Following the Guru’s Command is only Life

One morning, in Machnur, Saint Baba Maharaj Arvikar, without stating a reason, got angry with Saint Madhav Swami and Anant Swami. Neither of them understood anything. Baba said to both of them, “Make my tea and bring it here. But neither of you should have any tea at all.”

They both looked at each other, confused, but obeyed Baba’s command nonetheless. Neither of them had even a morsel of food in their stomachs, since morning. Around 11 am, some of Baba’s disciples (men and women) from Solapur arrived in Machnur. Since usually the women were in charge of the cooking, they went and said to Baba, “Baba, we’ll cook the food.”

Baba said, “No, no. Madhava, Ananta, come here. You both cook today.”

There were around 20-25 people present for lunch. Baba had asked the two of them to prepare everything from the chutney, bhaaji (cooked vegetable) and a sweet sheera. As soon as the food was ready, Baba told Anant Swami and Madhav Swami to serve everyone, saying, “You can serve, but you shouldn’t eat at all.”

After lunch, since there was a practice of all sadhaks (spiritual seekers) washing their own utensils, they all got up with their plates. Baba said to them, “No, no. You all are not going to wash the dishes today. Madhava, Ananta, pick up all the plates and wash them.”

As soon as both of them started washing the dishes by the water tank, Baba appeared and said, “Take all the dishes to the river and wash them there.”

Anant Swami couldn’t stand the hunger and kept looking at Madhav Swami. Madhav Swami then said to him, “Don’t say anything. Baba is looking after us completely. Don’t worry. He is our Mauli. 

In the blazing heat, they both carried the dishes to the river, washed them and carried them back. Then again, Baba said, “You both are not supposed to eat anything, okay?”

They both replied, “No Baba, we are not eating, Baba.”

Around 4pm Baba asked them to make tea for everyone, but the two of them still didn’t have permission to eat or drink anything. As they did every task, Baba would himself come up to them and remind them, “You don’t take any of this.” Once everyone was done with the teas, the task of washing the cups was given to these two, again. They were both quite weary, but they still did all the work without a single complaint, and did whatever Baba told them to do. 

All of the people from Solapur left in the evening. Then there was the prarthana and aarti. After all this, Anant Swami and Madhav Swami were sitting, exhausted. Baba saw them both in the hall and said, “My children, I trouble you too much na? I behave so cruelly, right?”

Madhav Swami said, “No Baba. We wouldn’t say anything like that.”

Baba then said, “It is such, that sometimes this must be done. You must be hungry now, right?”

He then pulled some snacks and other food items out of a box of faral and gave it to them. 

Saint Baba Maharaj Arvikar says that the one whose life is about abiding by the Guru’s command (Guru adnya), they become eternally happy. They inherit the legacy of that greatness. The wisdom of serving the Guru (Guru seva) lies in living and acting in accordance with the Guru’s command. In this, it is not certain that things will happen as per the will of the disciple. But then, rather than becoming troubled, the disciple should focus all their bhavs on the love of the Guru (Guru prem), to follow the Guru’s command. Without thinking too much, go to the peaceful place of love, and then, our meeting there is natural.