Sai showers His mercy...

I am a devotee of Shri Sai Baba and am experiencing His grace continuously. I had read many readers’ miraculous experiences of Sai Baba; so went to Sai Baba’s temple in Shibpur (PS Nakashipara - 741 191, Dist. - Nadia, West Bengal.) on December 11, 2010. I too had several miraculous experiences, which go beyond the rational thought. Before I left I had gone to purchase two chhaddars to be presented to Baba- one from me and my mom; when the shopkeeper came to know the purpose, he not only gave me a discount, but also gave a chhaddar of his own for offering. Shibpur is a quiet village, which is about 60 k.m. away from the nearest town. The original fibre statue of Sai Baba is housed in a very charming thatched structure at the rear end of the compound. This statue of Baba is lovingly called ‘Bade Baba’ and faces the gate. The entire compound has a very charming ambience with its temples and garden. There is also cement structure to house the ‘Dhuni’ which was to be lit shortly, another thatched cabin which serves as the office and an open round thatched roof structure used as the visitor’s room. The marble temple facing the gate houses the ‘Bade Baba’ marble statue which bears a striking resemblance to the statue in the Samadhi Mandir at Shirdi. I believe Sri K.V.Ramani who donated the statue was told by Baba in a dream to donate a statue exactly like the Shirdi one. Below the Neem tree near Ramdasji’s old Mandir is a slightly smaller statue of Baba. I took Darshan of Bade Baba and handed over all the chhaddars. However the thatched Shibpur Sai temple was closed and Sri Amit Kumar Biswas, grandson of Ramdas Biswas (who built the original temple) and chairman of Nadia Shibpur Sai Sadguru Samiti asked me if I wanted my chhaddar to be draped on Baba during my visit. I replied that it was up to him.


I had also carried some poster size photos for Sri Amit – images of Vitthal-Rakhumayee, Swami Samarth and Tulja Bhavani goddess. I was stunned when he said, “Aapko Baba ne hee bheja hai. Main yahee photos dhund raha tha, jyon ki yahan nahee miltee”. (Baba has sent you; I was looking for the same photos and was unable to find them.) Strange indeed are the ways of our Sai. The thought came that if he wishes to make me an instrument of his divine will, it is a great blessing. The Aarati began in the thatched temple and the group then moved on to the original brick structure in which Ramdas Biswasji prayed 150 years ago, then, the Gurusthan and finally the Bade Baba temple. After the evening Aarati and Bhog, I got a chance to sit before Baba alone in the thatched hut. The atmosphere seemed so peaceful and divinely charged, the room being lit with only a lantern. I sat there for almost half an hour pouring my heart out to Him. There was a piercing gleam in Baba’s eyes. Occasionally His eyes seemed to be darting across the room, here and there. When I got up to leave, there was an indulgent smile on Baba’s face. I distinctly felt, Baba telling me that I should come here more often and should come here periodically just the way I go to Shirdi. Next morning I rose early for the morning Aarati and joined the group at the Bade Baba temple. It is the marble statue which is bathed (Abhishek) and dressed every day. Amitjee told me that there are specific instructions from Sai Baba not to bathe the fibre statue. After the Aarati I was thrilled to see Sai Baba dressed in the chhaddar I had offered. I had not even told them which chhaddar was from whom. The temple has a very interesting history- it is said that one day a fakir came and told Ramdas Biswas, a wealthy villager of Shibpur village of Nadia’s Nakashipara to build a temple and pray. In the middle of the 19th century, he established a temple in the compound of his house to offer daily Pooja.


It can’t be established whether Ramdas set up any idol of Shirdi Sai Baba (as Baba was alive then). But, so far the information available is that the daily prayer was stopped in the temple around 1920, the reason behind this is unknown. Slowly after the Pooja was stopped the temple became the home of venomous snakes, while dense bushes and cobwebs surrounded it. The local residents never dared to go near the temple because of the snakes and it was eventually abandoned. Strangely in 1992 a Neem tree sprouted out of the dense bush adjoining the crumbling structure of the temple. Even more surprising was the fact that the snakes started fleeing after the Neem tree started growing. Since, the snakes made their exit, the villagers cleared up a part of the area and a green field was cultivated in its place, where children could play safely. An entrance to the temple was also eventually discovered. The villagers took this incident lightly until 1999 when during Gurupournima Sai Baba appeared in the dream of Sri Amit, and ordered him to construct this temple and said that He will arrange all means required to get this temple constructed. Sri Amit narrated the dream as follows, “I saw in my dream a bright illumination of lights… as if thousands and thousands of neon lamps were lit. I was bewildered. Then I heard a voice saying ‘I am Sai Baba, your great grandfather used to worship me in this temple every day for hours together. I was very happy with him. After his demise no Pooja was conducted. I am longing for devotion and Pooja to begin once again.’ So I have planted the Neem tree there to eradicate all evils.” In that dream Baba also promised Sri Amit that in the next 11 years Baba would perform over 1000 miracles through the Shibpur temple. On December 15, 2010, the 1000th miracle took place. Sri Amit has chronicled all the miracles in his diary.

The following is the breakup of miracles that took place:

 -245 cases of sickness were healed. Some illnesses cured were cancer, paralysis, hysteria, leprosy, psychiatric disorders etc.

 - 363 prayers for children were answered.

- 113 miracles were recorded, in which Baba provided timely help to resolve business issues.

- 87 cases of miracles are noted, where Baba has provided assistance to devotees in securing a job, getting a promotion and other service related pleas.

- 78 marriage related issues were solved by Baba for His devotees who prayed.

- 114 requests of solving family issues and disputes were granted by Baba.
 

                                                                                                                                                - Amita Sawardekar


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