Charity of Nine Rupees

Laksmi Bai Shinde and Bayaji were the only ones remaining. She was near Baba's feet Baba put his right hand in his shirt pocket teice, took out Rs.5 and Rs. 4 and gave them as charity to Lakshmi Bai. Baba explained the significance of these nine rupees as the nine qualities a devotee should have1) Absence of Egotism.2) Absence of Jealousy.3) Untiring Service.4) Absence of world desires.5) Complete faith in Guru6) Peaceful nature.7) Desire to Know the truth.8) Absence of Envy.9) Absence of Self -boosting and finding faults in otheres.Unless a devotee improved these nine qualities, he could not have true devotion to reach God. Thus Baba taught to Lakshmi Bai even in his last moments.

Evidence of Sai Baba

It was the year 1903. A person was charged theft of some articles, and brought to the court of the magistrate Dhulia. The acused told that Sai Baba had given those articles.Therefore, summons were issued to Sai Baba, by the magistrate to appear in the court to give evidence. On a suggestion from Nana Chandorkar, all the devotees prepared to appeal to the magistrate , stating that Sai Baba was a great divine personality and all of them regarded him as a God and it was not proper to ask such a Mahatma to appear in the court. In case the court felt that the evidence of Sai Baba was very essential, then it could send a commissioner to Shirdi to record the evidence of Sai Baba . The court accepted the plea of the devotees and sent Nana Joshi , who was the assistant collector and first class magistrate to Shirdi to record the evidence of Sai Baba. In Shirdi no one knew that Nana Joshi was coming.

But Baba Knew about this and made arrangements before Dwarkamai by arranging tables and chairs. Making it appear like a courtroom. From the questions put by the court commissioner and the answers given by Sai Baba, We glean some facts about Baba. The Questions and answers are as follows :

Commissioner : Your name ?

Sai Baba : All call me by the name of Sai Baba

Commissioner : Your father's name

Sai Baba : Your Guru's name

Sai Marg

Sai Marg Strange Are the ways of shirdi sai Baba in dragging his devotees not only to him but also to his trusted messengers who have dedicated themselves to the spread of Sai Tatwa or Sai philosophy all over the length and breadth of our sacred motherland.I have been a devotee a sai baba of shirdi for 5 years .While the late sri B.v Narasimha swamiji of madras was responsible for the spread of sai philosophy in the south .

My Feelings on Shirdi Sai Baba

I love our shirdi sai baba so much because very few Gurus are so humble as him.Listen to what shirdi sai says to his devotees " "Slave of slaves I am your debtor, I am satisfied at your darshan. It is a great favour that I saw your feet. I am an insect . I consider Myself blessed thereby". Is there a guru so humble and sweet who says , its not us but him who is waiting for our arrival into his fold and he is satisfied at our darshan . Thats how much sai loves a true devotee. Dear Shirdi Saibaba devotee, To avoid any misunderstanding its my responsibility to clarify that StarSai & its network of websites is made purely for inspiring everyone to grow personally, spiritually in Sai's beautiful path towards light. We do NOT expect gains of any kind from others.I consider it as my karma to work for sai and am happy to do it with the support of my parents , sister and few good hearted sai friends baba blessed me with

Salutations

My salutaions to the lotus feet of the samardha sadguru shri shirdi sai baba .Strangers are the ways of shirdi sai Baba in dragging his devoteed not only to him but also to his trusted messengers who have dedicated themselves to the spread of sai tatwa or Sai philosophy all over the length and breadth of our sacred motherland.sai Baba himself followed this principle of talking less. he nver gave long lectures but gave his devotess suitable experiences by narrating short stories

A day With Sai Baba

Sai Baba was about five fett six inches tall, neither stout noe lean. HIs complexion was golden yellow, his eyes bluish, which shone bright mysteriously in darkness. Indeed his eyes were the object of wonder of devotees. His nostrils were prominent. At the time when his nostrils were prominent. At the time when Sai Shardanandaji, who has given the description of Baba saw him Baba had some of his teeth missing and the rest were not pure white. He never brushed his teeth but only rinsed his mouth with alittle water every morning. He did not drink coffee or tea but did not ask his devotees to abstain from them. He never told anyone how he got into the habbit of smoking a pipe. He always used the same clay pipe although devotees offered him many pipes which he did not used but stocked them in a hollow of the masjid wall.
The piece of cloth tied round his head was very rarely changed and never washed. When He decided to change his Kufni he sent for the tailor and saifd :'' Get me a Kufni ". When it was given to HIm he always paid the tailor more than its worth. Left to himself Baba spoke Very little mostly he was calm and quiet speaking only when absolutely necessary. He never laughed loudly but smile quitely. Most of the time he sat with his eyes closed. When a devotee approached him for darshan he glanced at him. Sometimes He did mot even do that. He was always playful in the presence of children. He never sat leaning against the wall in the mosque. even when he sat with his legs outstretched he always sat a few feet ways from the wall. He did not lie down during the day. He seldom visited any temple in Shirdi.

Samartha Sat Guru

A guru, as we have seen , is one who teaches something,secular or religious . One who teaches about God or sat is called sat Guru. He who uses all his siddhis and superior powers to carry the disciple right up to the goal is called Samartha sat Guru. Baba belongs to this type of guru . Parama guru is a samartha sat guru who looks after the entire welfare (secular and spiritual ) of his disciple . The scriptures clearly say that without a guru Brahmajana and Moksha cannot be attained . It is not always true that Sishyas (disciples) go out to find the guru .The reversae is often true . Baba himself drew hundreds of thousands to himself inwardly and unnoticed by them. He said: "No one comes to me except by my drawing them. I draw people to me under various pretexts such as the worldly objects they want . When a boy ties a bird with one end of a string can the bird refuse to come?" This drawing of people to himself Baba ascribed to rinanubhanda ( personal ties and obligations). One disciple called it the "irrestible pull of destiny".

