AMBROSIA IN SHIRDI-PART 3

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

Leela 3

"I forgot my vow to Baba," thought Govinda Rao Garde of Nagpur. He recalled, how his nephew was suffering from some disease when he visited him. At that time, Govinda Rao vowed that if his nephew re­covered, he would send him to Shirdi for Baba's darshan. The nephew did recover in two days. But he forgot his vow, although his nephew visited him three times, hoping that he would remember, after seeing him hale and hearty.Some time later, the nephew visited his uncle only to find that he was sick with the same disease. Since it was a Thursday, all the family members gathered to­gether and prayed and sang Bhajans. They entreated Baba for his recovery. That day, he was well enough to attend the pooja (worship) when he was reminded of his vow.He vowed again saying, "Baba if you cure me, I and my nephew will come for your darshan." He found that he recovered quickly and hurriedly went with his nephew to Shirdi to thank Baba.In Sai Satcharitra Ch.36 describes the story of two gentlemen from Goa and their fulfillment of their vows.

Leela 4.

Govinda Rao Oak lived in Andheri, Bombay. Once he and his friend, Krishanji Agasthe went to Shirdi. They had Baba's darshan and stayed for two to three days. On the day of their departure, both of them pur­chased a photograph of Baba. Neatly they tied the pho­tographs in a bundle. On the way home, Govinda Rao was remiss, as he had not purchased a photograph for his brother. On reaching home, they opened the packet containing the photographs. To their utter surprise there were three photographs although they had paid for two. Mentally, he thanked Baba for this Leela and gave his brother one copy as Baba's prasad.

Leela 5

At every opportunity, Chidambar R.K. Gadgil vis­ited Shirdi for Baba's darshan. This was easy at first, as he was the Personal Assistant to the Collector of Ahmadnagar district. Then he worked as a Mamlatdar in Sinnar. Time and again he came to Shirdi and took Baba's darshan.

Then he got transferred to a distant place, with the order 'to join immediately'. He followed the orders, but with a heavy heart. The journey he took was via Kopargaon yet he could not break his journey, and go to Shirdi. At Kopargaon, he was thinking how 'futile it was, as he could not have Baba's darshan being so close to Shirdi'. Just as he thought this, a packet con­taining Udi was thrown in his lap. He looked out of the window to see who had done this, but could not find anybody. He reverentially picked up the packet and kept it safely. Some time later he got a chance to visit Shirdi when Baba said, "Even though you could not visit Shirdi did I not give you My Udi at Kopargaon?" Gadgil was filled with joy at Baba's love and concern, so he put the Udi in a Talisman and wore it constantly.

"I am absolutely in the power of My devotees and stand by their side. For ever I am hungering after their love and readily answer their call in distress” said Baba to Dada Bhatt (Sai Satcharitra Ch.ll). When Dr. Pandit applied sandal paste to Baba's forehead with love.

WONDEROUS SAINT SRI SAIBABA-PART 24

BY PUJYA SRI NARASIMHASWAMY JI

GAVE SON FROM HIS OWN BODY

SRI SAI BABA'S REBUKE

We shall close this Santchamatkareka aspect of Sri Sai Baba's life with two more instances:

A lady from Sholapur had lived with her husband, Sikharam Aurangabadkar, for 27 years and never conceived even once. She came to Shirdi and requested Madhav Rao Deshpande, the familiar attendant on Baba to intercede with him to give her his blessing to "shake off the sterile curse". Madhav Rao waited for an opportunity when Baba would be in a highly pleased mood.One day after dinner, as Madhav Rao washed Baba's food-soiled hand, the latter pinched his cheek. Madhav at once feigned anger and said :

M : Baba! Is it proper for you to pinch me?
Baba : Arre! Shama! During the 72 generations that you were with me I never pinched you till now and yet you resent my touching you!
M : Baba, we want a God to give us only good and sweet things, Paradise, etc.
Baba : Yes, Indeed, I have come for that purpose, Loose and rolling :
Baba took his seat. Seeing him in such a pleased mood' M. introduced the lady to him and she gave Baba a coconut and scented sticks.
M: Baba, this lady has no issue. Bless her and give her the coconut.
Baba took up the coconut and shook it. It was dry. The kernel was loose and rolling inside.
B : Shama! This is rolling.She what it says.
M : The woman prays that a child should be similarly quickening and rolling within her womb. Pray bless her and give her the coconut.
B: Will the coconut (if given to her) turn into a baby? How silly of people to fancy such things!
M: Never mind. I know the virtue of the gift. Give her the coconut.
B : Shama, break the coconut,
M : No. Give it to her entire.
The parley went on for a while, Baba repeatedly ordering the breaking, and Madhav Rao pleading for the gift entire. Finally Baba yielded and gave her the coconut and said : "She will have issue in 12 months". And she had it within twelve months,

Delay in a Vow :
One Narayan Govind Schindhe of Harda had seven daughters but no son. He went to the Datta Temple at Gangapur and vowed that if he should be blessed with a son in the course of one year, he would bring over the child to Datta's feet. A son was born to him and that within the prescribed one year. He delayed fulfilment of his vow from year to year. In 1911, i.e., after seven years of such delay, he came before Baba, who took him to task in rather remarkable language.
Baba looked fiercely at Schindhe and said: What! Are you puffed up? Where was there any male issue in your destined lot? I have given you a son, extracting a son from this body".

Not a Miracle:
Here Sri Sai Baba pointed to his own body. What is one to infer from it? That the male issue of Schindhe was the direct result of Datta's blessing in answer to his prayer; that Sri Sai Baba being one with God or Datta, answered the prayer addressed expressly to God Datta and that though certain predestined conditions in Schindhe's life made no provision for male issue, still Sai through his superhuman powers took out of his own destined (future) lot, a son and transferred that blessing or gift to Schindhe !
What becomes of the earlier answer by Baba to Nana Saheb, that the promise of children was only astrological reading and not a miracle? Are the two statement inconsistent or are they reconcilable. The reader may think it out or wait for an answer.