In the last chapter, I described the circumstances which
led me to write Sai-Sat-Charita. Let me now describe the
first advent of Sai Baba in Shirdi.
Mission of the Saints
Lord Krishna says in Bhagvadgita (Chapter IV, 7-8) that
"Whenever there is a decay of Dharma (righteousness) and
an ascendancy of unrighteousness, I manifest Myself; and
for the protection of the virtuous, the destruction of
the vicious and for the establishment of righteousness,
I manifest Myself in age after age".
This is the mission of Lord, and the Sages and Saints,
Who are His representatives and Who appear here at
proper times, help in their own way to fulfil that
mission. For instance, when the twice born, i.e. the
Brahmins, the Kshatriyas and the Vaishyas neglect their
duties and when the Shudras try to usurp the rights of
the higher classes, when spiritual preceptors are not
respected but humiliated, when nobody cares for
religious instructions, when every body thinks himself
very learned, when people begin to partake of forbidden
foods and intoxicating drinks, when under the cloak of
religion, people indulge in malpractices, when people
belonging to different sects fight amongst themselves,
when Brahmins fail to do Sandhya adoration, and the
orthodox their religious practices, when Yogis neglect
their meditation, when people begin to think that
wealth, progeny, wife are their sole concern, and thus
turn away from the true path of salvation, then do
Saints appear and try to set matters right by their
words and action. They serve us as beacon-lights, and
show us the right path, and the right way for us to
follow. In this way, many saints, viz. Nivritti,
Jnanadev, Muktabai, Namdev, Gora, Gonayi, Ekanath,
Tukaram, Narahari, Narsi Bhai, Sajan Kasai, Sawata,
Ramdas, and various others did appear at various times
to show the right path to the people, and so presently
came Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi.
Shirdi - A Holy Tirth
The banks of the Godavari river, in the Ahmednagar
District, are very fortunate for they gave birth and
refuge to many a Saint, prominent amongst them being
Jnaneshwar. Shirdi also falls in the Kopargaon Taluka of
the Ahmednagar District. After crossing the Godavari
river at Kopargaon, one gets the way to Shirdi. When you
go three Koss (9 miles), you come to Nimgaon, from
whence, Shirdi is visible. Shirdi is as famous and
well-known as other holy places like Gangapur,
Narsinhwadi, Audumbar on the banks of Krishna river. As
the devotee Damaji flourished in and blessed Mangalvedha
(near Pandharpur) as Samarth Ramdas at Sajjangad, as
Shri Narasimha Saraswati at Saraswatiwadi, so Sainath
flourished at Shirdi and blessed it.
Personality of Sai Baba
It is on account of Sai Baba that Shirdi grew into
importance. Let us see what sort of a personage Sai Baba
was. He conquered this Samsar (worldly existence), which
is very difficult and hard to cross. Peace or mental
calm was His ornament, and He was the repository of
wisdom. He was the home of Vaishnava devotees, most
liberal (like Karna) amongst liberals, the quint-essence
of all essences. He had no love for perishable things,
and was always engrossed in self-realization, which was
His sole concern. He felt no pleasure in the things of
this world or of the world beyond. His Antarang (heart)
was as clear as a mirror, and His speech always rained
nectar. The rich or poor people were the same to Him. He
did not know or care for honour or dishonour. He was the
Lord of all beings. He spoke freely and mixed with all
people, saw the actings and dances of Nautchgirls and
heard Gajjal songs. Still, He swerved not an inch from
Samadhi (mental equilibrium). The name of Allah was
always on His lips. While the world awoke, He slept; and
while the world slept, He was vigilant. His abdomen
(Inside) was as calm as the deep sea. His Ashram could
not be determined, nor His actions could be definitely
determined, and though He sat (lived) in one place, He
knew all the transactions of the world. His Darbar was
imposing. He told daily hundreds of stories, still He
swerved not an inch from His vow of silence. He always
leaned against the wall in the Masjid or walked morning,
noon and evening towards Lendi (Nala) and Chavadi; still
He at all times abided in the Self. Though a Siddha, He
acted like a Sadhaka. He was meek, humble and egoless,
and pleased all. Such was Sai Baba, and as the soil of
Shirdi was trodden by Sai Baba’s Feet, it attained
extraordinary importance. As jnaneshwar elevated Alandi,
Ekanath did to Paithan, so Sai Baba raised Shirdi.
Blessed are the grass-leaves and stones of Shirdi, for
they could easily kiss the Holy Feet of Sai Baba, and
take their dust on their head. Shirdi became to us,
devotees, another Pandharpur, Jagannath, Dwarka, Banaras
(Kashi) and Rameshwar, Badrikedar, Nasik, Tryambakeshwar,
Ujjain, and Maha Kaleshwar or Mahabaleshwar Gokarn.
