Return with Chand Patil’s Marriage - Party
As hinted in the last Chapter, I shall now describe
first how Sai Baba returned to Shirdi after His
disappearance.
There lived in the Aurangabad District (Nizam State), in
a village called Dhoop, a well-to-do Mahomedan gentleman
by name Chand Patil. While he was making a trip to
Aurangabad, he lost his mare. For two long months, he
made a diligent search but could get no trace of the
lost mare. After being disappointed, he returned from
Aurangabad with the saddle on his back. After travelling
four Koss and a half, he came, on the way, to a mango
tree under the foot of which sat a RATNA (queer fellow).
He had a cap on His head, wore Kafni (long robe) and had
a "Satka" (short stick) under His arm-pit and He was
preparing to smoke a Chilim (pipe). On seeing Chand
Patil pass by the way, He called out to him and asked
him to have a smoke and to rest a little. The Fakir
asked him about the saddle. Chand Patil replied that it
was of his mare which was lost. The queer fellow or
Fakir asked him to make a search in the Nala close by.
He went and the wonder of wonders! he found out the
mare. He thought that this Fakir was not an ordinary
man, but an Avalia (a great saint). He returned to the
Fakir with the mare. The Chilim was ready for being
smoked, but two things were wanting; (1) fire to light
the pipe, and (2) water to wet the chhapi (piece of
cloth through which smoke is drawn up). The Fakir took
His prong and thrust it forcibly into the ground and out
came a live burning coal, which He put on the pipe. Then
He dashed the Satka on the ground, from whence water
began to ooze. The chhapi was wetted with that water,
was then wrung out and wrapped round the pipe. Thus
everything being complete, the Fakir smoked the Chilim
and then gave it also to Chand Patil. On seeing all
this, Chand Patil was wonderstruck. He requested the
Fakir to come to his home and accept his hospitality.
Next day He went to the Patil’s house and stayed there
for some time. The Patil was a village - officer of
Dhoop. His wife’s brother’s son was to be married and
the bride was from Shirdi. So Patil made preparations to
start for Shirdi for the marriage. The Fakir also
accompanied the marriage-party. The marriage went off
without any hitch, the party returned to Dhoop, except
the Fakir alone stayed in Shirdi, and remained there
forever.
How the Fakir Got the Name Sai
When the marriage - party came to Shirdi, it alighted at
the foot of a Banyan tree in Bhagata Mhalsapati’s field
near Khandoba’s temple. The carts were loosened in the
open court-yard of Khandoba’s temple. The carts were
loosened in the open court-yard of Khandoba’s temple,
and the members of the party descended one by one, and
the Fakir also got down. Bhagat Mhalsapati saw the young
Fakir getting down and accosted Him "YA SAI" (Welcome
Sai). Others also addressed Him as Sai and thence-forth
he became known as Sai Baba.
Contact with Other Saints
Sai Baba began to stay in a deserted Masjid. One Saint
named Devidas was living in Shirdi many years before
Baba came there. Baba liked his company. He stayed with
him in the Maruti temple, in the Chavadi, and some time
lived alone. Then came another Saint by name Jankidas.
Baba spent most of His time in talking with him, or
Jankidas went to Baba’s residence . So also one Vaishya
house-holder Saint, from Puntambe by name Gangagir
always frequented Shirdi. When he first saw Sai Baba,
carrying pitchers of water in both hands, for watering
the garden, he was amazed and said openly, "Blessed is
Shirdi, that it got this precious Jewel. This man is
carrying water to-day; but He is not an ordinary fellow.
As this land (Shirdi) was lucky and meritorious, it
secured this Jewel." So also one famous Saint by name
Anandnath of Yewala Math, a disciple of Akkalkot Maharaj
came to Shirdi with some Shirdi people. When he saw Sai
Baba, he said openly, "This is a precious Diamond in
reality. Though he looks like an ordinary man, he is not
a ‘gar’ (ordinary stone) but a Diamond. You will realize
this in the near future." Saying this he returned to
Yewala. This was said while Sai Baba was a youngster.
Baba’s Dress and Daily Routine
In his young days, Sai Baba grew hair on His head; never
had His head shaved. He dressed like an athlete. When He
went to Rahata (3 miles from Shirdi), He brought with
Him small plants of Merry Gold, Jai and Jui, and after
cleaning, he planted and watered them. A devotee by name
Vaman Tatya supplied Him daily with two earthen
pitchers. With these Baba Himself used to water the
plants. He drew water from the well and carried the
pitchers on His shoulders. In the evening the pitchers
were kept at the foot of the Neem tree. As soon as they
were placed there, they were broken, as they were made
of raw earth and not baked. Next day, Tatya supplied two
fresh pitchers. This course went on for 3 years; and
with Sai Baba’s toil and labour, there grew a
flower-garden. On this site, at present, stands the big
mansion - Samadhi Mandir of Baba, which is now
frequented and used by so many devotees.
The Story of Padukas (foot-prints) under the Neem
Tree
A devotee of Akkalkot Maharaj by name Bhai Krishnaji
Alibagkar worshipped the photo of Akkalkot Maharaj. He
once thought of going to Akkalkot (Sholapur District),
taking the darshana of the Padukas (foot-prints) of the
Maharaj and offering his sincere worship there; but
before he could go there, he got a vision in his dream.
Akkalkot Maharaj appeared in the vision and said to him
- "Now Shirdi is my resting place, go there and offer
your Worship." So Bhai changed his plan and came to
Shirdi, worshipped Baba, stayed there for six months and
was happy. As a reminiscence of this vision etc., he
prepared the Padukas and installed them on an auspicious
day of Shravan, Shaka 1834 (1912 A.D.) under the Neem
tree with due ceremonies and formalities, conducted by
Dada Kelkar and Upasani. One Dixit Brahmin was appointed
for worship, and the management was entrusted to devotee
Sagun.
Complete Version of this Story
Mr. B.V. Deo, Retired Mamalatdar of Thana, and a great
devotee of Sai Baba, made enquired about this matter
with Sagun Meru Naik and Govind Kamlakar Dixit and has
published a full version of the Padukas in Sai Leela
Vol. 11, No. 1, page 25. It runs as follows:
In 1834 Shaka (1912 A.D.) one Doctor Ramarao Kothare of
Bombay came to Shirdi for Baba’s darshana. His
compounder; and his friend, Bhai Krishnaji Alibagkar,
accompanied him. The compounder and Bhai became intimate
with Sagun Meru Naik and G.K. Dixit. While discussing
things, these persons thought that there must be some
memorial of the fact of Sai Baba’s first coming to
Shirdi and sitting under the holy Neem tree. They
thought of installing Baba’s Padukas there and were
going to make them of some rough stones. Then Bhai’s
friend, the compounder, suggested that if this matter be
made known to his master, Dr. Ramarao Kothare, who would
prepare nice Padukas for this purpose. All liked the
proposal and Dr. Kothare was informed of it. He came to
Shirdi and drew a plan of the Padukas. He went to
Upasani Maharaj in Khandoba’s temple, and showed him his
plan. The latter made many improvements, drew lotuses,
flowers, conch, disc, man etc., and suggested that the
following SHLOKA (verse) regarding Neem tree’s great
ness and Baba’s Yogi powers be inscribed. The verse was
as follows:
"Sada Nimbarvrikshasya mooladhiwasat,
Sudhasravinam tiktamapi-apriyam tam,
Tarum Kalpavrikshadhikam sadhayantam
Namameeshwaram Sadgurum Sai Natham"
Upasani’s suggestions were accepted and carried out. The
Padukas were made in Bombay and sent to Shirdi with the
compounder. Baba said that they should be installed on
the Pournima (15th) of Shravan. On that day at 11 a.m.,
G.K. Dixit brought them on his head from Khandoba’s
temple to the Dwarkamai (Masjid) in procession. Baba
touched the Padukas, saying that these are the feet of
the Lord and asked the people to instal them, under foot
of the Neem tree.
