Reminiscences

Retired Postmaster Balwantrao Pathak once raised a query, 'How could the food served at a shraaddha (anni­versary of death) be reaching one's deceased relatives ?' ShriMaharaj replied, "Balwantrao, at least you should not have this doubt. Someone comes to you to send a money order for a hundred rupees. You do not transmit his hundred rupee note to the other end. But does not the amount of one hundred rupees reach the proper person?. Similarly, if a man gratifies someone by serving him food, with the departed person in mind, and with a sincere conviction, then what is the objection to presuming that that departed soul is gratified ? Shraddha is to be per­formed with sincerity. He who is so disposed, will certainly find gratification in shraaddha."

Reminiscences

The day before he passed away, Shri Maharaj said to Bhausaheb Ketkar, "Bhausaheb, I will pass on tomorrow Morning." On hearing this Bhausaheb said, "To die in your lap would be a joyous occasion. It was with that in my mind that I came here ."Bhausaheb, it is not fated to be so." Then Bhausaheb asked, "Where should I stay ?' ShriMaharaj told him, "Stay right here for twelve years.' Accordingly Bhausaheb stayed in Gondavale for the next twelve years. In those days there were many inconveniences there. During that pe­riod Bhausaheb had typhoid. The fever would not lessen even after ten days. On the whole the condition turned precarious. Adequate medical treatment was not pos­sible in a village like Gondavale. But not a thought of leaving Gondavale touched his mind. The fever lessened on the twenty - first day, and eventually he recovered. When asked about his state of mind then, Bhausaheb said, 'The influence of His love was so great that it did not even enter my mind to disobey His word,'

Reminiscences

A person used to meet ShriMaharaj off and on. Every time Shri Maharaj used to say to him, "You should practise chanting nama." Once the person said, "Maharaj, I unfailingly chant two hymns every day after my bath. In that  case what is the additional need for nama ?" Shri Maharaj told him, "Chanting a hymn is like meeting God through a letter. Chanting nama is like meeting God In person. As such nama is a must.'

Reminiscences

Shri Maharaj's Omnipresence

This is a story of the time when Baburao Gadre was a teacher in Kolhapur. He used to perform aarati every evening after placing milk for naivedya in a bowl before a picture of ShriMaharaj. The only water he used was at the time of offering naivedya. Later, on meeting him, ShriMaharaj said, "Baburao, even if naivedya consists of only milk, along with it drinking water is needed !" Since then he began providing a cup of water along with the bowl of naivedya.

Navarathri Programmes

ಶ್ರೀ ನಾಮದೇವಾನಂದ   ಸ್ವಾಮೀಜಿ ರವರು ಶ್ರೀ ಮಹಾರಾಜರ ಪ್ರವಚನವನ್ನು ಕುರಿತು ಉಪನ್ಯಾಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವರು.

Reminiscences

A. prominent official had retired. He began conducting research on Mahabharata to pass his time. In one work on Mahabharata he came across a statement that the incident of stripping Draupadi of her dress in the open court of King Duryodhana never took place. As he could not find anyone else's support for this view, he was un­settled. He could not unravel what the truth was. So he came to ShriMaharaj through a friend. On learning about his doubt ShriMaharaj said, "I do not know about re­search. I cannot summon knowledge of occurrences of the past and of the future. But you yourself say that saints can summon knowledge of past and future occurrences. , JnyaneshwarMaharaj, Namdeo, Eknath, Tukaram and  Samartha have been the universally accepted saints amongst us. There can be no objection to drawing upon their testimony. All of them have cited Draupadi's ex­ample to show how to call out to God with ardency. On the occasion of being stripped of her dress she called out to Shri Krishna exceedingly helplessly, and she came out of the occasion unscathed. But what I wish to tell you is that Death is dispossessing you, and you should pay attention to that. It is true that today everything is favourable to you. But when it is time for you to depart, nothing of this will answer your call, only God will help. Chant His nama and secure your well - being." The gentle­man did not give up his preoccupaton with research but, he passed away soon afterwards.

Navarathri Programme -8-10-2010