Nana Saheb’s full name is Narayana Govinda Chandorkar. Nana has utmost faith in Sai and his devotion to Sai is unparallel. He has a special place among Sai devotees. Baba sent messages through Appa kulkarni (3 times) asking Nana to visit him. Baba also mentions that their relationship is for 4 past lives. Nana is so special that a Guru calls him to remind him to renew the relationship so that Nana can advance in spiritual path. How many devotees would get such a call from Guru. Baba is so loving, caring and eternal. Even we establish a relationship with him; he will take us to the goal. Nana really enjoyed spreading the word of Baba and he was one of the first devotees to propagate Baba’s miracles.
Birth, Family and Job details:
Nana was born on January, 14th, 1860 on a Makara Sankranthi Day. He was born in kalyan and his ancestors were very pious and spiritual. They kept an open house; and visitors to Kalyan expected to be and were actually welcomed, and fed by them as guests. His father was a retired Government officer, and had built a decent storied building there, the Chandorkar Wada, which became the family mansion for so many generations. His father retired as a Deputy Collector. So Nana also followed his father’s foot steps and became a Deputy Collector. He achieved this task at a very young age.
He was brilliant in his studies and career. He did his bachelor’s with a special emphasis on Sankara Bhasya (commentary) on Bhagavadgita. He was well versed in the scriptures. In 1878, he got married to Bayajaa Bai who was from a rich Zamindar family. Baba used to call her Nani. She was very pious and followed Nana in every aspect of life with complete support. They had 2 daughters (Minatai & Dwarakamai) and 2 sons (Vasudev & Mahadev).
Nana learned Bhagavadgita well and he always tried to apply this in his daily life. He read so many special books. He was very conscientious in his efforts and wanted to help everyone as much as possible. He was very humble in his actions. He gained so much respect in his department in Bombay circles. Every one wanted to associate with Nana. In spite of all these great qualities, and powerful position in the community, he felt some deficit. That was the need for a Guru. This deficit was not fulfilled until he met Baba. He wanted Guru in his life to advance in the spiritual path.
Baba calling him- His first meeting:
Sai attracted so many devotees to Shirdi and he created an urge in them to meet him. Nana reportedly had a relationship with Baba for previous 4 lives. So it is obvious that there is an intense relationship (Runanu bandha). This is the reason why Baba sent messages to Nana to restore that relationship.
In 1892, Appa kulkarni was supposed to go and meet Nana in Kopergaon for some government related transactions. Nana came as higher officer. Appa came to take permission from Baba to leave Shirdi. Then Baba told him to invite Nana to Shirdi. When Appa told Nana about this, Nana felt “Why this fakir is calling me and what does he want from me”. He declined to go. Appa Kulkarni had to go again and Baba ordered again to ask Nana to come to Shirdi. This time Appa was hesitant to ask his boss. Nana did not pay attention this time also. Then third time the same thing repeated. This time
Appa was afraid to ask Nana as he declined twice before. But this time reaction was different. At last, Nana agreed to see Baba at Shirdi, came up and inquired why he was sent for. Baba said, “We have so many rich people and people of higher authority than you Nana, did I send messages for any body else? Because we have a relationship for past 4 lives, I asked you to come and renew that relationship. When ever you can visit me come and visit. Now you can return”. Nana then realized what he said about Sai. Even though he did not have complete faith in his words, but he felt some kind of special bliss in his presence. This is how Nana enjoyed his first meeting with Baba.
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| Appa Kulkarni |
Ordinary people like us are blocked by ignorance. So we can not see what Guru can see. We may not be able to identify our Guru but if we have Runanu bandha (relationship), he will meet us. This is what happened in Nana’s case also. In our quest for Guru, we may take wrong path. We can worship Guru like we worship God. We worship God even though, we have never seen him. In a similar way, we can worship Guru, so that there is that relationship.
