 |
| Lakshmibai Shinde |
(She served Baba for about 45 years. At the time of his Mahasamadhi,
Baba gave her 9 silver coins of British Era, representing 9
types of devotion to God.)
Lakshmibai Shinde was a well to do woman. Her full name is
Lakshmibai Tukaram Shinde. Bhagoji Shinde was her husband’s uncle. She
used to prepare food for Baba every day. She had, during her entire life
time, served Baba during day and night with utmost devotion and
unswerving faith. Baba used to address her as “Laxmi Ma”. She was
allowed access into the masjid at all times including nights, similar to
the privilege granted to Mhalasapati and Tatya Patil. She was
the only woman who was allowed to go into the masjid when the curtain
was down (in those days the curtain acted as a door and covered the
upper portion of the masjid) and at that time no body was allowed inside
the masjid.
Once, in the evening, as usual Baba was reclining against the wall and
chatting with Tatya Patil. Laxmibai came there and bowed down before
him. Baba said, “Laxmibai ! I am very hungry.” Laxmibai rushed to
her home and gladly prepared rotis etc. immediately and brought that hot
food to Baba. Baba picked up the plate of the hot food and placed it
before a hungry dog. Laxmibai was surprised to see this. She
immediately said, “Baba, I hurriedly cooked the food for you; but you
gave it to the dog. You did not even taste a morsel.” Baba replied,
“Laxmibai, there is God in every being. If your food enters any mouth
that is hungry, be assured that it has fallen into my own mouth.” Thus, Baba indicated to Laxmibai that feeding any hungry animal was feeding him. From
that day onwards, Laxmibai started bringing rotis etc. for Baba. She
mixed it with milk and with great love brought it to Baba. Baba on his
part also waited for her rotis to come and did not touch any other food
before her food arrived. On some occasions, the food from her would come
late even though everyone in the masjid would be feeling very hungry. But, still Baba would not start his meals till Laxmibai’s food arrived. After some period, Baba started demanding kheer (sweet) made
from Shevaya from her. After Laxmibai brought such type of kheer, Baba
would ask her to sit by his side. He then used to taste a little and was
sending the remaining food to Radhakrishnamai . She served Baba for about 45 years. Baba used to give her daily four rupees.
Laxmibai brought meal for Baba, which was his last supper on 15th
October, 1918. Lakshmibai Shinde was one of the seven devotees who were
present with Baba in the masjid when Baba passed away into Mahasamadhi.
Baba gave her first five silver coins and then four silver coins, total
9 (nine) silver coins of British Era. All were very much surprised to
know as to how Baba got those silver coins of British Era and how he preserved them. They knew that Baba did not keep any thing with him. Thus as to how and from where Baba had got these 9 silver coins, had become a mystery. Some
people felt that those nine coins would symbolize the nine forms of
devotion and others viewed them as the nine characteristics of a good
disciple.
When Baba’s Marble Statue, sculpted by B.V.Talim, the celebrated
sculptor of Bombay, was brought to Shirdi before installation, Laxmibai
Shinde was one of the few living devotees who saw the Statue of Baba and
expressed happily that the Statue looked like Baba exactly and felt that Baba came back to Shirdi in the form of Life-Like Statue. She
was also lucky to observe the installation ceremony of Baba’s Statue at
the hands of Sri Sai Sharananandji in the Samadhi Mandir on 7th Oct, 1954, the Vijayadasami day, exactly 36 years after Baba’s Mahasamadhi.
She lived for 115 years upto 1963 and passed away on 2nd June, 1963 which was an Ekadasi day. The nine coins were kept with the statue of Laxmibai in the small house which is open to the public for darshan.
The house with her Samadhi in front, is located a few metres near the
Chavadi. In 1963, Laxmibai handed over these divine coins to her
daughter-in-law, Sonubai who performed puja for these coins from the
year 1963 to 1984 in the house. Later these coins were handed over to
her son. Afterwards the coins were handed over to her fifth generation of descendants. Thus
the coins are moving from one generation to another and her descendants
are keeping them as a treasure. All the family members from generation
to generation, were happy and did not have any financial problems and on
the other hand they were financially well off through Baba’s Grace.
Even now Laxmibai Shinde’s descendants have preserved these 9 coins
very carefully and they shine now in the same way as they were when Baba
had given them to Laxmibai. It was a fact that when Baba had come
to Shirdi for the first time, it was Laxmibai only who had offered food
to Baba. Baba had given the coins to Laxmibai perhaps in recognition of
her sincere service and unswerving devotion and faith. Now many
devotees visit their house for the darshan of these 9 blessed coins and
it is believed that just by the mere darshan of these 9 coins, one’s
problems get solved. Baba perhaps preserved these coins and gave to ankita devotee, Lakshmibai Shinde before he went to Mahasamadhi. Such was her devotion towards Baba.
The readers
can use the material for their
information / welfare at their discretion and we are not
responsible in any correctness / whatsoever in this regard. The
article is not meant for any
commercial use. There is no copy right for this article and this article
is
placed in the public domain for wider publicity. Any
review / comments / suggestions to improve the contents in the article are
welcome
for initiating any suitable rectification / modification / addition.
Om Sai Ram...
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments