Blessed are those who were bestowed with Sai's grace to achieve 'Sai Bhakti' in this life To quote His Holiness Shri Bhaktivendanta who said "you cannot understand God by your own endeavour It is only possible if God reveals Himself. For instance when the Sun is out of your sight at night you cannot see it by you torch-light or any light But in the morning you can see the Sun automatically without any torch-light." Similarly it is only due to Sai's grace and as a result of good karmas of one's previous births that one is bestowed with 'Sai Bhakti' in this life Sai Baba Himself often said that let his devotee be at any distance, a thousand koss away from him, He will be drawn to Shirdi, like a sparrow with thread tied to its feet It is Baba's grace that creates wonders in the mind and hearts of His devotees who a-e guided towards higher spiritual levels to enjoy ever lasting peace.

Therefore those of us who are blessed with 'Sai Bhakti' it should be our prime endeavour to spread Sai Bhakti and Sai Devotion amongst others To quote Shri C. Rajagopalachari who while commenting on Adi Sankaracharya's devotional hymns said "The ray of devotion is not different from the ray of knowledge as Jana. When intelligence matures and lodges securely in the mind it becomes wisdom. When wisdom is integrated with life and issues out in action it becomes Bhakti. knowledge when it becomes fully matured is Bhakti. If it does not get transformed into Bhakti such knowledge is useless to itself. To believe that Jana and Bhakti, knowledge and devotion are different from each other is ignorance as Jana and Bhakti are one and the same." To promote Sai Bhakti is to promote Jana and Therefore the removal of Anjana or ignorance.

There are few Saints who have suffered so much for the sake of their Bhaktas as our Sai Nath. Sai's sacrifices for His Bhaktas are supreme. He is the abode of mercy. He has taken on Himself the bubonic plague of His devotees and He even gave away His life our His devotee Shri Tatya Patil. Sai's sufferings are therefore even second to the sufferings of Jesus or sacrifices of Budha. As Written by Hemadripant in Sai Satcharita He was first 'Nirgun' (formless) but on account of devotion of bhaktas Sai was obliged to take form to give "self realisation" to his devotees.

Sai Baba preached "Practical Vedanta" He always said "Sab ka Malik Ek" Sai's teachings are most pertinent to the present context in our country which is strife with religious and communal disharmony. There is no other place in this country other than Shirdi where Hindus and Muslims celebrate their religious festival together in total amicability. Baba never advised the hard ways of penance for attaining "Self realisation" On the other hand Baba wanted every one to do his duties towards his family, society and country and at the same time practise discrimination and disenchantment. Baba never believed in fasts for He expected a person to possess a storng healthy body to help him in his spiritual search for salvation.

The path shown by Sai is the easiest for "God realisation." The kind and merciful Sai Baba said many a time the following sweet words in the Masjid, "He who loves Me most always sees Me. The whole world is desolate to him without Me, he tells no stories but mine. He ceaselessly meditate upon Me and always chants My name, I feel indebted to him who surrenders himself completely to Me and ever remembers Me, I shall repay his debt by giving him salvation. I depend on him who thinks and hunger offering is to me. He who thus comes to Me becomes one with Me just as a river gets to the sea egoism and with no trace of them you should surrender yourself to Me who are seated in your heart".

As in a tape recorder machine with microphone on erases the previous recording on its magnetic tape to replace it with the new voice received by the microphone, the meditation on Sa i obliterates the evil tendencies from the "magnatic tape" of one's mind and fills it with devine qualities. The person definitely get release from the wordly worries from which a great majority of people keep suffering. The person bestowed with Sai Bhakti gets unflinching self confidence. This is a wonderfull state of mind and shows great difference between a person with deep faith and another who lacks it. In adversity while the former is strongly sustained and firmly supported by his inward faith the latter breaks down from intense agony he suffers.

Now to quote another instance from Sai Satcharita, Smt. Radhabai Desmukh went to Sai to obtain a “mantra" to attains spiritual goal Shri Sai Baba told her "Oh, mai my Guru never taught me mantra, so how can I teach you any ? Dont waste your time trying to obtain mantra. Just make me the sole object of your thought and you will attain your spiritual goal. Turn to me and I shall look after you"

We have only to look to Him the Sai Bhakta's mind is so filled with peace that his intellect gets brightened to enable him to see in depth of things and thereby rewarded with boundless joy. This intoxicates his mind and acts as a tonic to his will In short there is hardly any room for feelings of frustration, perplexity or despair in a mind so conditioned by Sai Bhakti.

Ltv. Col G. N. Gopal Krishan

JAIPUR

Shirdi Sai Baba

Before we make an attempt to understand Shirdi Sai Baba, also popularly known as Shirdi Sai Nath, Shirdi Sai Ram, His Avatar, His work and His massage to mankind, lat us know the background, the circumstances and the atmosphere that was prevailing in this ancient land of ours, i.e , India, that is Bharath.

After the historical Kurukshetra battle between Kauravas and Pandavas, our Country remained independent for some centuries till the invasion of Alexander the Great which had its Influence on our Society politically though not spiritually. Then followed foreign attacks which culminated in the establishment of Mogul empire, in other words muslim rule for a period of more than seven centuries and lasted till the advent of British power in our country which was terminated in 1947.

During all these centuries except Muslim and Christian Government, all their predecessors joined in the main stream and were absorbed in the Caste System as it was in vogue in those times. The Muslims and Christians though they ruled and co-existed with our Society, yet they maintained their individuality. The culture that they brought with them had their own influence upon Hinduism and ours on them, thus cross influences pervaded our entire atmosphere.

While such was, is and will be of our Spiritual atmosphere, the administrative system that was introduced by the British Government in our country practically put an end to household worship and Saguna worship of Almighty Lord, God, in the way it is enjoined in Shastras, Smrities and Vedas- In this connection, a sincere, frank and open hearted Indian should accept the hard and unpleasant truth, that our esteemed

Spiritual leaders have confined the knowledge of Spiritual truths within themselves or selected intellectuals & pandits till the advent of Shrr Rama Krishna Paramahamsa and the patriot Saint of Swami Vivekenanda who boldly, sincerely revealed those truths to one all irrespective of Caste and System and broke the stranglehold upon Hindus The worship of Paramatma was freed from cumbersome rituals, Mantras Tantras and other such disciplines which tortured the human body.

It was at such time that Shri Sai Baba who was an undisputed Avatar of Dattatreya came upon the scene. Silently and unobtrusively he lived in Shirdi village practising those fundamental precepts of Hindu, Muslim and Christian Cultures for the benefit of his eye witnesses which consisted of all the known recognised religions. Wisely and understandably he chose an old and dilapidated mosque for his stay and residence & called it Dwarkamai. There was no 'Q' system, no V.I.P. treatment, no prejudice & favour. He exhorted the public that gathered around Him to practice implicit and childlike Faith in the existence of Saguna Force that sustains this vast creation visible and invisible, whether Hindu, Muslim or Christian or any other way to Pray to Him and Trust Him in good faith in words, thoughts and deeds.

Indeed he showed in His action and various Leelas the assuance which He as Lord Krishna gave to Arjuna on the battle filed of Kurukshetra that whosoever believes and Trust Him such persons He will, personally to put in human language, iook after them watch their welfare and come to their rescue in bad times.

In my opinion, Shirdi Sainath, durinag the tenure of His Avatar of Dattatreya proved beyond words the Grace of God to Humans and the promise translated into action made by Him at the time of Kurukshetra war.

That is Shirdi Sai Baba He is an epitome of all human spiritual knowledge. By His Leelas even after His Samadhi to date reveal that natural truth underlying His creation the Birth, Growth, Death or annihilation are governed by this undiging spiritual law which Shri Sai unmistakably revealed its depth and intricacies for our guidance.

C. T Chari

Hyderabad

Sai Charon Mein Won 2 Din

By K. B. Grover

Ex-Hon. Secretary Shri Sai Bhakta Samaj (Regd,)

NEW DELHI

When you talk or think of the Great Benevolent Lord Sai there is always a thrill in his ardent devotees mind. Baba's ways for His devotees are mysterious sublime and graceful. How he enthuses and acts in them is best Known to Him which in certain cases are termed as miracles. For the Guru Poornima celebrations and inauguration of Sai Ashram at Gadkhal near Kasauli a hill station in Himachal Pradesh on 24th July, 1983 a formal circular as other devotees at Delhi must have got was received by me. A few months ago I had undergone Kidney operation sucessfully and was recouping though slowly. Sai Baba prompted in me the urge to celebrate the Guru Poornima and the allied function at Gadkhal where a beautiful temple has been built by Shri P. L. Goyal a staunch devotee of Shri Sai Baba and President of Shri Sai Sudha Sabha Regd. with enthusiastic member of his managing committee as well as generous support of Sai devotees in India and abroad. Their efforts are highly commendable. I had visited the temple in its construction stage twice before and Shree Goyal had left a great impact on my mind for his excellent behavior and selfless devotion to Lord Sai as a surging ocean in him. I was in a fix whether I would be in a fit state of health to undertake the arduous journey to and for the hills and might not get complications in my gradually improving health. And Lo come the direction from the Master "why fear when I am here". Immediately I packed up for Gadkhal despite protestations to the contrary from my nears and dears. Guru Poornima could have been celebrated here at Delhi as well but how dare I disobey Lord Sai.

With the cherished will and joy I proceeded for pilgrimage to the Himalayan abode of the great master artists Lord Sai on 24th July, 1983.

The journey to Chandigarh was very pleasant and interesting in a sense that passengers sitting near by in the train were keenly and reverentially listening to the glory and gospels of Sai Baba. They looked after me very well.

From Chandigarh as I boarded the bus for Gadkhal much to my pleasure I discovered a number of devotees proceeding to the same Place of pilgrimage Sai Baba's Jaikara was raised by me. As I was nearing Gadkhal I started wondering how in delicate state of health I would carry my three articles of baggage to the temple and was repeatedly questioning Baba on the subject since no porter is usually available at Gadkhal. But it was wonder with a thunder as the Sai Bhaktas traveling in the same bus and on alighting without a single word of request from me lifted my items to the temple all the way up the hills. On reaching the temple thronged to the full capacity of devotional congregation I humbly and enthusiastically thanked Sai Baba for his benign help and also the Sai devotees during my discourse. On this joyous occasion of Guru Poornima when celebrations were in full swing Sai Baba touched my heart. As once a flame shot up warming every part of my body. His soul smiled into mine. How charming was his face- I lost the I and mine in his psychic embrace, praise after praise chanting his glory spreading Sai cheers and good will- I continued reciting for about an hour to the great admiration of celebrants who had assembled at the most beautiful and sacred tempi e to hear and sing Sai Naam. Sai Baba also gave this humble devotee an opportunity to lead the Arti. My Pranams to him for offering me an honour to be remembered for all time to come After the Arti I was requested to take the devotees to Sari Sai Ashram chanting "Jai Sai Ram” where it was declared open to all Sai devotees with great eclat by Shri N- K. Ouggal an ardent devotee and businessman from Delhi- The ceremony having been over Sai Baba's 'langar' was served to the entire gathering by the members of the Sabha. The turnout of devotees of all castes & creeds from all regions and the arrangements made were excellent and their final dispersal was smooth, speedy and without hassles. The entire credit goes to its President and his team of dedicated managing committee members I remained at Gadkhal for two days submerged in meditation and praying to the Saviour Lord Sai for happiness and prosperity to one and all who had sought his bills in the pilgrimage to Shri Sai Mandir at Gadkhal.

While at the Mandir Sai Baba ordained me to immediately visit Shirdi for a particular mission to which I humbly submitted and with his grace I was successful in carrying out the task entrusted to me.

Sai Charnon Mein Won 2 Din at Gadkhal shall ever remain a memorable event in my life for which I thank not only Sai Baba but also my stars for having reached back safe and sound in perfect Sai Bliss. Sai Baba's name is a 'mantra’ for millions. It fulfills their noble desires and is a symbol of righteousness and love of Man for Man.

'Jai Sai Ram’

OM SAI

Some Important Personalities in Sai Darbar & the services rendered by them at SHIRDI

M. G. GORE

Vinayak Bag, Balaji Mandir Marg,

Kurla West, Bombay-400070 8-8-1983 (Monday)

1. Saint Das Guru By way of Kirtans & Pravachans, he spread the message of Baba,

2. Hemadpant Most Pious Book 'Sri Satcharita' was written by him

3. Solicitor Dikshit & Mr. Sathe They built Wada for the convenience of the Devotees

4. Abdulla Every day he used to lit the Oil Lamps at Dwarkamai '

5. Kashiram Shimpi He was stitching Baba's clothes,

6. Radhakrishna Aayi She used to clean the street where Baba used to walk on it

7. Bhogoji Shinde He used to Message Baba's body

8. Gopalrao Buti In his own Wadal Baba's body is resting

9. Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande) He used to introduce every devotee to Baba & to read out letters addressed to Baba

10. Bayajabai Everyday she was feeding Bhakari (Jawar Bread) to Baba

11. Bapusaheb Jog He used to perform Aarati to Baba everyday.

SAD GURU SAI BABA

The Saviour of all, in distress

BY : P.J. SINGH

All Sai devotees and readers of "Sai Leela" will gladden their hearts and add to their knowledge authentic and trustworthy description of "Sai Leelas" of Sadguru Sai Baba,"the saviour of all in distress". These experiences and episodes are recorded & told by persons, irrespective of the fact whether the person in distress is "Sai Bhakta" or not and even further knows Sai Baba or not, but has prayed to "Almighty God" With sincere heart, for removal of difficulties with a genuine heart, when in acute distress.

Sai Sat charitar and other writings in different books and magazines, are full of such experiences, till today. A good example of this nature of episode & example in instant, is the story of "continued presence" and grace showered on Miss Dutton in Calcutta round about 1960, as recorded, by a geniune spiritual Sadhak and savant, Shree Arthur Osborne, of Bhagwan Shri Raman Maha Rishi "Ashram, in his book" "Incredible Sai Baba". This book was written specially for the western world pubic.

Whenever any person declares such "Sai Leelas" of "Saving in distress", they cement the faith of every humble Sai devotees and confines and enlarges his "Sadhna" at the fact by "Param Sadguru Sai Baba".

Very good examples of such experiences and episodes are recorded by Shree Jagdish K. Munshi son of late Kulpati Dr. K.M. Munshi, Ex. Governor of U-P. and Minister of Central Government etc. and founder President of "Bharati Vidya Bhavan"

These articles were published in "Bhavans Journal" Vol XVI No. 16 and 17 (Two issues) under the title of "My experiences of Shirdi Sai Baba.

For the knowledge of all Sai Bhaktas and readers of "Sai Mahima", these Itticles are reproduced in the words of Shree Jagdish K. Munshi.

"My experiences of Shirdi Sai Baba"

SHIRDI SAI BABA is a phenomenon. His physical body disintegrated into the elements many year ago. But today belief in him and his power to assist people in times of distress is growing. The Baba started on cult and spread no religion which one could identify with him. His teachings have, however, been the essence of all religious. His believers are countrywide and include Hindus, Muslims, Parsis, Christians and other and several persons outside the country.

All of us have heard of miracles. A person educated in worldly subjects, however, finds it difficult to accept their existence, for they defy human reasoning and logic. Normally a person has his pride and ago on which he exists and survives. Acceptances of a miracle lends to offend his ego and hurts his pride. Indeed, it heeds an unchallenging humility, a strong character and strict adherence to honesty to admit the existence of miracles.

Moreover, to acknowledge a miracle is to accept the existence of an agency which performs it. One has indeed to thrust aside his ego which feels ashamed of such acceptance : to eschew reasoning and logic for there Is no rational explanation one can give for it; and in all humility to admit that what one experienced was no accident, but in the words of Gandhiji, the work of "an indefinable mysterious power which pervades everything".

I am a lawyer by profession and I have been trained to accept a fact only when it is conclusively proved. It was with this background and training that my association with the name of Shirdj Sai Baba first started.

In may 1948, my wife and I were travelling in a first class compartment of the train going from Banglore to Bombay. There were six of us in the compartment including and old couple and to youngsters, my wife and I, were playing cards. The old man was obviously praying and his wife was watching us We had been advised not to travel by this particular route because of the Razakar trouble then prevailing in the erstwhile Hyderabad State As youngsters, we thought it was our privilege not to heed to such advice which, we believed was born out of undue apprehensions and fear.

The train had left the last station in the Hyderabad territory and was fast approaching Sholapur station in the Indian Union. Suddenly, the train was forced to a stop at a station called Gangapur. There was a large crowd of Razakers on this station armed with rifles, lathis and other lethal weapons. As soon as the train stopped, a cry was raised by the Razakers. All Muslims get down. Kill all Hindus. The old man immediately orders us to pull down the shutters and to lock the door. We promptly carried out his ordered For nearly five hours we could hear screams and wailings of passengers who were pulled out of the train, beaten and robbed. Third class passengers fled into the nearby fields and their belongings were looted. The Razakers repeatedly tried to force open our compartment but failed to do so. Even in the midst of this cacophony and panic we could observe the old man praying- Queer enough, from the reports confirmed at the Sholapur Station, our compartment was the only one in the entire train that had completely escaped the marauders-After nearly five hours, the train crawled towards Sholapur It was a long time before we reached Sholapur station. Once we reached the shores of safety, the old man's wife explained to us that the old man had been suffering from blood pressure and heard disease and that they were fleeing from the Hyderabad territory with all their money and belongings because of the-Razakar trouble. Once we reached Sholapur station, the military officers down our statements and the incident came to an end. Although we had escaped untouched by the Razakars, this incident left such an indelible scar in our memory that for a long time my wife and I suffered from nightmares arising out of it.

A few days after this incident, a friend of mine read out to me, in Bombay, an article in a magazine, obviously written by this old man, where in he had related this incident and had claimed that it was because of his prayers to Shirdi Sai Baba, that the enitre compartment of the train escaped unscathed by the Razakars. As witness to this incident, he had cited my name in the article.

My friend saw me with this article for corroboration of this incident. I told him that the facts stated in the article were all true. It was also true that our compartment was the only one of its kind which had escaped unhurt It was also true that the old man was frantically praying at the time. I however told him that I had never before heard of Shirdi Sai Baba and that whether this incident was a miracle or a mere accident was for him to judge for himself.

While this incident remained imbedded my memory, except in the course of stray discussion with friends, Shirdi Sai Baba was more of less forgotten for a long time. In the early part of 1953, I again came in close association with the name of Shirdi Sai Baba. This was a bad period for my wife and my self. My wife had been seriously ill and because of her long stay in the hospital she was feeling very miserable. I was having some trouble in my office and had threatened to leave my partners. Life, in general, was fraught with problems, for which no solution was in sight.

On the way to my office, there is a small frame maker's shop. Outside his shop was hung a picture of Shirdi Sai Baba. Below the picture was his message: If You Look To Me, I shall Look To You. I do not remember how long this picture was hung there, but it was during early 1953 that my attention got first focussed to this picture and the message.

It was then, that I was suddenly reminded of theold man's assertion during the

Razakar incident, that Shirdi Sat Baba had saved him. Gradually, I got so obsessed by this picture of Shirdi Sai Baba and the message, that one day I told my wife about my obsession and my desire to acquired the said picture and to perform the puja of the Baba. My wife readily agreed to my proposal.

We purchased Baba's picture, brought it home, lit a lamp before it and prayed that we looked to him for solution of our problems. Within a few days thereafter all our problems got settled to our reasonable satisfaction and life ran smooth again.

Was this another accident ? Was this puja a weakness of our minds ? Or could the solution of our problems be the working of that indefinable mysterious phenomenon called Shirdi Sai Baba ? Well, let each one judge for himself For us, since the time Shirdi Sai Baba entered our home and heart, he became a veritable peer families of our household. Not only the two of us, but our near relations, as also the domestic servants accepted him as an essential part of our existence.

