Urus and Ramanavami.

Muslims celeberate "Urus" by taking sandal paste and sandal powder in plates in procession. Saibaba allowed the procession on a particular day. From that time every year the local Muslims took procession of the sandal paste and powder and applied the paste in the mosque walls. The rest of the material was poured in "Nimbar" pits. One day a peculiar thought arose in the mind of a devotee of Baba. He thought that Baba gave permission for celeberation of "Urus" on "Rama Navami" day, a festival for Hindus. The devotee thought within himself that there must be Divine coincidence for performing the Urus on Ramanavami day. Why not ask Baba permission to celeberate the Ramanavami on that day. The main event of Ramanavami day is narrating the story of Rama. Who will narrate the story was the problem. But that was resolved by selecting each year one Puranik who happened to be conversant with the narration of "Rama katha". Every year, due to Divine blessings, one pundit or other happened to visit Shirdi and they were ready to perform the narration. Finally Baba appointed "Dasganu Maharaj" to narrate the same every year. Though the festivals were celeberated on the same day, no untoward happenings were noticed and Hindus and Muslims celeberated their festival peacefully. Sairam, Saisaran.

Wealth and Woman.

Mahlsapathy was a poor gold smith. He was a great devotee of Saibaba. He was privilaged to sleep in the Masjid every alternate day alongwith Tatya Kote Patil. Baba loved them much. Though Mahlsapathy was poor, Saibaba never allowed him to earn by any other means. Seeing the condition of Mahlsapathy, one Marwadi named Hansraj wanted to give a good sum of money to him but Baba has not allowed Mahlsapathy to accept the same. Only Saibaba knows what should be given, when and to whom. In matters of receiving Dakshina from the Devotees, Sai has not asked all. He said, "I ask only from those, Allah points". By giving the money, the devotee is rid of the debt due. Baba never kept any money with Him when the day ends. He used to distribute the Dakshina to different people in different proportions. None can understand the reasons behind Baba's actions. In fact the desire for wealth and woman are the greatest hurdles in the path of spiritual aspirant. Saibaba saw to that his devotees never fell prey to these vices. Sairam, Saisaran.

All creatures have Atma!

The people of Shirdi are very fortunate, especially those who were contemporary to Saibaba are the luckiest lot. They might not know their blessings. Everyday, they had the fortune to see Saibaba, took Udhi from His Divine Hand and some even drank the water that was used to clean the Divine Feet of Sai. He was the embodiment of Love and He loved His devotees as His own children. Night and Day, he was concerned about their welfare. Hence the devotees could spend their time without any burden or botheration. They have left all their concerns in his hand and enjoyed peaceful existence. Sai wanted nothing from His dear devotees. He wants them to remember Him always and see Him in all creatures. Once, He asked Lakshmi, "Oh Lakshmi! I am hungry, bring me food. Immediately, the devotee Lakshmi prepared food and brought roti, subji etc and placed in front of Sai. However Sai did not eat the food and He took the food and placed it in front of a dog which ate all with gusto. Lakshmi was annoyed. Oh Baba, why you pestered me to bring food? i prepared everything with my own hand and without tasting even a little bit, you placed it before the dog? Baba replied calmly, Oh Lakshmi! why you are perturbed. All creatures whether they talk or not has a soul which is Atma. Paramatma resides in all the creatures as Atma. The dog was hungry and hence i appeased its hunger. Such a beautiful teaching was given to the devotee Lakshmi on that day. What a nice episode? Sairam, Saisaran.

Baba raising Lendi garden.

During the initial years of his stay, Saibaba gave medicines to the people who came to him with various ailments. He was always successful in curing their diseases. People started approaching him for their health problems. Saibaba liked the company of Janakidas and Devidass. They will come to his place or he will go to their place. Devidass was residing in Shirdi few years before Baba came there. He was having a beautiful eyes. He was a Jnani. A Vaisya saint from Puntambi came to Shirdi once. After seeing Baba carrying pitchers of water to water the seeds, the saint said, "He is not an ordinary man. He is really a diamond. The people of Shirdi are very lucky to have such a worthy gem.Baba brought flower seeds of "Joy, Jui and Sendhu". He raised a beautiful garden in Lendi in which stand the beautiful Samadhi temple of Saibaba now. He brought those seeds from nearby places. Vaman Tatya gave him daily two unbaked earthern pots. Baba brought water in those pots and he used to place them beneath a tree after completing watering. As soon as he place those pots under the tree, the pots disintegrated due to raw mud pots. (to continue)

Baba's initial devotees.

