Baba was fallen ill by fever before Dassarah. Since then Baba stopped taking food or fluids. Although on surface Baba was getting enervated he was glowing inside with complete consciousness. On the day of Dassarah Baba suddenly got up without the help of anyone. Everybody thought that Baba was out of danger. But, yogis will decide their death for themselves. In that state Baba wanted to give some money in charity to Lakshmi Bai Shinde.

Lakshmi Bai Shinde was a prosperous woman. She was very good. But she was very unfortunate as she lost her husband at a very early age. Baba?s darshan provided her great peace. That was all! She left everything and came into Shirdi. She used to serve Sri Sai day and night and lead a simple life. Only Bhakta Mahalsapathi, Tatya Patil and Lakshmi Bai were only authorized to enter Masjid in nighttime. Any other person had to wait outside! When Baba was taking his food they used to tie a cloth as a curtain. No one was dared enough to open the curtain at that time. Only Lakshmi Bai had the intimacy to open the curtain and go to Baba. Lakshmi Bai spent great amount of money to decorate Shirdi as a holy shrine.

Baba won?t forget anyone?s service. He won?t even keep anyone?s debt. Therefore he called Lakshmi Bai before his entering Samadhi. Keeping his hand in the pocket Baba taken five rupees once and four rupees next and gave a total of nine rupees to Lakshmi Bai. In a spiritual sense number nine is a symbol of nine types of devotion.

Indeed, Lakshmi Bai was very rich. She didn?t require a simple amount of nine rupees at all. For that matter she had no pinch of money. She spent so many times of money as against the nine rupees given by Baba, in Shirdi in several manners. However, She knew that nine rupees given by Baba were very precious and priceless.

Baba gave her nine rupees only to teach her about the nine modes of devotion. In Bhagavatam 11th canto, 10th cha

Sri Sainathaya Namah.