As the puja continued daily, we gradually got used to look to the blessings of Shirdi Sai Baba for everything, particularly in times of distress. Many things, big and small, did happen which ostensibly appeared accidental but which one could, in all humility, attribute to the phenomenon called Shirdi Sai Baba.

A few years thereafter, I was once travelling by the night train from Surat to Bombay. After the train left Surat station, I suddenly developed severe pain, which later on was diagnosed as being on account of stone in the bladder. Within a couple of hours, the pain aggravated to such an extent that I could neither lie down on my berth, nor sit down. The only choice for me was to keep standing writing in pain, While my co-passenger was fast asleep on the adjoining berth. I also began passing blood through the bladder.

When the train reached Palghar station at about 2 am, the pain became so severe that I had to shake my co-passenger out of his slumber and urge him to call the Guard and to see whether he could relieve me of the pain. My co-passenger thereupon called the Guard and explained the situation to him. No doctor could be located in the train at that time of the night. The Guard, therefore advised me to get down at Palghar so that I could receive treatment from a local doctor and proceed to _:Bombay by a subsequent train. The Guard called the Station Master and under their joint advice. I got down at PaIghar and the train left the station.

The advice given by the Guard & the Station Master was, however, not at all sound. For nearly and hour, I waited at the Palghar Station for the doctor who had been summoned by the Station Master, I was virtually howling in pain and taking the name of the Baba No doctor however was forthcoming. The Station Master then told me that the doctor summoned by him was refusing to come to the station at that time of the night. He suggested that instead, I should be taken to the doctor. There was no taxi available at the time and the only available conveyance was a bullock-cart.

So the Station Master and his associated lifted me into the bullock-cart and directed the driver to take me to the doctor. One can imaging my mental state travelling alone in a bullock-cart in that condition at midnight in a town I had never visited before and where I knew no one. I was not sure whether I was going to survive this predicament. The only thing I could do in the circumstances was to look upon Shirdi Sai Baba for aid and assistance.

The doctor saw my ailment, diagnosed it, administered morphine injection and I was soon immersed into oblivion. At my request, he had sent a call to my relations in Bombay. The next day my relations come to Palghar and I was taken back to Bombay.

I had been son used to take the name of Shirdi Sai Baba whenever in distress that this incident was, at the time, not considered by me as of any particular significance. It however assumed significance in May 1968, In that month, my father and I went for the darshan of the all-knowing Sri Satya Sai Baba. Just as my father was about to introduce me to him Sri Satya Sai Baba said: I know him. He is a believer of Shirdi Sai Baba for the last 16 years, Once he got out the train in severe pain end called Shirdi Sai Baba. It was Shirdi Sai Baba who saved him, Could It be that my ailment was so serious that but for His blessing, I would not have survived it ?

But the most important experience of my life was yet to come. It was this Incident which shook the lawyer out of me and converted me Into a humble devotee recognizing the work of the Master.

In October 1959, my one month old daughter got seriously dehydrated, and was admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital. Over three weeks of treatment, including blood transfusion, could not bring her round. Leading doctors were attending on her. The child had been running high temperature since days and the doctors were not sure whether she would pull through. My wife and I were on the verge of complete breakdown.

On the early morning of November 14th 1959, we were informed by two leading doctors that the child was so serious that her chances of survival were remote she was being administered oxygen as her breathing had been difficult. With tears, agony and deep dejection, my wife and I came home from the hospital at about 9 a.m, for a short while, so that we hospital. As soon as we reached our home, I told my wife about a decision which I had reached. My decision had arisen out of sheet desperation I said to my wife: "We have been worshipping Shirdi Sai Baba for several years. I has been said that if we looked to him, he would look to us. The survival of our only daughter means a lot to us, My decision is that if the child survives, our faith that Shirdi Sai Baba looks to us in times of distress, would become conclusive. If, on the other hand, the child does not survive, we would and our worship as he would have failed us".

The sequence of events, after this decision, is interesting. At 10 a m. we were against at the hospital Another senior doctor was attending on the child. He too came to the conclusion that the child was dying and there was no hope of survival- Suddenly, a comparative junior doctor, who was also there, said: 'Doctor, I have been observing this child for some time while she is running very high temperature, she has not lost her consciousness Could it be that the child is not suffering from septmaenia but from malaria ?

The senior doctor laughed and said: “How do you expect malaria in Beach Candy Hospital Anyway, there is not much left in the child- You may try a shot of quinine”.

As stated above, this talk took place at 10 a.m. at 1 p.m. on that day, the temperature of the child came down to 101° after several days. At 4 p m the temperature came further down to 99° and by 7 p.m. the temperature was 97 50°_;

Oxygen or blood transfusion were no longer call for. Even the doctors, who during' the earlier part of that day had certified her as dying, felt baffled.

The temperature of child remained at normal ever since. Within three months, that child was in the pink of health Those who saw her at the age of five months could hardly believe our description of the crisis that she had passed through a few months earlier Consistent with our promise, we took our daughter to Shirdi in March 1960 by car. Strange and dramatic though it may appear, on our way to Shirdi, during a halt, our daughter gazed at the world around her spread out both her Arms, and made her First utterance : 'ba, ba, ba, ba'.

These are facts of my life as they stand. The sequence of events are also in the above order The conclusion is for each individual to make for himself For myself, I felt convinced of the existence of that power which assists us. If we, in all humility look to it

Today, with all the above-mentioned and other experiences, my entire family near relations and even servants, have got completely used to looking upto Shirdi Sai Baba for succour in times of distress I must admit, in all humility, that he had never failed us Many things, big and small, have happened in our Iives which have made us acknowledge that existence of this indefinable, mysterious phenomenon, whose only message is that if one looks to Shirdi Sai Baba will look at him. In fact. His promise is very much a king to the promise which Lord Krishna gave to Arjuna when He said:

-Arjuna, I promise you my devotee will never perish.

So far as I am concerned, the Baba has now been the very part of my existence. He has been my guide, philosopher and friend, On different occasions, depending on my variable moods, I haye prayed to him, beseeched him, implored him, begged of him, argued with him and sometimes even quarrelled with him for net solving the knotted problems of my existence and guiding me. Whatever the mood, the problems have ultimately got solved.

Recently, a great devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba whom I met, also endorsed this view of mine, and said: "Shirdi Sai Baba is not only the father but also the mother, A mother somtimes becomes inattentive to the child; sometimes she punishes the child, but, when it is time, she will always give milk to the child".

Reading the above, let us all humbly bow before the holy fact of Sadguru Sai Baba and pray for "HIS" " ", "Grace", "Kirpa" and "Karuna", for all the Sai Devotees and for all the inhabitants of this world, in these days of distress and tensions of every kind, specially as seen as on if own mother land India and through the length and breadth of this earthly world."

