SAI MIRCHANDANI

Life

Baba Sai Mirchandani was a living saint in the line of Sufi Saints known as the ‘Masters of Shah Daraz’. Sai Mirchandani’s Guru, Baba Sai Giani, told him once, “Mangha, Beware! You will be beheaded, but we will restore the head again. Do not be afraid, you will conquer death!”

Baba Sai Giani came to Bombay and stayed with his brother at Matunga. It was here that Sai Mirchandani met him for the first time. Being a good singer, he pleased Sai Giani with his melodious voice. On the third day of Sai Giani’s second visit, Sai Mirchandani caught the hem of Sai Giani’s kurta (shirt) and asked if he was leaving him. Sai Giani graciously replied that he would never leave him. As Sai Mirchandani looked round, he saw the picture of Sai Giani on his finger nails, toe nails, within himself and wherever he turned his eyes. This was an extraordinary experience! He saw light travelling throughout his body like an electric current with a form as distinct as his own. He began saying: “Bhagavan aaya hai!” (“God has come”) and “I have become Him”. The people around, saw a glow on his face and bowed down to him. Twelve years later, in 1949 at Baroda, the master revealed to Sai Mirchandani the state of ultimate Reality. Sai Mirchandani adored Sri Bhagavan.

SAI MIRCHANDANI AND ME

During one of my trips to Bombay in the 1970s to seek advertisements from firms for “The Mountain Path”, I went to see Mr. Sinha, the General Manager of a reputed company. He received me cordially and asked me the purpose of my visit. I told him about my purpose. He replied without hesitation, “Granted! Don’t worry over the release of advertisement. It will be sent to you promptly. I want you now to tell me about Sri Ramana Maharshi and his unique teaching.”

Seeing the deep enthusiasm of Mr. Sinha, I began explaining to him in depth the significance of Sri Bhagavan’s “Death Experience” at the tender age of sixteen. He listened very attentively and said he wanted to spend more time in satsang with me. He added that he was going that evening to a Sufi Saint living on Mount Pleasant Road and that he wanted me to accompany him. He picked me up from Juhu, where I was staying with my brother Mani and his family. On the way, he gave me details about the Sufi mystic.

On arriving at his residence, Sai Mirchandhani, a tall figure adorning a long kurta welcomed me with a hearty hug. It was late in the evening and it was time for his dinner. Sai invited me to have dinner with him and about ten of his disciples. I was hesitant as I presumed that the fare was non-vegetarian, to which I was averse. Seeing my hesitation, Sai reassured me “Don’t worry! It is pure vegetarian food!”

After dinner, he asked me about Sri Bhagavan’s approach to Bhakti, love, and surrender. I narrated to him about the deep Bhakti Sri Bhagavan had for his Guru, Arunachala, and how he had expressed it by writing hundreds of extempore verses of adoration. Being a Sufi, Sai was moved to tears of ecstasy. He embraced me again. There was a great aura around him and his words were as sweet as nectar - I became his admirer, instantly.

He then expressed his true happiness in meeting me - a sincere seeker with deep spiritual aspirations. He pleaded with me to make further efforts to gain the blessings of great Mahatmas, asserting, “Only the Grace and Blessings of Mahatmas can make the ‘journey within’ smoother, unobstructed, and crown it with success.” He added, “The Kumbha Mela will soon be conducted at Hardwar. You should go there. Mahatmas, who roam naked in the Himalayas for hundreds of years, will come to participate in it. I want you to receive their Grace and Blessings!”

Sai Mirchandani

Though I was thrilled to receive this direct and practical spiritual guidance from Sai, I also felt diffident as there was no way for me to discern who was a Mahatma and who wasn’t. For instance, I might mistake a clever fraud disguised as a Saint to be the real thing and a true Saint staying knee-deep in a drain to be a lunatic! So, how could I correctly judge and seek a Saint’s blessings?

Reading my thoughts, Sai thundered at me, “Did I not instruct you only go to the Kumbha Mela? Did I tell you to go in search of Sages? Roam about amidst the huge crowds there. Walk hither and thither. You need not identify anyone as a Saint. Indeed, you cannot identify them. They, on the other hand, will recognise you as a true spiritual aspirant and shower Grace, Guidance and Blessings on you - something which is almost impossible to gain through your own effort”.

I was thrilled to hear Sai Mirchandani’s glorious words of assurance which abided in me throughout my life !

A ‘praying heart’ knows no boundaries of limitations! Inculcate a deep longing within your heart for gaining Emancipation, through an attitude of ‘love’ and ‘surrender’. Then, Grace and Blessings will be showered on you, will flood you, and sweep you to the heights of Total Freedom!

‘Kumbha Mela’ at Haridwar: millions of Hindus offer worship to Ganga Mata