Biography of a Living Legend

Sai had once organized a program by Pandit Din Dayal and his group in Ajmer. He arranged for them to stay in Darbar Sahib itself. However, they wanted to cook their own meals.
Sai allotted the task of assisting them to some of His devotees, so that they do not face any problems. The devotees were getting grains and grocery for them, as and when asked. Sai realised that instead of sending them once for all needs, they were being frequently sent for every little thing. Sai disapprovingly told Pandit Din Dayal, “Although these sevadharis are for your comfort and help, they are all either well established businessmen or employed on very high posts and not servants. They are my support, my arms, my shoulders, my companions.”
Our Sai is always so very concerned about His devotees and disciples!

Once, on insistence of some devotees, Sai accepted an invitation to attend a marriage in a small town. When He reached the station, He realised that their faces were grim. On inquiry, they said, “Inspite of trying a lot, we were unable to find a proper place for your stay. Finally, we had to fix up a bungalow, a little far from the place, belonging to a wealthy person.”
Sai said, ” I am one like you all, I do not know that wealthy man, I have come here because of you. Do not worry at all, we shall all stay together at your place.”
Hearing this, they were relieved, but still deep inside were worried. On reaching their house, Sai made them feel so comfortable by interacting freely with them and removing this feeling in them that their house was small. On seeing Sai so cheerful and happy, all their fears were dispelled and they too became relaxed and happy.
Our Sai has so much affection for his devotees, that He always takes care of them and keeps covering them up!

Once Sai was attending a wedding in a small town. As the ceremony was in progress suddenly the electricity went off and the pandit who was performing the ceremony got very angry. Sai quietly got up and asked the host to show Him the electric box, He also smilingly said that He had a reasonably good knowledge of such things. On checking He realized that the fuse had gone off, Sai asked for a small piece of wire, which they were unable to find. Sai noticed a hanging wire, took it, peeled it with his teeth, and rectified the fuse and the electricity was restored. The family was extremely grateful and obliged to Sai for this wonderful gesture. 

Sai humbly advices that whenever one goes anywhere, he should mingle and be helpful the people around, adjust to their schedule, etc.  True happiness lies in that.

Once Sai was staying at a devotee’s house. They had taken utmost care and had spread a beautiful embroidered bedcover for Sai. But He was unable to sleep on such a fancy sheet, so without disturbing anyone, He quietly removed a white dhoti from His bag – spread it on the bed and slept. Next day when the hosts went to the room, they were astonished on seeing the changed bedcover and apologized to Sai asking for pardon if there was any mistake on their part. To that Sai said, you did your best, but I am used to sleeping on a simple white sheet. This reflects Sai’s large heartedness towards His devotees!

Sai blesses people irrespective of their status & profession. Sai gives an example of a professional gambler, who goes to Ajmer for Sai’s Darshan once in every 2-3 years. He tells Sai that although I am not able to visit you regularly, but you are present always in my thoughts. His faith is firm & believes that he always wins because of Sai’s blessings. 

Sai is very compassionate & understanding and always protects His devotees. If one goes to Sai with a complaint against someone, He usually does not encourage loose talks. But He explains the situation without any prejudice and diffuses a volatile argument. In some cases, where Sai is aware of the issue, He  says that and adds that it was done under His instructions.  

During Satsang, if the musician plays an off keynote, instead of correcting him, Sai  Himself matches the tune to the altered taal. 

If someone is unable to reach on time for any work, Sai never lets him down and says that maybe he was held up, hence he was late. When any spelling mistake is pointed out of the Vachans written on the Darbar Sahib Board, Sai says that one should look at the effort that has gone in the writing and so due respect should be shown. Sai has so much love and respect for His devotees that He never speaks ill of them, nor does He encourage any negative talk.

Sai Sadhuram Sahib is a personification of simplicity. Inspite of being Sri Mahant of Darbar Sahib Halani, He wears very simple clothes throughout the day.  Sometimes while working, when His clothes get soiled or sometimes the hem gets torn, and the disciples point this out and request Him to change, Sai smiling asks them, “Why, don’t you like me this way? Am I not looking good?” Until and unless someone forces Him to change, He is content with His own simplicity. There are times when Sai is seen sitting on the floor in the bhandara, happily eating His food. 

Sai carries the adulation and love of His devotees on His shoulders with utmost care. Like for example, once a devotee saw Sai resting on the floor with just a bedsheet.  Another instance is when once He had come to Sion Darbar, what unfolded was truly touching. Sai had retired in His room for the night, the room though small, had an air-conditioner but no windows. Since Sai had a bad throat, sleeping in a closed room was making Him uncomfortable. He quietly got up, took His pillow and went up to the Darbar which was on the first floor. He opened the windows, switched off the night light which was on and slept on the carpet peacefully. Next morning when the devotees could not find Sai in His room, they started looking for him. They found Sai’s footwear near the staircase, and also saw Sai coming down from there. Seeing the devotees confused, Sai told them why He had gone upstairs to sleep. On hearing this, the devotees asked Sai, why He had not woken anyone of them. To which Sai said, He did not want to disturb anyone, besides He was in His own house and could sleep anywhere. Had He been somewhere else, He would have hesitated but here He was a king of His own house.

