In chapter 22 of the Sai Satcharita, the incredible Leela of Das Ganu's wish to go to Prayag and have a bath in the Sangam, or the confluence, of the Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswathi rivers is described. Hindus believe that having a bath there will nullify their sins, purify the mind and body, and they will attain Satgati (salvation). Baba, however, tells Das Ganu that he need not go that far, and from the big toes of His feet, produces the Ganga and Jamuna. Das Ganu is overwhelmed by this, and sings Baba's praises. This is a lesson for all of us that if we clutch tightly on to Baba's feet with love and devotion, then He will surely put us on the path of salvation. The main Leelas of this chapter are about how Baba prevents the accidental deaths of Bapusaheb Booty, and Bala Sahib Meerkar, and how Baba cures Amir Shakkar of his nagging pain of rheumatism. And finally, Baba tells Balasaheb Bhate, Dabholkar, and all of us, that God resides in all creatures, be it venomous snakes or scorpions. So, if we see such creatures, we ought not to pounce upon them and kill them, because if God has not ordained our death by them, they will not harm us.
The first Leela is about Meerkar, who came to the Dwarka Mai before going to Chitale for his duty. Baba warns him of his death by snake bite. Nonetheless, He assures him that anyone taking refuge in the lap of Dwarka Mai will be saved from mishaps. As Meerkar is leaving, Baba asks Shama to accompany him. At first,
Meerkar is reluctant to take Shama with him, but eventually agrees. At Chitale, their peon noticed a serpent sitting on Meerkar's Uparna. He raises an alarm and the snake is beaten to death as it slithers away. Two points to be noted here are that Baba asks Shama to accompany Meerkar; and secondly, Baba sat in the Dwarka Mai facing the southern direction. The possible reason for asking Shama to accompany Meerkar was to prevent Apamrityu. Baba Himself, in the form of Shama, keeps energising the soul of Shama in Chitale, and thus has driven away Kaal Purusha. Dakshin, or the south facing direction is the dreaded direction of Yama Raj, the Lord of Death. Baba, being the supreme Rudra Himself, is capable of driving away Yama Raj whenever He chooses. Thus, Baba, as the Rudra, is able to sit in the Dwarka Mai facing the dreaded South direction, or the direction of Yama Raj.
The ensuring stories are some of the Leelas where Yama Raj accepts defeat in front of Baba.
Malanbai, the daughter of Shri D. R. Joshi Devgaonkar, suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis. All sorts of treatments, remedies and poultices were tried, but nothing worked. Malanbai could not bear the pain and coughing bouts. She insisted on being taken to Shirdi. Upon seeing her, Baba let out a volley of abuses and asked her to lie on a blanket and drink nothing but water. She stayed in Dixit Wada for a week, carefully following Baba's orders. Early one morning, she stopped breathing and died. Her family were mourning her loss, and making preparations for her cremation. That morning, Baba did not leave the Chavadi, although it was past 8 a.m. It seemed that Baba was in a rage. He shouted for no apparent reason, hitting the floor with his Satka. It looked as if He was driving away some unseen object or force. Still shouting, He strode to Dixit Wada and paused a moment, shaking His Satka vigorously. Then, just as suddenly as he had flared up, he calmed down, and went away. The family was oblivious of Baba's actions. But as they were getting ready to bathe the body, they noticed the girl breathing. She opened her eyes and looked around frightened. She told the family what took place: “A demon like black person was carrying me away. I was terrified and couldn't do anything. So I called out to Baba to help me. He at once came and beat the black man quite badly. Then He snatched me from his hands and carried me to the Chavadi.” She gave a vivid description of the Chavadi, although she had never seen it. The family, hearing this, shed tears of joy. Was it any wonder that Baba sat in the Masjid facing south? South, the dreaded direction from which Yama Raj comes. But every day, and all day long, Baba sat facing Yama. Not for a moment was He without His Satka, the magical wand.
(Reference: Ambrosia in Shirdi, by Ramalinga Swami.)
In another story, a woman named Rukmini started living in Amalner after getting married to Malhari Bendre, who worked as a sanitary inspector. Her father, Krishnaji Brahma, alias Abha Sahib, was devoted to Baba. He lived in Ahmednagar where he worked as a police officer and had the good fortune of meeting Baba several times. Baba blessed him and gave him Udi, hence his entire family worshipped Baba and visited Shirdi often. After his retirement, he lived with his elder brother, Lakshman, in Bhadgaon. Later, Lakshman was transferred to Amalner and they, along with Abha, moved into a house nearby. Abha visited the library daily, and on the way, visited Rukmini. One day, he...
