“Ramah shriman sa nah Prabhu”

(English translation of Marathi discourse given by P. P. Aniruddha Bapu on 03rd August 2006 on Ramraksha at New English High School, Bandra)

HARI OM

‘Ramah shriman sa’ , sa means him, sah also means him, the meaning of the Sanskrit word nah is ‘ours’. In sanskrit we say that a word flows. What does this mean? Suppose we take the word Ram or one takes the common form of Ram, “sah,- tau, te, tam, tau, tan, ten, tabham, tebhyam, “ or we take the word “aham” which means me, it would be “aham avam, vayam, mam ma avam nau, asman nah” the plural ‘nah’ means ours.

“Ram shriman sa nah Prabhu” - This Ram is my Prabhu (God). But how? The Ram who is “Abhiramsrilokanam, Aaram kalpavrukshanaam Viraam Sakalapadam” is my Swami, my master, my Prabhu. He is my guide, He is my pillar of support, He is my caretaker, He looks after us, He is our father. The real meaning of ‘prabhu’ is not master or Swami. But the fact that it is used in Sanskrit the real meaning is, ‘ All that is created, the one who creates it and incessantly is creating it is Prabhu’ Prabhu is the only One. The one who makes us aware that everything that is created, is being created and the strength behind everything that is being created is our Ram who is our Prabhu. But Bapu what is so unusual about this? We all know that He is our master, our father, He is the origin of all of us, He is our creator. But why is Buddhakaushik Rishi telling us this over here? He mentions it here not merely as it is written here but we must understand that ‘when a man is moving in a particular direction, eg. in school we move ahead in a normal course from the sixth to the seventh to the eighth till the tenth and then we are confounded where to go after the tenth. Should we send to commerce, arts or science.? Will we be able to manage science? Nowadays there are so many entrance exams will be able to cope up with them?

Then here again we are confused what to do, engineering or science? When we were in Inter Science there was no 10th and 12th. S.S.C was in the 11th standard and then there was college where we had F.Y.Science and Inter Science where students were divided into two groups, A group and B group. The students who had left Maths were ‘B’group and the ones who had taken Maths were in the ‘A’ group. Therefore the engineering and medical students were segregated. The students in ‘A’ group could not apply for medicine and the students in B group could not apply for engineering. Later this division was done away with and the students had to take both the subjects in the 12th standard. Therefore they could apply at both the places. Then the question arises. We see many students taking admission in engineering and after they secure admission in medical, they release the engineering seat or it is vice versa. Then the 1st list is put up by the colleges, then the 2nd list and then the 3rd list is put up. Those who have not got admission in the 1st list are eagerly waiting for the 2nd or 3rd list. We eventually realize that we cannot decide the direction we wish to take as it depends on many other factors. It is not because we are fools or idiots that we cannot decide. What is it that is in our hands? We have to study, get good marks, thereafter see the number of seats that are available, how many marks more or less have been obtained by others? Which seats have been opened and at what marks? Hw many have moved from one faculty to another and those who have not moved? Therefore one can see that everything does not depend upon my efforts but also depends on the surrounding circumstances. Remember this simple thing.

Well, this was about exams and admission, but as for a normal person with two hands and feet. I am always telling you that you that you must learn English and learn to converse well in English. It is very important that one learns English and talks in English. I often see a common mistake being done. I correct them. When I was the boss, students entering my room would ask me, Can I come in, Sir? I would call them in and give them a tight slap and tell them. Yes, you can but you may not! You have two feet and two hands. Since you have two feet you can come in walking. You can but you may not, as I have not given you permission. So, what should you ask? May I come in Sir? Can I come in? is the literal translation from Marathi or any Indian language but it does not convey the real meaning. So what is the correct English? It is, May I come in Sir? When you say Can I come in? it means you can come in walking but there is no permission, as I am the master of this room. It is simple, so what do we understand from this? I have two legs but can I go into his office? No, I cannot enter his office without his permission. He may an officer or a doctor or a collector or a minister or an executive, here I have strength to go in but my entry does not entirely depend on my strength but depends on the permission of the person who so ever it may be, he should allow me to enter. It depends on whether or not I have entry.

Nowadays we see a board put up outside many buildings, ‘Hawkers are prohibited from entering the premises.’ They are moving from place to place selling their wares but since there is a board but they may not. If they do they will be caught as they are refused permission. In fact at some places ‘prohibited area’ is written. So from this we can understand that we can walk or do a particular thing with our hands but it is not permitted. Let’s take a simple example. There is an electric fuse, a switch and the switch of the adaptor is on. The switch next to it is on. Can I touch it ? Yes, I can. But should I do it? No, I should not do it, if I do it what will happen? I will get a shock, correct. The ‘tava’ (fry pan) is cold so the lady easily holds it and puts it on the gas. Then she cooks the ‘bhakri’ (thick chapatti) on it and she does it easily. If the men here try, my goodness, they will get burnt and take off their hand. But she is habituated in doing it. Even if she is used to it should she put her hand on the heated tava which is on the gas? You would say – Can she? She can do it but she should not. That means what should she not do? It is simple, what I should not do does not necessarily depends on the permission and therefore for whatever I do I should find the right direction which depends not only on my efforts but also on the surroundings

. Now we shall take the same example of the ‘shegadi’ (old kind of cooking fire ), now of course we have gas burners. Earlier one had to blow air for the ‘shegadi’ to burn, has anyone here done it? I tell you it was not easy task, while blowing the eyes would be red and one would get exhausted. When we were young we enjoyed doing it. We would tell our granny and aunty that we wished to do it and she would happily give it to us and very often it would be windy or the logs of wood were wet so they would just catch fire easily. Now see, when the rice is new it takes a longer time to cook, most of the ladies may have experienced it, and also it cannot be cooked with the normal consistency of water. Therefore one realizes that it does not entirely depend on her cooking skill. Suppose we get vegetables which are not fresh, however good her culinary skills may be, tell me, can she do anything about it? Thus things do not depend on my qualities but on the surrounding circumstances and how they react to me. It depends on my relations to the surrounding circumstances. Every event happens only on the merging of my qualities with the surroundings. Without this we cannot find the right direction.

