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SAI SHANKAR
Megha was already a Shankar devotee. When he got attached to Sai’s
Feet, he looked on Sainath as Shankar ! He was his Umanath.
Megha continuously chanted ‘‘Sai-Shankar’’ day and night, and his
inner self was merged in this form. His mind was pure and free of
sin.
He became a dedicated devotee of Sai. He felt that Sai was Shankar
Himself. His chant of ‘‘Shankar - Shankar’’ reverberated. He did
not believe in any other deity.
Worship of Sai was worship of God to him. Sai was his Girija
Raman. With this idea firmly rooted in his mind, Megha remained
always happy.
Shankar likes ‘bel’ leaves; but there were no ‘bel’
trees in Shirdi. Therefore, Megha went for a koss or
koss-and-a-half to fulfil his desire of offering these leaves.
For him a koss or two was nothing. He was ready even to
cross a mountain for ‘bel’, for he would have fulfilled his
desire to do pooja as he wanted it to be done.
He would bring the ‘bel’ from long distances, get together
all the pooja paraphernalia completely, and then worship
all the village deities, one by one. He would offer to all
according to the proper rituals.
After that, he would come immediately to the masjid,
lovingly bow to Baba’s seat, wash His Feet etc. and then drink the
water as tirth.
Further stories about Megha will be delightful to listen. They
will show Sai’s all-pervasiveness and reverence for the village
deities.
Till Megha was in Shirdi, he performed the noon arati
regularly. But, before that he worshipped all the village deities
and then went to the masjid.
This was his regular routine. But, on one day this pattern was
broken. He could not worship Khandoba though he made the efforts.
He tried to do the pooja; but the door (of the temple) did
not open inspite of his efforts. Therefore, he omitted that and
came (to the masjid) to do the arati.
That moment Baba said to him, ‘‘To-day there is a break in your
pooja. You have worshipped all the deities; but one has
remained unworshipped.
Go and do that and then come here’’. Megha replied, ‘‘The door
was locked, and would not open though I tried. Therefore, I was
forced to omit that pooja’’.
Baba said, ‘‘Go and see. The door is open now’’. Megha went
immediately, without wasting a moment, and found that the words
were correct.
He worshipped Khanderaya and Megha also got rid of his uneasiness.
Then Baba allowed Megha to do His pooja.
Then, he did the pooja with great reverence with sandalwood
paste, flowers and the other eight offerings. He offered
dakshina, garlands, fruits etc. according to his means.
On one Makar Sankranti day, he felt like anointing Baba’s
whole body with sandalwood paste and then giving him a bath with
Godavari water.
He pestered Baba for permission; so Baba said, ‘‘Go and do as you
desire’’. So, immediately Megha took a copper vessel and set out
for the water.
Early in the morning, before sunrise, Megha took the empty copper
vessel and without an umbrella or chappals, set out to get
water from the Godavari.
The entire distance, for coming and going, was about eight koss.
It did not even occur to him to think of the exertion and
strenuous efforts he would have to make.
Megha was not at all worried about this. He set out on getting the
permission. When there is a strong determination there is a great
joy in performing the task.
When he thought of giving a bath to Sai with the Godavari water,
he was not bothered about the strenuous efforts or the exhaustion.
His firm faith was his support.
So be it. He brought the water and poured it into a wide-mouthed
copper pot. He began to persuade Baba to get up for the bath; but
He did not agree.
‘‘The noon arati is over and the people have gone to their
homes. All the preparations for the bath have been made and it is
afternoon,’’ said Megha.
Seeing Megha’s great insistence, then Sai in sport and as if in a
mock fight, took Megha’s hand in his hands and said,
‘‘I do not wish to bathe in the Godavari waters ? How immature can
you be ! Why does a fakir like me want Ganga water ? What
is it to me ?’’
But, Megha was not prepared to listen at all, since he believed
that Baba was his Shankar. He only knew that Shankar is pleased
with Ganges water.
He said, ‘‘Baba, to-day is the festival of Makar Sankranti.
When Shankar is given bath with the waters of the Ganges, He is
propitiated’’.
Then, considering his love and his adamant resolution, Baba said,
‘‘Fulfil your wish’’, as Megha was pure of heart.
After saying that He got up and sat down on the low stool made
ready for the bath. He bent forward His head and said, ‘‘Pour just
a little water !
Out of all the limbs, the head is the most important. Pour a
little water on it. It is as good as having a full bath. At least
listen to that much’’.
Agreeing to do so, Megha picked up the pot. He was so overwhelmed
with love while pouring it on the head that he emptied it
completely while shouting ‘‘Har Ganga’’, and poured it on
the whole body.
Megha was greatly joyful. ‘‘My Shankar has bathed with his clothes
on,’’ he said, as he put down the empty pot. When he looked, he
was greatly surprised.
Though he had poured the water on the whole body, only the head
was wet. All the other limbs were absolutely dry. There was not
even a drop of water on the clothes.
Megha’s pride was crushed. Those who were around were surprised !
Shri Sai thus gratifies the fond fancies of His devotees !
‘You felt like giving Me a bath. Go ahead and do it to satisfy
your desire. While doing that also, you will easily come to know
My inner powers,’ Baba seemed to say by this leela.
This is the principle of devotion to Sai. If only through good
fortune you reach him, then nothing is impossible to achieve.
Gradually, everything becomes easy.
Casually, while sitting, talking, going for walks in the morning
and in the afternoon, if the devotee has faith and patience, he
achieves whatever he desires.
But, any power or miraculous sign was shown in the course of
normal routine. Gradually He created inherent interest and made
them understand spiritual matters.
There is another story of Megha, which will please the listeners
very much. Seeing Sai’s love for His devotees, the listeners will
be pleased.
A big picture of Baba, which Nana (Chandorkar) had newly given,
was placed in the wada by Megha and he worshipped it
regularly.
The real image at the masjid and the exact replica in the
wada, were worshipped with arati, at both the
places, day and night.
When about twelve months had passed in doing this divine service,
when Megha was awake early one morning, he saw a vision.
Megha was lying in bed and though he had his eyes closed, he was
fully awake and he saw Baba distinctly.
Baba, too, was aware that he was awake. He then threw consecrated
rice on the bed and said, ‘‘Megha, draw a trident !’’, and then
disappeared there and then.
Listening to these words of Baba, Megha opened his eyes with great
enthusiasm. He was very surprised to find that Baba had
disappeared.
Then Megha looked all around. There were grains of rice scattered
everywhere on the bed. The doors of the wada were closed,
as earlier. Hence he was confused.
He went to the masjid immediately. While taking Baba’s
darshan, Megha told Him the story of the trident and asked
permission to draw it.
Megha related the vision with all details. Baba said, ‘‘How can it
be a vision ? Did you not hear My words ? I told you to draw the
trident.
Are you trying to test My words by calling it a vision ? My words
are always very profound and not a syllable is empty’’.
‘‘I too felt this at first that You had woken me. But, not a
single door was open. That’s why I felt differently,’’ replied
Megha.
Listen to Baba’s answer : ‘‘I do not need a door to enter. I have
no form or dimension. I am always everywhere.
For the one who places his burdens on Me and has become one with
Me, I manipulate all his actions like the actions of a
marionette’’.
So be it. The subsequent marvellous narration about the purpose of
the trident should be heard with great attention. The connection
will become evident.
On one hand, Megha returned and began to draw the trident on the
wall, near the picture in the wada. He outlined the trident
in red colour.
The next day, a Ramdasi devotee from Pune came to the masjid.
He did obeisance to Baba with love and presented Him with a
‘lingam’.
Just then Megha too arrived there, and did an eight-fold obeisance
to Baba. Baba said, ‘‘Here Shankar has come ! Now, you look after
Him’’.
Upon getting the ‘lingam’ in this manner, immediately after
the vision of the trident, Megha kept on gazing at the ‘lingam’
overcome with emotion.
Kaka Saheb Dixit too had another marvellous experience of the
‘lingam’. Listen with reverence to everything. Your faith in
Baba will become firmer.
While Megha set off from the masjid with the ‘lingam’,
Dixit was engrossed in chanting the Lord’s name, after his bath in
the wada.
Wiping his body with a clean, washed cloth, a towel covering his
head, he stood on a stone concentrating on Sai.
He was chanting the Lord’s name, as per his usual practice with
his head covered. He then had a vision of the ‘lingam’.
Dixit thought : ‘Why did I today get the darshan of the
‘lingam’ when I was chanting the Lord’s name ?’ There was
Megha, in front of him, looking very gratified.
Megha said, ‘‘Look, Kaka ! Look at the ‘lingam’ that Baba
has given’’. Kaka was surprised and pleased to see this particular
‘lingam’.
It was of the same shape, size and markings like the one that had
appeared in his meditation, just a little earlier. Dixit was
delighted.
Be it so. Later, after the drawing of the trident was complete,
Sai got Megha to establish the ‘lingam’ near the picture.
Since Megha liked to worship Shankar, by presenting him with the
Shankar ‘lingam’, Sai strengthened his devotion. Such are
the marvellous narrations about Sai !
– From Shri Sai Satcharita
Translated in English by Zarine
March -April
2005
URL:http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org
E-mail :
saibaba_anr@sancharnet.in
E-mail : saidadar@bom3.vsnl.net.in
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