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Sai Mahabhakta Late Shri. Narahari Vasudev Raikar's experience is recorded by the Mahabhakta himself in his book "Tey Soneri 21 Divas" written by him in Marathi. This book has been translated into Hindi as well with the title "Woh Sunahare 21 Din". The same has been translated and compiled in English by noted Sai Baba Historain Dr.Vinny Chitluri in her book Baba's Divine Manifestation.
On a Monday of December 1912, Narahari Vasudev Raikar, aged 16 years, decided to visit Shirdi and seek refuge at Baba's feet as he was fed up of his wretched life. He took the long arduous journey from Mumbai, alone, and finally reached Shirdi at about 4 p.m. The village was very rustic, and the dirt road was full of holes and pits. There was litter scattered everywhere. Narahari saw a village woman coming from the opposite direction and he asked her where he would find Baba. She silently pointed the direction to him. He walked ahead and came upon a hut where a woman was standing, who Narahari asked for a drink of water. In a very kind and caring way she asked Narahari, "Baba, where have you come from?" Narahari replied that he had come from Mumbai to meet Baba. Surprised she asked him to sit down and hurriedly brought him a plate filled with peanuts and small bits of jaggery, along with a glass filled with water. She then requested him to eat it while she sat in front of him asking Narahari about his life in Mumbai. Narahari replied, "I am an orphan and I can't remember when my parents passed away. My uncle who works in a textile mill took me home. My uncle would frequently visit Dabolkar's house and I often accompanied him. There I heard about Baba's Godliness, so I decided to ask Him to help me. My uncle remarried, my step-aunt had two children and she disliked the very sight of me. She made me work from morning till late at night, gave me leftovers to eat, and very little of it. Then she said I was a burden on the family as I ate food for free. This hurt me a great deal, so I decided to ask Baba what the future held for me, take his blessings, and start living on my own. With only 3 annas in my pocket I dared to come to Shirdi". That kind lady said, "Arre! My child, hearing your story I feel very bad. May God bless you with a great future! In the evening come to my house for dinner. I am a poor woman but I will definitely feed you whatever I have. You can sleep on the platform in front of my home." Narahari's eyes filled with tears as he heard this. He couldn't help but compare the difference in behaviour between this unknown lady and his own aunt! Narahari then went to the Dwarka Mai, where he saw a man sleeping with his face towards the wall. He was wearing a dirty, torn white kafni which was hardly white any longer. A dirty white cloth was tied around his head and he was about 6 ft tall; lean but fit and strong. Now Narahari had to wait for him to get up, so he sat on the steps and waited. Half an hour later, he woke up and said, "Abdulla, give me some water." Narahari immediately stood up and as no one was around, he fetched him some water from a bucket kept nearby. He kept the water in front of him. That man was murmuring something, and looked at Narahari and asked, "Who are you?" Narahari said he had come from Mumbai to meet Sai Baba. And where could he be found? The man replied, "You ass, who do you see in front of you?" Hurriedly Narahari placed his head on Baba's feet. This was what happened when Narahari first came to Shirdi and met Shri Sai Baba. Baba kept Narahari by his side for the 3 weeks of his stay in Shirdi. He got to see this incomprehensible scene on the 5th day of his stay in the Dwarka Mai. This is how Narahari recalls it: That entire day Baba was very restless, and that night I saw a terrifying scene with my own eyes. Baba was in the Dwarka Mai till darkness fell. At first he asked everyone to go home. Then he asked Abdulla to leave and sternly said, "Today nobody should stay here, or come here during the night. Tomorrow you may come but only after sunrise." Next, he turned to me and said, "You sleep right here." Hearing this, the rest of the devotees glowered at me, and left reluctantly. After that, Baba made me sit near him and gave me some milk to drink. At some time during the night I was awoken by a loud slithering sound. I woke up startled, but my ears were ringing with Baba's admonition so I lay still like a dead person. A humongous black python slithered near my foot, but did not dare to cross the line drawn by Baba next to where I lay. The snake then came and stood next to my face with the upper half of its body raised straight up with its hood spread in an attacking stance. Its hood was huge, about 3 to 4 