God's Treasury

One day Baba narrated a story which might taken place in one of his previous incarnations." In my younger days, I had been to beedgaon in search of livelihood . There I secured a Job in a factory manufacturing Knitting Cloth. I used to work very hard. The proprietor was satisfied with my work. There were three workers before me. The first worker was paid Rs. 50 , the second worker was paid Rs.100 and the third worker was paid Rs. 150 . But I was paid the double money of all the three amounts put together- Rs.600. The propreitor appreciated my work and love me. I did the work given to me with love and devotion. Hence I used to think that the salary I was getting given by God and carefully saved it. What I was given by a human will not last long. But what God has given will remain permanently. My God Allah asks the devotees to take as much as they want. But the devotees come to me and ask me to give . If a thing is given once it is not sufficient. The number of devotees who want everything evrytime has increased. There is none to understand what I am saying. My God's Treasury is full and overflowing. Any real devotee can take away cartloads from this.But none is interested in it. My fakir 's tact and My divine acts are extraordinary. My body will join the earth and my breadth will join the air. As long as there is life in me this oppurtinity is there. Thus who believe in me and those who never forget me will have endless joy.

Sadguru Sainath Maharak Ki Jai !.

Rohilla-the Devotee

Devotees out of love for Baba used to do" pada puja" (offer prayers at his feet) daily. They also put sandalpaste on the hands and gave arathi with camphor. Though Baba had no desire for all this , he never objected to their actions. A muslim devotee of Baba , Rohilla, out of religious fanaticsm , wanted to kill Baba, because he was allowing ringing of bells, giving arathi, etc. ,in the mosque went against islamic doctrine. So , one night he waited for an opportune time ti hit Baba with a big stick . When Baba came out of the mosque for a stroll , Rohilla tried to hit him. Immediately Baba turned around and with his eyes wide open focused them on Rohilla. Two light raus came out of Baba's eyes and fell on the hands of Rohilla . Immediately , the stick dropped on the ground From his hands . Baba lifted his hands and showed Rohilla his palms . Rohilla saw Mecca medicine And the sacred Quran in the palms of Sai Baba . Saying " Ya Allah ", He fell at the feet of Baba.
Sai Baba never exhibited his superiority . He did not have any attachment for his body . He had endless love for his devotees. He used to tell the past, present and future for his devotees! Friendds and foes were equal for him. Though the villagers of shirdi did not have the required "Jnana" , they had endless love and devotion for him.

Samadhi Mandir

The Most important Building in the complex is the Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir. It was Originally Built by a Nagpur millionare,a devotee of Baba, Bapusaheb Buti, and was called Buti Wada. Sai Baba's Body was interred in the site reserved by buti to Build a krishna temple and Baba's Samadhi has come upto here.The Samadhi Has been Built with white Marble Stone. Around The Samadhi railing one can see ornamental decoration. In front of the samadhi are two pillars with decorative designs in silver.
Also in front are two marble padukas of baba and the brick which was broken and led to Baba predecting his death, is kept near the samadhi. Just behind the samadhi is Baba's Statue ,made of italian marble. It shows him seated on a throne with his right leg thrown on the left in the familiar posture which thousands of devotees all over the country know and worship . The statue was made by late Balaji Vasant alias babusaheb Talim who made it out of a sheer sense of gratitude. The idol statue was installed on october 7, 1954 by swami saisharanand, an ardent devotee from Ahmedabad.
Raghupati Raghav Rajaram
Patita Pawan sainam
On the high ceiling Behind the statue is also the inscription:
Sachidananda Sat Guru Sai Maharaj Ki Jai.

Ruthambara prajna

Baba used to tell his devotees frequently:-

" Whether you are before me or at far off place, whatever you do and think will be known to me ." He used to tell his devotees who visited him, their past , present and furture. This is called Ruthambara prajna in yoga shastra. This is found in saints in a limited capacity. But baba's power was limitless,covering the entire world and beyond imagination.
Baba sometimes brought to life some persons, who were dead. But he did not retrieve some persons. One day a woman whose child died , came to Baba and asked for UDI. Inspite of the repeated pleas , he declined to give it. When Kaka saheb Dixit intervened in the matter Baba told him" Baav! Do not interfere in this matter. Whatever happened has happened for the good. The dead boy has already taken birth in another body on which he will do many good things.If I bring the boy here now , the new body will persih and this body will live. If I do this for your sake, You will accept the consequential responsibility.
Baba would immediately answer any question that was put to him. Thought the answer appeared to be coincidental his word turned into absolute truth. Though he would appear to be seeing and talking like us, he would be always be in a state of Samadhi. He was a confirmed bachelor like Hanuman.His eyes were like burning lamps and penetrated like searchlights the hearts of many.

