Satsang Mahasamadhi Message

(Message delivered by Pujya Narasimha Swami ji and
printed in Sai Sudha Magazine)

"Sunset and Evening Star,
And one clear call for me
And may there be no moaning of the bar
When I put to sea."

The English poet who wrote the above lines was a true
mystic, that is. a realiser of the innermost essence of
reality, thoroughly and perpetually immersed in the Real.
Death that terrifies the ignorant mass had no terrors for
him. Every one of us who constantly dives below surface
appearances and seeks to contact the blissful reality
underneath will be equally bold and cheerful when the
body undergoes the process called Death. The material
constituents of the body are returned to their respective
sources.
Earth goes back to earth, water to water, air to air, light
and heat to light and heat. The soul that realises the Self
as above and beyond these is always in its real condition
unaffected by their return. If an English Mystic Poet and
ordinary Sadhaka can achieve this equanimity and retain
perfect Shanti when the mortal coil is shuffled off, it is
patent that such a supreme Siddha, such a perfect Jnani
as Buddha, Sri Sai Baba should have faced his so-called
death, in 1918, with perfect equanimity and cheerfulness.
Ho was always realising the true nature of the Jivas and
constantly imparting instruction and encouragement to
person perturbed by the approach or occurrence of death.

When, for instance, Appa Kulkarni's wife, a fairly aged
lady, ran up to Baba crying that her husband was in the
jaws of death and begged for some UDHI to save her
husband's life, Baba quieted her and asked her calmly to
face the coming separation. He pointed out that death
and life are equally manifestations of God's activity and
are inseparable. Bodies when worn out are cast away
like worn-out clothes. "Appa wants to change his dress
(Kupni) before ! do. Let Appa go. Do not stop him, Do not
ask for Udhi. When death arrives, do not be grieved. The
wise ones grieve not for death; the fools do. The five
pranas were lent for use during life. Now the lender claims
back His own and they are returned Air goes back to Air,
Fire to Fire, Every one of the five elements thus goes
back to its place. The body is made of earth. Its return to
earth is not a thing to bemoan." So said the Sage Sai.
The truth that fell from Baba's lips in these words is
unquestionable and the position taken cannot be
comoated. There are however pandits who can preach
such truths most eloquently, and most of them fail in
any attempt to realise and practise such truths in their
own lives. PAROPADESE PANDITYAM SWASYA
CHARENA DRISYATHE" is the remark that will apply to
them. That is, they are good at preaching to others what
they themselves cannot and do not practise.
Baba was not of this class. He never preached what he
did not practice. He fully realised the nature of death
especially when critical cases like Appa Kulkarni's came
up for his notice—and they came up for his notice pretty
frequently.

Baba encouraged alike the dying person and the survivors.
With his wonderful love and power he stood besides the
dying person even though he might die thousands of miles
away from Shirdi, and helped him on to move into a new
sphere. Baba being a guide in this world and beyond. To
the survivors who mainly thought of the worldly
disadvantages entailed by their bereavement, he gave
assurance that he would look after them and their interests.
He was always as good as his word. To Balakram Mankar's
relations, he had given the assurance that he (Baba) would
look after Mankar's sons. Balakram Mankar died shortly
after the assurance was given and his four sons appeared
to be in a terribly bad plight without funds and without
powerful supporters, but the unseen hand of Baba has
really supported them all and they are now and have been
for some time enjoying affluence and prosperity-filling high
posts in business and Society.

Baba's Mahasamadhi is not a matter for regret from his own
standpoint or from his bhakta’s. His (Baba's) own point of
view always was that he was Narayana, that he was Kabir,
etc.—always spending out His energy for promoting the best
interests of others, "ParopakarayaSatham Vibuthayah". It
is for blessing others that Saints live or take birth after birth
especially as a guru—Sadguru. He declared himself bound
to look after the spiritual interests of his devotees in their
birth after birth until he could take them on to their goal, i.e.,
to the feet of the Almighty "Thadvishnoh Paramam Padam
Sada Pasyanthi Suryayah."

Alike from Baba's standpoint and that of the devotee, his
altruistic activities constitute the real essence of his
personality and these still continue. Before casting off his
fleshy cloak, he assured the devotees that he was deathless
and that after his so-called death, he would be as vigorous
and helpful as ever. Thousands of devotees since 19J8 have
experienced the truth of his statement. Apart from the worldly
help he has rendered, he has still been rendering spiritual
help, not the least of which is his standing at the deathbed,
and guiding the devotee's soul in the after life.

Rao Sahib Papiah Chettiars wife is one of the latest
instances of such help. She was not very old at the time of
her passing away and her demise broke her husband's heart.
Yet she had smiling face when the breath was parting from
her body. The assuage her husband's sorrow, she
subsequently gave her message to him, informing him
chiefly of the facts that at her death Baba was by her side
and that he took her and placed her in a heavenly sphere,
where she is still continuing happily under his guidance.