ft long, and its eyes were like red beads. It kept staring angrily at Baba and trying to strike him, but it dared not because of the Dhuni Mai in front of Baba. In actuality it could have easily bitten Baba from where it was, but it was unable to do so, as much as it tried. I couldn't understand why. Baba was tranquilly seated there, chanting Allah's name. Behind his head I could see a brilliant halo. The halo became even more brilliant and the entire Dwarka Mai was lit up due to its brilliance. The python repeatedly tried to strike Baba, but in vain. Neither could it cross the Dhuni, so it kept thrashing its tail on the ground in frustration. This continued for quite a while. Finally Baba came out of his meditation and the halo behind his head disappeared. From Baba's eyes a brilliant ray of light emanated and fell on the snake; and from the eyes of the snake a ray of light was emitted and met the ray of light from Baba's eyes about midway. At the meeting point, a beautiful scene was seen; a small miniature form of Baba that looked like a small doll appeared. This doll-like figure slowly moved forward, and engulfed the ray of light from the snake. Then the figure of Baba slowly disappeared into Baba himself. After this the snake slithered over my body and God knows where it went. By then I was shuddering with fright and I wet myself. I felt I was half dead and I don't remember when I fell asleep. The next morning Baba shook me awake; at that time I was running a high fever. Baba took his Satka and tapped my head thrice with it and the fever vanished. He asked me to wash my face, my hands and feet and accompany him. Then Baba briskly walked into the village and I ran behind him. He stopped in front of a house and called out to a person called Hari, and asked him to give us some tea. After drinking the tea and blessing Hari, we proceeded till we reached an elevated place, which had a tree on it. Right below the tree, the snake from last night's terrifying scene lay dead. Baba with tears in his eyes said, "Child, there is no better deed in this world than giving your life for someone." Then Baba picked up a large stone and started digging a hole with it, I also did the same. Soon a large pit was created and Baba laid the snake in it. He then stood still for some time, then lifted his hands towards the sky and said, "Allah have mercy on this snake." Then he filled the hole with mud and placed a leaf from the tree on top of it. Suddenly a strong wind blew, creating a small whirlwind and both of us were covered with dust. This lasted for about 5 minutes followed by utter calm. I looked at the grave and on it was a heap of Parijatak flowers (night flowering jasmine; botanical name: nychanthes arbotristis). Baba then walked briskly back to Shirdi, after sternly warning me not to look back. Upon reaching the Dwarka Mai, there was a crowd of villagers eager to know what had taken place the previous night. Many of them tried to bribe me with "goodies" hoping I would tell them something. However I said that I had slept soundly through the night. Then they wanted to know where we had gone that morning. Innocently, I said, "For a walk?" On the 8th day of his stay in Shirdi, Narahari heard Baba tell Tatya Kote Patil that he had been given a new life. Now he would live for another five to six years more, so Tatya need not worry. Narahari was puzzled as to why Baba said this, as the snake was unable to cross the Dhuni Mai and bite him. Who was to die that night? For whom did that snake give up his life? Thus Baba predicted his passing away. He said, "Tatya you don't have to worry, I will be around till 1918. I have this brick with me. It is my life-line so I take good care of it. But if this brick should break I will not survive for long. A person who is born is surely going to die, so why should you grieve about it? God has a unique method of keeping the population at a constant level; this is why human beings die. The cause of death is varied, some die of hunger, some due to illnesses, others die due to natural calamities like floods. But 80-90 years from now there will be a population explosion and unusual diseases will arrive throughout the world. Massive numbers of people will succumb to these diseases. There will be new diseases in different continents of the world and cure will be difficult to find. Human beings will lose empathy and sympathy towards others and people will be recognised only by the amount of wealth they possess. Dharma will be in great trouble and holy men will face diverse difficulties. Even the Government will have many problems and in the chaos it will be difficult to govern justly. This is going to be the dismal future of mankind." (Whatever Baba predicted has