Satsang A BRIEF LIFE SKETCH OF GURUDEV H. H. NARASIMHA SWAMIJI

In Pandharpur, Narasimha Swamiji cultivated devotion; but his aim
was to find out a Sadguru. He made enquiries and came to know,
that in Khedgaon (a place 34 miles from Poona) Sadguru Narayan
Maharaj was living. B.V.N. Swamiji approached him in his Ashram
for guidance. Narasimha Swamiji asked the Maharaj, where he could
find the Kohinoor, the richest gem. The Maharaj directed him to go
west wards. Narasimha Swamiji went to Meherbad, a place near
Ahmednagar and stayed with Meher Baba for sometime. Meher Baba
was considered to be a perfect master, who had toured round the
world. He was previously known as Meherwan, born in 1894 in a
Zorastrain family in Poona. Sri Meher Baba was a pupil of Sri
Upasani Baba of Sakori. Following the advice of Meher Baba's
disciples, Narasimha Swamiji proceeded to meet Sri Upasani
Baba.
Narasimha Swamiji was in pursuit of the Bhakli-marg. Sri Upasani
Baba advised him to stick to the Bhakli-marg and not fritter away
his powers in metaphysical speculation. He also advised him to
develop his knowledge through jap, bhajan and parayan etc. and
lead the life of a holy ascetic. Upasani Baba's teachings and
methods were against Narasimha Swamiji's opinions and
expectations about correct religious life. So, he left Sri Upasani
Baba in 1933 resolving never to go back. Sri Narasimha Swamiji
began his pilgrimage with a visit to the Siddharudha Mutt in Hubli.
Here, he met a Sadaka. That Sadaka was eager to go to some
place and settle down to a religious life. Narasimha Swamiji
promised to help him. This commitment made Swamiji to take
him on a pilgrim from Hubli to Pandharpur, Khedgaon. The Hubli
Sadaka thought that the only safe place for him was Sakori. Being
informed, that Sri Upasani Baba was not in Sakori, Sri Narasimha
Swamiji agreed to take the Sadaka to Sakori intending to proceed
to Dwarka immediately avoiding a meeting with Upasani Baba.
Reaching Sakori to his great astonishment he came to know, that
Sri Upasani Baba was there. He paid his respects and bowed to
him. The Sadaka told Swamiji that he was not allowed to stay in
Upasani Baba's Ashram. He requested Swamiji to speak on his
behalf. Upasani Baba agreed to allow that Sadaka to stay with
him in Sakori, if Narasimha Swamiji was prepared to stay with
him in doing the Sadhana, following his path without proceeding
further on pilgrimage.
Narasimha Swamiji had heard from Upasani Baba about Sri Sai
Baba of Shirdi (Shirdi is close to Sakori, six and a half kms. from
Sakori). He wrote in his book 'The Sage of Sakori', how much Sai
Baba had helped Sri Upasani Baba. Sri Narasimha Swamiji bagan
to collect information about Sri Sai Baba. He discovered, thai Sri
Sai Baba was really Sri Ram or Sri Krishna, born for the welfare
of mankind and he found in Sai, The Trinity. Upasani Baba's
reputation was so great that Mahatma Gandhi had approached
him in 1927 with a view to secure his blessings for national
welfare. Swamiji reasoned, if Sri Upasani Baba, the disciple, was
so great, his Master, Sri Sai Baba must be much greater, still it
did not occur to him to pay a visit to Sri Sai Baba's Mahasamadhi
till the dcstined hour arrived. With the permission and blessings of
Sri Upasani Baba, Narasimha Swamiji set out for Shirdi.

Bow to Sri Sai Peace be to all
to be contd...
- Sai Mani R. Jayamani
Madras, Tamil Nadu.
(As appeared in Shri Sai Leela May - June 1993)

Source : http://saileelas.org/articles.htm