The story of Bhagwantrao Kshirsagar, detailed in Chapter 4, shows Sai Baba's deep respect for Vitthal worship. Bhagwantrao's father had been a great devotee of Vitthal, but after his death, the worship of the family idol, food offerings, and even the death anniversary rites had ceased. When Bhagwantrao came to Shirdi, Baba, calling his father a friend, revealed why he had drawn him there. Baba said, "He never offers food (Naivedya); he keeps me hungry too. He keeps Vitthal hungry too, that’s why I brought him to Shirdi." Through these words, Baba directly connected the neglect of Vitthal to his own hunger, effectively reminding Bhagwantrao of his duty and guiding him back to the family's devotional practices.
How did Sai Baba encourage Bhagwantrao Kshirsagar to resume his family's worship of Vitthal?
📖 Chapter 4