Sai Satcharitra
Sai Satchritra - Chapter XIII
More Sai Leelas - Diseases Cured - (1) bhimaji Patil - (2) Bala Shimpi - (3) Bapusaheb
The Inscrutable Power of Maya
Baba's words were always short, pithy, deep, full of meaning, efficient and wellbalanced.
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 wil 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 vomitted 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 'Swamipoetry'
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 strage 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 sonner 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 purgings and vomittings 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 diarrhea. 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 similtaneously. 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 diarrhea 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 diarrhea? 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.
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 ot his 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 stomachpain
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