THE DIVINE STORY OF SHIRDI SAI PARTHI SAI - Part 6 (continued from the previous issue)
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SCENE 6
Prayer-room scene again. The lady is now busy with worship. In the process, she looks for the SALIGRAMAM. [Photo 01]
LADY: [Mutters to herself] The SALIGRAMAM ought to be here! Where is it? …. [calls out to her sister.] Bhavani!
BHAVANI: Coming sister.
LADY: What happened to the SALIGRAMAM that is supposed to be here? Did you take it?
BHAVANI: No sister. Let us search over there. [Photo 02]
They both search for the SALIGRAMAM but in vain.
LADY: [Mutters to herself.] What could have happened to it? It is so strange! SALIGRAMAM is most sacred. What could have happened to it?
SCENE 7
The playfield again. Krishna has lost the wager, and Young Sai now has the sacred SALIGRAMAM that Krishna thinks is just a white marble. However, Krishna realises that it is important and that his mother would be looking for it. So he tries to persuade Young Sai to give it back, so that the "marble" could be restored to its place in the Puja room.
YOUNG SAI: Hey Krishna ! According to our bet, this white marble is mine!
KRISHNA: This is a magical marble. It has to be placed in the altar. Otherwise, my mother will scold me.
YOUNG SAI: I told you right in the beginning: If I win the marble, I will not give it back. It is now mine!
KRISHNA:[Threatens] Will you return it or not? [Photo 03]
YOUNG SAI: I will not return it.
KRISHNA: Are you going to give it back or not?
YOUNG SAI: I tell you: I will not return it.
KRISHNA: Give it back [tries to snatch the SALIGRAAMAM].
YOUNG SAI:[Resists and shouts] I will not, I will not, I will not…. [Photo 04]
There is a scuffle and a big commotion. The noise attracts the villagers, and many people converge on the scene. One of them is Krishna's mother.
KRISHNA' S MOTHER: What' s going on?…Let me find out.
Krishna' s mother notices that Young Sai and Krishna are engaged in a scuffle.
YOUNG SAI: I will not give it back; I will not, I will not…
KRISHNA: Are you going to return it or not?
YOUNG SAI:[Defiantly] I will not return it, not return, not return, …..not return,….
KRISHNA' S MOTHER: What' s all this fighting? Have you come here to play or to quarrel?
KRISHNA:[To his mother] Mother, this fellow has taken my marble and is refusing to return it.[Photo 05]
KRISHNA' S MOTHER:[To Young Sai] Boy, give it back.
KRISHNA: Look mother, it is in his hand.
K' s MOTHER: Boy, let us see; show it.
Sai shows the 'marble'.
K' s MOTHER: Oh my God! That is SALIGRAAMAM and not a mere marble!…….(to son) Why did you bring it here? I was so scared when I found it missing. I was searching for it all over the worship room. (to Young Sai) Boy, it is not a marble but a very sacred object; it is a Siva Lingam. Be a good boy and give it back.
YOUNG SAI: No, I will not.
K' s MOTHER: I say give it back!
YOUNG SAI: I will not give it back.
K' s MOTHER: Give it back you fellow!
YOUNG SAI: I will not give it back.[Photo 07]
K' s MOTHER:[Slaps Young Sai left and right] Give, give you fellow, …… give it, give it, give it back…
Sai refuses to part with the SALIGRAAMAM, and swallows the Lingam!
K' s MOTHER: Oh my God!. …..[To Young Sai; continues slapping] Open your mouth, open,…open,…..
Sai opens His mouth. The lady looks inside. She does not see the SALIGRAMAM, but the whole Universe inside, just as Yasoda the foster mother of Lord Sri Krishna once saw when she asked Young Krishna to open His mouth. She swoons.[Photo 08 and 09 - use Flash Transition]
A LADY IN THE CROWD: Such a sacred Siva Lingam, and how this boy has polluted it! Can there be a stranger thing?
ANOTHER LADY: If our children associate with this fellow, they would all get spoilt!
FIRST LADY: Behaviour depends on upbringing! Let' s go from here.