In Sai Satcharitra we read the experience in the 22nd chapter, it is a beautiful chapter. In fact each and every chapter in Sai Satcharitra is beautiful, one can open any page and even that is beautiful because Hemadpant’s language is pristine and pure. It tells us only the truth and is full of devotion. In one of the chapters he tells his Sai, ”As long as I am alive, let my breath be only for your mission”, and then at the end of the 52nd chapter he writes, “Now I am offering this writing and myself to your divine feet.” And it so happened that there was no verse after this. As long as he lived (breathed) he carried on his mission and as long as his mission was going on he breathed. After his mission was over there was no closing sentence and he did not even live to write the last 53rd chapter, which is the summing up chapter, as he did not want to take the credit of, ‘I have written it ‘ on him. It is for this very reason that we can read the Sai Satcharitra peacefully anytime. Many people ask me, especially ladies, Bapu we cannot read holy books during our monthly periods, then how can we read Sai Satcharitra? Sai Satcharitra can be read any time. Hanuman stotra can be chanted during monthly periods, why is it so? Because for Hanuman every lady is his mother and Hemadpant whose has written the Sai Satcharitra is none other than Shukmuni. And Hemadpant has written it with utmost purity and is pristine and that no one can ever make it impure or defile it. Therefore nothing can ever come in its way. While reading Sai Satcharitra, no problem, no twelve day mourning can ever be an impediment. I am telling you from the bottom of my heart that the beginning of the 22nd chapter is so beautiful, do go through it in a day or two. Initially Hemadpant tells us, ”When there is little light”, ‘alpaandhar’ means when there is little darkness and little light, in such a situation I imagine it is a snake and I am scared. Earlier when there was total darkness I did not understand whether it was a snake or a rope so there was no fear, so there was total ignorance.

At first, I could not see anything so I was unaware whether a rope had fallen or it was a snake- therefore there was no fear. Then when darkness reduced the caretaker came and said, “I can see something coiled up.’ My goodness, hope it is not a snake? If it is a rope there is no problem but if it is a snake? Then there is fear in the mind. But Hemadpant tells us once there is light of knowledge then the fear disappears because if it is a rope then why should I get scared. Then Hemadpant tells us, “ O Sainatha you are the master of all these three states, the first when there was no fear because of ignorance or lack of knowledge , then fear because of half knowledge and then with the light of knowledge a total fearless state. Who is the master of this? You are the only One and for me you are the only one. Just see Hemadpant has started it so beautifully, he considered Him as his God and he became his God, he became his God for his entire life. Complete darkness is ignorance, partial darkness means half knowledge and then complete knowledge is being in full of light. That means in the first state and the third state there is no fear. But the fearlessness of the first state is more fearful. Suppose there is a snake, then what? In partial darkness we do not know whether it is a snake or a rope. At least I am alerted and then by God’s grace when there is light then I can see well. Well, there is no reason for you to get scared. I can then clearly and emphatically tell you whether it is a snake or a rope and then you can go ahead. But then who gives us this light? It is the Sadguru and this Hemadpant has clearly told us that his master is no one else because the meaning of the word Guru itself tells us. ‘Guru is the one who transforms darkness into light.’ He does not leave any darkness in our life and then after this introduction of the 22nd chapter Hemadpant narrates to us one by one stories of snakes, scorpions, ‘Lambe Baba’, ‘Bade baba’ (snakes) and then eventually Hemadpant narrates his own story. When Hemadpant tells us his story he has an argument with Muktaram as to whether one should kill a snake or not? They ask Baba, Baba replies that the one at the bedside of Abdul should be killed at once. What is ‘vivashi’ is it a ghost.

