Chapter 11 - Historical Commentary - a podcast by Sai Babas Devotee Speaks

Chapter 11 is a powerful chapter. It is so important that many devotees read it every day. Some of them have learnt it by heart and recite it daily, or in times of need, or during a crisis in their lives. Chapter 11 is called the Rudra Adhyaya. Rudra is the 11th Avatar of Lord Shiva. The power and glory of Rudra is written in the Shastras. Rudra literally means Rudan, or to cry, as it indicates destruction. This destruction is annihilation of illusion and Maya. Hence, we cry as we cling to materialistic and worldly things, and then we weep when we lose them.

Dabholkar has given three extraordinary Leelas in this chapter. The first is Dr. Pandit’s ritualistic worship of Baba. Baba gladly allows Dr. Pandit to perform Pooja for Him without flying into a rage, as Dr. Pandit is simple-hearted and sees no difference between the Kafni-clad Baba and his Brahmin Guru. The second Leela is about Haji Durvesh Siddique Falke, who yearns to be included in Baba’s Darbar. However, Baba banishes him to stay in the north-facing Chavadi for nine long months, without paying any heed to him. Then, in desperation, he seeks Shama’s help and intervention, and finally is allowed to enter Baba’s Dwarka Mai, and he is ultimately accepted in Baba’s Darbar. Lastly, Baba’s control over the elements, the terrible storm and the raging Dhuni Mai. Baba, the creator of this Universe, had total control over the Panch Maha Bhootas, so he could calm them down, and also calm the raging Dhuni Mai, the terrible storm, torrential rain and gusty winds.

Now a little history about Dr. Pandit and Siddique Falke

Raghunath of Dhopeshwar, alias Kaka Puranik.
This Maha Satpurush was Baba’s contemporary, the date 1821 to 1910. He was from Rajapur Zilla in Ratnagiri District. Tatya Saheb and Dr. Noolkar were devoted to him. Very little information is available on this saint. However, he and Baba worked in unison for the welfare of the devotees.

Dr. Jagannath Pandit
Dr. Pandit was related to Tatya Saheb Noolkar from his mother's side. He was devoted to Kaka Puranik. In the Sai Satcharita, Chapter 11, the story of Dr. Pandit is beautifully described, where he offers Guru Pooja to Baba by marking his forehead with a Tripundra of sandalwood paste, as he offered this Pooja daily to his Guru, Kaka Puranik. Dr. Pandit was devout and innocent. His actions conveyed the highest truth that there is no difference between his Brahmin Guru and the Kafni-clad Sai Baba. Baba, perceiving his clear conscience, was quite pleased, instead of flying into a rage. Dr. Pandit hailed from Kolhapur, Ratnagiri District, and was a medical doctor. He studied in a medical college in Calcutta.

His descendants are living in Pune. The Tripundra is symbolic of the Gunas – Raja, Tamas, Sattva, which this Universe is made of. When Dr. Pandit drew the Tripundra on his Guru’s forehead, he believed that his Guru could destroy these Gunas. Befittingly, he drew the Tripundra on ‘Triputi Nashak’ Baba, who could easily destroy these Gunas in all His devotees. This information was provided by Noolkar’s descendants.

Hazrat Durvesh Haji Mohammed Siddique Falke
In the 11th chapter of the Sai Satcharita, the incident of Baba’s wrath on Siddique Falke is given - how Baba put forth three questions to him, and the wonderful answers that Siddique Falke gave. Durvesh Haji Mohammed Siddique Falke was born in Kalyan around 1841. He was an affluent Zamindar, and owned vast acres of farmland. He was sophisticated, intelligent, well read and spiritual. He had travelled widely. Baghdad, Constantinople and Makkah were some of the places that he had visited. Dada Saheb Khaparde has recorded on one of his visits to Shirdi, dated 14-12-1911, in his ‘Shirdi Diary’. Dada Saheb Khaparde, who was himself extremely learned and spiritual, states in his diary that Siddique Falke was a gentleman of the old sort, i.e., a Karma-Margi, and very intelligent. He was spiritually developed and learned.

The conversations, that they had, were pleasant and instructive. Baba liked Falke a great deal, and is said to have granted his wish. Siddique Falke was married to Kursheed and had two sons, Ghulam Mustafa and Muhammad Mukram. Falke loved to wear spotless white clothes. Whenever the Dwarka Mai was washed with cow dung, Baba would summon Falke and make him sit on the wet floor, much to Falke’s discontent. But, when he got up, his clothes remained spotlessly white as before. Baba loved and had a great deal of respect for Falke, and whenever permission was granted for his departure, Baba would walk the hundred paces with him and see him off at the breach in the wall. Falke lived in a huge building in Kalyan called Falke Wada, and it is still there even today. In chapter 11, the story of Falke’s attempt to obtain Baba's grace is given. Falke stays for nine months in the north-facing Chavadi, trying in vain to enter the sanctum sanctorum. Then, he seeks Shama’s help, and finally, Baba relents.Baba then tells Shama to ask Falke whether he will walk carefully the straight and narrow path that goes beyond ‘Baravi well’. Falke answers that whatever difficulty he may encounter, he will carefully tread that path. In fact, there was no well called Baravi in Shirdi, or the neighbouring villages. Baba possibly uses the word ‘Baravi’ to mean 12. Here, Baba asks Falke whether he was willing to tread the straight and narrow path of spirituality that is fraught with difficulties. Whether he was willing to do the 12-year penance, the penance of the 12 inter disciplines which are as follows: Viveka (discrimination), Vairagya (renunciation), Niswartha (selflessness), Shama (calmness), Dama (self-control), Uparati (self-withdrawal), Titiksha (forbearance), Samadhana (self-settledness), Shraddha (faith), Satsang (holy company), Maun (silence of the mind) and Ekantha-Dhyana (solitude and meditation); and lastly, the Guru's grace, without which nothing is possible. Falke, indeed, came to Baba off and on for 12 years.

The next question was, “Will you give me 40,000 rupees in four instalments?” To which, Falke answers, “I will gladly give you 40 lakhs, if asked. What then of thousands? Only let me be at Thy feet.” Siddique Falke was affluent, but was he willing to part with his money? This was what Baba tried to ask him and he replied beautifully.

The third question was, “What part of the sacrificial goat would he like to eat? Does he want to eat the meat covered bones? Or, is his heart set upon eating the sex organs?” Baba wants to make sure that he has no appetite of any kind left, be it for delectable food, or sensual appetite. Siddique Falke’s answer is incredible. He states that if Baba wishes to give him anything, he would cherish a crumb from the Kolamba. Then Baba gives him 55 rupees and a basket of mangoes, and he is welcomed into Baba’s Darbar.

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