EffectofcomplianceandNoncompliancewithBaba'sOrdersattheTimeofTakingLeaveAfew

InstancesMendicancyandItsNecessityDevotees'(Tarkhadfamily's)ExperiencesBabafed
sumptuouslyHow?
Attheendofthelastchapter,itwasbarelystatedthattheBhaktas,whoobeyedBaba'sordersatthe
timeoftakingleave,faredwellandthose,whodisobeyedthem,sufferedmanyamishap.This
statementwillbeamplifiedandillustrated,withafewstrikinginstances;andbyothermattersdealt
withinthisChapter.

CharacteristicofShirdiPilgrimage

OnespecialpeculiarityofShirdipilgrimagewasthis,thatnonecouldleaveShirdi,withoutBaba's
permission;andifhedid,heinviteduntoldsufferings,butifanyonewasaskedtoquitShirdi,hecould
staytherenolonger.Babagavecertainsuggestionsorhints,whenBhaktaswenttobidgoodbyeand
takeleave.Thesesuggestionshadtobefollowed.Iftheywerenotfollowedorweredepartedfrom,
accidentsweresuretobefallthem,whoactedcontrarytoBaba'sdirections.Wegivebelowafew
instances.

TatyaKotePatil

TatyaKotewasoncegoinginatangatoKopargaonbazar.HecameinhastetotheMasjid,saluted
Baba,andsaidthathewouldgotoKopargtaonbazar.Babasaid,"Don'tmakehaste,stopalittle,letgo
thebazar,don'tgooutofthevillage".Onseeinghasanxietytogo,BabaaskedhimtotakeShama
(MadhavraoDeshpande)atleastwithhim.Notmindingthisdirection,TatyaKoteimmediatelydrove
histanga.Ofthetwohorsesone,whichcostRs.300/wasveryactiveandrestless.AfterpassingSawul
well,itbegantorunrashly,gotaspraininitswaistandfelldown.Tatyawasnotmuchhurt,butwas
remindedofMotherSai'sdirection.OnanotheroccasionwhileproceedingtoKolharvillage,he
disregardedBaba'sdirection,anddroveinatanga,whichmetwithasimiliaraccident.

EuropeanGentleman

OneEuropeangentlemanofBombayoncecametoShirdi,withanintroductorynotefromNanasaheb
Chandorkar,andwithsomeobjectinview.Hewascomfortablyaccommodatedinatent.Hewantedto
kneelbeforeBabaandkissHishand.Therefore,hetriedthricetostepintotheMasjid,butBaba
preventedhimfromdoingso.HewasaskedtositintheopencourtyardbelowandtakeBaba'sdarshan
fromthere.Notpleasedwiththisreceptionhegot,hewantedtoleaveShirdiatonceandcametobid
goodbye.Babaaskedhimtogothenextdayandnottohurry.Peoplealsorequestedhimtoabideby
Baba'sdirection.Notlisteningtoallthis,heleftShirdiinatanga.Thehorsesranatfirstallright,but
whenSawulwellwaspassed,abicyclecameinfront,seeingwhichthehorseswerefrightenedandran
fast.Thetangawasturnedtopsyturvyandthegentlemanfelldownandwasdraggedsomedistance.
Hewasimmediatelyreleased;buthadtogoandlieinKopargaonhospitalforthetreatmentofthe
injuries.Becauseofsuchexperiencesallpeoplelearntthelesson,thatthosewhodisobeyedBaba's
instructionmetwithaccidentsinonewayortheother,andthosewhoobeyedthemweresafeand
happy.

TheNecessityofMendicancy
Nowtoreturntothequestionofmendicancy.AquestionmayariseinthemindsofsomethatifBaba
wassuchagreatpersonageGodinfact,whyshouldHehaverecoursetothebeggingbowl,allHis
lifetime?Thisquestionmaybeconsideredandrepliedfromtwostandpoints.(1)Whoarethefit
persons,whohavearighttolivebythebeggingbowl?OurShastrassaythatthosepersons,who,
gettingridof,orbecomingfreefromthethreemainDesires,viz.(1)forprogeny,(2)forwealth,(3)for
fame,acceptSannyas,arethefitpersonstolivebybeggingalms.Theycannotmakecooking
arrangementsanddineathome.Thedutyoffeedingthemrestsontheshouldersofhouseholders.Sai
BabawasneitherahouseholdernorVanaprastha.
Hewasacelibatesannyasi,i.e.,sannyasifromboyhood.Hisfirmconvictionwasthattheuniversewas
Hishome,HewastheLordVasudeotheSupporteroftheuniverseandtheImperishableBrahman.So
Hehadthefullrighttohaverecoursetothebeggingbowl.(2)Nowfromthestandpointof(1)Pancha

