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Sadguru
Sai Baba’s
Boundless Glory Food preparation, Handi and Annadaan Baba
considered Annadaan (donating food) as the holiest of the holy
deeds. He followed the practice Himself and set an example for others.
He Himself cooked food, gave Fatiya to each item of the food at
the hands of a Maulavi and distributed the food with His own
hands after performing Fatiya saying it was Guruprasad. Baba had in
His store only two Handis (large cooking vessels made of copper)
– one sufficient for 50 and another for 100 people. Baba used the same
Handis for cooking food for Hindus as well as Muslims. In Adhyay
38 of Shri Sai Sat Charita, there is a long list of various dishes that
were cooked by Baba. He lit an earthen stove and cooked Mutton, Khichdi
or Mithe Chawal (sweet rice). He also cooked Hindu dishes. He
Himself ground grains of Daal (pulses), wheat and Jondhalas
(jowar). He prepared Bhakris from the flour. He soaked Daal
in water, ground it, added condiments and made ‘Watli Daal’.
He kneaded balls of Kanik (wheat flour) and made very wide Polis
(bread). He even fermented Ambil in the Handis. Those who
ate meat were served non-vegetarian food. But, He never forced others to
do so. However, Baba did make attempts to see whether the vegetarians
were steadfast at staying away from meat. Tatya Patil
has noted down in his experience that, ‘‘During His first 40 years
in Shirdi, Baba never ate meat.’’ However, in the later period, it
is observed that Baba broke this rule – at least to some extent. May
be it was in an attempt to bring Hindus and Muslims together or to keep
His own religion a secret ? Baba always preached, ‘‘Don’t
abstain from food. But, be regular in your habits.’’ He ate all the
food articles brought by Hindu devotees with relish. Baba helped several Muslims to progress in their Adhyatmik
journey. Several Rohilas came to Him and – under His
umbrage – stayed in Shirdi. Baba served the food to them. This has
been noted in Shri Sai Sat Charita as well as in Diary of Shri Khaparde. Moulu/Qauwwali/Fatya Programs of Moulu and Qauwwali were performed
before Baba. He Himself recited Fatiya or asked others to do so.
Bayaji Kote writes in this regard that, ‘‘Only on Saturdays Baba
gave Fatya at His hands.’’
Atithee Poojan In the
Hindu religion, substantial importance is accorded to Atithee Poojan
(worship of guests) and Hindus believe that the God comes in the guise
of guests. Baba adhered to this belief by practicing it Himself. He gave
great respect to Bade Baba - a well-known and learned Muslim named Bade
Baba. Bade Baba
had come and stayed with Baba for several years. He was given a place to
sit on the right hand of Sai Baba. Baba took Chillum only after
Bade Baba had first smoked it. Similarly, Sai Baba also commenced having
food only after Bade Baba commenced doing so. Ultimately – unanswered ! Abdul Baba
and Imambhai Chhotekhan have stated in their experiences that Sai Baba
performed Namaaz and also taught Quran. On the
other hand, in his article titled ‘Baba – Hindu or Muslim’,
Balasaheb Deo states... ‘‘Baba
mostly spoke Marathi language. Very rarely or on special occasions He
spoke Yavani (Muslim)
language. However, His Yavani was not the pure Yavani. He
treated both Hindu and Muslim religions as equal. Therefore, outwardly
there were some features in His behaviour which appeared to be similar
to Yavani. Due to this, the question, whether Baba was a Hindu or
a Muslim, has become a riddle to even researchers and scholars. However,
from the Hindu Lakshans stated above, there should be no
objection to deduce that He was a Hindu.’’ He further
adds :- ‘‘Baba
never taught Quran to any Muslim. He never observed Namaaz.
He knew Sanskrit very well. He taught Bhagvad Geeta to Nanasaheb
Chandorkar very expertly and accurately. I feel only this fact is
sufficient to prove that Baba was a Hindu.’’ Of
course, it appears that Balasaheb Deo has averred that ‘‘Baba
is a Hindu’’ – though it is only outwardly so. But, in the same
article he writes :- ‘‘I
fully believe the facts narrated by Nanasaheb (Chandorkar). I have no
preconceived notions in doing so. I am also not being adamant in the
matter. I have placed before the kind-hearted devotees, the facts that I
know. Whether Baba was a Hindu or a Muslim, He remains equally worthy of
worship. Even if He was a Hindu, the Muslim devotees need not rue. On
the other hand, if He was a Hindu, then His Muslim devotees need not get
disheartened. And, in reality, a true devotee – whether Hindu or
Muslim – does not feel sad with such issues.’’ It would be
worthwhile to consider the opinions of other prominent devotees in this
regard. Justice
Meghashyam Bhagwant Rege :
‘‘Muslim devotees considered Baba to be Paigambar and
worshipped Him considerably.’’ Prof.
Ganpatrao Narke : ‘‘Baba is not a mere Satpurush;
but the God Himself. I am positively convinced that He is the Ishwar
of my heart. He is Sarvadnyani, Sarvasaakshi and makes
event happen as per His will.’’ Baba talked
about His deeds not only in Bhulok but also in other worlds. In
His talks there are references to the long journeys He has undertaken in
invisible form. Sometimes He also talked about experiences after death.
One used to get convinced about His ‘Nirantar Astitva’ from
His ‘Vishwa-sanchar’ in invisible form and His knowledge
about the various events and His power to control the events. I have
many times heard His utterances, ‘Where are you ? Where am I ?
Where is this world ?’ On some occasions He touched His body and
said, ‘This is my home; but I am not there. My Masjid Guru has
taken me far and away.’ Even when He was in His mortal body, His
powers were not limited to the body or by the body. His
utterances were not confined by any rigid frame. Baba never
declared that He belonged to any particular religion, caste or Panth.
However, from His speech and action, it was clear that He had very close
relations with the Hindu religion. I have
heard Him saying, ‘My Guru is a Brahmin. I shivered with
fear before my Guru.’ He always
said, ‘My Gharane (family tree) is different.’ ‘Every dog,
cat, pig is my form.’ In our
eyes, though Baba was a God, certain limits had been definitely imposed
on Him due to His adopting a mortal body.” Rao
Bahaddur Dhumal : To understand “Who is Baba ?”
one must experience Him. The
District Magistrate, who was British, asked me, ‘‘How does your Sai
Baba appear to be ? Is He a Hindu or a Muslim ? What are His
teachings to you ?’’ I replied, ‘‘Sai Baba is neither Hindu
nor Muslim; He is surpasses all religions. Those who want to understand
His teachings, must come themselves to Shirdi and experience His
teachings.’’ Once, a
discussion was going on about God. Sai Baba uttered, ‘‘What is God ?
He is in my pocket.’’ Mainatai
Kuvalekar (nee Mainatai Chandorkar) :
‘‘I went to Him for the first time in 1900. At that time He appeared
to be grey haired and about 50 years old. Surprisingly He appeared same
even in 1918.’’ Balasaheb
Deo : Keeping aside his earlier
steadfast opinion in above article, he adds in the same article, ‘‘Ultimately,
the basic principle is only one ! The ocean accommodates countless
water sources – from large rivers to tiny brooks. In Baba, a similar
conversion of different castes and religions must have taken place.
However, how can this towering idea enter into the minds of mere mortals ?’’ Baba really
belongs to all religions – Muslim, Hindu, Parsi, Christian. And, that
is the only truth ! Saisha – Translated from
original Marathi into English by Sudhir |
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