In this
chapter Hemadpant after making some preliminary
observations on some points of Vedanta, describes the
Chavadi procession.
Preliminary
Blessed is Sai's life, blessed is His daily routine. His
ways and actions are indescribable. Sometimes He was
intoxicated with Brahmanand (divine joy), and at other
times content with Self knowledge. Doing so many things
sometimes, He was unconcerned with them. Though He
seemed at times quite actionless (doing nothing) He was
not idle or dozing; He always abided in His own Self.
Though He looked calm and quiet as the placid sea, He
was deep and unfathomable. Who can describe His
ineffable nature? He regarded men as brothers, women as
sisters and mothers. He was a perfect and perpetual
celibate as everybody knows. May the understanding
(knowledge), we got in His company, last long unto
death. Let us ever serve Him with whole-hearted devotion
to His feet. Let us see Him (God) in all beings and let
us ever love His name.
Hemadpant, after making some lengthy dissertations on
some topics of Vedanta, which he himself considers as a
digression, goes on to describe the Chavadi procession.
Chavadi Procession
Baba's dormitory has been already described. One day He
slept in the Masjid and on the next, in the Chavadi (a
small building containing a room or two near the Masjid).
This alternate sleeping in both these buildings went on
till Baba's Mahasamadhi. From 10th December 1909
devotees began to offer regular worship to Baba in the
Chavadi. This we will now describe with His grace. When
the turn of retiring to the Chavadi came, people flocked
to the Masjid and made bhajan in the mandap (courtyard)
for a few hours. Behind them was a beautiful Ratha
(small car), to the right a Tulsi-vrindavan and in front
Baba, and between these the devotees fond of bhajan. Men
and women who had a liking for the bhajan came in time.
Some took Tal, Chiplis and Kartal, Mridang, Khanjiri and
Ghol (all musical instruments) in their hands and
conducted the bhajan. Sai Baba was the Magnet Who drew
all the devotees to Him there. Outside in the open, some
trimmed their divatyas, (torches), some decorated the
palanquin, some stood with cane-sticks in their hands
and uttered cries of victory to Baba. The corner was
decorated with buntings. Round about the Masjid, rows of
burning lamps shed their light. Baba's horse 'Shyamakarna'
stood fully decorated outside. Then Tatya Patil came
with a party of men to Baba and asked Him to be ready.
Baba sat quiet in his place till Tatya came and helped
Him to get up by putting his arm under Baba's arm-pit.
Tatya called Baba by the name of Mama. Really their
relationship was extremely intimate. Baba wore on his
body the usual kafni, took His satka (short stick) under
His arm-pit and after taking His chilim (tobacco-pipe)
and tobacco and placing a cloth over His shoulder became
ready to start. Then Tatya threw a golden-embroidered
beautiful Shela (Shawl) over His body. After this Baba,
moving a little the bundle of fuel-sticks lying behind
with His right toe and then extinguishing the burning
lamp with His right hand, started for the Chavadi. Then
all sorts of muscial instruments, tashe, band and horns
and mridang, gave out their different sounds; and
fire-works exhibited their different and various
coloured views. Men and women singing Baba's name
started walking, making bhajan to the accompaniment of
mridang and veena. Some danced with joy and some carried
various flags and standards. The Bhaldars announced
Baba's name when He came on the steps of the Masjid. On
the two sides of Baba stood persons, who held chavaris
and others who fanned Baba. On the way were spread folds
of cloth on which Baba walked on, being supported by
devotees' hands. Tatyaba held the left hand and
Mhalasapati the right and Bapusaheb Jog held the chhatra
(umbrella) over His head. In this fashion Baba marched
on to the Chavadi. The fully decorated red horse, named
Shyamakarna led the way and behind him were all the
carriers, waiters, musical players and the crowd of
devotees. Hari-nama (the name of the Lord) chanted to
the accompaniment of music rent the skies as also the
name of Sai. In this manner the procession reached the
corner when all the persons that joined this party
seemed well-pleased and delighted.