As soon the snake comes it is killed immediately, Baba even tells us this story. On being asked what does Baba reply? To kill or not to kill, He does answer but he tells us, “ Remember well, a snake or a scorpion will never bite you unless it is wished by the Lord, and even if he bites it can not kill you. We realize that the snake may have venom, the scorpion may have poison he may also sit on your hand or like Kakasaheb Mirikar the snake sat on his ‘uparna’ (upper dhotar) but Madhavrao was being send by Baba to protect him. Someone may ask me, Bapu why did Baba not stop the snake from going to him? Why did He allow it to climb on his ‘uparna’? He should have been stopped earlier, correct. But we only go on asking questions we do not do bhakti. One must see first that the danger was averted and then ask questions. Many have asked this question in the questionnaires, Bapu in Kakasaheb Mirikar’s story, in Balasaheb Mirikar’s story, I would say Kakasaheb as he was staunch bhakta of Sai, his son Balasaheb, why did the snake go upto his ‘uparna’? Why was it not stopped earlier? Why was it allowed to come out of its hole? The only important answer to this is that Baba did not let it bite him. We must understand this first for which Baba warned him by asking him, “My dear do you this one? (gesture of a snake). He replied “No, I do not know”. Baba ordered him, ”Take Madhavrao along with you.” To which Balasaheb said, ”Madhavrao why are you coming along with me to Chitali.” Madhavrao “ O.k. then I will go back.” On going back to Baba, Baba said, “ We mean well, we have done our job of telling him.” Then Balasaheb changed his mind, all because of his father’s bhakti, he realized that he must obey Baba. Then Balasaheb says,” Madhavrao please do come with me.” The fact that Baba is telling me that means that there something behind it which I do not know. Madhavrao went back to take Baba’s permission, without His command he cannot go ahead. Baba then tells him, “Will the Dwarkamai ever forget its inherent quality? Will it not ward off the dangers of her children who come to her shelter. Go with him.“ And Madhavrao then accompanies him. With both of them together, he and the guard could kill the snake to pieces. So we can realize that He plans everything, knowing well that it was in his destiny that the snake would bite him, but due to his father’s firm faith and his faith Baba protected him. He let the event happen and the bear the fruit of it but the result was not disastrous.

We must remember this well, that it was in his destiny that a snake climbs on him, his getting scared and the snake biting him but due to his bhakti Baba had wiped off 90% of the important part of biting from his destiny and let only 10% of it remain. The snake came, went hissing, fear arose in his mind, the snake came down and was killed and the biting part which is the biggest is averted by Baba. At the end of the chapter Baba tells us, “We must all know that snakes, scorpions all are under the Lord’s control. They have there own freedom to sting. But the Lord too has His freedom of how to save his children from the poison.”

”Isn’t the saviour greater than the killer?” Baba has told this clearly to us, which we must know. But when does this happen? Only when we consider Sainath as our ‘Prabhu’ like Hemadpant. But if we consider ourselves as God, that we are great and God exists only for us our prayers, for ‘navas’ (reciprocal conditions), to give us strength and we will use this strength the way we want, then he no longer remains my Prabhu. Here Hemadpant tells us the same in Sai Satcharitra what Buddhakaushik has told us. Truly, in the 22nd chapter beautiful stories are told to us and based on these stories Hemadpant describes Baba’s leela’s to us. At the end Baba tells us, ”Be it a snake or a scorpion you need not fear if you have sought protection and are under the shelter of Dwarkamai, that is Baba’s feet, then no snake can dare sting you. It may have climbed on your uparna, or it may be on your mattress yet you need not fear. A scorpion had climbed on Hemadpant’s shoulder, it will sit on your shoulder but will not sting you.

Then we read the story of Gopalrao Butty. An astrologer tells him, “Today is a tragic day for you and you may pass off.” No one had told Baba about it . Gopalrao came to Baba trembling and stood in front off Baba calmly. He does not tell Baba, what if Baba gets angry? In Sai Satcharitra we read that Baba asks him, “What, is the astrologer going to kill you? Does he have the guts to kill you, when I, your Father is sitting here.” Accordingly Butty goes home and then he goes for toilet in the backyard, which was quite far from the house. There he came across a snake but the snake could do nothing to him, he jumped and came out running. Lahanu, his servant pelted stones at the snake. See and appreciate God’s leela here. By the grace of Sai even when Butty was afraid his mind was steady and he told his servant, “Do not show too much bravado, if it gets hurt with the stones it will bite and create trouble. Instead calmly go inside and get a stick and kill it. If you hurt it and let it go it will surely bite you. It had come to bite Gopalrao but if the stone is from you then it will bite you.” Just see the buddhi Sai Baba gave him at that point of time. Lahanu accordingly went to get the stick and the snake escaped in its hole. “Na rahegi baas, na rahegi basuri” But why does all this happen? This is for us to realize why we should study Sai Satcharitra, I have repeatedly told you this, it is not to see Sai’s leelas. Sai Baba is great. There is no doubt about it! It is to learn about the true bhaktas of Sai and also about the ordinary bhaktas and how and why they had miracles in their lives and also to learn about their demeanor.

We see here that Madhavrao Deshpande is bitten by a snake. Everyone tells him to go to ‘viroba’s’ temple, he refused, he told them, “I will not go, I will go to my Baba” On going there just the contradictory happens, as we read it in the story. Does anyone remember it? Say Yes … (audience) Yes.. That’s better, now I feel nice. It happened just the opposite, Baba started shouting and cursing him, “Go down, Get down, Dare not come up.” Madhavrao was really afraid, I have come to my mother’s shelter and if she kicks me where shall I go? ‘Go ,get down.’ Correct? This order was not for Madhavrao, then for whom was this order? It was for the snake poison. He is send home and Baba sends Dikshit after him with instructions that he should not sleep throughout the night. Keep him awake and then by morning the effect of the venom had subsided. Only his little finger had slight pain. One must know why did this happen, it was because Madhavrao had firm faith on Baba. If tomorrow you say that if a snake bites you in Mumbai I will not take any injections, in spite of anti venom injections being available, and I must be cured like Madhavrao, this can never happen. Baba will beat you with his ‘satka’. In Shirdi there were no anti venomous injections therefore it was Baba’s responsibility to save his children. If injections are available till the time you reach the doctor Baba will definitely take care of you. He definitely takes care but you have to go to take the injection. You must realize the difference that Baba did this miracle when injections were not available. When inspite of anti venomous injections being available today we say that Baba will take care then we make a mistake because Baba never did these kind of miracles. When Baba came to Shirdi what did he do?

