He Whose Innate Nature was to follow the ‘Bhagwat Dharma’

Dnyaneshwari

Mahabharat is considered to be the essence of religious encyclopedias such as  Vedas. In the ‘Shanti Parva’ of Mahabharat, Bhagwan Shri Krishna delivered advice for the well-being of the world and the same is well-known as ‘Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta’. In Mahabharat, it is also referred as ‘Hari Geeta’. Bhagwad Geeta is the pinnacle of Indian philosophy. It is the topmost idea of Hindu religion and Hindu culture.

The message contained in Bhagwad Geeta attracted Sant Dnyaneshwar and at his hands, was born ‘Dnyaneshwari’ or ‘Bhavartha Deepika’.

Bhagwat

The Bhagwat written by Shukacharya Muni is spread over 12 chapters. Sant Eknath was instructed by his Guru Shri Janardan Swami to write a treatise on the eleventh chapter. This thesis is known as ‘Eknathi Bhagwat’.

In the initial period, under the guidance of his Sadguru, Nath studied ‘Dnyaneshwari’ and ‘Amritanubhav’. These books impressed Nath so much that ‘Eknathi Bhagwat’ took birth from his pen.

Bhagwad Bhakti

The Geeta (which is in Sanskrit) was brought into contemporary Marathi language by Sant Dnyaneshwar. Sant Eknath brought it into a language of everyday usage. Later on Shri Sai Baba brought into colloquial language.

Bhagwan Shri Krishna says that the Guru is My personification.

‘‘For those who want to reach the God, chanting His name is the only way. Then the God will be always with him.’’

This is the key to Bhagwad Bhakti. To achieve it, Atmanusandhan (concentrating on self) and Namasmaran (chanting of God’s name) are necessary. However, while doing so, it must be with Nishkam Karmayog (with no motive).

Shri Sai Baba always tried to impart the above teachings to His devotees.

Radhakrishna Aai’s spiritual Guru was Eknath Maharaj and she was also an ardent advocate of Bhagwat dharma. Hence, she passed on the teachings was in her school.

Eknathi Bhagwat and Sai Baba

Following are the few examples, how Baba spread the teachings of Sant Eknath Maharaj.

Once in the Dixit Wada, Kakasaheb Dixit and Balasaheb Bhate were reading Eknathi Bhagwat as instructed by Baba. At that time, Bapusaheb Buti arrived and said, “Baba has sent me. He said, ‘Go and sit near Kaka ! Listen what he says and bring sixteen and half rupees from him. They must be exactly sixteen and half rupees and not sixteen.’ ’’

Kakasaheb replied to Buti, “At this moment, I only have the one rupee, given to me by Baba. However, He has sent you to be with me when I am reading Eknathi Bhagwat. Therefore, His intention must be that you should listen to what I am reading.”

The reading was resumed by Kakasaheb and he arrived at the Shloka “Kayen Wacha.....”. Kakasaheb felt that the ‘sixteen and half rupees’ must have some relation with the Shloka. He realized that Kaya (body) = 1, Wacha (speech) = 1, Mana (mind) = 1, Indriya (senses) = 10, Buddhi (wisdom) = 1, Ahankar (ego) = 1 Prakriti (nature) = 1/2 make up fifteen and half.

After further study of the Pothi, Kakasaheb realized that elsewhere in the same Pothi, Chitta is mentioned though not in the same Shloka. These make total of sixteen and half.

Vrindavana’s Pothi

One night, while chitchatting with Kelkar, Baba casually said, “This Vaze (a devotee) reads only one chapter. I have been telling him to read the Pothi (Eknathi Bhagwat) through out the night.”

These words were heard by Vaze and he enquired, “Baba, should I really read the Pothi through out the night ?”  Baba replied, “Yes !” From that day, Vaze started reading the Pothi every night from 10 p.m. to  4-5 a.m. Even though Vaze did not sleep during night, he did not feel tired.

Baba took tests of His devotees in different manners.

Once, Baba made Kakasaheb Dixit sit in his own Wada for a period of nine months. His intention was to provide him solitude and thus give an impetus to his spiritual studies. Dixit got ample time to read religious books. He completed reading of Krishna-dayarnav Swami’s ‘Harivarada’. He enquired with Baba, “Baba, what shall I read next ? Or should I continue reading the same book once again ?” Baba replied, “Now read Eknath’s ‘Vrindavana’s Pothi’ !” Dixit was puzzled to hear this instruction. Because, he had never heard of any book by that name. He felt that Baba might be referring to ‘Eknathi Bhagwat’ and decided that ‘Let Baba solve this mystery’. Therefore, he took a copy of the book and marched towards the Masjid. Baba scanned through the book and returning it back to Dixit He said, “Yes ! This is the book. Read it !”

