Sai Baba: The Living Sadguru

Among Hindus knowledgeable people prefer to listen to SRIMAD BHAGAWAT at the time of their last days before casting off their mortal body. In purana, Shuka muni narrates Bhagwat Puran to Parikshit Maharaj.

Likewise, Baba requested Vaze to read Ramavijaya to Him on October 1st,1918 before the beginning of Navaratri festivals. This was like omen for all devotees of Baba in Shirdi.

Mahatmas are Trikala Gyanis and they know their day to cast away the mortal body. Baba indicated this when Madhav Fasle who by mistake broke the brick which Baba was using as pillow while sleeping. The brick was like “Lotus feet of Guru” for Baba. When some people who were jealous of Baba when He was with His Guru threw a brick towards Baba to hurt Him. the Guru took that brick on himself to protect Baba from the injury. Baba was immensely pained when the brick broke and He thought that the time had come for Him to get separated from his devotees. Even for Bhagavan it was painsome to leave devotees in distress abruptly. There were so many issues which were hurting even Baba but never a single time He shared such matters to even His closest devotees.

But the time Tatya fell ill Baba was aware of what would happen. He disclosed to Ramachandra Dada Patil that Tatya’s end was near and instructed him not to tell this to Tatya. But he disclosed this to his close friend Bala Shimpi. When Ramachandra was seriously sick and thought that his day had come. Baba came to him and told not to worry that his day for that is postponed. Tatya around the same time fell ill and his condition began deteriorating but Baba exchanged the death day of Tatya with His own. Both Ramachandra and Shimpi were certain of Baba’s prophecy. Baba appeared to Das Ganu in a dream and said that he should bring bakul flowers. That was Vijayadashmi day of 1918 – the 15th day in October. Tatya was worried that he was so weak and could not serve Baba at that time slowly his condition got improved and Baba was sinking. He sent all close devotees to have food and called Lakshmibai and gave her five silver coins and another four coins and told that they represent nine forms of Bhakti as mentioned in Narada Bhaktisutra. The time he left the body only Bayaji Patil was near Baba on whose shoulder Baba leaned his head. The Dwarkamayi which was like Amaravati during previous days looked like hell without Baba.

As Baba left the mortal body Muslim and Hindu devotees got into argument about the religious the rituals that needed to be carried out. Not listening to any Laxman Mama performed Arathi to Baba. Later after prolonged discussions all agreed to bury the body in the place Lord Krishna’s idol was to be installed in Buty Wada. Unlike other saints, Baba promised eleven virtues that would be fulfilled even after casting away His mortal body. After hundred years of samadhi of His mortal body, Baba is keeping true to His words. Baba is Karma Sanyasi as defined in the fifth chapter of Bhagavad Gita. Such mahatmas live for thousands of years after they leave their mortal body just to see that an ordinary human being who is not aware of any Papa (sins) or Punya (virtue) continue to sin, get into Karmic cycle, and suffer in life. But being in shelter of such Godly saints we can be free from fruits of our bad actions.

Reference Sources: Shri Sai Satcharitra by Hemadpant; Bhakti Saramrit by Das Ganu