Venkusa * Story of Baba's Guru *
In a small village, Jambuvavi in Maharashtra, there lived a great devotee of Lord Venkateswara named Kesavrao. He longed for a child of his own to carry out his name and performed many Yajnas to please the Gods. One night, Lord Venkareswara [The Destroyer of Sins, Lord of Lords, Sriman Mahavishnu] in His divine form graced Kesavrao in his dream. Kesavrao was overwhelmed by the divinity of The Lord and bowed in front of Him but speech failed him. The Lord asked him not to worry about having no son and that he would be soon blessed with a son. He would the reincarnation of a great Yogi from Kashi namely Ramananda Maharaj. Kesavrao, though he was happy about having a son, felt little sad that his son may end up as a Sanyasi. He wanted a son who would extend his lineage and would bring fortune and improve their lifestyle. The Lord knew His devotee's mind and asked Kesavrao not to worry about the future, his son would be not just a great yogi but a family man, who will have wealth and fame. The Lord gave him a coconut as prasadam and vanished. Kesavrao found the coconut next to his bed the next day and he called on his wife and narrated the dream and the Lord's boon of a son. Both of them bowed to the Lord and after a prayer, ate the cocunut as His prasadam. They were soon blessed with a son, who they named as Gopalrao.
Gopalrao was a very bright and was a staunch devotee of Lord Venkateswara, similar to his father. After some time, he got married and settled down. His mind was always longing to provide service to humanity. Once he reached a village named Selawadi, where the villager were simple folks who lived in a poor stature. They felt Gopalrao was like Sri Krishna, who had come to elevate their living standard. They approach him and requested him to settle in their village so he can change their fortunes and bring fame to their village.
Gopalrao, moved by the villagers requested, decided to settle down in the village along with his wife and son. He brought in people from various sects into the village and started to improving the living standard in the village. He soon became the Jagirdar or administrator of the village, which he renamed as Selu and was started to be called Gopalrao Desmukh. Demukth meaning Lord of the Land, was the title of the administrators. In those time, Administrators were not very moral men, were corrupt and men living for pleasure rather than service. However, Gopalrao was a just, honourable and pious person who had all the good qualities and alway thinking of God and providing service to all.
Gopalrao to Venkusa
One story highlight his pious nature - One day at dusk, Gopalrao was on his terrace, when he saw a young beautiful woman from the village sitting at the side of the street in front of his house. He was drawn by the beauty of the young woman and for a fraction of a second, his mind wavered and the thought of having the women entered his mind. Though it was just a fraction of second, he felt he had sinned thinking about another women and felt very much ashamed. He wanted to do penance to cleanse his sin. As it was his eyes, which saw the women and hence making his mind waver. He decided to punish his eye, so he went immediately to his prayer room and sitting before his Lord, took a needle and poked both of his eye as a punishment.
The news of Gopalrao's loss of eyesight spread like wild-fire in the village. His wife and son were anguished and devasted by the news. The entire village was in shock and despair. The entire village was worried as Gopalrao would need his eyes to perform his duties as the administrator of village. However, Gopalrao didn't feel the pain and anguish and was content that he was on the path of the penance for his sins. Lord Venkateswara, pleased by Gopalrao's devotion, gave his eyesight back as it was needed for his service and the work he was destined to perform in future. When the villagers saw this miracle, they knew Gopalrao was no ordinary man and started treating him as a Saint or Holy person.
After the eyesight incident, People started coming to Gopalrao with their problem and looking for solution. They felt he had great power and can solve their problem via miracles. Once a women brought her blind child and asked for sight of the child. Gopalrao prayed to His Lord and covered Chilli powder over her eyes. She soon recovered her eyesight. Everyone was surprised on how chilli powder over eyes had got the sight back & started bowing to him. However, Gopalrao never let the praises or chat change him. He always gave the credit to His Lord Venkateswara and felt he himself had no part in those miracles. He would just requested His Lord and He and only He (The Almighty) was responsible for the blessings and the miracles. He continue to help people, who came to him for help and each incident further proved the greatness of Gopalrao and he was considered the incranation of Lord Venkeswara Himself. Thus, he was known as Venkusa (Lord Venkeswara Swami).
Prophecy of Baba's arrival
Once Gopalrao & His family were on the way to visit Kasi. On the route, he had to stop at a village and planned to stay in a mansion in the village for the night. The villagers stopped Him, stating that the mansion was haunted and no-one has survived the night. Gopalrao, however discarded their warnings and His belief on His Lord Venkeswara was complete & He was not worried about any Ghost or Demons. In the night, While they were in the Prayers, the Demon, came angrily warned them to leave the house. Gopalrao prayed to His Lord and threw the holy water on the demon. The Demon regained its memory and remembered he was the landlord of the mansion prior to his death. The landlord was a miser and never cared for anyone and always trying to increase his wealth. He never gave a single paisa to charity. Even after his death, he could not let go of the wealth and become the demon. The Demon felt sorry for the way he lived and wanted to donate all his wealth to charity. Gopalrao felt pity for the demon and provided an end for his suffering. The villagers were suprised for the visitor to still be at the mansion in the morning and understood the greatness of Venkusa.
Gopalrao continued his pilgrimage to Kashi and continue to various religious places. In His visit to Surag Shah's dargah, the high priest gave a prophecy that one day a son of fakir, a reincarnation of Kabir in His previous life, will come to Him as his disciple. He also informed that Gopalrao was himself the reincarnation of Ramananda Maharaj and Selu Village will be known by Him in future.