On coming to this corner Baba stood facing the Chavadi
and shone with a peculiar lustre. It seemed, as if the
face of Baba glittered like dawn, or like the glory of
the rising sun. Baba stood there with a concentrated
mind, facing the north, as if He was calling somebody.
All the instruments played their music while Baba moved
His right arm up and down for some time. Kakasaheb Dixit
at this time came forward with a silver plate containing
flowers besmeared with gulal (red powder) and threw them
on Baba's body off and on. The musical instruments
played their best at this juncture and Baba's face
beamed with steady and added radiance and beauty, and
all the persons drank this lustre to their hearts'
content. Words fail to describe the scene and splendour
of this occasion. Some times Mhalasapati began to dance
being possessed or obsessed by some deity, but all were
surprised to see that Baba's concentration was not in
the least disturbed. With a lantern in his hand Tatya
Patil walked on Baba's left side and Bhagat Mhalasapati
on the right, holding with his hand the hem of Baba's
garment. What a beautiful procession and what an
expression of devotion! To witness this, men and women,
poor and rich, flocked together there. Baba walked very
slow. Bhaktas followed on both sides with love and
devotion. With joy pervading the whole atmosphere of the
place, the procession reached the Chavadi. That scene
and those days are gone now. Nobody can see them now or
in the future; still remembering and visualising that
scene and sight, we can bring solace and comfort to our
minds.
The Chavadi was also fully decorated with a good white
ceiling, mirrors and many sorts of lamps. On reaching it
Tatya went ahead and spread an asan and placing a
bolster made Baba sit there and made Him wear good
angaraksha (coat). Then the devotees worshipped Him in
various ways. They put on His head a mugut (crown) with
a tuft above, placed garlands of flowers and jewels
round His neck and marking His forehead with musk-mixed
vertical lines and a dot (as Vaishnava devotees do) they
started at Him for long to their hearts' content. They
changed His head-dress now and then and held it aloft on
the head, fearing that Baba might throw it away. Baba
knew the heart of them all and meekly submitted to all
their methods without objection. With these decorations
He looked wonderfully beautiful.
Nanasaheb Nimonkar held the Chhatra (umbrella) with its
beautiful pendants which moved in a circle with its
supporting stick. Bapusaheb Jog washed the feet of Baba
in a silver dish and offered 'arghya' and worship with
due formalities, then besmeared His arms with sandal
paste, and offered tambul (betel-leaves). Baba sat on
the asan (gadi), while Tatya and others kept standing
and falling at His feet. When Baba sat on the gadi
supporting Himself against the bolster, devotees on both
sides waved chamars and fans. Shama then prepared the
chillim and handed it over to Tatyaba who drew a flame
out of it by his breath and then gave it to Baba. After
Baba had His smoke, it was given to Bhagat Mhalasapati
and then it was passed round to all. Blessed was the
inanimate chillim. It had first to undergo many ordeals
of penance, such as being treated by pot-makers, dried
in the open sun and burnt in fire and then it had the
good fortune to get the contact of Baba's hand and His
kiss. After this function was over, devotees put
garlands of flowers on His neck and gave Him nose-gays
and bunches of flowers for smelling. Baba who was
dispassion or non-attachment incarnate, cared a fig for
all these necklaces of jewels, and garlands of flowers
and other decorations; but out of real love to His
devotees, He allowed them to have their own way and to
please themselves. Finally Bapusaheb Jog waved the arati
over Baba, observing all formalities, the musical
instruments playing thier auspicious tunes. When this
arati was over, the devotees returned home one by one
saluting Baba and taking His leave. When Tatya Patil,
after offering chillim, attar (scent) and rose-water,
rose to depart, Baba said to him lovingly - "Guard Me,
go if you like, but return sometimes at night and
enquire after Me." Replying in the affirmative Tatyaba
left the Chhavadi and went home. Then Baba Himself
prepared His bed. He arranged 50 or 60 white chadders
one upon another and thus making His bed, went to rest.
We shall also now take rest and close this chapter with
a request to the readers that they should remember Sai
Baba and His Chavadi procession daily before they retire
and go to bed.
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