This chapter describes the Passing away of Baba.
Preliminary
The stories given in the previous chapter have shown
that the light of Guru's grace removes out fear of the
mundane existence, opens the path of salvation and turns
our misery into happiness. If we always remember the
feet of the Sad-guru, our troubles come to an end, death
loses its sting and the misery of this mundane existence
is obliterated. Therefore those who care for their
welfare should carefully listen to these stories of Sai
Samarth, which will purify their minds.
In the beginning, Hemadpant dwells on Dr.Pandit's
worship and his marking Baba's forehead with Tripundra,
i.e., three horizontal lines; but as this has been
already described in chapter XI, this has been omitted
here.
Previous Indication
The readers up till now heard the stories of Baba's
life. Let them now hear attentively Baba's Passing away.
Baba got a slight attack of fever on 28th September,
1918. The fever lasted for 2 or 3 days, but afterwards
Baba gave up his food and thereby He grew weaker and
weaker. On the 17th day, i.e., Tuesday, the 15th October
1918, Baba left His mortal coil at about 2-30 p.m. (Vide
Professor G.G. Narke's letter, dated 5th November 1918,
to Dadasaheb Khaparde, published in "Sai Leela"
magazine, Page 78, first year). Two years before this,
i.e., in 1916, Baba gave an indication of His Passing
away, but nobody understood it then. It was as follows:-
On the Vijayadashmi (Dasara) day Baba at once got into
wild rage in the evening when people were returning from
'Seemollanghan' (crossing the border or limits of the
village). Taking off His head-dress, kafni and langota
etc., He tore them and threw them in the Dhuni before
Him. Fed by this offering, the fire in the Dhuni began
to burn brighter and Baba shone still brighter. He stood
there stark naked and with His burning red eyes shouted
- "You fellows, now have a look and decide finally
whether Iam a Moslem or a Hindu." Everybody was
trembling with fear and none dared to approach Baba.
After some time Bhagoji Shinde, the leper devotee of
Baba, went boldly near Him and succeeded in tying a
langota (waist-band) round His waist and said - "Baba,
what is all this? To-day is the Seemollanghan, i.e.,
Dasara Holiday." Baba striking the ground with His satka
said - "This is my Seemollanghan (crossing the border)."
Baba did not cool down till 11-00 p.m. and the people
doubted whether the chavadi procession would ever take
place that night. After an hour Baba resumed His normal
condition and dressing Himself as usual attended the
chavadi procession as described before. By this incident
Baba gave a suggestion that Dasara was the proper time
for Him to cross the border of life, but none understood
its meaning. Baba gave also another indication as
follows:-
Averting Death of Ramachandra and Tatya Patil
Some time after this, Ramachandra Patil became scriously
ill. He suffered a lot. He tried all remedies, but
finding no relief, despaired of his life and was waiting
for the last moment. The one midnight Baba suddenly
stood near his pillow. Patil held His Feet and said - "I
have lost all hopes of life, please tell me definitely
when I shall die." Merciful Baba said - "Don't be
anxious, your hundi (death-warrant) has been withdrawn
and you will soon recover, but Iam afraid of Tatya Patil.
He will pass away on Vijayadashami of Shaka 1840 (1918
A.D.). Do not divulge this to anybody, nor to him, for
he will be terribly frightened." Ramachandra Dada got
well, but he felt nervous about Tatya's life, for he
knew that Baba's word was unalterable, and that Tatya
would breathe his last within two years. He kept this
hint secret, told it to none but one Bala Shimpi (a
tailor). Only these two persons - Ramachandra Dada and
Bala Shimpi were in fear and suspense regarding Tatya's
life.
Ramachandra Dada soon left his bed and was on his legs.
Time passed quickly. The month of Bhadrapad of Shaka
1840 (1918 A.D.) was ending and Ashwin was in sight.
True to Baba's word, Tatya fell sick and was bed-ridden;
and so he could not come for Baba's darshana. Baba was
also down with fever. Tatya had full faith in Baba and
Baba in Lord Hari, who was His Protector. Tatya's
illness began to grow from bad to worse and he could not
move at all but always remembered Baba. The predicament
of Baba began to grow equally worse. The day predicted,
i.e., Vijayadashami was impending and both Ramachandra
Dada and Bala Shimpi were terribly frightened about
Tatya and with their bodies trembling and perspiring
with fear, thought that as predicted by Baba, Tatya's
end was nigh. Vijayadashami dawned and Tatya's pulse
began to beat very slow and he was expected to pass away
shortly. But a curious thing happened. Tatya remained,
his death was averted and Baba passed away in his stead.
It seemed as if there was an exchange. People said that
Baba gave up His life for Tatya; why He did so? He alone
knows as His ways are inscrutable. It seems, however,
that in this incident, Baba gave a hint of His passing
away, substituting Tatya's name for His.