Faith in Sai:
After his first meeting with Baba, Nana liked the meeting but did not have faith in him. If we do not have complete faith in Guru, we are not going to advance in spiritual path. Once, Nana was called by collector to talk about the plague which was rampant at that time. They wanted people to take a vaccine, but people were afraid to do so. Then he asked Nana and other employees of state to take the vaccine, so that people will be convinced. Nana had his own doubts. So he goes to Baba to ask him about this. As soon as he prostrates to Baba, Sai says, “Nana take the vaccine, you won’t get any fever and there is no danger of death”. Nana was shocked and realizes Baba’s power. He knew every thing and this was the beginning of a great relation ship between them. Then he believes the other words that Baba spoke about their relationship.
Bhagavadgita says, “Shraddhaavan labhate jnanam” which means “The man of faith obtains knowledge and wisdom”.
Nana’s personality is such, he does not believe any thing blindly but once he did no second thoughts.
Saving Nana on Harischandra Hill:
Nana was an orthodox Hindu, and, visited lot of temples. Harischandra Hill, forty miles away from Shirdi, was a noted hill with a Devi's shrine at the top. But the long stretch of barren rock between that temple and the bottom of the hill was one vast treeless, wild, rocky waste, where there was no water to drink or any shelter to hide in. Over that hill, Nana was climbing on a hot, summer day, and, after he had gone some distance, the heat of the sun and the toil of the journey told upon him. He felt very thirsty and asked the friend by his side for water.
The latter replied that there was none and that it was a barren rock. Nana felt the fatigue of climbing also greatly and said he could not climb. The friend asked him to climb down. But Nana was unable to do that either and quietly sat on a huge slab and exclaimed 'if Baba were here, he would surely give me water to satisfy my thirst'. The Sherishtadar (friend), who was by his side, remarked that such observations about 'ifs' were useless. He added 'Baba is not here. What is the good of thinking what would happen if he were here?' The Sherishtadar had only fleshy eyes and matter-bound brains. He could not see with the eye of faith. If he had such an eye, he could have noted the presence of Baba not only on Harischandra hill but in every other place also. Nana was in a slightly better position than the Sherishtadar. It is because of his faith in Baba that the thought occurred to him that Baba could save him even on that barren rock. But he did not feel certain that Baba was there and that water would be provided. Anyhow his thought of Baba was the tiny hairspring or switch working the magic, the turn that saved the situation.
What comes often after prayer and is supposed to be the result of prayer, is very often something fixed up by a higher power which, as part of its plan, produces the thought of prayer first. The fact is that prayer is a means of placing one in contact with higher beneficent powers and there it serves its primary purpose. Incidentally when a devout soul is deeply concentrating on God, what happens is that the soul gets so thoroughly saturated with the divine that divine power infiltrates into the Jiva and the combined power or the higher power (both are the same, despite difference in names) produces certain results. It is the man of prayer that draws down divinity. Anyhow, Chandorkar's thought and longing constituted a good prayer on account of its earnest faith and contact with Supreme Power and Mercy.
A Bhil, that is, a hill tribesman, was seen coming down the hill towards the party, that is, Nana and his friends. Nana asked him and said 'Hallo! I am thirsty; can I get some water to drink?' People wondered that this Brahmin Deputy Collector should accost a Bhil, who his considered an untouchable or a low-caste man, and ask him for water. But necessity knows no law, and the Bhil's reply was most surprising. He said, 'What! You ask for water! Under the very slab or rock on which you are seated, there is water'. So saying, he moved away and disappeared from view. Nana's subordinates and friends who were with him immediately set about lifting up the slab and they found water. Nana took that water, his thirst was gone; and he was able to march higher up and complete his pilgrimage.
When Nana came next time to Shirdi, Baba said, 'Nana, you were thirsty; I gave you water; did you drink?' Nana's eyes opened with joyous wonder. He felt that his very thought of Baba had worked as a prayer and the appearance of the Bhil and his pointing out where the water was and the appearance of the water there on a waterless rock must all have been due to Baba. How Baba managed it, Baba only knew. And to confirm Nana in his view, devotees at Shirdi mentioned to him that on the memorable day and hour when he was on the Harischandra hill, with burning thirst, Baba spoke the above words. Nana was convinced more than ever that Baba was God omnipresent, merciful and omnipotent, for he had the power to bring water under a rock and a man to show it just at the exact psychological moment. His faith was confirmed and grew stronger and stronger.
