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Sai Mahabhakta Raghuji Ganapat Shinde Patil brother of another Sai Mahabhakta Bhagoji Shinde was a Land Lord and retired Revenue Patel residing in Shirdi, Maharashtra.

On 6th December 1936, he narrated in his own words the experiences he had with Shri Sai Baba to Late Shri.B.V.Narasimha Swamji as below:

When Baba first came to Shirdi, a Muslim by name Amanbhai gave Him food. The same Amanbhai was visiting occasionally my Mavsi's house. My Mavsi's son Ganpat Hari Kanade, aged 35 years, had leprosy and fever. Amanbhai told her that a holy man had come to his houe and could treat her son. Then Baba came in and saw the patient and administered medicine. The medicine was made out of Cobra venom. Baba asked Ganpat to catch a cobra, as the cobra would not sting a leper. Accordingly Ganpat caught a cobra and it did not sting him. Out of its poison, Baba prepared the medicine and gave it to Ganpat. Ganpat started improving in a few days. But he did not observe the medical injunction to avoid sex-pleasures. Hence, Baba stopped giving further treatment. The disease again re-appeared and subsequently Ganpat died.

Baba came to our house to treat my younger brother Bhagoji Shinde, who was suffering from fever at a very critical period when the death was imminent. Baba administered him some medicine and further had him branded with red-hot irons (one one each temple and one on the back). Bhagoji Shinde recovered completely and became healthy. But Bhagoji Shinde had leprosy. That was arrested by Baba's grace but not cured. Bhagoji served Baba personally. I also served Him personally.

Once there was a function at Shirdi. I belonged to one of the groups. The hatred between the groups did not affect Baba. Baba was not nated by either of the groups. One Brijichand's wife was carried naked and brought here and hence there was a case against me and others before the Kopergaon Magistrate Appa Saheb. When the case was under trial, one day Baba was requested by Hari Sitaram Dixit that Baba should see that I was not acquitted. But Baba said: 'No, that cannot be done. Who am I to do it?'. At the end of the trial, all of us accused except one was convicted and given terms of four months imprisonment. From Kopergaon Police Station we were taken to the Ahmednagar Jail and kept there. I then earnestly prayed to Baba for my release. The third night Baba appeared before me in my dream inside the Jail cell and said: "Do not be afraid. I will get you acquitted'. I wept at that time in my sleep itself. The jailor came and woke me up. Next morning, Shri.Dhumal came and that day we were all acquitted. I contributed Rs.70 towards expenses of the trial by selling a buffalo.

Once, I was splitting a log for fuel. Baba stopped me saying that I should split dry wood and not green. I gave up further splitting of the log of wood as per the instructions of Baba.

(Source: Devotees' Experiences of Sri Sai Baba Part I, II and III by Sri.B.V.Narasimha Swamiji)