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B.Vijaykumar (Hyderabad,
A. P.) Lakhs
of devotees from all over the country and the globe come to Shirdi for
the Darshan of Shri Sai Baba. Many among these devotees are
philanthropic. I consider myself very privileged as Baba chose a common
person like me to offer Him the golden footwear, golden net and the Kalash
of the Samadhi Mandir and get the adjoining Gopurams
gold-plated. Me
and my wife, Vanaja came into the fold of Baba around 1989-90. Prior to
that I was in service. Whenever I was transferred in my job, I left all
my belongings in that place itself and presented myself at the new
posting. Only the idol of Baba, received as a gift in our marriage,
traveled with us, wherever we went. We did not pay serious attention to
this idol. Later in Hyderabad when we purchased a new car, we used to go
for Baba’s Darshan. However without going into the temple, we
took Darshan from outside itself. In 2004, we started going to
the Shri Sai Baba temple in Panchkuta, Hyderabad. Gradually we started
doing the Aarati every night at 10 o’ clock. The idol in the
temple was very beautiful. But due to paucity of funds the flooring work
was pending. I expressed my desire, to get the flooring of the temple
done, to the temple secretary. I expected it to cost Rs. 4 to Rs. 5
lakhs. The temple secretary directly selected white Italian marble for
the said work. Two and a half years ago a Marwari householder had
purchased such marble for his own house. I got them for Rs. 15 lakhs.
With the blessings of Baba this was the first donation made by me in my
life. With this flooring the ambience of the temple was transformed and
slowly the flow of donations to the temple also began. Further, my wife
Vanaja expressed her desire to donate funds for the temple’s
meditation hall. Accordingly we again gave a donation of Rs. 10 lakhs.
After that, a devotee got a centralized air conditioner installed. Even
a golden throne for Baba is getting ready in the temple. After donating
to this temple my trade also flourished at very rapid pace. I tried to
spend all the wealth acquired with the grace of Baba, for Baba’s work
only. On
October 8th,
I came to Shirdi for Sai Baba’s Darshan with friends and
then slowly the regular trips to Shirdi began. From 2006, I began coming
to Shirdi every month. Later I began coming twice a month, then thrice a
month and now I come four times a month for Baba’s Darshan. Now
I have firmly realized that there is nothing other than Baba. In 2005,
when the worship in the temple of my house was on, one out of the 20 to
25 bells began chiming without any wind or whiff of air. I considered it
to be Baba’s miracle. I had purchased a Hindi book titled,
“You only gave me the pain, You only will give me the balm.” When
one opened this book, a fragrance would pervade. Once while doing
worship in my house on Ramnavami, the flame of the lamp was extinguished
by my wife and it was lighted again automatically. We were all overcome
with emotion at these miracles of Baba. Since Sai Baba had given us
everything, we never asked for anything from Baba. Our only prayer is to
keep everybody happy. After
coming to Shirdi for Darshan, we made many new acquaintances. I
got to know Shri Shrinivas, who looked after the old-age Ashram
of Dwarkamai Seva Trust in Shirdi. Shri Shrinivas later introduced me to
the trustee of the Sansthan Dr. Eknath Gondkar. Once Dr. Gondkar invited
us to his house for break-fast. There we expressed to Dr. Gondkar our
desire to give a permanent thing for Baba. I asked if we would be
permitted to do so. On that Dr. Gondkar asked us to place our proposed
desire ! He said, he would place it at the meeting of the Board of
Trustees. I desired to present a golden Padukas (footwears) for
which I was ordinarily prepared to spend Rs. 3.5 lakhs. Accordingly I
applied for a proper permission to be allowed to donate the golden Padukas.
The Board of Trustees approved the same. I am grateful to the chairman
of the Sansthan Shri Jayant Sasane, the vice-chairman Shri Shankararao
Kolhe, the Sansthan’s Board of Trustees and executive officer Shri
Bhausaheb Wakchaure. The Board of Trustees granted the permission; but
stated that 3.5 kgs of gold would be required for the purpose. I was
only prepared for Rs. 3.5 lakhs. “Baba had given the permission and
now Baba alone would arrange it,” with these sentiments I went to
Hyderabad. I was in the business of buying and selling land. I wanted to
sell 16 acres of land. I had mentally decided that whatever money I get
over and above my desired amount, I will donate it entirely for Baba’s
Padukas. With Baba’s blessings a customer also came, He paid
much more than I expected. After concluding the deal he gave me 50% of
the amount due in cash and for the balance he requested me to accept 3
kgs of gold biscuit. In my business I was never offered gold in lieu of
cash. Considering it Baba’s miracle, I came to Shirdi that very night.