A day before, one Parsi devotee of Bombay named Pastha
Shet sent Rs.25/- by money order. Baba gave this sum for
the installation of the Padhukas. The total expense of
installation came up to Rs.100/- out of which Rs.75/-
were collected by subscriptions. For the first 5 years,
G.K. Dixit worshipped the Padukas daily and then this
was done by Laxman Kacheshwar Jakhadi. In the first five
years, Dr. Kothare sent Rs. 2 per month for lighting and
he also sent the railing round the Padukas. The expense
of bringing the railing from the station to Shirdi (Rs.
7-8-0) (presently Rs.7.50p) and roofing was paid by
Sagun Meru Naik. Now, Jakhadi (Nana Pujari) does the
worship and Sagun Meru Naik offers the naivaidya and
lights the evening lamps.
Bhai Krishnaji was orginally a devotee of Akkalkot
Maharaj. He had come to Shirdi at the installation of
the Padukas, in Shaka 1834 on his way to Akkalkot. He
wanted to go to Akkalkot after taking the darshana of
Baba. He asked Baba’s permission for this. Baba said -
"Oh, what is there in Akkalkot? Why do you go there? The
incumbent Maharaj of that place is here, Myself."
Hearing this Bhai did not go to Akkalkot. He came to
Shirdi off and on, after the installation of the Padukas.
Mr. B.V. Deo concluded that Hemadpant did not know these
details. Had be known them, he would not have failed to
depict them in his Sat-charita.
Wresting Bout with Mohdin Tamboli and Change in Life
To return to other stories of Baba. There was a wrestler
in Shirdi, by name Mohdin Tamboli. Baba and he did not
agree on some items, and both had a fight. In this Baba
was defeated. Thenceforth, Baba changed His dress and
mode of living. He donned Kafni, wore a Langot (waist
band) and covered His head with a piece of cloth. He
took a piece of sack-cloth for His seat, sack-cloth for
His bed and was content with wearing torn and worn out
rags. He always said that "Poverty is better than
Kingship, far better than Lordship. The Lord is always
brother (befriender) of the poor." Gangagir was also
very fond of wrestling. While he was once wrestling, a
similar feeling of dispassion came over him, and at the
proper time he heard the voice of an adept, saying that
he should wear out his body, playing with God. So he too
gave up Samsara and turned towards God-realization. He
established a math on the banks of the river near
Puntambe, and lived there with disciples.
Sai Baba did not mix and speak with the people. He only
gave answers when he was questioned. By day he always
sat under the Neem tree, sometimes under the shade of a
branch of a Babul tree near the stream at the outskirts
of the village. In the afternoon, He used to walk at
random and go at times to Nimgaon. There He frequented
the house of Balasaheb Dengale. Baba loved Mr. Balasaheb.
His younger brother, named Nanasaheb, had no son, though
he married a second wife. Balasaheb sent Nanasaheb for
taking darshana of Sai Baba, and after some time with
His grace, Nanasaheb got a son. From that time onwards,
people began to come in numbers to see Sai Baba, and His
fame began to spread and reached Ahmednagar; from thence
Nanasaheb Chandorkar and Keshav Chidamber, and many
others began to come to Shirdi. Baba was surrounded by
His devotees during day; and slept at night in an old
and dilapidated Masjid. Baba’s paraphernalia at this
time consisted of a Chilim, tobacco, a "Tumrel" (tin
pot), long flowing Kafni, a piece of cloth round His
head, and a Satka (short stick), which He always kept
with Him. The piece of white cloth on the head was
twisted like matted hair, and flowed down from the left
ear on the back. This was not washed for weeks. He wore
no shoes, no sandals. A piece of sack-cloth was His seat
for most of the day. He wore a coupin (waist-cloth-band)
and for warding off cold he always sat in front of a
Dhuni (sacred fire) facing south with His left hand
resting on the wooden railing. In that Dhuni, He offered
as oblation; egoism, desires and all thoughts and always
uttered Allah Malik (God is the sole owner). The Masjid
in which He sat was only of two room dimensions, where
all devotees came and saw Him. After 1912 A.D., there
was a change. The old Masjid was repaired and a pavement
was constructed. Before Baba came to live in this Masjid,
He lived for a long time in a place Takia, where with
GHUNGUR (small bells) on His legs, Baba danced
beautifully sang with tender love.