come true in this day and age. There are diseases like HIV-AIDS, a multitude of new viruses that cause diseases like dengue, chikungunya, swine flu and the recent EBOLA virus.) Then he told Narahari, "You are fortunate you will never go hungry. You will have a place to sleep and clothes to wear. This is my blessing to you." Thus Baba's blessings came to pass. On the morning of the 9th day, Narahari's stomach was rumbling with hunger. Bayjabai came there with a basket of freshly prepared, hot bhakris. Narahari without brushing his teeth fell upon the bhakri and ate them. Baba said, "Look how hunger makes a person desperate makes him lose his equanimity and presence of mind. He becomes blinded by the gnawing hunger pangs in his stomach. A rational person turns into a devil, and all he thinks of is how to fill his belly. Even if he has to snatch the food from a child's hand, he will not hesitate to do so. In the years to come, man will yearn for money, and he will have no regard for family and loved ones. When it comes to getting money, his actions will put even the devil to shame." How true Baba's words have been proved today. There is rampant hunger and malnutrition in the world. There are plenty of organisations to relieve "world hunger". In India numerous devotees try to relieve hunger in their own way like contributing to "Sai Roti" and "Sai Bharosa". Other devotees do Annadaan in temples and Gurdwaras and feed people of all castes and creeds. On the 11th day of Narahari Vasudev Raikar's stay in Shirdi with Baba, he was woken at the crack of dawn by Baba, who shook him and said, "Arre! Get up and come with me." Immediately Narahari woke up and followed Baba, who briskly walked to the small Maruti temple which was not far off. There was a peepal tree and under it was an idol of Maruti with ochre paste on it. Baba ordered him to do 11 pradikshinas (circumambulations) around it, and Narahari did as he was told. Thereafter Baba asked Narahari to keep a fistful of mud below the parapet and place the lighted lamp that was there on the mud. Next Baba asked him to place the fistful of mud back in its original place. After that, they returned to the Chavadi and Baba asked him to have a bath. Then they both had tea that a villager had brought. After drinking the tea, Baba asked him not to return till it was evening. He said, "Go and spend the entire day in the village somewhere or the other. In the evening come and meet with Baba's orders. That evening, when Narahari returned to me in the Dwarka Mai." Narahari went away in accordance the Dwarka Mai, Baba called him, took a fistful of ash from the the entire while. Then Baba asked Narahari to sit calmly near Dhuni Mai and sprinkled it on him, murmuring something the Dhuni Mai. After a long period of time, both of them left Dwarka Mai and went to the Chavadi. Finally Baba said, "Now your work has started. Don't worry about anything." Narahari had been concerned about his future and had suspected that there was something in it that was not too good. Thus he felt this was probably Baba's remedy for it. Who can guess what Baba does and why? On the 18th day of his stay in Shirdi, Baba took him to the place where they had buried the snake. At that time it was late afternoon. On reaching the place, Baba looked at the sky and raising both his hands said, "Oh, Master! Have mercy on this child and throughout his life provide him two square meals a day, and take care of his needs." Then Baba asked Narahari to close his eyes and sit calmly with his eyes shut. A short while later a supernatural phenomenon occurred wherein he felt as if a whirlwind was taking place in his head. Narahari then had the feeling of being shaken. The intensity of this sensation started increasing, and he was scared stiff. Then he felt as if he was being pulled down. The whole episode was eerie and he was exhausted. Narahari couldn't quite comprehend what was happening to him. As he had handed his life and future in Baba's hands, there was nothing more that he could do, so he lay down and went to sleep. It was dark when he finally got up, and he looked around for Baba, but he was nowhere to be found. So he hastily went to the Dwarka Mai and found Baba there. In a pleasant manner Baba spoke to him, saying, "Come, my child. Your life had started improving from today." Baba had often told Narahari that his destiny was wretched, and what was written in the annals of his life was meagre. It was Baba's pledge that there would be no dearth of food and clothing in his devotee's life. Here was this lad who had come all by himself to Shirdi to seek refuge in him. Now Baba was determined to change it and he did change it, by the leela just described. This leela is quite mystical and