―Shrimati Sulakshana Bhardwaj―
Saint Shri Sacha Baba was born in Bihar on Janamasthami, the day Lord Krishna was born. He was an exalted Saint. There are so many stories about his powers and miracles that they could fill an entire volume! It is said that whosoever approached him with any desire, never left unsatisfied. Related below are some true episodes about Baba, revealing him to be both deep and human…
13th April was Baishakhi, and the flag-hoisting ceremony was taking place at Shri Sacha Dham, Rishikesh. Ram Navami, Lord Rama’s birthday, fell on 15th April. Baba was expected in a village in Bihar to celebrate this auspicious day. Unable to make it by 15th April, they had sent a telegram to intimate their arrival on 16th April instead. Time was very short indeed !
After the flag was hoisted, Baba barely lectured for five minutes. Immediately after that he ordered Ramshiromani Tripathiji, a close devotee, to get into the car with him and push off for Bihar. He allowed Tripathiji no time whatsoever to collect any of their clothes. Baba never sat in the back seat of the car while travelling, but chose to sit up front with the driver instead. He also liked riding at a very high speed. The fact that they never had an accident was merely due to Baba’s powerful presence!
It is described in the Ramayana, that when the Divine child Sri Rama was born at exactly 12 noon, the weather was moderate, very beautiful and all auspicious signs were present. Baba suddenly laughed, and pointing towards the sky, told Tripathiji,
“Just look! Look at the sky! All the gods and goddesses in heaven are arguing with me, how come I am celebrating Ram Navami on 16th April, when Lord Rama actually descended today at 12 noon? In thirty minutes, please stop the car under a shady tree, and let us honour the Lord’s advent”
In Tripathiji’s own words,
I looked up at the sky, and what met my gaze amazed me. There was no dust, no clouds, the sun ought to have been blazing at that time of day, but no. It was a beautiful mellow sun in a clear blue sky, with no heat and glare present!
Instantly I was filled with so much bliss that I felt intoxicated and dizzy. I glanced at Baba. He had entered samadhi (a state of consciousness where one is completely absorbed in God). His head rolled to one side, he kept chanting softly again and again, “Ram teri jaya ho, jaya ho vijayaho”. Tears poured and poured from his eyes, soaking his white dhoti! This continued for two hours and more, non stop. Rather shaken at this display, we did not dare to arouse Baba -or stop the car, so we kept driving on…
ॐ ॐ ॐ
One day, Baba decided to give up another trace of his ego by begging tor food. He had never done such a thing before in his life. But he felt the time was now ripe to forever shed this pride and reluctance from within himself. So without any money or devotees, he left for Haridwar. A whole day passed, yet Baba could not muster up the courage to request anyone for food. He had not eaten the whole day.
Finally, he selected a shady tree near the Holy Ganges and waited expectantly! Perhaps God would prompt someone from within to approach him, and unasked, would drop some food in his lap. Alas, this did not happen! Three whole days passed like that. By now Baba felt very miserable and pangs of hunger tormented him.
The body being weak, he entered into samadhi. In Samadhi, his inner eye saw a saint playing a vina and singing to a large crowd,
“And when one is hungry, one should simply go and beg…”
Upon regaining body consciousness, Baba laughed. He had got his answer. How foolish of him to feel any pride! But the blessed Lord had shown him. Getting up swiftly, he entered the first lane that he came to and began knocking at every door, asking for two rotis (a type of flat unleavened bread). Some householders taunted him, Are you not ashamed to beg ? You are so healthy and stout? But Baba laughed merrily. Who cares? Was it not his Beloved taunting and testing him anyway?
A few houses later, a kind woman offered him some rotis. Wrapping up this prasad carefully, Baba returned to his shady spot by the Ganges and appeased his hunger. Since that day, Baba never felt any hesitation begging for good again.
