By: Sushma S. Aradhya
In his very first meeting with Shri Pannulal, also known as Pannubhai — a Jain Businessman, mystic, and philosopher — in July 1941 at All India Sai Samaj, Madras, Sri Narasimha Swamiji was convinced that he was a man of great character and erudition. He was Philanthropist and later maintained the finances of Sai Samaj. What appealed to Sri Narasimha Swamiji most about Pannulal was his spotless character, wide knowledge of scriptures, his burning passion for Self-realization, and above all, his ability to remember and attend to many things simultaneously for Sai devotees.
Despite being engaged in the business of pearls and diamonds, Pannulal yearned to see Sai Maharaj, face-to-face. Sri
Narasimha Swamiji writes: “The man who, immediately on finishing his talk about weighty business transactions, began to write about the hidden things of the spirit, could evidently not be a businessman at all, but a real seeker of Sai Maharaj”. According to Sri Narasimha Swamiji, Pannulal was the very embodiment of ‘Viveka’ and ‘Vairagya’ as pronounced in Sai Satcharita; he considered the whole world as his family, and his love extended to all living beings as a true Sai devotee.
Once Sri Narasimha Swamiji sought advice from Pannulal was: ‘If a snake is about to bite me, should I allow myself to be bitten or should I kill it, if that is the only way in which I can save myself?”
Pannulal replied that though he would hesitate to advise that he should let the snake bite him, yet, at the same time, it was important to understand that after having realized that the body is perishable, where lies the justification in killing the snake (that clings to its body with love) and in protecting the body that has no value for him? He quoted What Sainath advised in Sai Satcharita not to kill snakes or other harmful animals.
Pannulal further said that anyone who wants to evolve at the spiritual level should allow his body to perish in a situation like this. Even for a person who does not desire spiritual welfare, it would not be advisable to kill the snake; the reason being that this sinful act will result in severe punishment in nether worlds. However, a person who lacks culture and character may be advised to kill the snake, but a religious person should never even dream of being such a person.
Little wonder that Pannulal’s emphasis on truth, compassion, and nonviolence in every walk of life later crystallized as the fundamental tenets of the Sai movement of Sri Narasimha Swamiji, which played a significant role! The inner bond between Pannulal and Sri Narasimha Swamiji initiated a brilliant new chapter, not only in their own lives, and in propagating Sai Baba all over the globe.
Sri Narasimha Swamiji said, “Many times I have said and written that I have learned much from the lives of many a person, but it is from the life of Pannulal, I have learned the most and I must say that no one else has ever made on me the impression that Pannulal did”.
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