WONDEROUS SAINT SRI SAIBABA-PART 9

BY PUJYA SRI NARASIMHASWAMY JI

FANATIC LEARNS A LESSON

Sri Sai Baba had devotees belonging to all races, and Invariably all felt quite at case in his presence. He advised people to advance along path congenial to themselves; and invariably, he dissuaded intolerance. Sometimes he pronounced or got some one to pronounce fatia over Hindu offerings also. There was , as a rule , no sharp distinction or antagonism between the devotion of Hindu and Mohammedans to him. There were, however, some exceptions. One of these, Judge Saheb mentions in his reminiscences.
"About 1916 two "Rohillas" came to Shirdi and became devoted to Sri Sai Baba. The elder one was constantly with Baba and used to read the Koran at night, especially sitting at the feet of Baba".

Music in Mosque :
"He declared that Baba was Paygambar, (i.e. Prophet) and showed great reverence. At times he said that though Baba was Paygambar, he was still teaching heterodox doctrines. Baba's allowing the din of noon day Arati with its music in the mosque, allowing himself to be worshipped as God there and partaking of food offered to idols were highly heterodox and the rohilla mentioned his objections to Baba. But Baba only smiled and said, "All that (i.e. other Gods) is Allah". This was one of Baba's moods. In some moods, he would say: "We are all the creatures of God-Allah". In other moods, he would say: "I am God".

Taught a Lesson :
"This, of course, was extreme heterodoxy in the Rohilla's view. So one day he declared that, although Sri Sai Baba was Paygambar, yet his doctrine was wrong and so he would make short work of Baba and his doctrine. As Sri Sai Baba was going out walking, the Rohilla came up from behind with a stout club in his right hand and reached striking distance. Baba turned towards him and seizing his left wrist cast a glance at him, beneath which the poor Rohilla covered and sank like a lump of lead, powerless to lift his club or even to lift himself. Baba left him there and went away. Meanwhile as he could not get up, that man had to be raised up with some one's help. In a few days, he took leave of Baba and left Shirdi".

"Of course, intolerance was not confined to this Muslim devotee. There were some Hindu devotees, who exhibited the same trait but Baba always discountenanced it".