Upasani Maharaj

A clarification about the part and significance of Shri Sai of Shirdi would stay fragmented without the comprehension of the life of Kashinath Govind Upasani Sastri, who later came to be known as 'Shri Upasani Maharaj'. Shri Sai's deeds and life was loaded with supernatural occurrences, however the best marvel was His formation of this once unimportant individual to the status of a Sadguru inside a time of four years!

The strategies utilized by Shri Sai to totally change Kashinath Sastri, the agony taken by him to secure the novice and the affirmation with which he developed this uncertain and confounded supporter to the condition of a Perfect Master, would show where in the otherworldly progression of this world Shri Sai remains.

Conceived on fifth may, 1870 at Satana, Maharashtra (in India), Kashinath did not display qualities of an ordinary tyke from the earliest starting point, despite the fact that his deviations did not show presence of any super-insight or magnificence in him. He held to a great degree solid perspectives around two indispensable parts of life when in his adolescents. Initially, he proclaimed that the formalized instructive learning was just for bread winning and, in this manner, subsequent to doing three years in a vernacular primary school left it; coldblooded canning by his instructor turning into the quick reason for such acknowledgment. Besides, he abhorred and denounced the body (i.e. his own body) as the maker of impediments and agony in life. He invested all his energy doing in Asans (practices according to Yoga), Pranayama (Breath control works out), reiteration of mantras and so forth. With such a mentality he could win nothing and for his relatives he was an issue tyke. To aggravate matters, he was hitched with the trust that his ways would change. Old propensities stalwart. Did Kashinath not change, as well as a couple of months after marriage he fled from home (at the Dhulia locale in Maharashtra) leaving a withdrawing note and achieved Nasik. Be that as it may, after two months uneasiness about the situation of his folks constrained him to return home. Presently his better half lapsed, however before the measure of distress could be exhausted, Kashinath, now fifteen was got hitched second time. To acquire job he went to spots like Pune and couldn't discover a vocation due to the nonappearance of any formal instruction. Now and again he did modest work for others and at different times, he took to asking. He was in a hopeless condition of life. Now and then, he even needed to consider trails (sideways) and live just on Margosa (Neem) takes off.

Amid this time of hardships, he met a holy person who urged him the ideals of Brahmacharya (abstinence). Leaving Pune he went to a spot called Kalyan where he reestablished to asking as a method for job, regularly extinguishing his appetite just by drinking water. A couple days after the fact, disappointed and depleted, he chose to return home traveling through Nasik. He achieved home at Satana in July 1890. Not long after his dad passed away. To acquire vocation, he honed prescription for quite a while, trailed by an occupation of a Malgujari (charge authority for the lord or ruler). Be that as it may, he fizzled in all the material endeavors he embraced. His wellbeing likewise crumbled generously because of disregard and absence of solaces. While honing Pranayama (Breath control works out), his breath-cycle likewise got bothered. Indeed, even his rest, processing and departure frameworks got troublesome. All endeavors of therapeutic and religious having fizzled, he attempted to get mysterious help of a Yogi. A Yogi called Yogi Kulkarni whom he met at Rahuri let him know that Kashinath had entered a high yogic state and in this manner, must take the assistance of Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi. Assuming Shri Sai to be a Moslem, Kashinath did not consider the counsel important. One day when Kashinath was strolling in the boulevards of Rahuri, an old man drew closer him to take boiling hot water as a corrective measure and to abstain from taking cool water. Kashinath did not take this spontaneous guidance given by an obscure individual yet proceeded with his quest for a Hindu Yogi. While on such a move, at a specific spot called Jajuri, he went into a Samadhi state while sitting in a desolate spot encompassed by thorny pear shrub. When he got up, he felt exceptionally parched and went to the stream adjacent to drink water. Around then the same old man re-showed up from no place. He rehashed his recommendation in an irate tone and vanished all of a sudden. Kashinath took his recommendation (this time) genuinely and discovered sudden help. In a brief timeframe his wellbeing turned into good by this boiling hot water treatment. At that point he went to meet Narayan Maharaj of Kedgaon a renowned Saint. On his way back he again met Yogi Kulkarni at Rahuri who again demanded him to meet Sai Baba, as Shirdi was en route. At last Kashinath came to Shirdi and met Shri Sai on 27th June 1911. Little did he understand around then that he had met his Sadguru (Master) and that the course of his life would experience finish from there on.