I can hardly find the words to describe it, because Baba predicts many things there. On the 19th day of Narahari's stay with Baba, this episode took place. That entire day Baba was in a pleasant mood and at night he sent everyone away from the Dwarka Mai. Then he asked Narahari to go to sleep, and only get up when he asked him to. Sometimes during the night Baba woke Narahari and asked him to listen to him with utmost attention. Baba took a heap of Udi from his Dhuni and spread it in front of him, and drew a picture of a hand on it, with some line. Unequivocally Baba spoke, "This is the imprint of the right palm of a person. There are lines that form a fish next to the mount of Venus, that is, the fleshy portion at the base of the thumb. A straight line goes from it to the web between the index finger and the middle finger. Did you understand what I just showed you?" Narahari shook his head negatively. Baba admonished him, and explained it again. "You ass, this is the identity of that person. So look at it carefully and keep rehearsing it in your mind till it becomes a part of you. This person is a friend of mine, and he will meet you when you are about to die. My friend will meet you in a hospital which is near an ocean. After checking his hand thoroughly, give him what I am going to give you now, without fail. Don't forget. Now listen to me carefully and attentively. This young man does not believe in God or the Supreme, so he will not be convinced by what you say. So tell him that he will be involved in a fight on the third day from that date and on the 4th day he will miss his lunch and remain hungry till night fall. If these two conditions are fulfilled, then give him what I will give you now." In this manner Baba predicted Narahari's death and his own passing away or Maha Samadhi, and this is given below. It is exceedingly difficult for me to write this part of the story; and how it all finally came to pass, hence I will write it in Baba's words as he spoke, to the best of my ability. I hope the readers will forgive me. Baba continued, "This boy will be born 20 years after I leave mortal body. On his right palm you will see the lines that I showed you, this is his identification. He will meet you just prior to your death, and will perform your last rites. The last rites are very important because when a person dies, he is relieved of his burden of sorrows; and passes on to a period of happiness. He is very pure at that time because he takes nothing with him from this life. Even his body is burned to ashes, and even that is left here. Hereafter, you are going to practise palmistry, and you will attain knowledge of it. You will gain only that much of knowledge that will enable you to get food and clothes till the day you die. This is because of my blessings; you will never go hungry." Baba embraced Narahari and held him close to his heart, and stroked his head, and asked him to sit calmly for a while. Hurriedly Baba went off somewhere and returned after some time. He washed his feet and started circumambulating Dhuni Mai, for a total of 7 times. Then he tore the cloth that he had tied around his head into two, and laid it on a heap of Udi. Thereafter he stood on the cloth for a short while. Thus an imprint of the soles of his feet got etched on it. He neatly folded it and enclosed it in the other piece of his Sirvesh (cloth tied around his head). He tied it securely and handed it to Narahari, who was to give it to that young man whom Baba called his dear friend. Baba asked Narahari to tell that young man that Baba wanted him to prepare two sets of his padukas from that imprint. One set was for his devotees to have darshan of, while the other set was for Abhishek (holy bath). "These padukas will uplift my devotees, and fulfil their desires. According to their faith and the good deeds of their past lives they will be benefitted exponentially. The tirth (holy water) from the abhishek of my padukas is ambrosia; it will relieve unusual diseases, infertility, difficult labour and deliveries, and sanctify any place." Then Baba said a mantra in Narahari's left ear and asked him to say it in the right ear of that young man. "This mantra should be conscientiously recited, once only at 1 a.m. at night for a period of 30 years. Only upon the completion of recitation of this mantra for 30 years, my padukas will be sanctified and will be 'alive' and potent. Thereafter they can be used for the benefit of my devotees. In that day and age civilization and society will be at its lowest. People will be measured by the wealth, that is money that they possess, and not by their humane qualities. There will be a population explosion and people will be like ants. People will not have empathy