TO BE CONTINUED... ...
THE DIVINE STORY OF SHIRDI SAI PARTHI SAI - Part 7 (continued from the previous issue)
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ACT III SCENE 8
The House of Patel. A few ladies are gathered around Mrs. Patel who is very despondent about the complaints people are bringing to her about her son.
A LADY:[To Mrs Patel] How long are you going to remain depressed like this? Whatever happens is God’s will, is it not?
MRS. PATEL: Leelavathi, I am unable to bear the pang of separation caused by my husband’s death. Day by day, this boy is becoming more and more difficult to manage. He is constantly getting into trouble. I am just not able to bring him up properly.
LADY: We understand your problem.
MRS. PATEL: This boy is being cursed by one and all, and I can’t bear to see it. His look is Divine, and His speech as well as actions are noble. But He lacks a Guru who will show Him the correct path. I have therefore come to a decision.
LADY: What is that?
MRS.PATEL: If I admit Him in Venkusa’s Ashram, then, under guidance of the venerable Guru there, this boy would be able to make something of His life. Whatever we may try to do, things always happen only according to His will! …… God Himself gifted me this boy; the same God will also show Him the way in the future. A mother’s love is no doubt boundless, but there cannot be a greater satisfaction than sacrifice! Thus, the desire for a better future for Him, commands me to ignore the pain of separation.
LADY: There is some truth in what you say. Your wish is really God’s wish. Just follow it.
MRS.PATEL: Tomorrow , I shall take the boy to Venkusa’s Ashram.
ACT VI SCENE 1
Mrs. Patel arrives with Young Sai at the Venkusa Ashram. As they arrive at the beautiful and serene setting they find that Guru Venkusa is engaged in teaching the Vedas to the young disciples. Both the mother and son are enthralled by what they see and hear.
GURU: My dear disciples! You are all aware that this Ashram is a spiritual school meant for teaching to the students the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the various scriptural stories. By purifying your mind and teaching you your duties as well as responsibilities, you are trained to direct your life towards God. ……. From time to time, I shall teach you various scriptural lessons. Today, I shall instruct you in Surya Namaskaram or the Worship of the Sun. All of you should repeat after me the Mantras [hymns] with one-pointed concentration.
YOUNG SAI: [to Mrs Patel] Mother, is this the Venkusa Ashram that you told me about?
MRS. PATEL: Yes, my dear. Do you see how nice it is?!
YOUNG SAI: That one over there …….. is he the revered Venkusa?
MRS.PATEL: Yes, that’s him.
GURU:Om Mitrayah Namaha.
STUDENTS: Om Mitrayah Namaha.
GURU: Harihi Om!
STUDENTS:Harihi Om!
GURU: Very good. All of you go now and study this hymn called Aditya Hridayam. Later, I shall explain its meaning and significance. You may all go now.
STUDENTS: Yes Sir, we shall.
GURU: Disperse, all of you.
The Guru then looks towards Young Sai and Mrs. Patel. He is stunned by the splendorous halo around Young Sai’s face.
The Guru now walks to where Mrs. Patel and Young Sai are standing, and begins talking to them.
GURU: Come my boy, come. ……………….. Come boy, come. I have been eagerly waiting for you for ten long years! ………Come my dear boy, come. ……….Come lady, come son……..Lady, you alone have been privileged to serve this boy for many, many years. That is due to the merit earned by you in your previous births. Your life has attained fulfilment. This boy is God in human form. By his coming here, this Ashram has become sanctified.
MRS. PATEL: Yes Sir. I realise that this is no ordinary boy. That is why I have brought him to this sacred Ashram for residence as well as study. Just as Lord Rama became the disciple of Sage Vishwamitra, this boy will be your disciple, and it will do him good. That is why, setting aside my own personal attachment and possessiveness, I have brought this boy here. The splendorous Sun meant to shine on the whole world, cannot be locked up in a small house. Sir, I humbly request to kindly accept this child as your student and disciple.