Saibaba had few devotees in the initial period in Shirdi. Prominant among them are the Pujari of Khandoba temple, Shri Mahlsapathi, Madhav Rao(Shama) and Tatya Kote Patil, the son of Bayaji Ma who used to search out Sai in jungles and force feed him. Baba loved all of them alike. He allowed them in the Mosque and especially Mahlsapathy and Tatya stayed with Baba many years in the Mosque during the night time and they were conversing among themselves about many items. If any of them is found sleepy, Baba will press their head to wake them up. Usually Mahlsapathy used to doze. When Baba asked him to keep awake and watch Namajapa by placing his hand on the heart of Sai, his hand will become weighty indicating his sleep. He will sway his head more often indicating his sleep. After some time, when Tatya's father passed away, Baba asked Tatya to go and sleep in his house.Also, he asked Mahlsapathy to go and sleep in his house. But Mahlsapathy was not willing to leave Baba along. However Baba persisted and asked Mahlsapathy to go to his house. Subsequently a son was born to Mahlsapathy who was having three daughters. Baba used to say to Mahlsapathy, Daughters are like "Tamarind fruit" but a son is "Mango fruit". Thus Baba looked after the welfare of those devotees and saw that they progress in spiritual as well as temporal welfare. Sairam, Saisaran.

Sai's intial years in Shirdi and his routine.

In the initial years of his stay in Shirdi, Sai contacted one Janakidas. He also interacted with one Devidas. These two are saintly people. He begged his food from five houses. Whatever he got from these five houses were collected by him in a cloth bag if it is "Roti or solid items. If it is liquid, Sai received them in a tin container. After collecting his "Biksha, he mixed them all and offered to Allah. He took his food from this and left the balance in a container. The woman who cleaned the mosque, took about 4 or five rotis for her family. Even dogs and cats ate the rest. Baba never drove these creatures for He visusalized Allah in all the beings. Some times, he will not be seen in the masjid. During the time, he used to visit a distant well far away from the mosque. He used to take bath, clean his internal system in a peculiar way. He used to vomit his intestine and wash it and dry it on a Jambu tree. After which he used to swallow them. These are Yogi's way. NONE should dare to copy this. He used to wander long inside the adjoining jungles and bushes. During those times, Bayaji Ma, a devout lady took great pain in searching for Sai, took rotis and subji on her head searching for him in every nook and corner. Finding Sai sitting like a statue on a rocky bed, she would spread the food on a plate and compelled him to partake it. Otherwise she would force feed him. Such was her love for Sai.(to be contd)

Sai's Guru's place.

By the time Sai, now about 16 years old has moved away from his master "Venkusa" and started travelling in the western direction and in the course of his journey he reached "Shirdi", a small hamlet in Ahamadnagar District. He was always absorbed in his own Self and never interacted with any. He was oblivious of the harsh weather. He was not bothered about food or drink. After staying there for 3 years, it seems he has again left that placed. But his link with Shirdi and its people has not broken. He had to come back alongwith a marriage party after some time and from then onwards he started staying in a dilapidated mosque. He was accosted as "Ya Sai" by none other than the priest of Kandoba temple, the devotee "Mahlsapathy". Many people were eager to know about Sai, who are his parents and wherefrom he has come. Once a possessed man was asked, "What is the antecedents of this Sai. It was really Kandoba who possessed the man and said, Dig this place, he was practicing spiritual sadhana in this place for 12 years. When the people dug that place, they found a slab and when it was removed it led them to a celler where there were many peculiar objects indicating a place where somebody undertook penance. When Sai was asked, he simply said, it is His Guru's place and close it as before and take care of the place.Now the place is fenced and a resting place around the tree was constructed. People meditate and worship sitting in the place. Sairam, Saisaran(to be contd..)

