12. STRIKING SlMlLARITY OF WORDS

 

Sri Sathya Sai always addresses Shirdl Sai as, My previous body". He often indicates and relates vents and gives explanations to bring out the identity and similarity between the two Forms. He speaks of His dealings with people, circumstances that occurred there, the examples He had been giving in the Shirdi Form to explain certain points, the queries that used to be raised before Him at that time. He often recounts what He had told certain devotees like Das Ganu and Mahalas­pathy when He was at Shirdi and says, "Just as you nowadays witness My Leelas simllar ones had aiso been there in My Shirdi days". Sometimes while replying to a question, He is heard saying, "The same doubt was raised by such and such man when He had come to Shirdi and he too had asked the same query". Baba would continue then to give the same answer which He had given to the devotee earlier whilst at Shirdl. He recognises very well all the devotees, disciples and sadhakas associated with Him at Shirdi. He acknowledges them as His own devotees and disciples. In fact He often tells them, "I have known you for the past many years". At times He is heard reminding a devotee that, "Though this is the first time you have come in the Presence of this body, I have seen you twenty years ago, when you had come to Shirdi". The person con­cerned is invariably able to recollect about his, visit to Shirdi twenty years ago. Not only that, but He is also known to encourage, induce, attract and inspire devotees to visit Shirdi. He give, full details and instructions about the way to reach Shirdi and varied details of the place, which could be known only to a person who has lived there sufficiently long. He has even told as to how water was being drawn from a well in those days to irrigate the areas around and describes the beautiful life-like idol of Shirdi Sai installed n the Shirdi Mandir. He is often heard muttering the same sayings that Shirdi Sai used to utter, "Why fear when I am here". "You look to Me, I look at you". To some devotees who were going to Shirdi, He had told at Parthi, "When you reach Shirdi, go and sleep at Dwarkamayi where I will come in your dream". He answers questions which He had left unanswered at Shirdi. Many have experienced this.

 

Infinite in fact are the incidents of such recognitions that have kept on sprouting in the vast 'Kshetra (field)' of the unfoldment of the Divine drama of reincarnation. Suffice to mention a couple of them - one that occurred during Baba's visit to Coorg, where He singled out from among the multitude gathered there for Darshans, a fervent devotee of the previous "Sariram". Baba conveyed His pleasure, at the said devotee being a life member of the Sai Baba Trust.

 

Let us not forget the awe inspiring occurr­ence that took place when He reminded the mother of a well-built man that she had placed her son under His care some fifteen years ago. In stunned amazement, the lady did recollect, having placed in sheer desperation her seriously ill child at Shirdi Sai's Feet in the shrine room of her dwelling at Madras!

 

The thread of sameness continues unbroken through these two consecutive beads of the phenomenon of Avatharhood, when we recapitulate some of their sayings. At Shirdi, Sainath said, "This Dwarkamayi is the dankapuri of Dakurnath, the Pandhari of Vithala and the Dwarka of Ranchhod (Lord Krishna)". In the reappearance at Parthi, He has gone on to announce, that the present Dwarkamayi(Prasanthi Nilayam)is another Mathura, another Badrinath and another Tirupathi. "My favourite abode", said the Sai of Shirdi, "is the heart of a true Bhakta". In an identical saying, Parthi Baba has vouchsafed, "I am the Indweller of your heart".