Chapter 9, Leela 3: The Tarkhad Family (father and son)

Leela:

Mr. Ramachandra Atmaran alias Babasaheb Tarkhad, formerly a Prarthana-Samajist, was a staunch devotee of Sai Baba. His wife and son loved Baba equally or perhaps more. It was once proposed that Master Tarkhad should go with his mother to Shirdi and spend his May vacation there, but the son was unwilling to go, as he thought that in case he left his home at Bandra, the worship of Sai Baba in the house would not be properly attended to, as his father being a Prarthana Samajist, would not care to worship Sai Baba's enlarged portrait. However, on his father's giving an assurance of oath, that he would perform the worship exactly as the son was doing, the mother and the son left for Shirdi on one Friday night. 

Next day (Saturday) Mr. Tarkhad got up early, took his bath and before proceeding with the Puja, prostrated himself before the Shrine and said - ""Baba, I am going to perform the Puja exactly as my son has been doing, but please let it not be a formal drill."" After he performed the Puja, he offered a few pieces of lump-sugar as naivedya (offering), which were distributed at the time of the lunch. 

That evening and on Sunday, everything went on well. The following Monday was a working day and it also passed well. Mr. Tarkhad, who had never performed Puja like this in all his life, felt great confidence within himself, that every thing was passing on quite satisfactorily according to the promise given to his son. On Tuesday, he performed the morning Puja as usual and left for his work. Coming home at noon, he found that there was no Prasad (sugar) to partake of, when the meal was served. He asked the servant - cook, who told him that there was no offering made that morning, and that he had completely forgotten then to perform that part of the Puja (offering naivedya). After hearing that he left his seat and prostrated himself before the Shrine, expressed his regret, at the same time chiding Baba for the want of guidance in making the whole affair a matter of mere drill. Then he wrote a letter to his son stating the facts and requested him to lay it before Baba's feet and ask His pardon for his neglect. 

This happened in Bandra at Tuesday noon. 

At about the same time, when the noon Arati was just about to commence in Shirdi, Baba said to Mrs. Tarkhad, ""Mother, I had been to your house in Bandra, with a view to having something to eat. I found the door locked. I somehow got an entrance inside and found to My regret, that Bhau (Mr. Tarkhad) had left nothing for Me to eat. so I have returned from there without eating anything."" 

The lady could not understand anything; but the son, who was close by, understood that there was something wrong with the Puja in Bandra and he, therefore, requested Baba to permit him to go home. Baba refused the permission, but allowed him to perform Puja there. Then, the son wrote a letter to his father, stating all that took place at Shirdi and implored his father not to neglect the Puja at home. 

Both these letters crossed each other and were delivered to the respective parties the next day.” Is this not astonishing?..

Shri Sai Satcharita, The wonderful life and teachings of Shri Sai Baba, Translated by Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji (Mumbai: Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, 20^th Edition 2002), p53

Teachings from Leela

1. When you make an offering to Baba he actually receives it 
   By pointing out Mr. Tarkhad’s forgetting to offer naivedya on a given day, Baba proved to his devotees that even though he physically never left Shirdi, he knew of every offering of prayer and naivedya to him no matter where it was being offered. When something is offered to Baba with love it does not go unacknowledged or unaccepted.     
   
   
2. Do not let any one spiritual practice restrict you from progressing in your bigger spiritual journey 
   Even though Master Tarkhad had an opportunity to meet Baba in person he was reluctant to go to Shirdi as he was more worried of his daily spiritual practice of worshipping Baba’s portrait at home.
   
   Daily spiritual practice is an important step towards your spiritual journey, but do not be so tied up to it, that it affects your ability to move forward to your next step.
   
   One’s spiritual journey is a natural progression as one grows in understanding of God. Through this leela, Baba wanted Master Tarkhad to progress in his spiritual journey so he taught him that, instead of being obsessive about performing prayers to his Guru’s portrait at home, he should appreciate having the opportunity of praying to his Guru in person in Shirdi. Baba blessed Master Tarkhad by advancing him to the next step in his spiritual journey and made him perform the puja in front of him.  

Putting into Practice

Here are some suggestions on how we could use this leela in our daily lives.

1. When you make an offering to Baba he actually receives it 
   Whenever you perform routine prayers to Baba, always remember that Baba is right in front of you. For all of us, our minds wander in different directions when we are praying, but if we keep on reminding yourselves that this is not Baba’s portrait or murti, but Baba himself sitting in front of you, then your focus and attention towards Baba will surely increase.     
   
   
2. Do not let any one spiritual practice restrict you from progressing in your bigger spiritual journey 
   Remember the bigger picture in your spiritual journey. What is your goal in this life? When an opportunity comes in front of you to make spiritual advancement, recognise it and make the best use of it. The universe will provide you with opportunities, but it is up to you to accept them and move forward.
   
   For instance, the following nine forms of Bhakti are in order of progression where each form of bhakti is more subtle and advanced than the previous one:
   
   
   ·         Sravana (hearing of God's Lilas and stories), 
   ·         Kirtana (singing of His glories), 
   ·         Smarana (remembrance of His Name and presence), 
   ·         Padasevana (service of His feet), 
   ·         Archana (worship of God), 
   ·         Vandana (prostration to the Lord), 
   ·         Dasya (cultivating the Bhava of a servant with God), 
   ·         Sakhya (cultivation of the friend-Bhava) and 
   ·         Atmanivedana (complete surrender of the self).
   
   
   In addition, you may be presented with opportunities that are from a different path than your current one. For example, someone who is following the bhakti marg may come across an opportunity from the jnana marg. Be ready to accept this. 

I would encourage all of you to please share your interpretations, learnings and experiences on how you have put this leela into practice.

Om Sai Ram.