SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

EX PERIENCE
EXPERIENCE S an
PERIENCES d THO
and UGHT
THOUGHT S...
UGHTS...
R This incident took place in October 1917, when, due to some special reason, my
friend and his wife could pay their obeisance in Sai’s Darbar for the second time in the
E same week.
Since there was no place in Dixit’s wada, Sri Balabhau Chandorkar offered his
M stock room next to the boarding house for their stay. Unfortunately, the abundant
termites in the room bit them day and night and made their lives miserable.
I My friend was sure that if he spread Baba’s Udi around the sleeping area, they
would be able to sleep comfortably; but he did not feel it appropriate to put the Udi to
N this use and so they both bore the discomfort.

I One night, when my friend could not sleep, he thought, ‘Sai loves me dearly. He
takes care of all my worldly troubles. Though I constantly realise this, I am not doing
S any seva of Sai. In 1911, Baba gave me a special blessing which I insist on being fulfilled
in this very life. This makes it impossible for Him to leave His body. My mental demand
C thus causes His body great anguish. My unbreakable bond with Sai is for this life and
for all lives gone and yet to come. So, why should I enforce Him to keep my vow ? It is
E not my wish to be legendary. Since Sai is taking care of me in this life, why should I
bother about future lives ? Why should I worry about life and death ? When I have
N such a loving and caring mother in Sai - The Mother of the world - why should I be
apprehensive ?’
C So, in his mind he lovingly made a pledge - ‘Baba, my wish to fulfil Your blessing in
this very life is improper for a mere mortal like me. Kindly fulfil Your blessing in
E whichever birth You may desire it to be accomplished. Henceforth I will not hanker for
it.’ He made this mental promise and went to sleep. He did not tell his wife about it, lest
she changed his mind.
The next morning, when he reached for Sai Darshan, Sai said to Dixit, “Kaka, this
Bhau has flung what I gave him on my face ! He wishes to go down in the doldrums !
What can I say ?”
Dixit did not understand anything. When he came to know the whole story from
my friend after the Aarati, he felt sad.
When they both went for Sai Darshan in the afternoon, Baba said to my friend,
“You should read some spiritual books !” ‘When there is a walking – talking book in front
of me, what can I read ?’ thought my friend and smiled. Sai looked at him and smiled
lovingly. Seeing the benevolent smile, my friend got rid of any ifs and buts in his mind
and with tears flowing from his eyes did Abhishek on Baba’s Feet. Sai placed His hand on
my friend’s head and blessed him.
When they returned, Dixit asked, “So what will you read ?” My friend replied, “Ask
Baba !” Dixit had great regard for my friend and he was curious. In the evening, he asked
Sai, “Baba, what should he read ?” Sai said, “What about him ? We’ll see !”
The main reason for writing this story is that, wherever we may be, all our actions
and thoughts are perceived by Sai even after leaving the mortal world. All that we think
or do is not without His knowledge and we devotees should always remember this.
Just like Sai during His first Darshan, and later time and again said, “I am keeping

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SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

an eye on everyone !” Sri Krishna too has said in the Bhagwad Geeta – “Not only do I
keep a loving eye on people from all walks of life – but even people far and wide !”
R Sai Baba left this mortal world ! Sri Krishna left this mortal world ! How will They

E keep a loving watchful eye on all of us ?

We should think of this not in terms of Their Leelas, but in terms of the Ashwath
M Vriksha within us.
The star of our solar system – the sun, on whom all the visible and invisible things
I on earth are dependent, itself, is moving with all the planets in our solar system
revolving around it.
N The innumerable stars we see in the night sky are themselves enormous suns. We
cannot fathom how many earth-like planets may be revolving around them. They are so
I far away, that even with the immense speed of light some of them are more than
10,000 light years away ! It means light which left some of them even before the
S Mahabharat, is reaching us now ! The expanse of the universe is mind boggling !

C How can we cross such vast distances ? With the power of our thoughts ! The
speed of thought is much more than that of light. We can think and our thoughts can
E reach across the sun – its heat cannot burn them, diffuse them, stop them or break
them. Isn’t it amazing ?
N Thoughts good and bad, are like eddies in the water. They leave a human mind,
travel all over the universe and come back to the same mind ! Bad thoughts make a
C person to be born again and again. Good thoughts help a person stabilise his mind and
attain self-enlightenment.
E Auto–suggestion helps to stabilise the mind. The wisdom of the saints, divine
knowledge and spiritual study as well as Nam-jap or chanting the name of an Ishta
Devata brings a person closer to attaining enlightenment. Of course, this depends on
the person’s mental preparedness.
Ultimately this leads to complete self-realisation with the blessings of a Sadguru
and taking birth becomes a matter of choice.
Great souls like Shri Sai Baba, Who outwardly look like you and me, are enlightened
souls who are in complete alignment with the seen and unseen world. His words and
thoughts are reverberating throughout the entire universe and these same words
help us ordinary men and women attain salvation.
Thoughts are part of our mind. Intelligence, mind and soul are intertwined and
blend into each other. Great saints have written about this and it is my sincere and
loving effort as Baba’s devotee to establish how western science is in tune with it.
Old Man
Shri Sai Leela, Year VII, Issues 9-10-11

Translated from Marathi into English

by Jyoti Ranjan Raut
8/A, Kakad Estate, 106, Sea Face Road,
Worli, Mumbai - 400 018.
E-mail : [email protected]

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SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

Shirdi is the Mahabaleshwar Gokarna !