towards each other, and only 'money will talk. Human beings will be recognised by the amount of money they possess, so to reassure my devotees, my padukas will be there as their refuge. Thus when the time is right give this bundle to my friend, he will definitely follow through, I assure you, as I am positive that he will. Narahari remember this well, do not ever repeat this mantra before anyone or tell anyone about it. While you are with me in Shirdi you will remember it, but once you leave here it will fade away. However, when you have to speak it in his right ear it will come back in your memory, and you will speak it clearly." By early next morning, Narahari couldn't remember a word of the mantra. Time was drawing near for Narahari to bid farewell to Baba, as Baba had decided that he would leave on the 21" day. On the 20th day Narahari tried in vain to remember the mantra. Then Baba made him sit close to him and said, "I told you that you will forget the mantra till the appropriate time. This is God's wish, don't worry about it. Let God do his work; this is his divine play, and we are unable to understand it. We are servants of God, and if we live the way he has planned it, we will be happy. We are all beggars as we ask him for numerous things. However, he knows what to give to whom, when to give it, and how much to give. I go for bhiksha every day and will do so till I pass away. This is to show devotees where they stand and how they stand in this drama of life. But if they help the less fortunate, and render some service to the downtrodden, this is true devotion to God. To wipe other people's tears, to talk to them lovingly, this is true service for the Guru. This is what my Guru taught me and this was the key to his treasury that he gave to me. And that I am handing over to you, this is a mantra for life." On the last day, that is the 21" day, Narahari was exceedingly sad to leave Baba. Then Baba hugged him and said, "There always is happiness and sorrow in the journey of life. Whatever difficult situation you are faced with, if you tackle it calmly with courage you will overcome it. Keeping Shraddha and Saburi by your side, think over the situation or incident, and then you will definitely choose the right path. This is how every devotee of mine should live in this world and I want you to tell every devotee you meet, as this is the teaching of my Guru: that is, Shraddha and Saburi." Narahari had to leave Shirdi that day as Baba had asked him to. There was a tonga waiting for the devotees going to Kopergaon. Baba brought him to the tonga and asked him to sit in it. Just prior to that Baba placed his hand on Narahari's head, caressed his face and blessed him. Baba also gave him 16 rupees and said, "Keep this Lakshmi with you and you will not lack food and money for expenditure." And there ended Narahari's 21 golden days with Baba. Five years later, Baba took Maha Samadhi, and Narbari was unable to visit Shirdi during that time. Narahari talked to everyone about Shraddha and Saburi and how to live life, as that is what Baba told him on the last day of his stay. Thereafter many people came to meet him and brought clothes, food items. groceries and fruits. Narahari felt awkward about it but this was Baba's blessing and he accepted it graciously.
Dr. Sashikant G.Zaveri Baba's Predictions Come True Years rolled by and in March 1961, Narahari V. Raikar was admitted in KEM Hospital Mumbai, for a stomach ailment. Dr. Sashikant G. Zaveri worked in that hospital under Dr. B.N. Purandare. It was customary for Zaveri and his friends to meet in the evening in the ward of whichever colleague was free at that time. They would sit and chat and one day, his friends told him that a patient named Raikar was an expert palmist and his predictions were faultless. One of his friends introduced Zaveri to Raikar. Zaveri liked Raikar who was simple and gentle and had the unusual quality of making one feel like an old friend. One evening, "just for the fun of it" Zaveri decided to have his palm read, although he didn't believe in palmistry or in God for that matter and stayed away from all that. Raikar looked at his palm for an unusually long time. From an old bag he took out a magnifying lens and looked at it again with a great deal of concentration. Then he exclaimed, "You are the one. O Lord Sainath, your doings are incomprehensible! O, at last I have met your friend!" Zaveri didn't quite know why he said all this. Then Raikar took out an old diary of his and showed him a sketch of his palm that he had made in 1912. Now Zaveri was utterly confused, but he vehemently opposed it by stating it was just a coincidence.
