Gift of Nine

 Vijayadashami or Dassehra is regarded by the Hindus as the most auspicious time and Sai Baba choose this day for his Seemollanghan.

He was ailing for some days before this, but He was conscious till the end. Just before he took his last breath, He sat up erect without anybody's help, and looked in a good state of being.People thought that the danger had passed off and He was geeting well! He knew that He was to pass away soon and therefore, He wanted to give some money as charity to Laxmibai Shinde!

 Laxmibai Shinde was a good woman and belonged to well-to-do family. She was working in the Masjid everyday. Except Bhagat Mhalasapati, Tatya and Laxmibai, none was allowed to step in the Masjid at night!

Once while Baba was sitting in the Masjid with Tatya in the evening, Laxmibai came and saluted Baba. The latter said to her that he was very hungry!

She went quickly and returned immediately with bread and vegetables and placed the same before Baba. 

Sai Baba took it and gave it to a dog!

Laxmibai then asked the reason for troubling her unnecessarily as he didnot even take a bite of it and gave it entirely to a dog!

Sai Baba replied that there was nothing to grief for!The appeasement of the dog's hunger is the same as his own! The dog has got a soul and the creatures may be different, but the hunger of all is the same for all; though some speak and others are dumb!He further added that that he who feeds the hungry, really serves Him with food!Sai Baba said to regard this as an exiomatic Truth!

This is a ordinary incident but Sai Baba thereby propounded a great spiritual truth and showed its practical application in daily life without hurting anybody's feelings. 

From this time onwards Laxmibai began to offer Him daily bread and milk with love and devotion. Baba accepted and ate it appreciatingly. He took a part of this and sent the remainder with Laxmibai to Radha-Krishna-Mai who always relished and ate Baba's remnant prasad. This bread-story shows how Sai Baba pervaded all the creatures and transcended them! He is omnipresent, birthless, deathless and immortal!

Sai Baba remembered Laxmibai's service. Just before leaving the body, He put His hand in His pocket and gave her once Rs.5/- and again Rs.4/-, in all Rs.9/-. This figure (9) is indicative of the nine types of devotion or it may be the Dakshina offered at the time of Seemollanghan. Laxmibai was a well-to-do woman and so she was not in want of any money. So Baba might have suggested to her and brought prominently to her notice the nine characteristics of a good disciple.

Sai Baba followed the order, first paid Rs.5/- and then Rs.4/- in all Rs.9/-. 

Being so watchful and conscious, Baba also took other precautions in His last moment. In order that He should not be embroiled or entangled with love and affection for His devotees, He ordered them all to go home. Kakasaheb Dixit, Bapusaheb Booty and others were in the Masjid anxiously waiting upon Baba, but He asked them to go to the Wada and return after meals. They could not leave Baba's presence, nor could they disobey Him! So with heavy hearts and heavy feet they went to the Wada. They knew that Baba's case was very serious and that they could not forget Him. They sat for meals, but their mind was with Baba. Before they finished, news came to them of Baba's leaving the mortal coil!

Leaving their dishes, they ran to the Masjid and found that Baba rested finally on Bayaji's lap. He did not fall down on the ground nor did He lie on His bed, but sitting quietly on His seat and doing charity with His own hand threw off the mortal coil. Saints embody themselves and come into this world with a definite mission and after that is fulfilled they pass away as quietly and easily as they came!