“… as the soil of Shirdi was trodden by Sai regarded as one of the seven Mukti Sthalas of
Baba’s Feet, it attained extraordinary Karnatak. The other six Mukti Sthalas of
importance. As Dnyaneshwar elevated Alandi, Karnatak are Udupi, Kollur, Subramanya,
Eknath did to Paithan, so Sai Baba raised Kumbhashi, Koteshwar, and Shankaranarayan.
Shirdi. Blessed are the grass-leaves and stones All these shrines are also known as Parshuram
of Shirdi, for they could easily kiss the Holy Kshetras, created on the land reclaimed from the
Feet of Sai Baba, and take their dust on their sea by Rishi Parshuram. The six foot tall Shiv-
head. Shirdi became to us, devotees, another lingam, enclosed in a square Shaligram Peetham,
Pandharpur, Jagannath, Dwarka, Banaras can be seen only once in 40 years, when the
(Kashi) and Rameshwar, Badrikedar, Nasik, Ashta-bandhan Kumbhabhishekam is
Tryambakeshwar, Ujjain, and Mahakaleshwar performed. A golden rekha on the Peetham and a
or Mahabaleshwar Gokarna.” small hole in its middle permit devotees to have a
- Shri Sai Satcharita, Chapter 4, English glimpse of the top of the Aatma-lingam. It is
version by Sri Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji customary here to have a dip in the sea and then

Mahabaleshwar temple at Gokarna Samadhi Mandir at Shirdi

The Mahabaleshwar temple is located in

worship a Shiv-lingam made out of sand, before
Gokarna. Gokarna is located at a distance of 170
worshipping at the temple.
k.m. from Manglore. It is a sacred pilgrimage site
in the Uttar Kannad district of Karnatak, There is legend is that Ravan’s mother
enshrining the Aatma-lingam of Lord Shiv. It is Kaikaya was a great devotee of Lord Shiv. She

10
SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

ling. Ravan said, “Mother, shame

on me ! You, being my mother,
should worship earthen Shiv-ling.
But, by the way, what do you
intend to achieve by worshipping
Lord Shiv this way ?”
Kaikaya replied that she
would thereby get a place in
Mount Kailash - the abode of Lord
Shiv - after her death. Thereupon
Ravan said, “Why do you take so
much trouble ? I shall bring Mount
Kailash itself to you.”
Saying this, he went to Mount
Kailash, and began to shake it
Ravan’s mother Kaikaya worshipped a new Shiv-ling every day. violently with his 20 hands; and
finally lifted it up with all his
worshipped a new Shiv-ling every day. One day,
might. Parvati went to Lord Shiv with fear and
she could not get a new Shiv-ling. Fearing that
said, “What has happened to Mount Kailash to-
her ‘vrat’ would be futile, she prepared an
day ? Everyone is feeling terribly panicky. But,
earthen ling and began to worship it with
You seem unconcerned, my dear Lord ! Please
devotion. (‘Vrat’ is a Sanskrit word, that means
‘to vow’ or ‘to promise’. In the context of do something before a disaster strikes.”
Hinduism and Hindu mythology, the term‘vrat’ Lord Shiv said to her, “You need not be
denotes a religious practice to carry out certain anxious. Ravan is one of my fervent, ardent and
obligations with a view to achieve divine passionate devotees. Just let him have his fun.”
blessing for fulfilment of one or several desires.)
Parvati entreated, “Kindly protect the Gods
Seeing this, Ravan asked her, what she was Who are under terrific dread.”
doing. She said that she was worshipping a Shiv-
Lord Shiv couldn’t sit to wait any longer. He
pressed Ravan’s 10 heads and 20
hands underneath heavenly Mount
Kailash.
Finding himself in distress,
Ravan uttered ‘Shiv... Shiv’ and
prayed,
“O Lord ! I own up to the fact
that I have made a fearful,
unpardonable mistake and I am
truly deeply sorry. Forgive me and
show mercy to me. Give me
refuge; take me under Your
protection ! Do not kill me, I
beseech You ! I am Your humble
devotee.”

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SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

Ravan said, “O God of

Gods ! I have come to take away
Mount Kailash with me as my
mother has undertaken a ‘vrat’ to
worship You daily. Kindly fulfil
my mother’s desire !”

Lord Shiv said, “If your

mother wishes to worship me,
what is the necessity of taking
Mount Kailash to her. I shall give
you Atma-ling, which will fulfil all
her desires instantly. It is just like
my soul.”

Lord Shiv gave him the Atma-

ling with the condition that it
Ravan performed ugra tapasya should never be placed on the
ground till he reaches the place,
where he wanted to install it. If the
Atma-ling was ever placed on the
ground, it will be attracted by
mother earth and even Lord Shiv
can’t move Atma-ling from that
place. Ravan at once started his
journey to Lanka with Atma-ling.

