GREATNESS OF UDI - INTRODUCTION

SHREE SATCHITANAND SADGURU SAINATH MAHARAJ KI 

JAI!!!!

Dhuni, the sacred fire kindled by Baba still burns as brightly as ever in Dwarkamai. Baba used to call Her as affectionately as one calls his mother, and addressed Her as Dhuni Maa (Mother Dhuni). He fed Her sumptuously daily, not only log and firewood, but also some food from the dishes He collected from His round of Bhiksha (begging for food by saints). Even during the coldest winters and heaviest torrential rains, Baba made sure that Dhuni burnt in all Her glory. He has often said that Dhuni will burn till the descend of Prayala swallows the Earth. Before leaving for Chavadi, ever alternate night, Baba used to push a few logs into the Dhuni with his right toe and then only leave the Masjid. This is the sacred, holy Dhuni that indiscriminately provides life-giving ash (Vibhuti/Udi) to all who take refuge in Masjidamai. 

The Agni Purana stats that fire is the most holy and incorruptible of all elements that exist. This is justified by the reasons that I shall state below:

1)      Agni (Fire) brings the bright light of Wisdom and destroys the darkness of Ignorance.

2)      Agni Pariksha (an old Hindu tradition where a person walks through fire and comes out unharmed if not guilty) makes Flame the wisest and oldest judge.

3)      Fire ignites the warmth that helps all creatures survive.

4)      Agni has the capability of burning all Karmas (actions), making Him a great actor during Pralaya (Apocalypse).

However, Baba had a completely different lesson behind lighting Dhuni in Masjidmai. Firstly, it was to unite the Hindu and Muslim traditions and practices (Hindu tradition of Agnihotri and Muslim tradition of living in a mosque). Many people accept that this was His primary motive for His Avatar as well. Secondly, Baba taught of the vanity of material possessions, saying that everything will end up in ashes at the end of Prayala and nothing will come with us to the next world. Even this body will change to ashes (after cremation) and will mix with the soil. The ash from Dhuni Maa is called Udi or Vibhuti and is considered the most holy and infallible medicine. Baba also distributed it as His Prasad to all who came to Him. Applying Udi to a person’s forehead calmed all his anxiety, destroyed all doubts regarding spiritual matters and healed all diseases. In fact, it was the only medicine Sayeen gave to any ailing devotee, irrespective of the disease, and this ash cured it without delay.

Every day after aarti, or whenever a devotee came for His darshan, Sai Nath gave him a handful of this greyish ash and also applied some of it to his forehead with His hand, blessing the lucky one with all happiness. Devotees took as much of Udi as possible and distributed to their needy friends and relations. They also took some Udi in with water, sanctifying themselves like this. Even after Sai's Mahasamadhi, His Udi works without any problems, curing diseases ranging from fevers to even Cancer. 

In Shree Satcharitra (written by Hemadpant), the author has dedicated two chapters to explain the value of Udi in great details, but he was not able to describe its complete nature. When such blessed ones are facing such troubles, where do beggars like me stand? I think that me trying my hand it is itself a very risky affair. Let Baba control what I state here and what I omit…  allow me to continue this in the next posts. 

Hare Sai, Hare Sai, Sai Sai Hare Hare;

Sai Ram, Sai Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare!