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Chapter - 9

Shri Ganeshayanamah! O Rukmini's consort, O you, who lives on the bank of Chandrabhaga, adores flute and blesses saints, you are the saviour of the fallen and giver of blessings. Greatness of the great cannot exist without the presence of small ones, and God cannot get his importance without the existence of sinners. Oh God please remember that because of us, the sinners, you are called the saviour. "Paras has the importance because its touch turns iron into gold. Godavari is called a holy river because it accepts the water from all small brooks. Oh, Madhava think over this and give a helping hand to this Dasganu, to save him from drowning. One "Kirtankar" named Govindbua Taklikar once came to Shegaon to perform Kirtan. There was an ancient temple of God Shiva at Shegaon and it was renovated by a rich man named Mote. Now-a-days the rich people are not very fond of spending money over building or renovating religious institutions like temples, instead they like investing their money on motors, cars and cycles. Mote Saokar was not that kind of a person. Though he was rich, he was a believer in God, and that was why he got the temple renovated. So the temple was called Mote's temple. Now listen to the story. Govindbua Taklikar camped in the above-mentioned Mote's temple and had tied his horse in front of the main door. The horse had very bad habits like kicking anybody coming near it, and biting people as well. It frequently snapped the ropes holding it, never stayed steady and at times used to run away in the jungles. Day and night it used to neigh causing lot of noise. Govindbua had got specially prepared iron chain for it, but forgot to bring the same with him during his trip to Shegaon The horse was some how tied with a rope while Govindbua slept in the temple monitoring the horse at all times. It was past midnight and everything, had drowned into a pitch darkness. Night birds, creating fearful sounds, were searching for their feed. All the doors in the villages were closed and there was a fearful dead silence all around. Nobody was seen on the roads. At that time Shri Gajanan came to the place where the horse was tied. Saints' birth on this earth is ordained by Gods to improve the bad people, and as medicine cures disease, the saints help remove the wickedness from the disillusioned people. So Shri Gajanan Maharaj on that particular night came to the horse and happily slept between its four legs. He was reciting His usual Mantra-"Gana Gan Ganat Bote", the meaning of which nobody knew. My interpretation of this symbolic Bhajan is as follows - Gani means count, Individual soul, (Gana) means devotee, who is not different from Brahma and to suggest it the word "Ganat" is used. Bote appears to be the corrupt form of Bate meaning individual soul in Brahma Himself and not anything different from it. There are two versions of this Bhajan, but we need not bother about it, as we are concerned about the story only. So Shri Maharaj slept in the four legs of the horse and was reciting the above mentioned Bhajan. The horse stood still as if restrained by the means of the “Chain” of this Bhajan. Govindbua was constantly anxious about his violent horse and so frequently got up and saw to it that the horse was restrained and not creating any havoc in the neighbourhood. When he saw that his horse was standing still it surprised him and he feared that his horse might be inflicted by some sort of an illness. The horse’s silence was quite unusual as it was never silent like this before. So, anxiously he went to the horse and was astonished to see that somebody was sleeping below its stomach. When he carefully looked down, he found that Shri Gajanan Maharaj was sleeping there. He now knew the reason as to why his horse stood so peacefully. It dawned on him that it was due to Shri Maharaj’s presence that the horse kept quiet. Just like the fragrance of Musk driving away the bad smell, the divine power emanating from Maharaj drove away all the sins surrounding the horse. Govindbua prostrated before Maharaj, placed his forehead on the feet of Maharaja and said, "O Maharaj, you are really Gajanan who clears all the obstructions. I have seen and experienced this today. My horse being very wicked caused all the people a lot of worry and anxiety, and so you have come to drive away its wickedness. It has been possessed by several bad habits like jumping and kicking while someone was riding it. I was fed-up with it and had offered to sell it off, but nobody wanted it, not even if I gave it away for free. It is really a good thing that you have obliged me by calming down this animal. Horse owned by a preacher like me should be a gentle one, since it is the sole means of transportation for us. Tiger is harmful in the house of a cowherd." Thus the horse suddenly became gentle and thereby Shri Maharaj manifested His power to save even the animal life from