BABA OF SHIRDI - DARSHAN OF GOD FOR DEVOUT FAITH

Das Ganu
Once when Baba was asked Das Ganu to conduct naama saptaha (chanting the names of God continuously for one week), he agreed to do so, but with condition that at the end of the saptaha, Baba should make Vittal (one form of the deity worshipped at Pandharpur) appear (manifest himself) before him.Baba replied,”Vittal will certainly appear if one is earnest and devout. You need not go far off places. Pandharpur of vittal and dwaraka of shri Krishna are here” After completing the sapthaha, Das Ganu saw the vision of Vittal in shirdi itself.

Kakasaheb Dikshit
Dikshit was sitting as usual in meditation after bath when he saw Vittal in a vision. When he went at Noon for baba’s darshan, Baba asked him point blank,” Did Vittal Patel comes? Did you see him? Catch him firmly, otherwise he will escape. Hold him firmly otherwise he will run away, if you are inattentive”Dikshit had another darshan of Vittal at noon. A hawker was selling pictures of Vittoba, and the pictures exactly looked like the one Kakasaheb Dikshit saw in his vision. He bought a photo for worship.
Moolay sastry
In other instance, Baba gave darshan to Moolay Sastry as his guru Goraknath, and as Lord Rama to a doctor.

Aum sairam

Vishnu Sahasra Naama and Shirdisai

In my later days when I went through the Shri Sai Satcharita under the 27th chapter I was astonished and taken aback. And the following paragraph has left an unforgettable impact in me till date In that chapter it is said
Shama and Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam
Shama was a very intimate devotee of Baba and Baba wanted to favour him in a particular way by giving him a copy of Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam as Prasad. This was done in the following way. Once a Ramadasi (follower of Saint Ramadas) came to Shirdi and stayed for some time. The routine he followed daily was as follows : He got up early in the morning, washed his face, bathed and then after wearing saffron-coloured clothes and besmearing himself with sacred ashes, read Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam (a book giving a thousand names in praise of Vishnu, and held second in importance to Bhagwad Geeta) and Adhyatma-Ramayana (Esoteric version of Rama's story) with faith. He read these books often and often and then after some days Baba thought of favouring and initiating Shama with Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam. He, therefore, called the Ramadasi to Him and said to him that, He was suffering from intense stomach-pain, and unless He took Senna-pods (Sona-mukhi, a mild purgative drug) the pain would not stop; so he should please go to the bazar and bring the drug. The Ramadasi closed his reading and went to the bazar. Then Baba descended from His seat, came to the Ramadasi's place of reading, took out the copy of Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam, and coming to His seat said to Shama- "Oh Shama, this book is very valuable and efficacious, so I present it to you, you read it. Once I suffered intensely and my heart began to palpitate and My life was in danger. At that critical time, I hugged this book to my heart and then, Shama, what a relief it gave me! I thought that Allah Himself came down and saved Me. So I give this to you, read it slowly, little by little, read daily one name at least and it will do you good." Shama replied that he did not want it, and that the owner of it, the Ramadasi who was a mad, obstinate and irritable fellow would certainly pick up a quarrel with him, besides, being a rustic himself, he could not read distinctly the Sanskrit (Devanagari) letters of the book.
Shama thought that Baba wanted to set him up against the Ramadasi by this act of His, but he had no idea of what Baba felt for him. Baba must have thought to tie this necklace of Vishu-Sahasra-Nam round the neck of Shama, as he was an intimate devotee, though a rustic, and thus save him from the miseries of the worldly existence. The efficacy of God's Name is well-known. It saves us from all sins and bad tendencies, frees us from the cycle of births and deaths. There is no easier sadhana than this. It is the best purifier of our mind. It requires no paraphernalia and no restrictions. It is so easy and so effective. This sadhana, Baba wanted Shama to practise, though he did not crave for it. So Baba forced this on him. It is also reported that long ago, Eknath Maharaj, similarly, forced this Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam on a poor Brahmin neighbour, and thus saved him. The reading and study of this Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam is a broad open way of purifying the mind, and hence Baba thrust this on His Shama.
Did my Saibaba gave this palm sized book and made me to attend Sanskrit discourse and pushed me to learn the art of worshiping Vishnu through chanting his sahasra namas.and made me to find the key to drive my vehicle. At times Saibabas messages are so open and straight only thing is we have to understand his language and allow him to be with us.
Aum sairam

The impotance Shirdi Saibaba gave for Vishnu sahasra Nama

It was a Friday afternoon my Economics professor plus hostel warden called me and handed over 10 free tickets for the Gnana Yagnas conducted by Swamini Saradapriyananda, (sacred knowledge gatherings) on the Bhagavad Gita, None of the girls liked coming even I did not wanted to go because I had my mid term exams from the next day onwards....but since handed over thinking I will not only definitely come but bring nine others with me...More over the program was for six days two precious evening hours a day. However I attended the program
First day I was bit uncomfortable...many elders as participants and many of them were rereading Bhagavad Gita, It was my first experience to hear Sanskrit sounds....initially it was very tough to repeat but on the third day of the program I was able to chant verses by repeating...Thank god the meaning was explained in English and the Sanskrit verses were printed in English...dialect...I could get the essence of the Bhagavad Gita interpreted in the swami chinmayaji’s way by swamini ..as soon as the discourse was over on the third day...I rushed back to the hostel. Though my warden knows that I am attending the program I had different problems. I may or may not get my super and the fluctuation in electricity supply has to with stand and the lights have to burn so that I could prepare for the next day mid term exams.
I felt really compelled to attend the program however I did not want to upset my professor further. He was lamenting that the younger generations are going to dogs and out of ten free valuable tickets only one had attended...with so much of constraints I attended the fourth day discourse also....In the end of that day session as usual I was rushing back to catch up the spent time outside thinking of my super availability but to my surprise when I came near my Moped atlas solex I realized I have lost my Moped key in the hall..
Like a stupid I attempted to go for some discourse which I was not for ....then for missing my super... rushing back to the hostel fearing the darkness and today an added problem of missing my key. I was really helpless The crowd inside the hall has formed a queue to move towards Swamini to get Prasad from her....No other go I have to wait till the crowd dissolves....patience again and faith that I will not loose my key in that crowd. Who else to be blamed for my action...god....I was worried perturbed and restless like a rat moving multi directional without much of aim. At last the watchman of the premises became irritated and wanted me to quit the hall....Helplessly I left the hall and stood near my Moped....I felt like crying...I wanted somebody to find my key...I wanted my key...naturally when we are in dearth need we call all the gods existing in the universe and I called my Saibaba....
Standing in the centre of the road clueless to proceed without the key...My mind stopped all other activities and totally into sairam chanting...
I have parked my moped in front of a fruit juice shop... suddenly a voice came from there...I turned and saw ...the shop person asked me what is that I am in search of...I am in search of the key...my vehicle key...without the key I cannot drive the vehicle...I told him the truth...I want the key to drive back my vehicle to the hostel and I am searching that...
He smiled and gave my purse I was astonished till then I never thought of my purse I was so much towards my key. I ran towards the shopkeeper and literally snatched the purse from his hands... on the side pouch of the purse I could find my scooter key...Sai you are great I yelled aloud. The shop person looked at me differently...but I did not bother...
I thanked him and when I was about to leave he gave a small palm sized book ....I got that in my hand but told that was not mine...But however he said that book was found near my moped by the side of my purse...It was a coverless book and the verses were in Sanskrit. I thought some of the participants would have missed the one as I have done with my key....
I was very happy and thanking Saibaba all the way back to my hostel for getting back my key and handing over it to me to drive back my vehicle. On the next day I started for the program and without forgetting I took the palm sized book for the discourse thinking I will find time to hand over it to the person who is the possessor of the same...but I was exactly in the hall by 6 O’clock and the swamini was about to start ...
The discourse sounded very good and suddenly I felt I am listening to some important messages....and a real good feel...in the end of the class I got up to stand in the queue to get the Prasad from her. My purse and the palm sized book from my lap fell down....To my great surprise saibaba picture too fell from the book. I didn’t know how come a saibaba picture. I was having the book from yesterday night but no trace of anything kept inside...I did not move with the crowd I stayed back and checked the book...The verses were in Sanskrit...I decipher because of my fifth day acquaintance with the letters but still then ...slowly I asked the person next to me “Sir what is this book is about?” The elderly person browsed through the pages and said that book is about “Shri Vishnu Sahasra Naama”. But I did not want to ask further on that however I told that the book is not mine and I have to find out its owner from this crowd ...for which he answered “No child I think you have to read it that is why this book is given to you read it .It is in ragged condition and the possessor would have memorized the verses by now...no need to find the owner “
I was bit perturbed at first hearing him say that and.....I am not well versed reading Sanskrit also then how can I read it? Later after two months time one fine day I made up my mind to read that .I went and bought the English version of the verses from a book stall near town hall at Coimbatore and started reading. Now I can chant the same even without book...I can visualize Vishnu and I do recollect him as described in the verses.....
In my later days when I went through the Shri Sai Satcharita under the 27th chapter I was astonished and taken aback. And the following paragraph has left an unforgettable impact in me till date In that chapter it is said
Shama and Vishnu-Sahasra-Naama