Baba and his Guru.

The Muslim lady who took care of the baby reared the boy with care. However, the boy has become very mischivous and uncontrollable. He used to go to the Masjid and say Siva is Allah!. The Muslims at the mosque used to tease him for his impertinance. He will visit the Hindu temple and utter the name of Allah. Hence both the communities have got wild with the boy. They complained about the boy to his foster mother. Meanwhile her husband too passed away. Unable to tame him, she handed over the custody of the boy to one Guru Shri venkusa. The Guru took the boy "Sai" under his care and fostered him with much love. Thus Sai was under the care of his Guru for 12 years. The other boys who were under the care of Guru got jealous of Sai and they planned a strategy. While the Guru was with Sai, they hurled a brick aiming to Sai. Unfortunately the brick hit the head of Guru and there was blood shed. Sai was very much unhappy. His Guru bade him to go west. Sai departed from his Guru and was wandering towards the west. In the course of wanderings, he came to Shirdi and stayed under a neem tree unconcerned about the weather. (to be contd..)

Saibaba's birth!

It was the blessings granted by Lord Shiva to Baratwaja Rishi, that resulted in the Avatar Saibaba who was born in "Pathri", a place in erstwhile Nizam state. The mother was Devagiriamma and father was Gangabava, who plied a boat across the river and earned a little to lead a frugal life. They had no issues until one day, the Lord himself manifested himself before the devout Devagiriamma. She was astonished. Mother Parvati and Lord Shiva conferred on her unasked boons, the birth of a girl and boy and Shiva himself has promised to take birth as the boy in the family. The husband was absent during the entire episode since he went to the riverbed to take care of the boat due to heavy rains. True to the boons granted, first a girl was born and after some time as predicted a boy was born(saibaba). The birth was on 28 September 1935. The husband realising the validity of the boons was desparate to have the Dharsan of the Lord. Hence he was very much eager to leave family life and to pursue monastic life to achieve his goal. He left his pregnant wife but she was adament and followed her husband. When they were approaching a big tree, the wife had developed pains and the boy was born. Since her husband was eager to lead a life of renunciation, the mother left the new born baby at the mercy of nature, covering it with some tree leaves. A Muslim house holder who happened to go near the tree, heard the cries of the new born baby. He searched for the parents but could not find any. Hence he took the baby in his custody since he was issueless. He handed over the boy to his wife and they took great care to bring up the baby. (To be contd..) Sairam.

Incredible Saibaba!

Saibaba was a peculiar Avatar. Many considered him as a 'mad fakir'. Those who moved with him in close proximity for a considerable time could gauge some of his moods. Most of the time, Sai used to say, "Allah Malik". He asserts that he is only a humble servant of God. Most of the time, he used to sit alone in the Masjid facing the "Dhuni", the fire place. He used to feed the fire with fire wood. Night and day it will burn. It is the experience of his close devotees or followers that many of their sins are burnt away in the Dhuni. Baba was immeasurable. He was aware of whatever is going on the external world. Hence he could save a little baby that fell on the fire at a place quite a distance from Shirdi. He provided water to Nana during hot summer in Harischandra hill in the form of Bhil. He saved Minatai, daughter of Nana Saheb when she was undergoing labor pains. He sent one of his devotee with Udhi and a copy of Arati song in a timely manner so that it could be delivered in crucial time to save her. Many such examples abount in Sai Sat Charita. When dogs eat the food placed in the container, Baba never drove them away. He always taught his devotees that God dwells in all beings and animals. He never encouraged people to kill poisonous snakes. He used to say, "Nothing will harm us without God's will". People gave him "Biksha" in the form of roti or bread, milk or buttermilk, subji and Dhall. He used to go to the houses of some five devotees. Though he collected "Dakshina", he distributed every penny and nothing remained with him. He used to say, "Allah or Masudi Mai asked for the repayment of debt and hence i collect Dakshina only from those whom Allah points out. Sairam.