He was a doctor and would give medicines. He would give people ayurvedic medicines and later also he would treat people with medicines given through Dr. Pillai. But when Baba’s hand was burnt, in fact he got it burnt, Nanasaheb Chandorkar got Dr. Parmanand from Mumbai to treat him. Nanasaheb Chandarkor did not say, “What Baba? Baba puts ‘bibva’ in the eyes and cures people, then why should I worry about his hand?” No, he never said this. Madhavrao Deshpande sent a message, “My Baba’s hand is burnt, Chandorkar, immediately brings the best doctor from Mumbai to Shirdi. My Baba’s hand is burnt very badly.” Did he say that he is God and cure it himself. No, he never said this. In fact Madhavrao was tensed and worried. In such a situation the letter reaches immediately. To whom? Chandorkar and he immediately brings Dr. Parmanand to Shirdi. He was the topmost surgeon of Mumbai whose fee then was Rs. 100/- just for examining the patient. Just imagine, in 1914-1915 Rs. 100/- was real big money. He was the doctor to only the Kings, princely states, governors and British officers. It was only for his friendship with Nanasaheb that he came to Shirdi. He did not even know Baba. Hemadpant tells us that his medicines were not even opened in Shirdi. Baba refused to show his hand to him. But Baba got it massaged with ghee from the leprosy stricken Shinde. One must appreciate that Baba was capable of doing of everything and for this feeling to arise in our minds we must read the Sai Satcharitra.

To know how the bhaktas conducted themselves. What was demeanor of Nanasaheb Chandorkar, of Madhavrao Deshpande, of Mhalsapati, of Dixit of Bayjabai? Did Bayjabai believe that these people who get bhakri (Indian bread) and vegetable for Baba or that Baba would come to her house and eat it. I will lay the table, serve and wait for him to come? Did she do this? No. No one knew Baba then. She would take the bhakri and vegetable in a basket and go in search of Baba in the forest. Do we run after him in the forest? We do not. We must realize that at least to a certain extend we must try and live like this, that does not mean that you live ditto like her, may not be possible. There is no harm in trying bit by bit. That means suppose a lady takes a basket and goes throughout the village in search of Baba, this would be madness to copy like this. But we should have the urge in us, only then he becomes our ‘Prabhu’. He is always our Prabhu but only passively. When does he become active? Only when you accept him as your Prabhu, only then. Madhavrao did not accept Viroba . Madhavarao went running to his Sai, we must comprehend this. It is so simple, from Sai Satcharitra we can learn how to accept Him as your Prabhu.

Buddhakuashik only gives us this one line, but Sai Satcharitra totally guides us how to make Him our Prabhu, all the bhaktas big or small are our guides. For example the lady who gets the ‘khichadi’ (rice cooked with dal) for Baba, she is yearning to give it to him. Baba sits for his lunch with the curtain let down, till then no one dare enter when the curtain was let down. That lady had travelled so far just to give Baba the khichadi, how could she wait any longer. Hemadpant further tells us that she drew the curtain aside and went inside and Baba was delighted and began to eat morsel after morsel? Why did He do so? Because Sai knew the earnestness of the lady. We all must know that through this way we can make our Sai, our Ram as our Prabhu in our lives.

Then we read the story of the two gentlemen from Goa. As usual Mhalsapati, Shama, Dixit and the others were sitting with Baba, Narke was also with them. These two gentlemen came from Goa, prostrated and sat down and then Baba started his story, “If I get a job, my first month’s salary i.e. 15 rupees I will offer it to God then my salary increased 5 times, 6 times but I did not give God anything.” Then he tells the next story, “Once while I was wandering, I was staying in a mansion, I went to a rich brahmin’s mansion and I slept near a cupboard and the Brahmin scissored off all the money from my pocket, he took away 30,000 rupees of mine.“ Madhavrao was sharp to realize that this was not Baba’s story, Baba did not know of any sea, or any boatman or any peon and then Baba continues the story, he gives the proper sequence, first the officer and then the peon. Then Madhavrao was ordered by Baba to take them home for food and the two went to his place for food. At dinner Madhavrao wonders as to why Baba had told this story. The two tell him that this is their story, one of them tells his story, ”My native place is on the ghats but since I had acquaintances in Goa I went to Goa to secure a job and I prayed to Dattaguru and took a vow that I will offer my first month’s entire salary to your feet. That salary was Rs.15/- and Baba asked only for Rs. 15/-, “ how much did he ask only Rs. 15/- and he did not take a single paisa from the other one. Madhavrao asks Baba,” Deva, why this distinction, from one you ask for 15 rupees and the other gave you 35 rupees which you refused to take, I would not have done this.” Baba replied, “ I take nothing from anybody, I only ask what they owe the Dwarkamai, that’s all, otherwise I am not concerned.“ Baba owned nothing even the ‘kafani’ he wore was torn which he would stitch himself. These two were shocked and confessed that it was their story and that they had forgotten to fulfill their vow.

