Mrs.Saptnekar One year elapsed. Still his mind was not at peace. He went to Gangapur, where he felt more restless. Then he went to Madhegaon for rest and finally decided to go to Kashi. Two days before starting, his wife got a vision. In her dream she was going with a pitcher to Lakadshas well. There a fakir with a piece of cloth round his head, who was sitting at the foot of the Neem tree, came close to her and said - My dear lassie, why get exhausted for nothing? I get your pitcher filled with pure water. She was afraid of the fakir and hastened back with the empty pitcher. The fakir followed her. At this she was awakened and opened her eyes. She told this vision to her husband. They thought that this was an auspicious sign and they both left for Shirdi. When they reached the Masjid, Baba was absent. He had gone to Lendi. They waited till His return. When He returned, she was surprised to see that the fakir she saw in her vision, resembled exactly Baba. She reverentially prostrated herself before Baba and sat looking at him. Seeing her humility Baba was much pleased and began to tell a story in his peculiar characteristic fashion to a third party. He said - My arms, abdomen and waist are paining for a long time. I took many medicines, the pains did not abate. I got sick of the medicines as they gave me no relief, but I am surprised to see now that all the pains have disappeared at once. Though no name was mentioned it was the story of Mrs.Sapatnekar herself. Her pains, as described by Baba, left her soon and she was happy. Then Mr.Sapatnekar went ahead to take darshan. He was again welcomed with the former Get out. This time he was more penitent and persevering. He said that Babas displeasure was due to his past deeds and resolved to make amends for the same. He determined to see Baba alone and ask his pardon for his past actions. This he did. He placed his head on Babas feet and Baba placed His hand on it and Sapatnekar sat stroking Babas leg. Then a shepherdess came and sat massaging Babas waist. Baba in his characteristic way began to tell the story of a bania. He related the various vicissitudes of all his life, including the death of his only son. Sapatnekar was surprised to see that the story which Baba related was his own, and he wondered how Baba knew every detail of it. He came to know that He was omniscient and knew the hearts of all. When this thought crossed his mind, Baba still addressing the shepherdess and pointing to Sapatnekar said - This fellow blames Me and charges Me with killing his son. Do I kill peoples children? Why does this fellow come to the Masjid and cry? Now I will do this I will again bring that very child back in his wifes womb. WIth these words He placed His blessing and on his head and comforted him saying - These feet are old and holy, you are care-free now; place entire faith in Me and you will soon get your object. Sapatnekar was much moved with emotion, he bathed Babas feet with his tears and then returned to his residence. Then he made preparations of worship and naivedya and came with his wife to the Masjid. He offered all this to Baba daily and accepted prasad from Him. There was a crowd in the Masjid and Sapatnekar went there and saluted Baba again and again. Seeing heads clashing against heads Baba said to Sapatnekar - Oh, why do you prostrate yourself now and then? The one Namaskar offered with love and humility is enough. Then Sapatnekar witnessed that night the chavadi procession described before. In that procession Baba looked like a veritable Pandurang (Vithal). At parting next day, Sapatnekar thought that he should first pay one rupee as dakshina and if Baba asked again, instead of saying no, he should pay one more, reserving with him sufficient amount as expenses for the journey. When he went to the Masjid and offered one rupee, Baba asked for another as per his intention and when it was paid, Baba blessed him him saying - Take the coconut, put it in your wifes oti (upper fold of her sari), and go away at ease without the least anxiety. He did so, and within a year a son was born to him and with an infant of 8 months the pair came to Shirdi, placed it at Babas feet and prayed thus - Oh, Sainath, we do not know how to redeem Your obligations, therefore we prostrate ourselves before You, bless us poor helpless fellows, henceforth let Your holy feet be our sole refuge. Many thoughts and ideas trouble us in waking and dream states, so turn away our minds from them to Your bhajan and bless us. The son was named Murlidhar. Two others (Bhaskar and Dinkar) were born afterwards. The Sapatnekar pair thus realized that Babas words were never untrue and unfulfilled, but turned out literally true. Jai Sai Nathjiki
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 04:10:38 +0000
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