Let us all how to Sadguru Sai Baba the Saviour of all in distress"

P. J. SINGH

BARODA-890 001

DEVOTEE'S EXPERIENCE

Santa Ram Balwant Nachne Dahanukar Prabhu Head Clerk Taluk Sheristadar Magistrate's court Kurla says : —

It was in the same year that my mother-in-law was anxious to get Baba's blessing, to obtain progeny for me. A few children were born before that but they died when quite young. So at her request, Madhav Rao Deshpaode took my wife to Baba and wanted Baba to give her a coconut as a gift and throw it into her Padar (Mundani or end of her cloth). Then Baba's eyes brimmed with tears as he gave the coconut to my wife; and he bade me sit at his feet and massage his legs. As I was doing so, ho made passes with his hand over my back. I felt very grateful for his kindness and I referred to the madman's attempt to murder me and to Baba's photo being with me at the time as the explanation for my narrow escape. Baba merely remarked, ''Allah Malik Hai. God is the Lord, i e., He orders all things." Then Baba and I embraced each other.

Baba showed me once again how considerate he was towards all his devotees and how strongly he was against one devotee teasing or interfering with another. One day Baba said " My stomach is aching. " "Mavusi," the strong lady that I have already mentioned, brought a red hot brick and placed it on Baba's abdomen, i.e., above his Kupni, and retained it in that position for about ten minutes. I felt very much for Baba, as I was shampooing his feet at that time, and thought her service an instance of "cruel kindness." Then she removed the brick and began pressing Baba's sides with her hands with great violence I could not endure the sight, and I told her to be more gentle as Baba would suffer. Baba at once ordered me to get away, I did.

That night, about 8 P.M. I went to the Masjid and asked Baba to give me some Anugaralw. "What Japa shall I make ?" I asked. Baba replied. "Go to Devpur (a village 20 miles off Kopergaon) and begin worshipping the stones there which your ancestors worshipped.'*

Later on, I returned to Dahanu and asked my father what Baba's words might import. Then my father gave me an account of our ancestral worship of the images at Devpur.

Baba Prayag, my ancestor, five degrees removed, had no issue till he was 60 years old. He learnt that issue was often obtained by others by the grace of a saint then living, named Baba Bhagavat (who was a disciple of Eknath Maharaj) and that B, Bhagavat could be seen at Trimbak on those rare occasions when he would go to see the Nivritti Nuth Shrine there. B.P. went there and obtained his grace and blessing for issue with a coconut. Thereafter, i.e. at the age of 61, B. P, got a son, whom he named Krishna Rao. Baba Bhagawat took that child, when it was but one year old to Devpur and gave it a handwritten copy of Jnaneswari (This identical copy is now produced. Note. Just as it is produced, some music is heard passing in the street). Whenever this copy is taken out some auspicious signs are always found attending, From that time forward, every member of our family in his generation takes Upadesh from a member of that Guru's line. This fact, it is, that made Sai Baba give me the above answer. (At that time I did not know all these facts. But my father to whom I communicated the answer of Baba narrated these facts to me).

In 1916, by Baba's grace, I was saved from a watery grave. There was Plague at Dahanu and I had daily to cross a creek between my house and my office. One day I returned from the office very late and there was no ferryboat. I then took a Toni (Tamil "Thoni" or Canoe) with a boy to paddle, and it got upset in the middle of the creek. I had swerved just a bit but that was enough to make the little canoe capsize. From the time il capsized I had my Dhyana of Sai Baba. The boy who was rowing or paddling the canoe was a good swimmer and a resourceful lad. He asked me to hold on to a rope that was above water connecting a buoy with a ship which was at a little distance from us. I caught it and wite its help kept my head above water. The boy hallooed to the ship and the shipmen sent us a boat and saved us.

In 1919, I had a son born to me; and this was the first son born after Baba gave my wife the cocoanut, with blessings from his mouth and with tears in his eyes. We named him Kaluntm. To explain Baba's tears, a few facts about Kaluram's short life of eight years may be mentioned. He was born under the constellation Moola. When the boy was only three years old he was always repeating the mantra 'Ram Hah Ram." It was in 1921, i.e., when he was entering on his third year, the effect of Moola was seen. His mother, i.e., my first wife, died. No doubt the deeply sympathetic heart of Baba saw her coming end when he gave her the '.blessing" (?) for a child to be born under Moola. Anyhow, one might suppose that there was the mitigation of the sorrow jn having brought a saintly infant prodigy into existence. But see what followed even in that matter The boy was stunning the imagination of all that became acquainted with him. A pious and learned neighbor, named Hegde, watched him and declared that he was an incarnation of that playmate of Sri Krishna on whose back the latter got up to invade curd-pots. The boy hirmell stated occasionally "Krishna used to tease me. I caught hold of Hari’s leg and pinched them. I looked up. Hari (who was standing above me) upset the curd-pot over my face. Then the lady of the house turned up. etc." The boy sometimes anticipated Hegde's daily study of ''Hari Jijava" and declared what stories or incidents formed the subject matter of the portion to be read on the particular day by Hegde. I saw him one day seated in a corner, with his head covered by a cloth. He was motionless and steady like one immersed in Yoga. His eyeballs were upturned, but the cloth over his head that was worn like a cowl hid the eyes from my view. I lifted the cloth and asked him why he was covering his head. He said he was always doing so. Asked why he went on with his course of Sadhana, he laughed. His precocity surprised me greatly. Once he asked me to get for him the latest special issue of a journal (Sandesh). When that was brought, the first picture on it was Sri Krishna's encircled by the Pranava Ao Kalu cut out that picture and stuck it on the wall. Then there was the advertisement of ''His Master's Voice" records with the picture of the dog before the gramophone. Kalu's interrogation thereon was typical of him.

Kalu: What is this ?

I : It is the advertisement of a photograph.

He - It is a special message of Krishna.

I : What is the special message ?

He : What is the dog hearing ?

I: The music played by the plate.

He : The dog hears his master's voice. See the dog—so steady from head to tail, intently listening. We must be equally firm and steady.

See how I sit. You also should sit like that and listen, and then you will hear Baba's voice.

I: How do you know Baba's voice ?

He : I know. I will not tell you. Experience it yourself.

In addition to his oral Japa of "Ram Hari Ram," Kaluram was going on writing that mantra in chits and a quantity of them were with us. When Upasani Baba came to Andheri, he said he wanted such chits and they were handed over to him. In 1924 Gadgi Baba came over to my house to see this boy.

