How Baba blessed Deo for reading Gnaneswari?

Mr Deo was a devotee. He had a very peculiar problem. Whenever he wanted to study "Gnaneswari", a treatise on Gita, he could not proceed for even one stanza. Some obstructive thoughts prevented from studying the holy texts. Another devotee told him to take a copy of Gnaneswari to Baba and after his blessings, he can study it. But Deo was not in favour of this idea. He thought that Baba is aware of his problem. One day Deo went to the Masjid and asked another devotee, how he was blessed by Baba. That devotee told him that he will explain everything after Dharsan. Deo went to Baba and offered Baba Dakshina. Baba told him to sit quiet with peaceful mind. In the evening, Deo asked a devotee, how he was blessed by Baba and how he practiced meditation. When the devotee was about to reply, Baba called for Deo through one lepor devotee. Deo went to Baba. Baba asked him 20 rupees as Dakshina. Deo gave Rs.20/- to Baba. Again Baba asked him another 20 and this was given with joy. Baba started shouting at Deo and told him, "you have stolen my torn cloths. Deo denied. No. Baba insisted that you have taken my torn cloths and search for it. Even after search nothing was traced. Then Baba started a tirade of abuses for another hour on Deo. Deo thought that he will receive a slap from Baba. After some time Baba became quiet and asked Deo to come near. He then said, since there was a theft, he could not keep quiet. Baba asked Deo what he was reading? He said he is unable to read Gnaneswari and unless Baba bless him, he wont be able to understand and proceed. Baba asked him to read it loudly and explain what he has read to others. Thus Baba blessed him. After some time, Baba came in his dream and asked him how he was proceeding with the reading? Deo told him that he still finds it difficult to understand. Baba told him to study it. Thus the dream ended. Deo was happy to get the blessings of Baba in dream also. Thus he was blessed twice by Baba. Sairam.

Baba attends a function at a distant place incognito.

Saibaba never moved out of Shirdi except on few occasions when he used to visit 'Rahata" and other nearby places. Once B.V.Deo, a mamlatdar of Dahanu invited Saibaba for a lunch at Dahanu on the occasion of fulfillment of vows undertaken by his mother. Around 200 brahmins will be fed on that day. Hence Deo invited Baba through a letter. When it reached Shirdi, Babu saheb Jog, a devotee brought it to Baba. Before opening the letter, Baba told him, Tell him that you, me and one more man will participate in the lunch. On the particular day one Sanyasi who had come earlier to Dahanu for collecting some subscription for a noble cause(saving the cow) asked Deo to arrange collection. Deo told him that already some collections are being handled by him and hence he could come some months later. Hence when he saw the Sanyasi on the day of the lunch, he asked him whether he had come for collection. The sanyasi told Deo, that he had come for meals. Deo told him OK and where he should contact them when the meals are ready. The sanyasi told Deo, he had two more accompanies and he will himself come along with the appropriate time (12 noon). Accordingly all the three came and taken their food in Deo's house. Deo felt Baba had promised to come but he has not attended the function and hence he wrote a letter to Shirdi expressing his sadness. As soon as the letter was brought to Baba's presence, Baba told him, i have actually attended the function along with two others under the garb of a sanyasi. Why he called me and finds fault with me ? This was conveyed to Deo, who felt remorse of blaming Baba. Actually he failed to recognise Baba who came in the form of Sanyasi. Sairam.

Baba's Chavadi procession.

Every alternate days Baba used to go to "Chavadi" and sleep there. There will be a grand procession. Bajans will be sung by the devotees prior to Baba's procession. The horse "Shyamakarna" will lead with nice decorations. Lamps lit with oil will be carried by certain devotees during the procession. Carpets will be spread for Baba to walk. Baba will await for Tatya to call him at the masjid. When Tatya comes, Baba will get ready. He will take his 'Joli" and satka. He will carry his hukkah. He will remove the firewood from the fire and extinguish the lamp that is burning there. Tatya will help Baba, by lifting him by keeping his hand near the armpit and Baba will slowly get up. The procession will be very slow. Beldars will announce Baba's name. Shri Mahlsapathy and Tatya will hold the 'kafni' and thus Baba will slowly emerge and move in a very slow pace. As soon as he reach the junction, Baba will stand still but wave his hand up and down. Baba's face will be glittering. Sometimes "Mahlsapathy' will get into trance and he will move a few steps here and there as though possessed by a spirit. But Baba was unaffected by all these. As soon as Baba enters the Chavadi, arrangements are made to seat Baba comfortably and He will be anointed with perfumes, sandal paste etc. Some people would present beautiful headgear to Baba. As Baba's mood is unpredictable, people will be bothered whether Baba will remove the headgear etc. But Baba used to silently sit honouring the sentiments of the devotees. After "Arati song" Baba will give "Udhi" to all the devotees and bade them to go to their houses. When Tatya takes leave, Baba will say, 'look after me, come here when you can". After that Baba spreads 50 to 60 white towels and goes to rest. May we remember this every day before we go to sleep. Sairam.

Dada Kelkar and Baba's tests.

