Sri Saibaba Temple , Nashville, TN Weekly Newsletter Volume 94

[Sri Saibaba Temple - Nashville]

Sairam

S

The Three Silent Devotees

Baba would occasionally utter sacred words, and all of them were noted in that book. By Baba’s order or permission, Abdul took them all down. It can now be read by either Narasimhaswamiji or any other devotee. This script is neither Devanagari nor Modi.

Abdul used this book not merely for daily reading but also for prophecy. Abdul died in April 1954, and till then, he was in the establishment of the Sai Sansthan. Abdul had great faith in Baba, and would give udhi with Baba's grace to many and help them in achieving their objects such as cure of diseases.

As he was for 66 years, either the bodyguard of Baba or the attendant on his tomb, he is esteemed as the Hanuman of Baba; constantly attending on the Guru, never expecting any payment or reward, but simply out of faith sticking on to his master. His was a noble example of complete and perfect devotion and active service with the fullest faith that is Nishta in the Guru.

He had both Nishta and Saburi and Baba on occasions, told him, ‘Arre, what are you going to have? You are going to live in storeyed houses and terraced houses. You will have a glorious time’. Abdul lived for some time in Buty wada upstairs and he commanded the respect of a very wide circle of Hindus and Muslims.

Baba used to give Abdul excellent advice fitting him for a yogi’s life. Baba told him, ‘Eat very little. Do not go in for a variety of eatables. One sort of dish will suffice. Do not sleep much’. Abdul followed this advice. He kept awake all night, and in a kneeling posture kept repeating his Koran, that is, Baba's words. He was meditating on them.

Baba said, ‘Have Dhyan on what is read and think Who am I’. This might have been beyond the capacity of Abdul. One night, he says, he was tired and tried to sleep, and held his palms in front of him to rest his drowsy head. Baba then said, ‘Are you trying to see the moon?’ That night when he fell asleep, he fell upon Baba and his gaddi. Baba gently stroked his feet, and then he awoke. The next day when he took water in his palms and looked at it, there was a big moon in that water. It was 2 p.m. This was what Baba had spoken of.

In the year 1913, once solicitor of Mumbai Shri Vamanrao Praangovinddas Patel who later on became famous as Shri Sai Sharanandji Maharaj came to darshan of Baba. He used to help Abdulbaba in his seva, clean the chimney of lantern at evening time, filled kerosene in lanterns, etc. Baba was aware about his future very well, so sometimes he used to send him with Jholi to beg food from the houses of Shirdi. Although being a solicitor, he took jholi on his shoulders and stood in front of the houses of Shirdi saying "Ram Krishna Hari". He did not hesitate in begging, on the other hand he felt fortunate to hold jholi of Baba and roam in the lanes of Shirdi. He felt proud on himself for doing such a work.

Sai Baba is the knower of past, present and future, he was aware that a person who was solicitor that day would become a saint in near future, so Baba sent him with jholi. In this way Sharananandji got chance of feel hidden love and warmness of Baba.

 

On one day Ganpatrao was present in Dwarkamai. There he thought, "How nice it would be if Baba sends me also with the jholi". No thought remain unknown to Baba. Next day it was the time for going for begging rounds, but Vamanrao could not come on time. So Baba entrusted this job to Narke as per his wish. Narke now became aware of all pervasiveness of Baba that day.

 

Kusha Bhave is a name, which has remained hidden in pages of history with reference to life stories and details of closest devotees of Sai Baba. It was practice of Sai Baba of Shirdi to give nicknames to His devotees in accordance with their nature or physical characteristics. Devotees who got such names as a blessing from Sai Baba, accepted the names and were addressed thus thenafter. Kusha Bhave is one such name given to a devotee who has originally named as 'Krishnaji Kashinath Joshi'. Being one of the gems of the court of Sai Baba let us now see few astonishing facts about his life and even more how he was blessed by Sai Baba with a special power of re-producing Udi.

At suitable times, Baba took every possible care to show way to Kusha Bhave and ensured his spiritual upliftment. In fact, Kusha Bhave was advised to leave off physic and occult powers. Here is an interesting incident which took place on Ekadashi day and following conversation took place. 

Baba: What do you eat on Ekadashi? 
Kusha: Nothing as it is Ekadashi. 
Baba: What is the meaning of Ekadashi? 
Kusha: Fasting day. 
Baba: What is 'Fast'? 
Kusha: As it is Roja. 
Baba: What is Roja? 
Kusha: We keep fast and that means that we do not eat anything except sweet potato. 
Baba: Oh, you eat onion now. Take this and eat it. 

Baba repeatedly pressed Kusha to eat onion and trying to escape the situation, Kusha said, "Baba, if you eat this onion, I will eat it". Baba readily ate onion and so was done by Kusha. Meanwhile some devotees turned up in Dwarkamai. Baba thought of playing prank. 

Baba: See, Bamaniya (a word 'Brahmin' used in distorted way), he is eating onion on Ekadashi day. 
Kusha (giving explaination): Onions were eaten by both Baba and me. 
Baba: No, I have eaten sweet potato, see, see! 

Saying so, Baba vomited and sweet potatoes were visible in the vomit. Within no time, considering Baba's vomit as prasad, Kusha placed sweet potatoes in his mouth. 
Baba, simultaneously beating and scolding Kusha, said, "Have you gone mad, why did you eat my vomit?" But was Kusha to listen to Baba's scolding or pay any attention to Baba's scolding? It was a blessing to him in disguise. Even Baba's heart melted like wax. Baba placed His boon bestowing Hand on Kusha's head and said, "I give you a blessing. Meditate on me and open your fist, you will receive prasad. Whenever you act so, Dwarkamai's Udi will be present in your hand on its own. Distribute this Udi among the devotees. They will be benefitted and you will get its boon".

 

Editorial Team

Seva Committee

Sri Saibaba Temple of Universal Oneness

Nashville , TN 

www.srisaibabatemple.org