ARTICLES OBTAINED FROM ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE GUJRATI BOOK “SAI SAROVAR”

 

ARTICLES OBTAINED FROM

ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE

GUJARATI BOOK “SAI SAROVAR”

Sai’s devotee - Nanasaheb Chandorkar

I)

Nanasaheb Chandorkar, an intimate and close devotee of Sai Baba was a very religious person. During holidays he used to go to many temples and visited many saints. He used to plan the places of his visit well in advance. He lived in Ahmadnagar district. He decided to go to Harishchandra Hills, to have a darshan of the Goddess. The temple was about 40 miles above Shirdi; it is called Mathaji Mandir (temple of Goddess).

The hill was not very high, but in between there were straight and plain courses. So it was better to climb it in the morning only. Nanasaheb thought since we don’t have to climb high Himalayas, it will be better to start in the afternoon instead of morning, in order to reach on time.

In no time he climbed half of the hill. It was summer time. So due to hot climate he felt thirsty. He looked here and there, but could not find even a drop of water. He thought if we move a bit ahead we can find water. So he climbed further, but now his throat was completely dry and he was almost senseless. At last he sat down and started thinking that, “If my Sai Baba was present here, He would have stricken the ground like He did in Dhoop village for me also and my thirst would have disappeared. Dasganu wanted to have a bath in Prayag, but water oozed from my Sai Baba’s legs and Dasganu could have bath while sitting in Shirdi only. Where is Prayag and where is Shirdi? But my Sai Baba is not present here, so now I would have to die without water." Nanasaheb’s friends told him, “Sir, here is no Sai Baba. So have courage and proceed further. If God’s blessings are with us, we would surely get some water ahead. But Nanasaheb was so restless without water that he did not have courage to move even a step ahead. At the same time in Shirdi, while washing hands after having lunch, Sai Baba said to Shama (Madhavrao Despande), “Nana is caught in a big difficulty”. Nanasaheb’s friends also lost courage by seeing his condition. At that time a wood cutter was seen climbing the hill. They asked him, “Brother from where will we get water here?” the wood cutter said, “God has stored some sweet water under the stone on which you are sitting. Just lift it up.” Nanasaheb thought how the wood cutter could come to know the exact stone under which water was present. After going to some distance the wood cutter disappeared. As per the wood cutter’s instructions they lifted the stone and to their surprise found sweet water beneath it and drank water to their heart’s content. Then they commenced their walk and had a darshan of Mathaji. After 15 days of this incident, Nanasaheb went to Shirdi in a horse cart. When he was alighting in front of Dwarkamai, he saw Shama coming towards him. Shama then asked him, “Before 15 days, in afternoon, Sai Baba had said me that Nana is caught in big difficulty, is that true?” Nanasaheb took out his diary to check where he was fifteen days ago. To his surprise he was reminded of the incident of Harishchandra Hill. He narrated the whole incident to Shama.

Now Nanasaheb was both shocked and surprised. He thought, “How sinful I am? Because of me, Sai Baba had to lift the heavy wood and He had to take the form of a wood cutter. For me Sai Baba had to leave Shirdi in that hot afternoon.” Really Nanasaheb Chandorkar was a blessed devotee of Sai Baba.

II)

Nanasaheb Chandorkar went to Baba. After doing Pranipat (salutation), he placed Badam (almond) and Khadi Sakar (sugar candy) as Prasad (offering). Baba immediately distributed it among the people who were present. Nanasaheb was curious to know the reason for Baba's calling him and asked, "Baba, why did you call me?" Baba replied, "Are, there are many Nanas in the world. When I called you specifically, there must be a reason for it. Isn't it?" Nanasaheb was forthright in speaking. He said, "Then, tell me the reason!" Baba replied, "Arre, we have relations spanning over four births. You do not know this; but I am aware of it. Therefore, I have been repeatedly calling you! Whenever you have time, do make it a point to come." OK. I will come." Nanasaheb bowed before Baba and departed. Even after seeing the miracle of Annapoorna Siddhi, Nanasaheb had not developed faith in Baba.

A few days after the above incident, there was an onset of epidemic of plague in Nagar district. The government had introduced a vaccine to counter the illness. But, in those days, people thought that taking the injection was akin to inviting the disease. No one was willing to come forward. Therefore, the collector asked Nanasaheb to set an example before the masses and take the injection himself. But, Nanasaheb's thinking was no different than the others. He was reluctant to take the vaccine. Ultimately, he decided to seek Baba’s advice. He requested the collector to grant him a week’s leave to take decision about the injection and set himself on the path to Shirdi. He posed his dilemma before Baba. Baba replied very casually, "There is nothing to it. Don’t be scared. Take the injection. It will not harm you."

