I have not pulled you here to return – Shirdi Sai Baba

It was some time in the year 1913, when a woman wearing black sari and carrying an infant in her hand climbed steps of Dwarkamai in early morning. She placed the infant on the floor of Masjid Mai and bowed down to its presiding deity Sai Baba. The women whose name was Durgabai Karmaarkar was so touched by Baba’s darshan that she forgot everything and tears flowed down her cheeks. At that very moment all her bad deeds vanished. Durgabai’s baby was of eight months. She was very poor and it seemed difficult to her to meet expenses of her Shirdi stay.

Omnipotent Baba already knew about this fact and said, “This is Sai’s court. This Dwarkamai does good to everyone. Dont worry about anything. Nothing can trouble you Here. Now go and sit under that Neem tree. Sit there for three days without uttering a single word and dont partake any food or water. On fourth day morning everything will be alright”.

Durgabai answered, “Baba! I am not bothered if i dont get food or water for three consecutive days. But what about my little kid? He lives on milk. So if i get some milk let alone other food for him, it is enough for me. Baba! i am very poor. I have none to support”.

Baba answered, “Go, Go, if you dont get milk for your kid, dont give him anything. Just keep him sleeping. Allah is Malik! – Allah is Almighty!”

There was no room for doubt in Baba’s words for Durgabai. Still her eyes were wet with tears.

Durgabai decided to stick with Baba’s words whatever may be the consequence, good or bad. Baba’s words gave her immense strength to abide by this order.

Durgabai went and sat under neem tree as Baba’s words were law and strength for such helpless devotees. It was the same neem tree where, today, Gurusthan is sighted. Three days were passed by Durgabai without food and water and without uttering a single word to anyone. But more surprising fact here was that the infant of eight months also did not cry for milk or food. Even both mother and son did not attended to their natural calls during these three days.

On the fourth day in early morning Baba came and gave a piece of chapati to Durgabai and place a two rupee coin in her son’s hand to buy milk. Baba gave some advice to Durgabai, “Dont talk with anyone unnecessarily. Be silent till it is possible. Serve others and that will be considered as My Service.” While such talks were going on between Baba and Durgabai, Balabhau having a hotel of his own in Shirdi, came to them and said to Baba with his folded hands, “Baba! i take responsibility of this lady on my shoulders”.

Thus Baba arranged everything to feed that poor lady and her son. The infant was not named till then. Baba named him Raghunath.

Durgabai had decided to stay in Shirdi for seven to eight days. After this span of time she went to Dwarkamai for permission to leave Shirdi. Baba said, “Go and sit at your place. I have pulled you here, but I have not pulled you here to return. I pull only those who are Mine”.

The lane between Dwarkamai and Lendibaug was unoccupied at that time. So if any residence was built in that unoccupied space then one could have easy darshan of Baba while His rounds to Lendibaug in morning and evening. With her efforts and toil, Durgabai built a Kachha house in between the way from Dwarkamai to Lendibaug in a short time. She installed a photograph of Baba for daily worship. She had preserved that two rupees coin with her which Baba gave to her son for milk. The same was kept in shrine by Duragabai and daily worshiped without fail in early morning.

© Shirdi Sai Baba Life Teachings and Stories