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Words of God Sri Shirdi
Sai Baba
Baba's words were always short, pithy, deep, full of meaning,
efficient and well-balanced. He was ever content and never cared for anything. He said,
"Though I have become a Fakir, have no house or wife, and though leaving off all cares, I have
stayed at one place, the inevitable Maya teases Me often. Though I forgot Myself I cannot forget Her. She always envelops Me. This Maya (illusive power) of the Lord
(Shri Hari) teases God Brahma and others; then what to speak of a poor Fakir like Me? Those
who take refuge in the Lord will be freed from Her clutches with his grace".
In such terms Baba spoke about the power of Maya. Lord Shri Krishna has said to Uddhava in the
Bhagwat that the Saints are His living forms; and see what Baba had said for the welfare of
His devotees: "Those who are fortunate and whose demerits have vanished; take to My worship.
If you always say 'Sai, Sai' I shall take you over the seven seas; believe in these words, and
you will be certainly benefited. I do not need any paraphernalia of worship - either
eight-fold or sixteen-fold. I rest there where there is full devotion". Now read what Sai, the friend of those, who
surrendered themselves to Him, did for their welfare.
Bhimaji Patil
One Bhimaji Patil of Narayanagaon, Taluka Junnar, Dist. Poona, suffered in the year 1909 A.D.
from a severe and chronic chest-disease which ultimately developed into Tuberculosis. He tried
all sorts of pathos (remedies), but to no effect. Losing all hopes, he ultimately prayed to
God - Oh Lord Narayana, help me now . It is a well known fact that, when our circumstances are
well off, we do not remember God, but when calamities and adversities overtake us, we are
reminded of Him, So Bhimaji now turned to God. It occurred to him that he should consult Mr.
Nanasaheb Chandorkar, a great devotee of Baba, in this respect. So he wrote to him a letter,
giving all details of his malady, and asking for his opinion. In reply, Mr. Nanasaheb wrote to
him that there was only one remedy left, and that was to have recourse to Baba's Feet. Relying
on Mr. Nanasaheb's advice, he made preparations for going to Shirdi. He was brought to Shirdi
and taken to the Masjid, and placed before Baba. Mr. Nanasaheb and Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande)
were then present. Baba pointed out that the disease was due to the previous evil karma, and
was not at first disposed to interfere. But the patient cried out in despair that he was
helpless, and sought refuge in Him, as He was his last hope, and prayed for mercy. Then Baba's
heart melted an He said, "Stay, cast off your anxiety, your sufferings have come to an end.
However, oppressed and troubled one may be as soon as he steps into the Masjid, he is on the
pathway to happiness. The Fakir here is very kind and He will cure the disease, and protect
all with love and kindness." The patient vomited blood every five minutes, but there wa no
vomiting in the presence of Baba. From the time, Baba uttered the words of hope and mercy, the
malady took a favourable turn. Baba asked him to stay in Bhimabai's house, which was not a
convenient and healthy place, but Baba's order had to be obeyed. While he was staying there,
Baba cured him by two dreams. In the first dream, he saw himself as a boy suffering the severe
pain of a flogging, which he received for not reciting his
 'Swami-poetry' lesson before his
class-master. In the second dream, some one caused him intense pain, and torture, by rolling a
stone up and down over his chest. With the pain thus suffered in dream, his cure was complete,
and he went home. He then often came to Shirdi, gratefully remembering what Baba did for him,
and prostrated before Him. Baba also did not expect anything from devotees, but grateful
remembrance, unchanging faith and devotion. People in the Maharashtra, always celebrate
Satya-Narayana Puja in their homes every fortnight or month. But it was this Bhimaji Patil,
who started a new Sai Satya-vrata Puja, instead of Satya-Narayana-vrata Puja, in his house,
when he returned to his village.
Bala Ganpat Shimpi
Another devotee of Baba by name Bala Ganapat Shimpi, suffered much from a malignant type of
Malaria. he tried all sorts of medicines and decoctions, but in vain. The fever did not abate
a jot and so he ran to Shirdi and fell on Baba's Feet. Baba gave him a strange recipe, in this
case as follows:- "Give a black dog some morsels of rice mixed with curds in front of the
Laxmi temple". Bala Shimpi did not know, how to execute this recipe; but no sooner he went
home, then he found rice and curds. After mixing them together, he brought the mixture near
the Laxmi temple, when he found the a black dog waving its tail. He placed the curds and rice
before the dog. The dog ate it and, strange to say, Bala got rid of his Malaria.
Bapusaheb Booty
Shriman Bapusaheb Booty suffered, once from dysentery and vomitting. His cupboard was full of
patent drugs and medicines, but none of them had any effect. Bapusaheb got very weak, on account of
purging and vomiting and, therefore, was not able to go to the Masjid for Baba's darshana.
Baba then sent for him and made him sit before Him and said, "Now take care, you should not
purge any more" and waving His index-finger "The vomiting must also stop". Now look at the
force of Baba's words. Both the maladies took to their heels (disappeared) and Booty felt
well.
