Baba's Behaviour and Leelalu
Story of Baba and Thief
In 1903, A thief was caught with some stolen articles and taken to the Dhulia Tahsildar Magistrate's Court. In the court, to avoid punishment, he informed the magistrate that all those articles were not his but were given to him by Sai Baba of Shirdi. Though the Magistrate was sure that thief was lying but he had no choice but to check the possibility hence he send a summon to Baba. The summon reached Dwarkamai but Baba, who was all-knowing, just ignored the letter and put it in the Dhuni without reading it. As Baba did not attend the court, more summon were send but they were also ignored. Finally a warrat was issued against Baba since he had not complied to the summons. Ganapatramji, the Chief constable of Kopergoan, was send to bring Baba to the court. However, knowing Baba greatness and importance in Shirdi, Ganapatramji was reluctant to arrest Baba and requested Him to adhere to the court. However Baba was defiant and got very angry, asking the constable to go back.
To avoid unwanted escalation of the suitation, Nanasaheb Chandorkar (the Deputy Collector of Ahmednagar & a great devotee of Baba) was consulted to find a solution. He suggested that they submit their petition to the court stating their belief of Baba's divinity and is considered a Sadhguru Samarat by many. Hence the enforcement of the court order would hurt many devotees and would be disrespectful to a Saint like Baba. The petition also suggested that instead of Baba visiting Dhulia, a commissioner could be appointment to come to Shirdi to verify the truth. The petition was then signed by all the devotees of Baba in and around Shirdi. Magistrate decided that to get to the truth, the court would indeed appoint a commissioner and be sent to Shirdi. Nana Joshi, the 1st Class Magistrate, was appointed as the commissioner and sent to Shirdi. Prior to commissioner coming to Shirdi, Baba (who knew everything) organized tables and chairs to be brought to Dwarkamai so as to facilitate the Inquest. Once the commissioner came to Dwarkamai, he was suprised to see everything prepared for their arrival, even thought there was no prior initimation. Soon, the Inquest was in session and commissioner started questioning Baba.
The magistrate was perplexed by the answers and did not understand what to make of the answer & how to proceed further with the investigation. After much thought, he called for village entry diary, which would have the log of all people entering the village. Since Baba had never left Shirdi, it would be correct in the assumption that the thief would have visited Shirdi to get the articles from Baba. After much review of the log, it would found that the thief had not visited Shirdi hence it was confirmed that he was lying. The findings of the Inquest was shared to the Dhulia court and the thief was judged and sentenced accordingly.
This entire episode showed everyone the divinity of Baba in his answers and also the answers gave everyone the insight on His Guru's name. This proved that Venkusa was indeed His Guru. Though Baba always stated that He was not God but His humble servet, but this incident showed that He is none other the Paramātmā in physical form.
Baba's Peculiar Behaviour
Baba used to do a peculier thing everyday between 1 and 2 pm in Dwarkamai. He used to sit unobserved in the masjid and take out 10 to 15 coins from His pouch. They were very worn out coins of different denomination, He would rub them with his fingers. He would be saying "This is nana", "This is Kaka", "This is Bapu" and so on while rubbing each coin. The moment anyone came near hearing distance, he would quickly hide the coins. No one knew why Baba did this or what was the secret behind this leela. One can only consider that Baba considered his devotee his wealth and rubbed off any danger away from them and keeping them safe. No one tried to find out the reason or had the courage to go and ask Baba the explaination.
Baba's Sleeping Plank
Nanasaheb Dengle, a great devotee of Baba, once brought a wooden plank for Baba for making a bed. Baba tied the wooden blank to the rafters in the roof, 7 to 8 feet from ground using string made of slender shred of cloths/rags, which were very weak to hold the wooden plank let alone support any body lying on it. He placed four lamps at each corner and started sleeping on the wooden blank. Everyone wondered how Baba got up and down onto the wooden plank. Whenever devotee saw Baba on the wooden plank, it was a divinue sight. As days went by, the curiosity increased with the devotees and they tried to find out how Baba performed this miracle. Once Das Ganu tried to sneak and see for himself but Baba caught him, threw him out and was very angry. As crowds increased trying to find the answer, Baba broke the plank and threw it away.
