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Devotees and my online friends often ask me about
my experiences relating to Sai baba and also what
makes my devotion in Baba so strong?

Sometimes,I think if I started to reply to them- I

really would'nt know where to start and where to
end. I have been going to shirdi since my
childhood days. My dad had a lot of faith in Baba
and He used to take us to shirdi every month. I
still remember those days when I was a small kid
and I used to play in Samadhi mandir and in those
days ,Samadhimandir did not have a roof all the
way²
It was connected to Dwarkamayi-I rememeber my
dad giving abhishek to Baba's murti and Baba's
samadhi in samadhimandir.I have a lot of
memories of how Shirdi used to be several yrs ago-
specially those small alleys where we walked on
barefoot --one could actually feel that you are
stepping on the same mud where Baba must have
once walked on. I remember seeing those 9 coins
which were given by Baba to Laxmibai. I was
fortunate to go to this great devotees house and
meet her family.I remember there used to be 3-4
furnished bunglows which were just reserved for
vip's and we often stayed over there. Those
bunglows are not there anymore but the memory
will always be. When I was a kid, before any exam
or test that I had in school -my mom used to give
me Baba's udi before leaving the house. We called
it Babuti. And today, I do the same with my 12 yr
old daughter. And by His grace, I have never ever
been out of my Baba's sacred udi .Infact, when I
moved into my new house, instead of doing any
gharpraveshpooja-- I made my daughter take the
first step in the house with Baba's picture in her
hands and then I put Baba's udi all around my
house on the outside and inside every corner of
each room. So now even Baba lives in that house
with us .We all have felt His presence in the house
in some way or the other. A few years ago, I got
very angry with my daughter for something wrong
that she did and in front of Baba's picture, I
slapped her like any normal parent would do --and
in a couple of seconds - I heard a voice from deep
inside my heart that" You have done so many
mistakes in your life - have I ever punished you-
then why did u punish your daughter". I realized
my mistake and since that day no matter how
angry I become on any one-- I hold on to Baba's
name and handle the matter with patience and
understanding.Great is Baba and even Greater are
His leela's. He has shown me so many miracles and
it is hard to list them all but there is one that I can
never ever forget. About 5-6 yrs ago, I had gone to
Shirdi with my mom and my sister's family. There
was a very kind Sai devotee who was my friend in
those days who arranged for the hotel stay and the
vip pass for me and my relatives for the morning
Kakadaarti. Anyways, we all reached Shirdi at
midnight so we were all tired. But I was all set to
attend the Kakadaarti. In the morning, I tried to
wake up everyone who had come with me to attend
the aarti but all of them to my surprise said that
they wanted to sleep and will attend the aarti later.
Anyways, so I got ready and at 5 am, I was able to
get in the Samadhi mandir with the Vip pass. I was
so happy to get such a nice darshan of Baba.
Finally the aarti started and at the time when the
aarti was going on--my mind started thinking of a
wish that I had since long. Something that only I
knew about.Something that bothered me and left
me confused for a long long time. Anyways, the
aarti was over and I was able to also get in for the
satyanarayanpooja, buy the Saisatcharitrabooks ,
get extra udi for my friends in USA and did all the
fun stuff that I usually do in Shirdi. And when I
came back to the hotel, all my relatives were still
sleeping. I woke them up and now they wanted to
attend the madhyanaarti at noon and so they asked
me if I would be able to get the vippaas for them
for the madhyanaarti . But not even a leaf can
move without Baba's approval so no matter how
much I tried and they tried but they were not able
to get in for the aarti. After the aarti, they did a
very quick darshan of Baba at Samadhi mandir and
then we left for mumbai. This had happened in
may or june. Usually, I never go to India ,with in
6-8 months but like Baba said "My people do not
come to me of their own accord; it is I who seek
and bring them to me." Things took a turn and I
had to go to Mumbai once again alone for some
reason. And , one thing led to another- and I
reached Shirdi on my Birthday itself. I went there
with a couple of my friends and the plan was to be
in shirdi for 2-3 hrs and come back to mumbai the
same day. We reached at 1 :00 in the afternoon and
miracles started happening since then. We went to
a restaurant and over there, I saw a very big
original picture of Baba and I said to myself, I
wished I had that picture too and then I completely
forgot about it. Anyways, we went to Samadhi
mandir and we were able to get a very nice darshan
of Baba since it was not all that crowded. I was
really happy to get blessings of Baba on my special
day and when I came out of the Samadhi mandir, a
kid came to me who was selling the exact same
picture of Baba which I had seen in the restauraunt
and that too a pretty good size.I was shocked to see
that picture, only I knew that I wanted to have that
picture. To me, it was Baba's birthday gift for me.
Anyways, once again, I did my usual stuff- got
some extra udi and SaiSatcharitra books etc and
then I told my friends that I will meet them in 30
mins at 4:10pm or so cos I wanted to read the
SaiSatcharitra in Dwarkamai and then we will be
off to Mumbai. They went their way and I once
again started my tirthyatra in Shirdi by visiting all
the small temples. I started reading the
SaiSatcharitra in a temple other than Dwarkamai.I
finished reading it and there was a fakir dressed in
orange kafini with a turban on his head whom I
noticed was watching me. He was sitting near the
moorti .Anyways, in 10 mins , I got up and prayed
in front of the moorti there and was about to put
some dakshina in the donation box when I noticed
that fakir looking at me again so instead of putting
the money in the box -I offered him to take the
dakshina. He said no put it in the hundi so I did
that and as I was leaving the temple, I felt like
giving something to that fakir, so I turned behind
and I had the bag of prasad in my hands - I took
out a packet of sweet pedas and thought that since
the fakir did not want any money ,let me give him
this packet of Baba's prasad. So I offered to give
him that itself, He took it gladly and he raised his
hand and blessed me. And for a minute it felt like
Baba raised his hand to shower his grace and
blessings on me. My heart started beating
fast,what more could I ask from Baba on my
birthday. I left that temple happily once again to
meet my friends . But this was not the end of His
leela's.