Tilak's secrets of the Gita

Baba encouraged devotees who read holy books and Brahmavidya( Metaphysics) . One day Bapu saheb jog received a book by post. He came to Baba to have his Darshan and when he went to Baba bent before him in salutation , the book fell from his armpit. Baba asked for it and turned a few pages. It was the book titled Gita Rahasaya( secrets of Gita ) written by Tilak. Baba took out a rupee from his pocket and put it on the book and returned the book along with the coin to Jog with an advice to read it carefully and completely which will benefit him because Baba had consecrated the book by his touch, Jog benefited a lot from Parayana to the book

Chavadi

Sometimes, Baba used to go to Gurusthan, and closing his eyes merge his thoughts with those of his Guru Venkusa who resided inside the underground structure in the form a light (jyoti), On hearing his disciple , Venkusa would enter the head of Baba. The Guru and disciple would silently converse. In the same manner in Dwarkamai during nights. Baba would converse with his father Gurudhan ( Ganga Bhavajiya ). In front of the mosque there was a big hall where sadhus ( mendicants ). took rest and it was chavadi. The sadhus and sanyasis who came to the village stayed there.
Nana Chandorkar and some other made all arrangements to tile the floor in Dwarakamai. They requested Baba to sleep in the chavadi for a night, so that they could attend to the laying of tiles in Dwarkamai overnight. Baba agreed and went to the chavadi. He sat along there as Tatya and mahalsapathi also were busy with tile-laying work . No one else was with Baba in the Chavadi.
In the meditative mood he concentrated on Dwarkamai, Gurudhan and Venkusa. The three appeared before him in the form of jyotis. They discussed several matters. After sometime Gurudhan and Dwarkamai went back to their places. Baba and venkusa discussed things that would take place in shirdi in future and also for the next 500 years. In the meantime twitight broke and venkusa prepared to leave. But Baba pleaded with venkusa to remain in the chavadi and that he would come there on alternate days . Venkusa out of love for Baba , agreed to remain on the right side of portion of the chavadi saying that women should not be allowed to enter that place. Baba agreed to this and from that day onwars till today venkusa is there in chavadi on an invisible forms.

Guru Poornima

From among all the devotees who had gathered in the mosque, Dada Kelkar went to Baba, prostrated before he washed his feet in a plate, took a little of this water ( Padatirtha) inside and sprinkled it on his head, distributing it to all those present. After this he put sandalpaste on Baba's forehead, put a dot with kumkum and worshipped with flowers and akshatas (rice). Then he broke a coconut and gave arathi with comphor. While the arathi was being given Baba's face became very bright as if a thousand lamps were lighted with different colours. The surprised devotes wanted to touch Baba;s feet and prostrate before him. Noticing the thoughts of the devotees, he slowly walked towards the big stone hat he created infront of Dwarkamai, While the devotees spread flowers all the way and made him walk on the flowers. As soon as he reached the stone he sat on it putting his left hand on the toe of his right leg. Then he looked deeply into the eyes of each devotee by which the joy experienced them was beyond description. When they touched his feet, they felt an unknown divine power entering their bodies and reached their hearts. These things have to be personally experienced and cannot be explained. All those who experienced this started to celebrate Guru Poornima on every Ashada Suddha Poornima day with pomp and gaiety. This festival is very important to sai devotees as they worship their Guru according to their might and get the blessings from him. Those whi worship their Guru with devotion and sincerity on this day, will always have the Guru with them. Sai Baba had personally told them that he was sadguru and they could not get another Guru in this world. We should completely surrender ouselves to him and seek jnana Marga. For those who read these post with devotion, let their mind grow and get true vision.

Uddhau Madhav Rao Deshpande

Inshirdi itself by some good fortune one was able to meet a 90 year old devotees of Baba who said Baba played marbles with him when he was a boy of eight . He is Uddhau Madhava rao deshpande , Don of deshpande alias shama , an intimate devotee of Baba . His name has appeared frequently in this chronicle. Udhau Madhava Rao identified himself As the small boy with a cap on and holding a sceptere in his hand in the Photograph of Baba with his devotees taken on his way to the chavadi. In the picture where baba is seen clutching his kufni with his left hand and a royal umbrella held over his head he is flanked on either side by two children and the child to his rtight is Deshapnde's Son . Udhau Madhava rao , who lives in the same house occupied by his father , was too old and feeble to talk much but he was anxious to let the visitor know of his intimate contacts with Baba who had visited his house only once. That was when his father was bitten by snake. Baba had then come and applied udhi on the affected part and asked Shama , as he affectionally called him to come to the mosque the next day for arati. He said their house was no near the mosque that when his mother shouted at home baba could hear her

Guardian angel Saibaba

Sai Baba was unique and perhaps one of the strangest of known spiritual personalities adorning the earth during recent times. But to million of people all over india today Sai Baba is more than a saint. He is God who lived on earth like Rama, Krishna, the Buddha And Christ to promote human brotherhood and love and compassion and to instil faith and confidence and inspire them to progress towards divinity which is vouchsafed to every man and woman. Aurobindo envisaged a time when man will become superman and then progress to divinity . Baba was such a personality who became God while born as man. Like God his orogins are immortal for although he has felt his body he is still alive in his tomb and in the hearts and minds of millions of his devotees and in the shrines and temples built for him all over the country . He has become part of the Hindu pantheon responding to cries for succour and protection from wherever it comes and taken the role of the guardian angel of those who fall at his feet and seek his guidance for a safe journey through the valkue of tears which is this world.

Urs- Shree Ramanavami Festivals in Shirdi

In the year 1896, Gopal Rao Gundu was the revenue inspector of Kopargaon circle. Inspite of having three wifes, he had no children. With the blessings of Sai Baba children were born to him. Out of gratitude to him he thought of celebrating Urs festival every year. Baba agreed to this . It was decided to celebrate the festival on shree Ramanavami day.

