Sai Baba of Shirdi, the Sadguru has a very unique way of pulling his devotees to the new spiritual heights by installing Faith and Patience in them. Sai Baba is so popular in India that in any city or village of India, it would be very difficult for one to move about without an encounter of Sai Baba's picture or idol. A Saint, God to most of his devotees so hugely popular is simply because of the power, protection, love and grace he showers for the benefit of his devotees. Many cases where recorded and still are recorded where the devotee had least interest in Sai Baba or what Sai Baba did or is doing, and Sai Baba himself would do something to install feelings of Faith, gratitude, patience. Writer is one of them. For the purpose that the Faith, devotion, gratitude, patience and such qualities that gets one closer to God and even the presence of people with such qualities are good for the general humanity.
For the purpose of pulling the devotees for their spiritual benefit and uplifting, Sai Baba of Shirdi flaunted miracles and still does. One can easily note that mostly the people gets attracted to Shirdi, Sai Baba and Sai SatCharitra primarily after hearing the miraculous powers of Sai Baba that can bring an end to the problems that they are facing. As Sai Baba used to say " I give people what they want in the hope that they will begin to want what I want to give them." He would give what people are seeking so that they become more interested in him get and feel closer to him and then he can give what he wants them to give, the spiritual realization. A person finds an end to the problem that disturbed him much after getting in contact with Sai Baba, naturally will want to find more about Sai Baba, will inquire more about Sai Baba, will read more about Sai Baba. Would also like to visit the sacred place Shirdi where Sai Baba moved and lived in flesh and blood, flaunting his miracles, showering his love and grace and pulling the devotees like a huge magnet pulls the pieces of iron.
In most cases Sai Baba would first attract the devotee by flaunting miracle or miracles and gain the trust. As the faith increases Sai Baba would than guide the individuals according to their inner needs and karma. For example the story mentioned in highest form of love, Sai Baba did not gave a discourse on love or compassion towards the living beings. That was one way a more powerful way than a discourse given on the subject. Another such indent was when a devotee was asked not to eat curd as it harmed his health due to the problem of dyspepsia he had. The devotee could not give up his favorite food, and continued to eat. However he noted that the curd was eaten by a cat since two days, taking away the pleasure of his favorite food, which harmed his health. So to save the curd he hung the vessel containing the curd on high rafter where he thought the cat would not reach, still the curd got eaten away. Getting overtaken by anger for his favorite food being taken away he waited with a stick in his hand hiding. As he saw the cat approaching the rafter, the cat was dealt with a blow on stick on her back and driven away.
When the devotee went to the MasjidMai or Dwarkamai, Sai Baba was sitting rubbing a weald on the shoulder and grumbling ' They make themselves ill with eating curds, you take it away, and then they beat you.
Another story that comes to the mind is of Sai Baba's favorite horse called Shyamkarna, which also used to be an integral part of Chavdi procession. Once the caretaker of Shyakarna got agitated with Shyamkarna and started whipping him, as many a times done with horses. Sai Baba at the same time in Masjid screamed in pain as if whipped himself. He at once called for the caretaker of Shyamkarna and showed him the marks of whips on his own back by removing his cloth and asked him to be more careful. Such way of teaching would put a strong impression on the devotees. More about Sai Baba's amazing and sometimes bizarre ways of teaching in coming posts.
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