Then Raikar told Zaveri that he must have been born in 1938 and said, "Baba had told me that you will be born 20 years after his Maha Samadhi." Zaveri was puzzled and he left, thinking, "For heaven sakes, which Baba? What have I to do with any Baba? I had better put an end to all this gibberish." However his mind wouldn't let him be at peace. The next day was Sunday and that evening he was free, so he went and sat with Raikar. Raikar smiled and said, "So your restless mind didn't allow you to sit quietly. I know you don't believe a word of what I said and now you have come to have a little fun, right?" Zaveri just nodded his head in consent. Raikar continued, "Three days from today you will be involved in a fight. And the next day you will miss your lunch and be hungry till nightfall. If you cannot prevent these two events then you will follow Shri Sai Baba's orders. Do you agree to this?" Zaveri agreed, thinking that all this was in jest, not knowing that he was being drawn into this drama by a superior force. Then Raikar asked him to promise that he would do as Baba had ordered, and he agreed. Three days after Zaveri promised Raikar, he and his friends were returning home to Shivadila. At that time he and five of his friends stayed at the residence of his friend's relative. It was around 12 noon and they caught a bus to return home. The bus was relatively empty, when a young lady with a small child came and sat in the seat in front of him. The lady bought her ticket; however her naughty child while playing with it, threw it out of the open window. At the next stop the Checker came to check the tickets, and Zaveri and his friends showed him their tickets. Then the Checker asked the young lady for her ticket and she told him what had happened. Zaveri and his friends also testified to it. He didn't say anything and left. However, the conductor of the bus came and shouted at her, using abusive language. At this, Zaveri and his friends intervened and a terrible fight ensued. Finally they took the bus to the police station. Thus Baba's first prediction came true, and Zaveri lost his peace of mind. On the 4th day, Zaveri and his friends went home around 2 p.m. to have lunch. To save money, he and his friends would order one meal and three of them would eat it. With the money they saved, they would go to see a movie. At that time they stayed in a Municipal Chawl (high rise building) that was adjacent to the main road. That day the pavement in front of their building was not crowded, so they put a cot on the pavement under a tin shed and started eating their lunch. Happily Zaveri put the first morsel of food in his mouth, smugly thinking, "This part of the deal is untrue and so is all this palmistry?" In his building there were a lot of residents from Goa, and they had shops adjacent to the pavement. One Goan lady came running and said, "Doc come quickly this young man is behaving strangely and he needs your help." Immediately, they all left and ran to help. A young man around 20 years of age was frothing from his mouth and having a seizure. They immediately got a cab and took the young man to the hospital, where they admitted him and attended to him. The patient's condition took a serious turn and finally he breathed his last. By that time it was night and they were unable to have their lunch. Now the doctor was in a quandary and had to admit defeat. That night he couldn't sleep a wink as there was a whirlwind of thoughts in his mind. "Who was this Sai Baba? How could he know the lines on his palm 20 years prior to his birth? How could he predict events that were to happen after his Maha Samadhi? How could he assure Raikar in 1912 that these two events would take place at this time? How did he know when I would be born?" Finally, Zaveri had to bow down to this supreme power who had such infinite knowledge of the future. The next day Zaveri quietly went and stood before Raikar, and told him that everything he predicted was true. Thereafter he spent every spare moment with Raikar. Every night after Zaveri completed his work he would sit with Raikar and ask him about Baba, and Raikar would tell him about Baba's divinity. One day, Raikar asked him to bring his trunk down from the shelf and gave him a small bundle. Raikar said, "I will pass away very soon and after I die, open this bundle and make two sets of padukas from the imprint in the bundle. One should be made of stone and the other of brass. After I die make a bundle of everything that I have and cremate it along with me." A short while later Raikar did indeed pass away and Zaveri followed his instructions and immersed his ashes in Nasik. After Raikar died, Zaveri opened the bundle and in it he found an extremely old black cloth upon which was an even blacker imprint of the soles of Baba's feet. Zaveri then got the padukas made and brought them home. He kept the black cloth over the padukas, lighted some incense sticks and closed his eyes and said the mantra that Baba had given him. When he opened his eyes, the cloth was nowhere to be found, although he searched for it everywhere. Finally he realised that the cloth had finally gone home; or the cloth had got immersed into the feet of the Lord. Thereafter, for the next 36 years, Zaveri faithfully got up at 1 a.m. every night and said the mantra that Baba had given him and then went to sleep. Zaveri didn't quite know why he should go to sleep immediately after saying the mantra, but he followed his Guru's command.