Miracle at Ganapati temple:
In Padmalaya forest, there is a Ganapati temple. It is ten miles away from the nearest Railway Station and the access to it is through ten miles of forest. Nana had made arrangements for all this, but trains have got a queer way of being late, and in this case, his trains being many hours late, all his plans were spoiled. There was no conveyance and no assistance forthcoming. Nana's arrival at the railway station was evening time, very near dusk. But he would not be thwarted. He determined to push along with his companions to the temple irrespective of the out come. In the absence of any conveyance, Nana had to dare and dared the risk and trouble of walking ten miles to reach the Ganapati temple. So he trudged on. But when he was about more than half way, it was already 9 p.m. and the pujari of the temple would usually lock it up by 9 or 10 p.m. and retire to his cottage at some distance for his night's rest. So, Nana doubted whether he would get into the temple at all. Further, having walked wearily six or seven miles, he felt the pangs of hunger. Naturally he remembered Baba. He prayed, 'Baba, I am not asking for much. I am not over greedy. I will be quite satisfied if, at the close of this journey, I can get one cup of tea to quench my hunger'. Then he and his companions trudged on.
It was nearly 11 p.m. when they reached the temple. Instead of the temple being closed (as it would usually be) the pujari was on the watch, and on seeing persons at a great distance (that is, Nana's party) coming, shouted. 'Is Nana coming?' It would be highly impertinent on the part of any priest to call a Deputy Collector by his pet name, as though he was his chum. But here there was no feeling of resentment, but one of gratification on the part of Nana and his friends when they heard the voice, 'Is Nana coming?' They approached and said, 'Yes. How do you know that Nana is coming?' Then the priest said, "I had an ethereal message from Sri Sai Baba in which he said, 'My Nana is coming weary, thirsty, and hungry. Keep for him one cup of tea'. Here is tea ready for you all." He then gave Nana his cup. This again proved that Baba's eye of supervision was not merely on hills but also in forests to look after the safety, comfort and health of his beloved devotee. Alike from danger of thirst and hunger, Baba had saved him.
Saving Nana from Tonga accident:
One day Nana and Lele Sastri were going to another village from Poona in a tonga. They had gone a few miles when suddenly the horse reared, and the carriage capsized. That was a perilous moment. Both the occupants of the carriage were corpulent elderly people who would in such an accident ordinarily suffer serious damage to life and limb. Sai Baba, however, who was watching over Nana wherever he went, at that very moment blew what is called 'Bum-Bum', (the Conch sound), keeping his hands in front of his mouth as though the hands were a conch. This is a signal of danger and distress. Sai said "Hallo, Nana is about to die! But, will I let him die?" Nana and Lele Sastri picked themselves up and found that they had suffered no injury. When they reached Shirdi, they found that Baba had made the above declaration and had saved their lives.
Thus Baba saved Nana's life, just as Baba's Guru saved Baba's life. There is a saying that the string of a flower garland borrows its scent. Similarly Lele Sastri, who was not himself a staunch bhakta of Baba, derived his safety from his company with Nana Chandorkar. Baba on this occasion proved the truth of his statement "If a devotee is about to fall, I stretch out my hands, and thus with four outstretched hands at a time, support him. I will not let him fall*.
OM SAI RAM!
Nana Chandorkar Part 2
Jamner Miracle:
Sai took care of Nana’s family like he took care of Nana himself. Nana’s daughter, who was in labor, was in intense pain; and from Jamner Sai Samartha was being invoked constantly. No one at Shirdi was aware of the state of affairs at Jamner. Baba, however, knows everything and is all pervading. There is nothing in the universe that he is unaware of. Baba was one with his devotees. Realizing the circumstances at Nana’s home Sai Samartha’s heart overflowed with compassion. See what he did immediately! He thought of sending udi. At the same time Gosavi Ramgir Buva had an urge to go to his village. His village was in Khandesh. He made all preparations to leave and came to the Masjid to take darshan and be at Baba’s feet. For no one left Shirdi for any work without touching Baba’s feet and obtaining his permission, as long as he was in body. Ramgir came in accordance with it, touched Baba’s feet and asked permission to leave.