In the year 1897 the Urs celebration was started in shirdi for the first time on Ramanavami day. Simultaneously the muslim devotees started the sandal utsav. A devotee, Amirshakkar, belonging to the village karah, got the sandal utsav performed at shirdi. They put sandalpaste in a big plateand took it in a procession with drums and cymbals to Dwarkamai. They smeared the walls of Dwarkamai with sandalpaste.
During the sandal Utsav and Ramanavami utsav they got two flags prepared with silk cloth and Zari borders, they brought them in procession and planted them on either side of the mosque. The festival, thus started , had become a full-fledged Ramanavami festival from the year 1912 at the instance of sree Krishna rao Jogeshwar Bhishma. The celebration included Harikathas, cradle function and spraying coloured powder called gulal on one another. Next day hung a pot from a considerable height. This pot contained curds riceflakes, etc. Whoever tried to catch it was sprayed with water jets. Baba moved among all the devoteed blessing them. People thought that the Lord Ram had come in the form in Sai Baba. Baba used to cry a lous with anger whenever the gulal powder fell in his eyes. Actually those cries were directed against the evil spirits moving around there.
After the festivals were over, Gopal Rao Gundu wanted to get the Mosque repaired and put stone slabs for the floor of Dwarkamai. But Baba gave away the stone slabs to the temples in the village for undertaking repairs.

Meghashyam

Meghashyam regarded Baba as avatar of lord shiva. He was a great devotee of lord shiva. when some devotees gave Baba shiva's idol from panipat, he presented it to Megha in the appreciation of his devotion to shiva. Megha did abhishel to this odol was put below the neem tree in Gurusthan , which can be seen even now.
One afternoon Megha was sleepingin his room in sathewada bolting it from inside. Baba appeared to him and said " Megha! Draw the trident (trishul) near the shivalinga and sprinkled some akshatas (rice) on him." When megha woked up and looked around, he did not find Baba. But he found akshatas sprinkled by Baba in his room.
Megha went to Dwarkamai and asked Baba whether he had come to wada and ordered him to draw the trident(trishul) . Baba replied in the affirmative. Megha then asked him how he enetered the room when it was bolted from inside. Baba replied son , do you think that Baba is only the physical body that you are seeing?. I am everywhere walls and doors cannot obstruct my movements.

Offering Every thing to sai

Balaji Patil Navaskar was a resident of shirdi and a great devotee of Baba. He used to sweep all lanes through which Baba walked. Every year he used to get his entire crop and offer it to Sai Baba, taking home only that much given to him by Baba for the maintenance of his family. Because of the complete confidence reposed in Baba , his family never faced any diffuculties. Baba's words." There won't be any wanting in my devotee' house ", proved to be true in the case of Balaji patil Navaskar and the following was an example of this.Balaji navaskar was truly a good man which sai Baba truly love him. Baba always tells us help others and if you can serve them please serve them
Sai Bless you

Dwarkamai

Let me try to decipher the meaning and symbols of the Dwarkamai and Baba's sojourn in shirdi. The king of trhe universe. He who has made this cosmos live in this dilapidated mosque. From where even the lizards ran away and took refuge. Thus implying that only roof is necessary to give us protection from the elements. Find one does not need a huge palatial building to live in. AS one enters the sanctum sanstrum one finds Baba sitting facing the south faced Guru symbolises the fact that a man of realisation has transcended time. Baba' s Asana [Seat] was a sack. In the sack the weave is very evident there is a horizontal weave. This symbolises man's life of hopes , aspirations, goals and greed for a thousand materialistic things.Baba sat in the north east corner , the direction of ISana. His left hand resting on the railing [Kathada] . HIs legs outstretched, showering. HIs blessings on the devotees. There are eight directions or quarters in this world. Each protected by a deity [dilpals]. Baba sat in the north east corner , the direction of ISana on vrishaba. This symbolises that individual goes a certain direction or follows a certain path that makes or mars his life, according to the vasanas. It is lord's Isana who guides the world.The floor of the Dwarkamai was clean and neat. It was washed daily. Then slurry of cowdung was applied. Baba had an akhandeep [ an ever burning lamp] which symbolises an inner light. Baba got up very early in the morning in Brahma Murth. When the devotees came they found him sitting in the Dhuni Maa[ Agni means leading towards evolution.]