In 1926, Kalu had dropsy and low fever. We gave him only Baba's Udhi. The disease continued for a while. On Kartik Sudha Ekadasi (so piously, celebrated by thousands of pilgrims at Pandharpur and other Vishnu Sthalas), Kaluram approached his end. He called me to his bedside and asked for Jnaneswari. It was at once produced. He himself opened it and picked up the XIII Chapter. At that time I was feeling heavily the sadness of the approaching end, the bitterness that we had to part with such a son. But Kalu cheered me up and said, "What is there to cry for ? Read this (Ch. XIII), Read it aloud for me. I am going to-day."

My heart was sinking under a load of grief and I could not read it. Then he kept the book in front of him and breaihed his last. A fitting termination, this departure on Kartik Ekadesi, was for such a life. But yet how sad was such an early death? No wonder that Baba wept in 1918 when he gave the cocoanut and clearly perceived that such an early death was to crown such a life.

As for the continuance of my line, by Baba's blessings, that was made secure. In 1922, i.e. one year after Kaluram's mother died, my parents were arranging for my second marriage, A choice had to be made between a girl that would bring some wealth or pecuniary contribution with her and a poor girl. The proposal of the first girl that would bring in Rs. 600 was being considered by my father. I did not favour it. Baba came in my mother's dream and said to her ''Do not accept this girl in marriage for your son," In the same dream my mother saw another girl. A little later the uncle and guardian of a poor girl offered her hand in marriage to me. I referred him to my mother. She saw the girl and found it was ihe very girl she had seen in the above-mentioned dream. This settled the question and the latter girl was married to me in 1922, and several children were born of this marriage and with Baba's blessings are getting on well. "Baba's blessings" is no empty formal phrase. I will cite several instances to show how he has guarded them and saved their lives as he has saved mine (at least twice as already mentioned by me).

In 1926, my son, Sainath alias Hareswar, was eight or nine months old. Kaluram had crackers and Bengal matches. One of my children threw away alighted match. It fell on Sainath and his clothes caught fire. He wore a cloth beneath his waist and a frock next to the skin. Both these caught fire. The children did not realise the seriousness of the situation and raised no alarm. My wife was outside the house engaged with something. Suddenly a Fakir appeared before her and pointing his arm and finger towards the terrace on which the children were playing, said "See what is going on there." My wife at once went inside and noticed the fire on the child's clothes. With great presence of mind and resourcefulness, she ran to the child, seized the clothes and rolled them between her palms and thus boldly extinguished the fire. The front half of the frock from bottom to the neck was burnt out and part of the nether cloth also. But the child (Sainath) came off entirely scatheless. Though the frock worn next to the skin was burnt out, his skin had not been burnt, nor was his nether portion burnt This complete safety was evidently due to the same cause as the sudden appearance of the Fakir. The Fakir had also suddenly disappeared. When she came out after extinguish ing the fire, there was no trace of the Fakir. Who could the Fakir be, how had he known the fire accident the very moment it happened and why should he be at the trouble to watch over the children and fetch their mother to save them at the nick of time ?

In 1928, Sainath, then two years old, had an accident. As usual he was running about; and one day he fell down the stairs. There was a heap of the debris at the bottom. I ran up and was surprised to see him standing without any injury at all. He told me, ': Do not fear. Baba bore me up"

In 1932, Sainath gave his younger brother, Vasudev, a ring and the later sniffed it into his mouth instinctively. The ring went down into the throat and stuck there. There was an alarm and for nearly one hour every one in the house was excited and medicaments were tried to induce the throat or stomach to throw out the ring. Finally I took Sai Baba's Udhi and put it in the child's mouth. Then inserting my finger deep within his mouth, I felt the ring and pulled it out.

In 1934, the same child Vasudev had measles, pneumonia and an abscess on the chest. He was getting weaker and weaker. The doctor was afraid to operate on the abscess on account of the weakness. I applied antiphlogistine over the abscess. The abscess was opened. It was a wide open wound. The doctor would not help me. So I relied upon my doctor, Sai Baba, and trusting in him put a bit of his Udhi into the wouud. The Deputy Collector, Vasant Rao Madhav Jadhav, (now D. C. at Poona) asked me whether I was confident of a cure and within what time the gaping wound would be cured ? I answered "In 24 hours." That night, Baba appeared in my dream and said, "Why did you say "24 hours ? You should have said 'Immediately.'" I apologised for my mistake in the dream itself. Next morning, the wound was healed up. Jadhav wondered and wanted Baba's Udhi and blessing for his own son aged 4.1/2 years who was down with pneumonia. I gave him the Udhi on the sixth day of that child's fever. The very next day the fever stopped, though the attendant doctor stated that the fever would run its course for 9 days (i.e that it would last 3 days after I gave the Udhi,). Jadhav sent up his thanks offering of Rs. 7 to be sent to Sri Sai Baba's Samasthan,

In 1935, ic., last year, milk was being boiled on my stove. Anand, my two-year-old child, came running up, stumbled over a stick and fell upon the milk and stove, Just fancy what should happen in such a case. One would expect his skin to be scalded hy the boiling milk and clothes to catch fire. But here the milk was dashed down on one side and the stove on the other side; and the child lay between the two neither scalded, nor catching fire on his clothes.

This year, i.e., 1936, Vasudev and his younger brother rummaged among the contents of an almyrah and found a box full of what they thought to be peppermint lozenges. Vasudev ate some and gave some to his younger brother. The taste was unpleasant and they did not eat. much. But what little was eaten made Vasu smart. His tongue was protruding. My wife inserted her finger into his mouth and extracted what she believed to be chunam i,e. lime. We were then shown by Vasu the packet or box of "Sweetmeats" that he had been consuming. It was "Pharoah's snakes"—the piece of fire works that burn out forming ashes that lengthen and wind about in the form of snakes. We then took him to the doctor who administered an emetic, which did not act Then I gave Baba's Udhi and Tirtha - which acted at once and resulted in his vomiting out all poisonious stuff he had swallowed. After all this was over, Vasudev mentioned that he had given the peppermint to his two - year - old younger brother. Evidently the latter ate but little, as there was no trouble. But to expel what little he might have swallowed: we administered our emetic, viz., Udhi and water with Baba's name to him and he had a good vomit.

A cashier in an office was in trouble last year about Rs, 3,500 which was not accounted for, A friend advised him to go to me and he came. That cashier disliked Baha, as Baba was a 'Mahomedan.' But when he came to me, I told him that his sole sanctuary was the Sai Mandir at Shirdi, and that he should go there and make a heartfelt apology and appeal for help. He went there, got a photo of Baba and with the help of Sagun Naik placed it at the Samadhi, prayed there and came back with the photo. Things then began to brighten up. He was allowed eight days time to pay up the Rs. 3,500. He went up, got money and paid it. The matter was closed. There was neither dismissal nor prosecution.

