Sai Baba is found, one fine morning in 1910, grinding wheat in the masjid in
Shirdi. That is how the scene opens, in the English version of Shri Sai
Satcharita, to present Sai Baba and picture his glorious life. Little boys
and girls conceive of Father Time or God as a very good old man of enormous
size, growing beard and covered in a gown. That is also the picture of Santa
Claus. God in the children's dreams, Santa Claus and Sai Baba have some
common points. They are simple and grand and they love to shower gifts. A
torn kafni (gown), a scarf to cover his head, half slippers, and stick,
looking more like a club than a walking stick, complete the outfit of Sai
Baba. All these articles and more may be seen in the temple which contains
his mortal remains in Shirdi. The light in his eyes, the beard, his large
chest, broad shoulders and noble bearing compelled the reverence of one and
all that came into his personal contact. He was loved and esteemed, at
first, as a venerable patriarch by the simple villagers in Shirdi.
The Sanstan has made a splendid image of Sai Baba and put it on his tomb.
See that image of life size and join the happy singer at the arati. Then are
you brought closer to Sai Baba. Breathe in the atmosphere which is charged
with divinity in that fine, spacious, and holy Samadhi Mandir.
Sai Baba loved to mix freely with the rustics, share in their labours and in
their joys and sorrows. He treated the sick. He laid out the Lendi garden to
spend a pleasant evening, and a well in the heart of the garden to save time
and trouble in going to the Godavari to bathe and bring fresh water. His
simple ways and kind acts won for Sai Baba the heart of Shirdi. But the
grace bubbling in the deep recesses of his heart cannot be measured.
Sai Baba walked round Shirdi, ate and drank, smoked chilra in a clay pipe
and took rest in Dwarakamayi on a bed which was neither a cot nor a hammock.
He was human enough in all these acts, and people knew him as they saw him.
One day it rained hard in Shirdi. The small streets were flooded. The people
hurried to to Dwarakamayi and appealed to Sai Baba for help. Baba came out
and looking vp. he spoke to the clouds, "Stop your fury and be calm". The
rains stopped. Another day, the fire in the Dhuni threatened to leap as
flames and go up to the roof. Baba struck the ground with his wand shouting
"Come down and be calm". The fire obeyed the Master. Baba's miracles saved
the people from harm and also strengthened their faith in God These and
other works like burning lamps with water made the people understand that
they should not trifle with him. Blending of the human and divine is a
special trait in Sai Baba. His saulabya (unassuming simplicity) and karuna
(grace) remind us so much of Sri Ramachandra.
A notable point in the miracles of Sai Baba which draw so many to him is
that there is nothing spectacular in them. He seems to remain inactive, but
he helps in an invisible way. It is a common experience among the devotees
of Sai Baba that in a crisis, after all attempts to get over it are
exhausted, Baba is invoked in all humility and surrender. Some one appears
on the scene or some thing unexpected happens and saves the situation. Once
Kakaji Vaidya a priest in the temple of goddess Sapta Shringi, in Vani Nasik
Dt lost his peace of mind. The goddess bade him in his dream go to Sai Baba
in Shirdi for relief. The priest did not know the way to Shirdi nor could he
find gny to guide him to the place. He tried hard making enquiries without
any result. Shama, a devotee of Sai Baba came over to Vani and approached
the priest Kakaji Vaidya to arrange a pooja to Sapta Shrmgi on his behalf in
her temple. Learning from Shama that he had come from Shirdi, the priest
sought in his turn Shama's guidance to Shirdi. Kakaji Vaidya came to Shirdi
and by lying at the feet of Sai Baba he got peace of mind. It may be seen in
this instance how miraculously the priest was led to Shirdi and how without
speaking a word or moving a muscle Baba could grant him peace of mind. Baba
works without show, and in simple and effortless way. But he works
effectively.
-P. S. V. Aiyer (from Sai Sudha-June 1972)
Source
http://www.saileelas.org/magazines/SAILEELA/special1973.htm#saibabathegodman
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