Upasani Baba

Among the apostles of Sai Baba the most prominent was Upasani Baba who at one time was thought to be the successor of Sai Baba and was groomed by him with that purpose to make him an ideal discipleand to bestow n him all his powers. he went to the xtent of asking his devotees to worship as they worshiopped Sai Baba. But sai baba's plan did not work and upasani left shirdi after three years while Sai Baba wanted to stay on four years to get the full benefit of his assosciation with Sai Baba.
Upsani Baba , whose full name is Kasinat Govind Upasani Maharaj, was born in 1870 in an orthodox Brahmin family in satana village in Maharashtra. His Grandfather , Gopal sastri was the court adviser on religious and literary matters to the Gaekwad of Baroda. Gopal sastri was also adviser to many other rules of petty states. Upasani's father , Govind Sastri was a copylist in the civil court of Dhulia. Upasani was one of five sons and he came from a family of village priests. He had little formal eduaction and was married when he was 14 to a girl of eight in 1883 who died a year later. He married again girl in 1885 and his second wife also passed away shortly thereafter.
Upasani ran away from home and lived away from his family for long intervals.He became interested in Yoga, went to cave and sat in meditation for long periods. He spent many days without food or drink. He went to sangli and learnt Ayurveda and later set up practice as an ayurvedic doctor in Amravati in 1986. He started a medical monthly in Marathi and advertised in it in the patent medicines he made. He bought land in Gwalior in 1907 but found that he had made mistake as the land was barren and there was no yield from it. He lost everything and his health failed: he returned home a broken man. Then he started on a pilgrimage in 1910 with his third wife and visited number of places. In 1911, a yogi,, kulkarni in Rahuri advised him to go to sai Baba. Thinking that sai Baba was a Muslim, Upasani said he would not go to see Sai Baba. Later he met Narayan Maharaj, a Dattareya devotee who was said to posses marvellous powers. When Upasani told him of his poor health Narayan Maharaj made him chew betel and nut and said he was " finely painted" inside and outside and asked him to go away.
Upasani Baba again met Yogi Kulkarni who again asked him to meet Sai Baba. Finally Upasani Baba decided to go to shirdi and he met Sai Baba in 1911. After staying for a day Upasani Baba asked Baba for permission to return to home. Baba said:" What! so soon ! when are you returning? Upasani replied it was not easy for him to return to shirdi . Baba said :" Then you had better stay. Do not go away ." Seeing him undecided Baba said: " well , go . I shall see what i can i do." Upasani thought permission had been given to leave and left shirdi. While he was at Kopargaon the priest at the Datta temple there told him to go back to shirdi and stay with sai Baba. Upasani said: " No" . As they were talking some visitors , who said they were going to shirdi arrived and the priest told them:" Take thsi person with you." But Upasani said : " No I have been there already ." The visitors said :That is the best reason. We have not been there wwe want some one to be with us to guide us." So inspite of his protest Upasani Was forced to accompany them to shirdi.
At shirdi Baba welcome and said ." So you have come back . You said you would not come back before eight days." Upasani Said: " Baba I cannot understand this. I was eager to go home and I wonder I did not. This must be your doing." Baba said :' Yes , I have been with you all these days, dogging your heels." Thereafter Upasani continued to stay in shirdi. He made efforts to leave and get Baba's permisssion through Shama. Baba said:'' Let him stay on." Shama wanted to know what Baba expected Upasani to do. Baba said:'' To do nothing." Upasani did not realise that " doing nothing" meant,according to Baba, being receptive and receiving everything from him.
The entire operation of moduling , remoduling, raising and reaching the top of the highest spiritual experience is the work of the guru and the guru alone. His great powers moulds everything , internal and external, and the result is that the disciple is turned into the likeness of the guru. This is what Baba meant when he said:'' Let him remain doing nothing." Baba asked upasani to go and live in solitude at the khandoba temple, not to mix with people but to remain alone doing nothing. Baba wanted him to be free from all shackles and independent of family or the other connections. He wanted to make him a feel he was entirely dependent on Baba andBaba alone , atleast during the period of probation. Therefore , he created a number of problems for upasani like getting food which became difficult. In this way Baba wanted him to feel that he had no earthly support except the guru. UNable to get proper meals Upasani starved for two or three days. He came to be called " Upavasani" He became a prey to diseases.
Baba expected Upasani to develop Nishta and Saburi and Upasani slowly developing them. However , he was not happy . He could not understand What Baba was doing to him. He told a friend that he was being tortured like a dumb brute. He told another friend that his life was miserable and wasted. He asked a aplmist if his future would be bad. Baba had told him he should remain in shirdi for four years and that he need not do anything at all. Upasani was not able to understabd the course sketched out for him by Baba and he had no ambition for God realisation at such cost. He was a total stranger to shirdi and appeared to many as unworthy of the high honour conferred on him by Baba. Some devotees were jealous and one of them asked Baba:" Baba, we have beeen attending on you for years and you seem to be conferring a copper plate grant of all your powers to this stranger. Are we all therefore to be neglected? Is it true that you are giving him all your powers?'' Baba replied :"Yes. I speak only the truth sitting as I do in this masjid. What i have spoken I have spoken . I have given everything to this person. Whether he be good or bad he is my own. I am fully responsible for him and as for a copper plate grant, why a copper plate grant? I have given him a gold plategrant." Turning to Upasani he said:'' Think which is better, copper or gold?'' Upasani said :'' I do not know Baba." Baba said:'' copper gets corded and tarnished. Gold does not. It remains pure always. You are pure Bhagawan.
However this did not make upasani Happy. Baba rarely spoke to him. There was no formal oral instruction and it was only later that what he got from Baba was his teachings. One of the methods adopted by Baba was to convey his teachings through his visions and pictures. Upasani underwent many hardships mental and physical but these were turned into gains subsequently. when he reported his condition to Baba, the latter said," I am always with you. You need not fear. The more you suffer now thw happier and more excellent will be your future. You are going to be an avadhata. Hundreds will rush to have your Darshan.

One day Upasani had a vision in which Baba came up to him in some mysterious place and sat infront of him. He asked Upasani to come near him saying.'' I am going to give you Upadesh.'' As Upasani was trying to approach Baba a dark and dirty person behind Upasani, exactly like him, pulled him back and said: '' Do not listen to guru but listen to me.'' This interruption took place twice. Then Baba got up , seized that dark person behind upasani and placed him on a pile of faggots and burnt him. All the time Upasani was shouting.'' Baba it is me you are burning.'' After completely burning the dark person Baba turned to upasani and said:'' yes. That was you no doubt. But you were in that sin form, namely papa rupa. I have destroyed him. You are now free from sin. By our united efforts there are many things to be achieved in the future. How can that be done if sin remains? '' Baba told Upasani at one time: '' I will take away half of your head and give you half of my own." Upasani then had a vision in which some ruffians cut off his head, scoped the brains and ate the contents and ran away.