Sage Narad, who came to

know of this incident,
apprehended that Ravan might
become invincible with the Atma-

Ravan then performed ugra

tapasya; cut his head, turned his
hands into violin, and attached his
intestines to serve as musical
wires. He began to chant Sam Ved
and sing other ragas on the tune
of this musical instrument. He
praised Lord Shiv in nine rasas
and thirty-six ragas.
His prayer pleased Lord Shiv.
Thus being satisfied and happy by
Ravan’s performance at great
personal sacrifice, Lord Shiv
appeared before him and said, “I
am much pleased. Ask for
whatever you desire !”

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SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

Who possesses a large body

(mahaakaaya),
A curved trunk (vakratunda),
Who shines with the brilliance of a
million suns (surya koti) !
Please make all my work free of
obstacles, always !]
Narad also told Lord Ganapati that Ravan
achieved Atma-ling from Lord Shiv without
first worshipping Him; and requested Him to
prevent the Atma-ling from reaching Lanka.
Narad also confided the ‘strategy plan’ to Lord
Ganapati. Lord Ganesh willingly gave His full
ling and create havoc on earth. So, he consent to play His part in the divine drama.
approached Lord Vishnu to retrieve it. As Ravan was nearing Gokarna, Lord
When Lord Vishnu heard from Narad that Vishnu blotted out the sun to give the appearance
Ravan will become all powerful by worshipping of dusk. Ravan now had to perform his evening
the Atma-ling and menace to the world, He rituals; but was worried because with the Atma-
devised a plan to stall Ravan’s mission. He ling in his hands, he would not be able to do his
rituals. At this time, Lord Ganesh in the disguise
thought that Lord Ganapati was alone capable of
executing this plan. He revealed His plan to sage
Narad in strict confidence. Accordingly, Narad
approached Lord Ganapati, and reminded Him
that Ganesh is always invariably worshipped first
before starting a mission thus :

of a cowherd boy accosted him. Ravan requested

him to hold the Atma-ling until he performed his
rituals, and asked him not to place it on the
ground. Thereafter the cowherd boy said with
hesitation, “I am an ignorant boy. I won’t hold
this Atma-ling in my hands, as it may be heavy.”
Still Ravan persuaded and induced him to hold
Vakratunda Mahaakaaya
the Atma-ling; and he proceeded to observe
Suuryakoti Samaprabha
sandhya on the sea shore.
Nirvighnam Kurume Dev
Shubha Kaaryeshu Sarvadaa The cowherd boy warned him, “Mind, as
soon as I feel the Atma-ling heavy, I shall place it
[O Lord Ganesh,
on the earth.” The boy took the Atma-ling, saying

13
SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

that he would call Ravan thrice, and if Ravan did

not return within that time, he would place the
Atma-ling on the ground. All the Gods had
assembled in the sky and were witnessing this
event.
When Ravan was offering arghyas (water
ablutions to Fire God), the cowherd boy
recollected Lord Vishnu’s ‘strategy plan’. He
soon started feigning feeling of fatigue and
exhaustion, and called out, “Ravan, Ravan,
Ravan !” Ravan made signs by hand and asked
him to wait for a little more time. But, the boy put

the Atma-ling on the ground in the presence of all

the Gods in the sky. Ravan rushed and returned
with a mumbled curse.
The full force of Ravan’s anger was now
directed on the child. “How dare you keep the
Atma-ling down !” he cried; and with his fist, hit
the cowherd boy on the head ! Suddenly, in place
of the cowherd boy, there stood Ganesh. Ravan
at once understood that this was all the doing of
the Gods.
Ravan then tried to pull the Atma-ling out.
However, it seemed to have grown roots
instantly; and no matter how hard Ravan tried, he
couldn’t pull it out. Under the full force of
Ravan’s strength, the Atma-ling twisted. It now
resembles the ear of a cow. That is why it is
known as Gokarna. Ravan called the Atma-ling
Mahabal (too strong). From then that place is
being called Mahabaleshwar Gokarna.
The legend of the installation of the Atma-
ling at Gokarna by Lord Ganapati is analogous to
the installation instance of the Pindi (an image of
Lord Shiv) near the big picture of Sai Baba in the
wada at Shirdi by Lord Sai Himself. - Shri Sai
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SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

Chapter 28, Shri Sai Satcharita

Satcharita, Chapter 28, English
version by Sri Nagesh Vasudev
Gunaji
Megha of Viramgaon was a
simple and illiterate brahmin cook
of Raobahadur H. V. Sathe. He
was a devotee of Lord Shiv and
always chanted the five syllabled
mantra ‘Namah Shivay’. Sathe
told him that Sai Baba of Shirdi
was the embodied form of the
Lord Shiv and made him start for
Shirdi. Megha gradually began to
look upon Sai Baba as an
incarnation of Lord Shiv. In order
to worship Lord Shiv, bel leaves
are required, and Megha used to
go miles and miles every day to
bring them and worship his Lord
Shiv (Sai Baba).
Megha worshipped Sai Baba
in two places - in the Masjid he
worshipped Sai Baba in person,
and Sai Baba’s big picture in the
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SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

