Sai Baba the Master
Then Shama asked Baba whether that was the auspicious moment to commence
the work, that being the moment of Baba’s consent. Baba affirmed it. Shama
immediately fetched a coconut and broke it. Order was placed with sculptors
for an idol of Muralidhar. Booty was happy that the work was progressing
satisfactorily and that too with the blessings of Sai Baba.
A farewell and cryptic message
Days passed briskly as though they enjoyed the rising glory of Shirdi. The
year 1918 commenced as inconspicuously as any other and a few months
passed. Uddhavesa Bua, a great devotee, usually visited Sai Baba every
fortnight. One day, when he arrived, Baba told him not to take the trouble
of visiting him so often thereafter. He said the same to another Mrs.
Chandrabai also in July 1918.
Not long after this, one day Sai Baba gave some poli with boiled foul to
Kasim (the son of Bade Baba) and told him, “Go to Aurangabad and see fakir
Shamsuddin Mia, give him this money, Rs.250/-, let him do moulu, kowali and
nyas.” ( Moulu is the singing of devotional songs about prophet Mohammad;
kowalis are devotional songs about saints, sung to the accompaniment of
tabla or drum; nyas is feeding the poor people).
Baba then told Kasim to go to another fakir, Banne Mia, decorate him first
with the garland which Baba had given him. Thereafter Kasim was to tell
Banne Mia, “On the ninth day of ninth month, Allah himself takes away the
lamp which He had lit. Such is Allah’s mercy" Then Sai Baba gave him
Rs.250/- and a garland of javandi (chrysanthemum) flowers. But Kasim
pleaded that he was a stranger to Aurangabad and that he may not easily
contact the said fakirs. So Baba asked one Chote Khan to accompany him.
Both Kasim and Chote Khan then started along with a servant by name Ameer.
When they arrived at Aurangabad, fakir Shamsuddin himself had come to the
station. He was enquiring of the passengers, “Who are the guests that have
come from fakir Sai?” Chote Khan and Kasim were surprised at his
precognition and bowed to him in reverence. Then Shamsuddin himself
repeated the message of Sai Baba, word by word! Then he led the three
guests home and fed them. With the money sent by Sai Baba, he fed a large
number of people. He also performed kowali and moulu. By night all this was
completed.
Next day Kasim, Chote Khan and Ameer visited Banne Mia’s house. They saw
him standing still, with one hand raised and the other held down, evidently
in a trance. A few Arabs at the place warned the visitors not to approach
the fakir when he was in that state as he would be furious with them. So
the visitors waited for one long hour but Banne Mia showed no sign of
regaining normal awareness. Then Chote Khan mustered all his courage, took
the garland which Baba had given them in his hand and put it round the
fakir’s neck. Banne Mia returned to his senses and lowered his raised arm.
Chote Khan repeated to him the words of Sai Baba. “ Ninth day of the ninth
month, Allah Himself takes away the lamp which He had lit.” On hearing the
words, Banne Mia gazed at the sky and tears rolled down his cheek. The
party of three left Aurangabad quite thrilled by the happenings. But they
could not understand what it was all about.
