Shri Rao Bahadur M.W. Pradhan in his work "Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi: A Glimpse of Indian Spirituality" depicts the following interesting incident involving Sadguru Sainath’s all-pervadingness:

Once, an astrologer who had heard about Sai Baba as a saint of a very high order, came to Shirdi with the avowed objective of placing a book on astrology into the hands of Sai Baba and receiving the same as prasad from Him. The astrologer sincerely believed that such a prasad from Sai Baba (consecration by Sai Baba) would make him very proficient astrologer and thus enable him to make a fortune. But Sai Baba, when implored to give the book to the astrologer, gave it instead to Bapusaheb Butti (the well-known multi-millionaire who is credited with the construction of Butti wada in Shirdi) who was sitting close by. Bapusaheb Butti, who was a wealthy man and did not have worldly wish took the book thrusted onto his hands by Sai Baba. The astrologer was disappointed. Bapusaheb, who never cared to read anything, skipped over the book now and then for a short time only because Sai Baba gave the book to him. Gradually he began to take interest in the book and the subject of astrology. After a few years, Bapusaheb Butti became proficient in astrologer and he began to help Sai devotees in their needs and was able to predict things with precision! He did all of this without any remuneration!

The above incident, Sai Baba wanted to show that, He knew that it was not the destiny of the Astrologer to be proficient in Astrology as he had aimed at;
That He wanted to show what any person who was the recipient of such a Prasad would be capable of (in this case Shri Bapusaheb Butti); and That Sai Baba wanted to teach His devotees that a person’s proficiency in any art or science is used best when given gratis to humanity than for any love of lucre.
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(Dedicated to the Children of the World)
Contribution by Havovi Medora, Bombay, India

Chapter 9

Taking Samadhi

Sai Baba gave up his mortal being on 15 October 1918. It was Dassera day when his breathing stopped. Laxmibai, a devotee who sat near him, did not go to lunch, unlike others whom Baba had insisted go for their noon meal. Baba gave her nine one-rupee coins for al the seva (service) she had done for him.

People expressed their sorrow over Baba’s passing away in different ways. Some lamented loudly; others fell to the ground senseless. Their grief was immense. The news spread like wildfire, and people from far and wide came to mourn this great loss.

Then began arguments as to how the body was to be disposed. Muslims wanted to bury Baba’s mortal remains, while Hindus wanted Baba cremated. Neither was an appropriate solution because, as other people pointed out, Baba was neither Muslim nor Hindu. Then some devotees remembered Baba’s wish to be placed in the wada (holy building). Booty was building a temple in the center of which was to be the seat of the murlidhar (deity). After much discussion, Baba was finally laid to rest there as the murlidhar.

Blessed is Booty’s Wada where the holy body of Sai Baba lies. Even after many hours of argument, when it was time to change Baba’s kafni (robe), his body was easily moved and the kafni was taken off and a new one put on. Rigor mortis had not set in.

Today, the samadhi (a place where a holy body is kept) is visited by millions of people from all over the world, who flock there seeking salvation. What is a small dot on the map has become a sacred place on earth.

Baba came into this world with a definite mission and, having fulfilled it, went away as quietly and simply as he came. Even when departing, he did charity in the form of the nine coins he handed to Laxmibai. These coins are now displayed in Shirdi.

Chapter 10

Baba's Presence

Devotees all over the world have experienced similar phenomena of Sai. His presence is felt when one is down, worried, or filled with anxiety. One immediately feels a calm come upon oneself. Many get the strong aroma of a thousand burning joss sticks. I have personally had experiences when I was not allowed to feel worried. There was instantly a perfect picture of Sai with his reassuring look. People refusing to do certain things suddenly turn around and agree with me.

I am involved with a voluntary organization that imparts education to street-children in Bombay, to help them better their existence. We have achieved so much with the help of Baba. Total strangers have come to us and said Sai had sent them. Urgent need for funds come from the most surprising sources. Of course, I always ask for Sai’s help. "Help me, Sai," I pray. "This is so important". And help arrives from seemingly nowhere.

Next, I wish to relate the sweet story of an Irish nun, Sister Dutton who was enrolled in a convent in Calcutta. She often wondered if she was truly fit to be a nun, or was it just because she had nobody and nowhere in this world to go to. Was she hiding in the church? These thoughts plagued her as the time came nearer to take her final vows.

One evening, as she sat in her small room in the convent, she felt a presence behind her. Turning around she saw a man dressed in white, with a white turban tied around his head and its side hanging down his back. He had an aura about him. Sister Dutton was startled. Who was this man? How did he get into her room through a closed door?

"Wh-who are y-you?" she stammered. "Never mind who I am," said the stranger. "I have just come here to tell you that this is not your vocation. Don’t take your vows, but go out into the world and live your life," said he. "Now will you give me a present?" he continued. Sister Dutton was dumbfounded. How did this peculiar man know of her dilemma? She blurted, "I have nothing to give you." He replied, "Oh yes you do. In that cupboard you have thirty-five rupees." Sister Dutton remembered her stipend and went to the cupboard to fetch it. But when she turned around, the man had vanished.

She never did take her vows and, on the day she left the convent, a man was waiting for her at the entrance. He introduced himself as a distant cousin who had been transferred to Calcutta by the British army. He said he needed someone to look after his children and would she take the job. Miss Sutton accepted the offer and lived in a beautiful home in Calcutta, happy and content with her life.

