Chapter XXXV — Tested and Never Found Wanting: Kaka's Friend; Thakkar Master & the Seedless Raisins; Bandra Insomnia; Balaji Patil Newaskar

Source: Shri Sai Satcharitra, trans. 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/sai35.html

Sections

Preliminary — On Sectarianism

Hemadpant opens with a defense of Baba against three sectarian objections: those who hold God is without form regard belief in form as illusion; those of other sects ask why one should leave one's own Sadguru for another saint; some asked why a true saint would collect money (Dakshina). The reply is given through cases — men who came to scoff and remained to pray.

Kaka Mahajani's Nirgun Friend

A friend of Kaka Mahajani worshipped God without form and rejected idolatry. He agreed to come to Shirdi on two conditions: not to bow to Baba; not to pay Dakshina. They left Bombay Saturday night, reached Shirdi Sunday morning.

As they set foot on the masjid steps, Baba addressed the friend from a little distance:

"Oh, welcome sir."

The tone was the exact tone of the friend's late father. The friend felt a thrill of joy: "This is no doubt the voice of my father." He went up at once, forgetting his resolution, and placed his head on Baba's feet.

Baba asked Dakshina twice — once in the morning and once at noon — but only from Kaka. The friend whispered: "He asked you twice and not me; why?" Kaka: "Ask Baba." Baba asked Kaka what was being whispered; the friend asked directly. Baba:

"You had no mind to pay, so you were not asked; but if you want to pay now you may."

The friend paid Rs. 17 — the same amount Kaka had paid. Baba's parting word:

"Do away, destroy the Teli's wall (sense of difference) between us, so that we can see and meet each other face to face."

The weather looked threatening; Baba assured a safe journey. They returned to Bombay safely. On opening his house the friend found two sparrows fallen dead and one flying out a window — the windows had been shut for two days. He understood that Baba had sent him home in time to save at least the third sparrow.

Kaka's Master — Mr. Thakkar and the Seedless Raisins

Thakkar Dharmasey Jethabhai, a Bombay solicitor and Kaka Mahajani's master, decided during Shimga holidays to come and test Baba. He brought another man as associate (Kaka's return was uncertain).

Kaka bought two seers of raisins (dried grapes with seed) on the way. At the masjid Babasaheb Tarkhad was present. Thakkar asked him why he came. "For darshan." — "Do miracles take place here?" Tarkhad: "Seeing miracles is not my attitude, but the earnest intentions of bhaktas are satisfied here."

Kaka offered the raisins. Baba ordered distribution. Thakkar received some — but his doctor had advised him not to eat unwashed raisins. He could not refuse openly. He put them in his mouth without knowing what to do with the seeds; could not spit on the masjid floor; pocketed them against his wish.

He thought: "If Baba is a saint, how could He be ignorant of my dislike and force them on me?" At that moment Baba gave him more raisins. Thakkar held them. Baba asked him to eat them. He obeyed — and to his surprise found them all seedless.

He turned to Tarkhad, who had also received raisins: "What kind of grapes did you get?" — "With seeds." Thakkar was further astonished.

He next thought: "If Baba is a real saint, the next distribution should begin from Kaka." Baba immediately ordered the next distribution to start from Kaka.

Shama introduced Thakkar as Kaka's master. Baba:

"How could he be his master? He has got a different Master altogether."

After the noon Arati, when Shama spoke for their departure, Baba addressed Thakkar's situation through a parable:

"There was a fickle-minded gentleman. He had health and wealth and was free from both physical and mental afflictions, but he took on him needless anxieties and burdens and wandered hither and thither, thus losing his peace of mind. Sometimes he dropped the burdens and at other times carried them again. His mind knew no steadiness. Seeing his state, I took pity on him and said: 'Now please keep your faith on any one place you like, why roam like this? Stick quietly to one place.'"

Thakkar recognised himself. He wished Kaka could return with him; Baba read the thought and gave Kaka permission.

