Satsang Drawing Lots - At the Feet of Shri Sai Baba

Drawing Lots - At the Feet of Shri Sai Baba
(Shri Sai Leela May 1984)

In October 1S83 issue of Shri Sai Leela Magazine,
there is an article by Shri K. Vasudev of Bangalore in
which the author has narrated how he took Shri Sai Baba's
advice, when faced with a business problem, by putting chits
on the silver feet (padukas) of Shri Sai Baba at Shirdi. Initially
the author felt that this was a silly thing to do at the noble feet
of Lord Shri Sai; but in the end he was convinced that there
is nothing wrong in taking this liberty of asking approval of
one's plan of action from your father Lord Sai.

I quite agree with the author's later conviction. Actually
during Baba's life time His devotees used to approach Him
for such advice and found that it was invariably correct and
profitable. For instance in chapter 25 of Shri Saisatcharita,
Damu Anna of Ahmednagar asked Sbri Sai Baba through
a letter whether to join a friend in trading in cotton and grains
or not. Baba told him not to take chance and be content with
his present earnings. Damu Anna was unhappy at Baba'.-
advice, but nevertheless he listened to Baba and sure
enough his friend lost the deal and became a bankrput. Thus
Damu Anna was saved from insolvency.

Normally Baba being in the know of further happenings
and keenly interested in the welfare of His devotees, told them
on His own what to do and what not to do. For instance Baba
advised Rao Bahadur S. V. Sathe, who had crossed 50 years
of age already, to marry second time and assured him that he
will get a son. Shri Sathe re-married and got a daughter first
and also the second time; but Shri Sathe had full faith in
Baba's words and accordingly he did get a son third time.
The well-known pleader of Nasik, Shri S. B. Dhumal asked
Baba's permission by a letter to leave Nasik because of the
incidence of plague in the town, Baba did not give permission
and Dhumal also stayed on against the pleadings of his family
members Nothing happened to Dhumal or his family
members. Prof. G. G. Narke, an England returned intellectual
and son-in-law of Shrimant Butty, was jobless at Shirdi for
13 months. There were offers to him from Calcutta and
Burma for employment; but Baba refused permission. In
the end there was a vacancy in the Government Engineering
College, at Pune and although Narke had doubts about his
being selected, Baba asked him to apply and he was
promptly selected. Thus listening to Baba, Narke got a
permanent and well-paid job and quite close to his
hometown. Shri R. B. Purandare of Bandra once went
to Shirdi and while leaving asked Baba's permission to go
to Nasik on pilgrimage. Baba said 'yes' and told him to
stay there for two days. On reaching Nasik, Purandare's
younger brother caught fever. His mother and other family
members got scared and pressed Purandare to return to
Bombay immediately. But Purandare replied that Baba
had ordered him to stay for two days and he would not
move before that period. Next day his brother's fever
subsided and they returned to Bombay after two days
happily.

(to be contd....)
Lt Col. M. B. Nimbalkar (Retd)
Pune
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