Dixit was still confused as to why Baba called it ‘Vrindavana’s Pothi’. Because, that name was more appropriate for ‘Harivarada’ which narrated various childhood acts of Shri Krishna.

As Dixit began reading and suddenly he came to an Ovi which referred to ‘Ektisa Khananche Vrindavan’. This explained the whole matter.

After completing reading of ‘Vrindavana’s Pothi’, Kaksaheb took a massive religious book (given to him by a friend of his) to Baba. But, Baba said, “Kaka, our two books (Eknathi Bhagwat and Bhavartha Ramayan) are sufficient for us.” Abiding by the directive of his Guru, till the end of his life, Kakasaheb did not hold any other religious book in his hands. During the day, he used to read one chapter of Eknathi Bhagwat and during the night of Bhavartha Ramayan. He never broke his vow.     

In this connection, Hemadpant says, ‘‘In the company of Dixit, I also developed a liking for these two books. He used to be the speaker and I used to be his listener. Our this relation continued for two years. I consider myself very fortunate indeed !”

In 1912, after completing the construction of Dixit Wada at Shirdi, Kakasaheb shifted his family from Vile Parle (Mumbai) to Shirdi. His wife and two children (Ramkrishna alias Babu and little Vatsala) were getting adjusted to their new place of residence. However, later on, Vatsala fell ill and succumbed at the tender age of 8 years. This shock was beyond the capacity of any one to bear. But, even in these circumstances, Kakasaheb had stoic expressions on his face. In the afternoon on the same day, a copy of Sant Eknath’s Bhavartha Ramayan arrived by post, which Kakasaheb had ordered earlier. As per his usual practice, he placed the book in the hands of Baba and asked His permission to begin reading it.  Surprisingly Baba held the book upside down. He then scanned through it and, took out a specific chapter. It narrated the advice given by Shri Ram to Tara, who was grieving on the death of Vali. Baba asked Kakasaheb to read it. Thus, Baba consoled Kakasaheb with words of Shri Ram.

Nath says -

‘‘It is necessary to remember that the death is constantly near us. And even then, one has to use his mortal body - though it is despicable - as a tool and reach the destination of immortality. Therefore, one should not get involved with attachment to his body.’’

This is the aim of the devotee’s life. Baba also preaches the same principle. He asked His devotees to read and follow Eknathi Bhagwat along with Dnyaneshwari.

The reason for this is –

The Dnyaneshwari of Dnyaneshwar or the words of Eknath (in the Bhagwat) would be found to be, as it were, adopted from Baba’s story. Baba would often persuade the devotees to recite the book and would plead with them out of compassion to do so, for their own good. Incomprehensible is Baba’s skill of teaching ! His ways and means were different for different devotees. They could be near or far away; but He would be close to them in their hearts. Though He would sit in the Masjid and allot certain work to a person, He would get it done by extending His own powers to the person.

Shri Hemadpant, the author of Shri Sai Sat Charita, has showered various honours on Eknathi Bhagwat.

The Leelas which were performed in Vrindavan by Bhagwan Shri Krishna, were also performed in Shirdi by Sai Baba sitting in Dwarkamai. Hence, the Vrindavan which Baba had in mind was Shirdi itself and Eknathi Bhagwat was His ‘Vrindavana’s Pothi’.

From the above referred sayings of Sant Eknath and Shri Sai Baba it would be seen that the inner motive is one and the same.

- Mrs. Mugdha Diwadkar

(Translated from original Marathi into English  by Sudhir)

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GREATNESS OF

SHRI SAI SATCHARITA

The path of the Satcharita is simple. Wherever it is read, it becomes Dwarkamai and Sai definitely appears there.  There itself are the banks of the Godavari, there itself is the nearby pilgrimage place of Shirdi; there itself is Sai together with the Dhuni Who removes all difficulties, as soon as He is remembered. Where the Sai Charita is regularly recited, Sai resides there always. If the ‘Charita’ is repeatedly read with full faith, it pleases Him, in all respects. Remembering Sai, the Cloud of Self Bliss, chanting His name daily it is not necessary to practise any other means of prayer and penance or any other ways of meditation. Having love for Sai’s Feet, all those who apply and ingest Sai’s ‘Vibhuti’ regularly, they attain all that they desire. They will be fulfilled by attaining all the four goals of life, including righteousness. The deeper meaning of all this will be clear to them, together with the worldly and spiritual matters. Therefore, this is my only prayer to the listeners – after paying obeisance at the Feet of Sai, experience the Udi’s greatness yourself. At least, follow my words to this extent. There is no room for doubts and scepticism. One should have great devotion. A wavering mind is not required. One should have supreme faith. Only the critics, the argumentative and the doubters, who have no faith are unable to acquire the highest knowledge of saints. Only pure devotees can achieve that. Whatever is missing or additional in the stories, believe that everything is inspired by Sai and read the Sai Satcharita without finding faults.

- From Shri Sai Satcharita

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