DasGan

Among the apostles of Sai Baba the most prominent was Upasani Baba who at one time was thought to be the successor of Sai Baba and was groomed by him with that purpose to make him an ideal discipleand to bestow n him all his powers. he went to the xtent of asking his devotees to worship as they worshiopped Sai Baba. But sai baba's plan did not work and upasani left shirdi after three years while Sai Baba wanted to stay on four years to get the full benefit of his assosciation with Sai Baba.
Upsani Baba , whose full name is Kasinat Govind Upasani Maharaj, was born in 1870 in an orthodox Brahmin family in satana village in Maharashtra. His Grandfather , Gopal sastri was the court adviser on religious and literary matters to the Gaekwad of Baroda. Gopal sastri was also adviser to many other rules of petty states. Upasani's father , Govind Sastri was a copylist in the civil court of Dhulia. Upasani was one of five sons and he came from a family of village priests. He had little formal eduaction and was married when he was 14 to a girl of eight in 1883 who died a year later. He married again girl in 1885 and his second wife also passed away shortly thereafter.
Upasani ran away from home and lived away from his family for long intervals.He became interested in Yoga, went to cave and sat in meditation for long periods. He spent many days without food or drink. He went to sangli and learnt Ayurveda and later set up practice as an ayurvedic doctor in Amravati in 1986. He started a medical monthly in Marathi and advertised in it in the patent medicines he made. He bought land in Gwalior in 1907 but found that he had made mistake as the land was barren and there was no yield from it. He lost everything and his health failed: he returned home a broken man. Then he started on a pilgrimage in 1910 with his third wife and visited number of places. In 1911, a yogi,, kulkarni in Rahuri advised him to go to sai Baba. Thinking that sai Baba was a Muslim, Upasani said he would not go to see Sai Baba. Later he met Narayan Maharaj, a Dattareya devotee who was said to posses marvellous powers. When Upasani told him of his poor health Narayan Maharaj made him chew betel and nut and said he was " finely painted" inside and outside and asked him to go away.
Upasani Baba again met Yogi Kulkarni who again asked him to meet Sai Baba. Finally Upasani Baba decided to go to shirdi and he met Sai Baba in 1911. After staying for a day Upasani Baba asked Baba for permission to return to home. Baba said:" What! so soon ! when are you returning? Upasani replied it was not easy for him to return to shirdi . Baba said :" Then you had better stay. Do not go away ." Seeing him undecided Baba said: " well , go . I shall see what i can i do." Upasani thought permission had been given to leave and left shirdi. While he was at Kopargaon the priest at the Datta temple there told him to go back to shirdi and stay with sai Baba. Upasani said: " No" . As they were talking some visitors , who said they were going to shirdi arrived and the priest told them:" Take thsi person with you." But Upasani said : " No I have been there already ." The visitors said :That is the best reason. We have not been there wwe want some one to be with us to guide us." So inspite of his protest Upasani Was forced to accompany them to shirdi.
At shirdi Baba welcome and said ." So you have come back . You said you would not come back before eight days." Upasani Said: " Baba I cannot understand this. I was eager to go home and I wonder I did not. This must be your doing." Baba said :' Yes , I have been with you all these days, dogging your heels." Thereafter Upasani continued to stay in shirdi. He made efforts to leave and get Baba's permisssion through Shama. Baba said:'' Let him stay on." Shama wanted to know what Baba expected Upasani to do. Baba said:'' To do nothing." Upasani did not realise that " doing nothing" meant,according to Baba, being receptive and receiving everything from him.
The entire operation of moduling , remoduling, raising and reaching the top of the highest spiritual experience is the work of the guru and the guru alone. His great powers moulds everything , internal and external, and the result is that the disciple is turned into the likeness of the guru. This is what Baba meant when he said:'' Let him remain doing nothing." Baba asked upasani to go and live in solitude at the khandoba temple, not to mix with people but to remain alone doing nothing. Baba wanted him to be free from all shackles and independent of family or the other connections. He wanted to make him a feel he was entirely dependent on Baba andBaba alone , atleast during the period of probation. Therefore , he created a number of problems for upasani like getting food which became difficult. In this way Baba wanted him to feel that he had no earthly support except the guru. UNable to get proper meals Upasani starved for two or three days. He came to be called " Upavasani" He became a prey to diseases.
Baba expected Upasani to develop Nishta and Saburi and Upasani slowly developing them. However , he was not happy . He could not understand What Baba was doing to him. He told a friend that he was being tortured like a dumb brute. He told another friend that his life was miserable and wasted. He asked a aplmist if his future would be bad. Baba had told him he should remain in shirdi for four years and that he need not do anything at all. Upasani was not able to understabd the course sketched out for him by Baba and he had no ambition for God realisation at such cost. He was a total stranger to shirdi and appeared to many as unworthy of the high honour conferred on him by Baba. Some devotees were jealous and one of them asked Baba:" Baba, we have beeen attending on you for years and you seem to be conferring a copper plate grant of all your powers to this stranger. Are we all therefore to be neglected? Is it true that you are giving him all your powers?'' Baba replied :"Yes. I speak only the truth sitting as I do in this masjid. What i have spoken I have spoken . I have given everything to this person. Whether he be good or bad he is my own. I am fully responsible for him and as for a copper plate grant, why a copper plate grant? I have given him a gold plategrant." Turning to Upasani he said:'' Think which is better, copper or gold?'' Upasani said :'' I do not know Baba." Baba said:'' copper gets corded and tarnished. Gold does not. It remains pure always. You are pure Bhagawan.
However this did not make upasani Happy. Baba rarely spoke to him. There was no formal oral instruction and it was only later that what he got from Baba was his teachings. One of the methods adopted by Baba was to convey his teachings through his visions and pictures. Upasani underwent many hardships mental and physical but these were turned into gains subsequently. when he reported his condition to Baba, the latter said," I am always with you. You need not fear. The more you suffer now thw happier and more excellent will be your future. You are going to be an avadhata. Hundreds will rush to have your Darshan.

