It was in 2019, when I was in Shirdi, that through a known acquaintance I was introduced to someone in the Sansthan.
At the time, I was working on a small documentary series and was seeking permission to get and use some archival footage for the work.
It was in this very regard that I sought this appointment. When we had this meeting, I was offered tea, but I politely refused, saying I had already had three cups since morning and that I simply would ask for water instead.
The family insisted, but I refused politely. Then on leaving, they asked me what I was doing the very next morning, so I said I was available. They simply asked me to wait at the entry gate and that they would meet me there.
I agreed and left. The next day, to my surprise, when we met, instead of taking me to meet any official or to complete the work I was seeking help with, I was taken directly into the Samadhi Mandir for Baba’s darshan. I was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.
This was completely unexpected, and I was taken out of line directly to Baba’s samadhi. After paying my obeisance there, and still overcome with emotion and tears, I was taken into a room adjacent to the Samadhi and asked to sit there.
This room is to the right from the outside where devotees can see the darshan of Baba’s idol from outside. My heart was full of gratitude and joy, and I could feel that Baba had pulled me there.
I was bowing down and looking at Baba’s lotus feet and not looking upwards out of love and respect for Baba. Then I was absorbed in silence, feeling Baba’s presence through every pore of my being.
Even while writing this, the very recollection generates these waves of emotions and feelings I had felt then.
In a while, suddenly a young lad entered the room with a tea kettle in his hand and offered tea to the officials present in the office. I too was offered tea this time, and I was silent.
The gentleman looked at me with a smile and said, “Yesterday you refused tea back home, so today Baba has given you tea as prasad.”
Hearing this, I humbly accepted it as prasad with a smile. I was sitting on the ground in a meditation posture, and when I took a sip of tea, I was forced to look upwards towards Lord Baba, whose face was beaming with radiant light, and He was laughing almost at my state.
I had the tea with gratitude and learned never to ever refuse food or water when offered by anyone. This was a teaching in the Sai Satcharitra, and Baba taught me this beautiful lesson in His own miraculous way.
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