Previously Posted
| Chapter No | Part No | Contents of the Chapter |
|---|---|---|
| NA | NA | Note By G.P.Sinha |
| NA | NA | Publisher’s & Translator’s Note |
| NA | NA | Foreword |
| NA | NA | About The Author |
| NA | NA | Preface |
| NA | NA | Introduction |
| Chapter 1 | Part 1 | Our Anna |
| Chapter 1 | Part 2 | Our Anna |
| Chapter 1 | Part 3 | Our Anna |
| Chapter 2 | Part 1 | Arrival Of Sai Baba In Shirdi |
| Chapter 2 | Part 2 | Arrival Of Sai Baba In Shirdi |
| Chapter 3 | Part 1 | Shama |
| Chapter 3 | Part 2 | Shama |
| Chapter 3 | Part 3 | Shama |
| Chapter 4 | Part 1 | Baba’s Dakshina |
| Chapter 4 | Part 2 | Baba’s Dakshina |
| Chapter 5 | Part 1 | Mahalasa – Importance Of Nama-Japa |
| Chapter 6 | Part 1 | Thirst For God Realization |
| Chapter 7 | Part 1 | Baba’s Teachings |
| Chapter 7 | Part 2 | Baba’s Teachings |
| Chapter 8 | Part 1 | Why Did You Come To A Muslim? |
| Chapter 9 | Part 1 | Dissemination |
| Chapter 10 | Part 1 | Bhakt – Parayan Dasganu |
| Chapter 10 | Part 2 | Bhakt – Parayan Dasganu |
| Chapter 10 | Part 3 | Bhakt – Parayan Dasganu |
| Chapter 11 | Part 1 | Sadguru |
| Chapter 11 | Part 2 | Sadguru |
| Chapter 12 | Part 1 | Guru Bhakti |
Continued: CHAPTER 12
GURU-BHAKTI
Coming back to the episode of testing His devotees, Baba sent a message for Kaka. When he arrived Baba said, “Kaka, I feel like eating ‘Sagoti’ (a non-veg dish). I am very hungry. Bring a chopper and kill this goat in one stroke. Prepare mutton and bring it to Me. My mouth is already watering.”
Kakasaheb was a Gujarati Brahmin, strictly vegetarian. He was a knowledgeable and a learned person. Still he had faith in God. He used to spend a good amount of time in daily worship, rituals and reading sacred scriptures, as a strict routine. “Shrimad-Bhagwatam” and “Bhavartha Ramayana” were his favourite scriptures. He was a simple naive person away from envy and jealousy. He had full trust in Baba Who was his Guru, his Parameshwar and everything. Whatever command He gave, was a prime duty for him. How could he violate His orders? So, he went to Sathewada and returned with a chopper. To act according to Baba’s words, he caught hold of the goat and raised his hand with the weapon, with stern determination. He just glanced at Baba as if asking for the permission. When he was about to kill the animal, Baba stopped him and shouted with a mock anger, “Oh Kaka, stop! You are a Brahmin, are you will ready for violence? Don’t you have compassion and pity for this mute goat? Think for a moment, at least.”
Kaka submitted. He said, “Inscrutable are Your words and actions, Baba! Your dicta guide us at the time of confusion. I have read a lot, but still I am ignorant. You will guide us to our upliftment. So whatever You tell me to do, I will follow it without any hesitation. To act according to Your order is my duty; it is my Dharma. Each and every act You ask me to perform must be for my betterment”.
Kaka knew that breach of the command of Guru was a great sin. He, who would do it, would not be called as ‘True’ disciple. To emerge successful from the tough test given by a Guru is an ordeal. Baba was very happy with Kaka who was His ‘True Disciple’. God Himself remains in the service of those devotees like Kakasaheb Dixit. Baba was pleased and satisfied with the firm conviction shown by him. He assured Kaka in these words, “Oh, Kaka, you are My real and dear devotee. I will take you to heaven in a special chariot. Come closer; and take the Udi.”
On the worldly front, Kakasaheb’s monetary condition was getting worse. In his early age he gathered lots of money, but spent generously for charity and other such purposes. Part of it was also used for Baba’s mission. When very little money was left, he felt sad; not because he had desires. He thought that he was unable to spend for Baba. That was the only reason for his gloom. When he thought the other way, he found out a satisfactory reason as to, why he was short of money.
“Money nourishes one’s ego. It brings the feeling of ‘I am doing’., which inflates the ego enormously. Baba wants me to shun away from that feeling of pride that follows. So whatever is happening is for my welfare and my spiritual progress”. This was Kakasaheb’s prudent thought. In Shrimad Bhagwat, Bhagwan Sri Krishna says, “Those, whom I want to shower my grace upon, I first of all impoverish them”.
According to this assurance Kakasaheb was about to receive abundant grace of Sai Baba. With this thought Kaka became very happy instead of becoming sad. A saint has said, “Stay happily in the situation that God puts you in”. Kakasaheb was leading his life exactly as per the advice. His heart was contented. He was happy in all situations he faced. He took everything as grace of Baba and left everything to Him. “Baba, I do not know what to do; You decide what to do. You are the Doer,” he used to say. Kakasaheb insisted on his friend Govind Raghunath Dabholkar to come to Shirdi from Mumbai for Baba’s darshan. He wrote a letter to Dabholkar from Shirdi, but he was to fight his own battle. One has to help oneself on the spiritual path. not ready. He expressed his doubt. “What can a Guru do? Everybody has to fight his own battle. One has to help oneself on the spiritual path. Someone else cannot do anything for you”.
At last, for friend’s sake, Dabholkar (nick named Annasaheb) decided to go to Shirdi. He was under the impression that mail train stops at GIP Dadar Station. So he started for Dadar. But at Bandra a Muslim co-passenger told him that the train had no stop at Dadar, and he would have to go to V.T. (Now CST). He did accordingly and boarded the mail train at V.T. and reached Shirdi next morning. Before darshan time Anna was talking to somebody. In discussion he posed the same question. “What is the use of Guru?”
All of them went for darshan. Baba was facing Dabholkar but asking the question to Kaka, “What was this ‘Hemadpant’ (Annasaheb) asking about?” Kaka said, “Baba, You know everything. Why do You want me to repeat?”
“Baba, shall we go?” Kaka asked for His permission. Baba said, “Yes“. Another devotee, who was sitting there, asked Baba out of curiosity, “Baba, Where are You going?“
Pointing to the sky, Baba replied, “Straight upwards.” The same devotee asked, “Baba how is the path-way?” Baba gave a mystic answer. “There are many pathways and their starting points are various. One road starts right from here. Road is crooked. You will come across fearful tigers, bears, etc. on the way….”
Kaka interrupted, “What if there is a guide with us?”
Baba assured, “Yes, if a guide is with you then there will not be any problem. Then tigers will not cross your path. There is also a dangerous valley in-between. Without a guide you are likely to have a great fall.” All the above conversation was carefully heard by Anna Dabholkar, who was sitting next to Kaka. It made a great impact on his mind. Indirectly he received a convincing answer to his question, “What can a guru do?”
After this first meeting, Baba gave many spiritual experiences to Dabholkar, who became a devout devotee in future. Baba graced him and inspired him to write His Biography, “Sai Sat Charitra”, which is in poetry form.
I, the Author, pray for the constant proximity of the sky complexioned Sri Krishna, Who was the Love of the constellation of Gopis.
END OF CHAPTER 12
© Author – Dr. Keshav Bhagwant Gavankar (Annasahib Gavankar) – Explicit Rights To Publish To Shirdi Sai Baba Books.com (Member of SaiYugNetwork.com)
