Chapter 28 describes the incredible ways in which Baba drew his devotees to Shirdi. Baba pulled Lala Lakhmichand, the Burhanpur lady and Megha to Shirdi, like a boy who pulls a sparrow with a string. Lakhmichand and the Burhanpur lady dreamt of Baba, while Hari Vinayak Sathe sent Megha to meet Sai Baba.
A devout man named Lakhmichand once dreamt of a saintly person, and a few days later, he attended a Kirtan by Das Ganu in Dattatreya Bijur's house, and became totally devoted to Baba. That very night, his friend, Shankar Rao, asked him to accompany him to Shirdi. Lakhmichand eagerly accepted, and borrowing 15 rupees for his expenses, he set out, with his friend, to Shirdi. At Shirdi, he experienced Baba's compassion and all-pervasiveness when Baba asked, "What was the necessity to borrow 15 rupees to make this pilgrimage?" Baba disapproves of His devotees borrowing money to go on pilgrimages. Next is the story of the Burhanpur lady. Unfortunately, her name is not mentioned. She dreamt that Baba came to take Bhiksha of Khichdi from her. After some time, her husband got transferred to Akola. So, without further delay, they went to Shirdi. However, for the first fortnight, she was unable to make her offering of Khichdi to Baba. So, one day, she prepared the Khichdi and went to the Dwarka Mai, but the curtain was drawn. Not minding this, she went up and served her Khichdi, and Baba ate it with great relish.
Now for the story of Megha, who was so greatly transformed that Baba wept on his demise. Here is how Megha was first drawn to Shirdi. One Hari Vinayak Sathe was working in Kheda, where he met Megha, a Gujarati Brahmin from Viramgaon. Sathe was interested in Megha's spiritual welfare, and urged him to go to Shirdi and meet his Sadguru. Megha was reluctant to go as he felt that he would descend into hell if he bowed before a Muslim. However, he did eventually go to Shirdi, and as soon as he entered the Dwarka Mai, Baba flew into a rage and threatened to beat him, and drove him away. Nonetheless, Megha stayed on and performed service to Baba in a quiet manner. After a few days, Megha left Shirdi only to soon return for he considered Baba to be the living form of Lord Shiva. He ceaselessly chanted the name "Sai Shankar, Sai Shankar" from morning till night. He prayed to Lord Shankar with a childlike innocence, and as Shankar was fond of bael leaves, he was determined to worship his Sai Shankar with Bilva Patra. As there were no Bilva Patra in or around Shirdi, he trudged two or three miles every day to procure them from the forest. He also collected wild flowers that Baba loved, and after worshipping all the deities in the village, he came to the Dwarka Mai, and performed ritualistic worship of Baba. Megha also performed the noon Aarti for Baba. This he did by standing on one foot. He held the Aarti platter in his right hand, and with his left hand, he rang the gong of the bell. Baba evidently liked the way he performed Aarti, and would delay the Aarti if Megha was late.
On Makar Sankranti day, Megha was keen to give Sai Shankar a bath with the holy water of the Godavari. He pestered Baba to allow him to do so. Baba gave in to his requests and agreed. At once, Megha set out barefoot with an empty vessel, unmindful that he had to walk back and forth a total distance of 16 miles. In those days, the road to Kopargaon was a treacherous one. The road was an uneven dirt road full of holes and pits. It was lined by dense trees, where dacoits hid and waylaid the unsuspecting traveller. Megha, however, was not bothered by these thoughts, as his heart was filled with devotion and joy. After fetching the holy water, he asked Baba to be seated so that he could bathe Him. Baba tried His level best to dissuade him, but Megha was determined. Finally, Baba said, "Megha, the head is the most important part, so just pour water on my head." However, Megha, in his zeal, poured the entire pot all over Baba. Megha was then astounded to see that only Baba's head was wet, and the rest of His body was dry.
Baba, on one occasion, gave Sakshatkar to Megha, saying, "Megha, draw a trident." A few days later, a Ramdasi presented Baba with a Pindi, which Baba presented to Megha. Thus, Baba blessed him and also strengthened his faith in his Ishta Devta, Lord Shiva. Upon Megha's demise in 1912, the Shiv Ling was housed in the Gurustaan.
Having narrated this incredible story, I will take the opportunity to narrate some more Leelas. The first Leela is about Nanasaheb Chandorkar's father, Govind Chandorkar. Once, it so happened that there was a misunderstanding between Govind and the local Muslims. Upset with this, he told his family members not to associate with any Muslim. In his family, his word was law, so his family members distanced themselves from their Muslim friends and neighbours. At that time, his son, Nana, was away on a tour. When he returned, the family briefed him about the turn of events, and of his father...