Baba's Magical Padukas Dr. Zaveri and Baba's Magical Padukas Dr. Zaveri's mind was troubled by the thought of Guru dakshina. He decided that the best dakshina was to help the suffering humanity, as service to mankind was service to God, and Baba would have liked it. So for the next 30 years he did research and found a drug in Ayurveda that could bring relief to asthmatic patients. Thereafter he has treated more than 7000 patients successfully. Dr. Zaveri attended to patients and lived in Pune. Baba had blessed him abundantly, and so had Raikar. Every patient who got relieved of his breathing problems blessed him from the bottom of his heart. Thus he lived a peaceful and contented life. Dr. Zaveri felt that God, the Supreme or Allah, or whatever name he is referred to by, is that supreme energy that makes this universe work. Thus one should have faith in the universe, as it bestows its bounty on everyone. Regardless of who the person is, it impartially gives sunlight, air to breathe, and rain for plants to grow and yield food, hence it is the biggest benefactor. Thus, every devotee should have Shraddha and Saburi, little expectation, and minimise their needs; then they will lead a happy and contented life. Who is to die and when he will die is in God's hands. How wealthy a person will be, and when he will become wealthy is in the hands of God. Science in this respect is at a loss to predict these things. Devotees should bear this in mind and then their behaviour with each other will be more fruitful. Dr. Zaveri used to say, "Baba could foresee what awaited mankind in the future, and that was concern with health and wealth. For health Baba said, 'Paav garam, pet naram, dimag thanda, rog ko maro danda. Roughly translated, it means 'Keep the feet warm, the abdomen soft, the mind cool, and then whip disease away! These phrases were told to me by Raikar. To keep the feet warm is to be ever active, take long walks. Do your own chores and work hard; such a devotee will rarely fall ill. Keep the stomach soft, that is, do not to gorge yourself with food, so that your stomach becomes bloated. Have your meals on time and eat two morsels less than your satiety level. Keep your mind cool means be calm and have equanimity in all situations in life. Finally, don't be restless and make hasty decisions, in other words have Saburi. He who has saburi is always happy. Such a devotee will be able to whip disease away, or will be free of diseases and ill health." Then Dr. Zaveri talked about the two sets of padukas. A devotee can perform abhishek on the padukas, as this will increase his punya that is, the merit earned by virtuousness and good. karma, and this wealth will keep on increasing.
Bhagya Sai Book Cover Photograph This is the mantra that Baba gave Dr. Zaveri: Janm, Janmo, Janmi. Shri, Charan, Shri Bhagya Sai This mantra is unique, fruitful and encompasses the pancha maha bhutas. Shri: The first life form came out of water, (Jala) so Shri is the water element. Charan: Because of the earth (Prithvi) we are stable and centred, so this is for the earth element. The word charan signifies it. Shri: This is the fire (Agni) element. Bhagya: Luck or fate like the wind (Vayu) keeps changing, so this is for air element. Sai: Means Shakshat Ishwar or the Supreme who encompasses the entire globe like the sky. Hence Sai is lovingly called the sky or Akash. Dr. Zaveri used to say, "The devotee's thoughts (vichar) mental makeup (man) and intelligence and discretion (buddhi) and the Atman (Self) all get activated and come together or work in unison. This is achieved by the auspicious energy and sacred vibrations that this mantra produces. This energy is from the Atman and reaches the Supreme. Similarly the Cosmic rays from the sky or Sai envelope the devotee reciting this mantra. As a result of this energy some devotees gain Divya Drishti. Drishti means the ability to see the visible and tangible, the saguna. But Divya Drishti means the ability to see the invisible and the intangible, the nirguna. They could see what no one else could see. Others