CHARITY OF FOOD through many events of Sai Baba's life Posted by Sibi Sukumar , Saturday, August 26, 2006 at 5:55 AM, in

CHARITY OF FOOD

Last, but an important advice about food, given by Baba, is about charity :"Different sadhanas (means of accomplishments) are prescribed in ourscriptures for different Ages. Tapa (penance) is recommended for Krita Age,Jnana (knowledge) for Treta Age, Yajna (sacrifice) for Dwapara Age and Dana(charity) for Kali (present) Age. Of all the kinds of charities, giving food is the best one.

We are much perturbed, when we get no food at noon. Otherbeings feel similarly under similar circumstances. Knowing this, he, whogives food to the poor and hungry, is the best donar or charitable person.The Taittiriya Upanishad says that "Food is Brahma, from food all thecreatures are born and having been born by food they live and havingdeparted into food they again enter."

Other kinds of charities viz. givingaway wealth, property, clothes etc. require some discrimination; but in thematter of food, no such consideration is necessary. Let anybody come to ourdoor at noon, he should be served forthwith; and if lame, crippled, blindand diseased paupers come, they should be fed first and the able-bodiedpersons and our relations afterwards." (Ch. 38, P. 208-209)

We remember, how in Ch. 9, Sai Baba expressed His great pleasure, when Mrs.Tarkhad fed a hungry dog during her meal lime. He further said,"Ever act like this and this will stand you in good stead. First give breadto the hungry and then eat yourself!" (P. 55, Shri Sai Saicharila).Similarly, we know, what Baba said to Laxmibai Shinde, who was annoyedbecause Baba gave the bread and vegetable, cooked urgently for Baba, to anearby dog,"Why do you grieve for nothing? The appeasement of the dog's hunger is thesame as Mine.

Though some speak and others are dumb, the hunger of allcreatures is the same. Know for certain that he who feeds the hungry, reallyserves Me with food." (Ch. 42, P. 233)In this regard also, Baba Himself had set an example. In early days, He onand oft used to feedthe poor and helpless by cooking food Himself in big pots (Handi). He usedto buy the grains and spices from bazaar and do the grinding also Himself,Later, devotees started thronging to Shirdi in large numbers and cooked foodin the form of naivedya started coming in large quantities, so there was noneed for cooking the food by Baba.

However, He never stopped distributingthis naivedya food to all and sundry. He Himself hardly tasted it.

Conclusion

Sai Baba was always practical and realistic in His advice. While eulogizingcharity, He also warned not to do it in excess and become a debtor (BhaktiLeelamrit, Ch. 32, by Das Ganu Maharaj). The crux of His advice regardingfood was to learn to control one's tongue and be satisfied with whateverfood is served. This will not only ensure good health but also help one inone's efforts for attaining emancipation.

By Lt. Col. M. B. Nimbalkar (Retd.)(Source Shri Sai Leela Magazine, September-October 1993)