direct order and my words are always

pregnant with meaning and never
hollow.” Megha said, “I thought, You
woke me up, but all the doors were
closed; so I thought it was a vision.”
Sai Baba rejoined, “I require no door
to enter. I have neither form nor any
extension; I always live everywhere. I
carry on, as a wirepuller, all the
actions of the man, who trusts me and
merges in me.” Megha returned to the
wada, and drew a red Trident on the
wall near Sai Baba’s picture. Next
day, a devotee named Ramdasi came
from Poona, saluted Sai Baba and
offered Him Pindi (an image of Lord
Shiv). At that point of time Megha
also turned up there. Sai Baba said to
him, “Look here, Megha ! Lord
Shankar has come. Protect (i.e.,
worship) Him now !” Megha was
surprised to see Pindi following
Trident immediately. Then, also in the
wada, Kakasaheb Dixit was standing
with a towel on his head after having
taken his bath, and was remembering
Sai. At that point of time, he also saw
a Pindi before his mental vision.
While he was wondering about this,
Megha came and showed him the
Pindi presented to him by Sai Baba.
wada. This he did for an uninterrupted period of Dixit was happy to know that the Pindi exactly
12 months. Then, in order to appreciate his tallied with the one he saw a few minutes before
devotion and confirm his faith, Sai Baba gave in his vision. Sai Baba installed the Pindi near
him a vision. Early one morning, when Megha the big picture which Megha was worshipping.
was still lying down on his bed with eyes closed,
Baba’s Divine Act of installation of the Pindi
but internally awake, he saw clearly Sai Baba’s
at Shirdi makes Shirdi the Mahabaleshwar
Form. Sai Baba, knowing him to be awake, threw
Gokarna.
akshata (rice-grains marked red with kumkum)
and said, “Megha, Draw a Trident !”, and - Dr. Subodh Agarwal
disappeared. Hearing Sai Baba’s words, Megha ‘Shirdi Sai Dham’,
eagerly opened his eyes, but did not see Sai 29, Tilak Road, Dehra Dun - 248 001,
Baba; but saw only rice grains spread here and Uttarakhand.
Mobile : (0)9897202810
there. He then went to Sai Baba, told Him about Tel. & Fax : 0135-2622810
the vision and asked permission to draw Trident. E-mail : [email protected]
Sai Baba said, “Did you not hear my words
asking you to draw Trident ? It was no vision, but ❍❍❍
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SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

MADHAVRAO ADKAR
(Contd. from Sept.-Oct. 2011)

Second Innings
Towards the latter part of his life,
Madhavrao was immersed in the love for the
Almighty. He was keen to visit Pandharpur,
bathe in the holy river of Chandrabhaga, avail In Sai’s Proximity
the darshan of Lord Pandurang and stay there
for some time. He conveyed this to Swami undertaking one such journey, he met some
Rangacharya Maharaj who was residing in warkaris who were on their way to Pandharpur.
Ram Baug at Pandharpur. After getting his They began persuading Madhavrao to
consent, Madhavrao stayed there from May accompany them. Madhavrao said, ‘‘I have just
1944 till June 1953. come back after completing a long journey. I will
need some rest. I suggest that you people carry
In this stay of about 10 years, he also
on as per your plan. I will catch with you at
stayed in Ram Baug. During this period, he was
village Chaufala at 9 am.’’ Adhering to his
engrossed in only one subject – Lord
request, the other members of the group left the
Pandurang. His daily routine consisted of three
place early in the morning and saw Madhavrao
times bath in the river Chandrabhaga, seva,
was fast asleep. On reaching Chaufala, they
aarati, upasana, darshan of the Lord and a walk
were surprised to see that Madhavrao was
around the town.
waiting for them there.
He also regularly performed kirtans and
Madhavrao was a pillar of strength for
pravachans. There is a mention that, in the Das
many. Many villagers, who were facing
ganu’s wada, Madhavrao delivered an aakhyan
difficulties or problems, would come to him for
on saint Damajipant. During his stay in
advice or help. He would suggest ways of
Pandharpur, Dasganu would invite him to
mitigating their woes – like recite the name of
participate in the observance of saint
the God, observe fast on a Thursday, perform
Dnyaneshwar Maharaj’s punyatithi (death
abhishek and the like.
anniversary). Till his last in 1953, the people
felicitated Madhavrao during this function. Let me and other devotees
Even if had to travel to some other place, rest at Your Feet
he would come walking back to the town. While In December 1953, Swami Rangacharya

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SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

