Baba and Vijayadasami!

Saibaba and Vijayadasami kindles lofty memories to Sai devotees. Yes, it was on Vijayadasami day during the year 1918, Baba left his mortal coil at around 2-30 PM after asking some of his close devotees to go and have their lunch. They were reluctant but left with heavy heart. Still some devotees sat on the steps. It was the fortunate "Laxmi Bai" to receive the last blessings from Sai in the form of nine silver coins. Baba then said, Take Me to Dakdi wada, there I will become well! saying these few words he laid his head on the shoulder of a devotee and left his mortal coil. The devotee cried as "Baba". It seemed that Baba said "Ha" but it was evident that Baba left safely. Nana Nimonkar poured water on Baba's mouth but it came out. The news spread too quickly. Those devotees who left for their meals at the behest of Baba came running leaving their meals. People expressed the grief in many ways. Many cried pitiably. Many rolled on the ground. Many swooned. Then the talk about interring Baba's body was held. Some devotees remembered Baba's last words and said, they preferred interring Baba's body in Buti's Takadi Wada as per Baba's last wish. Some said, it should be interred on the open ground. The arguement went on for many hours. Ultimately, the suggestion to inter Baba's mortal coil in Buti Wada gained two third support and Baba's remains were interred ceremoniously after taking procession in Buti Wada. Thus Buti Wada became the Samadhi Mandir of Saibaba. Lakhs and Lakhs of people throng to Shirdi to visit the Samadhi and take Dharsan of the Marble idol of Saibaba which looks like Real. Sairam, Saisaran.

Bagat Mahlsapathy and Baba!

Saibaba came to Shirdi alongwith a marriage party. The marriage party returned but Saibaba choose to stay in Shirdi. It was Bakat Mahlsapathy who welcomed Saibaba first in Shirdi with the words "Ya Sai". This name struck him permanantly. Also Mahlsapathy became his devotee initially and Shama and others joined thereafter. Mahlsapathy was a poor man from 'goldsmith' caste. He had three daughters. He used to sleep in the Masjid alongwith Tatya Patil and Saibaba. Once Baba directed Mahlsapathy to go and sleep in his house. But Mahlsapathy did not heed Baba. Saibaba forced him again and he had to relent. Saibaba told him that 'daughters are like tamarind fruit whereas a son is a mango fruit'. Mahlsapathy had a son subsequent to the command of Baba. Mahlsapathy being poor was unable to make both ends meet. But Baba never allowed him to earn. However Baba looked after his welfare spiritually. Once a Sait named Hansraj desired to give Mahlsapathy a huge sum. But Baba had not allowed him to accept the amount. Baba had in his mind the spiritual upliftment of His Bagat rather than the material welfare. Mahlsapathy too evinced much interest in spiritual path shown by Baba and he devoloped much detachment towards material life and world. Thus Saibaba ensured his spiritual progress. Sairam, Saisaran.

Remember God before eating!

Sometimes, Saibaba used to joke with his devotees. It so happened that one devotee was sitting near Baba. Another devotee noticed some grains in the fold of the shirt. This has become a topic of fun on that day. The devotee who had no inkling as to how those grains have found place in his shirt fold. Finding him searching for the reason, Saibaba said, "What is there to know? I know the habit of the person. He used to eat grains alone. Today being Shandy day in Shirdi, he went to Shandy and hence he was eating the grains. The devotee got sad and said, "Baba! i have not gone to the Shandy to day. In fact, i have never visited the Shandy. I do not partake any thing without offering to anybody. Why you are charging me saying, 'this fellow used to eat without offering anything to anybody?. Baba then said, "yes, i know you used to share the eatables with others". But if there is nobody nearby, "Do you remember Me before eating". Thus the devotee was given a beautiful lesson that one should always remember God before eating. What a nice lesson? Sairam, Saisaran.

Shirdi Baba-Real facts regarding his birth.

Many devotees of Shirdi Sai Baba are not aware of Baba's birth and childhood days. On 28 September 1990, Sri Sathya Sai Baba has revealed the following astonishing facts about Saibaba: Saibaba was born on 28 Sep' 1835 as a result of blessings and boon granted to his mother by Lord Shiva himself. Manifesting in front of the humble cottage in the guise of a old man, Lord has tested "Devagiri amma", the mother would be of "Sai". It seems that in the Nizam State, there was a village "Pathri" where a dovout couple lived. They were issueless. Hence they were spending their time in remembering God and led their life from the meagre income from a boat. Gangabava, the would be father of Sai, used to ply the boat to transport people across the river. Thus he earned a little money and spent it on running his family. Devagiriamma, the devout wife of Gangabhava was sincerely serving her husband's need and took care of him.

One day there was a storm and hence Gangabhava decided to spend the night in his boat lest it would be swept away in the flood. Hence he took his food and asked Devagiriamma to take care and left the house. She also took her food and started to rest on her bed. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Devagiriamma opened the door thinking that her husband might have returned. To her surprise, there was a old man who pleaded with her to provide him a resting place for the night. Devagiriamma showed him a place in the outer verandha and bolted the doors inside and started resting. Again, there was a knock in the door. She opened the door and found that the old man was asking for food to appease his hunger. She hurried to the kitchen and found some rice and curd. She mixed it and gave it to the old man. Again she retreaded inside and lay on her bed. The third time, there was a knock. This time, the old man has requested her, "My feet are aching, Can you press it for some time?. Unable to face such request, she went to her prayer room and started pleading with Mother Parvati, to rescue her from such a piquant situation. Suddenly she remembered that there may be some maid in the nearby houses, who may respond to offer such service for money. She went to places and unfortunately, none was available. After some time, there was a tap on the door. One servant maid, who told her that 'she was away on some work' it seems that somebody from the house needs her service". Getting relief for the timely help she asked the maid to press the feet of the old man and returned to her room. Surprisingly there was one more knock on the door. Since there was a lady outside, Devagiriamma opened the door. To her utter surprise, there stood Siva and Parvati in their Divine form and blessed her for her sincere devotion. Mother Parvati blessed Devagiriamma, that a son would be born. Again there was one more boon. A daughter would be born and by offering her in marriage, they would get merit. Finally, Lord Shiva spoke and told Devagiriamma, that He himself would take birth as a third son to her. Blessing her thus, they vanished mysteriously.

The husband returned in the morning and hearing the narration from his wife, he ridiculed her. He said, it is your own imagination. How could Lord Shiva and Parvati come to their humble dwelling. Your mind is in confusion. He was not willing to believe her version though she confirmed again and again, the events on the previous night. To prove the blessings, Devagiriamma conceived and delivered a son. After some time, she again become pregnant and this time a daughter was born. Finding the truth about the blessings, Gangabhava became remorse for not believing his innocent wife when she told him the events. He said, "You are really fortunate that the Lord and Parvati came to you and blessed you thrice. I am not so fortunate. Now my only concern is to do penance and to get the coveted Dharsan of the Lord. He was impatient to leave the house early. As blessed by Shiva, Devagiriamma conceived for the third time and nine months have passed. Unable to wait any longer, the husband told Devagiriamma, "I am leaving the house". Being a devout wife, she too followed him but on the way, labor pain has started. They rested below a huge tree and soon Devagiriamma delived the third child. But she made a sari bit torn from her as a bed and placed the child over it and spread green leaves over it. She started following her husband with great detachment. A Muslim Sufi, who was issueless, happened to come near the tree.Hence the Sufi took the baby and handed over to his wife. The muslim lady brought up the child with care. Soon her husband passed away. The boy was four at the time.But his activities have become a concern to the muslim lady. The boy would go to Hindu temple and say, I am Allah! Shiva is Allah!. People got angry and reported the matter to the muslim lady. The boy would visit the mosque and utter such words which would infuriate the muslim devotees. Finding that the boy is uncontrollable, she handed over the boy to One Guru "Venkusa", who accepted the boy in his custody. From the year 1839 to 1851, the boy was under the custody of the saint "Venkusa". As the Guru was very loving to the new boy "Sai", other disciples got jealous of the boy. Then Saibaba left his Guru and was wandering in the west. He came to Shirdi but after sometime left the place. Again he came back to Shirdi alongwith a marriage party of Chandpatil. From then onwards till his death he stayed there continuously (From 1853 to 1918). Sairam, Saisaran.

Mega, a sincre and true devotee!

Mega is one great devotee of Saibaba. He was illeterate but humble. Initially, he was not willing to go to Shirdi, thinking that Baba is a Muslim and he was not inclined to worship a Muslim. He was forced to go to Shirdi with an introduction letter. He requested his master not to send him to Shirdi. Initially when he reached Shirdi and went to Dwarakamai, Baba hurled abuses on him saying, "You are a high caste Brahmin, How you can bow before a Muslim? saying thus Baba has not allowed him to come near. But somehow impressed with Baba's Omnipotence in knowing his innermost thoughts, Mega was sitting in a corner watching the people who worship Baba. Still he was not much convinced. Hence he returned to his native and from there he went to Trayambakeswar and stayed there for one and half years. Subsequently, he returned to Shirdi and on the intervention of Dada Kelkar, he too was admitted near Baba. Mega worshipped Baba in his own way. After worshiping other deities in Shirdi, he used to come to Dwarakamai and started messaging the feet of Sai. He used to pour water on the feet and drank the water poured on Baba's feet.

Saibaba blessed Mega in some mysterious manner. Once when Mega was sleeping in his room, in the early morning, he saw Baba inside the room. Baba showered rice grains on his head and said, "Draw Trisul". Saying this he vanished. Mega was unable to believe his own eyes. Hence when he went to Baba, he enquired whether he has to draw "Trisul". Baba told him, "My words are never hollow. When i told you earlier, why you are asking Me? Mega said, that his prsence inside a locked room seem like an illusion" Baba told him, i need no enterance to go over any place. I have no length or bredth. Doing the worship for many years, finally Mega passed away during the year 1912. Baba passed his hand on Mega's body and said, "This is my real devotee". Also Baba fed people in the memory of his great devotee Mega. Sairam, Saisaran.

The Blessed people of Shirdi!

Many people started visiting Baba in Dwaraka Mai for removal of their sufferings and for gaining wealth, progeny and other benefits. Saibaba treated all with love. He granted their heart's desire. But few devotees came to Baba seeking the real aim of life. They are "Bagat Mahlsapathy, Shri Kaparde, Nanasaheb Chandorkar and Dasganu Maharaj. Kakasaheb Dixit, Sriman Buti also are some notable devotees who constructed their own wada in Shirdi. In this regard Sriman Buti is blessed in such a way, that his wada now accommodates Baba's mortal remains. Lakhs and lakhs of devotees are visiting Shirdi, nowadays which has become a famous pilgrim centre in Maharashtra. Regular Artis and Bhajans, Puja etc are being conducted with frequent procession of Baba's Paduka and other memorials in a palank every Thursday with lot of fanfare. Such a remote hamlet, unknown to the outside world till Baba made His place of residence. The dust and grass, Baba treaded everyday for His Biksha are really very fortunate. The people of Shirdi are most fortunate for they were blessed with the opportunity to see Him, talk with him and receive the blessed Udhi from His own hand. Sairam. Saisaran.

How Damodar was blessed with children?

Damodar Savalram(Damu Anna) was a regular visitor to Shirdi from the year 1895. He had no issues though he was wealthy. He had two wives. One day Baba received a parcel of mango fruits booked in the name of Shama for Baba. Baba kept four mangoes in his kolomba and said this is for Damu Anna. After few hours, Damu Anna reached Shirdi and visited Dwarakamai for the Dharsan of Baba. Baba told him, "Damiya take these four fruits and give them to your youngest wife. This "Amra Leela" will grant children. As directed by Baba, Damu Anna gave those fruits to his youngest wife. In course of time, she delivered. Altogether four daughters and four sons were born to Damu Anna as predicted by Baba. Sairam, Saisaran.