SHRI SAI

Sri M. NEmichand Jain, Pot Market, Secunderabad – 3, remembers, it was a Tuesday of June 1960. A tall well built Fakir stood with joli, near their jewellery shop. He had to wait for more than half-anhour, as Sri jain was busy with his customers.

Later Sri Jain asked the Fakir, “what do you want?” “Five annas” was the reply. Jain searched for five annas in his cash box, but he could find only four annas. The Fakir refused to accept one anna less or one anna more. “are you not suffering from severe stomach pain” asked the Fakir, Sri Jain was shocked and wondered as to how a stranger could know about his physical condition. It was true that he suffered from stomach pain, which did not cure inspite of all medical treatments.

The Fakir advised that he would be relieved of all stomach pain, which did not cure inspite of all medical treatments. The Fakir advised that he would be relieved of all stomach pain, if he starts doing puja to Shirdi Sai Baba from Thursday, and stop taking all medicines. The Fakir put his hand into his joli, took out udhi, and put some udhi into Sri Jain’s hand and instructed him to put a pinch of udhi in his mouth, and also apply on his forehead.

The treatment was to be for two days, and that complete cure would take place by Thursday. True to what the Fakir said, Sri Jain’s stomach pain disappeared from the third day. In the meantime, the Fakir who was standing in the shop, while Sri Jain was searching for five annas, now enhanced his “fees” to one rupee four annas. He would not accept anything les or anything more.

While Sri Jain was again searching for the exact change, the Fakir disappeared. He could not be found. The Jain family were devout persons doing regular pooja to their family deities. Sai Baba did not find a place in their pooja room, till this incident. In the month of August 1960, the Jain family visited Shirdi for the first time.

The Fakir who came to the Jain jewellery shop, was found sitting on the throne of the Samadhi Mandir. As if to confirm that the Fakir was none else than Sai Baba, He continued to sit on the throne till one rupee four annas were put into the hundi, soon after, in the place of the Fakir, they saw a beautiful marble idol of Sai Baba