When I was walking towards the place where I was

suppose to meet my friends--I passed Samadhi
mandir and reached the place where there r 3-4
small temples of Lord Ganesh, Lord Shiva etc and
over there I got attracted to this small door where
everyone was going. My feet automatically were
drawn towards that door and when I went inside, I
saw a big line chanting Baba's name - That line was
going to the samadhimandir I guessed. I dontknow
what happened to me but I held ShriSaiSatcharitra
close to my heart and started chanting Baba's name
in a way that I had never chanted before and
started walking and I actually started passing all
those devotees who were waiting in the line before
me and see the miracle of Baba, no one even once
dared to stop me and with in 5 mins I was at
almost the begining of the line and as soon as I
reached there , the gates were opened and
everyone rushed up and down the stairs to go to
the Samadhi mandir. And with in minutes, I too
reached inside the temple only to realize that I was
standing at the exact same spot where I was
standing a few months ago when I had the vip pass
for attending the Kakadaarti and not only that I
was wander struck, when it was announced that the
dhoopaarti will be starting soon .I kept looking at
Baba's moorti and was speechless. I looked at my
watch and realized that my friends must be waiting
for me so I called them from my cell and told them
that I am sorry that they have to wait. I am in
Samadhi mandir and I am attending the aarti. Its
amazing, we can not enter or leave Shirdi unless
He wishes. Although the bus tickets for returning
to mumbai were already booked, and they were
waiting for me at the bus station- they had to
cancel the tickets and reschedule it for a later time.
Great are Baba's leela's . The very same day, some
other events had also happened which had satisfied
my long awaited wish and cleared the confusion
that I had since many manyyrs and this was the
very same wish that I had when I had attended the
Kakadaarti..This was His miracle , otherwise, me
standing at the very same vip spot without having a
vippaas would not have been possible. Once again,
Baba showered his grace on me and I was able to
attend the dhoopaarti but my friends were not able
to do that .And on my Birthday, this time when I
was attending the aarti, my mind was only set on
him and it did not wander for any uncompleted
wish or some mind bothering confusion. My mind
was clear and only fixed on Him and his grace.
Tears of devotion kept falling from my eyes ,the
entire time- while the aarti was going on.He gave
me what I wished for and besides that He made my
Birthday very special for me.I happily and with a
contented mind left shirdi at 8pm or so after
having the dinner and all.

