Satsang TARKHAD FAMILY by Lt.Col.M.B.Nimbalkar

The second incident in regarding the tiger described in
Ch. XXXI. Jyotindra says once after that incident Baba asked
him, "Bhau! Do you know what the tiger was asking from me?"
Jyotindra replied, "How do I know'.' I had seen you both staring
at each other for some time but what communication you two
had I do not know." Thereupon Baba said, "The tiger was asking
for Mukti (liberation or final beatitude) and I promptly gave it to
him." Hemadpant also while describing this incident in Marathi
Shri Sai Satcharita has rightly said :

"In previous life perhaps, this tiger was a virtuous person. But
trying to show off learnedness, happened to insult a great devotee
and due to that devotee's curse was born in this cruel form. Now
having reached the feet of Shri Sai Baba, the curse got mitigated,
the sins burnt to ashes, the bonds released and the tiger was
emancipated automatically."

It was sometime end of 1917 or early 1918, Baba was asking
the devotees gathered round Him as to
what they wanted since perhaps His end was nearing. Some
asked for a son, some wealth and some recovery from diseases.
Jyotindra said, "I do not want anything." Baba said, "Bhau! This
is our last meeting. Ask something. Whatever you ask I shall
give you." Still Jyotindra continued to say "No", But Baba
continued to press inncessantly, so ultimately Jyotindra said,
"Alright Baba! If You insist I shall ask, but then You will have to
give in. Then You cannot refuse." Baba said, "Yes", and then
Jyotindra said, "Baba! Next birth You may give to me in any form
- man, beast or even an insect - but in that birth I must meet You
again." Hearing this, Baba said, "No! This is not possible. You are
trying to bind me for a future birth." Then Jyotindra replied, "Why
have You then promised to fulfill my demand'.' Now You cannot go
back on Your promise." At last Baba said, "O.K. Your wish will be
fulfilled. We both will be eating from the same dish in the next birth."

There is no reason to disbelieve this statement regarding Baba
taking another birth. In the introduction to Marathi Sai Satcharita
by Hemadpant, late Kakasaheb Dixit has stated that once Shri
Sai Baba had mentioned to him that though He would go now, He
would come again in this world as a boy of eight years.

Jyotindra later on got married and had a number of children also.
He did fulfill all his worldly responsibilities properly but his attention
and interest mainly was towards spiritual matters. Sai Baba was
his be all and end all place of worship. At last in 1965 on Monday
in the holy month of Shravan, he left this world in great peace and
satisfaction with Sai-nam on his lips. Indeed great was Jyotindra's
devotion and great was his fortune to be greatly blessed by Sai.

by
Lt. Col. M. B, Nimbalkar, Pune.
(Source :http://saileelas.org/articles/nimbalkar/tarkhad.htm
(Shri Sai Leela September October 1991)