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.

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.