Sai Leela- 503 - Sai Baba, My Friend
My name is Mitti. I was a naïve devotee of
Sai. Sai helped me to understand Him. Om Shree Sai Nathaya Namaha!
I was born in a small village, Sambhar (Jaipur District) in Rajasthan. Due to
some medical condition, I was adopted within my family, as my Devaki Maa and I
were not well, my Yashoda Maa took care of me.
Sai Kripa on my family before I was born: (My mother narrated this story to me
long back). My father got posted to Dhar, M.P. Due to work, he needs to travel
to a nearby place. One day, my elder brother got a very high fever at night; my
mother was alone with him at home. She got frightened. Till then no one in our
family was in no way acquainted with Shree Sai Baba and His glories.
At night, she felt some presence and some agarbatti smell, she was more scared
and she hugged my brother tightly and after some time she fell asleep. When she
woke up, my brother’s fever was gone, he was alright. She could not understand
anything. At that time there was no telephone at home so she couldn’t talk to
anyone. Then she shared her experience with our Landlord who was living
upstairs. Then they told us regarding Shree Sai Mahima and explained that their
home is blessed with Sai Baba and our family also got His blessing. The landlady
also suggested that my mother visit Shirdi. That was the first time our family
visited Shirdi and got some Shree Sai tasveer, enclosed in glass in a triangle
shape.
Then I came into the picture, my Devaki maa got pregnant, but she already had
two girl children, when she came to know I am also a girl, she came to Dhar to
terminate the pregnancy. But due to some circumstances, it could not happen and
I was born. After a few months of my birth, I got Khasra and Devaki Maa got
lungs in water. So my Yashoda Maa took me with her and looked after me for the
rest of my life.
After a few years, when I grew up, my mother asked me to decorate our mandir and
do aarti. Whenever I do aarti, I love to see the reflection of Diya into Shree
Sai tasveer. (I guess, my Sai is so innocent, when I was enjoying seeing Diya
reflection, He thought I was doing His pooja and He blessed me forever in my
life.)
As my father had a transferable job, I experienced various cities in India.
Years passed. We shifted to Jaipur for my brother and my higher education.
Soon, there were some family conflicts, which resulted in a disturbance in my
relationship with my Yashoda Maa and resulted in a disturbance in my life too.
(I think then Sai decided to enter my life)
My cousin (Devaki maa’s elder daughter) got married and she got one Sai Baba
poster from Shirdi for us. We hung it on one of our doors. Whenever I felt upset
I started talking to Him. I used to call Him Krishna (my best friend). Whenever
I was alone at home, I used to sit in front of that poster, speak about what I
like and what I hate, and so on.
I don’t know when, I don’t even need to sit in front of It, I can just close my
eyes and feel His presence. Whenever I need a friend I just close my eyes and
start talking in my mind.
I do remember one strong incident; it was when companies came to our college for
placement. I went to the main campus which was in Newai near Jaipur for a
placement interview. It was going to be my first interview. Due to some reason,
the interviews started later than the scheduled time. Few candidates were
interviewed and some were sent back to the hostel, without an interview. There
was some whispering that those that were sent back to the hostel were rejected.
In the second lot, I was also on the list of student, who was asked to go back
to the hostel. I was a little scared. I came back and closed my eyes and found
Krishna in front of me. I begged Him to clear me in the interview. The next
morning, again interview started and I was selected for the job. (I could say,
it was my best interview till now).
Then after a few months, my father again got transferred from Jaipur and I
joined my job. In between, I lost that poster of my Sai, but it was engraved in
my heart by then.
Then I got engaged and came to Mumbai. Soon I got married. After a few months of
my marriage, I got the first opportunity to visit Shirdi. My husband and I got
in the queue at 4:00 AM. I was too excited to be at that place. When I was
walking in line, I was looking at the TV and was seeing Shree Sai Baba. When I
was about to see Him in front of me, I had a feeling that I was about to see
something very very precious and mine.
The moment I saw Him, I had tears in my eyes. After the darshan, I started
searching for the same poster, which I had lost. I was not able to find it and
then I got Sai tasveer enclosed in glass in a rectangle shape. I started doing
pooja in the same manner which I used to do in my childhood.
After a few years, I gave birth to my daughter (that too on Janmashtami night at
11:58 PM). Exactly, after six months of my daughter’s birth, my bhabhi gave me
laddu Gopal. I got more and more devoted to It.
