Chapter II — Object of Writing the Work; Hemadpant title; Necessity of a Guru
Source: Shri Sai Satcharitra (Dabholkar, 1929), trans. N.V. Gunaji
Marathi original: Sai Satcharita (archive.org scan) · Devotee testimonies: Narasimha Swami 1936 (Internet Archive) · Full bibliography: /sources.html
URL: https://www.saibaba.org/satcharitra/sai2.html
Sections
Object of Writing the Work
Hemadpant explains that hearing of Baba's miracle (the cholera-grinding of Ch. 1) inspired him to write. He acknowledges the venture is presumptuous — "one must be a saint himself to know other saints" — and invokes Baba's grace. He notes earlier biographical works exist (Mahipati's Bhakta Vijaya and Santa Vijaya from Shaka 1700; Das Ganu Maharaj's chapters in Bhakta Leelamrit Chs. 31-33 and Santa Kathamrit Ch. 57) but the field is wide and there is room for another.
Baba's Sanction Given Through Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande)
Hemadpant could not personally ask Baba and so requested Shama to intercede. Baba's response, given while placing his hand on Hemadpant's head and giving him udi:
"Let him make a collection of stories and experiences, keep notes and memos; I will help him. He is only an outward instrument… When his ego is completely annihilated and there is left no trace of it, I Myself shall enter into him and shall Myself write My own life… let there be no insistence on establishing one's own view, no attempt to refute other's opinions, no discussions of pros and cons of any subject."
The Lonavala Episode — Why Hemadpant's Trip to Shirdi was Delayed
Hemadpant had promised Kakasaheb Dixit and Nanasaheb Chandorkar to go to Shirdi but delayed. A friend's son in Lonavala fell ill; the friend tried physical and spiritual means including bringing his own guru to the bedside; the fever did not abate. Hemadpant concluded: "What was the utility of the Guru?" — and postponed his trip.
How Nana Chandorkar Drew Him to Shirdi
Nanasaheb Chandorkar, a Prant Officer, was going on tour to Bassein and waiting for a train at Dadar. A Bandra Local turned up; he took it to Bandra, sent for Hemadpant, and convinced him to leave for Shirdi that very night. As Hemadpant boarded a train at Bandra (planning to change at Dadar for Manmad), a Muslim stranger told him the Manmad Mail did not stop at Dadar and he must go straight to Boribunder. Without this small advice Hemadpant says he would not have reached Shirdi the next day. He arrived in 1910 A.D. before 9–10 a.m. The only lodging then was Sathe's Wada. Tatyasaheb Noolkar, returning from the masjid, told him Baba was at the corner of the Wada — Hemadpant ran and prostrated.
Hot Discussion — Free Will vs. Destiny
On his arrival day Hemadpant and Balasaheb Bhate argued at Sathe's Wada about whether a Guru is necessary. Hemadpant took free will ("Why surrender freedom?"); Bhate took destiny. The discussion lasted about an hour and ended in exhaustion.
When the party went to the masjid, Baba asked Kakasaheb Dixit:
"What was going on in the Wada? What was the discussion about?" — and staring at Hemadpant — "What did this Hemadpant say?"
Hemadpant was startled: the masjid was at a distance from the Wada. Baba had known the discussion.
The Title "Hemadpant"
Hemadpant explains the historical Hemadripant was a minister to kings Mahadev and Ramadev of Devgiri (Yadava dynasty), learned, author of Chaturvarga Chintamani and Rajprashasti, originator of the Modi (Marathi shorthand) script. Hemadpant says he himself was "an ignoramus" by comparison and took the title as a dart against his own ego — and possibly a compliment for his cleverness in the discussion. He notes the title turned prophetic: he later managed the Sai Sansthan accounts and wrote the Satcharita.
On the Necessity of a Guru (Kakasaheb Dixit's notes)
Hemadpant did not record Baba's words on this subject, but Kakasaheb Dixit published his notes (Sai Leela Vol. I, No. 5, p. 47). The day after Hemadpant's meeting, Kakasaheb asked Baba whether he should leave Shirdi. The exchange:
- Baba: "Yes."
- Question: "Where to go?"
- Baba: "High up."
- "How is the way?"
- Baba: "There are many ways leading there; there is one way also from here (Shirdi). The way is difficult. There are tigers and wolves in the jungles on the way."
- "But Baba, what if we take a guide with us?"
- Baba: "Then there is no difficulty. The guide will take you straight to your destination, avoiding wolves, tigers and ditches etc. on the way. If there be no guide, there is the danger of your being lost in the jungles or falling into ditches."
Hemadpant heard this as Baba's answer to the Guru question. He concluded that mere discussion of free will vs. bondage is fruitless; real progress comes by the teacher's guidance — citing the precedent of Rama (Vasishtha) and Krishna (Sandipani) — and that the only virtues required are faith (Shraddha) and patience (Saburi).
Verbatim Sai Baba quotes documented in this chapter
- "Let him make a collection of stories and experiences, keep notes and memos; I will help him. He is only an outward instrument."
- "When his ego is completely annihilated… I Myself shall enter into him and shall Myself write My own life."
- "What was going on in the Wada? What was the discussion about? What did this Hemadpant say?"
- (To Kakasaheb on the necessity of a Guru) "There are many ways… If there be no guide, there is the danger of your being lost in the jungles or falling into ditches."