Sri Sai Baba and Propaganda
How Bhate’s transformation and later experiences carried Baba’s name to new devotees.
Sai BabaDevotee experienceVolume 4
The chapter
At Kopergaon, Bala Saheb Bhate mocked educated visitors who travelled to Shirdi to see an uncultured fakir. When Bhate finally entered Baba’s presence, he remained absorbed for hours. His contempt changed into remorse, repeated visits and such devotion that he resigned his post despite Baba’s advice to keep his employment.
This change explains why Narasimha Swami defends prachar, the work of making Baba known. A devotee who has received Baba’s help can tell others about it, although private experiences should not be forced into public speech before people who will only ridicule them.
The author then records how Baba’s name spread through articles, books and the work of the “Southern Swami”. Near Vellore, a ten-month-old child who had suffered fits for eight months received Baba’s udhi and never had another fit. The village became devoted to Sai. At Kakinada, arati and Baba’s blessing brought relief to a woman troubled by hysteria.
The author treats these events as Baba’s own prachar. He also points to the cobra that stayed before Baba’s picture at Coimbatore and the “Om Sai” inscriptions reported at Ramachandrapuram. In these accounts, publicity is not an invention added to Baba’s work; it is the way his help and name reached people who had not yet come to Shirdi.
Editorial note: This page is a concise paraphrase for web presentation and does not reproduce the complete chapter. Please consult the original PDF for the full account and wording.