On another occasion he had an attack of Cholera, and suffered from severe thirst. Dr. Pillai
tried all sorts of remedies but could give him no relief. Then he went to Baba and consulted
Him as what to drink that would allay his thirst and cure the disease. Baba prescribed an
infusion of almonds, walnuts, pistachio (a kind of dry fruit), boiled in sugared milk. This
would be considered, as a fatal aggravation of the disease by any other doctor or physician,
but in implicit obedience to Baba's order, the infusion was administered and strange to say,
the disease was cured.
Alandi Swami
A Swami from Alandi, wishing to take Baba's darshana, came to Shirdi. He suffered form a
severe pain in his ear, which prevented him from getting the sleep. He was operated for this,
but it served no purpose. The pain was severe and he did not know what to do. While he was
returning, he came to take Baba's leave, when Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande) requested Baba to do
something for the pain in the Swami's ear. Baba comforted him saying, "Alla Accha Karega (God
will do good)." The Swami then returned to Poona, and after a week sent a letter to Shirdi,
stating that the pain in his ear had subsided though the swelling was there, and in order to
get the swelling removed, he went to Bombay for operation, but the surgeon on examining the
ear said that no operation was then necessary. Such was the wonderful effect of Baba's words.
Kaka Mahajani
Another devotee named Kaka Mahajani suffered once from diarrhoea. In order that there should
be no break in his services to Baba, Kaka kept a tambya (pot) with water in some corner of the
Masjid and whenever there was a call, he would go out. As Sai Baba knew everything, Kaka did
not inform Him of his disease, thinking that Baba would of His own cure it soon. The work of
constructing the pavement in front of the Masjid was permitted by Baba, but when the actual
work was begun, Baba got wild and shouted out loudly. Everybody ran away, and as Kaka was also
doing the same, Baba caught hold of him and made him sit there. In the confusion that
followed, somebody left the a small bag of groundnuts. Baba took a handful of groundnuts,
rubbed them in His hands, blew away the skins, and gave the clean nuts to Kaka and made him
eat them. Scolding and cleaning the nuts, and making Kaka eat them, went on simultaneously.
Baba Himself ate some of them. Then, when the bag was finished, Baba asked him to fetch water
as He felt thirsty. Kaka brought a pitcher full of water. Then Baba drank some water and made
Kaka also drink it. Baba then said, "Now your diarrhoea has stopped, and you may attend to the
work of the pavement." In the meanwhile other persons, who had run away, returned and started
the work; and Kaka, whose motions had stopped, also joined them. Are groundnuts medicine for
diarrhoea? According to current medical opinion, groundnuts would aggravate the disease, and
not cure it. The true medicine, in this as in other cases, was Baba's word.
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Dattopant of Harda
A gentleman from Harda by name Dattopant suffered form stomach-ache for fourteen yeas. None of
the remedies gave him any relief. Then hearing of Baba's fame, that He cures diseases by sight
he ran to Shirdi, and fell at Baba's Feet. Baba looked at him kindly and gave him blessings.
When Baba placed His hand on his head, and when he got Baba's Udi with blessing, he felt
relieved and there was no further trouble about the malady.
Towards the end of this Chapter three cases are cited in footnotes:
1. Madhavrao Deshpande suffered from Piles. Baba gave him decoction of Sonamukhi (senna pods).
This relieved him. Then after two years the trouble again recurred and Mahdavrao took the same
decoction without consulting Baba. The result was that the disease aggravated but later on it
was cured by Baba's grace.
2. Kaka Mahajani's elder brother, Gangadharpant, suffered for many years from stomach-pain.
Hearing Baba's fame he came to Shirdi and requested Baba to cure him. Baba touched his belly
and said, "God will cure". From that time there was no stomach-pain and he was completely
cured.
3. Nanasaheb Chandorkar also once suffered from intense stomach-pain; he was restless the
whole day and night. Doctors administered syringes which produced no effect. Then he
approached Baba, who told him to eat Burfi (a kind of sweetmeat) mixed with ghee. This recipe
gave him complete relief.
All these stories go to show, that the real medicine that cured the various diseases
permanently was Baba's word, and grace, and not any medicines or drugs.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all Shri Sai Satcharitra
Shirdi Sai Baba's Begging routine -
Photo above
"Blessed are the people of Shirdi, in front of whose
houses, Baba stood as a beggar and called out, "Oh Mai, give Me a piece of
bread !" and spread out His hand to receive the same. In one hand He carried
a Tumrel (tinpot) and in the other a Zoli or Choupadari, i.e., a rectangular
piece of cloth
Some days He went a few rounds and on the other days up to twelve noon. The
food thus collected was kept in a earthen pot. Dogs, cats and cows freely
ate from it and Baba never drove them away.
"Baba started His Biksha rounds at about 8.00 AM. He took Biksha from five
selected houses. He would place a cloth on His head which when folded would
assume the shape of a Joli. This was used for dry foods like, chapathi,
bhakri, rice etc. In His right hand He carried a tumerell for liquids."
From the Dwarakamai Baba walked past the Chavadi and stood in between the
houses of Sakharam Shelke and Vaman Rao Gondkar. These houses are opposite
each other with a narrow lane in between. He stood at a fixed place and
called out "Oh, Lassie, give me a piece of bread". From thence He proceeded
to Bayyaji's house.
On the way there was a hillock. Baba stood there for a while and fed the
birds and dogs."
Source: Shri Sai Satcharitra
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