Sometimes Baba used to test his close devotees. Dada Kelkar was sincere in his devotion to Saibaba. He knew that implicit obedience to Guru is essential in spiritual progress. On one Ekadasi day, Baba asked Dada Kelkar to go to mutton stall and purchase meat. When he was ready, Baba cancelled his instruction and asked his servant "Pandu" to go there. Again Baba cancelled this also. When Baba was preparing 'pulav', a non vegetarian dish, he asked Dada Kelkar whether the salt is in correct proportion in the 'pulav'. Kelkar, as a matter of routine said, it is ok. Baba told him, you have neither seen it nor tasted it. How you can pronounce the result. Hence do not bother about your austerities and take a little from the pot and pour it into your food. But Baba never meant this actually. It was only to test the devotee, how he reacts to the Guru. Baba never allowed his orthodox devotees to touch meat preparations. There are three kind of devotees. 1. Those who anticipate Guru's commands and fulfills them is the first variety. 2. Those who do as per the bidding's of Guru, and these are the second type. 3. Those who postpone following Guru's words at every step. These are the worst variety. Dada Kelkar proved that he follows the words of Guru in Toto. Sairam.

Noolkar left his body in Shirdi.

Noolkar was a sub judge when Nana Saheb introduced him about Saibaba. But Noolkar was reluctant to go. He said he will go to Shirdi only if he get a brahmin cook and a basket of Nagpur oranges. Luckily both the conditions were fulfilled and he had to go to Shirdi as per his resolve. First Baba got angry with him and afterwards Noolkar developed good faith in Baba by watching the events that take place in the Masjid. People were worshipping Baba in different ways and Baba was also conferring his benevolent blessings on the devotees. In course of time, he started living in Shirdi and by Baba's grace he left his body in Shirdi itself. Before his death, holy scriptures were read in his presence. Thus Noolkar attained the feet of Saibaba. Sairam.

Baba and Kaka mahajani's master.

Whoever puts his feet on Shirdi soil, his sufferings would come to an end. The wretched and miserable would rise into plenty of joy and happiness as soon as they climb the steps of my mosque. These are all the assurances of Baba to his devotees. Many have realised the truth of the above assurances. People who are afflicted by diseases and mental worries were cured of their melodies. The Dharsan itself confers mental peace. We can not go to Shirdi on our own accord. Baba calls his own people in a mysterious way.Kaka Mahajani was one such devotee who visits Shirdi whenever he finds an opportunity. His employer knew that Kaka often visits Shirdi. During the holy days of "Shimga", his master accompanied Kaka to Shirdi. Since he was not sure of Kaka's return, he took one more friend with him. In fact he wanted to test Baba's mystery. Kaka Mahajani brought 2 measures of 'dry grapes' to present to Baba. His master was not in favour of 'grapes' since his Doctor has told him not to eat them without washing. As soon as they reached the Masjid, Kaka gave the dry grapes to Baba. Baba asked some devotee to distribute the grapes to all those who assembled there. Kaka's master was also given some grapes. He could not decide what to do and hence he reluctantly put them in his mouth. To his consternation, there were seeds inside and he could not spit it inside the Masjid and hence he silently kept the seeds in his pocket. Again Baba asked the devotee to distribute 'grapes'. Now the master was very much perplexed. Again he had to put it in his mouth and miraculously those were 'seedless'. He was astonished and asked Kaka, what variety of grapes are now taken? Kaka told his master 'it is the one with Seeds". Kaka's master wanted to witness a miracle and accordingly he saw it with his own experience. Again he thought, "If Baba is really God, the grapes should be distributed starting from Kaka. Astonishingly Baba asked a devotee to distribute the grapes starting from Kaka. Now the master got his confirmation about Baba's Divinity. Shama introduced the master as Kaka's employer. Baba told Shama, No Kaka has a different Master. Everybody appreciated Baba's statement. Sairam.

Nana and Bagawat Gita.

Nana Chandorkar has studied "Bagawat Gita'. He thought that Saibaba is not conversant with Sanskrit language. One day he was massaging the feet of Baba uttering within himself some sloka. Baba asked him, 'what you are uttering? Nana told him, it is a sloka of Gita. Baba asked him to repeat it aloud. Nana chanted the whole sloka which goes like this: "Tad Viddhi Pranipatena Pariprasnena sevaya, Upadeshyanti te gnanam, Gnaninas Tatwadarsanaha". Baba told him, "Tell me the meaning of this sloka. Nana told Baba: "We have to surrender at the feet of jnanis and by doing service, we have to enquire from those jnanis about real wisdom, who will reveal us the essence of wisdom".Baba told him, "Nana! I dont want the jist, tell me the meaning of each word with reference to grammar and context! Nana started explaining the meaning of each word: Baba asked him, "What is the meaning of 'prasna'? Nana said it is 'questioning". Then, what is the meaning of "Pariprasna"?. Nana said, it conveys the same meaning Baba!. If both conveys same meaning, was "Vyasa off the mind to add the adjective "pari". Nana could not give any reply and thus he understood that Baba is well versed in Sanskrit as well as Gita. Then, Baba started to tell him the real meaning of the above stanza. You have to know that your body, mind and intelligence is not yours and it is meant for the service of Guru. Do not think that you have a choice to serve. Surrender to the Guru with all your body, mind and wealth. Then only, the Guru will educate you and illuminate you what is Jnana. Also why Shri Krishna ask Arjuna to seek the Jnanis? Is Krishna himself a Jnani? But Krishna wanted Arjuna to know the glory of Jnanis. All Jnanis are in fact Shri Krishna himself. Thus Nana was convinced about Baba's supreme knowledge. Sairam.