Baba then asked Kaka for Rs. 15 Dakshina, with this central teaching:

"If I take one rupee as Dakshina from anybody, I have to return it tenfold to him. I never take anything gratis. I never ask anyone indiscriminately. I only ask and take from him whom the Fakir (My Guru) points out. If anyone is indebted formerly to the Fakir, money is received from him. The donor gives, i.e. sows his seeds, only to reap a rich harvest in future. Wealth should be the means to work out Dharma. If it is used for personal enjoyment, it is wasted. Unless you have given it before, you do not get it now. So the best way to receive is to give. The giving of Dakshina advances Vairagya (Non-attachment) and thereby Bhakti and Jnana. Give one and receive tenfold."

Thakkar gave Rs. 15 in Baba's hand, forgetting his resolution. Hemadpant's gloss: "Baba was totally non-attached. Whether anyone saluted Him or not, gave Dakshina or not, was the same to Him… He transcended the pairs of opposites, pleasure and pain."

The Bandra Insomnia Case

A Kayastha Prabhu gentleman of Bandra suffered long from insomnia. Each time he lay down, his departed father appeared in dream and abused and scolded him severely; sleep broke; he was restless all night.

He consulted a Baba devotee, who recommended Udi as the only remedy he knew. He gave the gentleman some Udi: apply a little to the forehead before bed; keep the Udi-packet under the pillow.

The gentleman tried it. The first night brought sound sleep with no disturbance. He continued the remedy, remembered Sai, got a Baba picture, hung it near his pillow, worshipped it daily and on Thursdays offered garland and naivedya. The trouble was forgotten.

Balaji Patil Newaskar — Annual Corn Donation

Balaji Patil of Newase was a great Baba devotee. He swept and kept clean every street through which Baba passed in his daily routine (the same service later taken up by Radha-Krishna Mai and then by Abdoola).

Every year when he reaped his corn, Balaji brought the entire harvest to Baba and returned home with whatever Baba gave back — and maintained his family with it. He kept this up for many years; his son continued it after him.

Udi and the Death-Anniversary Feast

At Balaji's annual death-anniversary, a certain number of guests was invited. At dinner-time it was found three times the number had come. Mrs. Newaskar was in a fix: if the food fell short, the family's honour would be at stake.

Her mother-in-law comforted her: "Don't be afraid, it is not ours but Sai's food. Cover every vessel with cloth, putting some Udi in it, and serve from the same without opening it. Sai will save us from ignominy."

She did so. The food not only sufficed for all but plenty remained after serving. The chapter records the principle: "As one feels intently, so he realizes accordingly."

The Serpent at Newase

Raghu Patil of Shirdi once visited Balaji at Newase. That evening a serpent entered the cowshed hissing. The cattle scattered; the household was frightened. Balaji thought: this is Sai appearing in my house as a serpent.

He brought a cup of milk, placed it before the serpent, and said calmly:

"Baba, why do you hiss and make noise? Do you want to frighten us? Take this cup of milk and drink it with a calm mind."

He sat by unperturbed. The serpent shortly disappeared; a search of the cowshed found nothing.

Balaji had two wives and some children. They sometimes came to Shirdi for darshan. Baba bought saris and other clothes which he gave them with his blessings.

Verbatim Sai Baba quotes documented in this chapter

1. (To Kaka's nirgun friend, in his father's tone) "Oh, welcome sir."
2. (To the same friend, on Dakshina) "You had no mind to pay, so you were not asked; but if you want to pay now you may."
3. (Parting word to Kaka's friend) "Do away, destroy the Teli's wall (sense of difference) between us, so that we can see and meet each other face to face."
4. (On Thakkar's claim to be Kaka's master) "How could he be his master? He has got a different Master altogether."
5. (Parable describing Thakkar's state) "There was a fickle-minded gentleman… 'Now please keep your faith on any one place you like, why roam like this? Stick quietly to one place.'"
6. (The Dakshina-Mimansa expanded) "If I take one rupee as Dakshina from anybody, I have to return it tenfold to him. I never take anything gratis. I never ask anyone indiscriminately. I only ask and take from him whom the Fakir (My Guru) points out… The best way to receive is to give. The giving of Dakshina advances Vairagya and thereby Bhakti and Jnana. Give one and receive tenfold."
7. (Balaji Patil to the serpent at Newase) "Baba, why do you hiss and make noise? Do you want to frighten us? Take this cup of milk and drink it with a calm mind."