Maharaj sent a word to at village Loni to clammy and cold. My recital was going on. I did
Madhavrao’s son Ramachandrapant that his not realize when he breathed his last. We
father was seriously ill. He immediately rushed performed his final rites at Pandharpur.
to Ram Baug at Pandharpur and brought his Thereafter, I went to meet my Guru Dasganu.
father to Loni. There Ramachandrapant’s wife He was overcome by emotions and said, ‘He
Mrs. Mathurabai and other family members took has achieved the goal in his life. He laid down
good care of Madhavrao. his body with a very contented mind. Therefore,
do not rue about his passing away.’ I returned to
Several relatives visited him there and
Loni with a heavy heart.’’
enquired about his health. Madhavrao’ younger
brother Shri Ganpatrao also came and stayed At village Dhanore, there is a samadhi (a
with the family. Everyday minimum 3-4 letters tomb) of Madhavrao’s ancestor Swami Yogiraj.
wishing his speedy recovery arrived. Around It was Madhavrao’s wish that the samadhi be
this time, he also received money orders from preserved. His grandson has maintained it
Dasganu and G. T. Karnik. And then he received accordingly.
a very valuable audio record from His Master’s
With an objective of cherishing the
Voice Company. It was the record of ‘Aarati Sai
memories of Madhavrao, Ramachandrapant
Baba’ ! His joy cannot be described in mere
has established a charitable trust ‘Aarati Sai
words.
Baba Rachanakar Madhavrao Adkar Trust’.
His physical strength had weakened. Food The villagers of Loni have donated a plot
intake also had gone down. When one enquired, admeasuring 2 acres to the trust.
‘‘Do you wish to eat anything in particular ?’’ He Ramachandrapant has put in his lifetime
would reply, ‘‘Are, I am totally satisfied and savings and with additional help from his sons a
immersed in the thoughts of Baba.’’ total amount of about Rs. 8 lakhs has been
spent in constructing a Shri Sai Baba temple.
On 18th November, 1955 he set for his
heavenly abode from village Loni, taluka Ramachandrapant
Paranda, district Osmanabad. While describing
In the year 1937, Madhavrao requested
the events of the day, Janardanpant says :-
Dasganu to grant anugraha to his only son
As per usual practice, Madhavrao’s Ramachandrapant at Pandharpur.
granddaughter Mandakini went to him in the
He is presently 94 years old and resides at
morning carrying tea for him. He enquired, ‘‘Has
Pune. He and his wife Mrs. Mathurabai have
Ram gone to school ? What is Mai (Mrs.
undergone many transitions, ordeals, trials and
Mathurabai) doing ? Where are the children ?’’
tribulations in their long life. However, with the
Generally, he never made such enquiries. blessings of Baba and the punyayee (good
deeds done in the earlier births) of his father,
Around 1 pm. in the noon,
they have sailed smoothly through all the
Ramchandrapant asked, ‘‘Tell us what you
difficult times.
wish !’’ Madhavrao replied, ‘‘Light a samai (a
type of lamp) before Baba. Light dhoop (a type In 1958, Baba appeared in a dream and
of incense) and sing ‘Aarati Sai Baba’. blessed Mrs. Mathurabai saying - ‘The
Thereafter, first read chapter 15 from Geeta and Goddess Laxmi will shower Her blessings on
then begin recital of ‘Vishnusahasranam’ !’’ you and your family.’
His these wishes were fulfilled. Around 14-15 years back, some unknown
Ramachandrapant recollects ‘‘Anna’s persons attacked Ramachandrapant with
(Madhavrao’s) feet were gradually turning (Contd. on page 52)

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SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

of… Don’t worry, you just start, I am there to

support you.’ After this, she stopped worrying
and started working.
Her job was to keep on becoming empty so
that she could connect with Baba and do His
bidding. She selected 60 Utterances of Baba,
Suresh Das, a visualiser started working out the
designs.
There are innumerable Leelas of Baba
guiding her throughout this project.
The major one was the printer, who took up
the work with an advance of just Rs. 10,000 and
some post-dated cheques.
The second, she remember very vividly -
when the first rush of prints came from the
printing press, everything was fine – except for
one picture which was technically not matching
the original colour tone. She knew that such a
minor error, nobody would really notice, as they

 Sai Experiences 
had not seen the original image and its colour
tone. But, she was beset with feelings of guilt and
sought Sai Baba’s guidance.
Shri Sai Baba She brought the issue up with the printer’s
inspires His devotees... staff; he shrugged and said that nothing can be
done about that particular card. Just then, the
Shri Sai Baba has urged His devotees to serve press production supervisor, Darshan arrived and
the society through building a temple, school, she informed him. He said, “We can better this
hospital, etc. quality.” He went and fixed a few knobs and
He bade Shamshaad Ali Baig to write a book, soon reams of fabulously printed sheets started
which she did in 2006, which is called ‘Sai Katha coming out !
Sagar’, which is very well received by the
Shamshaad was only going to give two
readers. And with Baba’s grace very soon she
will be launching the second edition of the book pamphlets on how to use the deck; but Baba
keeping the international devotees in mind. inspired her to pen a guidebook, while the
printing was on. And while she was writing the
In 2011, Shri Sai Baba inspired her to spread
guidebook, another of her niggling worry was
His Utterances through Blessing Cards (like
resolved by Baba. She would often think, how
Tarot Cards) on Sai Baba. But, thinking, how she
can Baba’s philosophical Utterances ever resolve
can do it, where is the money for printing, any
way, who will buy such cards, etc. But, the the devotees’ questions regarding finance,
inspiration would keep on re-surfacing. career, marriage, etc. ? Baba in His infinite
wisdom guided her that, when the question is
Finally in May 2012, she was participating in
posed to Him, He will guide the seeker through
Divine Healing Hands Soul Healer Programme
the image or message on the card or through a
by Master Zhi Gang Sha and on the last day of
the programme, she saw Shri Sai Baba standing thought, image, sound, feeling, etc. that will
on the stage and urging her : ‘Why do you worry arise in that moment of ‘Communion’.
about the finance ? Everything will be taken care These are not prediction or astrology-based