Mrs. Patel leaves Young Sai under the care of Guru Venkusa and returns. A new chapter now begins in the story of the Shirdi Avatar.
TO BE CONTINUED... ...
THE DIVINE STORY OF SHIRDI SAI PARTHI SAI - Part 8 (continued from the previous issue)
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The conversation between Venkusa and Mrs. Patel continues, with the Guru promising to take full care of his new student.
GURU: I shall certainly look after this boy. Adi Shankara’s [Adi Shankara was a great Sage who lived two thousand years ago; Swami often quotes his famous hymn, the Bhaja Govindam] mother knew that he would leave her and felt depressed. However, realising that her son had been born solely to serve humanity, she reconciled herself to the separation. She was Shankara’s physical mother, but this boy was not born to you. Yet, the love that you have shown him is extra-ordinary. You need not have any anxiety. You can go back peacefully, and without any worry whatsoever. From today, this boy will be a resident of the Ashram.
MRS.PATEL: I am happy Swami, I am happy. …..[to Young Sai] Come my boy……You must pay careful attention to what the Guru says, and be good. I shall leave now. …[to the Guru] Swami, I take your leave….. please bless me.
GURU: I shall, my dear lady
Mrs Patel prostrates before Venkusa and takes her leave, leaving Young Sai under the care of the Guru.
GURU: [to Young Sai] Son, come here. …… [to other disciples who now gather around him] Students, this boy also has come to this Ashram to serve. From now on, he is one of you. His name is Baba. Tell him all about the Ashram and its routine. Help him in every way. Take good care of him!
STUDENTS: We shall, Master!
BOY: [to Young Sai] Baba, come here.
ANOTHER BOY: Baba, this way.
BOY: [to another boy] Take this box and come with us.
The group of disciples lead Young Sai to the residential area of the Ashram.
SCENE 3
The disciples of Venkusa are all assembled for their daily instruction and spiritual training. Young Sai is also present.
GURU: Yesterday, you repeated the Surya Namskar Mantra after me. Today, you shall recite that Mantra all by yourselves.
Students chant but make many mistakes.
GURU: Stop! The very beginning is wrong. This is not what I taught you. You have to begin with the words: Mitraya Namaha! You can’t chant Mantras just the way you want. Chant again, and in the proper sequence.
Once again the group fumbles, and the Guru is not at all happy.
GURU: It means that none of you have learnt the Surya Namaskar Mantra taught to you yesterday. Recitation does not mean merely moving the lips. Mantras that are chanted must be imprinted firmly in the mind.
YOUNG SAI: Master, if you permit, I shall chant the Surya Namaskar Mantra in the proper order.
GURU: Baba, you joined this Ashram only yesterday, did you not?
YOUNG SAI: Yes Master.
GURU: Well, let us see how you do. Go ahead and chant!
Young Sai chants the Mantra beautifully without a single mistake. Venkusa is pleased.
GURU: Baba, you have recited very nicely. When did you learn this and who taught you?
YOUNG SAI: Master, yesterday when you taught this to your students, I was listening. You were the one who taught me!
GURU (to students): Did you hear? He heard the Mantras that I taught you and imprinted them in his mind. Only the one with one-pointed concentration and the determination to acquire knowledge can achieve that goal. There can be no wisdom and knowledge if the body is one place and mind is in another. Such behaviour is most unbecoming of a student. This young one is much better than all of you. Come Baba. It is my good fortune to have you as my disciple! …All of you! Go and memorise the Surya Namaskar Mantra. After that, attend to the Ashram duties. Go now. ………… Baba, come with me.
Venkusa and Young Sai go to the Guru’s hut.
SCENE 4
Years roll by. Sai Baba is now a young man. On account of His deep devotion, Baba becomes the favourite of Venkusa. The other disciples are jealous. One day, Baba is serving Venkusa in the Guru’s hut.
GURU: Baba!
SAI: Coming, Master!
Young Sai comes, bringing some fruits and milk for offering to the Guru.
SAI: Master, please have some fruits and milk.