Truly, Great is Baba and even greater are His

leelas. He very well knows what His devotee wants
and He gives it to him . It is just we human beings
who do not have patience and do not have faith in
His judgement.Since that day, I fully beleive that
Sai is not so far away. He is not in the heavens
above, nor in hell below. He is always near you.
[Continued]
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::My this trip to
India was much more interesting than what I had
planned or anticipated.It was definetly filled with
leelas and miracles of Saibaba. I went to Shirdi on
Ramnavami and I not only had a very good darshan
over there but I also attended the Aarti as a
VIP.Thanks to the two messengers of Sai without
whom I would have been totally lost. They helped
me in every possible way to make sure that I get
whatever I needed in Shirdi and Baba thru them
made sure that I am able to do everything in Shirdi
to my hearts content. Infact at one point, one of
them wandered and said to the other- I have never
met Deepa before but I wander why am I doing all
this !!!!!!!!... He carried on his shoulders 700 plus
SaiVrat Katha books and other stuff that I had
purchased and walked bare foot from Dwarkamai
to Prasadalaya.It was abt 10:30 pm and they made
sure that I safely reached my hotel and on the
Ramnavami day before saying good bye to me-They
presented me with a big framed picture of Baba
which was one of a kind and not easy to get. It
seems they had got that picture for some other
devotee but that devotee never showed
up..Ofcourse, to me this was a leela of Sai - I had
tears in my eyes when I saw that picture cos just
before leaving for India-- I had sent a very big
picture of Sai to a father whose daughter was not
feeling well and in my mail to Him- I had written
to him that Sai is coming to ur house!!!! And there
I was in Shirdi on Ramnavami day and a
Saibhaktpresented me with Babas big picture--I
felt as if Baba is coming with me to my house. May
be it was a blessing from the heart of that father
that Sai has come to my house or perhaps it was a
blessing from Sai that on Ramnavami day He
showered His grace on me. No matter what the
truth is but when ever I see that pic in my house in
my temple -I just say to myself -Great is Baba and
even greater are his leelas. Inspite of the huge
crowds of devotees everywhere, I also was able to
do the Satyanarayanpooja and do everything else
that I normally do in Shirdi. This reminds me of
another leela that happened the next day after
Ramnavami .I woke up at 7:30 am or so and the
first thing that came to my mind was that I wish I
could do the Satyanarayanpooja so I hurried to the
sansthan to get the parchi for the 8:30am pooja
but when I reached there - I was told that there
was no place-the hall was full and they could give
me the parchi only for the pooja that will be at 1:30
in the afternoon.I knew I can not attend the 1:30
poojacos by then I had to leave for Mumbai.I had
completely lost hope and just then Sai alone knows
what happened-it was like Sai Commanded and the
person sitting way inside the office suddenly
instructed the clerk to give me the parchi for 8:30
am ... I was so soso happy- I immediately got the
parchi and ran to the place where the pooja was
going to be held -it was already 8:30 by then -when
I reached the hall- the guy inside the hall saw my
parchi and gave me the seat in the very first front
row and I sat just across the pandit who was
performing the pooja....

Many leelas kept happening during this trip to

Shirdi.Out of which one also happened on
Ramnavami during the day. I had never ever met
or seen or even spoken personally to the designer
of the above Sai Picture whom I often refer as the
True Sai Devotee.....But on that day, I met him in
Shirdi outside Dwarkamai- of course that meeting
was planned --- anyways, we both then went to
Shri Abdul Baba's cottage which you see in the
below picture and sat there to chat.But before
entering Abdul Baba's cottage, I saw everyone
eating pulao outside Dwarkamai. It sure looked
tasty so even I wanted to have that prasad but
could not find who was distributing it.Anyways, Is
it possible that you sit in Baba's Darbaar on
Ramnavami day and you go without eating the
Prasad??? Nope Not Possible!!!! Anyways, The true
Sai devotee who designs the pictures everyday for
the ShirdiSai Speaks mails and I were chatting in
Abdul Baba's cottage and suddenly the person who
was distributing the pulao came inside with her
dish-- filled the plate with pulao and offered it to
us. Vow!!! What more could I ask !! Nobody knew
except Sai, that I was dying to have that tasty
pulao and there it was in my lap..Baba's Prasad to
me along with jalebi and udi while sitting in Abdul
Babas cottage!! To others, this may be a co
incidence but to me they are leelas which make me
feel as if Sai is with us at every step we take .

This is the picture of Abdul Baba's cottage which is

across Chavdi.
It is believed that No one can leave Shirdi until
Baba Permits and ofcourse, I have witnessed that
in my life many times .This time during my visit to
Shirdi during Ramnavami of 2010 ,a similar thing
happened.I had a very nice darshan on the
Ramnavami day and I was also lucky enough to
attend the aarti.On the next day, with the grace of
Sainath- I was also able to do the Satnarayanpooja
and get a couple of chaddars from the auction as
requested by a couple of Sai devotees. I had
finished all my work and headed to exit the
Sansthan gate and leave for mumbai but on that
last day, I did not go to Dwarkamai or Samadhi
mandir. 
However, Sai had not yet given me permission to
leave the premises. I exited from the
ShirdiSansthan gate and the second I did that--
something in my heart said that I have to go back
in since I did not get anything from Shirdi for my
best friend.The voice inside me was so loud that I
could not stop myself- I turned back to get in but
that was the exit gate near the Samadhi mandir so
no one was allowed to get in from that gate. But I
requested that havaldar that I just came out and I
have forgotten something so it was very kind of
him to let me in once again.Anyways, Things have
changed a lot in Shirdi now and the gates really
confuse me-as I was heading back in the opposite
direction of the crowd-By mistake , I entered
another entry which led me straight to the steps
which led to the SamdhiMandir.It was the very end
of the Samadhi mandir where people were doing
just a quick darshan and tears started rolling down
my eyes when I noticed that even though I am
standing way in the end but I am in Samadhi
Mandir paying my respects to Baba and asking him
the permission to leave Shirdi. Although I had
already exited from the gate but Sainath called me
back to give me His Blessed Darshan. 