Contact of Sai Baba in Shirdi was like our Veda and
Tantra; it quieted our Samsara (world consciousness) and
rendered self-realization easy. The darshana of shri Sai
was our Yoga-Sadhana, and talk with Him removed our
sins. Shampooing His Legs was our bath in Triveni Prayag,
and drinking the holy water of His Feet destroyed our
desires. To us, His commands were Vedas, and accepting
(eating) His Udi (sacred ashes) and Prasad was all
purifying. He was our Shri Krishna and Shri Rama who
gave us solace and He was our Para Brahma (Absolute
Reality). He was Himself beyond the Pair of dwandwas
(opposite), never dejected nor elated. He was always
engrossed in His Self as ‘Existence, Knowledge and
Bliss.’ Shirdi was His centre; but His field of action
extended far wide, to Punjab, Calcutta, North India,
Gujarat, Dacca (Now in Bangladesh) and Konkan. Thus the
fame of Sai Baba spread, far, and wide, and people from
all parts came to take His darshana and be blessed. By
mere darshan, minds of people, whether, pure or impure,
would become at once quiet. They got here the same sort
of unparalleled joy that devotees get at Pandharpur by
seeing Vithal Rakhumai. This is not an exaggeration.
Consider what a devotee says in this respect.
Dictum of Goulibuva
An old devotee by name Goulibuva, aged about 95 years,
was a Varkari of Pandhari. He stayed 8 months at
Pandharpur and four months - Ashadha to Kartik (July -
November) on the banks of the Ganges. He had an ass with
him for carrying his luggage, and a disciple, as his
companion. Every year he made his Vari or trip to
Pandharpur and came to Shirdi to see Sai Baba, Whom he
loved most. He used to stare at Baba and say, "This is
Pandharinath Vithal incarnate, the merciful Lord of the
poor and helpless." This Goulibuva was an old devotee of
Vithoba, and had made many a trip to Pandhari; and he
testified that Sai Baba was real Pandharinath.
Vithal Himself Appeared
Sai Baba was very fond of remembering and singing God’s
name. He always uttered Allah Malik(God is Lord) and in
His presence made others sing God’s name continuously,
day and night, for 7 days. This is called Namasaptaha.
Once He asked Das Ganu Maharaj to do the Namasaptaha. He
replied that he would do it, provided he was assured
that Vithal would appear at the end of the 7th day. Then
Baba, placing His hand on his breast assured him that
certainly Vithal would appear, but that the devotee must
be ‘earnest and devout’. The Dankapuri (Takore) of
Takurnath, the Pandhari of Vithal, the Dwarka of
Ranchhod (Krishna) is here (Shirdi). One need not go far
out to see Dwarka. Will Vithal come here from some
outside place? He is here. Only when the devotee is
bursting with love and devotion, Vithal will manifest
Himself here (Shirdi).
After the Saptaha was over, Vithal did manifest Himself
in the following manner. Kakasaheb Dixit was, as usual,
sitting in meditation after the bath, and he saw Vithal
in a vision. When he went at noon for Baba’s darshana,
Baba asked him point-blank - "Did Vithal Patil come? Did
you see Him? He is a very truant fellow, catch Him
firmly, otherwise, he will escape, if you be a little
inattentive." This happened in the morning and at noon
there was another Vithal darshana. One hawker from
outside, came there for selling 25 or 30 pictures of
Vithoba. This picture exactly tallied with the figure,
that appeared in Kakasaheb’s vision. On seeing this and
remembering Baba’s words, Kakasaheb Dixit was much
surprised and delighted. He bought one picture of
Vithoba, and placed it in his shrine for worship.
Bhagwantrao Kshirsagar’s Story
How fond was Baba for Vithal worship was illustrated in
Bhagwantrao Kshirsagar’s story. The father of
Bhagwantrao was a devotee of Vithoba, and used to make
Varis (annual trips) to Pandharpur. He also had an image
of Vithoba at home, which he worshipped. After his
death, the son stopped everything - the Vari, the
worship and shraddha ceremony etc. When Bhagwantrao came
to Shirdi, Baba on remembering his father, at once said
- "His father was my friend, so I dragged him (the son)
here. He never offered naivaidya (offering of food) and
so he starved Vithal and Me. So I brought him here. I
shall remonstrate him now and set him to worship."
Das Ganu’s Bath in Prayag
The Hindus think that a bath in the holy Tirth of Prayag,
where the Ganga and Yamuna meet, is very meritorious and
thousands of pilgrims go there, at periodical times, to
have the sacred bath there. Once, Das Ganu thought that
he should go to Prayag for a bath, and came to Baba to
get His permission for doing so. Baba replied to him -
"It is not necessary to go so long. Our Prayag is here,
believe me." Then wonder of wonders! When Das Ganu
placed his head on Baba’s Feet, out came or flowed
streams, of Ganga - Yamuna water, from both the toes of
Baba. Seeing this miracle, Das Ganu was overwhelmed with
feelings of love and adoration and was full of tears.
