Ruttonji Wadia of Nanded - Saint Moulisaheb - Dakshina Mimansa.
In the last Chapter, we described how Baba's word and grace cured many incurable
diseases. Now, we shall describe, how Baba blessed Mr. Ruttonji Wadia with an issue.
The life of this Saint is naturally sweet in and out. His various doings, eating, walking and
His natural sayings are also sweet. His life is Bliss incarnate. Sai gave it out as a means
of His devotee's remembrance to Him. He gave them various stories of duty and action,
which ultimately led them to true religion. His object may be that people should live
happily in this world, but they should be ever cautious and gain the object of their life,
viz. self-realization. We get human body as a result of merits in past births and it is
worth-while that with its aid, we should attain devotion and liberation in this life. So we
should never be lazy, but always be on the alert to gain our end and aim of life.
If you daily hear the Leelas (stories) of Sai, you will always see Him. Day and night you
will remember Him in your mind, When you assimilate Sai in this way, your mind will lose
its fickleness and if you go on in this manner, it will finally be merged in pure
Consciousness.
Ruttonji of Nanded :
Now let us come to the main story of this Chapter. In Nanded, in the Nizam state, there
lived a Parsi mill-contractor and trader, by name Ruttonji Shapurji Wadia. He had
amassed a large amount of money and had acquired fields and lands. He had got cattle,
horses and conveyances and was very prosperous. To all outward appearances he
looked very happy and contented, but inwardly, and really he was not so. Providential
dispensation is such, that no one in this world is completely happy and rich; Ruttonji was
no exception to this. He was liberal and charitable, gave food and clothing to the poor
and helped all in various ways. The people took him to be a good and happy man,
but Ruttonji thought himself miserable as he had no issue, male or female, for a long
time. As Kirtan (singing glories of the Lord) without love or devotion, music of singing
without rhythmical accompaniments, Brahmin without the sacred thread, proficiency in
all arts without commonsense, pilgrimage without repentance and ornamentation without
a necklace, are ugly and useless, so is the house of a man or house-holder without a
male issue. Ruttonji always brooded on this matter and said in his mind, "Would God be
ever pleased to grant me a son?" He thus looked morose, had no relish for his food. Day
and night, he was enveloped with anxiety whether he would ever be blessed with a son.
He had a great regard for Dasganu Mahajat. He saw him and opened his heart before
him. Dasganu advised him to go to Shirdi, take Baba's darshan, fall at His Feet and seek
His blessing and pray for issue. Ruttonji liked the idea, and decided to go to Shirdi. After
some days he went to Shirdi, took Baba's darshana and fell at His Feet. Then opening a
basket, he took out a beautiful garland of flowers and placed it around Baba's neck and
offered Him a basket of fruits. With great respect he then sat near Baba, and prayed to
Him saying- "Many persons who find themselves in difficult situations come to You, and
You relieve them immediately. Hearting this, I have sought anxiously Your Feet; please,
therefore, do not disappoint me." Sai Baba then asked him for Daksbina of Rs. five
which Ruttonji intended to give, but added, that He has already received Rs. 3-14-0 from
him, and that he should pay the balance only. Hearing this, Ruttonji was rather puzzled.
he could not make out what Baba meant. That was the first time, he thought, that he
went to Shirdi and how was it that Baba said that He had formerly got Rs. 3-14-0 from
him? He cold not solve the riddle. But he sat at Baba's Feet and gave the balance of the
Dakshina asked for, explained to Baba fully, as to why he came and sought His help,
and prayed that Baba should bless him with a son. Baba was moved and told him not to
be worried, and that that time his bad days had ended. He then gave him Udi, placed His
hand on his head and blessed him saying that Allah (God) would satisfy his heart's
desire.
Then after taking Baba's leave, Ruttonji returned to Nanded and told Dasganu
everything that took place at Shirdi, He said that everything went on well there, that he
got Baba's darshan and blessing with Prasad, but there was one thing which he could
not understand. Baba said to him that he had got Rs.3-14-0 before. Please explain as to
what Baba meant by this remark. He said to Dasganu, "I never went to Shirdi before,
and how cold I give Him the sum to which Baba referred?" To Dasganu also,
it was a puzzle, and he pondered much over it for a long time. Some time afterwards it
struck him that Ruttonji had received some days ago a Mahomedan Saint, by name
Moulisaheb, in his house and had spent some money for his reception. This Moulisaheb
was coolie-saint wellknown to the people of Nanded. When Ruttonji decided to go the
Shirdi, this Molisaheb accidentally came to Ruttonji's house. Ruttonji knew him and loved
him. So he gave a small party in his honour. Dasganu got from Ruttonji the yadi or
memo of expenses of this reception, and everybody was wonderstruck to see, that the
expenses amounted to exactly Rs.3-14-0, nothing more, nothing less. They all came to
know, that Baba was omniscient, that thought He lived in Shirdi, He knew what
happened outside far away from Shirdi. In fact He knew the past, present and future,
and could identify Himself heart and soul with anybody. In this particular instance how
could He know the reception given to Moulisaheb, and the amount spent therefore,
unless He could identify Himself with him, and be One with him?
Ruttonji was satisfied with this explanation and his faith in Baba was confirmed and
increased. In due time afterwards, he was blessed with a son and his joy knew no
bounds. It is said that he had in all a dozen (12) issues out of which only four survived.
In a foot-note towards the end of this Chapter,it is stated that Baba told Rao Bahadur
Hari Vinayak Sathe, after the death of his first wife, to remarry and that he would get a
son. R.B. Sathe married second time. The first two issues by this wife were daughters
and he, therefore, felt very despondent. But the third issue was a son. Baba's word did
turn out true and he was satisfied.
Dakshina - Mimansa
Now we shall close this Chapter with a few remarks about Dakshina. It is a well-known
fact that Baba always asked for Dakshina from people who went to see Him. Somebody
may ask a question, "If Baba was a Fakir and perfectly non-attached, why should he ask
for Dakshina and care for money?" We shall consider this question broadly now.
First for a long time, Baba did not accept anything. He stored burnt matches and filled
His pocket with them. He never asked anything from anybody--whether he be a devotee
or otherwise. If anybody placed before Him a pice or two, He purchased oil or tobacco.
He was fond of tobacco, for He always smoked a bidi or Chilim (an earthen pipe). Then
some persons thought that they could not see the Saints empty-handed, and they,
therefore, placed some copper coins before Baba. If a pice was placed before Him. He
used to pocket it; if it was a two pice coin, it was returned immediately. Then after Baba's
fame had spread far and wide, people began to flock in numbers; and Baba began to
ask Dakshina from them. It is said in the Shruti (veda) that Puja of the Gods is not
complete, unless a golden coin was offered. If a coin was necessary in the Puja of the
Gods, why should it be not so in the Puja of the Saints also? Ultimately, the Shastras
laid it down that, when one goes to see God, King, Saint or Guru, he should not go
empty-handed. He should offer something, preferably coin or money. In this connection
we may notice the precepts recommended by the Upanishads. The Brihadaranyak
Upanishad says that the Lord Prajapati advised the Gods, men and demons by one
letter "Da". The Gods understood by this letter that they should practice (1) "Dama" i.e.
self-control; the men thought or understood that they should practice (2) "Dana" i.e.
charity; the demons understood that they should practice (3) "Daya" i.e. compassion. To
men Charity or giving was recommended. The teacher in the Taittiriya Upanishad
exhorts his pupils to practise charity and other virtues. Regarding charity he says, "Give
with faith, give with magnanimity, i.e. liberally, give with modesty, with awe and with
sympathy. In order to teach the devotees the lesson of charity and to remove their
attachment to money and thus to purify their minds, Baba extracted Dakshina from them;
but there was this peculiarity, as Baba said, that He had to give back hundred times
more of what He received. There are many instances, in which this has happened. To
quote an instance, Mr. Ganpatrao Bodas, the famous actor, says in his Marathi
autobiography, that on Baba's pressing him often and often for Dakshina, he emptied his
money-bag before Him. The result of this was, as Mr. Bodas says, that in later life he
never lacked money, as it came to him abundantly.
