Shirdi Sai Worship (Dr. Pandit's Story)

Shirdi Sai always emphasized the importance of faith in your devotion. He reassured us that he will bless us no matter what.  He showed us time and time again in his miracles. He appeared as Rama, Datta, Hanuman, Shiva, and all other forms when his devotees prayed to him in those forms. This story we are going to talk about today is Dr. Pandit’s story where Baba appeared as Sri Guru Raghunath from Dhopeswar (Kaka Puranik).    

Dr. Pandit Sai with Tilak

Dr. Pandit came to Shirdi only once to take Sai Baba’s darshan. No sooner than he arrived at Shirdi, he went first to the Masjid and after bowing to Baba, sat quietly for a moment. Baba then told him: “Go to Dada Bhat’s.  Go, go this way ”, showing the way with the fingers of his hand. Dr. Pandit went to Dada’s place. Dada gave him a suitable welcome. Then he came along with Dada for Baba’s worship. Dada is also a staunch devotee of Baba. Till then no one had dared to apply fragrant paste (gandh) “ tilak ” (circular, auspicious mark on the forehead) to Baba. Whosoever may be the devotee, he would not allow him to apply the fragrant paste to his forehead. Only Mhalsapati smeared it on his throat; others applied it to his feet. But this Pandit was simple and full of devotion.

He took away Dada’s  “puja thali ”,  and holding Sree Sai’s head, he smeared him  with  the  three  fingered  parallel  lines; (tripundra). Seeing this, Dada’s heart began to beat fast. He thought that Baba would be enraged. What a rash act this was! Thus the impossible had happened! Baba did not utter a word. On the contrary he seemed quite pleased and did not get angry with him at all. So be it.  He let that moment pass.  Dada asked Baba about this incident in the evening “.

 When we try to apply a small tilak of paste to your forehead, you do not allow us to touch your forehead – but what happened this morning? You dislike our tilak. Yet Pandit’s tripundara was found favorable!      

Why this unusual behavior?  There seems to be some inconsistency”. Then very lovingly Sai smiled and spoke to Dada. Listen to that sweet remark with devotion, all of you. “Dada, his Guru is a Brahmin. I am a Fakir. But believing me to be his Guru, he did Guru puja. I am a great, pious Brahmin. He is an unholy Yavan (Muslim). How should he be worshipped? He had no such doubts. This is how he ensnared me. There I had no alternative. There was no room to raise any objection. He overwhelmed me”. Though such a reply was heard, Dada took it lightly. But the essence was realized when Dada returned (home). This inconsistency of Baba greatly hurt Dada. But, while talking to Pandit, his doubts were immediately clarified. Pandit was enjoined to the feet of Raghunath, a sage from Dhopeshwar, well known as ‘Kaka Puranik’. The deep relationship was that of a disciple. He invoked Kaka. He experienced such a feeling (that Baba was one with Kaka). As per one’s faith, devotion is rewarded.

Baba's Teaching from this story: 

Sai is even greater than all the seven forms that we all worship – image of God, sacrificial altar, fire, supreme light, sun, water, Brahmin (those wearing the sacred thread). Let us single mindedly worship him. As long as the worshipper has a form, then it is essential that the Guru also has a bodily form. Unless and until one worships the bodily form, true devotion does not spring forth; and, till there is no such devotion, full of love, the inner mind does not blossom.

That which has attributes (satva, rajas and tamas) is with form;

That which has no attributes is without form.

Both are no different from each other.

The formless and the one with the form are one. Though frozen, it is ghee only, and when it melts it is also called ghee. The concrete and the abstract are one and the same, and the abstract is spread in the form of the universe.

Sai Bandhus! Honor the words of the Guru and give him a seat in your heart with faith.

With complete resolution and abandoning all aspirations let us worship him with only this desire.

This is so true in Dr. Pandit’s story, where Baba taught us how to merge with Guru with worship. From this Sai wanted us to learn how to love our Guru and to have single mindedness in worshipping your Guru.

We have to learn to see our Guru in all kinds of worships we perform. No matter which ever God you pray to, you have to have your Guru in your thoughts.

Om Sai Ram!

Let Sai Bless all of us.