He said: “Baba, I am going to my village in Khandesh. Give me udi and blessings and your permission to this servant to leave”. Baba affectionately called him by the name ‘Bapugir’. He replied: “Go happily to your village. But rest a while on the way. Go first to Jamner and stay at Nana’s home. After inquiring about his well-being, then proceed further”. Then he said to
Arati
Refrain:
‘We do Arati to Sai Baba, the giver of happiness to all.
Give refuge to the downtrodden and to your devotees who are at your feet. We do arati to Sai Baba. Burn up the desires. To those who are engrossed in the Self, teach them to obtain Moksha. Let them see the Lord Shrirang4, with their own eyes. Lord Shrirang. We do Arati...
You grant suitable experiences to everyone in accordance with their faith and devotion. O, merciful one! such is your own way. Your own way. We do Arati..... Meditation upon your name removes the worldly sufferings of all. Unfathomable is your action. Show the path to the unfortunate ones. Show the unfortunate ones. We do Arati.........
In this age of Kaliyug, you are the true Brahma Avatar, that has taken form and descended on this earth. You are also Swami Dutta Digambar5. Dutta Digambar. We do Arati.........
Once a week, on Thursdays, the devotees take a trip to have a glimpse of the Lord’s feet and to avert their worldly fears. Avert fears. We do Arati......... The only wealth that I desire is to serve at your feet, O Lord of Lords. We do Arati.....
Just as the Chatak bird desires to drink pure water6 so give me Madhava, knowledge directly O Lord! And kindly give me your assurance. Your assurance. We do Arati.......’
The Gosavi said to Baba: “I have altogether two rupees with me. Baba, how will I reach Jamner with only this amount?
Baba said: “Go without any care. Everything will be arranged for you. ” Having full faith in Sai’s Words, the Gosavi set out.
Taking these instructions from Baba, and obeying his orders, Bapugir left for the assigned work immediately, after taking the udi as prasad. During those days, there was no rail route to Jamner, as it is now; and it was not easy to make the journey. So the Gosavi was worried. Setting out in the train, the passengers had to alight at Jalgaon, from where they had to go on foot the rest of the distance. After paying the train fare of Rupee one and 14 annas, there remained only 2 annas. How was he to go further? These were the thoughts causing the Gosavi worry at Jalgaon station. When he came out, after handing over the ticket, he saw a peon at some distance. The peon seemed to be in search of some one. He approached the passengers and asked: “Tell me who Bapugir from Shirdi is?” Knowing that, that peon’s inquiry was only meant for him, the Gosavi came forward and said: “Yes, I am that person. Tell me what you want”. He said: “Chandorkar has sent me for you. Come quickly and get into the tonga tonga
The peon looked very smart, with a beard, twirled moustache, and side – burns, wearing a livery. Thetonga tonga tongas tonga 2.48 a.m. and was halted at dawn near a stream on the way.
Then the tongawallah unharnessed the horses to water them and said: “I’ll come back soon after which we will have refreshments at leisure. I will fetch a little water and then we will eat mangoes, then after re-harnessing, the horses we will leave”. From his beard and dress he looked a Muslim. Hearing his words, Ramgir had doubts about accepting the refreshments from him. Therefore, he asked him about his caste. He said: “Have you doubts about me? I am a Hindu from Garhwal and a Kshatriya. I am a Rajput by caste. These refreshments have also
The Buva looked for a secluded place in which to relieve himself. When he returned, he was surprised by the sight. No tonga
It was a marvel that, when this udi came, Nana’s daughter was suffering intensely, due to some obstruction in the delivery. To ward off this difficulty, the Nava–Chandi Havan and Saptashati recitation was in progress. The Gosavi was surprised.
Nana then felt as a hungry person feels when a platter of delicacies is placed before him or as a thirsty chakor feels when he gets nectar in his mouth. Nana called his wife and gave her the udi to administer to his daughter with water and he himself began singing the arati. Within moments, a message was received from the inner quarters, that the girl was better as soon as the cup of udi was put to the lips. She was freed from pain immediately and had a safe delivery.
The crisis passed away happily. Everybody’s worries were over. Then Ramgir asked Nana: “Where did the tongawallah go? I do not find him here also. Where is the tonga tonga tonga tonga tonga
This Sai Mauli (Mother) is the Lord of the Universe performing various wonderful feats! At the time of difficulty, he comes running to the devotees because of the intensity of devotion.
Meaning behind Jamner miracle:
Baba could have saved Minatai without all this, but he used Udi, Gosavi , Tonga
We all heard about the miracles of Udi (Sacred ash). This Udi denotes the transient nature of this world. We need to understand that this whole universe is not permanent and one day all these elements will be integrated into the space. In a similar way, this body vanishes too. When the soul leaves the body, this body will collapse and proves that this is nothing but ash. You and I will undergo the same stages. So that you should remember this and I should also be aware of it, day and night, I give the vibhuti. The entire universe is full of Maya. Brahman is the only reality, while the universe is illusory. Bear this in mind that this is what the udi teaches. No person belongs to anyone in this world – be they wife, son, uncles or nephews. Naked you come and naked you will return. The udi is a reminder of it”. If this udi is applied to the body, then physical and mental sufferings are cured. But the true significance of the udi is deep and it is meant for discriminatory detachment. Baba reiterates this fact and that’s why he gives Udi to every one and is trying to teach us the renunciation. Giving as much as possible as ‘dakshina’ develops a tendency towards detachment. Later on one is able gradually to know what detachment is. Even if one acquires detachment, if it is not accompanied by discretion, it is useless. Therefore, honour the vibhuti. To bring together discrimination and detachment both udi and dakshina are linked. Unless we have both, at the same time, it is very difficult to cross over the river of existence. Ashes, vibhuti and udi are three words with the same meaning. This was the prasad distributed daily in unlimited quantity by Baba.
Baba used to sing a song related to Udi. “Ramate Rama ayogee; Ayogee; udiyon ka Goniya Layogee” “O playful Ram has come! And brought sacks of Udi” were the two lines he sang. Whenever he was in a happy and joyous mood, he sang this refrain repeatedly, in a
Here Baba selected Ramgir Buva again there is that sweet nectar in his name also. Lord Rama’s name resounds in his name and what else could be perfect for this task. Along with Udi Baba gave Aarthi Sai Baba verses. We sing this Aarthi and this itself will tread us from the difficulties of life.
Refrain:
‘We do Arati to Sai Baba, the giver of happiness to all. Give refuge to the downtrodden and to your devotees who are at your feet. We do arati to Sai Baba.
Burn up the desires. To those who are engrossed in the Self, teach them to obtain Moksha. Let them see the Lord Shrirang, with their own eyes. Lord Shrirang. We do Arati...
You grant suitable experiences to everyone in accordance with their faith and devotion. O, merciful one! Such is your own way. Your own way. We do Arati.....
Meditation upon your name removes the worldly sufferings of all. Unfathomable is your action. Show the path to the unfortunate ones. Show the unfortunate ones. We do Arati.........
In this age of Kaliyug, you are the true Brahma Avatar, that has taken form and descended on this earth. You are also Swami Dutta Digambar5. Dutta Digambar. We do Arati.........
Once a week, on Thursdays, the devotees take a trip to have a glimpse of the Lord’s feet and to avert their worldly fears. Avert fears. We do Arati.........
The only wealth that I desire is to serve at your feet, O Lord of Lords. We do Arati.....
Just as the Chatak bird desires to drink pure water6 so give me Madhava, knowledge directly O Lord! And kindly give me your assurance. Your assurance. We do Arati.......’
There is so much Vedanta and detachment in this. Here we sing “ATTA DIVASE GURUVARE, BHAKTHA KARETE VARE”. Regular meaning could be on Thursdays devotees take a trip to have a glimpse of your feet. What is this ATTA divase? There are only 7 days in a week. Everyone has to die in these seven days only. If we take that next step towards Guru, then we do not have to experience the birth and death cycle.
Ramgiri Buva had only 2 rupees when he started at Shirdi. This is nothing but Shradda and Sabhuri (Faith and Patience). After he bought the ticket up to Jalgaon, he was left with 2 Annas (Change). This faith and patience showed him the way at Jalgoan station. When ever we keep trust in Baba, he will definitely take care of us. The Aarthi we talked about earlier is usually sung as Sandhya aarthi. Here Sandhya means the state between two situations or times. This attributes to the time between life and death. We all need to be aware of this time period and we have to remind ourselves about God. We call 11th hour when we are at the last minutes of any task. In a similar way Ramgir Buva reaches Jalgaon at 11 PM . Baba showed him the way in this 11th hour only where he had no other options.
Sai strengthened Nana’s faith by saving Minatai. By giving Udi and Aarthi song Sai wanted to show Nana the transient nature of life and hidden meaning behind the Aarthi. He wanted to teach Nana the Vairagya (Detachment). After few months of this happy situation, Minatai’s baby dies. Her husband already died prior to her delivery. Nana experienced most difficult time of his life. Baba knew about future and the sadness that is forthcoming. In this way Baba showed so many aspects to his Jamner miracle.
In this way, Minatai lost her husband at age 17 and later lost her child too. She became despondent and this threw Nana in to some kind of melancholy. After few days whole family went to Shirdi to see Baba. Nana sits in front of Sai with out talking. Then Baba observes his depressed state and asks him why he was like that. Then Nana said, 'Baba, you know everything. While we are under your care, these calamities have befallen us. We are bereft of child and son-in-law'.
Baba answered, "If you care for child and son-in-law and come to me for that, you are mistaken. You should not come to me for these. These are not in my power. The birth of a child and the death of relatives are dependent on poorva karma. Even Parameswar, the Great God, who has created this world, cannot alter this. Do you think he can tell the Sun or the Moon, 'Rise some two yards farther away from your usual or appointed place?' No, He cannot and will not do that. That would produce disorder and chaos". Nana asked 'if that is so, Baba, how is it that you tell someone, "You will have a son" and he gets a son, and you tell another "You will get employment" and he gets it? Are these not chamatkars of yours?' Baba answered, 'No, Nana. I do not do any chamatkars. You have your village astrologers. They work at three or four days ahead and give out their predictions, some of which come true. I look just further ahead. What I say happens. My art also is a sort of astrology.
But you do not understand this. To you, my words look like chamatkars, because you do not know the future. So, you regard events as proofs of my miracle working power, and you turn your reverence on to me. I in return, turn your reverence on to God and see that you are really benefited'. Baba thus weakened his moha or unconditional and excessive attachment to relations.
OM SAI RAM!
repeated contact. The highest lessons one has to learn from a Moksha Guru are first to realise that in a particular person or object there is God, and next that He is in all. That means that one must first have realization of one's own nature and of God's nature; and God should not be merely that which you worship with flowers. God should not be that which you feel to be only in one place and at one time. Gita says, 'A person who understands Iswara properly must feel awe and bliss from the presence of Iswara in everything,' Baba, being the Guru Deva, had to teach his beloved pupil this truth and make him realize God in all things and feel awe, love, etc. Baba is treated as God on account of his wonderful power and knowledge and is held in awe by others. But Nana seeing Baba constantly at the Mosque or in particular places naturally developed sakhya more than daasya and insisted on particularizing and humanizing or fraternizing with Baba and not universalizing him, as he ought to have done. Baba had to overcome this difficulty.
Sai is all pervading and knew present, past and future. He helps his devotees based on their past deeds and gives teachings accordingly. That’s why we can not attribute Sai’s teachings to one sect or other. He wanted us to know the equality in this universe with out duality. No difference in religion, cast or creed. There is oneness in diversity. Understanding this universal nature is the goal of human life.
Baba gave so many teachings to mankind through Nana. Nana is of extraordinary caliber. He was a learned scholar. He was very pious and much disciplined. But there are some impurities that always drag us down and obstruct our path. This happens with out our knowledge. Only Guru can extract these impurities and destroy them completely. We are all slaves to anger, lust, greed and some other shortcomings. These qualities will impact us negatively. Baba with his miracles, taught us so many things with out really teaching us. By explaining a verse in Bhagavadgita, exposed the ego in Nana. After that he understood how much he did not know about these verses and requests Baba to bless him by teaching him the entire Bhagavadgita. But Baba said “come very day and sit near me, and you will understand everything”. As promised, Nana understood deeper meanings just by being near Baba.
