Satsang Mahasamadhi Message

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

Bhishma had this power of death at will and he chose
the time when he should quit his body, namely, after
Maharasankranti. Rarely do we find a person that can
regulate his death and fix the time at which he would
give up his body. But there are such persons who are
by no means true Avatkars or distinguished amsas of
God. They are pious and well-developed at the time of
death, and they can fix or discern the time at which
they can depart, and they develop the power of will,
with which they hold on to life up to the moment fixed
by them for departure.
In the case of such an exalted personage like Sai Baba,
it goes without saying that he can regulate the time at
which he can leave his body.
He had the power, when his physical body was seen at
Shirdi, to take up other bodies, and proceed to carry on
his lilas in various places with those bodies. This is a
wonderful phenomenon, which will naturally make us
think and ponder over the meaning of the change from
one body to another in the process called death. If during
life, we can pass from one body to another, can that also
not be called death? And if Sai Baba was doing thus a
dozen times, he had, we may say, births and deaths in
various places by appearing in and withdrawing from
various forms. For example, when Mahalsapathi went
to Jejuri with his kavadi procession, he was horrified to
find the whole place under a deluge of cholera.

Baba suddenly appealed before him at Jejuri, producing his persona form
before the eyes of Mahlsapathi. Jejuri is about 150 miles from Shirdi.
Mahlsapathi, recognised at once the form of Sai Baba and got emboldened.
When the mother is near, the child has then no fear. He went on with his
kavadi and came back safe without catching cholera infection. Scenes like
this have come within the experiences of numerous Bhaktas.

For instance, at Harda, Sadhubhayya and three or four of his friends were
walking on; and suddenly in front of them and coming against them was seen
the figure of Sai Baba. They were greatly surprised. Baba came right upto
them and thrust his hand into the hand of Sadubhayya, passed behind him and
disappeared. One of the group was sceptic and asked the others 'What is it
you have seen?' Sadhubhayya retorted •Whether you consider it a delusion or
a fact, there is one thing which nobody can deny. When I came along with
you, I had nothing in my hand. After Baba put his hand into mine, you see
here I have pot a toothpick, which Baba thrust into my hand.' Then, said the
sceptic 'This must be capable of verification,' and they wrote to Shirdi and
asked whether Baba really came to Harda and gave a tooth-pick to Sadubhayya.
The letter came and Shama put the query to Baba.

Baba in reply directed Shama to reply and ask Sadubhayya to come up in
person. Sadubhayya then went in person and narrated the facts. As directed
by Baba, he narrated the facts before Bade Baba and others. Every one was
convinced that Baba did really appear at Harda, and Bade Baba was weeping
tears and tears at the thought that Baba could produce forms by will and
withdraw from those forms, i.e., to use the ordinary language, Baba was born
and dead within a few minutes.

(to be contd.....)