There were also secondary meanings of Dakshina, in many cases, in which Baba did not
want any pecuniary amount. To quote two instances - (1) Baba asked Rs.15/- as
Dakshina from Pro. G.G.Narke, who replied that he did not have even a pie. Then Baba
said, "I know you have no money; but you are reading Yoga-Vashistha. Give Me
Dakshina from that." Giving Dakshina in this case meant - `Deriving lessons from the
book and lodging them in the heart where Baba resides'. (2) In the second case Baba
asked a certain lady (Mrs. R. A. Tarkhad) to give Rs.6/- as Dakshina. The lady felt
pained, as she had nothing to give.
Then her husband explained to her that Baba wanted six inner enemies (lust, anger,
avarice etc.) to be surrendered to Him. Baba agreed with this explanation.
It is to be noted, that though Baba collected a lot of money by Dakshina, He would
distribute the whole amount the same day, and the next morning He would become a
poor Fakir as usual. When Baba took His Mahasamadhi, after receiving thousands and
thousands of Rupees as Dakshina for about ten years, He had only a few Rupees in His
possession.
In short, Baba's main object in taking Dakshina, from His devotees was to teach them
the lessons of Renunciation and Purification.
Post-script
Mr. B. V. Deo of Thana, retired Mamlatdar, and a great devotee of Baba, has written an
article on this subject (Dakshina) in "Shri Sai Leela" magazine, Vol.VII, P.6-26, in which
he says amongst other things, as follows:-
"Baba did not ask Dakshina from all. If some gave Dakshina without being asked, He
sometimes accepted it; and at other times He refused it. He asked it from certain
devotees only. He never demanded it, from those devotees, who thought in their minds
that Baba should ask them for it, and then they should pay it. If anybody offered it
against His wish, He never touched it, and if he kept it there, He asked him to take it
away. He asked for small or big amounts from devotees, according to their wish,
devotion and convenience. He asked it, even from women and children. He never asked
all the rich for it, nor from all the poor."
"Baba never got angry with those from whom He asked Dakshina, and who did not give
it. If any Dakshina was sent, through some friend, who forgot to hand over the same to
Baba, He reminded him somehow of it and made him pay it. On some occasons, Baba
used to return some sum from the amount tendered as Dakshina, and ask the donor to
guard it or keep it in his shrine for worship. This procedure benefited the donor or
devotee immensely. If anybody offered more than he originally intended to give, He
returned the extra amount. Sometimes, He asked more Dakshina from some, than what
they originally intended to give and, if they had no money, asked them to get or borrow
from others. From some, He demanded Dakshina three or four times a day."
"Out of the amount collected as Dakshina, Baba spent very little for His own sake, viz.,
for buying Chilim (clay pipe) and fuel for His Dhuni (sacred fire), and all the rest, He
distributed as charity in varying proportions to various persons. All the paraphenalia of
the Shirdi Sansthan was brought, by various rich devotees at the instance and
suggestion of Radha-Krishna-Mai. Baba always used to get wild and scolded those, who
brought costly and rich articles. He said to Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, that all His
property consisted of one koupin (codpiece), one stray piece of cloth, one Kafni and a
tumrel (tinpot), and that all the people troubled Him by bringing all these unnecessary,
useless and costly articles."
Woman and wealth are the two main obstacles in the way of our Pramartha (spiritual
life); and Baba and provided in Shirdi two institutions, viz., Dakshina and Radha-Krishna-
Mai. Whenever they came to Him, He demanded Dakshina from them, and asked them
to go to the 'SCHOOL' (Radha-Krishna-Mai's house). If they stood these two tests well,
i.e. if they showed that they were free from attachment for woman and wealth, their
progress in spirituality was rapid and assured by Baba's grace and blessings.
Mr. Deo has also quoted passanges from the Gita and Upanishads; and shown that
charity given in a holy place and to a holy personage, conduces to the donors' welfare to
a great degree. What is more holy than Shirdi and its Presiding Deity -- Sai Baba?
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all