ShirdiSaiBaba

The Hindus were no doubt the majority in the village, but the actual worshipers were only a handful. A few muscular Muslims, standing at the entrance to the Mosque, planned to threaten and stop this haram. Accordingly, one morning, a very stout, muscular, powerful and well-built Muslim by name Tambuli and four or five others went up to the entrance to the Mosque and stood there with clubs. The chief worshiper Mahlsapathy was a very slim, meek, and apparently cowardly sort of person, and they hoped to stop his pooja by their threats. Tambuli went and explained to Mahlsapathy the exact position, namely, that he ran the risk of being clubbed by the Muslims if he entered the Mosque and do pooja. Mahlsapathy in his great shock and grief prayed to Khandoba and hit upon an alternative. He went up to the compound wall of the mosque. By Avahana he invoked Baba on the compound wall. Without entering into the Mosque, he placed all the pooja articles that he had brought on a plate on the ground. After such invocation or Avahana, he went on applying water, flowers and scents to the wall. Baba noted this and asked him what he was doing. Mahlsapathy explained that the Muslims threatened to beat any one who would enter into the Mosque and worship Baba with sandal paste. Then Baba judged the situation very correctly and said, ‘Come in and proceed with your pooja. Apply your sandal paste here, there and anywhere. Let me see who will beat you’. So saying he dashed his satka, a short club, which he had in his hand on the ground. It made a thunderous sound. On hearing it the few Muslims at the entrance trembled. They found that they would have to reckon with Baba himself if they wished to pursue their plan. Baba, individually and physically, would be more than a match for them. Besides, Baba was a weird personality who could turn water in oil, and they had therefore still greater fear in trying to oppose Baba. So they retreated quietly. Mahlsapathy entered and carried on the worship. Mahlsapathy feared that they might attack him on his way back home, and he told Baba about his fears. Baba then gave him the assurance that no one can attack him not merely in this janma, but in future janmas also, and do him harm and Baba would see to his safety. Thus assured Mahlsapathy who finished his pooja and was not molested. Thus all joined in Baba’s worship.

Thus the first obstruction was removed.