Guru’s Grace

Shri Sanjay M. Padia,

Sai brother Shri Chandranath Laha of Standard Chartered Bank and myself drew up an itinerary early June 1986 to pay a visit to Shirdi on the auspicious day of 68th Mahasamadhi of Shirdi Sai Baba. It struck to us later that it would be crowded and hence we revised our itinerary to visit Shirdi in September 1986. This was Chandranath’s first visit to Shirdi. We booked our tickets from Howrah on ‘2 UP Bombay Mail’ scheduled to steam off on 27th September 1986.

Little did we realize then that it was Sai who prompted us to revise our itinerary. Three days before the scheduled date of departure, our “City of Joy” was hit by torrential rains for 3 days continuously leaving the city temporarily a “City of Sorrow”. Naturally I could not contact Chandranath to know from him if we were to leave Howrah on the scheduled date at all and if so how to reach Howrah without conveyance. On Friday the 26th September 1986 our city was submerged under 3 feet of water. Hope of our departure the next day became fainter and fainter as, after a lull, it again rained cats and dogs.

But to our surprise, 27th September began with a sunny morning and the water level receded to a great extent letting a few transport operators to venture out after 3 full days of lack of business. This revived our spirit and we both met on 27th morning at State Bank of India (Netaji Subhas Road Branch) to get a few Travellers’ Cheques. Bank staff hesitated to issue on the ground of trains not having plied for the last three days. But Shri Chandranath requested them to issue us the cheques at our own risk.

Because we felt that the trains would be cancelled or perhaps would depart from outer stations of Howrah, we left early at 4.30 p.m. There was by Sai’s grace no rain at all during the day saves for a brief but light shower in the afternoon.

At Howrah, we found that several trains were not plying and frequent announcements over the mike also confirmed that. However, only two trains were scheduled to depart on that day on the S.E.R. Route the 9 Up Jagannath Express and 2 Up Bombay Mail. Sai grace manifested itself on that occasion and we were relieved that BABA did want us to visit His Mausoleum.

Though the train departed an hour late at 9 p.m we reached Nasik on schedule at 3.40 a.m. Next day by Sai’s grace could visit many important pilgrim spots in the town (Nasik).

On Tuesday morning 30th September we found ourselves safe and sound at Shirdi. At once I dashed off a letter from Sai Baba International Hotel to Shri Ram Nathenji who I thought would be anxious about our safety and timely arrival. I had already posted a letter to my family members from Nasik giving them an account of our safe journey.

During the two and a half days we stayed at Shirdi, we performed Abhishek to Baba’s Holy Samadhi and met many resident devotees notable among them being late Martand Mahalsapathy Baba. Recollecting the circumstances we were placed in during the day of our departure (27th September) we still believe the trip could not have been accomplished without our Guru’s Grace.

“I draw my devotee to me like a sparrow with a string tied to its feet even though he may be thousand miles away from me.

By
Shirdi Sai Baba
Sanjay M. Padia,

Source Shri Saileela Magazine