Santbal A Saint with a Difference

SR No.: 001181
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T U Mehta
Publisher: Navjivan Prakashan Mandir
Publication Year: 1996
Total Pages: 152
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Biography
File Size: 9 MB

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Day of Samvat Year 2006 when Santbalji was meditating on his coach. Being a New Year Day, fireworks were being played even in early hours of the day and people were engaged in offering prayers. By this time one old lady came with an 'Arti' (lamp with several wicks for waving before the idol of God during worship) and lit the five wicks soaked with Ghee. She began to sing a song in worship of Santbal as her god and asked Santbal to come out to enable her to worship him properly. When Santbal saw her, he asked her to put the lamp of worship aside and to enter the room where he was meditating. When she did it the Saint told her that worship-lamp should be waved before gods and not before human beings like him. She, however, insisted and told him that she had not seen gods, but he was her god because the day she had not brought her sick son to get his blessings, the son began to regain his health. The Saint explained to the innocent lady that her son regained his health only in the ordinary course and he had done nothing except praying for his health. The lady, however, remained unconvinced and was rather dejected as in the morning of the New Year Day the first thing she wanted to do was to offer her worship to the person whom she thought to be possessing Divine powers.
Manubhai was present when this incident took place. He felt for the dejection caused to the old lady on the New Year Day and drew the attention of the Saint that the New Year Day of the innocent rustic lady was spoiled by his refusal to accept 'Arti' from her.
Santbalji explained how dangerous it was to encourage people of our country to indulge in hero-worship. He pointed out that the duty of all public workers was to see that the common man learned to appreciate virtues and not the person who held these virtues and if the innocent and illiterate people of the rural area like Bhal were encouraged to believe in miracles, they would be lead to form a new sect, which he never wished to happen.
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