48
SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

cards. These are guidance cards. For e.g., it is His people. There are over 700 people on
mentioned in the step by step guide book, how to Shamshaad’s facebook account, so even if she
still one’s mind, how to shuffle the cards, how to modestly say only 20 percent are reading her
connect with the Divine, etc. statuses, yet she got order from only four people.
Even the technique of asking questions is The rest of the people who ordered them, she
given - You can ask, ‘What is it that I need to doesn’t even know them, nor do they know her.
know the most now ?’ Or formulate a question, She sometimes feels, He calls or writes to her
that results in ‘yes’ / ‘no’ or asking a question that placing order for His Own Cards.
could be requesting for further guidance. Complete strangers write to her and say, how
Baba is guiding them with the help of these
For e.g., ‘Baba, should I apply for xyz job ?’
Blessing Cards.
Or ‘Baba, I want to apply for xyz job, what it is
that I should know now ?’ Some write to her and say how Baba came
ceremoniously to them, after they had concluded
As she went ahead with the project more
the Aarati at their home, and the courier person
clarity came in, her question about, why these
just appeared to hand over their parcel. Some
Blessing Cards, was further clarified to her -
stay at far off destinations and they have been
today the people are going through the most
eagerly waiting for days, and when they get the
turbulent times in the history of humanity and
parcel it is on a Thursday, which many consider
Baba want the people to pass this trying phase
as Baba’s day.
with His teachings of ‘Shraddha’ and ‘Saburi’
(Faith and Patience). Parvez J Daruwala is a beautiful soul and a
friend of her. One day, Shamshaad felt like
Inspite of all the miracles all the way,
gifting him a box. So she sent him the box
Shamshaad was still doubting Baba’s Leela
without informing him, and he was simply
called - Shri Sai Baba Blessing Cards, and again amazed; because his friends were planning to go
Baba came to her aid and helped her boost her to Shirdi and he could not go because of some
confidence. On August 12, 2012, Shamshaad work. But, when the unexpected box of cards
was participating in a spiritual retreat and two reached him, he felt Baba has Himself come to
young women – Renu Chawla and Geeta him. He now carries the pack wherever he goes
Bodwani, whom she did not know then, came to on tour out of Mumbai. Some weeks later, he
her. Geeta had seen the cards in a friend’s hand happened to speak with the friend, who was to
and was curious to know about them. She organize the trip, and was amazed to learn that
handed them the one box which had arrived from they did not go to Shirdi. So they could re-plan a
the printer to them. They were ecstatic seeing the trip together. Another of Baba’s Leela !
Blessing Cards. Geeta said, she wanted one box
Three months after the launch of the Blessing
and Renu said, she wanted four boxes.
Cards, people are using the Blessing Cards for
Shamshaad just could not believe them.
various purposes -
But, since she has gone through so much
* Healing and Blessing Tool
failure (perceived failure) in life, she thought
* Tool to divine answers/ solutions
Baba is showing her a carrot by sending these * Meditate
two women, and her doubtful mind said, ‘let me
see if these cards really sell.’ People have noted that these cards of Sai
Baba’s Utterances provide clarity, courage,
In fact, Shamshaad was so skeptical of the peace and joy.
cards selling that she felt, she will have to give - Sendur Nagarajan
away the 500 decks as gift to friends. But, E-mail : [email protected]
gradually one or two orders started coming.
As usual Baba has His own way of reaching ❍❍❍

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SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

Sai miracles... In 2008, I had a flash in front of my eyes,

where I saw Gurusthan and words to this effect
from my birth to now ! ‘come here on Thursday and Friday and light
My parents had three daughters and they dhoop - agarbatti (incense stick) all your illness
yearned for a son. Seeing this, a Sai devotee will be cured’. I tried reading it once more, but
advised them to visit Shirdi and pray to Baba. My they disappeared.
parents did as suggested to them and reached
Next month I went for Baba’s darshan and lit
Shirdi and earnestly prayed for a son, and I was
a dhoop - agarbatti at Gurusthan, and Baba’s
born on June 10, 1963.
blessing started flowing into my life.
My parents were staunch devotees of Baba
It is the unbelievable Sai Baba’s Leela - I
and remained so till their last breath. With Baba’s
have been receiving Baba’s messages and was
blessings we have a comfortable life. I am
helped in many situations in my life.
working in Central Railway, and right from
receiving the call letter, interview, medical test to I remember vividly, on October 15, 2008, I
the appointment day, were all Thursdays ! My received this message : ‘Whenever there is a
wife is working as a beautician. Our only son has conflict between the heart and mind, let the heart
appeared for the exam of his last year BE. be followed.’

