Chapter 25 - Historical Commentary - a podcast by Sai Babas Devotee Speaks

The Leelas in chapter 25 are all about Damu Anna Rasne, and how he sought refuge at Baba's feet as he had no offspring, and the unique way in which Baba blesses him by giving him four mangoes. Two other Leelas mentioned in this chapter are about Damu's business speculations on cotton and grain, and how Baba prevents him from doing so, thereby saving him from severe financial losses. I shall now narrate his life story, then talk about how he resolved to bring a flag every year for Ram Navami as a token of his gratitude for Baba for blessing him with children.

The ancestors of Damodar Savalram Rasane hailed from Rashin. They were known as the Rashinkars, but later adopted the surname Rasane. Damodar Rasane received Baba's blessings for a child in the most remarkable and unexpected manner, and thereby, he became the means for spreading Baba's fame. He was a very humble man, who sold bangles and utensils to earn a living. All his transactions yielded good profits, and he soon became rich. He had everything in life, but had no children although he married twice. Astrological curiosity made him explore his horoscope, and he found that a Paapi (Ketu) was seated in the Putrastan, and there was no Guru (Jupiter) influence to overcome this. The local astrologers he consulted declared that it was impossible for him to have a child in this life. Damodar had heard of Sai Baba and went to see Him. Baba had kept about eight mangoes from a basket to be given to him. The rest of the mangoes in the basket were taken away by the local children, who wanted more. When Baba said that there were no more mangoes, the children pointed to the eight mangoes. Baba said that they were for Damya, but the children said that Damya was not around. "I know that he is on his way. He is coming," said Baba. When Baba went out, some of the children took away four mangoes, leaving behind only four mangoes. Baba gave Damodar the four mangoes, saying, "Eat and die." Damodar was perturbed by hearing the inauspicious word 'die'. Noticing his perplexity, Mhalsapati told him that it was a blessing to die at Baba's feet. All the while, Baba was enjoying this exchange. The word 'die', which He used, did not refer to physical death, but to the spiritual death, which is the same as Brahma Pramada coming upon one who gets deeper into Samsarik life with the birth and death of progeny and family. Baba said, "Damya, do not eat these mangoes yourself, but give them to your wife." Damya asked, "Which wife should I give them to?” Baba replied, “Give them to your second wife. She will have eight children. The first two will be boys. Name the first Daulatshah and the second Tanashah." Taking up his notebook immediately, Damya wrote down the two names. As stated by Baba, Damya’s wife gave birth to exactly eight children, one after another, and their sexes were in the same order given by Baba. It took 15 years for all their children to be born. Perhaps there is an astrological explanation for this. In Damya's horoscope, there was no ‘Guru Balam’ to overcome the Paapi influence. But the all-knowing and all-powerful guru of Damya was Baba, and His Balam (strength), together with His favourable glances, could overcome the adverse influence of all the planets put together.

Damya’s first son was named Daulatshah, who came to be known as Nanasaheb Rasane. Nanasaheb became the trustee of the Shri Sai Baba Sanstan, and did a lot of work for the Sanstan. He carried on Baba's propaganda by spreading the Sai faith through lectures and other means, and he was fully deserving of the name Daulatshah. Damya, deriving a blessing of this very rare sort, became the means by which Baba's fame (for bestowing progeny and other blessings) got widely publicised in Ahmednagar. This was around 1895-97. Damya, wishing to show his gratitude, undertook to pay for the expenses of a grand flag-procession ceremony that took place every Ram Navami day. Two very tall flags were nicely decorated and carried from the mosque through the streets of Shirdi on that day every year, and finally brought back to be installed at Baba's Masjid to remain there as a mark of the stay of the very compassionate saint. Not content with this service, Damya was always ready to undertake further work and expense for Baba in other matters as well, such as the reconstruction of the Masjid.

Baba saves Damya from incurring financial losses

On one occasion, Damya was advised by a cotton trader to invest Rs. 50,000 in cotton trading and earn a profit of lakhs within a short period of time. Damya wrote to Shama to ask Baba for permission to make the investment. When the letter came to Baba, Baba said, "Damya wants to catch the sky. His head is wrong. He is trying to think of lakhs. Write to him that his present position is not bad, and ask him not to think of lakhs." Damya, with great regret, had to drop the idea of cotton speculation. Finally, he thought he would directly go and meet Baba and induce Baba to give him permission by offering a share of the profits to Baba. He went to Shirdi, and while massaging Baba's legs, he was thinking of his plan. Reading his thoughts, Baba said, "Damya, I am not a part of it," that is, Baba was not going to be a partner in any speculation or similar affair. Baba did not want money at all, and if he did, then such a speculation was not necessary for Him.