After the incident concerning inoculation, Nanasaheb realized that Baba had a different kind of aura around Him. Therefore, Nanasaheb’s faith in Baba became more steadfast. He started feeling that he should go more frequently to take Baba’s Darshan. He intensely desired that he should incessantly have thoughts about Baba. But, his office and family matters allowed him little time for anything else. And he was sad. Once, he was sitting near Baba and Baba gave him an excellent way of overcoming the problem. Baba said, “You want that you should have my thoughts throughout the day - Isn’t it? Then try to see me in the smallest of the things.” Nanasaheb failed to get the point. Then Baba clarified, "Arre, when you see a vegetable, think that it is my creation. These ways see me in each and everything that comes before you." How simple was the remedy suggested by Baba!

Once, Baba posed a question to Nana, “Which one of the Shadripu (six vices of human nature) is easier to conquer?” Nanasaheb replied, "Very difficult to answer that question.” Baba said, “It is jealousy! It means not being able to digest the progress of others. It is very easy to win over jealousy. Because, by being jealous, we neither gain nor lose. A person earns wealth and well-being because of his good deeds. Therefore, if someone prospers, it is due to his good deeds and what do we lose? And so, one must win over the bad quality of being jealous."Nanasaheb prostrated before Baba and agreed, "From today, I will try not to be jealous."

III)

a). Nanasaheb Chandorkar was serving as a personal assistant of the collector in the year 1887. Baba sent a message to Nanasaheb Chandorkar through Kulkarni of Shirdi when he went to collector's office for government work to fetch Nanasaheb with him. Nanasaheb did not believe the words of Kulkarni. So Baba again sent the message, but Nanasaheb did not turn up this time too. Baba not minding Nanasaheb's negative attitude again called him. This time Nanasaheb came with some of his colleagues and sat before Baba and asked, "Baba why did you call me?" Baba answered, "There are few men in this world. From those people I call you only; hence there must be some specific reason behind it. We are related since past four births. You do not know this, but I know, so I called you. Do come at your convenience now onward." Nana replied in affirmative, "Okay I will come."

b). The nephew of Dadasaheb Kelkar (Rao Bahadur Sathe's father in law) got a vision and he came to Shirdi for Baba's darshan. He was appointed in Kopargaon. But instead of concentrating on his job, he often used to come to Shirdi and served Baba wholeheartedly. So Rao Bahadur Sathe, many a times, complained to Kelkar and requested him to consult to Baba regarding this matter. Baba said, "Let him be dismissed from his job and serve here." So no one could say him anything. Baba received sweets, fruits, etc from many devotees. He made Babu eat them lovingly. In the year 1910, Baba said to Dada Kelkar, "Take care of Babu. After few days he was down with fever and breathed his last at a young age of 22 years. Baba used to remember him often. Baba had prophesied his next birth by saying that "Chhotubai would be his mother". When Chhotubai came to Shirdi with her four months old baby boy, Baba said, "Babu where had you been? Were you fed up of me?"

c). Professor Narke who was a lecturer of Agriculture College of Pune had the good fortune of staying in Shirdi in the year 1913-14. During his stay, one night Baba gave him

Darshan in a dream. A poor laborer was standing besides Baba. Baba said, "He is your friend of past birth. He roams according to his karmas". After two days of this dream, Narke was sitting in Dwarkamai with Baba. At the same time a wood cutter came with a bunch of firewood. No sooner did Narke see that wood cutter he recognized him that he was the same laborer who he saw in his dream. He was thinking thus, "Is he the same who Baba referred as my friend of my past birth?" While he was thinking this, Baba said,

"Go, and purchase firewood from your friend for two rupees". Narke said, "Why is it necessary to buy firewood for such a large sum of money?" Baba said, "Because, he is our dear friend of past birth". Due to this the question which arose in Narke mind calmed down. Baba clarified his doubts and Narke gave him two rupees.

d). Once Balakram and another devotee were present and Baba said, "Balakram and this person used to meditate in front of each other's caves". I know this person when he was small like a rat. When he was not well in his childhood, a fakir told his mother, "He will get well soon and he is very fortunate”. He is no other than Vaman Rao Patil later on renamed by Baba as Swami Sharan Anand when he gave him sanyas in 1953 at Dakor.

e). For Chandrabai Borkar, Baba had said, "She is my sister from past seven births. Wherever I go, she finds me out and comes to me."

f). One day Mrs. Tai BaiJog brought breakfast for Baba in morning. Baba said," Today one buffalo will come to your back door; give Puran Poli (a type of sweet) with lot of ghee. She prepared Puran Polis accordingly spread lots of ghee on it and sent to Baba for Naivedhya and saw a buffalo standing at the back door. As per instructions of Baba she gave Puran Poli to buffalo. In no time buffalo fell down and died. Mrs. Jog was in dismay now. She was frightened and doubted that some poisoned thing must have been mixed in ingredients by mistake. If buffalo's owner turned up what will she answer him? She ran to Baba who calmed her down saying, "Do not worry. The buffalo's owner will not come. That buffalo's only desire to eat Puran Polis was left and I fulfilled its wish through you. Now it is freed from buffalo's womb and will take birth in superior womb."