Satsang THE SAINT OF SHIRDI PEETH

THE SAINT OF SHIRDI PEETH -Shri J. N, Bose Two prominently distinguished features in the life of Lord Sai Baba The Saint of Saints
When the Lord Sri Sai Baba came in the year 1872 to a small village Shirdi(abutting on the Agra Trunk Road, in the. Kopargaon Taluka in Ahmednagar District) along with a marriage procession, He was welcomed at the outskirt of the village by a devotee of the Khandava temple, Sri Mhalsapati who first saw Baba, the former addressed Him as "Welcome Sai Baba and this is the name i.e. "Sai Baba", by which thereafter the Saint of Saints became known to the world. Like many other Avatars His ancestry was unknown. But when He came to Shirdi He was perfect Brahma Gnani and had attained Brahma. As such he used to foresee the past, present and future of His devotees who included big govt. officers, millionaires and eminent politicians of the country. Sri Baba at times used to please himself by uttering "Yade Haqq" (i.e. I always remember God) and avoided the expression "Anal Haqq" (i.e. I am God); still innumerable cases have been recorded where Baba's thousands of devotees have realised the omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence of Shri Sai Baba.
This is the background in which the distinguishing features as indicated below have most appropriately been realised by His devotees. First, synthesis of religion which is considered to be the most essential factor in our national life in the present days. In His Dwarkamai (the Holy Masjid) where Sri Baba used to sit, synthesis of religion was demonstrated to the world as in same floor of the same Dwarkamai Hindus are worshipping freely with bells, symbols, on the other side Muslims are offering their prayers, Parsis are offering prayers before the Holy Shirdi Dhuni. This is a unique example in India-and in the whole world of today- how the synthesis of all religions could be achieved in the same floor simultaneously.
This is one of the personal experiences of the writer in 1943 who visited Shirdi after his adverse experience gained in the Bengal at that time.
Synthesis of religion was also achieved in the Dakshineswar by Sri Ramakrishna Paramashmsa Dev after His actual practical realisation of the God as a Hindu, as a Muslim and as a Christian This idea of synthesis of religion was preached to the world by His disciple Swami Vivekananda. Similarly Sri Bijoy Krishna Go swami of Ganderia Ashram of Dacca, Bangla Desh effected the synthesis of all religions. Mr. Campbell, an European Fakir and other Hindus joined him in his Kirtan songs. This is a wonderful achievement which is considered admittedly as an absolute necessity for advancement of our national activities of our country. As such this Dwarakamai which is considered to be holiest of the holy pilgrimage, like Brindaban, Puri, Dakshineswar and Gandaria Ashram where synthesis of all religions is achieved.
Secondly, the other distinguished aspect is that God after most sincere and utmost prayers appears before His devotees and speaks to them. Sri Ramakrishna Paramshamsa Dev stressed very strongly before His devotees that "God can be seen and spoken to as I speak to you all" God Sri Bejoy Krishna Goswami asserted the identical things. The humble writer believes that Baba still lives today as He told His disciples "Jog thinks I am dead. I am alive. Go and perform my morning arti. He used to assert that "I left my mortal body but my tomb will speak". One practical experience of the humble writter is Lord Sai conveyed His direction to the writer through one of His favourite devotees (Sri Saipadananda Radha Krishna Swamiji of Madras) "Tell Mr. Bose-he should take things easy, I shall take care of them". There are hundred other examples in the writer's life in which Sri Baba appeared and gave instructions in all troubles of the writer and his family and also to other devotees which have been incorporated in the Bengalee book "Kalpataru Sai Baba" (The Giver of Wishes).
(From Sai Bliss - July-August 1972) (Reprinted from May 1973 issue.)
Source : Shri Sai Leela Vijayadasami Special Number 1973 http://www.saileelas.org/magazines/SAILEELA/special1973.htm
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