Pavhari Baba And The Burglar

Anecdotes

oi-Staff

By Staff

Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 15:17

Pavhari Baba lived in Ghazipur and was a great saint and a contemporary of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. The saint lived in seclusion in a place not far from the Ganges. Swami Vivekananda had great respect for him, whom he met when he was a wandering monk.

Pavhari Baba once in the thickness of the night was meditating when slowly a thief crept in to his dwelling. A few metal pots, a blanket and a few rags were the only possessions that adorned his humble dwelling. The thief slowly laid his hands on the metal pots when Baba was immersed in meditation. When he was about to slip out silently one of the pots banged against the wall and he took to his heels through the dense undergrowth. Meanwhile Pavhari Baba who was alerted from his meditation due to the noise of the bang, gathered his other belongings and sped after the thief.

Pavhari Baba after a long chase caught the thief. The burglar shook with fear when Baba caught up with him. But to his utter surprise the saint fell at his feet and said “ Oh God you showed up as a thief in my house. But you had left behind these things. Please be gracious enough to take away these things as well" and handed over the other belongings. The thief who was profoundly moved took the things and left.

The thief realised the fact that Baba had recoganised divinity in him as well, who was a burglar. He took to spiritual practices and in due course attained sainthood. Later when Swami Vivekananda encountered this person during his wandering days, the thief turned saint narrated the incident which proved to be a pointer pinpointing the path of righteousness to him.