On another occasion, Damya wanted Baba's permission to trade in grain, but Baba once again refused. Damya's friends were of the opinion that since grain prices were rising, storing grain would yield more than cent percent profit, so Damya was keen to invest in this. But Baba said, "Arre, you will be buying at five seers and selling at seven seers." For a month or two, the prices were rising and Baba's prophecies seemed to be falsified. But that year, because there were abundant rains, the crops were excellent, so the prices fell and the grain hoarders suffered huge losses. Damya discovered that Baba had saved him from another calamity.

I will now narrate the Leela of how Baba's tooth got enshrined in Pune's Shivaji Nagar temple that was built by Nanasaheb Rasane.

Baba gives His tooth to Kashibai

When Kashibai got married, she left her parents’ home in Shirdi and went to Niphad, as her husband was from Niphad. She was quite happy at her in-laws' home. They were farmers and were economically stable. However, a year later, her husband died. Kashibai was pregnant at that time. A son was soon born to her, and she named him Madhav. When Madhav was five months old, she returned to Shirdi and stayed with her parents. Kashibai did all the household chores and looked after Madhav. Her parents were rather poor, so when Madhav was about two years old, she decided to work in the fields. Every day, she brought Madhav to the Dwarka Mai early in the morning, and then went to work. At dusk, she used to take Madhav back home. Thus, Madhav was left entirely in Baba's care.
When Madhav turned four, he started doing chores for Baba. Baba gave him one rupee every day. Kashibai, however, struggled to make ends meet. One day, she came to pick Madhav and she accosted Baba saying, "Baba, you give huge amounts of money to all and sundry. How come you give my Madhav only one rupee even though he does your chores? This is not fair." Baba calmly replied, "The money I give others can stop at any time, but I will never stop giving money to Madhav. I am your Saviour, the saviour of destitute women like you." Kashibai could not understand what Baba was saying, and she yelled, "Oh, my husband died five years ago." Baba flew into a rage hearing this. Seeing His ferocious form, Kashibai stealthily took Madhav home. Frightened, she did not go to the Masjid for the next two or three days. Baba, however, kept asking where Madhav was. He then sent a messenger to fetch him. Kashibai and Madhav came to the Dwarka Mai, and stood meekly before Baba. Baba smiled and beckoned them to come closer. Then, gently pulling out His loose tooth, He placed it in a handful of Udi, and tied it in an old rag and gave it to Kashibai, saying, "Keep this safely with you. Allah Bhala Karega." On returning home, Kashibai made a talisman of the tooth and Udi, and tied it around Madhav's right arm. When Kashibai died, Madhav decided to take his family and live at Niphad. (Reference: Shri Sai Leela magazine, 1976.)

How Baba's tooth became enshrined in a Pune temple

Damu Anna Rasane lived in Ahmednagar, but later moved with his family to Pune, where he purchased a Chawl (a multi-storey building) in Shivaji Nagar. In 1945, his son, Nanasaheb, bought two rooms in the Chawl and converted it into a shrine. Devotees from far and near flocked there to attend the Aartis and festivals. Gradually, the numbers started growing. On Thursdays and festival days, the shrine was packed to suffocation. Nanasaheb realised that soon a temple would have to be built to accommodate the devotees. He sought the help of another devotee named Nikam. Nikam was working for the police department in Khed, and upon Nanasaheb's request, he resigned from his job and came to Pune.

A small temple was built in front of Rasane Chawl, and Baba's photograph was worshipped with due formalities. Nikam put all his energies into building the temple. He also looked after its maintenance and overall administration. One night, He had a vivid dream in which Baba told him to go to Niphad and get His tooth from Madhav. This was easy as he had already met Madhav several times in Shirdi. Around the same time, Madhav also dreamt of Baba asking him to give the tooth to the person who will visit him the following day. Nikam went to Madhav's house in Niphad, and found Madhav waiting for him. Madhav was surprised to hear about Nikam's dream, and he happily handed over the talisman. In 1950, Shri Narasimha Swamiji did the Sthapana of the photograph, together with Baba's tooth and Chillum. The tooth and Chillum are housed in the silver Padukas of Baba in this temple. This is a beautiful temple, and is a must-see.
Before concluding this chapter, I will give a brief account of the wonderful Seva that this humble man and his family did for Baba. Damu Anna's elder son, Nanasaheb, did great service for Baba as a trustee of the Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan. He was responsible for the smooth working of the Prasadalaya, which soon flourished. Damu Anna, on the other hand, spared no expenses in doing Seva for his Guru. He, along with Anna Chinchanekar, purchased the land in front of the Nandi so that the Sabha Mandap of the Samadhi Mandir could be extended. More details on his philanthropic deeds will be described in the chapter on the building of the Samadhi Mandir.

Further episodes of The Essential Sai Satcharita

Further podcasts by Sai Baba's Devotee Speaks

Website of Sai Baba's Devotee Speaks