Satsang MRS. LAXMIBAI GANESH KHAPARDE by V.B.Kher

The reference in Shirdi Diary to the above incident is found in
the entry dated 4-3-1912 and is briefly worded as follows: "My
wife was late in going to worship Sayin Saheb but he very kindly
desisted from his meal and let her worship him."
In his articles in the early issues of Shri Sai Leela Swami Sai-
Sharananand referring to this incident observed as follows: "Baba's
touch was experienced by devotees when He gave Udi or allowed
them to touch His feet or press His legs. Even here, he did not touch
or allow every one to touch in the some way. When He desired to
instruct anyone, He allowed the devotee to touch according to his
faith or feeling (bhawa) and sometimes even objected. When He
wanted to instruct the wife of the Hon'ble Mr. G.S.Khaparde to do
japa of the mantra, 'Rajaram' notwithstanding the rule prohibiting
the entry of women into the Musjid in the afternoon, He not only
permitted her to come up but accepted and took the naivedya
(offering) brought by her and stretched out His legs for her to press
and simultaneously pressed her hands and whispered to her, 'go
on repeating Rajaram, Rajaram'. Swami Sai Sharanand's comment
on the above incident shows in what high esteem Baba held
Mrs. Laxmibai Ganesh Khaparde.

Now let us turn to the account in canto seven of Shri Sai-Sat-Charita
as to how Sai Baba relieved Laxmibai Khaparde's anxiety on account
of her son's illness.

"How many wonderful leelas of Baba shall I narrate to the reader!
Once there was an outbreak of plague and now listen as to what
miracle happened. Dadasaheb Khaparde's lad was staying (in Shirdi)
along with his mother and both were enjoying bliss in the company of
Shri Sai. The lad developed high fever and his mother became restless
with anxiety. She wanted to return to her hometown Amraoti and
came to take Baba's permission to leave. .During His evening stroll
when Baba came near the Wada, the lady held Baba's feet and narrated
her woe. Women are known to be soft hearted. The boy was struck
down with plague and was shivering. Baba said to her softly. The sky
is overcast. The clouds will burst and pour down rain and the sky will be
clear. Why fear?' So saying, he raised his kafni upto the waist, showed
all the four buboes each of the size of an egg on his body and added,
'Look, I have to take upon myself your suffering.' Seeing this divine and
strange spectacle the people were dumb-founded to witness how saints
have to suffer sorrows for the sake of their devotees. Their minds are
softer than wax and outwardly like butter. They love their devotees
without any expectation and regard them as their kith and kin."
Reference to this incident occurs in Shirdi Diary in entries dated 8-1-1912,
17-1-1912, 18-1-1912, 20-1-1912, 6-2-1912 and 8-2-12 which have been
collected together below:

"8-1-1912 - During the mid-day service after the Arti, Savin Maharaj
exhibited sudden and great anger and abused violently. It appears as if
plague is likely to reappear here and Sayin Maharaj is endeavouring to
prevent its reappearance.

17-1-1912 - Balwant also felt sad and said that he wished to leave Shirdi.
18-1-1912-P.S.I forgot to mention that during the torrent of hard words
that Sayin Baba poured out to-day he said that he had saved my son
Balwant and then often repeated the phrase 'Fakir wishes to kill
Dadasaheb (meaning me) but I would not permit it'.

20-1-1912 - Bhishma and my son are unwell....There was no Bhajan as
Bhishma is indisposed and my son Balwant is slightly worse.
6-2-1912 - When my wife spoke about going, Sayin Baba said that I did
not ask for the permission personally.
8-2-1912 - Balvant for the first time in these three weeks ventured out as
far as the Musjid and put his head on the feet of Sayin Maharaj. He has
improved so far."

(Source Shirdi Diary)
http://www.saileelas.org/books/dairy.htm
(to be contd...)