We shall see a similar story but the other part, that of Cholkar. We have seen his story, he did not forget his vow. He also took a vow for a job, “Baba, I am a simple person, I want to be made permanent in my job, I will go to Shirdi and distribute sugar candy.” He passes the exam, gets a higher post and is made permanent. But he could not afford to go to Shirdi. He resolved that until he goes to Shirdi he will not partake any sugar or eat any sweet dishes. When Cholkar reaches Shirdi no one recognized him. In Shirdi, Baba says,” Give him cups of tea saturated with sugar.” This was signifying that he had got his sugar candy as per his vow, ‘pavali vacha datta sharkara’. Yes, from this we should know how to behave. We have these two examples in front of us, these two Goa bhaktas had forgotten their vow, but there was no intention of not fulfilling it, their bhakti was same, they earnestly wished to meet Baba so Baba pulled them to him and got their vow fulfilled. Whilst Cholkar took a vow, did not forget the vow, infact to fulfill the vow he punished himself by making a determination not to eat anything sweet. Baba brought him to Shirdi, got it fulfilled and by His significant words ‘pavali vacha datta sharkara’ hinted that he got the sugar candy as per his vow. My dear children, Baba did this as Cholkar had accepted Him as his Prabhu. We read the Sai Satcharitra and from the bhaktas stories we must bear in mind that we should never compare. Who are we to compare. We must try and understand what is beneficial to us. We must study the conduct of these bhaktas and accordingly inculcate those values in our life.

Hemadpant was sent to Madhavrao Deshpande to get 15 rupees. Madhavrao tells him ‘where do I have 15 rupees with me’. What was the salary of the school master (Shama)? Only 2 rupees and 75 paise for a school master. A school master earning Rs. 2 75 paise how will he give Rs. 15/ - , he was neither fraudulent nor did he extract money from others. He says, “Take my 15 namaskars as my 15 rupees.” Did Hemadpant say, “Baba has asked for Rs.15 and I will take only Rs. 15” No, in fact he said I take these 15 namaskars of yours. And now we shall chit chat. They chit chated and then the story of Radhabai Deshmukh comes up. The moment he heard the word ‘anugraha,’ he is convinced the reason for which Baba has sent him here. Then when they both went back the aarti had already started and Madhavrao pulled him up inside the Dwarkamai, the bhaktas were singing the aarti and Baba was enjoying his talk with Hemadpant. Baba asked him, “Did you talk and tell me all that you talked about.” Baba leaned forward and heard the entire story and then after the aarti, Jog came with sugar candy and Baba put the entire sugar candy into Hemadpant’s hands and said, ”let your life be as sweet as the sugar candy.”

From this we understand the greatness of the Sadguru – the sending of Hemadpant to Madhavrao; Hemadpant completing the daily portion of his reading of the Bhagwat; telling him a true story of ‘anugraha’ and hinting at its relevance to him by telling him ,”Remember this well, hold this close to your heart and then your life will be as sweet as sugar candy.” Truly, his life was as sweet as sugar candy only because he made Sai his Prabhu, this we must remember well.

“Ramah shriman sa nah Prabhu” Why do I take these Panchsheel exams. Rajano, this sentence is your sentence and this Ramraksha is yours and everyones. In this “Ramah shriman sa nah Prabhu” you may say Ram or say, Krishna or even say Sai. You may use any one of them which is dear to you but we are always perplexed by the fact that how are we going to make this Almighty our ‘Prabhu’ and what efforts should we take for it

We listen to Bapu’s pravarchan. We remember a little of it up to Friday evening but by Saturday in the hustle-bustle of our daily activities and the household chores, we tend to forget the whole pravachan, it is not possible to remember. In fact, Bapu has been giving discourses right since 1996. there must have been some of you who would have been attending the discourses since 1996 without missing a single Thursday. How much must be written, how much can we read? How much out of that would you remember? Tell me how much can we remember? Not possible. Now our Bapu has also published a ‘granth’ (holy book) and the Sai Satcharitra to whom our Bapu pays obeisance every Thursday must definitely be our guide. In fact, in the second part of the granth Bapu has said that he has five Gurus – “Dattaguru is my Sadguru, Gayatrimata is my Vatsalyaguru (one who has motherly love), Ram is my Kartaguru (Guru of action), Hanumant is my Rakshakguru (the protecting Guru) and Sai is my Digdarshak Guru (Guru who guides me).” If Sai is the guide of Bapu, then Sai Satcharitra is bound to be a guide for all Bapu’s friends and shall always remain a guide. This is why Bapu conducts Panchsheel Exams and tells us, dear children sit and study for these exams. When we study for these exams, we not only learn from Sai Satcharitra but also imbibe the good things from it. A mere reading of Sai Satcharitra does not give us the benefits which an exam gives. Even if a particular thing gets imbibed by us, it starts flowing in our lives and this flow is nothing but Ram being our Prabhu. Let me honestly tell you that here I am reminded of a very beautiful story. Truly a beautiful story. The story is of my beloved great grandmother, ‘Mai’ on whose shoulders I have grown up. Once, Mai had gone to Shirdi. This was after the demise of Gopinath Shastri Padhye. It must be some time after 1940 before the first death anniversary of Gopinath Shastri Padhye.

