Shirdi Baba’s First Miracle

Bhagawan has captured our attention with many a story of Shirdi Baba’s life. Here He narrates the circumstances in which Shirdi Baba performed his first miracle as a young lad of ten years.

God and the Devotee

Some people imagine that God bestows excessive grace on a few, appears to be indifferent towards some, and totally ignores others. All these are only the aberrations of the people having such thoughts. All are the same for God. You can see your true image only in a glass that is covered at the rear with the mercury of love. Everyone says he has not experienced God. This is not God’s fault. The feeling that God favours some and not others is born of jealousy.

Shirdi Baba and Venkusa

When Shirdi Baba was about ten, Patel [the man who looked after him when he was a child] took him to Venkusa [a spiritual teacher]. Patel had a dream in which he was told, “Patel! You are not likely to live long. The boy whom you have brought up so far cannot be looked after by anyone. There is a person called Venkusa in a certain place. You take the boy to him and leave him in his care.”

Venkusa was giving spiritual lessons to a number of boys. He had a premonition of the young boy’s coming even while he was being brought to him. He called the lad, “Aaoji! Aaoji!” (“Come, Come!”) I have been waiting for you all these years.” He spoke lovingly to the boy and asked him to go indoors and have his food. From then onwards, Venkusa developed great affection for the boy. Seeing this, the other students felt envious and started talking about him among themselves.” How is it that the teacher is showing so much love for the new boy? We have been here for years. He has not shown us such love.” This was the way some of them spoke. Others said, “He is lucky to have such love.” Still others remarked, “Perhaps our teacher expects some money from Patel, who is a wealthy man.”

Plan to kill Baba

The attachment between Venkusa and the young Baba grew steadily from day to day. One day, both of them were going to a forest called Sikhara. After they had gone, the other boys drew up a plan to do away with the young Baba. “Then Venkusa will have greater liking for us,” they thought. They went to the forest and rested behind a hut. According to the plan they had already made, one of the bigger boys took a big brick and hurled it towards Baba. Venkusa had great love for Baba. On seeing the brick, Venkusa immediately stood in front of Baba and let the brick hit him. What was aimed at Baba struck Venkusa, and blood streamed from the latter’s head.

Baba immediately took a piece of cloth from his robe and bandaged Venkusa’s bleeding head. While Baba and Venkusa were speaking about the wound, some of the boys came rushing towards them bringing a dead body. It was the body of the boy who wanted to kill Baba. “Biter bit,” says a proverb. (If you intend to harm others, you will be harming yourself). The boys cried. “Guruji! Forgive us,” and fell at Venkusa’s feet. He told them, “Children! I have grown old. This young lad is carrying on all the work I was doing. Love alone can protect you. When there is no love, no one can save you.’’ On hearing these words, the boys fell at Baba’s feet and placed the dead body before him.

Baba burst into laugher. Why did he laugh? It was not because he felt that the boy who intended to kill him was dead. He knew that death could come at any time, in any place, and in any situation. Even at a young age, Baba had realized this truth relating to the body. Baba transcended time. Age did not matter to him. He was the cosmic person. He told the boys, “Today this boy has died. Your turn may come tomorrow. No one is immortal.” The boys cried, “How can we explain this calamity to the parents?”

Baba told them, “Tell the parents what actually happened.” The boys realized that if they told the truth, they would be put to shame. If they said what did not happen, they would be uttering falsehood. Recognising their dilemma, Baba asked them, “What is it you want now?” “Please restore the life of this boy,” was the reply. Immediately Baba placed the head of the dead boy on his lap and passed his hand over it. The boy was revived. This was Shirdi Baba’s first miracle.

Source: Sanathana Sarathi, September 1996