Biography of a Living Legend

A known person from Jaipur once came to Darbar Sahib at Ajmer. He kept a basket of fruits at Sai’s feet and said, “Please make me your disciple.” Obviously Sai refused to do so, as Sai has always been very clear about the true concept of the relation between a Guru and a disciple. Sai never believes in increasing the numbers of devotees or disciples, He says that He would rather take good care of the existing ones.
Accordingly Sai told him, “I have been staying here since years, many people know me, many I am friendly with, but that friendship, that relation is restricted till the bank, or the shop, etc.”
Sai is too perfect and clear about the limits and privileges in every relationship!

Once a couple from Ulhasnagar, who were followers of Bhilwara Darbar, visited Darbar Sahib Halani, Ajmer. They told Sai that we were desirous of your darshan and the wife said that some days back she dreamt that she had made Sai her Guru. This is why they had come from so far and requested Sai to fulfill their wish.
Sai said, “You already have a Guru and Guru cannot be changed. Today, because of a dream you are leaving your Guru and making me your Guru, tomorrow you may find one more and leave me. This is wrong!”
Many people come to Darbar and tell Sai that we have come to make you our Guru. Sai smiles and asks them as to how this is possible? Can a son tell the same to his father! Just like a father gives birth to his son, same way a Guru finds and makes His disciples! Many Gurus try and expand their activities in order to attract more devotees and disciples. But our Sai feels that the number of devotees we have, are enough. He says that I want only those many devotees of whom I can take good care.
While highlighting the glory of a true Guru, Sai also cautions us that a Guru is always there like a surname, we do not have a choice to change or make anyone our Guru!

Once a person from Delhi visited Darbar Sahib, with his family. He gave the reference of being a relative of a devotee and asked Sai for blessings for his son whose eyesight had reduced. Sai advised him to approach his Kul Guru, as He alone has the privilege of giving blessings for any problems. Sai also added that if He is not in His physical form, they should visit the place of His Samadhi and seek His blessings there.
Sai also explained that it would be inappropriate for Him to do so, as this right and privilege exclusively belongs to the Kul Guru!
This way Sai not only Himself follows the right path, He also advises everyone as to what exactly to do for solving their problems!

Once Sai had visited His relatives for a wedding in their family. At the time of leaving, the relatives gifted Sai with an envelope, as is customary at the conclusion of a wedding. Sai noticed that He was being given an amount more than His other brothers. Sai immediately told them that if you are giving this to me as I am a relative, then give the same to all brothers and if you are giving this to me thinking that I am your Guru, then this should rightfully be gifted to your Kul Guru!
Again once when He visited His sister’s house in Jodhpur, her in-laws, who were staying close by, also came to meet Him. Even though her brother-in-law insisted, Sai did not accept any offering from them, saying that I have come to my sister’s house, I should be giving something, how can I instead accept any offering?
Such perfection and clarity of thought and action, only our Sai is capable of!

SAI always points out the difference between a KUL GURU and GYAN GURU. Kul Guru is one who is our family Guru, like our signature, who and which can never change. Gyan Guru is anyone who provides us any knowledge, mainly spiritual.
There are many devotees who are attached to Sai because of love and affection, but Sai says that to accept offerings, birth and death, marriage, mahurats, etc are the privilege of a Kul Guru.
Once the daughter of a disciple got married, went to London and got a very good job there. The disciple happily came to Sai with his daughter’s first salary of a thousand pounds (approx Rs 80,000 then), and kept it at His feet as an offering. Sai did not accept it and explained to him that now she is the daughter-in-law of another house, accordingly her duties etc are attached with her husband and her in-laws. Sai smiled and added, I can keep this amount, but as your Dharam Guru, it is my duty to show you the right path. Rightfully the right to this offering belongs to the Guru whom her in-laws follow. Gyan Guru is like a teacher, whom we can change but Kul Guru is like a surname, who cannot be changed!
Sai always believes in following and suggesting the right path and never accepts any offering easily or against His principles!

This incident is of the year 2002, when an old devotee, a resident of Kanwar Nagar, Jaipur came to Darbar Sahib with his sons. He told Sai, “I wish to donate a plot of land of about 500 yards to Darbar Sahib Halani. My sons have no rights in this at all. Please accept the same.” The sons too confirmed to Sai that whatever their father just stated is true, that they have no rights whatsoever in this land.
Sai refused to accept and said, “Darbar Sahib is not lacking in anything, you all have an exclusive right to this land and so I cannot accept the same!”
There are many such other instances where devotees have requested Sai to accept properties as donation after their death and Sai has refused asking that, is He someone who has to take care of such belongings of those who are dead? Instead, He has suggested to them to gift the same to their own children or relatives, as, as per their own deeds, they are related to them and are the right heirs. Sai again said, here in Darbar we have everything, we are self sufficient and do not need anything!
Can we imagine any other place of worship refusing such high value offerings with such ease and grace!

Sai says that the money that comes in Darbar is only from the devotees. He does not accept any offerings from non-followers. The right to offer an offering belongs exclusively to the devotees and Sai also takes responsibility of His devotees only!
We are so fortunate to be devotees of our Sai, who is so very exclusive amongst all others, as He has so much clarity on every issue and cares so much for us!

Once a General Manager of a Tata Company was travelling by the same flight as Sai. He was seated besides Sai and asked Him whether He is a Saint or a Maharaj, as He looks like one. Sai replied in the affirmative and clarified that He is a Dharam Guru and not the types who put up tents on footpath and preach. Sai told him that just like you have responsibility of your children, same way I have the responsibility of looking after my devotees! This tradition, this Holy Seat (Gaddi) is about 3 centuries old. Some devotees of our Darbar are followers since 10 to 15 generations. This responsibility is not like that of godmen who hold your hand by the day and vanish in the night!

Explaining to us the glory of a Guru, Sai once said that it is much superior to rituals like fasting or going to places of pilgrimage. It is also superior to the stone known as paras, as paras can convert only iron to gold, but a Guru can uplift anyone to His own level!

A Guru shows the way to lead an enriched and a happy life. He explains to us the meaning, the purpose of life, enhances our fortunes and helps us cross over the ocean of life smoothly. 

Sai also added that a true devotee must follow the sayings of his Guru. A doctor can only advice the right medicine, but it is the patient who has to take it! Once a Guru asked His devotee to eat a ladoo, the devotee said no, as he had diabetes. Over!
We must understand that a Guru has the power to even send back the agents of death, He is supreme, we must have full faith and follow Him unquestioningly. He can only show us the way, but we have to walk on it. Even while holding a bright lantern in our hand, we still fall in a dark pit as we do not follow what our Guru is saying. A Guru always shows the path of righteousness to His devotees!

When any devotee asks Sai for Naam, He asks is Naam some kind of a commodity that can be sold or bought?
Sai adds that nowadays so many of them have opened shops for selling Naam. They advertise in newspapers the place, date, day, time, etc where 25000 people will be given Naam. Many people fall prey, come and wait in queue for the same. Sai asks, is this the way to give Naam?
He says it is a very valuable mantra, the meaning and purpose of which is proper concentration of the mind. Naam is like a priceless gem, which we have to link to the mind for our spiritual progress!
Placing supreme importance to Naam, Sai reminds us that it cannot be compared to any ordinary jewels or ornaments. Just like we hide our jewellery in a locker, we must preserve Naam in our hearts and throughout the day, as much as possible, keep chanting the same. This alone shall help us cross the ocean of life safely and attain divinity to reach the abode of Lord!