Prideless And Egoless

Aum Sairam

How Saints love each other with fraternal affection. Once Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati, known as Shri Tembye Swami encamped, at Rajamahendri [Andhra Country], on the banks of Godavari. He was a devout, orthodox, Jnani and Yogi Bhakta of the God Dattatreya. One, Mr. Pundalikrao, pleader of Nanded [Nizam State] went to see him, with some friends. While they were talking with him, the names of Shirdi and Sri Sai were casually mentioned. Hearing Sri Sai's name, the Swami bowed with his hands and taking a coconut gave it to Pundalikrao, and said to him, Offer this to my brother Sri Sai, with my pranam and request Him not to forget me, but ever love me. He also added that the Swamis do not generally bow to others, but in this case an exception had to be made. Mr. Pundalikrao consented to take the fruit and his message to Sri Sai. The Swami was right in calling Sri Sai a brother, for as he maintained an Agnihotra [Sacred fire] day and night, in his orthodox fashion; Sri Sai too kept His Agnihotra, i.e., Dhuni ever burning in the Masjid.

After one month Pundalikrao and others left for Shirdi with the coconut, and reached Manmad, and as they felt thirsty they went to a rivulet for drinking water. As water should not be drunk on an empty stomach, they took out some refreshments, i.e., Chivda [flattened rice mixed with spice]. The Chivda tasted pungent and in order to soften it, some one suggested and broke the coconut and mixed its scrapings with it. Thus they made the Chivda mare tasty and palatable. Unfortunately the fruit broken, turned out to be the same, that was entrusted to Pundalikrao. As they neared Shirdi, Pundalikrao remembered the trust, i.e., the coconut and was very sorry to learn that it was broken and utilized. Fearing and trembling, he came to Shirdi and saw Sri Sai.

Sri Sai had already received a wireless message, regarding the coconut, from the Tembye Swami, and Himself asked Pundalikrao first to give the things sent by His brother. He held fast Sri Sai's Feet, confessed his guilt and negligence, repented and asked for Sri Sai's pardon. He offered to give another fruit as a substitute, but Sri Sai refused to accept it saying that the worth of that coconut was by far, many times more, than an ordinary one and that it could not be replaced by another one. Sri Sai also added Now you need not worry yourself any more about the matter. It was on account of my wish that the coconut was entrusted to you, and ultimately broken on the way; why should you take the responsibility of the actions on you? Do not entertain the sense of doer ship in doing good, as well as for bad deeds; be entirely pride less and ego less in all things and thus your spiritual progress will be rapid. What a beautiful spiritual instruction Sri Sai gave.

Allah Malik