Why go to Shirdi when Sai Baba is present everywhere?

Why go to Shirdi when Sai Baba is present everywhere?   

There is, however, something we should bear in mind here. The scriptures and saints encourage pilgrimage as an aid to self-control and self-realization - not to absolve the pilgrim of his or her sins or to secure a short route to heaven. Many verses in our Puranas appear saying, "Papa pariharardham, punya samupajanardham" (to wash away sins and gain merit). Several scholars opine that these were the interpolations of the priestly class to popularize pilgrimage. However, the notion that one can blithely continue to commit sins and then go on periodic pilgrimages to counter them has been categorically condemned by the great sages and scriptures. The Devi Bhagavatam, for instance, censures such motives: "Only those who keep their hearts pure stand to gain from pilgrimages, others even commit a sin by that." 

On close examination we see that these places of pilgrimage were originally the dwellings of great saints, or where their tombs lie. Over the course of time (thanks to the creative interpretation of Puranic commentators) their origins slipped into oblivion and were gradually replaced with stories connected to various deities. According to the scriptures, the sanctity of the Himalayas, the Ganga and other holy places is due to the spiritual power of the tapas performed there over the centuries by great souls. It then becomes clear why even great saints and realized beings visit holy places so devotedly. 

Great sages visit holy places and teerthas (holy waters) again and again to purify them and enhance their sanctity. Seekers, however, should visit them to free their minds of distractions and to accelerate their inward journey to their destination. It is a thousand times easier and more efficacious to meditate in such places than at home, as they have been sanctified by the presence of the great ones. As soon as seekers go there, their minds are spontaneously drawn into the Presence. Doing spiritual practice at home is like rowing a boat against the wind in a turbulent river, whereas practice in the presence of great sages or in holy places is like sailing with the wind and current behind us - effortless and tension-free. Psychotronics recognizes that when a strong resolve or emotion arises in a person, its power is impressed in that space, influencing those who come into its proximity later. Any seeker who has even a little experience in meditation instantly notices such an influence. However, care should be exercised when choosing a place for sadhana, especially when the seeker does not have the guidance of a competent guru. Each place has its own effect or influence and the seeker must choose one that is suitable to their samskaras. If it is not compatible it will not be helpful to their sadhana and at times could even be harmful.

Based on this principle the sages have revealed a secret for successful sadhana: seekers who are sincere in their purpose should visit their guru as often as they can, while those who are totally dedicated to sadhana should stay with the guru (or at their tomb) until the goal is reached. The great ones have not only shared this counsel with us but many of them lived it too. Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi is a recent and outstanding example of this. An exponent of the advaita school who urged all to realize the "I" glowing in the heart and to enquire into the question "Who am I?", Bhagavan's devotion, love and affection for Arunachala sometimes puzzles his devotees. He realized the Self at his home in Madurai, but even after that he cherished an intense longing for the darshan of Lord Arunachaleswara, which impelled him swiftly to that place and kept him there for the remainder of his life, never leaving it for a moment. Bhagavan used to say that Arunachaleswara was his guru and that Arunachala was his gurusthan (the place of his Master). 

It is intriguing to see why Bhagavan had to rush to Arunachala and what was there for him that was not available in Madurai. Once a devotee asked Ramana, "Bhagavan, is it not your divine power that is drawing innumerable devotees here from all over the world?" Bhagavan quickly cut him short, saying, "Then what was the power that pulled Bhagavan to this place? It is that same divine power (Arunachala) that is attracting everyone here." It was not out of modesty that Bhagavan spoke like this - and if we understand the inner meaning of his words, a great secret of sadhana will be revealed. Furthermore, we will also understand why Sri Sai Baba came to Shirdi and settled there, and the example he thus set for us. 

Today, millions of devotees are drawn to Shirdi by the divine power of Sai Baba - but what is the power that brought Sai to Shirdi? Baba's reply was, "It is my Guru's place. My Guru's tomb is here," and that is why he settled there and made it his home. Sri Sai Baba had transcended form and proved that he was one with all beings. He had shown by his numerous acts his state of non-duality and omnipresence. We, on the other hand, are still struggling with a sense of separation and duality. When he who had achieved such perfection and glory stayed so devotedly at his gurusthan and sought refuge there, is it not foolish on our part to say, "Is not Baba everywhere? Do we really need to go to Shirdi to see him?" The words are actually a camouflage for our own prevarication and meanness. A trip to Shirdi involves expenditure of time and money and putting our worldly affairs aside for a while, and we lack the resolve to do this. The great advaita teacher Sri Adi Sankara has warned, "Bhavadvaitam sadakurvat; kriyadvaitam nakarhichit; advaitam trishulokeshu nadwaitam guruna saha." ("Practise non-duality in thought but do not practise it in deed. You may follow non-duality anywhere in the three worlds, but never with regard to your Guru!") To his devotees Sri Sai Baba is the supreme sadguru and it is a fact that he is present everywhere in all beings. Even though it is the aim of Sai devotees to realize the truth of this fact, we should not forget that it was revealed to us by the form of Sri Sai that lived and moved in Shirdi.

Baba once said, "Baba is not this three-and-a-half cubit body. If anyone thinks of me like that they have not seen me at all." However, he also said, "Whoever steps into this mosque with devotion is freed from their suffering due to karma," and "I will fulfil the purpose of my incarnation. My dust will speak for me. I will be vigorous from the tomb as well," and "My tomb will speak and move with those who make me their refuge." Baba showed many devotees that no harm would come to them so long as they stayed in Shirdi. He instructed many either directly or through dream-visions to visit Shirdi in order to get their desires fulfilled. Sri Upasani Baba, an expert in yoga practice, was unable to overcome an obstacle in his sadhana and approached many sages and saints for relief, but in vain. Finally he came to Shirdi and sought Baba's grace. Baba gave him only one sadhana: to stay in Shirdi for four years. Upasani asked Baba, "What sadhana should I do in those four years?" Baba told him, "Nothing. Just eat and be quiet. That is enough. I will do what has to be done." This means that simply staying in Shirdi with sincerity of purpose is itself a great sadhana. Baba also said, "Whatever you buy in Shirdi is my prasad," and "Whoever sweeps and cleans Gurusthan (the abode of my guru) and lights incense on Thursdays and Fridays, will be blessed by God." All these reveal the immense importance Baba gave to holy Shirdi. 

Even today innumerable devotees who visit Shirdi continue to taste the bliss of Sai's stupendous presence. One can see obvious changes and improvements in their lives after their sojourn in Shirdi.

A thorn must be removed with a thorn. If we want to erase the feeling of duality from our hearts or, in Baba's words, "to demolish the wall between you and me" we must take the help of the contiguous parts of that duality - the form of Sri Sai Baba, his unique presence and the power of holy Shirdi.