Everything
relating to Baba even though very old always appears to be ever new and let us
once again recollect the same through this random survey. The Lord God of
Shirdi is named and noted as 'Sai Baba of Shirdi' only. No particulars are
available except His mercy even till this moment. The name of Shirdi is 'Seeladhi,'
of course may be the place with good character. We may come across so many
incidents in the drama of this, 'Jagan-nataka Suthradhari'. Now let us know
some of them. Some of the Characters are.
Noted as
1. Kirtanakar Das Ganu
Maharaj 1. Ganapatrao Dattatreya Sahasra Buddhe
2. Davlatshah 2. Dattatreya Damodar Rasane alias
Nana Saheb
Rasane
3. Anna Rasane 3. Damodar Saval Ram Rasane Kasar
4. Bala Bhav or Bala Bhat 4. Ramachandra Sitaram Dev
5. Shama 5. Madhavrao Deshpande
6. Mr. Kolambo 6. D. V. Sambhare
7. Mama Dube 7. Kashinath Dube
8. Kusha Bhav 8. Krishnaji Kasinath Joshi
9. Upasani Baba 9. Kasinath Govind Upasana Sastri
10. Babugir (called by Saibaba) 10.
Ramgiri Bua
11. Nanumama or Nanu Bhatt Poojari 11. Lakshman Kacheswar J a kadi
12. Radhakrishna Ayee 12, Sundari Bai
Khseersagar
13. Nana Vali 13.
Sankar Narayan Vaidya
14. Sai
Sharan Anand 14.
Vaman Rao Prana Govind Patel
Baba was calling God as 'Fakir' and river
Godavari as 'Ganga' (i.e.) Ganges. The ever burning place of this 'Nityagni
hotri' is noted as 'Dhuni' and the sacred ash from it as 'Udi' the Sarvaroga
Nivarini, sanjeevani. Baba was calling 'Mahalsapathy as 'Bhagat' and Shama was
addressing Baba as 'Deva'. Baba was calling him as Shama or Syama, his darling
devotee. Baba was daily visiting Lendi garden, and the well dug by Baba was
called as 'Boodkhee'. The dhuni was lit with the 'Yogagni' by Baba and 'Nanda
Deepa' at Lendi garden was personally installed by this God. The Samad hi of
Syama Kama, the pet horse of Baba is at Lendi garden. As its ears are black it
is named as 'Syama Karna'. Muslim devotees were calling it as 'Shemshuddin'.
The Samadhi of
tiger is in front of
the Central reception hall. Sani,
Ganapati and Mahadev temples were got
repaired as per the
instructions of Baba. The
dwelling place of this permanent resident of Shirdi is a dilapidated Masjid
noted as 'Dwarakamai'. Dagadiwada (i.e.) Stone construction alias Booty wada,
as Booty constructed the same for his residence, is the samadhi mandir where
Baba is taking eternal rest ever blessing us. The dias intended for the
installation of the idol of Muralidhar is the Samadhi place of Baba and Baba
himself is Muralidhar. The most sacred place loved and liked by Baba is
Gurusthan where first Baba appeared as a boy of sixteen years under the neem
tree, the Kalpa Vruksha.
Very much
pleased with the brilliant services rendered by Bayaji Bai, Baba promised to
look after her son. In order to keep up the promise Baba simply accepted the
death warrant of Tatya, the son of Bayaji Bai and attained Maha Samadhi on
15-10-1918. Khandoba temple is the place where this unknown fakir was first
invited, named, called and noted as Sai Baba by Mahalsapathy, one more close
devotee of Baba. At Chavadi Baba was sleeping on every alternate night. The
then Chavadi procession is the present 'palki' (Procession). At Dwarakamai Baba
installed 'Tulasi Brindavan'. The big stone there got the blessing touch of
Baba. The painting of Baba at Dwarakamai was drawn by Shama Rao Jaykar, Vile
Parle. 'The Sajeeva Silpa Moorthy' the marble statue of Baba at Samadhi mandir
is from Italic marble stone but not of Jaipur (India). The 'Roopa Silpi' is
Talim. This statue took shape at the will and pleasure of Baba only. Hence it
is having life which is 'Na bhooto Na Bhavishyati".
The kings and
paupers, the healthy and the unhealthy are all equal to Baba. Hence, whoever
enters into the Darbar of this Yogi Raja with folded hands are never
disappointed even till this moment and never returned with empty hands. The
Dakshina collected by Baba every day was all distributed and Baba stood
penniless by night. To fix the income tax on the daily earnings of Baba through
Dakshina the British Government appointed one Christian Chakranarayana. This
person could not succeed in his attempts. Who will dare to act against the will
of Baba ? Hence automatically he became the staunch devotee of Baba.
Actually Baba
was asking for two pice as Dakshina-not the metal coins printed in the mint,
but Sraddha and Saburi. Even though these two words appear to be very very
simple, it is not so easy to offer them for the common human beings like us
covered with 'maya'. What we will have to understand is this 'Dana Yagna'
continued life long and at the time of His maha' prasthana also Baba offered
nine rupees Dakshina to Lakshmi Bai Shinde. . .
Baba is a
'Stitha Pragna'. Never troubled anybody with His deeds and speeches but won the
favour of one and all. Though He had a human body His deeds were Godly. All
people considered Him as the Lord God in Shirdi. His Kanda Yoga and Dhavti are
quite unique and extraordinary. Ashtasiddhis are at His command. He has full
command over death and conquered the same. His resurrection after His
three days Seamollanghana on 16th August 1886 is a standing proof. Even though
He is the King of Kings, He spent a true Fakir's life and stood as an example.
This Maha
Avadootha pretended like a mad man, with his peculiar behaviour.
Baba's is a
special Avatara in Kaliyuga. Even though He is God incarnate, he was very
humble and meek and never declared Himself as God, but was saying he was a
slave to God. As per Professor G, G. Narke "Baba's was Askhalita
Brahmacharya and His glittering eyes spoke it out."
At Gurusthan,
we can see padukas installed at the foot of the neem tree. They had the healing
touch of Baba and it is said by Baba that they are the feet of the Lord.
Upasani Maharaj drew lotuses, flowers, conch, disc etc., with the shloka
"Sada Nimbavrikshaya Mooladhivasati". At 11,00 A.M. H.S. Dixit
brought them on his head from Khandoba's temple to Dwarakamar in procession.
They were installed on the poornima of Shrawana in 1834 Shaka (1912) under the
neem tree with due ceremonies and formalities, conducted by Dada Kelkar and
Upasani as said by Baba. After the departure of Megha, the beloved devotee of
Baba, brought the Sivalinga back and Baba installed the same in Gurusthan
personally.
Few months
before the mahasamadhi of Sai Sarkar the place at which the lendi garden is
situated was purchased for Rs. 1500/- by Moreswar Viswanadha Pradhan, a pleader
from Bombay and the same was presented to Sanstan by him after the physical
departure of Baba. In the photo taken, while Baba's photo was there on the dias
before the installation of Baba's statute and Samadhi Mandir we can observe the
following in Marathi language "Sree Sai Baba Hemithi Aswin Su 10 Raj (i.e.
10th day) Mangalwar Tarikh 15 October 1918 Raji Samadhist Jhale". This could
be observed at Samadhi mandir in between the dias and last step, in Marathi in
left hand side and in Urdu at right hand side.
Baba declared
His residence at Dwarakamai as Brahmin (Brahmagni) masjid and will drag His
devotees like a sparrow with string tied to its leg wherever tehy may be. Now
let us see some of the Sparrows.
1. Anna Saheb ... Dabolkar
2. Appa Saheb ... Kulkarni
3. Bapu Saheb ... Jog
4. Bapu Saheb ... Booty
5. Bapu Saheb ... Chandorkar
6. Baba Saheb ... Tarkad
7. Bala Saheb ... Binnewala
8. Bala Saheb ... Bhate
9. Bala Saheb ... Mirikar
10. Dada Saheb ,,. Khaparde
11. Kaka Saheb ... Dixit
12. Kaka Saheb
... Mirikar
13. Nana Saheb ... Nimonkar
14. Nana Saheb ... Chandorkar
15. Nana Saheb Dengle
16. Tatya Saheb Noolkar
Likewise there are some Savitries. They are
1. Savitri Bai ... Tendulkar
2. Savitri Bai Sapatnekar
3. Savitri Bai Khaparde
Thus there may
be still so many Sahebs and Savitries served and blessed by Baba. My
namaskarams are due to them and to Sai Bandhu Vissavadhanlugaru helped for my
compilation.
The first man
who gave Bhiksha to Baba was Amin Bhai, a Muslim devotee. At the time of
Bhiksha at the house of Bayaji, Sai Baba was calling as "Aabade
aabad". At the house of Baba-Sakharam as "Itlai Bai Roti lav".
The place around Gurusthan was purchased during 1906 by Hari Vinayak Sathe and
a retiring room was constructed for the pilgrims noted as Sathewada. On
30-9-1924 it was purchased by Newalkar. So it became Newalkarwada, subsequently
during 1939 one of the trustees of Sanstan, Vasanta Rao Narayana Gorakshakar,
convinced the heirs of Newalkar and the wada was presented to Sanstan. In due
course it collapsed and during 1941 a pucca construction took place.
Eight days
before the nirvana of Akkalkot Maharaj, one more Dattavatara and Sai swarupi,
asked His devotees to perform Bhajan in which Swamy participated personally and
"Siva Hara Sankara Namami Sankara Siva Sankara Sambho. Hay Girijapathi
Bhavani Sankara, Siva Sankara Sambho". That is the only time the devotees
witnessed while Swamy participated in Bhajans. In one of the eleven assurances
Baba declared that "I shall be active and vigorous even from my
tomb". In confirmation of the same now let us hear the statement of
Abdullah Jan recorded on 5th November 1936 at Shirdi that "when Baba was
alive, I heard Him say to some one who feared that Baba would pass away and
with Him' all His work and influence". "Hoon Dande Haneenu"
which is Marati for "From within the tomb I will beat with sticks"
(i.e.) that death of His body will not terminate His influence or
activity".
Thus the leelas of
Baba are innumerable. I humbly
prostrate before this Lord Of Shirdi to bless all of us.
P. S.
PURUSHOTAMA RAO
Prakasam District, A.P.