(1) Doctor’s Nephew (2) Dr. Pilley (3) Shama’s Sister-in-law (4) Irani Girl (5) Harda Gentleman (6) Mumbai Lady
This chapter continues the subject – ‘Greatness of Udi’ – and describes cases, in which the application of Udi was most efficacious.
In Malegaon (Dist. Nasik), there lived a doctor (qualified and degree-holder). His nephew suffered from an incurable disease – tubercular bone-abcess. The doctor along with his relatives, and medical practitioners, tried all sorts of remedies and even surgery. There was no relief and no end to the little boy’s suffering. Friends and relatives advised the parents of the boy, to seek divine aid and recommended them to go to Sai Baba, Who was known to have cured such incurable cases, by His mere glance. The parents, therefore, came to Shirdi. They prostrated themselves before Baba, placed the boy before Him and pleaded humbly and implored Him to save their son. The merciful Baba comforted them, saying, “Those who resort to this Masjid, shall never suffer anything in this life to the end of time, now do not worry! Apply Udi on the abcess, and within a week he will recover. Believe in God! This is no Masjid, but Dwarkamai. He who steps here, will soon get health and happiness, and his sufferings will come to an end”. The boy was made to sit before Baba, Who moved his hands on the affected part and cast His loving glances on him. The patient was pleased and with the application of the Udi, he began to recover, and was all right after some days. The parents then left Shirdi with their son, thanking Baba for the cure, which was effected by Udi and Baba’s gracious looks.
After knowing this, the doctor, the uncle of the boy, became wonder- struck and desired to see Baba. While he was on his way to Mumbai for some business, at Malegaon and Manmad, somebody spoke to him against Baba and poisoned his ears. Therefore, he dropped the idea of visiting Shirdi and went to Mumbai direct. He wanted to spend the rest of his leave at Alibagh, but at Mumbai he heard for three successive nights a voice : “Still you disbelieve Me?” Then, the doctor changed his mind and resolved to go to Shirdi. He had to attend to a case of infectious fever in Mumbai, which showed no signs of quick abatement. So he thought that his Shirdi trip would be postponed. He however proposed a test in his mind and said that ‘If the patient gets all right by today, I will start for Shirdi tomorrow.’ The wonder is that exactly from the time, when the determination was done, the fever began to abate and the temperature became normal. Then he went to Shirdi, as per his determination, took Baba’s darshan and prostrated himself before Him. Baba gave him such experiences that, he became His devotee. He stayed there for four days and returned home with Baba’s Udi and blessings. Within a fortnight, he was transferred on promotion to Bijapur. His nephew’s case gave him an opportunity for seeing Baba and this visit garnered in him a neverfailing love for the Saint’s feet.
One Dr. Pilley was an intimate devotee of Baba. He was much liked by Baba, Who always called him Bhau (brother). Baba talked to him off and on and consulted him in all matters, and wanted him always at His side. This Pilley suffered once very badly from guinea- worms. He said to Kakasaheb Dixit, “The pain is most excruciating and unbearable. I prefer death to it. This pain I know is for repaying past karma, but go to Baba and tell Him to cease the pain and transfer the balance of my past karma to ten future births of mine.” Mr. Dixit went to Baba and told Him his request. Then Baba, being moved by his request, said to Dixit, “Tell him to be fearless! Why should he suffer for ten births? In ten days he can work out the sufferings and consequences of his past karma. While I am here to give him temporal and spiritual welfare, why should he pray for death? Bring him here on somebody’s back, and let us work and finish his sufferings once for all.”
The doctor was brought in that condition and was seated on Baba’s right side. Baba gave him His bolster and said, “Lie down calmly here and be at ease. The true remedy is that the result of past actions has to be suffered and got over. Our karma is the cause of our happiness and sorrow therefore, put up with whatever comes to you. Allah (God) is the sole Dispenser and Protector, think of Him always. He will take care of you. Surrender to Him with body, mind, and speech, and then see what He does.” Dr. Pilley said that, Nanasaheb had put a bandage over the leg, but he had no relief. “Nana is a fool,” replied Baba. “Take off that bandage or else you will die. Now a crow will come and peck at you, and then you will recover.”
