Leela:
In order to worship Lord Shiva, belpatra (leaves of the bel [golden apple] tree) are required and Megha used to walk miles and miles every day to bring them for the worship his Shiva (Baba). His practice was to worship all the Gods in the village and then come to the Masjid and, after saluting Baba's asan (seat), he worshipped Baba. He followed this with washing His feet, and drank the charnamrit (water after washing the Lord’s feet).
Once it so happened that Megha came to the Masjid without worshipping God Khandoba (a manifestation of Lord Shiva), as the door of that temple was closed. Baba did not accept his worship and sent him back, saying that the door was open now open. When Megha went back to Khandoba’s temple, he found the door open, worshipped the Deity, and then returned to Baba as usual.
Based on Shri Sai Satcharita, The wonderful life and teachings of Shri Sai Baba, Translated by Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji (Mumbai: Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, 20th Edition 2002), p149
Based on Shri Sai Satcharita, The Life and Teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba, G. R. Dhalbokar, Translated by Indira Kher (Slovenia: Bird Publisher, 2009), p240
Teachings from Leela:
1) It is important for your spiritual growth to follow discipline in performing your daily religious and spiritual routines
For as long as Megha was in Shirdi, he regularly performed the noon aarti (religious ritual of worship in which light, in the form of a flame, is offered to a deity). He was very disciplined in practicing his pooja (prayer) rituals. Megha would walk long distances to bring belpatra, collect all the ingredients for pooja, then offer pooja to various village deities in a particular, fixed order, with proper rites and rituals. Immediately on finishing it, he would go to the mosque, and offer his worship to Baba.
One day he missed Kandoba temple worship and came to the mosque as the doors of the temple were locked. Baba did not accept his worship and asked him to go back to the Kandoba temple as He knew that the doors were now open. Only after Megha worshipped Kandoba did He allow Megha to worship Him.
By having Megha go back and complete his pooja in the proper order, Baba is conveying to us the importance of discipline and commitment in our spiritual practices, which will also help us in our spiritual journey.
Putting into Practice
Here are some suggestions on how we could use this leela in our daily lives.
1) It is important for your spiritual growth to follow discipline in performing your daily religious and spiritual routines
When you make a commitment towards your regular spiritual practice, it must be meaningful and significant. When you are about to make such a commitment, contemplate on its importance to you, and the stubborn resolve you must bring to ensure its daily fulfillment. Your daily spiritual practice will prepare you for the challenges and obstacles you will need to face in life.
It requires a lot of discipline to overcome the challenges you will face in fulfilling your commitments to your dharma (See Chapter 23, Leela 4: Ordeal of Guru-Bhakti). At times it will require you to push hard to achieve results. Do not hesitate to work hard and overcome these challenges.
Apply yourself to fulfilling your commitments to your daily spiritual practice by reminding yourself about the teachings of this leela and the need to strengthen your resolve to deal with real obstacles to come.
Mantra:
Om, Sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ
Sarve santu nirāmayāḥ
Sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu
Mā kashchit duḥkha bhāgbhavet
Oṁ Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ
Meaning:
May all be prosperous and happy
May all be free from illness
May all see what is spiritually uplifting
May no one suffer
Om peace, peace, peace
This above mantra is from the Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/seekingshanti/2015/09/hinduprayerforeveryone_globalgoals/
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.
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