In fact, it is again Baba’s blessings that my The ayurvedic medicine I was taking for my
son has appeared for the exam of his last year intestinal problem was not working; Baba helped
BE. My son had failed in Std. 9; because I was me by sending me this message : ‘Never go to a
going through an adverse period, because of doctor’s office whose plants are dead.’ I presume
which he too got affected. At that time my father plants must be ayurvedic medicine, so I stopped
was 82 years old and passing through the last taking the medicines.
days of his life. He called me and told me to
I had bought some hing goli (asoefotida
make my son appear for Std. 10 privately, instead
balls) from a hawker on the road; but due to
of making him sit for Std. 9 again. He urged me
depression, was not taking it. Then on December
that since, there was no engineer in our family I
24, 2008 the message was : ‘Have faith in the
should see to it that my son becomes an engineer.
Guru’s words and work. If you have no Guru,
My son after his SSC did polytechnic and scored
then pray to God with a longing heart, He will let
78 percent in his final year, and got direct
you know what He is like.’ I started taking these
admission in BE second year with the blessings
golis and it worked for the ailment with the
of Baba.
blessing of Baba and today I have no health
There is a Sai Baba temple in my building concerns.
compound, which I would visit regularly. 2005-
Today the happiness, peace and prosperity
06 were the worst years of my life (Sadesati
that I and my family are experiencing are
period), I lost my father, my son failed, I was
because of Baba’s and my parents’ blessings.
beleaguered with - depression, weight loss due to
stomach and intestine problems, cough, ear Bow to Shri Sai Baba !
whistling, sleepless nights, fear of death, etc. - Manoj S. Joshi
During this phase I had lost faith in Baba. This Shivchhaya C. H. S. Ltd., A 5/103, Gillbert Hill Road,
Dholkia Nagar, Andheri (W), Mumbai - 400 058.
was one of the most unforgivable mistakes, but Mobile : (0)9967293055
Baba is merciful, humble, loving God, and He
❍❍❍
forgave me.

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SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

Sai showers His mercy... I had also carried some poster size photos for
Sri Amit – images of Vitthal-Rakhumayee,
I am a devotee of Shri Sai Baba and am
Swami Samarth and Tulja Bhavani goddess. I
experiencing His grace continuously.
was stunned when he said, “Aapko Baba ne hee
I had read many readers’ miraculous bheja hai. Main yahee photos dhund raha tha,
experiences of Sai Baba; so went to Sai Baba’s jyon ki yahan nahee miltee”. (Baba has sent you;
temple in Shibpur (PS Nakashipara - 741 191, I was looking for the same photos and was
Dist. - Nadia, West Bengal.) on December 11,
unable to find them.) Strange indeed are the ways
2010.
of our Sai. The thought came that if he wishes to
I too had several miraculous experiences, make me an instrument of his divine will, it is a
which go beyond the rational thought. great blessing.
Before I left I had gone to purchase two The Aarati began in the thatched temple and
chhaddars to be presented to Baba - one from me the group then moved on to the original brick
and my mom; when the shopkeeper came to structure in which Ramdas Biswasji prayed 150
know the purpose, he not only gave me a years ago, then, the Gurusthan and finally the
discount, but also gave a chhaddar of his own for Bade Baba temple.
offering.
After the evening Aarati and Bhog, I got a
Shibpur is a quiet village, which is about 60 chance to sit before Baba alone in the thatched
k.m. away from the nearest town. The original hut. The atmosphere seemed so peaceful and
fibre statue of Sai Baba is housed in a very divinely charged, the room being lit with only a
charming thatched structure at the rear end of the lantern. I sat there for almost half an hour pouring
compound. This statue of Baba is lovingly called
my heart out to Him. There was a piercing gleam
‘Bade Baba’ and faces the gate. The entire
in Baba’s eyes. Occasionally His eyes seemed to
compound has a very charming ambience with
be darting across the room, here and there. When
its temples and garden. There is also cement
I got up to leave, there was an indulgent smile on
structure to house the ‘Dhuni’ which was to be lit
Baba’s face. I distinctly felt, Baba telling me that
shortly, another thatched cabin which serves as
I should come here more often and should come
the office and an open round thatched roof
here periodically just the way I go to Shirdi.
structure used as the visitor’s room.
Next morning I rose early for the morning
The marble temple facing the gate houses the
Aarati and joined the group at the Bade Baba
‘Bade Baba’ marble statue which bears a striking
resemblance to the statue in the Samadhi Mandir temple. It is the marble statue which is bathed
at Shirdi. (Abhishek) and dressed every day. Amitjee told
me that there are specific instructions from Sai
I believe Sri K. V. Ramani who donated the
Baba not to bathe the fibre statue.
statue was told by Baba in a dream to donate a
statue exactly like the Shirdi one. Below the After the Aarati I was thrilled to see Sai Baba
Neem tree near Ramdasji’s old Mandir is a dressed in the chhaddar I had offered. I had not
slightly smaller statue of Baba. even told them which chhaddar was from
whom.
I took Darshan of Bade Baba and handed
over all the chhaddars. However the thatched The temple has a very interesting history - it
Shibpur Sai temple was closed and Sri Amit is said that one day a fakir came and told Ramdas
Kumar Biswas, grandson of Ramdas Biswas Biswas, a wealthy villager of Shibpur village of
(who built the original temple) and chairman of Nadia’s Nakashipara to build a temple and pray.
Nadia Shibpur Sai Sadguru Samiti asked me if I In the middle of the 19th century, he established a
wanted my chhaddar to be draped on Baba temple in the compound of his house to offer
during my visit. I replied that it was up to him. daily Pooja.