One day she recounted this story to her neighbor, Arthur Osborne, who went out and brought back a photograph of Sai Baba. Miss Sutton exclaimed excitedly, "Yes, that’s him! The man who came into my room at the convent!" [Arthur Osborne was a great devotee of Baba and wrote a book titled, "The Incredible Sai Baba".]
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Prayer Club

Kind Sirs..
Please...if you have time could you please pray for me as I have been searching for the correct career to come to me. I have just interviewed for a most wonderful job. I seem to be becoming very tired and discouraged as I have not heard from them. I am seeking Jesus Christ and Baba's assistance and need their Divine Intervention and Intercession so very much.

Thank you for your precious time.
Susan Ellis
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Experiences of Devotees

Devotees
Om Sai Ram, Hello my name Rohit Ummat from Saint John, NB Canada. I like to tell how Swami saved my life last Thursday October 8, 1998. I was coming home from work after 5:00 pm. The weather was very bad the rain was coming down very heavily. I was driving my car and going home. I just passed a car and the next thing I remember, the ambulance staff were helping me out of car. I had a very major car accident. The front of my car was all pushed inside. The windshield was shattered, The driver's door was all pushed inside. There was a lady who helped me to stop my bleeding. To me I think Baba came down and help her to save my life. The police told me, I do not know how I lived after this terrible accident. The whole car was destroyed. All I can say I want thank Baba for helping for saving my life.

I did not end up with any serious injuries, just cuts in my forehead. Baba was there, who saved my life. It all happened on Baba's day (Thursday). Om SAI RAM!!! Rohit

Hello to all,
My name is Mrs. Rekha Ramanand and I have lived in the U.S. from 1974-1983. My immigration lapsed when I came to India and now finally after 14 years it has been restored. I am a Shirdi Baba devotee and along with my guru we have had many wonderful experiences with Sai. However my problem now is that I have to report to the U.S. by January so that my visa does not lapse. Financially I do not have much but have tremendous faith in Sai that something will work out. I am accompanied by my son, who is a juvenile diabetic (17 years old) and requires my constant attention. While in the U.S. I did diet Indian cooking and helped the handicapped league at Maryland. I also taught at John Hopkins University over there. Now I have turned my interest towards Sai and my entire life revolves around him. I request you to forward this to all Sai devotees in the U.S. so that I may be able to share my experiences with them and maybe find some means of employment to sustain my son and myself. Thanking you for your time

SAI RAM
You can contact me at ramanand@giasgba.vsnl.net.in

Sai Ram,

I have read the Sai Satcharita several times, and not once has Shirdi Sai Baba fulfiled any of my wishes. None of my wishes are material & yet I am amazed that he fulfilled my friends wishes, yet I am the one who passed the Sai Satcharita to them. They have reached & obtained their goals & I am where I am.

At present I am beginning to believe that there is no God or that Shirdi Sai Baba must truly hate me, yet I go to satsang reguraly. Please advice.

Once again I am contemplating on reading the Sai Satcharita again today, I am not one to give up easily. I have faith one day I will reach my goal.

Jai SiyaRam
Bill Colorado
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Devotees say...

Prasuna, Vienna, Virginia, USA

Every Thursday when I read the Sai News Article, all my doubts and fears are laid to rest. The articles contributed by various devotees encourage me and increase my faith in The Lord-Sai Ram.

My mother has been a Sai Devotee all life long. But my faith has developed only in the last four or five years. Today, I am still learning, understanding and trying to improve my life by practicing "Shraddha" and "Saburi". Every Thursday when I read the articles sent by the Sai Org, I feel, the people who have been blessed by Sainath in the form of his "Divine presence" are really lucky.(I am talking about the Honey drippings and the devotee who's leg was cured from polio and others).

Truly blessed are those people who have had such wonderful experience with the lord. All this has only proved again that the lord does take care of his children. Thank you for publishing this wonderful article. You have changed my life for ever..

Please keep up the good work. And do let me know if I can contribute in any way for maintaining this wonderful work. Regards to everyone involved in maintaining this web site.

Dear Sir/Madam,
Thank you for the devotion of sending all of us SRI SAI VICHAAR. It was wonderful to partake in the experiences of others; what a moving report from Australia and from the person at whose doorstep Sri Sai appeared as an old handicapped person. Sri Sai can take all forms and means to please His true devotees. Needless to say, I have some experiences too, even if I cannot 'prove' it to others. But then science has its limitations when trying to circumscribe the Infinite. Blessed are we who could hear His advice, think about this true Guru and hopefully, follow His direction. Thank you again for your wonderful service.

Srinivasan.
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Sai Activities

The Mahasamadhi celebrations in Sydney were held on Sunday, the 4th of October - the normal weekend day of our common worship so that more people would be able to come rather than if it was on the Thursday. However, on Thursday, a selected few of us went to the Mandir to offer our prayers to Baba as that was really the day. We lit the lamp, sang a few bhajans remembering Baba and offered prasad.

On Sunday we had a two hour programme. It began with Namasmaran - 108 names of Baba - with everyone repeating it. We then read 2 pages in Hindi and English regarding the significance of the celebration. We limited Devotee led bhajans to 4 only as we had a professional singer sing a few songs with accompaniment. We then had Shej aarti and then regular aarti. Finally the prasad distribution.

Shailaja Divakarla

It will be interesting for you to know that there is a Sai Baba of Shirdi temple in Hong Kong , I don't know the Email address, but I have personally been there. It is "SAI BABA TEMPLE, BURLINGTON HOUSE, NATHAN ROAD, TSIM TSA TSUI, KOWLOON, HONG KONG.

SAI RAM TO ALL..
BABITA LAKHANPAL
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