In between, I visited Shirdi 2-3 times with my family but somewhere in my life,
I was not happy. As there was no family support, I needed to quit my job to take
care of my daughter. I am a family and career-oriented woman. I had my family
but lost my job.
As I had a strong urge to work, I started finding some freelance work on
freelancer which I could work from home. My husband and brother both helped me
to get a few projects to work upon. Later my husband got a work-from-home
opportunity and I got a job in a start-up company with flexible working hours,
which was very close to my home. I could easily manage my family and career.
After around two years, my husband got an opportunity for an on-site job, which
he was eagerly looking for. After a few months, I was supposed to join him, but
due to Covid, everything stopped, including flights, visas, etc.
I stayed in Mumbai for three months with my daughter and then went to Jaipur to
be with my in-laws.
After a few months, my father, who is asthmatic got Covid and was admitted to
the hospital. When my brother told me that over the phone, I was completely
frightened. Instead of chanting some sholak or prayer, I was just repeating in
my heart, ‘Krishna, aap mere sath ho toh bus unko bacha lo, please’ (if you are
there with me then just save him, please). The next day evening, he was
discharged from the hospital and after some days he was ok. I am so grateful to
my Sai.
Then after a few months, my cousin sister-in-law visited my in-law’s house. It
was the first time that I was about to meet her in person. She stayed for about
10 days, which changed my life. Even though I believed in Sai, I did not know
Him. (Sai ko janti toh thi but pehchanti nai this). She introduced Sai
Satcharitra, Sai leelas, and Sai’s impact on His devotees. She was part of the
Global Mass Prayer – The Global Mahaparayan in which devotees read 2 chapters of
Shri Sai Satcharitra.
In my inner thoughts, I was willing to become part of It, but was not sure, how
seriously I would be able to do that. I have responsibilities for my daughter,
my work, and my family. I was not sure to start, as I didn’t want to leave if I
felt myself in-competent but there was an inner urge to join it, as it was
starting of January (Mal mass- in our religion we restrain this period to start
any new auspicious thing). I thought that I can start on some auspicious
Thursday. I looked in the calendar, I found that very next Thursday was
Sankranti and Mal mass would just end a day before it. I texted my sister-in-law
and told her that I wanted to join the Global Mahaparayan. She told me most of
the new groups start during Dussehra, but if there was any seat available then I
may get into a group luckily I got a spot and joined the Global Mahaparayan.
Then again the magic happened; I read my first Mahaparayan chapter on 14 Jan
2021 and the visa office opened in India. I got the appointment for the very
first day which was next Thursday, 21 Jan 2021. I believe this was Sai leela to
introduce Him into my life. Before this, I was not even aware that He took
Samadhi on Dussehra. I was so naïve. I just believed Him as my friend and He
took care of me at every point of my life, just as a maai. Soon His role in my
life shifted from a friend to a Guru.
I need to travel abroad, to be with my husband. For that I need to come back to
Mumbai, to do all the pending things. Whenever I traveled, I was a little scared
of Covid, as my daughter was too small to understand. Also, I need to travel
alone with a kid and a lot of luggage. Whenever I was on a flight I just closed
my eyes and asked my Sai to help. I could feel that He sent me help, in some or
the other form.
Soon I joined my husband. I was so happy to be safe with my daughter even after
traveling so much. My husband, who was alone for more than a year and that too
in Covid time, was doing well. We were safe and healthy, just with His
blessings.
I started looking for a job and quickly I got a very nice opportunity.
Then again, one miracle happened. For Rakhi I was thinking of sending some
personalized gifts to my Bhai and bhabhi. I started looking into a backup photo
from my old phone to get some pics. I found the Sai poster photo. I don’t even
remember if I had ever clicked that photo. I was so, so happy to find it.
Sai has given me all the happiness in my life. With Maha parayan, I started
reading Shri Sai Satcharitra one chapter on a daily basis to know Him more and
more. After reading Shri Sai Satcharitra, I learned why I called him Krishna
initially in my life. How He wants me to offer Him Naivedya, in the form of
Laddu Gopal bhog. I am still learning more about Him and His leelas.
I am so much changed internally, earlier I used to get upset with little, little
facts. Now I try to understand the meaning behind it. I know Sai can never leave
my hand, He was holding me when I didn’t even know Him.
I felt so blessed to have Sai in my life. May Sai Baba shower His blessing on
all of you!
Source:
Shirdi Sai Devotee Mitti from
Canada - Shirdisaidevotees
