Lt Col. M.B.
Nimbalkar(Retd.)
From his very
early days in Shirdi, Sri Baba used to serve the distressed and poor. In the
beginning, He used to go round Shirdi village and treat the sick persons:
"In the
beginning, He used to act as a physician and after examination prescribe
medicines. His treatment was very effective and he became famous as a
physician" (46)
"He did
not charge any fees and brought health to the poor and helpless. With his
effective treatment, He became well-known in that part of the country as a
great physician."(47) –
Chapter
7
Sai baba not
only used to cure their diseases but sometimes draw those on his own body. Once
Dadasaheb Khaparde's young son while at Shirdi suffered from a very high fever.
At that time, Shirdi village had an epidemic of bubo., plague. Naturally the
boy's mother got very worried and holding Babas feet started requesting His
permission to return to her native place Amaravati. Thereupon:
"Baba said
in soft words, "The sky is full of clouds, It will rain soon and the crops
will grow. Then the clouds will disappear and the sky will be clear."
(106)
Then, raising His Kafani (long robe) upto
the waist, He said, Why are you afraid? and displayed to all those present four
buboes appeared on His body" (107).
"There were four buboes of the size
of a hen's egg all round and pointing at them He said, "Look! H... for
your sake I have to suffer this burden of yours,."(108) Chapter 7 Sai
charita
Sai Baba not
only used to cure the diseases of the distressed persons but also used to ward
off their calamities sometimes even at the risk of His own life. Once an
ironsmith's wife was blowing the belows. Being under the stress of her
husband's anger, she forgot about her child in her arms. The restless child
slipped from her arms and fell into the burning furnace. Sai Baba, being
omniscient, learnt this and immediately thrust his hand in his own dhuni (sacred
fire kept continuously burning in Dwarkamai) and thus saved the child by
pulling it out at that distant place. As a result, Sai Baba's hand was heavily
burnt but He was hardly aware of it.
After some
time, Sai Baba stopped giving medicines and started using Udi (holy ask from
His dhuni) for curing diseases. For instance in Ch 33, He relieved Nanasaheb
Chandarkar's daughter Maanatai from labour pains and in ch, 34. he is said to
have cured chronic bone ulcer of a Malegaon Doctor's nephew by prescribing Udi
only. This Udi even today is found to be a most effective cure or a panacea for
all diseases.
Sometimes, Sai
Baba used to cure His devotee's diseases by using His superhuman powers. For
instance in Ch 13, He is said to a have cured Bhimaji patils tuberculosis by
hitting him on his back with a cane and by rolling a stone up and down his
chest in a dream. Similarly in Ch 34, He cured Dr. Pillay's guinea-worms by
making Abdul accidentally step on his outstretched leg.
In the
beginning, Sai Baba not only used to give medicines to the sick persons, but
used to Himself serve them in case there was nobody else to do so. later on,
when He grew old and there were many devotees to assist him, He used to get
this service done through them. Once a woman suffering from grievous melodies
came to Sai Baba who asked Bhima Bai to accommodate in her house, so Bhima Bai
said, "Baba! She is suffering from grievous maladies. How can I accomodate
her in my house?" Thereupon Baba said, "What if she is suffering from
grievous maladies? she is my sister-closest sister. Take her to your
house". Naturally Bhima Bai took the women to her house.
Similarly when
Balaji Patel Nevaskar requested Baba's permission to return to his village, Sai
Baba said, "Dagdu Bhan is sick. Look after him and then go." Dagdu
Bhan was suffering from black leprosy, Balaji Patil used to remove worms from
his body, clean all excretions and bathe him clean. This process continued for
some time. Later on Dagdu Bhan died and Baba permitted Balaji to return to his
village. Similarly in Ch 32, to a lady who had come to Kaka Kelkar and after
seeing Baba wanted to keep a fast for three days, Baba advised to give up her
fasts and feed herself and Kaka Kalkar's family sumptuongly by evoking puran
polies (wheat bread stuffed with sugar and grinded pulse), since Kaka
Kelkar's wife was not supposed to cook being under her monthly menstruation
period. Thus Sai Baba stressed to the lady the merits of assisting others in
need over keeping religious fasts.
In our
scriptures, the importance of feeding the poor and hungry is stressed
repeatedly: "As amongst the six flavours viz, sweet, sour, salty, pungent,
astrengent and bitter, the flavour of Varana (a highly tasteful Maharastrian
dish of pulse) is the best, the merit of feeding the hungry is the best"
(21)
"At twelve
O'clock in the noon, one gets uneasy due to hunger. One who realises this in case
of others also, is a virtuous person." (14)
"The
householder should please a guest with meals, whether appearing at reasonable
or unreasonable times. A householder who sends back a guest without offering
him food is certainly inviting miserable life after death in the next
birth." (17).
"One
should feed those afflicted with grievous diseases/maladies, blind, lame, deaf
and distressed persons first and one's own relatives afterwards" (23).
Chapter 23
That is why Sai
Baba, time and again, used to erect a big fireplace in the open space in front
of Dwarkamai and Himself cooking the food in a big vessel used to distribute it
to the poor and distressed persons, similarly for those arriving from
outstations to meet Him He circulating begging bowl for the purpose, later,
after AD 1910, plenty of dishes full of rich and varied food started pouring in
as offerings to Baba and there was no need for Baba to cook it Himself.
Sai Baba's
compassion was not just for human beings only but also for beasts, birds and
small creatures like worms and ants also. Once a small dog being bit by a mad
dog started chasing bigger dogs. The villagers therefore with sticks in their
hands wanted to kill it. The poor little dog ran through the lanes and by lanes
of the village and at last entering Dwarkamai hid behind Sai Baba sitting
there. The villagers requested Baba to hand over the dog to them as it was mad
and they wanted to kill it. On this Baba said, "Fools! get away from here,
why should you kill this dumb creature?" and thus saved the poor dogs
life. No wonder Hemadpant the author of Shri Sai Sat Charita in Ch 23 says:
"Sai Baba,
the mother, looked after those who had no owner or pair... Anything
rotten, fallen or wearied found repose in the Masjid." (110).
Sai Baba's
getting His hands and feet massaged daily with ghee (clarified butter) from the
leper bhagoji daily and getting His outstretched legs pressed by His devotees
(both males and females) was only meant to benefit them and to teach them the
merits of serving others. Sai baba did not require such services nor did He
want to show His greatness thereby.
In short, in Sai Baba's teachings, service of the poor and distress edhadan important place. According to Him, this was a better method of worshipping God than keeping religious fasts and vows. In this context, I am reminded of Swami Vivekananda's following words:
“Do you like to see God
Face to face
'Here, in this "World,
'With these eyes?
Serve a man in distress"
And see God
In his smiting face
"If anyone does any evil unto you do
not retaliate. If you can do anything} do something good to others
."
-Shirdi Sai
BaBa