I offered 3 kgs gold to Baba, as it was not mine. I told those concerned
to begin work of the Padukas immediately. In a week’s time I
got further cash equivalent to the cost of half kg. gold, which I
deposited with the Sansthan. Baba’s Padukas were ready and
ritually installed with Pooja-archana in the temple. It is indeed
my great fortune to be given this opportunity. After
the dedication of Sai Baba’s Padukas my business also increased
a great deal. I got known all over the country. In one deal I got more
money than I needed from the party of Chennai. A thought came to my mind
to donate something to the temple in the name of my father. Accordingly,
when I came on Diwali for Laxmi-pooja, the priest of the temple
said it would be nice if there was a netted cover for the water placed
for Baba. With the blessings of Baba, I immediately offered a 3.5 kgs
gold netted cover to the temple. One
day, the caretaker of the old-age Ashram Shri Shrinivas took us
for breakfast to the Dwarkamai eating house in front of Dwarkamai, from
where we saw the temple top (Kalash). The Kalash of
Tirupati instantly flashed before my eyes and I got a desire to have the
same for Sai Baba’s temple. It was Baba Who put this desire in my mind
and indicated to begin the work soon. I expressed this desire to the
temple trustee Dr. Eknath Gondkar and presented my application for the
same. I was given an estimated requirement of 3 kgs. of gold for this
work, and I consented. Only the labour charges was more for this work. I
met the executive officer Shri Bhausaheb Wakchaure. He gave permission
immediately. In the first phase I deposited a gold biscuit of 1 kg. with
the Sansthan. Once again I received gold in lieu of cash in a deal. I
began accepting that Baba was giving me this gold for His work only.
Even this gold I deposited with those concerned. The work on the Kalash
was completed on Gurupournima Utsav day and ritually
consecrated too. My aged mother came to this programme, climbed the
temple steps and reached the venue of the Kalash worship
programme. In fact Baba only gave her the strength. Today when I see the
Kalash, I fail to express in words the immense joy and
fulfillment I experience. Baba
has mentioned the significance of donating food (Annadan) in Shri
Sai Satcharita. Accordingly we did Annadan on Gurupournima day
for 25000 people in Shirdi. On August 30, 2007, we entered our new home.
To mark the occasion we did Annadan to serve 25000 people in the Sai
Baba temple at Vanasthalipuram also. There is a desire to offer much
more services to Baba. I intend to donate a cowshed (Goshala) in
Shirdi; so that the fuel for the Dhuni would be available from
this Goshala. But, it is equally true that this work is not
possible without the wish of Baba. It
is accrued blessings of our previous births that Baba gave us this
opportunity to serve Him. There are lakhs of hands that come to Shirdi
and give. I consider it my great fortune to be selected by Baba for the
above work. In the true sense, all this credit goes to Baba, as I served
Baba only with the surplus I received. This I humbly admit here. While
serving Baba in Shirdi, the Sansthan’s chairman Shri Jayant Sasane,
vice-chairman Shri Shankararao Kolhe, trustees Shri Radhakrishna Vikhe
Patil and Dr. Eknath Gondkar, all other trustees, executive officer Shri
Bhausaheb Wakchaure and employees of all departments in the Sansthan,
showered us with lots of love. We can never forget their love and the
reverential hospitality they showed us at all times. Penned
in Marathi by Mohan Yadav Public
Relation Officer, Shri
Sai Baba Sansthan Trust (Shirdi) Translated
by Vishwarath Nayar email : vishwarath_2006@rediffmail.com qqq Attention Devout Devotees Devout
devotees are hereby informed that some selfish individuals are forming
fake organizations to indicate that these are branches of the
official Shree Sai Baba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi. It has come to our
notice that these organizations are collecting donations from devout
devotees by misrepresenting their organizations as that of the Shirdi
Sansthan. Barring
only one branch in Mumbai, the Shree Sai Baba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi
does not have any other branches anywhere. Hence, all devotees should
beware of the lies and false representations of such misrepresenting
individuals and organizations. |
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