Baba never, in fact, actually begged any money, nor allowed His Bhaktas to beg. Heregarded money as a danger or bar to spiritual progress and did not allow His Bhaktas to fall into its clutches. Bhagat Mhalsapati, is an instance on this point. He was very poor and could hardly make both ends meet. Baba never allowed him to make any money, nor gave him anything from the Dakshina amount. Once a kind and liberal merchant named Hansaraj gave a large amount of money to Mhalsapati in Baba’s presence, but Baba did not allow him to accept it.
From Sai SatCharitra- Chapter 36
Above is an interesting aspect of Shirdi Sai Baba’s grace. Usually we attribute a guru’s or God’s blessings in terms of what is given but what is not denied…especially worldly things. We do find instances where a person is tested with wealth etc by the Guru or God, to know what the devotee’s true intentions are (like Lord Yama does to Nachiketha in Katha Upanishad), but this is probably only one instance where the Guru out-rightly decides for his disciple.
Sai Satcharitra is replete with such examples, where Shirdi Sai Baba in his unique way takes care of his disciples and their problems…and most importantly puts them on the path of higher revelations.
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