Similar help was rendered by Baba in another case. Mr. V. C. Chitnis after his dismissal from service came to me. I told him to cast his burden on Sai Baba and make an appeal at the Shirdi Mandir for help. He went to Shirdi and later he was reinstated in service.

I shall mention what help Baba gave to members of my family, for Sadgati, i.e, at or after death.

My parents were devotees of Sai Baba. My mother was aged seventy in 1926 when she died. She kept Sai Baba's photo to the last in front of her. As the end was nearing. she asked me to read Vishnu Sahasranama aloud by her side, and I did. Then with "Ram Ram" on her lips, she passed away-

My second wife passed away in 1929 and I was anxious to do everything necessary to secure Sadgati for her soul. So I wished to take her bones and ashes to Nasik and dispose of them there with proper ceremonies. But I was beset with difficulties My father was ill. I had, amidst my feeling of bitter loss at her departure, to make sure of the funds needed and the steps necessary, of which I had no idea. I took a sum of Rs. 80 and leaving a child of 3 years at home, started by train for Nasik. At Victoria Terminus, I found I had a fellow passenger who took enormous trouble for me and extended his sympathy and help even before the train started.

He : Where are you going'?

I : Nasik.

He '. Why do you carry no bed ? The nights are chill.

I ; I find no necessity, I am in no mood to mind these things. It is eight days since my wife died leaving a three-year old son to be taken care of by me.

He asked me to wait. He called out to a friend and got a blanket and a bedsheet for me.

I : How can you get these things so quickly ?

He : Our quarters are very near. It is the Bombay Arts School. Have this cigar please.

I (accepting the cigar) What is your name ? May I know who you are ?

He : I am a peon in that school. My name is Ganapathy Shankar—you may go to sleep now. Have no anxiety. I am also going to Nasik. I shall wake you up when we reach Nasik ?

I : What takes you to Nasik ?

G. S. : Simply to see Nasik. My Saheb is gone to Simla and I get this chance of seeing Nasik,

Then I lay down,

G, S; "Do take good care of your money; or if you like, I will keep it for you, if you give it to me, m this steel trunk of mine.

Then I handed over my 80 rupees to him and went to sleep, At Ghoti Station, near Nasik, he woke me up, We washed ourselves and took tea, He paid for me also, At Nasik Road Station, we got into the bus. Then,

G. S: Do not go to Bhatji, i.e., a priest yourself. I will settle everything for you. Do no trouble yourself.

Then he attended on me and attended to everything as a peon would do, till the end of the twelfth day ceremony, Throughout the proceedings he showed his special knowledge of the ceremonies, e.g, he told the priest to take pinda first to Ramkund, He told me to retain in my grip the bones I brought, immersed in the waters of the Godavari at Ramkund till the close of the ceremony. The bones should be left in a particular hollow there and kept in position by pressure of the hand to prevent their being washed away by force of the current. My surprise was that even as I kept them they were quickly dissolving as though they were sugarcandy, On the twelfth day, he got a wire requiring his presence back at Bombay. He accounted to me for every pie he had received from me. He took me to the chief temples at Nasik, A Sanyasi teacher at one of the temples recognised him and to him he showed the wire. My priest said that G.S. was a man of extraordinary cleverness, e,g,, when the priest started ceremonies without the worship of Ganesha (considering it unnecessary for inauspicious ceremonies), G. S, interposed and bade him start it and when the priest still entertained doubts, made him refer the matter to a learned authority who agreed with G.S.

He parted from me at Nasik that day and promised to call at my place, i.e., Andhcri, He gave me his name and address. After my return home, seeing that my beneficent friend did not turn up I went to the address given, viz., ' G.S., peon, Bombay Art School" and made inquiries and asked his fellow peon about him. They all said there was no such person at all known to them. The principal (the "Sahib") also said the same.

Who was this 'man' that took such enormous pains (without any remuneration or prospect of it) and gave me such splendid help in securing Sadgati for my wife at Nasik by proper performance of all the ceremonies ? Who can it be—but Sai Baba ?

In 1927 I went to Shirdi for chowla, i.e,_t tuft ceremony of Kaluram, Then Baba's direction to me to go to Deopur which I had neglected till then was again stressed on me, through another saint who had come up to Shirdi. That was Nanu Maharaj or Sripad Narsoba Panchlegaonkar, aged only fifteen. He asked me without any intimation to him of what or who I was or what Baba had told me about anugraha (initation),

"Have you been to Deopur "

I was taken aback. I answered in the negative.

N: Why ?

I; There is no one at Deopur older than myself (in my Guru's line) for me to accept as my Guru and get anugraha.

N: What of that ? My Guru is younger than I, His name is 'Doi Pode’ and your Guru's name is Bhagavat.

Sri Narsoba promised to show me his Guru later.

Accepting this reminder, I carried out Sai Baba's order and went to Deopur and accepted anugraha.

I had never met Sri Narsoba before.

Next year I learnt that Narsoba was arriving at Bombay V. T. As his train steamed in and came to a stop, from his compartment he beckoned to me as I stood amidst a crowd and showed me his Guru, an eight year-old youth, Sripad Ramakrishna Doi Pode. Sri Narsoba is doing "Sudhi" work: I have not met him after 1928, His Guru is still a student (for Matriculation Exam.) at Guntur (Madras Presidency).

I will close this long account with one instance of Baba's response to my prayer for help to strangers. On 3-12-1923 I was seated in my house at Andheri, facing the road. One Mr. Noel was driving his car along that road. A little girl, the daughter of Vittal, was knocked down by the ear. As I saw it I prayed, "Baba, save her'', The car stopped, I went down and picked up the child and took her to the hospital. The stopping of the car before the child was crushed was a miracle. the break in the car was not working. Then on examination it was found, though the break was not put on, a stone had somehow got into the gear and that was how the car suddenly stopped in time. Looking at the injuries to the girl, the Sub-Assistant Surgeon feared they would prove fatal. But I told him "Sai Baba would save her." She continued ;is an in-patient in the hospital for fifteen days and she recovered her health; but her power of speech was not restored. That continued to be her condition for nine months. Then Das Ganu came to Andhere and I told him the facts. He told me to give her Baba's Udhi again for restoring her speech. I again gave her Udhi. The next day she began to speak. This was most marvellous. She is alive now and speaks very well.

Baba kindly gives me opportunities of doing service to others. In 1926, he appeared to me in a dream and bade me go and tell Mr. K. G. Kothare (Bar-at-Law) "not to do what he was proposing to do." Despite the vagueness of the message. I went to him and delivered the massage. He thanked me for it and informed me that it referred to the step he had been intending to take. He wanted to give up his Grihastasram and become a Sanyasi. He gave up the idea, at that time.

