Shirdi Ke Sai Baba

I was watching, for the tenth time, the movie “Shirdi Ke Sai Baba” yesterday. And I relived the experience I had a couple of months before when I saw the same movie. It felt just the same and the movie never ceases to inspire me! I am penning down something that I had written then.

When something thrilling happens, people say that their hairs stood on the end and they had goosebumps. If I have to speak the Truth, it was only in the ad breaks between the movie that my goose bumps dissolved and hairs rested down. It was such a thrill to see the movie. My heart longs to scream out the glory of our Sai..........

1) When Shirdi Baba leaves His body for 3 days, there is Kulkarni who tries to use the situation to his benefit. He calls Baba a fake and criticizes all the devotees around. He even gets a pit dug for the body to be buried. But the devotees resist. They stop even the police and simply do not give up on Baba. Baba returns and then says, “He who digs a pit for others, will himself fall in it” - a most apt summary of the Karma principle. Later, Kulkarni, tries to get Baba bit by a cobra. The plain recoils and he himself is bit by a snake when he falls in the pit that he had got dug for Baba. At that time, Baba does not say, “I told you so!” He gifts life back to him. Baba never believes in destroying His enemies - he only destroys enmity with love!

2) The same Kulkarni in the event described previously, tries to harm Baba by sending as a gift, a basketful of snakes. When Baba opens it, there are only garlands in it. The power of God is such and His goodness is such that He has an alchemist’s touch. His touch makes everything beautiful and fragrant - our lives too. Blessed are we to have been touched by Him.

3) A wandering Sadhu comes to Baba with the idea of exposing Him. Baba tells him that running away from ones children because one could not bear the loss of one’s wife is not spirituality. The Sadhu is shocked, “So what about you? Masquerading as a fakir, but having processions and people serving you. Is it right?” Baba says, “If one does anything for Yoga it is right. If on the other hand, one becomes even a renunciant in order to run away from ones duties,then even that will not save him!” And then - Baba reveals Himself as Krishna whom the Sadhu adores. The Sadhu who had come to criticize, falls at Baba’s feet and asks, “Baba! Krishna lived in a palace. That is where you should be. Why are you in such pitiable quarters?” Baba says, “Today my devotees keep me here, and I stay here. Tomorrow when they worship me in a palace, I shall stay there also. Today, I am happy in these soiled clothes. Tomorrow if they dress me in silk robes also, I shall happily accept it. Whatever please my devotee, pleases me.” (My God! Even as I type this, I have goosebumps!)

4) Then there is the episode of the blind person taking care of his son. As he sings, “Oh Lord! You have a thousand hands and you always help those you take your name”, he hears Baba’s voice telling him, “Child,you know the sins you have committed and that is why you have become blind. Running after murdering your wife, your head struck a rock and you went blind.” The man repents and prays whole heartedly when Shirdi Baba says, “Come to me. Rise and walk.” Then he hits the branch of a tree and his sight is restored. None can escape from the consequences of the evil they do. But God is the highest pardoning authority. The man now tells Baba that he would come for His darshan. He hears a voice that says, “You have seen me in your heart till now. Continue to see me there and move on. You need not come to me.” That really struck me as a significant message.

5) Now we come to the most poignant scene. The final days of Shirdi Baba. He has almost stopped eating. He just takes a morsel and gives away the rest for the devotees to partake. He, in the meanwhile has taken over the illness of His dear devotee. As the final moment approaches, He calls Laxmibai to His side and tells her, “You have loved me and served me so sincerely. For that, I grant you the highest gift- of Love and Devotion. The 9 forms of devotion (Ah! I hear Swami singing ‘Shravanam, Keerthanam, Vishnusmaranam, Paadasevanam, Vandanam, Archanam, Dasyam, Sneham, Atmanivedanam’), are in my fist, I grant them to whomsoever I please. Here I grant them to you.” And He gives her 9 coins. She now asks Swami, “Baba, why is your body quivering and quaking?” He replies, “The cage always shakes when the Bird is about to fly away. Remember, I will never be gone for when did I ever arrive? But even if you mistake the cage for the bird, let me assure you that you will feel my presence forever, guiding and guarding you!” Then He blesses all and sheds the body.

Remember seeing the movie many times and wondering how it would have been for those devotees. Today I know. And that same Swami has today assured not just a few hundred like Shirdi Baba, but a few million.

Then I hear from my teacher at the Institute, “You know, we all saw this movie with Swami. Manoj Kumar, the great actor, was a devotee and Swami was the first person to see the movie even before it was released! Swami came there late evening after dinner. That was when the song "Sumar Manuva" became such a hit with the college boys.”

Then, another brother, who was a student at that time, narrated to me, " Manoj Kumar and Panduranga Dixit were with Swami. That evening, we first had a concert by Purushottam Das Jalota, father of the iconic Anup Jalota. After that, Swami materialized a nine gem necklace with a pendant of Goddess Durga for him. Sri Kasture gave a talk after which we had the screening of the movie."

I was thrilled to hear this. I mentally said, “No wonder! He not only was the first to see it, He also directed it and inspired everyone.”

A must see movie for all those who understand Hindi.......Elevating and makes one feel so full of goodness and godness!!