Baba always does the silent teaching which brings a considerable change in our lives. This is the Lord Dakshina Murthy’s way of teaching, where Lord taught Sanaka, Sananda and others,
the truth. We can read so many scriptures and try to understand them but without Guru’s grace, we can not even advance in path of self- realization. We can achieve any thing if we have faith and patience that Baba asked.
Baba's teaching about God's Beauty:
On one occasion when Nana was sitting next to Baba at the Dwarakamayee, two Muslim ladies were standing for a time at a distance, evidently waiting to see when this Hindu (Nana) would go away. They had to remove their veils at the time of taking darsan, which meant, putting their bare foreheads on Baba's feet; and being gosha ladies, they did not wish a Hindu to see their faces. When Nana tried to get up on this account and go away, Baba pulled him down and said, 'Let these people come if they care'. So, the ladies had to approach Baba and take darsan with Nana by his side. Nothing happened when the elderly lady removed her veil and took her darsan. But when the younger did the same, her face struck Nana as remarkably beautiful. The sheen of the eyes, the brilliance of the countenance, the perfect proportion of the features, and the indescribable charm of the whole person, were such that Nana was at once smitten with her beauty. When his mind was thus occupied, the lady finished her darsan and resumed her veil. Then the thought struck Nana, 'Shall I have another opportunity of seeing this angelic face?1 Baba at once slapped him on the thigh. Then the ladies departed. Baba asked him, 'Do you know why I slapped you?' Nana admitted that his thoughts were low and unfit for one in Baba's company. He asked, 'How is it that even when I am next to you, such low thoughts sway my mind?'
Baba replied, 'You are a man after all, and the body being full of desires, these spring up as sense objects approach.' Then Baba asked, 'Are there not lovely temples with well colored exterior? When we go there, do we admire the exterior beauty or the God within? When you are seeing God within, do you ever care for the outside beauty of the building? Similarly, remember God is not only in temples. He is found in every creature.
"Therefore when you see a beautiful face, remember that it is a temple and the image of the God within is the Jiva, a preeminent part of the Universal Soul. So, think at once of God—or the Universal Soul in every object, whether beauteous or ugly. These forms reveal the God within. There is nothing wrong in admiring beauty, but the thought must follow at once, "If this object is so beautiful, how much more beautiful and powerful must be the God who made this object and inhabits it? Thinking thus, you will not get smitten by a Muslin beauteous face hereafter". This was the upadesa given to Nana. Baba had not to go further and stop him from any sinful acts due to lust, as he had to do in another's case.
Bannumai Story:
The next story illustrates Nana’s self control. Bannu Mai (a young Muslim girl of 20) lived in a village, Bodegaon, 50 miles away from Ahmednagar, and she had the local reputation of being a mad girl. She was possessed of great beauty. She behaved most erratically and wandered anywhere and everywhere without dress amidst bushes and thorns and did not show the least sign of observing the rules of propriety demanded of women. Her mother thought she was hopelessly mad. Most of the villagers were treating her as insane lady. But a few felt that she was highly inspired and that she was a saint. Nana wanted to take darsan of her and asked Baba for permission. Baba, though he first objected, finally granted the permission saying, 'Go, you will have darsan'. That darsan was no easy joke. Nana went with plenty of preparations, taking a tent, bathing materials, ornaments, food, Sari (dress) etc., and setting these up, was waiting for her. He could not find out where she was, and nobody could tell him anything about her. Some people even got angry at Nana, a young officer questioning about the whereabouts of a lady who mostly went naked. Then finally, Nana thought of Baba and prayed to him. When he opened his eyes, Bannu Mai was right in front of him on the road. He made his prostration (namaskar) with a feeling of reverence and without the least touch of the sexual urge. He began to take out the thorns that were found on her feet, but in a second, the saint, who did not care for such good offices, got up and went away.
