|| Aum Sai Ram || Aum Sai Para Brahmanaa Namah ||
“If Baba accepts a devotee, He follows him and stands by him, day and night, at his home or abroad. Let the devotee go anywhere he likes, Baba is there ahead of him in some form, in an inconceivable manner. The following story illustrates this.
Gaya Trip
Some time after Kakasaheb Dixit was introduced to Sai Baba, he decided to perform the thread (Upanayan) ceremony of his eldest son, Babu, at Nagpur. At about the same time, Nanasaheb Chandorkar decided to perform the marriage ceremony of his eldest son, at Gwalior. Both Dixit and Chandorkar came to Shirdi and lovingly invited Baba for these functions. Baba asked them to take Shama, as His representative. When He was pressed to come in person, Baba told them to take Shama with them and said, “After doing Banaras and Prayag, We would be ahead of Shama.” Now, mark these words for they show Baba’s all-pervasiveness.
After taking the permission of Baba, Shama decided to go to Nagpur and Gwalior for these functions and ceremonies, and then to Kashi, Prayag and Gaya. Appa Kote made up his mind to accompany him. They both went first to Nagpur for the thread ceremony. Kakasaheb Dixit gave Shama Rs. 200/- for his expenses. Then, they went to Gwalior for the marriage ceremony. There, Nanasaheb Chandorkar gave Shama Rs. 100/- and his Vyahi (relative) Mr. Jather gave him also Rs. 100/-. Then, Shama went to Kashi, and then to Ayodhya. He was well received in Jather’s beautiful temple of Laxmi-Narayan at Kashi (Varanasi or Banaras) and in the Ram-Mandir at Ayodhya by Jathar’s manager. They (Shama and Kote) stayed for 21 days in Ayodhya and two months in Kashi (Banaras). Then, they left for Gaya. In the train they felt a little uneasy on hearing that, plague was prevailing in Gaya.
At night they alighted at Gaya station and stayed in the Dharmshala. In the morning, the Gayawala (the Priest who arranges for the lodging and boarding of the pilgrims) came there and said, “The pilgrims have already started, you better make haste.” Shama casually asked him, whether there was plague in Gaya. “No” said the Gayawala. “Please come without any fear or anxiety and see yourself.” Then, they went with him and stayed in his house, which was a big and spacious Wada. Shama was pleased with the accommodation provided to him; but what pleased him most, was the beautiful big portrait of Baba, fixed in the central and front portion of the building. On seeing this portrait, Shama was overwhelmed with emotion. He remembered Baba’s words, viz., “After doing Kashi and Prayag, We would be ahead of Shama,” and burst into tears. His hairs stood on end, his throat was choked and he began to sob. The Gayawala thought that, he was afraid of plague prevailing there, and therefore, was crying. But, Shama enquired of him, how he got Baba’s portrait there. He replied that he had 200 or 300 agents working at Manmad and Puntambe, for looking after the convenience of the pilgrims to Gaya and from them he heard about Baba’s fame. Then, about 12 years ago he went to Shirdi and took Baba’s darshan. There, he was attracted by Baba’s portrait, hung in Shama’s house and with Baba’s permission, Shama gave it to him. This was the same portrait. Shama then remembered, this incident. The Gayawala’s joy knew no bounds, when he learnt that the same Shama, who obliged him before, was his guest now. Then, they both exchanged love and service and were most delighted and happy. The Gayawala gave him a royal welcome. He was a very rich man. He sat in a palanquin; and made Shama ride an elephant and attended to all his comforts and conveniences.
The moral of the story is that: Baba’s words came out true to the letter, and unbounded was His love towards the devotees.”
– SHRI SAI SATCHARITRA (Chapter XLVI)
|| Aum Sai Sharnam || May Peace Be To All ||
|| AUM SAI SHARNAM || 
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