One day Upasani had a vision in which Baba came up to him in some mysterious place and sat infront of him. He asked Upasani to come near him saying.'' I am going to give you Upadesh.'' As Upasani was trying to approach Baba a dark and dirty person behind Upasani, exactly like him, pulled him back and said: '' Do not listen to guru but listen to me.'' This interruption took place twice. Then Baba got up , seized that dark person behind upasani and placed him on a pile of faggots and burnt him. All the time Upasani was shouting.'' Baba it is me you are burning.'' After completely burning the dark person Baba turned to upasani and said:'' yes. That was you no doubt. But you were in that sin form, namely papa rupa. I have destroyed him. You are now free from sin. By our united efforts there are many things to be achieved in the future. How can that be done if sin remains? '' Baba told Upasani at one time: '' I will take away half of your head and give you half of my own." Upasani then had a vision in which some ruffians cut off his head, scoped the brains and ate the contents and ran away.

Mahlsapathy

Among Sai Baba's earliest disciples and the most intimate and one who stayed with him longest was Mahlsapathy , a goldsmith by caste and priest of the Khandoba temple in Shirdi. He was a poor and uncultured villager who, thinking Baba was a muslim, objected to his entering the temple and staying there but soon became his most Zealous admirer and ardent worshipper. Baba found his devotion, dedication and attachment irresistable and accepted the flowers, sandal and other offerings placed at his feet in worship by Mahlsapathy, who was the only person allowed to worship Baba in this way for a long time. In the goldsmith community to which he belonged mahlsapathy was known for his fervent devotion to his tutelary deity , Khandoba( also Known as Mahlsapathy ). The Mahlsapathy Purana was his bible and he read it daily as a ritual.
Every year Mahlsapathy made a pilgrimage to jejoori, 150 miles from shirdi , carrying a Kavadi on his shoulders to worshipthe diety in the temple there. On many ocassions he went into a trance and at such times it was thought that Khandoba spoke through him. HIs family consisted of his wife, three daughters and a son who was born very late in his life through the grace of Baba. He was very poor and lived in a mud house and owned some acres of barren land. His assosciation with Baba lasted 50 years. After his first encounter with Baba he developed respect and reverence for him although he was perplexed by his behaviour sometimes which made the rustic folk call him a " mad fakir ".
Long after Mahlsapathy started worshipping Baba another devotee, Nana saheb Engle, was allowed that privilege. Afterwards more people joineed in the worship of Baba. As days passed by Mahlsapathy came closer and closer to Baba and became a part of Baba's daily life. He kept Baba companyday and night slept in the mosque with him. He spread his own cloth and on this he and Baba slept, he occupying one half and Baba the other half of the cloth. However Mahlsapathy rarely slept for Baba gave him a task. Baba told him : " You better sit up. Do not go to sleep. Place your hand on my heart. I will be going on with rememberamce of Allah nama smaranam, that is half conscious trance and during that nama smaranam, the heart beat will clearly show you that I am still having nama smaranam. If that suddenly goes away and natural sleep supervenes wake me up." The idea was that the heart beat during natural sleep would be different from the heart beat during meditation. This meant that neither Baba nor Mahlsapathy slept during the night. That also showed that Baba was in mediation to protect his devotees spread far and wide.

Bala Ganpat Shimpi

Baba helped his devotees in hundred of ways to remove anxiety , fears, ward off disease and misfortune and to bring hope and cheer into their lives. He granted their prayers readily and was ever at their beck and call to attend to their needs and inspiration.
A devotee by name Bala Ganpat Shimpi suffered from a Malignant type of Malaria. He tried all sorts of cured but without effect. The fever did not abate a bit. He went to shirdi and fell at Baba's feet. Baba told him:" Give a black dog some morsels of rice mixed with curds in front of the Lakshmi temple." After shimpi returned home he mixed rice and curds and brought it ti the Lakshmi temple infront of which he found a black dog wagging its tai. He gave it curd rice which it ate greedily. The devotee was cured of his malaria.

Deekshas

Baba used to give deeksha to the devotees who came to him. The deekshas were prescribed by Baba depending on the stages of the devotees, and during this period he moulded them. Baba prescribed Brahmmacharya Deeksha(celibacy) to Tatya. Hari seetharam Dixit and Kaka Dixit were given nine months period of Vanaprastha (away from wife and children ) at shirdi . Baba prescribed four years deeksha period to Upasani Baba who left shirdi without completing the deeksha period. Similarly, Baba used to prescribe deeksha periods for some to do parayana of holy Books, and to some to do Nama Sankeertan ( Chanting of Names ). The devotees were very much benefited by the deeksha periods prescribed by Baba.

Baba's words

Baba used to say : My lila is incrutable ." He had infinite love for his devotees and his mode of instruction was born of compassion . Because of his omniscence he could understand and follow the sorrows and sufferings of his devotees and could ward them off. He never gave a begineer in the quest for spiritual enlightment the higher lesson. To each he imparted knowledge according to the capacity of the recipent to absorb it. Sometimes he would give him a mantra (incantation) that seemed just right for the devotee or aprove a mantra withwhich the devotees was already familiar. At his first meeting with M.W. Pradhan Baba uttered the mantra ," Sri Ram Jai Ram, Jai jai Ram thus confirming his recognition of the mantra given to pradhan by the family Guru.

