SAI LEELA

 

The wonderful Sai Leela you are about to read now is taken from Sri Sai Baba's book written by Sai Saranananda in Gujarati. Enjoy reading.

 

In the year 1913, Sai devotee Atmaram Haribhavu Chaubal went to Shirdi to see Sai Baba. He also took with him specially made silver shoes. He went to Dwarakamai and was delighted to see Baba. Then he showed the silver shoes to Baba and Baba took them in his hands and said, "How beautiful they are!" Said. Then insert their toes into the shoes and say, "How nice these look!" He said, "Take these and keep them in your house of worship." Choubal took them with indescribable joy and placed them on a small wooden stool in the chapel of his house. Since then he has been adored by those devotees on a daily basis. Many years later, in the year 1930, the month of Ashvayuja (October-November), the 13th day of Krishna Paksham, he got up early on the third day and went to the shrine to see the shoes. One of the two shoes was not found. The shoe was not visible under the wooden stool or in the closet. The rest were searched everywhere, but all their efforts were in vain. Chaubal was very upset that one of the sacred shoes was not visible to Baba's touch. Yet he would perform his daily paduka puja for the remaining paduka. Two months later one morning, not even that shoe was found. No trace of it is known no matter how many searches. With that, he and his family were deeply saddened to feel that Baba had infuriated them. He then went to Bombay with the intention of thinking well and buying new shoes. The shoes made on the day he left were not available. With that he returned home very disappointed. Baba Patanike continued his daily worship as there were no shoes. Nine months have passed since then. The compassionate Sai Baba must have tested his devotee for nine months. His mind is filled with compassion that his devotee never forgot his shoes during that period. Baba showed so wonderful lila. One day two shoes were neatly placed under a wooden stool. The minds of the Choubal family who saw them were greatly relieved. The joy they received was indescribable.