attained Divya Shakti or supernatural power, and yet others gained Divya Gyana or deep spiritual knowledge. All these phenomena are achieved slowly and over a period of time. Along with this, many devotees are cured of unusual diseases, and a wretched fate. The devotee's mind, behaviour, and actions change for the better over time, and the devotee is drawn towards the Supreme Being, or Baba. So a devotee should constantly meditate on this unique mantra." This leela gives us a glimpse of how effective the abhishek done to the padukas is. This is a true account of Ganga, from Kolhapur. In December 2004, Ganga, the daughter of Shri Balkrishna Ramchandra Bakre a resident of Kolhapur suddenly fell very ill. That night Ganga was quite alright, she cooked dinner and the family sat together and had the meal, then she did all the household chores and went to sleep. The next morning she awoke as usual at 6 a.m. However, she was unable to move her limbs. Her limbs were flaccid both in her upper and lower extremities. Her father realised the something was terribly wrong with her, and immediately took her to the hospital, where she was admitted in the ICU. After an intensive workup, she was kept there for a week and then discharged with the diagnosis of paralysis. Balkrishna was devastated to hear the diagnosis, and the doctors couldn't tell them if and when she would regain the strength in her paralysed muscles. With this bleak prognosis she was sent home. Balkrishna then went from one doctor to the next hoping that his daughter would recover, and every possible mode of treatment was given to her. Ganga was treated by various specialists in neurology, by Vaids and Hakims. Thus for one and a half years, Ganga was given allopathic, homeopathic, and ayurvedic medicines. Balkrishna spent millions of rupees on her treatment, without any noticeable improvement. Ganga was confined to the bed, and Balkrishna hired a nurse to look after her daily needs. One day, a devotee of Baba told Balkrishna about the "Shri Bhagya - Sai Baba's mantra", and the padukas. Immediately he went to Pune and on Ganga's name he got abhishek of the padukas performed, and repeated the mantra, "Shri Charana Shri Bhagya Sai," ceaselessly. Balkrishna with utmost faith administered the tirth and Udi to Ganga. This was done for a year, with marvellous results. Now Ganga who was earlier confined to bed is doing all the household chores without any problem. Ganga also learned tailoring and now earns a living in her spare time. This was achieved by the blessings of Baba and his Udi, tirth, and mantra. Ganga and her family are eternally indebted to Baba. Balkrishna recalls, "The total cost for this including transportation, flowers, and abhishek was only around 1800 rupees, compared to the million rupees I spent on the numerous doctors, medicines and hospitalisation. Now that I look at my daughter who is healthy, I thank Baba for giving Sai devotees this unique mantra, and padukas." Dr. Zaveri gave some of the benefits derived by the devotees. He said, "The devotee with Shraddha and Saburi should recount his heart's desire before the padukas three times. Till his desire is fulfilled he should continue repeating his desire frequently. There are a host of difficulties we face in life, and these difficulties get resolved. Difficulties like dearth of money, infertility, litigations, matrimonial problems, difficulty in finding or keeping a job, ill health and diseases, problems in business and losses therein, and various worldly problems, even Vastu dosha (defects in the architecture of any building, and its effects on the inhabitants) are rectified". After serving needy patients and living a peaceful life Dr.Zaveri breathed his last on Saturday, 1st October 2016 after suffering from Chikengunya illness from which he never recovered. Dr.Shashikant Zaveri who was born on 12th December 1934, leaves behind two sons. This paduka is very holy and during Pooja Dr.Zaveri had seen many miracles including increasing length of Garland which was placed on Babas photo till it covers paduka also. Shri Sai Baba's holy padukas were available for darshan at his Pune clinic. We are giving his address for the beneift of Sai Devotees:
Also, there is a book available free of cost in Marathi and Hindi languages which describes the above miracle in detail and day by day activity and miracles of Baba during Shri. Raikars stay with Baba for twenty one days in Shirdi. The Book titled "Woh Sunahare 21 Din" is a must read to understand Baba's Miracles. (Source: "Tey Soneri 21 Divas" written by Late Shri.Narahari Vasudev Raikar and Translated and compiled in English by Dr.Vinny Chitluri in Baba's Divine Manifestation, Photo Courtesy: Late Dr.Shashikant G.Zaveri) |
