It is intriguing to see why Bhagavan had to rush to Arunachala and what was there for him that was not available in Madurai. Once a devotee asked Ramana, "Bhagavan, is it not your divine power that is drawing innumerable devotees here from all over the world?" Bhagavan quickly cut him short, saying, "Then what was the power that pulled Bhagavan to this place? It is that same divine power (Arunachala) that is attracting everyone here." It was not out of modesty that Bhagavan spoke like this - and if we understand the inner meaning of his words, a great secret of sadhana will be revealed. Furthermore, we will also understand why Sri Sai Baba came to Shirdi and settled there, and the example he thus set for us.

Today, millions of devotees are drawn to Shirdi by the divine power of Sai Baba - but what is the power that brought Sai to Shirdi? Baba's reply was, "It is my Guru's place. My Guru's tomb is here," and that is why he settled there and made it his home. Sri Sai Baba had transcended form and proved that he was one with all beings. He had shown by his numerous acts his state of non-duality and omnipresence. We, on the other hand, are still struggling with a sense of separation and duality. When he who had achieved such perfection and glory stayed so devotedly at his gurusthan and sought refuge there, is it not foolish on our part to say, "Is not Baba everywhere? Do we really need to go to Shirdi to see him?" The words are actually a camouflage for our own prevarication and meanness. A trip to Shirdi involves expenditure of time and money and putting our worldly affairs aside for a while, and we lack the resolve to do this. The great advaita teacher Sri Adi Sankara has warned, "Bhavadvaitam sadakurvat; kriyadvaitam nakarhichit; advaitam trishulokeshu nadwaitam guruna saha." ("Practise non-duality in thought but do not practise it in deed. You may follow non-duality anywhere in the three worlds, but never with regard to your Guru!") To his devotees Sri Sai Baba is the supreme sadguru and it is a fact that he is present everywhere in all beings. Even though it is the aim of Sai devotees to realize the truth of this fact, we should not forget that it was revealed to us by the form of Sri Sai that lived and moved in Shirdi.

Baba once said, "Baba is not this three-and-a-half cubit body. If anyone thinks of me like that they have not seen me at all." However, he also said, "Whoever steps into this mosque with devotion is freed from their suffering due to karma," and "I will fulfil the purpose of my incarnation. My dust will speak for me. I will be vigorous from the tomb as well," and "My tomb will speak and move with those who make me their refuge." Baba showed many devotees that no harm would come to them so long as they stayed in Shirdi. He instructed many either directly or through dream-visions to visit Shirdi in order to get their desires fulfilled. Sri Upasani Baba, an expert in yoga practice, was unable to overcome an obstacle in his sadhana and approached many sages and saints for relief, but in vain. Finally he came to Shirdi and sought Baba's grace. Baba gave him only one sadhana: to stay in Shirdi for four years. Upasani asked Baba, "What sadhana should I do in those four years?" Baba told him, "Nothing. Just eat and be quiet. That is enough. I will do what has to be done." This means that simply staying in Shirdi with sincerity of purpose is itself a great sadhana. Baba also said, "Whatever you buy in Shirdi is my prasad," and "Whoever sweeps and cleans Gurusthan (the abode of my guru) and lights incense on Thursdays and Fridays, will be blessed by God." All these reveal the immense importance Baba gave to holy Shirdi.

Even today innumerable devotees who visit Shirdi continue to taste the bliss of Sai's stupendous presence. One can see obvious changes and improvements in their lives after their sojourn in Shirdi.

A thorn must be removed with a thorn. If we want to erase the feeling of duality from our hearts or, in Baba's words, "to demolish the wall between you and me" we must take the help of the contiguous parts of that duality - the form of Sri Sai Baba, his unique presence and the power of holy Shirdi.