Shri Sai Satcharitra - Chapter 28 - English

Shri Sai Satcharitra - Chapter 28

Chapter 28 of Shrirdi Sai Satcharitra (English Version)

Complete English Playlist Link : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI6LdKwBZwGiaZfO_IEhX0ivQonA0FMSu
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This chapter covers the following:
Sparrows Drawn To Shirdi:
Lakshmichand
The Lady from Burhanpore
And Megha
Preliminary

Sai is not finite or limited. He dwells in all beings, from ants and insects to the God Brahma. He pervades every being on earth; Sai was well-versed in the knowledge of the Vedas as well as in the science of Self-realization. As He was proficient in these, He was well-suited to be a Sadguru. Any person, however learned, unable to awaken disciples and establish them in Self-realization, does not deserve to be called a Sadguru. The Sadguru does away with both life and death and thus he is more kind and merciful than anybody.

Sai Baba often said that no matter where His devotee went, he would be drawn to Shirdi like a sparrow with a thread tied to its feet. This Chapter describes the stories of three such sparrows.

Lala Lakshmichand

This gentleman first worked in the Railways and afterwards in the Shri Venkateshwara Press in Bombay and thereafter in the firm of Messrs. Ralli Brothers, as a clerk. He received Baba’s darshan in 1910. A month or two before Christmas, he had a dream in which an old man with a beard was standing surrounded by His devotees. A few days later, he went to the house of his friend, Mr Dattatreya Manjunath Bijur, to hear kirtans by Das Ganu. It was Das Ganu’s practice to keep Baba’s picture in front of him, facing the audience, while he sang kirtans(songs in praise of the Lord). Lakshmichand was surprised to see that the old man he saw in his dream, was the man in the picture. Thus, he came to the conclusion that the old man he saw in his dream was Sai Baba himself. The sight of this picture, Das Ganu’s kirtan and the life of the Saint Tukaram on which Das Ganu discoursed, all made a deep impression on his mind and he longed to go to Shirdi. It is always the experience of devotees that God always helps them in their search for a Sadguru and other spiritual endeavors. That very night at 8.00 p.m., a friend named Shankarrao knocked on Lakshmichand’s door and asked him whether he would accompany him to Shirdi. His joy knew no bounds and he at once decided to go to Shirdi. He borrowed some money from his cousin and after making due preparations, left for Shirdi. On the train, he and his friend Shankar Rao sang some Bhajans (religious songs) and enquired about Sai Baba with a few fellow passengers who were returning to their homes near Shirdi. They all said that Sai Baba was a great Saint who had been living in Shirdi for many years. When they reached Kopergaon, he wanted to buy good guavas to offer to Baba, but he was so distracted by the scenery and sights, that he forgot to purchase them. When they were nearing Shirdi, he was reminded of the guavas. Just then, he saw an old woman with a basket of guavas on her head, running after the tanga(small horse-drawn cart in which he was traveling). The tanga was stopped and he gladly purchased a few select fruits and then the woman said, “Take the rest and offer them on my behalf to Baba”. The fact that he had intended to purchase guavas, but that he had forgotten to do so, the old woman running after the tanga and her devotion to Baba, surprised both men. However, Lakshmichand reasoned that the old woman might be some relative of Sai Baba’s. Then they drove on and reached Shirdi. With Puja materials in hand, they went to the Masjid and worshipped Baba with due formality. Lakshmichand was greatly moved and was extremely happy to see Baba. He was enrapt with Baba’s Feet, as a bee is with a sweet-smelling lotus.

Then Baba spoke as follows, “Cunning fellow! He sings bhajans on the way and enquires from others; why ask others? Shouldn’t we see everything with our own eyes? What is the necessity to ask others? Just ask yourself whether your dream was true or not? What was the necessity of darshan, when a loan had to be taken to receive it? Is the heart’s desire now satisfied?”

Hearing these words, Lakshmichand was wonderstruck at Baba’s omniscience. He was at a loss to know how Baba came to know about all the things that had happened on his way to Shirdi. The main thing to note in this respect is that Baba never liked people running into debt to receive His darshan, to celebrate a holiday or to go on a pilgrimage.

Sanza

One day at noon, when Lakshmichand was waiting for meals to be served, he got some sanza (wheat-pudding) from a devotee as Prasad.

Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all

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