Inwardly, he felt inspired, and his speech burst forth
into a song in praise of Baba and His Leelas.
Immaculate Conception of Sai Baba and His First
Advent in Shirdi
Nobody knew the parents, birth or birth-place of Sai
Baba. Many inquiries were made, many questions were put
to Baba and others regarding these items, but no
satisfactory answer or information has yet been
obtained. Practically we know nothing about these
matters. Namdev and Kabir were not born like ordinary
mortals. They were found as infants in mother-of-pearls,
Namdev being found on the bank Bhimrathi river by
Gonayee, and Kabir on the bank Bhagirathi river by Tamal.
Similar was the case with Sai Baba. He first manifested
Himself as a young lad of sixteen under a Neem tree in
Shirdi, for the sake of Bhaktas. Even then He seemed to
be full with the knowledge of Brahman. He had no desire
for worldly objects even in dream. He kicked out Maya;
and Mukti (deliverance) was serving at His feet. One old
woman of Shirdi, the mother of Nana Chopdar, described
Him thus. This young lad, fair, smart and very handsome,
was first seen under the Neem tree, seated in an Asan.
The people of the village were wonder-struck to see such
a young lad practising hard penance, not minding heat
and cold. By day he associated with none, by night he
was afraid of nobody. People were wondering and asking,
whence this young chap had turned up. His form and
features were so beautiful that a mere look endeared Him
to all. He went to nobody’s door, always sat near the
Neem tree. Outwardly he looked very young; but by His
action he was really a Great Soul. He was the embodiment
of dispassion and was an enigma to all. One day it so
happened, that God Khandoba possessed the body of some
devotee and people began to ask Him, "Deva (God), you
please enquire what blessed father’s son is this lad and
whence did He come". God Khandoba asked them to bring a
pick-axe and dig in a particular place. When it was dug,
bricks were found underneath a flat stone. When the
stone was removed, a corridor led to a cellar where
cow-mouth-shaped structures, wooden boards, necklaces
were seen. Khandoba said - "This lad practiced penance
here for 12 years." Then the people began to question
the lad about this. He put them off the scent by telling
them that it was His Guru’s place, His holy Watan and
requested them to guard it well. The people then closed
the corridor as before. As Ashwattha and Audumbar trees
are held sacred, Baba regarded this Neem tree equally
sacred and loved it most. Mhalasapati and other Shirdi
devotees regard this site as the resting place (Samadhi-Sthana)
of Baba’s Guru and prostrate before it.
Three Wadas
(1) The site with the Neem tree and surrounding space
was bought by Mr. Hari Vinayak Sathe, and on this site a
big building styled Sathe’s Wada was erected. This Wada
was the sole resting place for pilgrims, who flocked
there. A Par (platform) was built round the neem tree
and lofts with steps were constructed. Under the steps,
there is a niche facing South and devotees sit on the
Par (platform) facing north. It is believed, that he who
burns incense there, on Thursday and Friday evenings
will, by God’s grace, be happy. This Wada was old and
dilapidated and wanted repairs. The necessary repairs,
additions and alterations have been made now by the
Sansthan. (2) Then after some years another Wada,
Dixit’s Wada was constructed. Kakasaheb Dixit, Solicitor
of Bombay, had gone to England. He had injured his leg
by an accident there. The injury could not be got rid of
by any means. Nanasaheb Chandorkar advised him to try
Sai Baba. So he saw Sai Baba in 1909 A.D., and requested
Him to cure rather the lameness of his mind than that of
his leg. He was so much pleased with the darshana of Sai
Baba, that he decided to reside in Shirdi. So he built a
Wada for himself and other devotees. The foundation of
this building was laid on 10-12-1910. On this day, two
other important events took place. (1) Mr. Dadasaheb
Khaparde was given permission to return home, and (2)
the night Arti in Chavadi was commenced. The Wada was
complete and was inhabited on the Rama-Navami day in
1911 A.D., with due rites and formalities. (3) Then
another Wada or palatial mansion was put up by the
famous millionaire, Mr. Booty, of Nagpur. Lots of money
were spent on this building, but all the amount was well
utilized, as Sai Baba’s body is resting in this Wada,
which is now called the Samadhi Mandir. The site of this
Mandir had formerly a garden, which was watered and
looked after by Baba. Three Wadas thus sprang up, where
there was none formerly. Of these, Sathe’s Wada was most
useful to all, in the early days.
The story of the garden, attended to by Sai Baba with
the help of Vaman Tatya, the temporary absence of Sai
Baba from Shirdi, and His coming again to Shirdi with
the marriage-party of Chand Patil, the company of
Devidas, Jankidas and Gangagir, Baba’s wrestling match
with Mohdin Tamboli, residence in Masjid, love of Mr.
Dengale and other devotees; and other incidents will be
described in the next Chapter.
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