My grandmother urged Mai to go with her to Shirdi. My grandmother was aware of her sorrow, she was not one who would exhibit the same. She used to be a very serene lady with a voice so soft that the person sitting next to her could barely hear her voice. She was short, about 4 ft - 6 in. and extremely fair. My grandmother requested Mai, “Let’s go to Shirdi.” My grandmother, Mai along with two others went to Shirdi. She always believed that one should not enter Shirdi by a vehicle so it was essential that the ‘tanga’ (horse cart) stops at the border of Shirdi. She firmly believed that on the soil on which Baba walked could not be used by a tanga. She therefore left the tanga on the outskirts of Shirdi and started ‘dandavat’ (rolling) towards the Dwarkamai. Please understand that rolling to the Dwarkamai was not easy because the distance from the end of the village to the Dwarkamai was quite a bit. However, Gopinath Shastri Padhye, Mai and Ramabai and later my grandmother – did all these people always roll from the outskirts of Shirdi upto the Dwarkamai? Just see the sentiments, their faith, that they could not put their feet on soil on which Baba had treaded. Tell me how can we walk on the soil that my Baba has walked on, therefore we must roll on this soil. This was indeed a very difficult task. My grandmother and one of her uncles, Harikaka Pandit held my great grandmother, Mai and took her to the Dwarkamai. Extremely old and tired she sat in the Dwarkamai. Baba had already shed his mortal coil. Mai’s husband had also passed away. My grandmother who was her step-daughter but she was extremely dear to her. A young girl, these three ladies along with and some relatives reached Shirdi. Sitting in the Dwarkamai, Mai closed her eyes. My grandmother put her hand on her shoulders and realised that Mai was overwhelmed with emotion that until now she always came to the Dwarkamai along with my father, that is Gopinath Shastri Padhye, and this was the first time that she came alone. She had never come alone to Shirdi.

My grandmother felt like crying but she would always tell me Bapu, I don’t know how I controlled my feelings? I had to control myself. She further said that when she put her hand on Mai’s shoulder, Mai held her hand and said to my grandmother that you too are coming for the first time without your father Gopinath Shastri Padhye. The daughter was concerned about her mother and the mother was concerned about her daughter. Mai addressed my grandmother as “Malai” which was her maiden name. Her married name was Shakuntala Pandit. Mai told my great grandmother, “Malai you are coming here for the first time without your father, today your father is not here nor is this father, Saibaba here. And Malai I do not have strength to take over the charge of this father and your father. Malai what can I do for you?” Just see the love and care they had for each other and Baba cared and loved both of them. While both of them were talking, Just then with the breeze a flower which was offered to Baba’s photo fell into Mai’s sari, it was a pretty rose which actually fell in her hand. Mai picked up the rose and gave it to her daughter saying, “Malai see Baba has blessed us and shown that He is always be with us. Now we need not worry and feel sad about anything, you are not alone. Baba has given this rose to me only to give me strength to take care of you, as your father and mother, as you are alone.” You must understand that my grandmother had become a widow at the young age of 22 years and she had one daughter, that is my mother. Mai also told her, “Malai that you are not alone and I am fully supporting you and that is the reason why Baba gave me this rose.” That old lady did not say that Baba gave her Prasad but instead she said that Baba gave her strength through that flower to take care of her widowed daughter. She was to perform the role of the mother as well as the father for her daughter.

Tell me, should you not have devotion like this towards the Lord? While this incident was taking place, one of the relatives amongst them asked Mai, “Mai and Malutai, you always come doing ‘dandavat’ (rolling) into Shirdi, but what about those people who permanently stay in this village? It is not possible for them to do it everyday.” Mai responded, “It is correct, we come once in a while and therefore we need to do ‘dandavat’ in Shirdi. If people who stay here permanently start doing it, how will they do their daily work and do Baba’s seva?” See how balanced her thoughts were. Seeing this, some of the people staying in Shirdi asked her whether they should also do ‘dandavat’ in Shirdi every day as Baba has treaded on this soil, and she responded that this would be silly as they would then not be able to perform Baba’s work. We need to do ‘dandavat’ in Shirdi because we come once in a while but you serve Baba every day. Your bowing down to Baba once in the morning would suffice. Please understand that this was a very simple and uneducated lady, not even a graduate but she teaches us how to follow the footsteps of Sai’s bhaktas. This was only because she had made Ram her Prabhu. Right until her dying moment, her Vitthal, her Sai and her chanting of Ram Raksha was never missed. My grandmother used to chant Ram Raksha 108 times a day. She never missed it except on one occasion. I had an elder sister. Her name was Koyna. She passed away at the age of 12. Her friend is sitting here and I am sure she will be saddened by my narration. My sister was my dearest friend but she passed away at the young age of 12. She was the dearest grandchild of my grandmother. When the news of her death was known in our house, Mai had gone out. She hurriedly came back and saw that my grandmother was hysterical whereas my mother was dumbfounded. My sister had passed away suddenly. My mother was dumbfounded she would not cry, she would not even speak to anybody. She was more like a statue, whereas my grandmother was hysterical and she was banging her head and crying.