straying away to the wrong path. Then He said to the Horse "O friend, don't be naughty hereafter and quit all your bad habits from this moment on. Remember that you are standing here before Shiva and so should behave like a bull. Do not trouble anybody henceforth." Saying so, Shri Gajanan, who controlled the behaviour of an animal, went away. Next day, while Shri Maharaj was in the garden, Govindbua came there riding his horse. All people of Shegaon knew the misbehaving horse of Govindbua very well and feared it greatly. When they saw it coming one of them said, "Govindbua, why have you brought this trouble with you? This horse will harm the ladies and children here." Thereupon Govindbua said that Shri Maharaj had made the horse sober last night and forced it to abandon all its bad habits and that there was no need for anyone to fear it anymore. The horse was allowed to stand unrestrained under a tree and lo, it stood there for an hour in a well behaved manner. There was lot of vegetables & grass around the horse but he did not touch it at all. See how powerful are the saints, who can control the mannerisms of even the animals and change their habits. In praise of Maharaj, Govindbua chanted as follows: Nobody in the world is able to understand your actions. Your Blessings can bring-round any villain. Please place your hand on my head as my benefactor." So praising Him, Govindbua left for Takli on his horse. Every day people used to come to Shegaon with the intentions of fulfilling their desires. Among them were two persons from Balapur, who, on their way, vowed to offer "Ganja” to Shri Maharaj the next time they visited Shegaon in the exchange of the completion of their desirable tasks. They believed that Shri Maharaj liked Ganja more than sweets. The other time they visited Shegaon; however, they forgot to bring Ganja along with them. They felt shy and vowed to bring twice the quantity next time they visited Shegaon. The next time they visited Shegaon too, they forgot to bring Ganja with them. Referring to them Shri Maharaj said to Bhaskar, "Look at the way people behave these days. They vow to do something enthusiastically and then forget all about it. They are Brahmans by caste and yet do not know the fact that Brahmans are expected to practise as they preach. That is why this caste has lost its superiority. When they vow something and forget about fulfilling it how can they expect to get their desires fulfilled? Bhaskar, one should adhere to what he speaks or vows, in order to get the blessings of God." These words hurt the two Brahmins very much and they looked at each other in surprise to realize that Maharaj knew everything that was in their mind. When they saw that Shri Maharaj knew everything about their vow and subsequently having failed to fulfil it, they were guilt struck and immediately got up to go to the market to shop for Ganja and thereby bring the Ganja to Maharaj right away to correct their mistake. Thereupon Shri Maharaj said, "Why are you now crying over the spilt milk? I do no craze for Ganja; so don't go to the market now. Only remember the lesson that one should keep up his vows and promises made before God or saints in order to deserve God's blessings, as liars don't get them. Now you go, and bring Ganja only after the fulfilment of your desires. It will be fulfilled by next week. But remember to come here five times for the Darshan of Shri Shiva, by whose blessings Kubera became rich. Go, prostrate before Him and do not forget to bring Ganja next time you visit Shegaon. One should not violate the vows made to God and the saints." They accordingly bowed before Lord Shiva and returned to Balapur. Next week after the fulfilment of their wishes, they came to Shegaon to offer Ganja as per their vow. Now listen to another story of Balapur. Balkrishana of Balapur was a great devotee of Shri Ramdas Swami. His wife Putalabai was an equally pious lady, and they both used to visit Sajjangad every year on foot. Their journey started in the month of Poush with a horse for company to carry their luggage which consisted of three things - A kubadi, and the sacred book of Dasbodh. His piety was free of any form of ego. They accepted alms of food in the villages on way and the same food was offered to Shri Rama before they had their meals. Every year he used to leave Balapur with his wife, on the 9th Vadya of 'Poush' month. On the way they continuously chanted the name of Rama and thus with the chant of Shri Ram Nama emanating from their lips they travelled via Shegaon Khamgaon, Mehkar, Deulgaon Raja and Jalna, where they paid respects to Shri Anand Swami. Then from Jalna they went to Jamb, the birthplace of Shri Ramdas Swami, where they used to stay for three days. From there went to Divara, Bid, Mohari, Beleshwar and Domgaon, the place of Kalyan, the arch devotee of Shri Ramdas Swami. Thereafter to Narsingpur, Pandharpur, Nate Pote Shingnapur, Wait at Satara. Thus he used to