3.4 - Baba’s Earlier Years at Shirdi

Now we will see how this obscure Fakir grew into Sainath Maharaj, and helped humanity to the extend unknown.

Baba was practically ignored and treated by most of the villagers as an unknown fakir. Suddenly one day an incident occurred which brought a complete change in the situation. In the Mosque, wherein he lived, He is in the habit of lighting three or four lamps (deepams) made of clay. Normally, only during night, both Hindus and Muslims will light lamps in their places of worship. So, he went round begging for oil from Vanis or, oil vendors. There were only two such shops supplied him with oil at free of cost. The oil makers also supplied him with oil. One day, it struck these people that either they should make Baba realize their importance or should have some fun at his expense, they told him in a mocking tone that they had no oil.

Baba had to return to his mosque with his oil pot empty. It was already dusk. The people, who refused oil, came behind him to see what he was going to do in the darkness and thereby have some fun. Baba took some water from the water jar and shaking up the little bit of oil sticking at the bottom of the tin, drank it up. Then he took pure water from the water pot and filled his four earthen lamps with it. He placed a cotton wick in every lamp and struck up a match and lighted it. The spectators thought at first that cotton soaked in water could not possibly be lit up. But to their great surprise, the lamps were lit up and went on burning the whole night.