Kakasahab, while hearing on the merits of sleeping on a wooden plank, suggested that he could bring a new plank and get it suspended in a similar manner for Baba to sleep. Baba smilingly replied that he couldn't do that to Mahalsapati (who always slept with Baba in the masjid). He could not leave Mahalsapati to sleep on the ground while He slept high on a wooden plank. Kakasahab, wanting to help Baba, again suggested to provide two plank so both could sleep on their own planks. Baba replied back saying "“How can he sleep on the plank? It is not easy to sleep on the plank. He who has many good qualities in him, only can do so. He who can sleep with his eyes wide open can effect that. When I go to sleep I often ask Mhalsapati to sit by My side, place his hand on My heart and watch the ‘chanting of the Lord’s name’ there, and if he finds Me sleepy, wake Me up. He can’t do even this. He himself gets drowsy and begins to nod his head. When, I feel his hand heavy as a stone on My heart and cry out ‘Oh Bhagat, he moves and opens his eyes. How can he, who can’t sit and sleep well on the ground, and whose Asana(posture) is not steady, and who is slave to sleep, can sleep high up on a plank?” Kakasahab understood the difficulties of sleeping on a plank setup high from the ground and understood that Baba was a divinue soul, who has control on his body, sleep unlike normal mortals, who are slaves to their sleep.
Devotees with Closed Mind
There was once a railyway station master name Valambi at Kopergoan. He attend number of kritan of Das Ganu but felt that Baba was overrated and had no belief in Him. He considered Baba a "Pagal" fakir and all were misguided to follow Him. Das Ganu, however convienced him to accompy them to Shirdi so he can be blessed by Baba and all his misconceptions would be removed. Once reaching Dwarkamai, they found Baba washing utenzils and putting them upside down (mouth down) onto the ground. Everyone felt peculiar seeing baba put all vessels upside down. Baba turned said "Every Pot coming to me comes with their mouth downward" meaning nothing can be put into their mouths (or opening). The inner message was that people, who come to Him, come closing their mind and not letting His message or guidance to enter their minds. Valambi understood the message was directed to Him. Everyone should be humble and willing to learn, when they go to a Guru wanting to learn and improve their lives, not feeling that they know more than the Guru or are better off without the Guru.
Baba and Orthodox Musliums
Baba never gave any importance to any outwardly apperances or asked anyone to worship Him any particular way or give him any grandeur stuff or paraphernalia. At the same He did not stop anyone from worshipping in their own way. However, sometimes He did not agree few of the orthodox behaviour of few of members.
One Bade Baba, who was one of great devotees of Shri Sai Baba, along with few of the other local Muslim devotees wanted to go perform the khutbah prayers outside the shirdi town and wanted Sai Baba to accompy them. Initially Baba agreed but however when they came to fetch Him for the trip, He denied to to go with them. They did not get an reason for the change of mind but they did not have the courage to argue or seek the reason with Baba. Another time, they wanted to perform prayer inside the Masjid, which Baba did not object but however He did not join them. n another time, during Moharrum, few of the Mohammedens wanted to build a Ta'zīya withing the Masjid (Dwarkamai). Baba did not object to the devotee's wishes. The structure was allowed to for four days but on the fifth day, Baba removed it and placed it in a fire without any compulsion and fired at all that He didnot want a corpse in His masjid.
Baba and Hanuman
One a muslim devotee brought a Sehra (ornamental flower decoration) to decorate the masjid, However Baba asked the devotee to decorate the Hanuman idol instead of the masjid. The devotee could not bring himself to bow or place the flowers on a Hindu idol and felt it was against his religious belief. Baba become very angry and asked the devotee to leave. Baba wanted to teach there was no difference between Hanuman or Allah and that there was one Almightly (Sabka Malid Ek Hai). Baba respect of Hanuman was proven by another incident. There was a Hanuman idol on upper platform of Chavadi and Baba used to sit in a lower platform. It was suggested by a devotee that Baba should move to upper platform. However, Baba denied to move to the same level as the idol, as He felt they should be below God's level.
Baba's view on Caste Conversions
Bade Baba once brough a devotee, who had recently converted to Islam from Hinduism. Sai Baba was very angry with the devotee and accussed the man of changing his father. Baba never showed discrimation towards any religion. He let poeple to pray to their Guru or God or Him in the way they wanted and never interferred in thier way showing their love and devotion. He never asked for anyone to pray to Him and give Him anything. However, He never accepted anyone who changed their religion or Guru or God to a more favorable One. In-case any one came to Him, who already had a Guru, then Baba asked them to continue with their Guru and increased their trust their own Guru.