In the wake of staying at Shirdi for around a few days, Kashinath needed to leave for home. Clearly he had been longing for an upbeat union with his relatives and to live with them joyfully a great many. In any case, Sai would not concur. Everybody in Shirdi realized that if Shri Sai did not allow one to leave Shirdi, there must be something more to it. The individuals who defied confronted issues, which could have been maintained a strategic distance from, had they noticed to the expressions of Shri Sai. At the point when Kashinath argued fervently, Shri Sai eventually allowed him on the condition that he (Kashinath) ought to come back to Shirdi in eight days. Kashinath, around then, not having full confidence in Sai, began stressing and fussing as eight days was too short a period. Sai knowing his mental state let him know "well, go in the event that you like, I will see what would I be able to do." Very glad at the possibility of going home he made a fast takeoff. Be that as it may, for some odd reason, moving from spot to place, he achieved Kopergaon (a town 8 miles far from Shirdi) on the eighth day. He was completely confounded and did not realize that with reference to how in eight days of ceaseless strolling he could just cover eight miles. Pell mell from Kopergaon, he came to Shirdi with a gathering of travelers and met Shri Sai once more.

When he bowed before Shri Sai, the last asked him:-

Sai : "So You have come, when did you leave this spot?"

Kashinath : "Thursday"

Sai : " At what time?"

Kashinath : "At Three"

Sai : "What day of the week is it true that this is?"

Kashinath : "Thursday."

Sai : "To what extent since you exited?"

Kashinath : "A week. To-day is the eighth day".

Sai : "That is it. When you cleared out, you challenged that you couldn't return inside eight days!"

Kashinath : "I don't know how this has happened. It is all you're doing".

Sai : "Man, I was behind all of you these eight days. Presently go and stay in that wada" (i.e. Kaka Saheb's, the place guests of Shri Sai typically remained. "Wada" implies a working inside a compound) From that day onwards Kashinath was put on post trial supervision by Shri Sai who requesting that he stay in the wada (a spot where alternate pioneers were set up). Kashinath endeavored to comprehend Sai by beginning to enquire from different aficionados and perception of His day by day exercises. On one day, Sai as regular portrayed a curious story as a self-affair to the collected lovers. He said that once he met a gaunt and pregnant lady whom he encouraged to take just heated water and stay away from frosty water, so that the tyke could be conveyed early. She didn't regard His recommendation yet went ahead to drink frosty water. He again came and prompted the woman not to take frosty water but rather to take heated water as it were. When she began to take boiling hot water, she conveyed the tyke. While portraying the story Shri Sai pointed as often as possible at Kashinath, who was persuaded that it was Shri Sai who had showed up at two spots to spare him. Adoration and appreciation inundated him so much that he began crying. Sai let him know unmistakably that he and Kashinath had Rinanubandha (Karmic commitments of the past, including the past births) for a long time.

To shield Kashinath from all outside elements that impact profound development, Sai requesting that he go and sit in Khandoba Temple and do nothing so that Sai would have the capacity to do whatever he wills to do i.e. to work inside Kashinath and develop him. Sai told Kashinath that Khandoba's (Lord Shiva) full effortlessness will go ahead him following a time of four years.

Like a mother shielding its youngster from the on-slaughts of nature and individuals around even at the expense of her own life, Shri Sai ensured Kashinath entire heartedly and straightforwardly. Prior to the collection of envious lovers who got some information about the reason of His amazing beauty He said, "Yes, Yes, everything has been given, whatever he is, great or terrible, he is mine. There is no qualification amongst him and me. Presently, the entire obligation regarding him rests with me." Kashinath still couldn't comprehend the significance of the expressions of Shri Sai. To encourage show his future, Sai said "wherever you will be, you are God – You will acknowledge everything."