One more incident that depicts Sai’s simplicity. Due to health reasons, Sai were not allowed to eat chillies in His food. But when He was travelling and food without chillies was not available, Sai would just eat a chapatti with a banana or a chapatti and an apple. Even if this was not available, He would be perfectly happy having tea and chapatti.

On the auspicious days of Vaisakhi and Diwali, Baba Gobinddas Sahib would grace the Gaddi and shower blessings on all the disciples. 

On the first Diwali, after Baba Gobinddas Sahib left for heavenly abode in 1988, the Darbar was filled with devotees. Ramesh Bhambhani who was present there, told some of the devotees sitting around him that it is a tradition since the Sindh days, that if the Guru does not sit on the Gaddi, the devotees request the Guru to grace the Gaddi. Accordingly, they should jointly request Sai to grace the Gaddi. Sai, who is ever so vigilant, immediately understood what was to unfold, so He firmly announced that all devotees should continue with the kirtan, and nobody should get up. Hearing this, nobody got up from their place.

In fond memory and the irreparable loss of His Guru, Sai recited this shabad from Gurbani on the harmonium, “Antar Gur Aaradhana – Jihva Jap Gur Nao”. When Sai concluded the bhajan, there was a divine radiance on His face and His eyes were tear filled.

By the grace of God, Sai has a melodious voice and has mastered both the harmonium and the tabla. Earlier, amongst all the saints of Darbar Sahib Halani, only Baba Dhyandas Sahib and Baba Madhavdas Sahib used to play the harmonium. By His melodious rendering of shabads and   kirtan, Sai promotes the message of Naam to His disciples. Sai’s disciples often tell Him that His magnetic charm has pulled all of them towards Him.

When Baba Gobinddas Sahib had left for heavenly abode, Swami Shanti Prakash was abroad. After returning, he came to pay his respects to Sai Sadhuram Sahib. Swamiji suggested to Sai Sadhuram Sahib, that since He had recently graced the Gaddi, it was necessary for Him to visit all the disciples, so that they are aware that now Sai are the present Guru. To this, Sai replied, “Which disciples are you talking about? There are many disciples who have carried me on their shoulders, others with whom I have played, some I have carried on my shoulders. I am in touch with disciples of three generations.” In reality, Sai Sadhuram Sahib looks after His disciples as His own children and hence He knows each and every one by their names and surnames. Whenever a descendant of any disciple visits Him after a time gap or for the first time, to their utter amazement, Sai immediately recalls the name of their father, grandfather and the entire generation. He is always connected with His disciples and says that the bond between the Guru and the disciple is eternal as if they are soul mates. Sai says, these disciples are not new, the foundation of this bond has been laid by our elders since the days of Sindh and carried down to the present generation.

Sai Sadhuram Sahib had said He did not want to preside over the gaddi, yet the disciples had always accepted Sai as their Guru.

After Baba Gobinddas Sahib, whatever money orders arrived in His name, were returned to the postman by Sai Sadhuram Sahib. The postman was surprised at this and reported to the postmaster. The postmaster came to Darbar to find out why the money orders had not been accepted. Sai explained that the money orders had come in Baba Gobinddas Sahib’s name, and now that Baba was no more, He could not accept them. The postmaster said that Sai Sadhuram Sahib had always signed and accepted them earlier. Sai agreed that he had accepted them then, but now it was not right that he should accept them in Baba’s name. Hearing this, the postmaster became emotional and tears rolled up in his eyes.

As a mark of respect to the elders and a custom, Sai did not leave Ajmer for a year after Baba Gobinddas Sahib left for heavenly abode. Nevertheless all the other Darbar activities, satsangs, etc. continued in the same manner as before from morning to night.

When Baba Gobinddas Sahib merged as one with the Lord, Sai Sadhuram Sahib, inspite of His young age and the great trauma and grief, undertook all His responsibilities and carried out His duties with utmost sincerity. While leaving for Haridwar, there were hundreds of devotees who joined them from Ajmer to Haridwar. He arranged for 8-10 buses for them, personally prepared a passenger list and saw to it that each and every one was allotted a seat in the bus. He made arrangements for food, water and all other necessities for the disciples, to avoid any inconvenience to them. Sai also made arrangements for devotees who directly came from Mumbai, Rajkot, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Delhi and Jaipur.

On the return journey Sai’s car met with an accident, and coincidently at the same time Dada Shyamdas breathed his last in the bus in which he was travelling. Baba Saroopdas Sahib had told Baba Gobinddas Sahib that He should always keep Dada Shyamdas by His side. So whenever Baba Gobinddas Sahib went out anywhere, He would always take Dada Shyamdas along with Him. Till the end, Baba Gobinddas Sahib always abided by the vachan of Baba Saroopdas Sahib. When He completed His journey on this earth, He took Dada Shyamdas also with Him. It is astounding that the 13^th day ceremony of Baba Gobinddas Sahib and Dada Shyamdas was on the same day.