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SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

It can’t be established whether Ramdas set up leprosy, psychiatric disorders etc.

any idol of Shirdi Sai Baba (as Baba was alive - 363 prayers for children were answered.
then). - 113 miracles were recorded, in which Baba
But, so far the information available is that provided timely help to resolve business issues.
the daily prayer was stopped in the temple
- 87 cases of miracles are noted, where Baba
around 1920, the reason behind this is unknown.
has provided assistance to devotees in securing a
Slowly after the Pooja was stopped the job, getting a promotion and other service related
temple became the home of venomous snakes, pleas.
while dense bushes and cobwebs surrounded it.
The local residents never dared to go near the - 78 marriage related issues were solved by
temple because of the snakes and it was Baba for His devotees who prayed.
eventually abandoned. - 114 requests of solving family issues and
Strangely in 1992 a Neem tree sprouted out disputes were granted by Baba.
of the dense bush adjoining the crumbling - Amita Sawardekar
structure of the temple. Even more surprising
was the fact that the snakes started fleeing after ❍❍❍
the Neem tree started growing. Since, the snakes (Contd. from page 35)
made their exit, the villagers cleared up a part of sharp weapons. However, he loudly chanted
the area and a green field was cultivated in its Baba’s name and miraculously survived the
place, where children could play safely. An attack. The deep scars could be seen on his
entrance to the temple was also eventually belly.
discovered. The villagers took this incident
lightly until 1999 when during Gurupournima Ramachandrapant’s three daughters are
Sai Baba appeared in the dream of Sri Amit, and happy in their families. His sons are well
ordered him to construct this temple and said that educated. His one son was an officer in a well-
He will arrange all means required to get this known nationalized bank, while his second son
temple constructed. is a civil engineer.
Sri Amit narrated the dream as follows, “I Ramachandrapant and his wife are a rare
saw in my dream a bright illumination of lights… link to the glorious past. By nature, both are
as if thousands and thousands of neon lamps calm, quite and contended. The writer of this
were lit. I was bewildered. Then I heard a voice article was fortunate enough to be able to
saying ‘I am Sai Baba, your great grandfather
spend some time with them.
used to worship me in this temple every day for
hours together. I was very happy with him. After Their bungalow is adorned with a 5’ portrait
his demise no Pooja was conducted. I am of Dasganu, as well as portrait of Madhavrao
longing for devotion and Pooja to begin once (drawn by famous artist Shri D. D. Rege who
again.’ had received blessings of Dasganu). These two
So I have planted the Neem tree there to paintings are a continuous source of blessings
eradicate all evils.” for the family !
In that dream Baba also promised Sri Amit (Contd.)
that in the next 11 years Baba would perform
– Mrs. Mugdha Sudhir Divadkar
over 1000 miracles through the Shibpur temple.
61, Hindu Colony, 1st Lane,
On December 15, 2010, the 1000th miracle took Dadar (E), Mumbai.
place. Sri Amit has chronicled all the miracles in E-mail : [email protected]
his diary. The following is the breakup of Mobile : (0)9323971117
miracles that took place : Translated from original Marathi into English by
- 245 cases of sickness were healed. Some Sudhir
illnesses cured were cancer, paralysis, hysteria, 
52
SHRI SAI LEELA September-October 2012

(Ahmednagar) Sri J. M. Kulkarni,

Chairman of Shree Sai Baba Sansthan
Trust, Shirdi. M. P. and Ex Executive
Officer of the Sansthan Sri B. R.
Wakchaure, Executive Officer of the
Sansthan Trust Sri Kishore More, Sri. J.
M. Sasane (Former Chairman of the
Sansthan Trust) who initiated the Sai
Ashram Project and other dignitaries
were present.
Sri Ramani informed that this
charitable service project was
voluntarily taken up by Shirdi Sai Trust,
Chennai to provide good and affordable
accommodation to devotees coming to
Shirdi News Shirdi for Sai Baba’s Darshan.
The MoU for construction of Sai
Sai Ashram : Ashram Project was signed with the
An exemplary devotion Sansthan on February 4, 2006, for
providing accommodation for about
to Sai Baba by 10000 devotees in an estimated area of
Sri K.V. Ramani 6 lakh square feet at a cost of Rs. 25
crores, to be completed in 18 months.
Sri K. V. Ramani, Founder and Sansthan gave 19.68 acres land for the
Managing Trustee of Shirdi Sai Trust, construction of Sai Ashram, in two
Chennai is another exemplary move of locations in July 2007.
serving Sai Baba with tan, man and Shirdi Sai Trust started the project
dhan (body, mind and money) has in September 2007 and has now handed
completed Sai Ashram project at Shirdi, over the completed project, where Sai
which will provide accommodation for Ashram 1 has 1536 rooms (out of this
14000 devotees. 384 rooms are air-conditioned) and Sai
On October 24, in a simple Ashram 2 has 192 dormitories to
ceremony after the noon Aarati in the accommodate 14,000 devotees in a total
Samadhi Mandir, Sri Ramani handed constructed area of about 9.60 lakh
over the documents of the completed square feet at a total cost of about Rs.
project to Hon. Chief District Judge 110 crores.

53