GURU: You have completed the daily worship, and have also duly chanted the Gayathri Mantra. After all this, you are now serving your Master. Baba, this is more than enough. You may go now; there must be so many Ashram duties you have to attend to.
SAI: Master, that does not matter. Please take rest. I feel so happy serving you! I regard service to you as a part of Ashram duties.
Meanwhile, jealous disciples are watching through a window, what is going on inside the hut.
A DISCIPLE: [to one of his mates] Do you see his luck?
ANOTHER DISCIPLE: If this sort of thing continues, we all have to quit and retire to the forest!
Inside the hut, the conversation between the Guru and his favourite disciple continues.
GURU: Baba, you are talking of service. Is there any reason for doing service?
SAI: The tree gives us wood, the lake gives us water, the flower gives us fragrance, and fruit offers itself as food; in so giving, none of these entities have any expectations whatsoever. Similarly, service does not require a reason. Service rendered without a reason need not be called service. One derives an inexplicable joy from such work, and also deep satisfaction. Master, are you not my mother, father, and God, all rolled into one?
Outside the hut -
A JEALOUS DISCIPLE: The disciple is teaching the Master, and the latter is listening to the instruction!
ANOTHER DISCIPLE: If the lizard is allowed to grow, it will develop into a huge iguana! We have to nip the problem in the bud.
Inside the hut -
GURU: [to Sai] My dear Disciple! How nicely you express yourself! You have said things pregnant with deep meaning. Your words are most thought-provoking. I like you most, not only among the disciples here, but amongst all those who have studied here. Thanks to the merits earned by you in your previous births, you are able to recite the scriptures fluently. Amongst all the strengths, that derived from the blessings of the Master is the best.
SAI: Most Revered Master! If you bless, I can verily see God in you!!
GURU: My blessings are always with you. You may now go and attend to your other duties.
SAI: I shall do so, Master.
TO BE CONTINUED... ...
THE DIVINE STORY OF SHIRDI SAI PARTHI SAI - Part 9 (continued from the previous issue)
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Venkusa’s disciples who are jealous of Baba, are holding a conspiratorial meeting to air their frustration.
A DISCIPLE: We have been serving our Master with great devotion for so many years. Yet, our Master never talks nicely to us. But he talks with such love to this fellow and discusses so many important things with him.
ANOTHER DISCIPLE: Yes, Bhagya, what you say is true. The same thing bothers me also.
DISCIPLE: We have studied so much more than him.
ANOTHER DISCIPLE: Yes. That is why it is difficult to bear the undue praise the Master showers on him.
SCENE - 6
Venkusa walks down to where the disciples are. He finds that they are not doing the work assigned to them.
GURU: [to the group] I asked you to clean the cow-shed but all of you are here!
DISCIPLE: Tell him!
ANOTHER DISCIPLE: Master, Baba said he would do it; that is why…..
GURU: Not only the cow-shed, but the entire Ashram been cleaned by Baba, and all by himself! Only the one with such capacity can fully understand duties and the responsibilities of Ashram life. Resolute dedication alone brings fulfilment to a student. A disciple who does not put into practice what he learns is of no use. You may spend years and years in the Ashram but you will never attain the goal!
The disciples become even more unhappy, consequent to the displeasure expressed by the Guru.
Ashram garden. Baba is attending to the plants, when the jealous disciples gather around Him in order to mock and tease.
DISCIPLE: [to Baba] Hey you! Are you feeling cocky that you are the favourite disciple of the Master?
SAI: It is my duty to follow the Master’s command.
DISCIPLE: Oh! You are proud of your implicit obedience to the Master, are you?
SAI: My Master is my God! It is the duty of a disciple to follow the Master’s command.
DISCIPLE: For us too, our Master is equivalent to God. However, Master seems to think that you are much better than us. He appears to look down upon us.
SAI: It is wrong to think so. All are the same to our Master.
DISCIPLE: [to the group] Did you hear? He has begun to preach to us!
ANOTHER DISCIPLE: Did you not clean the cow-shed just when the Master was watching, so that you might earn his Grace?