Turning Water into Oil
Sai Baba was very fond of lights. He used to borrow oil
from shop-keepers, and keep lamps burning the whole
night in the Masjid and temple. This went on for some
time. The Banias, who supplied oil gratis, once met
together and decided not to give Him oil. When, as
usual, Baba went to ask for oil, they all gave Him a
distinct No. Unperturbed, Baba returned to the Masjid
and kept the dry wicks in the lamps. The banias were
watching Him with curiosity. Baba took the Tumrel (tin
pot) which contained very little (a few drops) of oil,
put water into it and drank it and forced it fall in the
container. After consecrating the tin-pot in this way,
He again took water in the tin-pot and filled all the
lamps with it and lighted them. To the surprise and
dismay of the watching Banias, the lamps began to burn
and kept burning the whole night. The Banias repented
and apologized. Baba forgave them and asked them to be
more truthful in future.
The Pseudo-Guru Javhar Ali
Five years after the wrestling bout mentioned above, one
Fakir from Ahmednager by name Javhar Ali, came to Rahata
with his disciples and stayed in Bakhal (spacious room)
near Virabhadra temple. The Fakir was learned, could
repeat the whole Koran and had a sweet tongue. Many
religious and devout people of the village came to him
and began to respect him. With the help of the people,
he started to build an Idgah ( a wall before which
Mahomedans pray on Idgah day), near the Virabhadra
temple. There was some quarrel about this affair, on
account of which, Javhar Ali had to leave Rahata. Then
he came to Shirdi and lived in the Masjid with Baba.
People were captured by his sweet talk, and he began to
call Baba his disciple. Baba did not object and
consented to be his Chela. Then both Guru and Chela
decided to return to Rahata and live there. The Guru
(Teacher) never knew his disciple’s worth, but the
disciple knew the defects of the Guru, still he never
disrespected him, observing carefully his duties. He
even served the Master in various ways. They used to
come to Shirdi off and on, but their main stay was in
Rahata. The loving devotees of Baba in Shirdi did not
like, that Baba should stay away from them in Rahata. So
they went in a deputation to bring Baba back to Shirdi.
When they met Baba near the Idgah and told the purpose
for which they came, Baba said to them that the Fakir
was an ill-tempered fellow, he would not leave him and
that they should better return to Shirdi without him,
before the Fakir returned. While they were thus talking,
the Fakir turned up and was very angry with them for
trying to take away his disciple. There was some
discussion and altercation and it was finally decided
that both the Guru and Chela should return to Shirdi.
And so they returned and lived in shirdi. But after a
few days the Guru was tested by Devidas and he was found
wanting. Twelve years before Baba arrived in Shirdi with
the marriage-party, this Devidas aged about 10 or 11
came to Shirdi and lived in the Maruti temple. Devidas
had fine features and brilliant eyes, and he was
dispassion incarnate and a Jnani. Many persons, namely
Tatya Kote, Kashinath and others regarded, him as their
Guru. They brought Javhar Ali in his presence, and in
the discussion that followed, Javhar was worsted and
fled from Shirdi. He went and stayed in Bijapur and
returned after many years to Shirdi, and prostrated
himself before Sai Baba. The delusion that he was Guru
and Sai Baba his Chela, was cleared away, and as he
repented, Sai Baba treated him with respect. In this
case Sai Baba showed by actual conduct how one should
get rid of egoism and do the duties of a disciple to
attain the highest end, viz., self-realization. This
story is told here according to the version given by
Mhalsapati ( a great devotee of Baba).
In the next Chapter will be described Rama-Navami
Festival, the Masjid, its former condition and later
improvement etc.
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