soonfivesinsandtheiratonement.Weallknowthatinordertopreparefoodstuffsandmeals,the
householdershavetogothroughfiveactionsorprocesses,viz.(1)KandaniPounding,(2)Peshani
Grinding,(3)UdakumbhiWashingpots,(4)MarjaniSweepingandcleaning,(5)ChulliLighting
hearths.Theseprocessesinvolvedestructionofalotofsmallinsectsandcreatures,andthusthe
householdersincuralotofsin.Inordertoatoneforthissin,ourShastrasprescribefivekindsof
sacrifices,viz.(1)BrahmaYajna,(2)vedadhyayanofferingstoBrahmanorthestudyoftheVedas.
(3)PitraYajnaofferingstotheancestors,4)DevaYajnaofferingstotheGods,(5)BhootaYajna
offeringstothebeings,(6)ManushyaAtithiYajnaofferingstomenoruninvitedguests.Ifthese
sacrifices,enjoinedbytheShastrasaredulyperformed,thepurificationoftheirmindsiseffectedand
thishelpsthemtogetknowledgeandselfrealization.Baba,ingoingfromhousetohouse,reminded
theinmatesoftheirsacredduty,andfortunatewerethepeople,whogotthelessonattheirhomesfrom
Baba.

Devotee'sExperiences
Nowtoreturntotheothermoreinterestingsubject.LordKrishnahassaidintheBhagawadgeeta(926)
"Whosoeverdevoutlyofferstomealeaf,aflower,orafruitorwater,ofthatpureheartedman,I
acceptthatpiousoffering."InthecaseofSaiBaba,ifadevoteereallylongedtoofferanythingtoSai
Baba,andifheafterwardsforgottoofferthesame,Babaremindedhim,orhisfriendaboutthe
offering,andmadehimpresentittoHim,andthenaccepteditandblessedthedevotee.Afewinstances
aregivenbelow.
TarkhadFamily(fatherandson)
Mr.RamachandraAtmaranaliasBabasahebTarkhad,formerlyaPrarthanaSamajist,wasastaunch
devoteeofSaiBaba.HiswifeandsonlovedBabaequallyorperhapsmore.Itwasonceproposedthat
MasterTarkhadshouldgowithhismothertoShirdiandspendhisMayvacationthere,butthesonwas
unwillingtogo,ashethoughtthatincasehelefthishomeatBandra,theworshipofSaiBabainthe
housewouldnotbeproperlyattendedto,ashisfatherbeingaPrarthanaSamajist,wouldnotcareto
worshipSaiBaba'senlargedportrait.However,onhisfather'sgivinganassuranceofoath,thathe
wouldperformtheworshipexactlyasthesonwasdoing,themotherandthesonleftforShirdionone
Fridaynight.
Nextday(Saturday)Mr.Tarkhadgotupearly,tookhisbathandbeforeproceedingwiththePuja,
prostratedhimselfbeforetheShrineandsaid"Baba,IamgoingtoperformthePujaexactlyasmyson
hasbeendoing,butpleaseletitnotbeaformaldrill."AfterheperformedthePuja,heofferedafew
piecesoflumpsugarasnaivedya(offering),whichweredistributedatthetimeofthelunch.
ThateveningandonSunday,everythingwentonwell.ThefollowingMondaywasaworkingdayand
italsopassedwell.Mr.Tarkhad,whohadneverperformedPujalikethisinallhislife,feltgreat
confidencewithinhimself,thateverythingwaspassingonquitesatisfactorilyaccordingtothepromise
giventohisson.OnTuesday,heperformedthemorningPujaasusualandleftforhiswork.Coming
homeatnoon,hefoundthattherewasnoPrasad(sugar)topartakeof,whenthemealwasserved.He
askedtheservantcook,whotoldhimthattherewasnoofferingmadethatmorning,andthathehad
completelyforgottenthentoperformthatpartofthePuja(offeringnaivedya).Afterhearingthatheleft
hisseatandprostratedhimselfbeforetheShrine,expressedhisregret,atthesametimechidingBaba
forthewantofguidanceinmakingthewholeaffairamatterofmeredrill.Thenhewrotealettertohis
sonstatingthefactsandrequestedhimtolayitbeforeBaba'sfeetandaskHispardonforhisneglect.
ThishappenedinBandraatTuesdaynoon.
Ataboutthesametime,whenthenoonAratiwasjustabouttocommenceinShirdi,BabasaidtoMrs.
Tarkhad,"Mother,IhadbeentoyourhouseinBandra,withaviewtohavingsomethingtoeat.Ifound
thedoorlocked.IsomehowgotanentranceinsideandfoundtoMyregret,thatBhau(Mr.Tarkhad)
hadleftnothingforMetoeat.soIhavereturnedfromtherewithouteatinganything."
Theladycouldnotunderstandanything;buttheson,whowascloseby,understoodthattherewas
somethingwrongwiththePujainBandraandhe,therefore,requestedBabatopermithimtogohome.
Babarefusedthepermission,butallowedhimtoperformPujathere.Then,thesonwrotealettertohis

father,statingallthattookplaceatShirdiandimploredhisfathernottoneglectthePujaathome.
Boththeseletterscrossedeachotherandweredeliveredtotherespectivepartiesthenextday.
Isthisnotastonishing?