SAI: Just as one cleans the body, one must also clean the place of residence. One does not have to be told to do it.
DISCIPLE: It is not your business to preach to us. You have become arrogant because of master’s indulgence.
The angry disciples now pounce on Baba and hit Him. After this, one of them heaves a brick that injures the forehead and causes bleeding.
At this stage, the Guru comes there and he is shocked. A bandage is tied over the injury on Baba’s forehead.
Later, this became Baba’s standard head-dress.
GURU: [to the disciples in general] Take Baba inside the Ashram.
DISCIPLES: Yes Sir. [the disciples lift Baba in order to carry Him]
DISCIPLE: [to others carrying Baba] Slowly.
GURU: [to disciples in general] Ashram life is supposed to teach you wisdom, but all of you are wallowing in ignorance. Anger, which is one of the six principal enemies of man, produces jealousy. Physical injury affects only the body and not the mind. Wisdom has not dawned in any of you. You have not hurt this young man but the God in him! Anger cannot touch the one who is immersed in God. I am disgusted!
To Be Continued.....
THE DIVINE STORY OF SHIRDI SAI PARTHI SAI - Part 10 (continued from the previous issue)
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Years pass. Baba completed nine years of stay in Venkusa’s Ashram. One day, Venkusa summoned Baba. The Guru knew that the time had come for him to give up his body. He instructed Baba to proceed to the river Godavari, adding that Baba’s future would be shaped there. Baba did as He was told.
One day, Baba was seated in a garden in the village of Dukheda in Aurangabad District. At that time, one Chand Patel of Yelaganga District came there in search of his horse that was missing. Patel saw Baba and asked Him about his horse. Baba told Patel where the horse could be found. Patel found the horse, exactly where Baba had predicted it would be, and from that moment became an ardent devotee of Baba.
In order to have the constant proximity of Baba, Patel invited Baba to his house. Baba went with Patel but did not stay with him. Instead, Baba kept moving around but from to time visited Patel.
Once, Patel went to Shirdi in connection with the marriage of his nephew. Along with his relatives, Patel also took Baba with him. Baba who went to Shirdi in this manner, later stayed there permanently.
SCENE - 1
One day, Baba was sitting under a neem tree and is about to eat.
Destitute people lined up before Him and beg for food.
Baba got up and distributed the food He had.
From then on, distribution of food became a daily routine for Baba.
Years pass. Baba becomes old.
The people of Shirdi revere Him and take Him out in procession. .
Such processions happen regularly in Shirdi.
One day, at the end of the procession, Baba is with His devotees gathered around Him.
He then speaks to them.
BABA: For My devotees, there will never be any shortage of food and clothing. You don’t have to strive too hard for those.
A LADY IN THE GROUP: You are my God. Bless me, and please sanctify our lives, Baba!
BABA: Acquire Knowledge of the Self and worship the God in you. Then alone would your life be fulfilled…….The body is a temple of God , and a pure mind is the sanctum sanctorum. God is the In-Dweller. As is the mind, so is the destiny…..Yes! Therefore, always chant the Name of God. Your life would then be pure and sacred.
God’s grace can easily be earned via Bhajans sung with love, by reading the scriptures with understanding, and by worshipping Him with true devotion. Knowledge without experience is useless. I prefer your Love to worship. Do you know why? Because devotion is contained within Love! Love is Truth. Devotion without Love drives man away from God.
SCENE - 2
Baba is in His dwelling place.
He is rather unwell, and has severe bouts of coughing.
He is surrounded by loyal devotees, men and woman.
One of them, a lady name Lakshmi Bai who served Baba with great devotion for many years, is unable to bear the sight of Baba’s suffering.
She calls out to Him.
Baba who is sitting listening to the devotees, now lies down.
Tema anterior
Years pass. Baba completed nine years of stay in Venkusa’s Ashram. One day, Venkusa summoned Baba. The Guru knew that the time had come for him to give up his body. He instructed Baba to proceed to the river Godavari, adding that Baba’s future would be shaped there. Baba did as He was told.
Primer 