At that stage, Mai walked in. All the ladies and neighbours had gathered. Mai was about to cry but on seeing the condition of my mother and grandmother, in a moment she controlled herself. She put one hand on her daughter’s shoulder and the other on her granddaughter’ s and erect at the age of 80, she sat next to them knowing that both of them were full of sorrow and the need of the hour was to give support to both these ladies. Not only this, she also realized that today my daughter, Mali would not be in a mental frame of mind to chant her Ram Raksha 108 times and that this determination of hers should not be missed. It was night time and people had already taken away the body of my sister. The near and dear ones had stayed back and at night my grandmother suddenly banged her head, cursed herself that because of the sorrow of her granddaughter she was not able to chant Ram Raksha 108 times but at that moment Mai told her daughter, “My child do not worry. Your Ram Raksha has been chanted by me.” Tell me, even in that moment of sorrow, Mai had the presence of mind and concern for her daughter that she did not miss the chanting of Ram Raksha. Tell me, Mai also was full of sorrow for she had lost her fourth generation daughter who was only 12 years old. She must have wailing too but she realized that on one hand was the girl’s mother whose heart had turned to stone and was dumbfounded and her grandmother had become hysterical. Who would take care of these two ladies if she herself became emotional and that is why she had to be the pillar of strength for these two ladies and at the same time had to take care of her daughter’s chanting of Ram Raksha, 108 times. Even in this extreme moment of sorrow, she did not leave her Ram. In my grandmother’s sorrow on that day, I had missed my Ram but the sorrow was so great that it was pardonable. But her Ram was always with her, He did not leave her and that is why Ram himself ensured that her mother completed the chanting of Ram Raksha. She never missed this chanting all throughout her life. Next day onwards she continued chanting her Ram Raksha.

One of her lady relatives who came to meet her the next day said, “Bai, (during those days it was common to address a lady as “Bai”) You chant Ram Raksha 108 times every day, all of you are such staunch devotees of Lord Vitthal and Saibaba, then how did your granddaughter pass away like this?” My grandmother responded, “Bai, when my granddaughter was born did you come and ask me as to why Ram gave her birth. You never asked this question then. When she literally fell into the valley, when going to Pune our car had stopped at Duke’s Nose and at that time she bent over to look and she went tumbling down into the valley. Then my Ram had saved her. Had you asked this question then? No, you did not ask So please do not ask this question now. He has done what is apt. I am soaked in the sorrow of my daughter and you have no such sorrow. I am only praying to the Lord Almighty that you should not experience such sorrow.” See how magnanimous this lady was. Her faith on God did not get shaken a bit and that is why her life was pristine. She had the good fortune of seeing her great grandson, Pauras. When Pauras was born, my grandmother came happily, by that time Mai had passed away. My grandmother had become a great grandmother with great joy she came to meet him. She took the child in her lap and kissed him. Then my wife had gone for her first delivery to her mother’s place, after she came back my grandmother would bathe the great grandchild every day. Even though she was 80 years old she would bathe him everyday, and Pauras would bathe with her for almost an hour with her. Till about he was about 5 years old, his great grandmother would still bathe him and he would play with water, putting water from one bucket to another, and they had all the freedom to do it.

The day when Shakambari, my daughter, was born, she was born at Breach Candy Hospital. When a boy is born the ward boys expect a lot of money and sweets from the relatives sitting out and they are not used to getting money when a girl is born. This hospital was for the elite class but my father was the Head of the Department of Biochemistry in Breach Candy Hospital. In fact, he was the first Marathi person in fact the first Indian person, earlier they had only Europeans and Parsis. The senior most wardboy who was old refused to go out and tell that a girl was born because he did not expect people to give money. However, when the relatives heard that a girl was born, they were jumping with joy and distributed a lot of money. In fact, my father-in-law, who is sitting here, was a witness to this, my father was elated and when he said that they have got back the girl they lost, all became euphoric. The celebration was thousand times more than that of a boy being born. My father came out and gave away all the money he had in his wallet. The senior most wardboy started crying as he missed out on all the money being gifted, people would generally give just Rs. 100/ but here all their pockets are emptied. When my grandmother came to know of this, she very peacefully went to my mother, took her close and said to her, “Aru ( as she would call her, her name was Arundhati) Look, Lord had taken away our daughter (my sister) but He has given you a daughter. As I mentioned to you, the Lord never forsakes anyone. Let me tell you that getting angry with the Lord is not right. From today onwards, you must shun this anger as He has blessed us with such a cute child. One needs to have a little patience, endurance as one does not know what is in store in the future.” You will see that the first thing that this lady did was to pacify her daughter and help her to shed her anger, as now she has got not a granddaughter but her daughter. She could regained her happiness only because her Ram was her Prabhu in her life.

There is one story in Sai Satcharitra which is extremely touching. Truly, I must tell you this story. Hemadpant sees a sannyasi in his dreams and he tells him that he would visit his place next day for lunch. However, Hemadpant recognizes that this sannyasi is none other than Sai Himself. Next day was the festival of Holi Poornima. Hemadpant is confused as to whether he should narrate this dream of Saibaba to others. However, he mentions it to his wife as he knows that she will believe him. She was a simple, devout lady. She asks why would Baba leave Shirdi on such an auspicious day leaving the delicious spread of food and come to our house? While we would make just about one sweet at our place. However, Hemadpant insisted to her that she should take a little more rice as that would not be a burden to him and she also accedes to his request. By noon, the plates are laid and the food is served, all relatives including the sons-in-law are ready to eat and at the centre of this layout is placed a plate by Hemadpant for his Sai. For he has a firm belief that his Baba will definitely come as he had mentioned in his dreams, He would visit him in some form or the other. He in fact said to his wife that I am not saying that Baba will come physically but I am sure he will come in some form. Whoever comes at this time, I shall consider him to be Baba. Honestly, I am extremely touched at this point where Hemadpant expressed that whoever comes at that time, whether it be a man, dog or even a mosquito, would be treated as Saibaba. Whoever comes would be his Baba himself even a whiff of wind coming in would be considered as Baba by Hemadpant.