Mrs.Tarkhad

LetusnowtakeupthecaseofMrs.Tarkhadherself.Sheofferedthreethings,viz.(1)Bharit(roasted
brinjaleggplantmixedcurdsandspice).(2)Kacharya(circularpiecesofbrinjalfriedinghee),(3)
Peda(sweetmeatball).LetusseehowBabaacceptedthem.
OnceMr.RaghuvirBhaskarPurandareofBandra,agreatdevoteeofBabastartedforShirdiwithhis
family.MrsTarkhadwenttoMrs.Purandare,andgavehertwobrinjalsandrequestedhertoprepare
BharitofonebringalandKacharyaoftheother,whenshewenttoShirdiandserveBabawiththem.
AfterreachingShirdi,Mrs.PurandarewentwithherdishofBharittotheMasjidwhenBabawasjust
abouttostarthismeals.BabafoundtheBharitverytasty.SoHedistributedittoallandsaidthatHe
wantedKacharyasnow.AwordwassenttoRadhaKrishnaMai,thatBabawantedKacharyas.Shewas
inafix,asthatwasnoseasonofbrinjals.Howtogetbrinjalswasthequestion?Whenanenquirywas
madeastowhobroughttheBharit,itwasfoundthatMrs.Purandarewasalsoentrustedwiththeduty
ofservingKacharyas.EverybodythencametoknowthesignificanceofBaba'senquiryregarding
Kacharyas,andwaswonderstruckatBaba'sallpervasiveknowledge.

InDecember1915A.D.,oneGovindBalaramMankarwantedtogotoShirditoperfromtheobsequies
ofhisfather.Beforeheleft,hecametoseeMr.Tarkhad.ThenMrs.Tarkhadwantedtosendsomething
withhimtoBaba.Shesearchedthewholehousebutfoundnothing,exceptaPeda,whichhadalready
beenofferedasnaivedya.Mr.Mankarwasinmourning.StilloutofgreatdevotiontoBaba,shesent
thePedawithhim,hopingthatBabawouldacceptandeatit.GovindwenttoShirdiandsawBaba,but
forgottotakethePedawithhim.Babasimplywaited.
WhenagainhewenttoBabaintheafternoon,hewentemptyhandedwithoutthePeda.Babacould
waitnolongerand,therefore,askedhimstraight,"Whatdidyoubringforme?""Nothing"wasthe
reply.Babaaskedhimagain.Thesamereplycameforthagain.ThenBabaaskedhimtheleading
question,"Didnotthemother(Mrs.Tarkhad)givesomesweetmeattoyouforMeatthetimeofyour
starting?"Theboythenrememberedthewholething.Hefeltabashed,askedBaba'spardon,rantohis
lodging,broughtthePedaandgaveittoBaba.AssoonasBabagotitinHishand.HeputitintoHis
mouthandgulpeditdown.ThusthedevotionofMrs.Tarkhadwasrecognizedandaccepted."Asmen
believeinMe,sodoIacceptthem"(Gita,411)wasprovedinthiscase.

BabaFedSumptuously,How?

Once,Mrs.TarkhadwasstayinginacertainhouseinShirdi.Atnoon,mealswerereadyanddishes
werebeingserved,whenahungrydogturnedupthereandbegantocry,Mrs.Tarkhadgotupatonce
andthrewapieceofbread,whichthedoggulpedwithgreatrelish.Intheafternoon,whenshewentto
theMasjidandsatatsomedistance,SaiBabasaidtoher,"Mother,youhavefedMesumptuouslyupto
mythroat,Myafflictedpranas(lifeforces)havebeensatisfied.alwaysactlikethis,andthiswillstand
youingoodstead.SittinginthisMasjidIshallnever,neverspeakuntruth.TakepityonMelikethis.
Firstgivebreadtothehungry,andtheneatyourself.Notethiswell."Shecouldnotatfirstunderstand
themeaningofwhatBabasaid.
Soshereplied"Baba,howcouldIfeedYou?Iammyselfdependentonothersandtakemyfood
fromthemonpayment."ThenBabareplied"EatingthatlovelybreadIamheartilycontendedandI
amstillbelching.Thedogwhichyousawbeforemealsandtowhichyougavethepieceofbreadis,
onewithMe,soalsoothercreatures(cats,pigs,flies,cowsetc.)areonewithMe.Iamroamingintheir
forms.He,whoseesMeinallthesecreaturesisMybeloved.Soabandonthesenseofdualityand
distinction,andserveMe,asyoudidtoday."Drinkingthesenectarlikewords,shewasmoved,her
eyeswerefilledwithtears,herthroatwaschokedandherjoyknewnobounds.

Moral
"SeeGodinallbeings"isthemoralofthischapter.TheUpanishads,theGeetaandtheBhagwat,all
exhortustoperceiveGodorDivinityinallthecreatures.Bytheinstancegivenattheendofthis
Chapterandotherstoonumeroustomention.SaiBabahaspracticallydemonstratedtoushowtoput
theUpanishadicteachingsintopractice.InthiswaySaiBabastandsasthebestExponentorTeacherof
theUpanishadicdoctrines.