Sai Mahabhakta Lakshman Baji Avare lived near Sinnar in Nasik District. In 1910, he suffered from terrible pain in both his eyes. The eyes watered constantly. Finally, he lost his vision and became blind. All sorts of remedies and medicines were tried but to no avail. A friend of the family advised them to go to Shirdi to have Baba's darshan, and assured them of a permanent cure.

Accordingly one Thursday they came to Shirdi and had Baba's darshan. Baba looked at Lakshman kindly and said, "Allah Achcha Karega" (Allah will do good) and gave them Udhi. When they returned home, they noticed that evening that the watering and the pain had subsided. Encouraged by this turn of events, they made weekly visit to Shirdi on Thursdays and took Baba's darshan for the next six months.

The villagers advised the mother to take her son to J.J.Hospital, Mumbai for treatment of his eyes. On the day of departure to Mumbai, Lakshman had a burning sensation all over his body. Regardless, he left for Mumbai.

There, a British Opthalmologist examined Lakshman and pronounced that he would not regain his sight as the eyes were badly damanged.

With a heavy heart, the family returned to their village. Lakshman, however, was determined that whether he recovered his sight or not, he would stay in Shirdi by Baba's side. The family came and stayed in Shirdi for some time, then the mother returned to her village leaving her son behind.

Lakshman had intense faith in Baba. Every morning, he washed his eyes with the water that Baba used to wash His face with. This he did for one month when suddenly his sight got restored, though not fully.

One evening he took Baba's darshan in the Chavadi. Baba gently clapped His hands on Lakshman's chest and lo, he could see clearly again! So overwhelmed with gratitude, Lakshman stayed on in Shirdi till Baba's Maha Samadhi in 1918.

Radhakrishna Mai asked Lakshman to pump water from the well and do other daily chores that she requested. Lakshman willingly did this seva as a token of gratitude for his recovery.

(Source: Ambrosia in Shirdi by Dr.Vinny Chitluri)