Baba’s Anurag – Love for His Devotees

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Baba’s love encompassed the whole universe with an equality of vision. However he had deep emotional and spiritual ties with some of his devotees. Although Baba rarely left Shirdi in his physical form but he did visit the homes of the Dengle family in Neemgaon and the Saand family in Rahata. He went to some of his devotees place in the form of bas-relief images. The descendents of these devotees have preserved these images and venerated them till today. They were blessed not only in this life, but also for many past lives, that they had the good fortune of welcoming Baba into their homes.

This book describes the homes of many of his devotees in and around Shirdi. Their homes and lives are described vividly so that we too can have a virtual tour of them and can partake a little of the ambrosia and fragrance of Baba’s love. Baba also had deep ties with devotees who resided in Shirdi. They eagerly waited for him to pass by their homes as he wandered through the villages so that the dust from his feet would sanctify their homes and their mundane lives. This book transports one to the bygone days and describes the various leelas of Baba from which valuable lessons can be derived.

Vinny Chitluri was born in Arvankadu (Nilgiris), but was educated in Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh). She did her post graduation in Pediatrics from Kalawati Saren Hospital, Delhi. Then she went to the US, passed the board examination and was conferred the ‘Diplomat of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

While in the US, she started thinking seriously about her Karmic bonds with her family. As her father worshipped Baba, she was also able to do the same from a very young age. She has been worshipping Baba for sixty years. Her relationship with Baba is that of a ‘best friend’ as He loves her no matter what she does.

She retired from the medical profession at the age of fifty and came to Shirdi in 1994 and settled there. Then she set about trying to know more about Baba. She soon realised that ‘the more she learned about Him, the more ignorant she was Alas! it would take her many lives to know a little about this inscrutable God. But her quest is ongoing.

Baba rarely left Shirdi in his physical body but he did go to Rahata and Neemgaon. He went to the homes of some devotees in the form of a photograph. The houses of these devotees residing in Rahata and Neemgaon and also in Shirdi and their lives have been described in this book.

The need for this book arose from many reasons. The main reason is that the village is changing fast. It is turning into a ‘Modern Township’. These are private properties, many of them are being demolished, and hotels are standing in its place. Many devotees ask me to show them places described in the Sri Sai Satcharita then I take them on a small tour around the village and show them these homes, and the various routes that Baba took. Some of these devotees have been coming to Shirdi for many years and have yet not seen these houses.

Every devotee needs to be loved by the most important person in his or her life-Baba. His leelas are full of compassion, love and care, for he is ever present to save us from calamity. Finally even if a few devotees visit these sites, so that reading the Shri Sai Satcharita becomes easy, and then start thinking of its profound meaning, the object of writing this book will be accomplished.

Baba’s love encompassed the whole universe, with an equality of vision. However, he had deep ties from numerous previous births, with some of his devotees. His infinite love went back numerous generations. With Shama, it spanned over 72 generations, and with Chandorkar 4 generations as mentioned by Baba himself. These special devotees shared a special grace. By virtue of these incidents, they themselves were blessed. We do not know the length of his relationship with the others.

This book describes the homes of many of his devotees in and around Shirdi. Baba rarely left Shirdi in the physical body but he did visit the home of Kushalchand Saand of Rahata, and Nana Sahib Dengle of Neemgaon. He went to Dabolkar’s home in the form of a ‘bas-relief’ image. His descendants have preserved it, and venerate it even today.

Baba loved everything on this earth be it a lizard, a bird or a mongrel. He had a special bond and fondness for them. An apt example, is his giving salvation to an ailing tiger. With human beings, his love extended to the rich and poor, the young and the old. He loved the robust and sick, as he had compassion, and a deep understanding of their pain and mental tension. An apt example is Bhagoji Shinde who had black leprosy, his body was constantly oozing fowl smelling pus yet he was Baba’s constant companion. Bhagoji daily massaged Baba’s burnt hand. Although his disease would repulse us, Baba was quite oblivious of it.

He averted calamities, removed sorrows, and gave progeny to some of them. The leelas of some of them are also given in this book. By knowing about their lives and leelas every devotee can aspire to reach that state. Nor did these devotees forget him, in fact, they thought of him in every waking moment of their lives. We turn to a religious book when we are in trouble, so by reading these lee/as we can learn and derive valuable lessons from them. Today it inspires us and gives us sustenance and solace, as he is aware of our every step. Their homes and their lives are described so that we too can visit them and partake a little of the ambrosia and the fragrance of Baba’s love. They were blessed not only in this life, but also for many past lives, that they had the good fortune of welcoming Baba into their homes. They eagerly awaited his visits, and looked forward to doing some dedicated service to their guru.

Baba also had deep ties with the devotees that resided in Shirdi. They eagerly waited for him to pass by their homes as he wandered through the village so that the dust from his feet would sanctify their homes and their mundane lives. It is important for us devotees to know these homes as we can walk in the footsteps of our Sadguru. (A realised teacher, an incarnation). Although things have changed and become modern, yet we can be transported to the bygone days. In addition, this is a blessing as we become closer to our Sadguru by participating in the routine that he followed on a regular basis.

**Contents and Sample Pages**