Lakshmanrao died shortly after the travel to Kasi. Gopalrao's wife and daughter-in-law were devasted by this incident. However, Gopalrao knew that everything was Maya (illusion) hence he was not moved by this incident as he knew that His son was with His Lord. He consoled his family with scriputal references and to find their peace at the Lord's feet. They continued to live in Selu and provided services to any and every person, who came and seek their help. People started to come to Him for financial help or guidance or just spent time to discuss spritual topics.
Baba's arrival
Once a fakir's wife came to Gopalrao's residence with her young son with a request to meet Him. However, the guards at the door didn't allow the women to enter, looking at her poor state. The woman sat outside and prayed to Gopalrao and silently requested His help so she can meet him and explain her suitation. Gopalrao, who was meditating at that moment heard her silent request in His mind. He immediately came running outside to meet the woman. He knew that prophecy has come to true and His Kabir has come to Him.
The woman told him her story - Some time, a poor brahmin family had a son but they were not in a state, where they could bring up a son. One day, a fakir came to their house and asked for their son & hoping that the fakir may be able to bring their son better than them, they gave their son to the Fakir. The Fakir took the boy with him and took care of him for the next four year. After four year, The fakir knew his end was near, he called his wife and asked to take their son to the village of Selu, where a Saint would take of both of them. After husband's death, she informed Gopalrao that she was there at his residence as per her husband's instructions. Gopalrao comforted the women and stated that he had been waiting for the boy, who is none than Kabir, for a long time and she no longer had to worry and can live rest of her life in peace. He took the son under his wing and also gave the woman, a place to stay at his residence. At the age of twelve, the boy's mother died. The boy would later become Shri Sai Baba, who we all know and pray.
Guru-Shisya
Gopalrao had many disciples but his favorite was the fakir's son. The boy, from his end, was very devot to his Guru and performed his duties without any hesitation or expectation. Gopalrao, in turn, took care of every need of the boy. Later Baba in Satcharitra said, while talking about His Guru, that His Guru took care of him similar to the mother tortoise taking care of the child with just her kind and loving eyes. The child tortoise would feel content looking at the eyes of their mother even though she may be far or other side of bank of the river.
The other disciples felt that the boy was involved in some black magic and had captured their guru via some magic.They felt that their Guru was a holy man, a brahmin whereas the boy was a son of Fakir, a poor Muslim. They couldn't understand the relationship of Guru-Shisya and the divinue love between them. They didn't understand how their Guru could call such a simpleton and unworthly disciple as a reincarnation of Kabir. They tried their best to demean and belittle the boy in front of their Guru. However, all their attempts were in vain as the Shisya were unmoved and continued in his routinue of serving His Guru.
Baba's destiny
One day, all the other disciples decided to kill the boy. When Gopalrao was sleeping, One of the disciple took a brick and threw it at the boy. But, Gopalrao, knowing the boy was in trouble, immediately woke up and stopped the brick in its path. However, as fate has been decided, the brick changed direction and hit the master instead of the pupil. Gopalrao immediately tied a cloth on his wound to stop the flow of the blood. Seeing his master in pain and covered in blood, the boy wept and fell at His master feet. The boy cried that His Guru, a great soul, had put His life in harm's way for someone who was not important and irrelevant. The boy who threw the brick fell dead and while the other seeing their Guru in pain and hurt ran away into the forest.
Gopalrao knew his end was near and He had fulfilled his purpose on earth. He wanted to transfer His power to the boy as He knew the destiny of the boy. He called the boy and asked him to go to the village and bring him milk from a tawny colored cow. The boy ran to the village Goshala and requested for the milk from a tawny cow. The owner informed that there was only one such cow but it had stopped giving milk for a long time. Together, they brought the cow to the Gopalrao. The boy informed His Guru that cow was barren and is no longer giving milk. Gopal quietly listened, put his hand on the cow and suddenly milk started to flow. Gopalrao asked the boy to collect the milk and informed that cow was holding the milk for this very day. He then removed his bandage and wore it on His Sishya's head. He asked the boy to drink the milk, which would transfer His Karma, Bhakti and Wisdom. He also told about His previous birth as Kabir and He was His Guru even the previous birth.
The other disciples came to their Guru's feet for forgiveness and asked to give life to the dead boy. Gopalrao told them that the boy only had power now and could help them, asking to seek his help. They fell on the boy's feet and asked his help. The boy looked at them not knowning what He could do, He felt He didn't have any power or divinity like His Guru to do such a miracle. He looked at His Guru, who just gave a sign of assent. Taking His Guru's blessing, the boy took some dust from His Guru's feet and applied it to the dead boy's forehead. The boy woke up immediately as he just came out a deep sleep. Gopalrao informed all that he will leave the physical world the next day and gave them instruction to plant a fig tree at his funeral and dig the ground to find a Venkateswara Idol. He asked not to build a temple for Him but for the Idol as He will be one with His Lord. He gave His cloths to Fakir's boy and asked to continue His journey
Gopalrao left His physical abode the next day. The disciples followed his instruction and found the Lord's idol. They built the temple for the Lord and continue to serve humanity as per their Guru's instruction. The Fakir's boy took the cloth, given by His Guru and wore it as Kafni . He also kept the brick His entire life as he considered it as a blessing of His Guru. He left as per His Guru's instruction and made His way to Shirdi and became the Shri Sai Baba.