AMBROSIA IN SHIRDI-PART 36

EXCERPTS INHERITED FROM THE BOOK,"AMBROSIA IN SHIRDI"
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.

AMBROSIA IN SHIRDI-PART 35

EXCERPTS INHERITED FROM THE BOOK,"AMBROSIA IN SHIRDI",
COMPILED BY:SAI BHAKT VINNY




Leela 64
Ramchandra Maharaj was required by his Guru Gadge Maharaj to sponsor a day's expense for the 'yagna' (holy sacrifice) that he was going to perform. Ramchandra Maharaj went to Belapur, and the surrounding places, performing Kirtans. He obtained promises of sums greater than the estimated expenses. So, he was quite carefree. When he went again, a few days later to collect them, he was disappointed. As the money wasn't forthcoming, and the people evaded him. Ramchandra Maharaj was in fix and wondered, how he could fulfill his promise to his Guru. He therefore offered an earnest prayer to Baba for help. The next morning, a devotee brought Rs.100/- and gave it to Ramchandra Maharaj while he was performing 'kirtans'. That was the exact amount that was promised to him. Need it be said that his faith in Baba grew by leaps and bounds!!


Leela 65
Govindrao Chandorkar was Nana's father. He, like his son, was a Deputy Collector and lived in his house' in Kalyan. Once it so happened, that there was some misunderstanding between him and the local Muslims. Upset with this, he told all his family members not to associate with any Muslims. His word was law at home.So, the family distanced themselves from their Muslim friends and neighbours. At that time, Nana was away on tour. When he returned, the family warned him about the turn of events, and informed him of his father's decision. This made Nana quite uncomfortable, as he knew that his father thought that his Guru, Sai Baba, was a Muslim. He racked his brains as to how to convince his father that Baba was neither Hindu nor Muslim, but far above that. He was uncertain of his father's response and he felt that he would rather die than to forsake Baba. Nonetheless, he told his father that he would like to discuss something with him. He couldn't believe his ears when his father said, " My Guru is Sakharam .Maharaj, but he isn't your Guru, and Baba is. So even if Sai Baba is a Muslim, he is still your Guru, and you may most certainly continue worshipping him. There is no objection from me on this." Nana gratefully thanked his father. He was overjoyed and amazed at the way Baba gripped his father's orthodox mind and changed it for the better. What was it that his Guru could not do?? Time and again, Baba has changed people's minds, nay, and their whole life!! Megha, the Gujarati Brahmin was sent to Baba by Hari Vinayak Sathe. But Megha was sure that he would descend into hell, because he would have to prostrate before a 'Yavan'. Baba to him was 'Avindha' (whose ears aren't pierced), living in the Masjid. Megha went to Shirdi because his master forced him to. Reluctantly, he went to Dwarkamai and Baba roared at him saying, "You are a high class Brahmin and I'm the meanest of mean - a Yavan. You will be polluted. So go back this very moment." This was a show of Baba's 'Rudra Roop'. He was waiting to develop Megha spiritually. This He did by working on him mentally and showing him Leela after Leela. Megha, on the other hand, was changed for life. He saw Shiva in the place of Baba, every time he did Arati. With utter devotion and concentration, he stood on one leg with the 'Pancharati' in the right hand and the bell in the left. He did Baba's Arati till his samadhi (death) in 1912. (Sai Satcharitra Ch 28)

AMBROSIA IN SHIRDI-PART 34

EXCERPTS INHERITED FROM THE BOOK,"AMBROSIA IN SHIRDI",
COMPILED BY:SAI BHAKT VINNY


Leela 62
Kaka Dixit wished to purchase some land from Laxman Bhat in Shirdi in 1910. Bhat demanded Rs.200/-, but Dixit was unwilling to pay that amount. He thought that Rs.150/- was a fair bargain. So he set about convincing Bhat. But, Bhat was adamant and Dixit was unwilling to compromise. A long discussion took place between them. That afternoon, Bhat was passing by the Dwarkamai. Baba called him and enquired about the discussion. "What discussion was going on between you and Dixit?" He asked. Bhat told Baba everything. Baba settled the matter by saying, "You may sell the land for Rs.175/-." Bhat went to Dixit to collect the money. Dixit as per his word gave Rs.150/- unknowingly, as he wasn't aware of the agreement between Baba and Bhat. Bhat also did not tell Dixit. He just took the money and went home. At home, he counted once, then again and again, to his surprise it was Rs.175/-, the amount that was settled by Baba. Be it an extra photograph or extra money, Baba sees that His devotees are satisfied.

Leela 63
Although his application for a government loan for Rs.500/- was rejected, a farmer didn't give up. He wanted the loan for a well on his land and so applied again with the same result, a rejection. Finally, he went to Baba for help. Baba patiently heard him, and turning to Nana, asked him to do the needful. Nana was then a collector, Chitnis. Nana said that he would try his best and present the application, but was doubtful about the acceptance. The farmer therefore applied and Nana presented the application to the collector. Nana also told him that a similar application was previously presented, only to be rejected twice. This aroused the curiosity of the collector in charge. He called the farmer and asked him, why he was so adamant. He also asked him to state the reasons clearly. The farmer said, "Sir, I owe Rs.500/-to the government and I am anxious to repay that amount. I can't do this till I have a well to water my lands and thereby get a better yield of crops. I started digging a well, but halfway through, there were huge rocks. These rocks have to be blasted, using dynamite and then removed. The workers stopped mid-way because of this. The work can't be completed. Thus, I can't get water. Without water, I cannot get a good crop. So, I can't sell and repay my debt. So, I pressed the government for this loan, though I have been disappointed twice before." The collector was thoroughly satisfied and the loan was granted.