaged it to the sahukar for Rs. 200/- and had died. The rogue grabbed his wife'svaluable ornaments and, in return, had given her that barren land to be offered to theGod.Poor wife, she fell a victim to this chicanery. She sold her ornaments and gave the landto Lord Shiva.By custom, the ownership of the land vested in the pujari and the gurav (care taker) wassupposed to look after it. Some time later, the sahukar and his wife both died by astroke of lightening. The sahukar was reborn as a Brahmin in Mathura and was named

Virbhadra. His wife was born as the daughter of Shiva's pujari and was named Gauri.Dubki was born as the son of the gurav and was named Basappa.When Gauri came Of age, her father, the pujari, was anxious about her marriage. Heapproached me and I told her, "you need not worry; this girl is fortunate A suitable boywill come here and woo her."As it happened, Virbhadra, while on business tour, visited the pujari's house. He cameto like Gauri and the match was arranged with my approval.After a few vears, the barren land was purchased by a housing colony for the fabulous

sum of Rs. one Lakh and as, in the mean time, the pujari had died, the sum nowbelonged to his daughter Gauri, and so by implication, to her husband Virbbadra.Gauri was the Sahakar's wife in former birth. She had bought' the land for Rs. 1000/- inlieu of her ornaments and dedicated it to Lord Shiva. Now in return, according to Shiva'spromise, she had obtained a hundred fold i.e. one lakh. Thus Shiva's words had cometrue.But now Basappa, the Gurav's son and heir, argued that the temple's gurav has a claimon half the 'produce' of the land. So he claimed half of the lakh of rupees which the landhad yielded.This brought him at logger heads with Virbhadra who would not entertain the gurav'sclaim. At last Virbhadra threatened to kill Basappa who came to my shelter and Ipromised to save him.Tempers rose so high that both of them died in fits of delirium. Virbhadra is now born asa serpent and Basappa as a frog --- the very same you saw a little while back. And,according, to my promise, I have saved Basappa from the jaws of Virbhadra.


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This is the story of the three births of these two souls.


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Baba is ever living

The previous story, told by Baba, will convince

you, my friends, that Baba lived in the past. Ofcourse he lived at Shirdi in the present birth, andbhaktas are experiencing his existence eventoday. Baba entered Samadhi in 1918 on theDassera day giving bhaktas this solemnassurance : -

Though this mortal body I am leaving,Yet for Bhaktas, I will come running.Take my word, I am ever living,You'll know this by experiencing.

And, indeed, bhaktas the world over haveexperienced the truth of Baba's wordsShri C. R. Dabholkar, alias Hemadpant, was athorough Sai Bhakta. Through Baba's benediction,he became a gifted poet and wrote in verse,

Baba's life, entitled "Sai Sat-charita". It has been translated in English and in manyIndian languages. You must read it. May Baba shower his choicest blessings on you.


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Philosophy of Sai Baba

Sai Baba was a great saint who lived in Shirdi (Distt. Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India)

from the year 1854 till 1918 when be entered Mahasamadhi.

Sai Baba never preached, nor did lie deliver any sermons. Neither has Sai Baba anyphilosophical compositions to his credit. Hence he was not theoretically a philosopheras were Kapila and Sankara, or Kaul and Hegel or Whitehead and Russell. And yet hisway of life has influenced far many people than have a thousand books of arm-chairphilosophers.Baba had no needs and no desire for anything material. If he was living, it was not forhimself, but wholly in order to do good to others. Only for this purpose he maintained hisbody, but for the physical sheath itself he didn't care a whit. This completely selfless

fakir was even in unison with God, and that is whv his very presence had an elevating,influence on those who came for his darshan, and that darshan taken even once, wasenough to transform even a casual visitor - an atheist into a believer, a pessimist into anoptimist, a sinner into a God's man.Philosophers have written dissertations and treatises, but these by themselves have notchanged the world. A great philosophy moulds a certain Man of Destiny who, by hisdeeds brings about great reforms and even revolutions. Philosophies of Ramdas andMarx moulded Shivaji and Lenin, whose actions brought about major changes in thepeople's way of life. Sai Baba was such a man of action -- a living embodiment of manyformer philosophies. Therefore by 'philosophy of Sai Baba', we mean his way of life

which exemplified certain priciples.'Sarvam Vishnumayam J agat' is the central principle of vedanta. This may be calledUniversalism. Sai Baba lived by this principle. He had indentified himself with allcreatures -- not only human beings but even birds and beasts, reptiles aid insects. Notfor him was the man-woman distinction. Naturally woman was not an object ofenticement for Baba.Differences of caste, creed and religion are man-made and therefore artificial. Hencethose differences had no place in the eyes of Sai Baba. That Sai Baba never revealedhis own caste and religion has a deep significance. It is that he didn't want these labels,

to be, attached to him. In spite of this, some research scholars have made pedanticefforts to ascribe him a certain caste and religion. Such attempts only tend to destroythe very basis of the present social philosophy of Bharat.Another important principle -brought in practice by Sai Baba was that of equality once aperson stepped into his Dwarkamai a dilapidated mosque where be lived. He wasneither rich nor poor, neither a Raja nor Praja (subjects), neither a landlord nor alabourer. Actually people coming to him forget these differences of wealth and position.


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The common meals which Sai Baba cooked and served with his own bands inDwarkamai was an object-lesson in equality. It was just for this reason that Baba neverconsented to be a Guru and never made anv disciples, for this institution of Gurus leadsto ownership and property rights which Baba strictly opposed. He wanted Shirdi affairsto be run in a spirit of democratic socialism.All this will show that Baba was a prophet of Modern India and a hundred years back heput into practice the principles of democracy, socialism and secularism which form thebulwork of our constitution today. That is Sai Baba's philosophy, if it can be so called.

Stories of Sai Baba for Children

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