Again Nana was in great difficulties. He wanted that she should come, have a bath, wear the cloth and the ornaments he had brought for her, and should taste the naivedya which he had placed inside the tent. He waited and waited, and at last prayed to Baba. Suddenly Bannu Mai appeared, entered the tent, had her bath, put on new clothes, the ornaments and the tali or token of Saumangalya (as Goddess Parvati must wear a tali) specially prepared for her, and ate some of the naivedya. Nana fell at her feet, treating her as Mother Goddess, and at once she disappeared. Nana spent the night in a temple within closed doors, and early morning, before starting to go away, he just thought that it would be a special blessing if Bannu Mai should give him one more darsan before he departed. In a second, Bannu Mai was somehow there within closed doors right in front of him. Nana fell at her feet. Obviously Bannu Mai was a highly advanced Siddha and perfectly pure, and Nana with perfect purity, thought only of falling at her feet, and had not the least touch of sex urge at the presence of a young and beautiful lady in solitude within closed doors. Thus, Bannu Mai's case is a fairly good proof that Nana had conquered his sex urge at least to the extent possible.
Sai is so merciful and we can understand his nature of teaching from this story. We as Sai devotees owe Sri Narasimha Swamy ji for giving the world so many details about Sai. Otherwise these teachings could not have reached us. This is the greatest blessin.
Baba teaching Nana about divinity:
Now let us look at another situation described by Sri Narasimha Swamy Ji. Nana was very far advanced amongst the disciples of Baba. But human nature is hard to subdue. Familiarity, if it does not breed contempt, at least breeds liberty-taking, and Nana was the only one or one of the very few who hobnobbed with Baba. All the hundreds of males and females that went to Baba at puja or Arti time would invariably stand up, and no one would sit. Upasani Maharaj had to stand and so had others to stand. The pujari Bapu Saheb Jog had to stand. Every person, male or female whatever his or her position may be, had to stand before Baba. Nana, however, used to sit next to Baba, even at Arti. Having studied Baba's nature, Nana began to get rather weak in his humility and reverence. For instance, the vessel of water held near Baba's lips at the close of the puja, would be distributed to all as tirtha, and they would all drink it. But Nana and Das Ganu would not take it. Therefore, familiarity had its adverse effect in the case of Nana also. Tirtha taking is after all a minor matter. The more important matter is that Baba's presence, which was magnetic, lost a great deal of its magnetic spell in Nana's case by his
So, Sai wanted to make him feel (firstly) divinity more and more in him and (secondly) the fact that Baba's divinity is not confined to the Baba's body but extends to all creatures as Baba is their Antaryami or soul or self. These two are closely connected.
Puran Poli Story - Experiencing Baba as Almighty:
Baba said, 'I am not at Shirdi alone. I am in all creatures, in the ant, etc’. Intellectually this was understood, but at heart, Nana did not realize it. Baba wanted him to realize it more vividly, as that was very important for higher spiritual progress. So on one occasion, when Nana came up, Baba told him to prepare 8 pooran polis (cakes) for naivedya and then take his food. When Nana placed before Baba eight pooran polis, Baba did not touch them, but flies sat on them. Then Baba asked Nana to take away the prasad (i.e. remnant of food which Guru had first tasted). Nana insisted that Baba should eat some. Baba said that he had eaten. 'When?' asked Nana. Nana said, 'All the eight polis are there'. Baba said he had eaten it at some time. Then Nana got vexed and went away to the chavadi. When Baba sent for him, the same conversation was repeated. Finally Baba told Nana, 'I say you have been living with me for 18 years now. Is this all your appraisal of me? Does Baba mean to you only the 3'/2 cubits height of this body? Am I not in the fly and the ant that settled upon the polis?' Nana said that he knew that, but could not realize it. If Baba could make him realize it, Nana said, he would take and eat the polis as prasad. Then Baba lifted his hand and made a gesture. He thereby revealed a secret which Nana was hiding very deep in his heart; and Nana discovered that Baba knew the secret. How? The only explanation was that Baba was the antaryami or the inmost soul in his heart. If Baba was his antaryami, he must be the antaryami of the fly and the ant also. So he agreed to take the pooran poli as prasad, and was satisfied.
Then Baba told him, 'As you see the gesture I make, you must remember that I am in all creatures'. Thus Baba gave him a very valuable lesson and took him up one very important rung of the ladder, which is, realizing God in one form after another and not confining Him to the object worshipped at home or in a temple.
Baba made Nana experience the truth and proved again that Sai’s teachings are silent in nature. Nana took advantage of Sai’s teachings and advanced in his life.
Nana died in 1921 in Pune , India
OM SAI RAM!