Khalbatta ( Pestle and mortar )

" Ghavune kesar cha vati, mage lavethi, hasthe uti tambulla Arpithe kara se punti prasanna dristi sai che.
Taking the small bowl full of safflon, he would apply the paste on Baba's divine hands. Then offer tambul in his palm. During this puja ritual Baba's expression would be divinely pleasing," This was part of the ritualistic puja offered by Bapu sahib joy at the chavadi. Following the chavadi procession, from the Dwarkamai to chavadi every alternate day.
" Treyo Dashgune" Veeda or Tambul
1. Shira kadlele paan ( Divine beetle leaf)
2. Phodleli supari ( Brokened Arecanut)
3. Chuna ( Lime)
4. Kairacha kath ( Resin from the kher tree)
5. Kesar ( saffron)
6. Kasturi ( sweet smelling resin)
7. Badam ( almond)
8. Jaist madhue ( sweetening spice ).
9. Jai pathrei ( bay leaf )
10. Valchi. ( Cardamom)
11. Lavang ( clove )
12. Jaiphal ( nutmeg )
13. Suvarn ( gold)
These thirteen ingredients are pounded together. A fairly fine powder is procured and then offered to Baba. No ritualistic puja is complete to the sadguru without offering "Tambul" or "phanvida" and " Dakshina" . During Baba's sojourn in shirdi this Khalbatta was used for that purpose . After Baba's Mahasamadhi in 1918, Tatya kote patil kept the khalbatta with him. He then gave it to Dadaji Gopinath Joshi.

Butty's life in Danger

Once an astrologer named Nana saheb Debgale came to Shirdi. He told Butty one day that the particular day was inauspicious for him and there was dangerous to his life. Butty came to Baba and sat at his feet . Baba asked Butty," What is this Nana telling you ?" He is telling that there is danger to your life. I wll see how death will kill you. You do not fear ." That evening when Butty went to answer nature's call he found there a big snake . Butty called his servant, and by the time the servant came with a stick , the snake has disappeared . He recollected Baba's assurance and felt happy. Actually that day the poisonous snake have bitten him as per the predection of the astrologer, but it could not do anything because of Baba's words and he went away.

Appa Kulkarni

Once a devotee, Appa Kulkarni , had darshan of Baba. Baba casually told him : " Thieves have entered our village . The way of these thieves is peculiar. They do not upset the who;e house. They are after principal things only. Taking these they walk away without being discovered. Such arch villians they are. You will be the first object of their attack now. So take precautionary measures. Kulkarni dis not understand the purpose of Baba's warning and thought it refered to the security of his property and so he strengthened the security stuff at his residence. BUt what happened was an outbreak cholera in the village and kulkarni became its first victim. The villagers rushed to Baba and sought relief. Baba told them,'' In the village of shirdi seven men will die and thereafter cholera will disappeared," And so it happened.

Imambai Chotekhan

Imambai Chotekhan was a sepoy in the government of Nizam. Once he severely beat a christian teacher for having not cooperated in an investigation. The teacher vomitted blood and bacame unconscious as a result of the beatings. The sepoys superior advised him to leave the job and get out of the state to escape punishment. Therefore , he resigned his job and came to Maharashtra state withe intention of escape the punishment, with the blessings of Shirdi Sai Baba.
When he went to see Baba the next day, Baba assured him saying " Allah Malik! Do not fear. I will see that no punishment is given to you." He stayed at shirdi for two months. One day Baba told him," you can go home. The pending ligitations about your lands will be settled in your favour. He had disputes about some lands with his aunt. Though he had not told Baba about this , Baba knewabout it and blessed him. Afterwords Chotekhan visited Shirdi several times and took blessings and advice of Baba and progresses in his life.

Nana sahib Nimonkar Khadaws

Nana sahib Nimonkar was a fortunate devotee. He and his wife came to reside in shirdi and from morning to night they spent their time by doing Baba's seva. Baba looked after their spiritual welfare. He wished to read the Bhagwad Gita , which was in sanskrit, a language he did not know. Baba reading his thought said," Why don't you read the pothi?' Nana replied that he did not know Sanskrit. Baba immediately said " Never mind. Masjid Aayi wiil teach you. Begin today " He took Baba's advice and soon became so proficient that he could hold discourses. Then he read the Gita and the Dnyaneshwari. Nana sahib took samadhi two months after Baba's Mahasamadhi. During that time he had intense ' Dhyasa'[ absorption ] in Baba. He was Ram Bhakta and he died saying ' Sri Ram'. It was vety appropriate for him to receive Khadaws from Baba. These Khadaws he did not wear, but venerated tham as a gift from Baba. They are kept in his prayer room in his home in Nimon Gaon

Two Brahmins Came to see Baba

Two Brahmins Came to see Baba one day and Baba narrated an incident which he said happened to him. He spoke of his wandering on the seashore and his arrival at a rich brahmins's house where he was fed and shown a clean and nice place near the cupboard to sleep. When he was sound asleepa man pilled out a stone slab from the wall and took from Baba's pocket a bundle of currency noted. When Baba noticed the theft he was upset and began weeping. He thought the brahmin had stolen the money. He lost all interest in food and drink and stayed on the verandah of the house for 15 days. On the 15th day a passing fakir saw him crying and made enquires. Baba told him everything that had happened. The fakir told him of another fakir and asked him to seek relief from him. He would restore the property to him, the fakir told Baba. Baba followed his advice, met the fakir and got back his money. Again he went to the seashore and there was aship by which he had to travel. He got on board the help of a peon and thereafter he got into a train and came to Dwarkamayi.
As Baba was telling about his experience the two brahmins were wondering what he wanted to convey because they knew that Baba never left shirdi and had not seen the sea or seashore. Their puzzle was cleared when they realised that Baba had narrated was what they themselves had ecperienced and it was their story that Baba had described in such vivid detail and it was absolutely true in every respect

Five Pranas

1) Prana : or the vital forces that receive everything into the body.

2) Aapana: which excretes what is not required

3) Samana : which receives all that is brought by pranas and assinmilates it.

4 Vyana : the circulatory system that carries assimilated food to the different parts of the body.

5) Udayana : which protects and serves as a body guard to the individuality and the wgo helping it to lift the thoughts to new heights of better understanding