|| Aum Sai Ram || Aum Sai Para Brahmanaa Namah ||
“In short, always chanting the name of the Guru, and meditating on Him, enables us to see Him in all beings, and confers eternal Bliss on us. The following story will illustrate this.
Kakasaheb’s Doubt and Anandrao’s Vision
It is well-known, that Sai Baba had enjoined Kakasaheb Dixit to read daily two works of Shri Eknath: (1) Bhagwat and (2) Bhavartha Ramayan. Kakasaheb read these daily, while Baba was living and he followed the practice, even after Baba’s passing away.
Once in Kaka Mahajani’s house in Choupati, Mumbai, Kakasaheb was reading Eknathi Bhagwat in the morning. Madhavrao Deshpande, alias Shama and Kaka Mahajani were then present and listened attentively to the portion read, viz., the 2nd Chapter, 11th Skandha of the book. Therein the nine Nathas or Siddhas of the Rishabha family, viz., Kavi, Hari, Antariksha, Prabuddha, Pippalayan, Avirhotra, Drumil, Chamas and Karabhajan expounded the principles of the Bhagwat Dharma to King Janak. The latter asked, all the nine Nathas, most important questions and each of them answered them satisfactorily. The first, i.e., Kavi explained, what is Bhagwat Dharm; Hari, the characteristics of a Bhakta (devotee); Antariksha, what is Maya; Prabuddha, how to cross Maya; Pippalayan, what is Para-Brahma; Avirhotra, what is Karma; Drumil, the incarnations of God and their deeds; Chamas, how a non-devotee fares after death; Karabhajan, the different modes of worship of God in different ages. The substance of all the exposition was that, in this Kali age, the only means of liberation was the remembrance of Hari’s (Lord’s) or Guru’s feet. After the reading was over, Kakasaheb said in a despondent tone to Madhavrao and others: “How wonderful is the discourse of the nine Nathas on Bhakti or devotion. But, at the same time, how difficult it is to put it into practice! The Nathas were perfect, but is it possible for fools like us to attain the devotion as delineated by them? We won’t get it even after several births, then, how are we to get salvation? It seems that there is no hope for us.” Madhavrao did not like this pessimistic attitude of Kakasaheb. He said, “It is a pity that one who by his good luck got such a jewel (Guru) as Baba, should cry out so disparagingly, if he has unwavering faith in Baba, why should he feel restless? The Bhakti of the Nathas may be strong and wonderful, but is not ours’ loving and affectionate? And has not Baba told us authoritatively that remembering and chanting Hari’s and Guru’s name confers salvation? Then where is the cause for fear and anxiety?” Kakasaheb was not satisfied with Madhavrao’s explanation. He continued to be anxious and restless, the whole day, thinking and brooding over how to get the powerful Bhakti of the Nathas. Next morning, the following miracle took place:
One gentleman, named Anandrao Pakhade came there in search of Madhavrao. The reading of the Bhagwat was then going on. Mr. Pakhade sat near Madhavrao and was whispering something to him. He was mentioning in low tone, his dream-vision. As there was some interruption in the reading by this whispering, Kakasaheb stopped the reading, and asked Madhavrao what the matter was. The latter said, “Yesterday you expressed your doubt, now here is the explanation of it, hear Mr. Pakhade’s vision, explaining the characteristic of devotion and showing that the devotion, in the form of bow to, or worshipping of, Guru’s feet is sufficient.” All were anxious to hear the vision specially Kakasaheb. At their suggestion Mr. Pakhade began to relate the vision as follows:
I was standing in a deep sea in waist-deep water. There, I saw Sai Baba all of a sudden. He was sitting on a beautiful throne studded with diamonds, with His Feet in water. I was most pleased and satisfied with the Form of Baba. The vision was so realistic that I never thought, that it was a dream. Curiously, enough, Madhavarao was also standing there. He said to me feelingly, “Anandrao, fall at Baba’s Feet.” I rejoined, “I also wish to do so, but His Feet are in water, how can I place my head on them? I am helpless.” Hearing this he said to Baba, “Oh Deva, take out Your Feet, which are under water.” Then, Baba immediately took out His Feet. I caught them without delay and bowed to them. On seeing this, Baba blessed me saying, “Go now, you will attain your welfare, there is no cause for fear and anxiety.” He also added, “Give a silk-bordered Dhotar to my Shama, you will benefit, thereby.”
In compliance with Baba’s order, Mr. Pakhade brought the Dhotar and requested Kakasaheb to hand it over to Madhavrao; but the latter refused to accept it, saying that unless Baba gave a hint or suggestion for acceptance, he would not accept it. Then, after some discussion Kakasaheb decided to cast lots. It was the practice of Kakasaheb to cast lots in all matters in doubt and to abide by the decision, as given in the picked up chit. In this particular case, two chits, on one of which was written ‘To accept’ and on other ‘To reject‘, were placed at the Feet of Baba’s picture and a child was asked to pick one of them. The ‘To accept’ chit was picked up and the Dhotar was accepted by Madhavrao. In this way both Anandrao and Madhavrao were satisfied and Kakasaheb’s difficulty was solved.
This story exhorts us to give respect to the words of other saints, but at the same time asks us to have full faith in our Mother, i.e., the Guru, and abide by His instructions: for He knows our welfare better than any other person. Carve out on your heart, the following words of Baba, “There are innumerable saints in this world, but ‘Our father’ (Guru) is the Father (Real Guru). Others might say many good things, but we should never forget our Guru’s words. In short, love your Guru whole-heartedly, surrender to Him completely and prostrate yourselves before Him reverentially; and then you will see that there is no sea of the mundane existence before you to cross, there is no darkness for the sun.” ”
– SHRI SAI SATCHARITRA (Chapter XLV)
|| Aum Sai Sharnam || May Peace Be To All ||
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