Anyways,with Baba in my heart- I proceeded to the

place where the auction is held to get a chaddar for
my best friend. But unfortunately just as I reached
there , the auction got over. I inquired from the
person who was conducting the auction if he had
any more that I could purchase and he directed me
to the room where I could buy the chaddars that
were touched by Baba's samadhi but when I went
there, there was just 1 small chaddar left by the
grace of SAI and obviously, I got my hands on it. I
paid for it and Sai knows what got into me that I
gave the clerk my best friends name to type on the
receipt.
After that , I noticed that there was a Sterling
Silver coin and a gold pendant of Baba on sale too
over there. I got so attracted towards those two
things that without any second thought, I went
ahead and purchased that for myself. But just when
I was coming out-I saw the receipt for the silver
coin and the gold pendant and to my surprise, it
had my best friends name on it.- The clerk had
forgotten to ask my name when he was making the
second and third receipt and I completely forgot
that I needed to give him my name for those 2
articles.... At this point , I realized what exactly
had just happened and I had just witnessed
another leela of Baba..
For you to understand the leela behind this let me
share an incident with you that happened last year-
--- Since abt 19 yrs or so, I had been carrying a
small purse which had all my lucky tokens- Those
lucky tokens were so dear to me that no matter
where I went-- Mexico, Thailand, Dubai, Canada,
Alaska, India -- I took them with me. I even carried
them everywhere in my routine life and even if I
changed my big purse still I made sure that the
small lucky token purse is always with me. It had a
small gold pendant of Baba which my dad had
bought for me in Shirdi when I went with him last
before coming to States 17-18 yrs ago. Since my
dad is no more, that pendant was very close to my
heart.
That visit to Shirdi with my dad abt 17-18 yrs ago,
itself was a miracle---I still remember, I had got
my visa to usa and I was very excited to go to
states and meet my hubby and start my married
life.I booked my ticket for the first available date
and was all set to fly.I had said good bye to all my
friends and relatives .However, on the day, I was
suppose to leave from India- I got a call from Air
India saying that the pilots have gone on some
kind of indefinite strike and the flight had been
cancelled until further notice.Oh ! I was so
frustrated. But my dad who was an ardent devotee
of Sainath saw the good in it and said to me that
lets go to Shirdi. We will return in 1 day.You are
going so far, u should take Baba's blessings before
starting ur new life.So Papa and me, both headed
for Shirdi and there he got me that gold pendant.
We went to the Samadhi mandir and made the
priest touch the pendant at Baba's feet and at His
sacred Samadhi.I seeked Baba's blessings-took His
permission to leave India and then as soon as I
came back- I flew that very same day to states. It
was a pure leela of Sai where He made me come to
Shirdi just the day I was suppose to leave for
states.

Anyways, that very same gold pendant was in that

lucky token small purse of mine along with a
sterling silver coin which one of my well wishers
had given from Siddhi Vinayakabt 15-16 yrs ago.In
that lucky token purse,there was also a 1 Rupee
note with the numbers 786 written in the serial
number which was given to me by this very same
best friend many manyyrs ago whom I had got the
chadar for...786 is believed to be a lucky number
for any muslim .Neither my friend nor me r a
muslim but since we both have been a Sai devotee
since our child hood days-- We have faith in all
religions. Baba always said 'AllaahMaalikhai' ..
Anyways, that small lucky token purse which had
some other stuff besides this- had got stollen last
year. Since the time, that purse was stollen, I had
become so scared that all my confidence had
started wearing off.I would start crying on the
smallest problem. I am in the medical field and
seeing blood was so normal for me but after that
lucky token purse got stollen -the sight of blood
made me nervous. I was sentimentally attached to
that purse because it was filled with blessings and
well wishes of my loved ones.It always made me
feel protected and it gave me all the confidence
and showed me the light that lead to the path of
God.

Coming back to my trip to Shirdi in 2010-The

miracle that happened after the U turn that I took
for my best friend after leaving the Sansthan gate
made me seek Baba's blessings and permission
before leaving Shirdi. Baba also made me get- the
sterling silver coin from the ShirdiSansthan along
with the gold pendant with Baba's picture on it and
on the receipt was my best friends name on it
instead of my name.. I realized that Baba gave me
back the lost sterling silver coin of siddhivinayak
along with the gold pendant of sai which my dad
had given to me with the well wishes of my best
friend .Baba gave me back my lucky tokens and
once again I bloom with the self confidenceand
with the faith that no matter where I go or what I
do -- Sai is always with me and even if I loose
something- He will surely give it back to me, if I
truly deserve it. Once again My Salute to Baba
andto HisLeela¶s..
Saibhakt
Deepa H
Email :debu7366@yahoo.com