Baba taught not one but nine forms of devotion...

Anant Rao Patankar of Poona was a Vedic scholar; though he read Vedas and puranas he had no peace of mind. He came to visit Baba. He fell at Baba’s feet and pleaded with him to show compassion and bless him. Then Baba said,” Once a merchant came to me. He wanted to put some questions to me but could not do so. He was looking straight at me. Just then a mare in front of him passed stools in the shape of nine balls. The merchant collected all the nine balls and put them in his upper cloth by which he was able to concentrate his mind and thus have peace. ”baba, explained the significance of the story as follows.

“Merchant means a person having special qualities not found in ordinary people, a jnani. A mare means god’s grace Nine balls of horses excretion means nine kinds of devotion. The devotee in search of god should fix his mind on the Sadguru, and serve the guru sincerely. The devotee can choose any one of the following nine ways and reach god-

1. Shravan – hearing the divine stories and reading the puranas
2. Kirtan - Singing devotional songs in praise of the greatness of god
3. Smaran - To recollect what one had heard through sravan, and always remembering them
4. Pada seva – Worship of the feet and prostration
5. Archana – Different kinds of rituals performed daily
6. Namaskar – Bowing the head in respect, and salutations
7. Dasya – Doing service to god like a servant
8. Sukhyatva – Considering God as a friend and making friendship
9. Atma nivedan- Surrendering one’s life and Atman to god

Devotion is of nine kinds. As progressive and the mind begin to settle down, we can worship God in all the nine ways”.

Shirdi sai showed the Way to bhrama jnan

A rich gentleman with a desire to get Bhrama jnana from Saibaba, went to shirdi. After reaching shirdi, he went straight to baba in the Masjid, and prostrating himself before Saibaba, said,” I have heard that you can show Bhrama jnana instantly, so I have come from a far off place. I am tired after my journey.If you show me Bhrama, all my troubles and problems will be over, and I will be well rewarded. Please show me bhrama.
Immediately baba said. ”Oh my dear friend, do not be anxious. I shall show you Bhrama immediately. My dealings are always in cash and never on credit. Many people come to asking for wealth health power honor position and cures for diseases and other worldly matters. Rare is a person who comes here for and asks me for Bhrama jnana with all its accomplishments and complications” engaging him in some other talk, baba made him to forget the topic on Bhrama jnana.

Meanwhile, Baba sent a boy to get a loan of five rupees from Mr. Nandu marwari, but the house was locked. So he was sent to other places to fetch five rupees, but in vain. Although the rich gentleman had money in his pocket,he sat there without showing any reaction.

Baba then asked the gentleman to take out RS.250/ from his pocket. i.e., fifty times RS.5/ the amount he had been trying to get, and the surprise of all, the rich man had exactly RS 250/Realizing the omniscience of Baba, the gentleman fell at baba’s feet, who told him that unless he got rid of avarice and greed, he could not attain Bhrama jnana.

aum Sairam