The Passing Away In Baba's Presence of - (1)
Sannyasi Vijayanand - (2) Balaram Mankar - (3) Noolkar - (4) Megha
- and (5) The Tiger.
In this Chapter Hemadpant describes the passing
away of certain persons and a tiger in Baba's presence.
Preliminary
The last wish or thought that a man has at the hour of death,
determines his future course. Shri Krishna has said in Gita (VIII-5-6)
that "he who remembers Me in his last moments, comes verily
to Me, and he that meditates otherwise at that time goes to what
he looks for." We cannot be certain that we can entertain
a particular good thought at our last moment, for, more often
than not, we are more likely to be frightened and terrified by
many causes. Hence constant practice is necessary for enabling
us to fix our mind on any desired good thought at any or the last
moment. All Saints, therefore, recommended us to always remember
God and chant His name always, so that we may not be puzzled when
the time for departure comes. The devotees on their part surrender
themselves completely to the Saints, fully believing that the
all-knowing Saints would guide and help them in their last moments.
A few such cases will be noted here.
(1) Vijayanand
A Madrasi Sannyasi named Vijayanand started on a pilgrimage to
Manasa-Sarovar. En route, hearing Baba's fame, he halted at Shirdi.
There he met one Somadevaji Swami of Hardwar and enquired of him
about the particulars of the Manasa-Sarovar trip. The Swami told
him that the Sarovar was 500 miles above the Gangotri and described
to him the difficulties of the journey, viz. plenty of snow and
the change of dialect every 50 koss and the suspicious nature
of the people of Bhutan who give a lost of trouble to the pilgrims
on the way. Hearing this, the Sannyasi was dejected and cancelled
the trip. Then when he went to Baba and prostrated himself before
Him, Baba got enraged and said, "Drive out this useless Sannyasi,
his company is of no use". The Sannyasi did not know Baba's
nature. He felt discomforted, but sat there watching things that
were going on. It was the morning Darbar and the Masjid was overcrowded.
Baba was being worshipped in various ways. Some were washing His
Feet, some taking the Tirth (holy water) from His toe and drinking
it heartily and some touching their eyes with it, some were applying
sandal-paste, and some scents to His body. And all were doing
these things forgetting the distinction of caste and creed. Though
Baba got enraged with him, he was filled with affection for Baba
and he did not like to leave the place.
He stayed in Shirdi for two days when he got
a letter from Madras stating that his mother was very ill. He
felt very dejected and wanted to be by his mother's side; but
he could not leave without Baba's permission. So he saw Baba with
the letter in hand and asked for His permission to return home.
The omniscient Baba knowing the future said to him - "If
you so loved your mother, why did you take Sannayasa? Fondness
or attachment ill becomes an ochre garb. Go and sit quiet at your
lodging, wait with patience for a few days. In the Wada there
are many robbers, bolt your doors, be very vigilant, the thieves
will carry everything. Wealth and prosperity are transient and
the body is subject to decay and death. Knowing this, do your
duty, leaving all attachment to the things of this world and next.
He who does this and surrenders himself to the Feet of Hari (Lord)
will get free from all troubles and attain bliss. The Lord runs
and helps him who remembers and meditates on Him with love and
affection. Your store of past merits is considerable, so you have
come here. Now attend to what I say and realise the end of your
life. Being desireless, begin from tomorrow the study of Bhagwat.
Do three 'saptahas' i.e. three reading during three weeks, conscientiously.
The Lord will be pleased with you and destroy your sorrows, your
illusions will vanish and you will get peace." Seeing that
his end was approaching, Baba prescribed that remedy and made
him read 'Ramavijaya' which pleases the God of death. Next morning
after bathing and other purifying rites he commenced to read Bhagwat
in a secluded part in the Lendi garden. He completed two readings
and thereafter felt much exhausted. He returned to the Wada and
stayed in his lodging for two days and on the third day he breathed
his last on Fakir (Bade) Baba's lap. Baba asked the people to
preserve the body for a day for a good reason. The police afterwards
came and on making proper enquiries gave permission for the disposal
of the body. It was buried in a proper place with due rites. In
this way Baba helped the Sannyasi and ensured him Sadgati (salvation).
(2) Balaram Mankar
There was a house-holder devotee of Baba by name Balaram Mankar.
When his wife passed away, he got dejected and entrusting his
household to his son, left his home and came to Shirdi and lived
with Baba. Being pleased with his devotion, Baba wanted to give
a good turn to his life and He did this in this wise. He gave
him Rs. 12/- and asked him to go and live in Macchindragad (District
Satara). Mankar was first unwilling to go and stay away from Baba,
but Baba convinced him that he was giving the best course for
him and asked him to practise mediation thrice a day on the Gad.
Believing in Baba's words, Mankar came to the Gad. He was much
pleased with the lovely sight, pure water, healthy air and the
surroundings of the place, and began to practice assiduously the
meditations as recommended by Baba. After some days he got a revelation.
