Om Shri SaiNathaya Namaha!

Last story we read about Sai Baba’s wrestling with Mohiuddin. We are going through stories from Sai SatCharitra and we are on chapter 5.

We read story of wrestling. Then, we went through how Sai Baba started becoming popular among the people of neighbouring villages. Now we continue with :

How Sai Baba lived – From Sai SatCharitra

Sai Baba did not need any company and yet He would be surrounded by the people during the day time. After sunset He would sleep in the Masjid. The old Masjid in Shirdi was virtually in ruins due to neglect. Baba kept Chillim, Tobacco and a tumbler constantly by His side. He wore a long flowing Kafni and covered his head with a piece of white cloth. Always Baba carried the Satka (Baton) with Him.

The white piece of cloth. He would tie around His head. Taking it behind the the left ear twisting it firmly, like a matted hair of Gosavi. This formed a shapely head-gear. Sometimes, He would move around without a bath for straight eight days at a stretch. Barefoot He walked and He would use a gunny bag for a seat. He did not bother about the comfort of cushion while he sat. He found contentment in whatever He had.

The old, worn-out sack-cloth was His favourite seat, which was forever in the same place, day in and day out. That was all for covering His body and for sitting. There was a Dhuni in front of Him. With His left hand resting on the railing, facing the south He would sit in the ragged sack cloth. This way He sat in the old Masjid gazing at the Dhuni in front of Him.

He seemed to be offering oblation of ego along with all the desires and the various affections of mind. In fact, all the temptations of the worldly life. To the fire in the Dhuni He fed the logs of vain knowledge. And raised the banner of Allah by chanting ‘Allah-Malik‘. ceaselessly.

The size of Masjid was small. It had the space between the two cross-beams. He lived in that space. He sat, moved about and slept there. Also He used to meet the people in the same place and space. The cushions and matters they came later, when devotees gathered around Him. Prior, everyone could not approach Him without fear.

After 1912 A.D. there were many changes. It was from this year that the transformation of Majid really began. There were deep pits and holes in the ground of Masjid. In a single night it was paved with Shahabadi (hewn) stones. The love and labour of the devotees did it.

Prior to staying in Masjid, Baba used to live in Takiya (a resting place for fakirs). He spent quiet a long time there and was quiet happy. Here Baba used to dance gracefully wearing ghunghroo (jingling bells) in His anklets, to the tunes of tambourine. He would also sing melodiously with tremendous love.

Lighting of Oil Lamps with water

Very Fond of lighting lamps, Sai Samarth would Himself go and ask the shopkeepers for the oil to light them.

Sai Baba’s begging tumbler

Regularly, with the tumbler in His sacred hands he would beg for the oil. He would fill the oil in the in the earthen lamps. Then He would light the lamps bright in the Masjid and Temple. This became the regular routine for many days. On the day of Diwali also Sai Baba used to lit oil lamps and lighten up the Masjid brightly.

He would twist the pieces of cloth and make wicks to light the lamps in Masjid. He would bring oil for free from the grocers. One day all the grocers conspired against this daily nuisance. When Baba went to beg for the oil as usual, all of them denied to give the oil and an amazing thing happened.

Sai Baba didn’t say a word and returned to Masjid. He placed the dry wicks in the empty earthen lamps. The grocers gathered for some amusement of what Sai Baba would do without the oil.

Sai Baba lifted the tumbler lying on the parapet of the Masjid. In that tumbler there was oil barely enough even to burn an evening lamp. He then, poured water into the tumbler. As if offering to the God, He drank that water. Then He poured water in each of the earthen lamps with dry wicks and lighted those lamps.

The grocers were astonished to see the lamps burnt with water. They said to themselves that they did wrong by telling lie to Baba. The lamps burnt all night without any trace of oil in them. People began to say that the grocers were not fit for Baba’s grace.

‘Oh, Baba has marvellous powers.’ The grocers repented that not only did they lie to Baba but also had needlessly enraged Baba. But for Baba, He was beyond anger and hatred. All this was too far away from Baba’s thoughts. He has no enemy and no friend. All the creatures are equal to Him.