"These, for the Cat!"

The 108 devotees from Assam, who had come to Prasanthi Nilayam for the Birthday Festival, were asked by Bhagawan to assemble in the Prayer Hall, at 8 pm on the 24th, so that He might meet them all together. He spoke to them for over an hour on Sadhana and spiritual progress. 

He gave them His Blessings for a happy return journey, and spoke affectionately of the hardships they underwent on their 'way by train, linguistic disturbances in Assam and Bengal whose brunt they bear, the Cyclone in Orissa, Bandhs and Strikes in Andhra, downpour of rain due to the depression in the Bay near Chennai (formerly Madras) etc.

Then, He moved along the lines of men and women, sitting face to face, distributing the precious Vibhuti Prasad to each one.

He gave a handful of packets to one woman and passed on. A few steps later, He halted and returned to where that woman sat. Picking a couple of packets from the basket He had in His left hand, He gave them again to her, saying, "Ye billy ke liye"! She looked up, puzzled! Bhagawan repeated, "Ye billy ke liye" "These, for the cat"!

She was thrilled; she remembered her pet cat, at her home, in far off Gauhati. Oh, how Baba loved it! Yes! Eight months ago, Baba had given proof of that. That night, she had some friends for dinner; her sister, the matron of the Government Hospital was there too. The cat was in the corner of the kitchen eyeing what was going on; suddenly, it snatched a piece of fish and ran. She was enraged; she took a stick and gave it a nice good beating.

But, even while she was doing it, all the pictures of Baba on the walls of her home, in the shrine, and on the table began, swaying, swinging and even falling! Two fell on the table from the wall but were luckily unhurt! Her sister and the friends ran out of the house suspecting an earthquake! 

The woman was plunged in fear. Recovering gradually, she suspected that it must be Baba's way of teaching her the Lesson of Love. She took the crouching, shivering, cat in her lap; while stroking its back, she found that its fur was full of fragrant Vibhuti which Baba had already showered to alleviate its pain! Tears of repentance filled her eyes; thinking of Baba's presence in the house filled her with joy.

That was the cat for which Baba gave her the two packets, at Prasanthi Nilayam, eight months later.  Infinite Compassion of Baba!

(Sanathana Sarathi - Jan. 1972)