reach Sajjangad on 1st Vadya of "Magh" month to attend the celebrations of Navami (Magh). As an offering to Shri Ramdas Swami, Balkrishana used to feed the Brahmins to the best extent possible for him. He was a real Ramdasi, it is really difficult to find any Ramdasi like him, now a days. After the celebrations of Ram Navami he used to return the same way he followed while going there. This routine continued for years till he became 60 years old. On the eve of starting his return journey, he sat near the "Samadhi" of Shri Ramdas Swami with tears in his eyes, and with extreme grief said, "O all powerful Ramdas Swami, O my teacher and guide. I have become old now and as such it will not be possible for me to come here all the way hereafter on foot. Even journeying here by a vehicle appears difficult for me. I could follow this routine of an annual visit so far, but it may not be possible hereafter. You know that to follow any sacred or devotional routine, good health is required of the follower. Praying thus, Balkrishna went to sleep. In the dream he saw Shri Ramdas Swami saying to him, "Don't despair. You need not come to Sajjangad hereafter. I am very much pleased by your devotion and so wish you to celebrate "Navami" at your home next year. I will come to you that time. This is my promise. Expenditure for the celebration of Navami should be within your means. Balkrishna was very happy about the dream. He returned to Balapur with his wife. Now listen to what happened next year at Balapur. Balkrishna started the celebration of Ramdas Navami on the first day of Magh Vadya at Balapur. The daily routine was that of reading the “Dasbodh” during the daytime, and performing the Kirtan at night. At noon he offered food to the Brahmans and performed Arati in the evening. But all the while Balkrishna was eagerly waiting to see Shri Swami come and visit him as per His promise. The villagers contributed money for this celebration as requested by Balkrishana, and thus the "Utsava" continued for all the nine days at Balapur. And on the 9th day there was a surprise. At noon on that day Shri Gajanan Maharaj appeared at the door of Balkrishna Bua when he, along with other people, was offering worship to Shri Ram. People at the door called for Shri Balkrishna so as to receive Shri Maharaj. He was very happy to see Shri Gajanan Maharaj, but at the same time said that he was eagerly waiting for Shri Ramdas Swami to come to his house as per His promise. He was certain that His word would not go waste. Shri Gajanan Maharaj started reciting “shlokas” from Dasbodh. Hearing those lines, Balkrishna rushed to the door and saw Shri Gajanan Maharaj with his long arms and usual self without any clothes adorning the body. He prostrated before Him and when he looked up he saw Shri Ramdas Swami in place of Shri Gajanan Maharaj. Balkrishna Bua was overwhelmed with the love and affection of his benefactor for keeping up the promise, and his eyes were full of tears due to the extreme happiness. Moments later He appeared to him to be Shri Gajanan Maharaj in place of Ramdas Swami and as he was disappointed at the disappearance of Shri Ramdas, again Shri Swamiji appeared in place of Shri Gajanan Maharaj. Thus alternately Ramdas Swami and Gajanan Maharaj would appear before him like intermediately disappearing images in a cinema. He was confused and could not understand this mystery. Then Maharaj said, "Don't get confused, I am your Ramdas Swami. In the past I was staying at Sajjangad and now I reside in the garden at Shegaon. As per my promise given to you last year at Sajjangad, I have come to you. Do not have any doubts, I am Ramdas. Know the "Atman" only and forget its covering of a body. Remember what is said in the Geeta. Come on now and offer me a "Pat" to sit on." Shri Gajanan Maharaj got hold of his hand, entered the house with him and sat on a Pat. The news of the Saint's arrival spread in Balapur and people started coming to get His glimpse. Balkrishna worshipped Shri Maharaj, but the whole day he was thinking about what Shri Maharaj said. At night Shri Ramdas appeared in his dream and said, "Shri Gajanan Maharaj is My incarnation, and so do not have any doubt about it. Otherwise it will entail your downfall. Your worship to Him is the same as worship to Me." On seeing the dream, Balkrishna most respectfully prostrated before Shri Maharaj and said, "You have removed all my doubts by appearing in my dream. I am now fully satisfied with the celebrations of Navami, and feel very much grateful to You. Now please do me a favour by staying with me for a few days." Thereupon Shri Maharaj promised to come again after some days and went away. He reached Shegaon in a moment and was not seen by anybody on the way. May this "Gajanan Vijay" Granth bring happiness to all the devotees. This is what Dasganu wishes. May good come to all. "SUBHAM BHA VA TU" Here end of Chapter Nine

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