Shri Saibaba Sansthan,Shirdi                                                                         Shri Saileela Main Page

Bayjabai’s Austere Devotion & Sai Baba’s life-long Remembrance

In the beginning, Sai Baba was well-known amongst the people as the mad fakir. The One Who filled His stomach by begging for food, how could He have any grandeur ?

But the Fakir was generous by nature. Never expecting anything in return and loving, outwardly He looked wavering but was inwardly steadfast. His behaviour was impossible to understand.

In such an ordinary (mean) village, there were some fortunate people who were kind by nature and who regarded Him as a Saint.

Tatya Kote’s mother, whose name was Bayjabai, would put some bhakris in a basket and carry it on her head and go into the woods in the afternoon.

She would walk for miles, searching in the woods for the mad fakir, trampling upon the thick foliage and bow down to His feet on finding Him.

How can one describe the strength of her devotion ! Dry or curried vegetables and bhakri she fed Baba with her hands, in the woods, in the noon or late afternoon.

This austere devotion of hers was also not forgotten by Baba during His lifetime. Keeping the past in mind He blessed her son with good fortune. Both the husband and wife had great faith in the Fakir indeed. The Fakir only was their God; God lives in the faith of the devotee, doesn’t He ?

The Fakir would be in meditation. Then Bayjabai would lay out the leaf (which served as a plate), serve the food from the basket, and make efforts to feed Him.

“Fakiri is true kingship. Fakiri alone will last forever. Look how evanescent is wealth.” Baba said this always !

Later on Baba abandoned the woods. He began to stay in the village and accepted food in the Masjid. Thus He put an end to the mother’s troubles.

Miraculous Effect of Ramanama

Due to the majesty of Ramanama stone-rocks started floating on the waters; on the strength of Ramanama the monkey army succeeded in subduing the mighty Ravana; depending on Ramanama, Hanuman lifted the mountain and Sita could protect and maintain her famine chastity even after living for several months in the palace of Ravana only due to the majesty of Ramanama. Bharata could hold his life for the long fourteen years because from his throat no sound other than Ramanama came out. This is why Tulasidasa has rightly asserted and prescribed to mutter Ramanama in order to wash away the fifth of Kaliyuga.

It is my conviction that the pronunciation of Ramanama  is of uncommon import. If somebody really feels that the God is ever present in his heart in that case I feel that muttering Ramanama is not necessary for Him. But I am not sure if there is any such person on the earth. On the contrary my experiences indicate that there is something very special, very uncommon in muttering Ramanama audibly. Why is it so or how is it so – it is quite unnecessary to know.

ourtesy - Kalyan