Retired Deputy Collector, Deccani, Brahmin, Aged 81 (born 1855), Residing at 108, Shukrawar Peth, Poona
I do not know what has become of Mr. Sunder Rao Narayan who was the Editor and soul of "Sai Nath Prabha".
It is he who signs his "apothegms" and his "vision" in Part I under the Nom de plume "Ramagir".
Baba and other sants: His Antarjnana.
When I was at Shirdi one day Baba was at the Mosque. The time for his moving on to Lendi had arrived and yet he was not inclined to move out. He lay stretched beside the Mosque wall. When he had thus delayed his visit to Lendi by one hour, we asked him. "It is high time for you to go to Lendi. Why do you not go ?" Then Baba answered 'Hallo! My Gajanan is gone.' Someone wrote that day from Shirdi to Shegaon to ascertain how Gajanan Maharaj, the famous saint of that place was doing. The answer came that he expired on the very day when Baba apprised us of the sad event.
Baba's prophecy
Sometime in 1917, Baba said "Tilak is coming here". As there seemed to be nothing to induce Lokamanya to visit him, I thought Baba was referring to Tilak Maharaj ie., Vaman Maharaj Tilak. In fact, however, Lokamanya visited him soon after {ie., on 19-5-1917).
Baba's activities
Though Baba either out of humility or out of policy ascribed all beneficent things done for his visitors and devotees to God, he disclosed in many cases his own authorship by his words, e.g.
(1) About my pension he said (in pungent slang) that he would force the Authorities to pay me my full pension.
(2) Another instance comes to my mind now. Daji Hari Lele (Dt. Inspector of Land Records at Nasik) was proceeding to Shirdi to see Baba. On the way he went to the Library at Kopergaon and saw the Gazette. Therein he discovered that he had been promoted from Rs. 125 to Rs. 150. Then he came to Shirdi and bowed to Baba. Baba told him "Bring me Rs. 15". The man said he had no money. Baba retorted, "It is only yesterday I gave you Rs. 25. Go and bring the money." Lele then came to my wada, informed me of all the facts and borrowed the money to pay Baba.
Baba's talks (Goshties):
(1) Baba said once that as a boy he was weaving shawls, that his father was once so pleased with his handiwork that he gave him a pecuniary present of some Rs. 5 or so.
(2) Once Baba said that he was 'eating food' (i.e., living) at the East Coast ie., Coromandal Coast.
(3) Once he said, "Pshaw! What of Akbar! I have protected him in his infancy. He stood in fear of me."
(4) The brahmin of Paithan (evidently referring to Eknath) I knew. Brahmins of such excellent sort are not now-a-days seen.
(5) Chand bai Patel came to me and asked me about his horse. He said "Where did you drive my horse?" I replied, "Why do you charge me? Go and see: Your horse is grazing by the hedge."
This was all that issued from the mouth of Baba. I used my imagination and built stories on these and wrote my "Sai Katha Karandaka". It was written without previous intimation to or obtaining the approval of Baba. Baba's utterances were short. He abruptly stopped many of his stories.
Source: Devotees Experiences of SRI SAI BABA by B.V.NARASIMHASWAMIJI