(Read over and admitted to be correct).

23rd Sept. 1936, Dady Agiari St., Bombay

Sri Narayan Asram, Sanyasj and disciple of Vedasrama Swami (Taraka Mutt, Durgaghat, Kashi), residing at Vaman Muth, Gangapuri Wai, (Satara District aged 58 says :

I knew Sai Baba, i.e., heard the name and the greatness of Sai Baba in 1910 from Das Ganu Maharaj's kitana. I asked him ''Is Sai Baba living?" He said "Yes, at Shirdi." In five days of that, I went to Shirdi and saw Sai Baba. In six months thereafter, I paid Baba nine visits. I often went to him in later years also. I was then in service, in the Customs Department and continued in it till 1926 when I retired on pension after 31 years service. 1927-1930 I spent in "Narmada Pradkshina." In 1931, I took Sanyas changing my former name "Toser" to the present one. I came first under a Guru's influence in 1895 whom I saw in a dream. When I went to Shirdi in 1910 and had my contact with Sai Baba, I found that he was the same as the Gnru who gave me first inspiration (without any words) in my dream in 1895. Then I passed after 1918 into the charge of Vasudevanand Saraswati of Garudeshwar on the banks of Narmada near Nandod (in Gujarat) Though Vasudevanand Saraswati left the flesh in 1915 he had connection with Baba. I believe that Baba has left me in his charge. So, Vedasrama Swami of Kashi, Taraka Muth, Durgaghat, gave me Deeksha in 1931.

I mostly stay at Wai.

As for my internal progress and Sai Baba's influence on me, it is hardly a thing to be described. Sai Baba had different ways of dealing with different people. He was the centre and to each man he darted a separate radius. Most cared for external things only and hardly any came to him for the highest spiritual benefit of Atma Nishta.

Hari Sitaram Dixit, Chandorkar and Dabholkar were probably those who came close enough to him to receive high teaching.

Yet it is a question, if any of them got into Atma Nishta or anywhere near that, Baba had made Dixit read Eknath's two works, as he was but a beginner in the religious field and had to develop his bhakti (devotion) chiefly. Of course, immediate proximity was not needed for development under Baba. When I was at Shirdi, I would mostly go and sit away by myself in the (Sathe) Wada and not be at the Mosque. Even at the Wada, one is under Baba's direct influence.

As for Baba's own state, that is a thing one can get a glimpse of from some facts. Baba had a way of touching (with his palm) the head of the devotee who went to him, There was no adhikari evidently to receive everything Baba could give and thus there was none to succeed to his position.

But his touch did convey certain impulses, forces, ideas, etc. Sometimes he pressed his hand heavily on the head as though he was crushing out some of the lower impulses of the devotee. Sometimes he tapped, sometimes he made a pass with the palm over the head, etc. Each had its own effect—making remarkable difference in the sensations or feelings of the devotee,

Baba's touch was one means. Apart from that, he would invisibly operate on the nature of the devotee and effect a great change to him.

He graciously conveyed to me without any words, the feeling that differences (between various souls etc.) i.e. all differences were unreal, that the One real thing is that which underlies all. This was after my first visit—in 1913 or 1914 perhaps. But Baba never spoke out this truth so far as I know. Obviously there was no competent adhikari who had to be spoken to in that way.

I have not given out my experience though Mr. Dixit and Mr. Dabholkar asked me for it

I have never heard Baba utter Mahavakyas or say things out of Sankarachara's Atmabodha or Viveka Chudamani or anything on those lines,

When I Went first in 1910 no crowds had come. Baba was mostly silent then. Very soon Bombay crowds began to pour upon Shirdi, Then Baba was being pressed into new habits and ways. Devotees to suit their own tastes forced numerous forms and observances on Baba and made him a mere man shining with the aid of the shows they arranged for him. His real greatness shone by itself without forms and rigid observances and pomp, and was shut out by these. These reduced Baba to earthly grandeur.

Baba spoke to me only a few words-but they were direct and plain words, He did not talk to me in parables. He began to employ parable in teaching the numerous people that flocked to him.

There is a great deal of parallelism between Sri Sai of Shridi and Akkalkote Maharaj; and that can be found by reading the life of Akkalkote Maharaj. The latter also hardly ever spoke of Adwaitie realisation, He was a greater Karmata, (i.e., follower of rigid Karmamarga, the path of works) and insister on forms than Sai Baba.

Baba was trying to push people just a few steps above their level.

Das Ganu told me that Baba referred to one Daji Maharaj, a saintly grihastha Brahmin, who lived at the village Dangar Takidi near Nanded (in Nizam's State) as "my brother". That Maharaj passed away in 1934, He was practising Gayatri Purascharan. He said one day in 1914 at Dangar Takidi "Yesterday, Sai Baba came here in the form of Maruti and there was a great rumbling noise at his arrival."

My father and I are Maruti worshippers. I installed a new Maruti image and got a temple built and consecrated in 1918 at Ville Parle, Hanuman Street. I had to name the God; and I called it Sai Hanuman, remembering that Sai was Hanuman. I gifted that temple by deed to my brother. The very day this temple was consecrated at Ville Parle, Baba gave, it seems, Rs. 25 to a Brahmin named Vaze and made him perform Satya Narayan Puja at Shirdi. People connect these two events. When I was first visiting Shirdi, I was heterodox and could hardly be taken for a Brahmin. Regard for Samskaras grew on me. I never cared for Siddhis, I seldom attended Baba's Chavadi procession even when I was at Shirdi.

I was desirous of getting Sanyas even before I got married. I actually got it only in 1931, But the way was being paved. My mother and wife are living; but I have no issue. Two chiidren were born and they passed away after a few days of existence on this, earth one in 1900, the other in 1915. Brahmacharya is essential to Sanyasa. The fact that a wife is living in the house is no impediment to my Brahmacharya. If I look upon my mother like any other human being without special attachment, that is no hindrance to Sanyasa. The Samskara of going through Sanyasa gave me a great impetus. Sai Baba never spoke to me (or so far as I remember, to anyone else) about the desirability, necessity or disadvantages of a life of Sanyasa. About changes of caste, Ashrama, Guru, methods of Sadhana, caste observances, etc,, he had one and the same advice or prescription "Each must stick to his lot and get on."

(Read over and found correct)

The Guru after all is a medium, a means to realise your own self. He gives you a push and then you have to exert yourself and go higher and hold to your height. Sai Baba thus was a medium though one responsible for a considerable and momentous advance in my spiritual history. Before I went to Shirdi, one Vinayak Bhat Shadale (supported by the Kolhapur State) whom I met in 1900 and who had made me read bits of Yoga Vashishta with zest was also a "medium" for me.

With one help at one time and a second at another, one has to go on steadily ind realise the self.