That was his firm belief. While it was late, all the people were dressed in ‘saula’ (silk dhoti) and awaiting the prayers to start their food. During those days, people would not have their food on holy Poornima day without wearing a ‘saula’. Hemadpant was about to start the prayer, Baba’s plate was also laid for Hemadpant was sure Baba would come, just then somebody knocked on the door. Hemadpant went ahead to open the door of the Sai Nivas which exists even today with the same door, the same structure. Believe me, it is the same edifice that you see at Bandra. He opened the door and two people who were not Hindus came in and seeing the people having food apologized for having come during their meal time. Saying this, they handed over a box requesting him to keep the same with him. They did not tell the contents of the box but Hemadpant had firm belief that his Sai would come. When he opened the box he found that there was a frame with a very beautiful idol of Saibaba. The frame was then put on the seat where Hemadpant expected Saibaba to have his meal and even today this is put on a seat in the same manner. While it was past lunch time and at noon the ‘holi’ (holy fire) also had been lit. The situation was such that the relatives may ridicule him but Hemadpant did not get shaken at all, this was only possible because of his firm faith on Saibaba and Baba also gives a prompt response to this firm faith by coming in the form of that frame and placing himself on the seat for having a meal at his place. Hemadpant assures later that on each Holi Poornima day this idol will get served by me in the same manner. When did this happen? This happened in the year 1916. Before Baba shed his mortal coil. Baba sent his idol to Hemadpant only and no one else. Please remember that Baba’s idol was never done before that. There were only photos and frames. This is the first idol that has been done during the lifetime of Baba.

We must consider ourselves fortunate that even today we can get darshan of this idol at Hemadpant’s place. We must remember this well. It is touching to know that Hemadpant followed the path of devotion without having an iota of doubt as to whether Baba is lying to him or whether or not his dream would be true. He was firm that his Baba was going to come and this faith of Hemadpant compelled Saibaba to come to Sai Nivas and stay there and later the same situation was created by Meenatai. She earnestly believed that my Bappa is the only One, no one else and that He is my beloved, also my dear child and also my Lord. How much she cared for me? One day you won’t believe but I was bitten by an insect. She promptly got up, went inside and got a Betnovate tube and gave it to her husband, Appa, to apply it on the insect bite. She told him that once I had applied Betnovate I would feel better. One day she felt that my feet were warm while doing namaskar. Quickly she went inside made some sandalwood paste and said, “Oh Lord, I am applying some sandalwood paste.” She would be concerned about the smallest of things about me. She would offer fried slices of brinjal and what pains she would take to select the brinjal, she would also ensure that the slices were cut in a particular manner and they are fried in a particular manner. In spite of my being full, she would always feel that I had eaten less and it is amazing the way she knew my appetite and always felt that I have eaten less. That is why she could authoritatively say that Sai is my mother and Aniruddha is my father, but my dearest friend is this handsome ‘saavala’ Aniruddha. She would say that this ‘saavala’ (dark profile) is in fact my child, this dear little one is my child. And that is why all of you have seen that in a span of one year I lit the funeral pyre for the last rites of my father in February, for my mother who expired in May, and for my mother who gave birth to my mission, Meena vaini.

As her eldest son, I performed her last rites. I accepted three major sorrows in one year – my parents who gave birth to me and my mother, who initiated my mission It was for her, in her house and for her devotion that I had to stop playing hide and seek and manifest myself. Such was her stature for me, similar to that of Yashodamata, the one who cared for me, I performed her last rites too. Chetan, her son, also lit the funeral pyre but I as her eldest son lit it first. Why could she become my mother? In the true sense she was an ascetic, she required no strength from me. Whatever strength I blessed her with, she distributed to others. She never kept back anything for herself. But some people have misused it which we have seen. She neither kept back anything for herself nor did she ask for anything. “Nako Golueeche loni, nako Dwarkeche hire Maj havai phakta Deva, phakta tuje hone ||

She would say that I do not want the butter of Gokul or the diamonds of Dwarka. I only want to be yours, only yours my Lord. I do not want anything else. She would put a black dot on me considering me to be her son, she further says that with it she herself has become dark. However, those of you who would have seen her body being brought home would have seen that the fair lady had become dark, as dark as her Lord Vitthal and then when her mother caressed her on her head, she got back her radiant personality. Each word of hers always came true. She was constantly striving to find her life’s lamp to do the aarti of the Lord. She herself became the aarti. She, in fact lived the Sai Satcharitra all through her life. She quarreled, fought, no one could beat her in it, but all this fighting was because He did not come, my child has not come, my Lord has not come. As soon as she heard the footsteps of the Lord her hustle and bustle would start and she would be in all readiness for His divine feet and that is the reason why Hemadpant himself showed her the 32nd sign of Sai. He indeed told her that she was correct and showed the 32nd sign of the Lord. We get one reference in the Sai Satcharitra of 32 and this reference of 32 was proved by Meenatai to the world. What was unknown, was a secret to the world was told by Hemadpant to his daughter, his daughter-in- law and the moment she saw the 32nd sign, her life was fulfilled, she achieved everything. In today’s world, we need to be guided by these devotees in Sai Satcharitra, looking at Nanasaheb Chandorkar, Dasganu, Mhalsapati, Bayjabai we need to progress and it is for us to decide as to how we should lead our lives. To make Ram our Prabhu of our lives our guide is the Sai Satcharitra.

HARI OM