Baba the Indweller
Sai Baba of Shirdi is renowned for mighty power, infinite mercy, and boundless love. Most of the literature about Him is in Marathi [language spoken in the western part of India], wherein He is described as the divine incarnation who, out of His immeasurable grace, pierced the barriers of physical space. Assuming different forms, He miraculously saved lives, protected devotees from calamities, cured diseases, prevented epidemics, and controlled the elements.
I visited Shirdi often, and I have experienced His grace and timely help in difficult situations. In fact, He once gave me darshan [sight of a holy person] in 1948, when we were living in a small room and had a very meager income. I was surprised by this miracle. He made me hold out my hands in the form of a cup and down came a stream of holy water from His fingers. He then blessed my family with all prosperity and happiness and instantly disappeared. From that day onward, we found ourselves above want and became a contented happy family. Whenever problems arise, we think of Him and the way is clear!
Long before most of the devotees in Bombay had heard about Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the present avatar of Sai Baba of Shirdi, it was an established fact that He was on a spiritual mission—giving solace to the distressed and leading people of all castes and creeds on a path to righteous life, mental peace, and spiritual progress. Some fortunate families in Bombay who were under the divine spell of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba used to visit Puttaparthi and came away with the precious gift of His grace. Literature on the life and mission of Bhagavan passed from hand to hand and spread His message of satya [truth], dharma [right action], shanti [peace], and prema [love]. The readers were convinced that Sri Sathya Sai Baba was the re-incarnation of Lord Sri Ram, Sri Krishna, and Sai Baba of Shirdi.
By 1963 we, too, had an attractive photograph of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and read books about Him. Thus the path was laid for our pilgrimage to Prasanthi Nilayam.All of us went for Bhagavan’s blessings on Guru Poornima [festival honoring the guru] 1964, when He distributed amrita [nectar] to thousands out of a silver bowl, which never emptied. During our stay there and especially during the interview He granted us, we were convinced of His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence.
In the course of the interview, He materialized a locket with an image of Shirdi Sai Baba on one side and Lord Krishna on the other and presented it to my wife. We were astounded when Baba said to my daughter, “I know you pray to me, during bhajans [devotional singing], in the study circle in your institution.” How did He know this?
On 22nd August 1965, my daughter’s marriage was performed in Prasanthi Nilayam prayer hall in Baba’s divine presence, with the religious rites and sacred mantras [religious formulae] recited by the learned priests of the Veda pathashala [school of learning] and the ardent assembly of devotees witnessing in solemn silence. Bhagavan materialized the sacred mangalasutra [necklace placed on the bride as a symbol of marriage] in a typical Maharashtrian pattern and performed the kanyadan [giving away the bride] Himself. It was the happiest and most fortunate day of our lives. Our attitude toward Bhagavan became one of surrender – total and complete. We were convinced that He is really the indweller in the hearts of all.
~Mahadeo Mangesh Pinge
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, July 1969