Generally Bhaktas get revelation in their Samadhi or trance states,
but in Mankar's case he got it, when he came down to his ordinary
consciousness from his trance. Baba appeared to him in person.
Not only that Mankar saw Him, but he also asked Him why he was
sent there. Baba replied - "In Shirdi many thoughts and ideas
began to rise in your mind and I sent you here to rest your unsteady
mind. You thought that I was in Shirdi with a body composed of
the five elements and three and a half cubits in length, and not
outside of it. Now you see and determine for yourself whether
the person you see here now is the same you saw at Shirdi. It
is for this reason that I sent you here." Then after the
period was over, Mankar left the Gada and proceeded to his native
place Bandra. He wanted to travel by rail from Poona to Dadar,
but when he went to the booking office to get a ticket, he found
it very much crowded. He could not get his ticket soon, when,
a villager with a langoti (piece of cloth) on his waist and kambali
on his shoulder turned up and said - "Where are your going?"
"To Dadar." replied Mankar. Then he said - "Please
take this Dadar ticket of mine; as I have some urgent business
here, I have cancelled my Dadar trip." Mankar was very glad
to receive the ticket and was just taking out money from his pocket,
when the rustic disappeared in the crowd. Mankar tried to find
him out in the crowd, but it was in vain. He waited for him till
the train left the station but found no trace of him. This was
the second revelation Mankar got in a strange form. Then Mankar
after visiting his home, again returned to Shirdi and remained
there at Baba's feet, always following His biddings and advice.
In the end, he was very fortunate to leave this world in the presence,
and with the blessings of Baba.
(3) Tatyasaheb Noolkar
Hemadpant gives no particulars regarding Tatyasaheb Noolkar, except
the bare mention of the fact that he up his ghost in Shirdi. A
brief summary of his account that appeared in the Sai Leela magazine
is given here.
Tatyasaheb was a Sub-Judge at Pandharpur in 1909, when Nanasaheb
Chandorkar was Mamalatdar there. Both met often and exchanged
talks. Tatyasaheb did not believe in saints, while Nanasaheb loved
them. Nanasaheb often told him the Leelas of Sai Baba and pressed
him to go to Shirdi and see Baba. He finally agreed to go to Shirdi
on two conditions:- (1) he must get a Brahmin cook, and (2) must
get good Nagpur oranges for the presentation. Both these conditions
were providentially fulfilled. A Brahmin came to Nanasaheb for
service and he was sent to Tatyasaheb and a fruit parcel containing
100 beautiful oranges was received by Tatyasaheb, the consigner
being not known. As the conditions were fulfilled, Tatyasaheb
had to go to Shirdi. At first Baba was much enraged with him.
But by and by Tatyasaheb got such experiences that he was convinced
that Baba was God incarnate. So he was enamoured of Baba and stayed
there till his death. As his end was approaching, sacred literature
was read out to him and at the last hour Baba's Pada-tirth was
brought and given to him for drinking. Baba on hearing of his
death, said, "Oh, Tatya went ahead of us, he won't be reborn."
(4) Megha
The story of Megha has been already described in Chapter 28. When
Megha died, all the villagers followed the funeral procession.
Baba also accompanied them and showered flowers on Megha's body.
After the obsequies were performed, tears flowed from Baba's eyes
and like an ordinary mortal, Baba showed Himself overcome with
grief and sorrow. Then covering the body with flowers and crying
like a near relation, Baba returned to the Masjid.
Many Saints have been seen giving Sadgati to
men, but Baba's greatness is unique. Even a cruel animal like
a tiger came to Baba's feet for being saved. It is this story
which will be narrated now.
(5) Tiger
Seven days before Baba passed away, a wonderful incident occured
at Shirdi. There came a country-cart and stopped in front of the
Masjid. A tiger was on the cart, fastened with iron chains, with
its fierce face turned to the rear. It was suffering from some
pain or agony. Its keepers - three Derveshis - were taking it
from place to place and making money by exhibiting it. It was
the means of their subsistence. They tried all sorts of remedies
to cure it from the malady it was suffering from, but all was
in vain. Then they heard of Baba's fame and came to Him with the
animal. They got it down the chains in their hands and made it
stand at the door. It was naturally fierce, besides, disease ridden.
So it was restless. The people began to look at it with fear and
amazement. The Derveshies went in, told Baba everything about
the animal and with His consent, brought it before Him. As it
approached the steps, it was taken aback on account of the lustre
of Baba and hung its head down. When both saw each other, it got
on the step and looked at Baba with affection. Immediately it
moved the tuft of its tail and dashed it thrice against the ground
and then fell down senseless. On seeing it dead the Derveshis
were first much dejected and full of sorrow, but on mature thought
they came to their senses. They considered that as the animal
was diseased and nearing its end, it was very meritorious on its
part that it should meet its death at the feet and in the presence
of Baba. It was their debtor, and when the debt was paid off it
was free and met its end at Sai's Feet. When any creatures bow
down their heads at saints' feet and meet death, they are saved;
and unless they have got a good store of merit on their account,
How could they get such a happy end?
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments