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SHRI
DATTA AVADHOOT SAI BABA AND GAJANAN MAHARAJ AVADHOOT
TRADITION PRINCIPLES Avadhoot
Sampradaya is fully based on
Advaita philosophy. In this, Vedas - Shrutis -Shastras
are all honoured and respected. But, more importance and stress is given
on self-experience and self-realisation. Sarvam
Khalvidam Brahmam After Jnana
attainment, one is at the realm of visualising Brahma Swaroopa.
At that stage, one feels the world is just an imaginary apprehension and
everything is Brahma only, contention leads to oneness, appreciation of Jeevatma
and Parmatma. Right from the origin, the creation has worldly
life ancient, the generation, preservation all in continuous
progression. In life, individual, social,
materialistic experiences and references are evident and perpetual till
one really affirms and till that stage in truth it shines. From the
illusory ties, when one lets off and attains liberation, then one
concludes, the cosmos, life and illusion is all a falasy. Under the influence of illusion for
every incident, action, happening, He is there. With no entanglement,
with free mind and pure attitude, Bhagavan’s Upasana,
Aradhana are the graceful contents. Guru Pooja, Guru
Bhakti, Guru Seva, good and pious deeds, noble thoughts all
lead to Him, may the paths are different and vary. The intense Namasmaran,
Bhajan, Sankirtan all are of real worth, attributing for
inner development, awareness, conception of wisdom, ladder up for
salvation and ultimate Mukti. The very blessings
and mercy of Sadguru, one attains self-realisation, visulises the
pure path, thus swings in Jeevan Mukti. The ultimate attainment
of Parabrahma, awareness - conception is the main goal
of Avadhoot Sampradaya and the sanctification of human life, the
reward of 84 lakh births manifestation. In this graceful
heritage of Dattatreya
Parampara... Many noble Satpurushas
have appeared, may not all be the incarnations of Shri Dattatreya
Mahaprabhu, but evidently they are all of the divine grace and
belong to the serene Datta Sampradaya. From the highest
spiritual potential, all these Satpurushas have come on the earth
only with one fundamental aim and goal, the pure and pious deed to
uplift humanity and society. Grant salvation to
the beings, rescue them, favour boons, help them all with one intention
to move them all towards Divinity, the Supreme, by righteous way. Amongst these very
noble ones Shirdi Sai Baba too has the same honour, high respect and
considered the blessed ones of Shri Datta Mahaprabhu
incarnation as such. In His life story,
the various worthy incidents pinpoint and direct towards a potent
attribution, that Baba is one a divine Satpurush, one can
overwhelmingly grace him as the one who followed and propagated Datta Mahaprabhu
Parampara, even one can quote as Datta Avatar too, as Baba
really is at that level of spiritual height. In the life story of
Baba, very prominent salient incidents corelate Him to Datta Mahaprabhu,
showing apprently the oneness with Avatar. In Jamner miracle... Ramgirbua was called
by Baba to take Udi and a copy of Baba’s Arati to be
given to Mainatai, daughter of Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who was about to
deliver. As he was supposed to go to Khandesh, Ramgirbua reached Jalgaon
in the early morning and was taken to Jamner by a tonga driver.
When Ramgirbua reached Jamner, Mainatai was in severe pain. Nanasaheb instructed
his wife first to give the Udi to Mainatai and read out Baba’s Arati. Then the delivery of
Mainatai was safe. Both the child and mother were in good health. When Ramgirbua
thanked Nanasaheb for sending the tonga to the station, Nanasaheb
had shock of his life, as tonga was not at all sent by Nanasaheb
and he was not aware also that Ramgirbua was coming with the Udi and Baba’s Arati copy. Ramgirbua too now
had a shock. This is the divine play of Baba only. In the Arati
of Baba, the words... In this Kaliyuga
You - the all pervasive Datta, have really incarnated as Sagun Braham...
Oh God of Gods I pray ! This is the clear
reference and adoration worshipping Baba as Datta Mahaprabhu. Pitale family, before
leaving, took Darshan of Baba, when Baba said, ‘‘Bapu, I had
given Rs. 2 before; now, I am giving you Rs. 3 to keep in the shrine for
worship.’’ Mr. Pitale was bit puzzled and confused... This is my
first trip to Shirdi and Baba says - He had given Rs. 2
earlier. I do not know. I am not aware of it. He narrated, what
happened at Shirdi to his mother and the mystery of Rs. 2/-. The old
woman, after thinking long, remembered the incident and told her son
as... ‘‘As you went to Shirdi with your son, your father took you to
Akkalkot for Darshan of Akkalkot Maharaj, a Siddha
Satpurush. Swami then gave Rs. 2 to your father to be kept in
the shrine for worship. Now Akkalkot Maharaj has reappeared as
Sai Baba and has given you Rs. 3 and also revived the conception of
devotion. The analogy can well
be... Akkalkot Maharaj, the very incarnation of Shri Narasinha
Saraswati, the Avatar of Shri Datta Mahaprabhu
thus. Shri Sai Baba too is decedent of the Shri Datta Parampara. In 1908, Shri
Vasudevanand Saraswati, known also as Tembe Swami, had settled on
the bank of Godavari at Rajmahendri in Andhra Pradesh, was considered as
Datta Avatar. A pleader Shri
Pudalikrao of Nanded had gone to have Darshan of Tembe Swami.
During their stay, they discussed a lot on many subjects, name of Shirdi
and Sai Baba’s name was mentioned many a times. Hearing to their talk
Swamiji bowed with folded hands and took a coconut, gave it to Shri
Pudalikrao with a request - ‘‘Offer this to my brother Sai with my Pranam.
Request Him, not to forget me and love me always !’’ Usually, Swamis
do not bow to others; but while Tembe Swami was addressing Shri
Pundalikrao, giving coconut Swami bowed down, showing graceful
respect to Sai Baba. On their way to
Shirdi, a halt for refreshment was essential. The group enjoyed
refreshment of Chivada, mixing with coconut scrapings, not
knowing, they had broken the coconut, given by Swamiji, to be
offered to Sai Baba. Now, the mistake had
occurred by them, they were very much frightened and disturbed then. Seeing them Sai
asked, ‘‘Where is that, my brother has sent something to me; give me that !’’ Pundalikrao, holding
Baba’s feet, begged Him, not to get angry, by shear foolishness they
committed mistake of using the coconut, given by Tembe Swami, to
be offered to Baba. They may please be pardoned. They offered some other
fruits. But, Baba said that... the coconut, given by my brother, was of
real worth, nothing else can replace it or has the grace and worth of
the coconut, given by Swamiji. Listen, as I wanted, the coconut
was sent by Swamiji particularly; whatever happened, forget it,
do not blame yourself for that... In doing good or bad,
never elate the sense of doership, leave of the ego and pride, whatever
is done is being done as per His wish and desire. You are just an
instrument. If he who shread of this ‘I’ complex, spiritual progress
gallops fast. Shri Vasudevanand
Saraswati, an incarnation of Datta Mahaprabhu and Sai Baba, an Avatar
of Dattatreya are Bandhus, progressing Datta Sampradaya. In 1910, when Shri
Gajanan Maharaj’s Mahanirvan took place, that moment Sai
Baba uttered these words... Majha Jeev
Chalala... Motha Jeev Chalala... Even at the time of
appearance of Shri Gajanan Maharaj on the 13th February, in Sai Satcharita, canto 42 says... Gheooni
Dehamayechi Gunthi I Sant Srushtimaajhi Avatarati I Hota
Uddhar Karya Poorti I Tatkaal Samarasati Avyakti II The spiritual life of
both Shri Gajanan Maharaj and Sai Baba in almost all
peripherials are similar and guided towards only one intention to
safeguard humanity and uplift the mankind in a righteous way. The
incidents are many. The two great epics ‘Shri Gajanan
Vijay’ and ‘Shri Sai Sat Charita’ narrate much of the noble deeds
of these two great ones, their affectionate attitude, love to the devotees with no
bar of cast or creed. Shiladhi, the
graceful one, later on was called as Shirdi. As such Shivgaon of
Gajanan Maharaj termed Shegaon. The first appearance
of both has striking similarity. Sai Baba, at His age
of 16, was seen under the Neem tree as just young Fakir. ‘‘Aao
Sai...’’ addressed
by Mhalsapati and welcomed Sai. Then Baba remained in Shirdi
as Sai Baba. Gan
Gan Ganat Bote...
this address Gajanan and fondly called Him and Gajanan Maharaj
stayed in Shegaon. Govindbua Takalikar
exclaimed with joy and said, ‘‘In your Gaon a rare diamond
has come. Be compassionate ! He
Na Shegaon Rahile I Pandharpur Khachit Jhale I Chalate Bolate
Aale Sakshat Pandurang II The Vaishnavite
Gangagirbua overwhelmed; said, Dhanya
Shirdiche Bhagya Varishtha I Jodale Shreshtha He Ratna II
Narrating his experience when he saw Sai watering the plants. Dasganu Maharaj
was favoured with Vitthal Darshan and sacred bath in Chandrabhaga. Adoring Sai Baba he
says - Immesurable power of
Yours Sadgururaya. You the navigator and
captain to take us to the immanent other bank of life’s ocean. Sai always commanded
two Paise of Shraddha and Saburi, while Gajanan Maharaj
harped upon Bhava and Bhakti - two coins from the
aspirants. Both Sai Baba and
Gajanan Maharaj had mastry on Vedas and scriptures. Vedrucha
Askhalit Udatta Anudatta Swayamshasit if Gajanan Maharaj
chanted, Sai made Nanasaheb Chandorkar to understand Bhagvadgita, even
guided Dasganu Maharaj to clearly treatise ‘Ishavasya
Upanishad’ and advising Madhavrao alias Shama Deshpande to recite
‘Vishnu Sahasra Naam’.
Sai Baba allowed Hemadpant to write ‘Shri Sai Satcharita’ as
much forced by Shama too. Gajanan Maharaj agreed Dasganu
Maharaj to write ‘Shri Gajanan Vijay’. (Contd.) –
Naresh Dharwadkar
nareshdharwad@yahoo.com
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