The beauty of the Sadguru is inconceivable. It is said that though a touch stone can change a stone to gold by negligible touch, the Sadguru (Perfect Master) is such a touch-stone who can change over a stone (pupil) to a touch-stone i.e. to His own state (Perfect Master). The Sadguru, at this stage is in charge of everything, great or insidious, done by the student. At this stage, the Sadguru essentially stays helpless before the supporter. By this aggregate penance of Himself, the Sadguru advances the devotee to a condition of flawlessness i.e. His own state. Shri Sai, once let one know of His nearby partners that the try ought to be to make these impeccable men with the goal that they can, thusly, profoundly elevate thousands and a huge number of different souls from the condition of Jivatma (fortified souls) to the condition of Shivatma (Perfect souls). To advance Kashinath was no simple undertaking for Shri Sai. It is said that the distinction in the condition of cognizance between a stone and a normal man is what is the contrast between a common man and a Sadguru. Like a man turning a bit of stone by the utilization of mallet, etch to an excellent bit of model, the Sadguru can change a gross individual to that of an impeccable soul. This is the thing that Shri Sai was attempting to do on Kashinath. The strategies he utilized were, at times, unforgiving from the perspective of Kashinath, at the same time, none the less were implied for his development to that immaculate state as it were.

To start his work Sai told Kashinath "Sit calm, some way or another. Have nothing to do with anybody". Sai needed Kashinath not to make further "Samskaras" or impressions for himself in connection with other individuals yet to draw his brain inwards. As he took after the expert, a progression of spiritualist responses happened in Kashinath and around him.

To make Kashinath understand that, his Guru (Shri Sai) was available in each living being independent of the species, He once told Kashinath that he would one day visit Khandoba sanctuary (where Kashinath used to sit tight). He promote said that would Kashinath remember Him, He would have chillum (earthen funnel for smoking) with him. Around a few months after the fact Kashinath was taking some nourishment to his Guru (Sai, who was sitting at the DwarkaMai mosque). A dark pooch who had been viewing Kashinath while cooking, tailed him. Without giving any sustenance to the pooch, Kashinath went straight to Sai, who said, "why did you take the inconvenience to bring the nourishment here, in this hot sun. I was staying there (i.e. close to the sanctuary)". Kashinath was stunned to hear that his Guru was at the sanctuary and he didn't have an inkling. He told Sai that there was none in the sanctuary with the exception of a dark pooch. At that, Sai said 'yes, yes, I was that puppy". Listening to this Kashinath couldn't quit crying and determined never again to confer such a screw up. On the following day, while cooking, he viewed around mindfully for fear that the puppy would come back once more. The puppy was not a single where in sight. A shudra (lower-station) poor person was discovered inclining toward a divider and watching him cook. Kashinath the Brahmin (Uppermost-rank) developed in the standard custom, instantly requesting that he leave. Later when he drew closer Sai, the last asked him "yesterday you didn't give me sustenance and today you likewise requested me not to remain there and pushed me away. Try not to bring nourishment for me henceforth". Again Kashinath was shocked and again he was informed that "shudra" was Sai Himself. These two lessons taught Kashinath that God and Shri Sai are in everything, and that the substance of God plagues everybody and everything.

On the Gurupurnima day (Ashadha full moon day) of 1913, Shri Sai asked a lover Chandrabai, a solid willed woman to adore Kashinath the way Sai was being revered. This woman drew closer Kashinath in Khandoba sanctuary with the Puja (revere) material for his love. Kashinath declined to be venerated and, even, undermined her for her nervy demonstration. However, Chandrabai let him know (the dialect of Sai said through her) that even his body, which he believed was being adored, did not have a place with him. From this day onwards Kashinath was called as Upasani Maharaj as formally Sai introduced him as a Guru even in his probation period. After this episode, he began losing the feeling of his body (Dehabhava).

Presently Upasani Maharaj began having dreams and sentiments of an exceptionally psychic and otherworldly nature. For instance, he lost his typical vision by taking a gander at the sun always. The sun and other light sources looked dull to him. At the point when in this state, one day, he all of a sudden began seeing circles of light, which extended and afterward drew close to him. These roundabout spots of light would vanish drawing close to his body. Presently he began seeing otherworldly dreams inside these circles of light. One day he saw himself remaining at some spot in the space and saw the entire universe including the sun, moon, sky rotating. The spinning universe gradually got to be littler and littler, came towards him, and vanished close him or into him. Upasani Maharaj now encountered that the entire world was deceptive and spinning and that he, as a spirit, was outside it. This was a higher stage in his profound development.