While this conversation was going on, Abdul, who always cleaned the Masjid and trimmed the lamps, turned up. While he was attending to his work, his foot accidentally fell upon the stretched leg of Dr. Pilley. The leg was already swollen, and when Abdul’s foot fell upon it and pressed it, all the seven guinea-worms were squeezed out at once. The pain was unbearable and Dr. Pilley cried out loudly. After some time, he calmed down and began to sing and cry alternately. Then Pilley enquired when the crow was coming and pecking. Baba said, “Did you not see the crow? He won’t come again. Abdul was the crow. Now go and rest in the wada, and you will be soon all right.”
By application of the Udi and by taking it orally with water, without taking any other treatment or medicine, the disease was completely cured in ten days, as assured by Baba.
Shama’s younger brother, Bapaji, was staying near the Sawlivihir. Once his wife was attacked with bubonic plague. She had high fever and two bubos in her groins. Bapaji rushed to Shama at Shirdi and asked him to come and help. Shama was frightened but according to his wont (custom), he went to Baba, prostrated himself before Him to invoke His aid, by requesting Him to cure the case. He also asked His permission to go to his brother’s house. Then Baba said, “Don’t go there at this late hour, send her the Udi. Why care for the fever and bubos? God is our father; she will be all right easily. Do not go now; go there in the morning and return immediately.”
Shama had full faith in Baba’s Udi. It was sent with Bapaji. It was applied on the bubos and some of it was mixed with water given to the patient for drinking. No sooner was it taken in, perspiration set in profusely, the fever abated and the patient had a sound sleep. Next morning, Bapaji was surprised to see his wife all right, with no fever and no bubos. When Shama went there next morning, with Baba’s permission he was also surprised to see her in the kitchen preparing tea. On questioning his brother he learnt that, Baba’s Udi cured her completely in one night. Then Shama realized the significance of Baba’s words : “Go there in the morning and return immediately.”
After taking tea, Shama returned and after saluting Baba said, “Deva, what is this play of Yours? You first raise a storm and make us restless and then calm it down and comfort us.” Baba replied, “You see mysterious is the path of action. Though I do nothing, they hold Me responsible for the actions which take place on account of Prarabdh (destiny). I am only their witness. The Lord is the Sole Doer and Inspirer. He is most merciful. Neither I am God, nor Master. I am His obedient servant and remember Him constantly. He who casts aside his egoism and thanks Him and he, who trusts Him entirely will have his shackles removed and will obtain liberation.”
Now read the experience of an Irani gentleman. His young daughter got fits every hour. When the convulsion came, she lost her power of speech, her limbs contracted and she fell down senseless. No remedy gave her any relief. Some friend recommended Baba’s Udi to her father and asked him to get it from Kakasaheb Dixit, at Ville Parle (suburb of Mumbai). Then the Irani gentleman got the Udi and gave it, mixed with water to his daughter daily for drinking. In the beginning the convulsions, which were coming hourly, came every seven hours, and after a few days the daughter recovered completely.
An old gentleman of Harda was suffering from a stone in his kidney. Such stones are generally removed by surgical operations and people recommended him to undergo one. He was old and weak, lacked strength of mind, and could not think of submitting himself to surgical treatment. His suffering was soon to end in another way. The Inamdar (city officer) of that town happened to come there at that time. He was a devotee of Baba and had always a stock of Udi with him. On the recommendation of friends, his son got some Udi from him and after mixing it with water gave it to his old father to drink. Within five minutes the Udi was assimilated, the stone was dissolved and came out through his urine, and old man was soon relieved.
A woman of the Kayastha Prabhu caste in Mumbai, always suffered terrible pain at her delivery. She was very much frightened each time she became pregnant and did not know what to do. Shri Ramamaruti
of Kalyan, who was a devotee of Baba advised her husband to take her to Shirdi. When she next became pregnant, both husband and wife came to Shirdi, stayed there for some months and worshipped Baba. After some time, the hour of delivery came and as usual there was obstruction in the passage from the womb. She began to suffer labour pains, did not know what to do but began to pray to Baba for relief. In the meantime, some neighbouring women turned up and after invoking Baba’s aid, gave her Udi-mixture to drink. In five minutes, the woman delivered safely and painlessly. The issue was still-born according to its fate but the mother, who got rid of the anxiety and pain thanked Baba for the safe delivery, and ever remained grateful to Him.