Next morning (16th October) Baba appeared to Das Ganu at
Pandharpur in his dream and said to him - "The Masjid
collapsed, all the oilmen and grocers of Shirdi teased
me a lot, so I leave the place. I therefore came to
inform you here, please go there quickly and cover me
with 'Bhakkal' flowers." Das Ganu got the information
also from Shirdi letters. So he came to Shirdi with his
disciples and started bhajan and kirtan and sang the
Lord's name, all through the day before Baba's samadhi.
Himself weaving a beautiful garland of flowers studded
with Lord Hari's name he placed it on Baba's samadhi and
gave a mass-feeding in Baba's name.
Charity to Laxmibai
Dasara or Vijayadashami is regarded by all the Hindus as
the most auspicious time and it is befitting that Baba
should choose this time for His crossing the
border-line. He was ailing some days before this, but He
was ever conscious internally. Just before the last
movement He sat up erect without anybody's aid, and
looked better. People thought that the danger had passed
off and He was geeting well. He knew that He was to pass
away soon and therefore, He wanted to give some money as
charity to Laxmibai Shinde.
Baba Pervading All Creatures
This Laxmibai Shinde was a good and well-to-do woman.
She was working in the Masjid day and night. Except
Bhagat Mhalasapati, Tatya and Laxmibai, none was allowed
to step in the Masjid at night. Once while Baba was
sitting in the Masjid with Tatya in the evening,
Laxmibai came and saluted Baba. The latter said to her -
"Oh Laxmi, Iam very hungry." Off she went saying -
"Baba, wait a bit, I return immediately with bread." She
did return with bread and vegetables and placed the same
before Baba. He took it up and gave it to a dog.
Laxmibai then asked - "What is this, Baba, I ran in
haste, prepared bread with my own hands for You and You
threw it to a dog without eating a morsel of it; You
gave me trouble unnecessarily." Baba replied - "Why do
you grieve for nothing? The appeasement of the dog's
hunger is the same as Mine. The dog has got a soul; the
creatures may be different, but the hunger of all is the
same, though some speak and others are dumb. Know for
certain, that he who feeds the hungry, really serves Me
with food. Regard this as an exiomatic Truth." This is a
ordinary incident but Baba thereby propounded a great
spiritual truth and showed its practical application in
daily life without hurting anybody's feelings. From this
time onward Laxmibai began to offer Him daily bread and
milk with love and devotion. Baba accepted and ate it
appreciatingly. He took a part of this and sent the
remainder with Laxmibai to Radha-Krishna-Mai who always
relished and ate Baba's remnant prasad. This bread-story
should not be considered as a digression; it shows, how
Sai Baba pervaded all the creatures and transcended
them. He is omnipresent, birthless, deathless and
immortal.
Baba remembered Laxmibai's service. How could He forget
her? Just before leaving the body, He put His hand in
His pocket and gave her once Rs.5/- and again Rs.4/-, in
all Rs.9/-. This figure (9) is indicative of the nine
types of devotion described in chapter 21 or it may be
the Dakshina offered at the time of Seemollanghan.
Laxmibai was a well-to-do woman and so she was not in
want of any money. So Baba might have suggested to her
and brought prominently to her notice the nine
characteristics of a good disciple mentioned in the 6th
verse of chapter ten, skandha eleven of the Bhagwat,
wherein first five and then four characteristics are
mentioned in the first and second couplets.* Baba
followed the order, first paid Rs.5/- and then Rs.4/- in
all Rs.9/-. Not only nine, but many times nine rupees
passed through Laxmibai's hand, but Baba's this gift of
Nine, she will ever remember.
Being so watchful and conscious, Baba also took other
precautions in His last moment. In order that He should
not be embroiled or entangled with love and affection
for His devotees, He ordered them all to clear off.
Kakasaheb Dixit, Bapusaheb Booty and others were in the
Masjid anxiously waiting upon Baba, but He asked them to
go to the Wada and return after meals. They could not
leave Baba's presence, nor could they disobey Him. So
with heavy hearts and heavy feet they went to the Wada.
They knew that Baba's case was very serious and that
they could not forget Him. They sat for meals, but their
mind was elsewhere, it was with Baba. Before they
finished, news came to them of Baba's leaving the mortal
coil. Leaving their dishes, they ran to the Masjid and
found that Baba rested finally on Bayaji's lap. He did
not fall down on the ground nor did He lie on His bed,
but sitting quietly on His seat and doing charity with
His own hand threw off the mortal coil. Saints embody
themselves and come into this world with a definite
mission and after that is fulfilled they pass away as
quietly and easily as they came.
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