COMPILED BY:SAI BHAKT VINNY
Leela 66
R.B.Purandare was in the railway division of the government. He applied for leave once, which was accepted and granted along with passes for the journey. Joyfully, he made all kinds of preparations as he was going to Shirdi to see his Guru. A day before his departure, his superior officer called him and requested him to cancel the trip as there was an impending workmen's strike. Purandare was acutely disappointed. How could he survive this blow?? "I would rather die, than to cancel my trip to Shirdi. Any other place of visit, I could do without", he thought. He was adamant to leave as planned, though his officer had promised to sanction leave later, after the crisis had blown over. That night, Baba appeared in his dream and angrily said, " Don't you dare come to Shirdi tomorrow ." Purandare obeyed and attended office as usual, the next day. This pleased the officer and the doubt that he harboured, that Purandare was in league with the strikers also vanished. A month later, the officer asked him to take leave and go to Shirdi. When he went to the Dwarkamai, Baba said, " Don't go mad. We have as yet, many responsibilities to discharge. Stay at home and chant My name. Am I not with you all the time ???"
Leela 67
Baba asked Purandare to build a house, for himself and his family, at his own expense. Purandare, with great difficulty, bought land in the desolate Bandra suburb. He started construction, but was plagued by severe headaches. Unable to bear it anymore, he wrote to Baba, pleading that, instead of giving him such unbearable pain, He had better put and end to his life. This letter he gave Dr. Pillai, with the request to give it to Baba. Upon the receipt of the letter, Baba's heart melted and He sent some Udi and snuff like powder in a small packet. He asked Purandare to inhale it, and Purandare did just that and the headache was gone. A few days later, he wrote to Baba, asking Him when he should do 'Gruha-Pravesh'. Baba replied, " You may perform 'Gruha - Pravesh' on Thursday. I too will come along with you."
So, on Thursday, Purandare made 'naivedya' for Baba. Then with Baba's photograph clasped to his chest, he proceeded to the house. Being rather poor, he couldn't have an elaborate 'Pooja' and riuals. As long as Baba's photograph was there first with naivedya, everything would go well, he thought. To his surprise, as he was walking past the Datta Mandir, he saw Baba there. Baba accompanied him to the new house, till Purandare reverentially placed Baba's photograph on as 'aasan' and then vanished.
