Reappearance of Sai Baba in Shirdi

Om Shri Sadguru SaiNathaya Namaha!

Last post we read the last story from Shri Sai SatCharitra chapter 4 and that was Making of Dixit wada in Shirdi. Now we begin the stories from chapter 5.

The first story from chapter 5 is :

Reappearance of Sai Baba in Shirdi

Chand Patil loses his mare and gets dejected

In the chapter 4 we read about the Sai Baba seen as a youth and then he disappeared from Shirdi. Later on in a marriage party of a Muslim gentleman He returned to Shirdi, and thus a jewel among the jewels was discovered. Before Sai Baba returned, Devidas had already come to Shirdi and was staying there. Later on Janaki Das Gosavi too had come to Shirdi and stay there.

In a small village called Dhoopkheda, in the the district of Aurangabad there lived a fortunate Muslim whose name was Chand Patil. While travelling to Aurangabad he had lost his mare and it could not be found for two months, so he had lost all hope of finding it. Patil felt very sorry and distressed for the lost of his mare. He flung the saddle on his back and started the return journey.

A Fakir calls Chand Patil

Sai Baba Chand Patil painting

Leaving Aurangabad he traveled about 9 miles. There was a mango tree on the way and under it he saw a gem among the men. A cap in His hand, wearing a kafni, and a baton (satka) under his armpit. As he crushed some tobacco in his palm and filled the chillum, for a smoke, a very strange thing happened. Patil was passing that way, he heard the fakir calling, “Come, come here! Smoke this chillum and then go. Come rest here for a while under the shade!”

The fakir asked, “What is the saddle for?” “I have lost my mare Sir.” replied the Patil. Fakir said, “Go and search along the rivulet”. And the mare was found. Chand Patil was happily astonished and thought this must be an Aulia, there is no limit to his miraculous deed! He is not an ordinary human being.

He then returned to the same place along with his mare. The fakir made him sit by His side. By his own hands he picked up a pair of tongs. He thrust it in the soil and from within the soil he brought out a burning coal and put it on the chillum which was in His hand. Then He picked the baton (satka). There was no water to wet the strip of cloth covering the chillum. He struck the baton (satka) on the ground and water began to flow from that spot. Dipping the cloth strip in the water, he squeezed it out and then wound it round the chillum.

He smoked the chillum Himself and made the Patil smoke it too. Patil was quite dazed. The Patil then seeked to sanctify his home and requested the fakir to visit his home. The fakir, who had come to this earth only for such divine leelas, granted the favour to him. The next day he went to Patil’s house and spent some time there. Later, he came back to Shirdi.

Chand Patil was the village head of Dhupkheda and his wife’s nephew was engaged to be married to a bride from the village Shirdi. She had a good fortune of marrying a bride from Shirdi. With bullock carts and horses, the marriage party started for the Shirdi. Out of love for Chandbhai fakir also joined the procession.

The marriage was over and the party returned to Dhupkheda, only Sai Baba stayed back in Shirdi, Thus Shirdi became blessed.