From his childhood Upasani Maharaj had identified the body as the cause of all evils in life and had made conscious attempts to punish it. For a spiritual aspirant identifying the body with the self is a big limitation. How Shri Sai removed it is an interesting story. One day Upasani Maharaj saw a vision that in an old building he (Upasani) and Sai were there. Shri Sai beckoned him to bring his ear close to his (Sai) mouth so that he could give a mantra. When Upasani Maharaj tried to do so, a shabby figure, which looked exactly like him tried to pull Maharaj away from Sai. Then Sai beat-up that shabby figure carried him out and burnt him in a pyre. Identifying himself with this figure when Upasani complained about this action (of burning). Shri Sai told him that it was his (Maharaj’s) evil form, which has been burnt. Little later, he saw an illuminated figure of himself. Again on being asked, Sai said that it was his (Maharaj’s) virtuous form. Maharaj was surprised and asked if he had an evil form and also a virtuous form who was he! Shri Sai told him that he was beyond both these forms and was the pure soul the element with which Shri Sai himself was made of.

As Upasani Maharaj proceeded from the stage of illumination to self-realisation occult powers and ‘siddhis’ came to him. When an aspirant evolves in the spiritual path higher psychic and occult powers gradually grow in him. He could read the minds of everyone – his past, present and future. People started surrounding him and he had some following. Often, when he would be worshipped by a few persons, a crazy ascetic called Nanavali, who stayed at Shirdi, would come and pull out his cloth and talk with him with disrespect and contempt. Once he tied him up and beat him up. As Nanavali was a tough and dangerous person, no one could protect Upasani Maharaj. His cup of sorrow was full but inwardly his Godly qualities were evolving to perfection. He was getting ready for his new and bigger role. Every time he faced a problem, Sai assured him by saying that He (Sai) was always with him and that the more he suffered at present, better it would be for his future.

One night in July 1914 Upasani Maharaj left Shirdi quietly taking mental permission from his Guru for a role he was destined to play elsewhere. First he went to a place called Shindi, then to Nagpur where he stayed for about a month and finally Kharagpur. At all these places, people started worshipping him even when he tried fervently to run-away from such situations. He tried to remain incognito but people would not leave him in peace. At Kharagpur, he deliberately stayed in a dirty condition and used filthy articles and even abused people in most unparliamentary language that he could. People followed him everywhere and conducted his Puja (worship) and demanded advice out of him. When a flower blooms and its aroma spreads, butterflies and insects naturally get drawn towards it.

Same was the case with Upasanji Maharaj. Since he had become a ‘Satpurush’ (Perfect one) people naturally flocked to him whether he liked it or not. All persons coming in contact with a Satpurush get purified. His following increased everyday and his surroundings became a place of activities like poor feeding, kirtan and ‘Naamjap’ remembrance of the name etc. Although Upasani Maharaj would not agree to be the creator, but a number of miracles started happening around him. After staying for about a year in Kharagpur, when people tried to build a permanent abode for him, he quickly left the place. Soon he reached Nagpur, where also, people surrounded to have his darshan. After two months of stay at Nagpur, he visited places like Poona and also his home at Satana. As his four-year period was over, he returned to Shridi and stayed at Khandoba temple for about seven months. Thereafter, he left for a place called Rahata where he conducted naam japs, poor feeding etc. From there he went to Ahmedabad for some time. Returning to Shirdi, a third time he stayed near to his Guru for about two to three months. In 1917, he finally shifted to Sakori and started functioning as a spiritual master (Sadguru). This child of Shri Sai served thousands and thousands of people, day in and day out with least regard for his personal comforts and finally left his gross body in the early hours of the 24th day of December, in the year 1941. Like his Guru, Upasani Baba had given enough indications about his final departure earlier. Upasani Baba was Shri Sai’s loftiest creation a stone turned into a touchstone.