50th Posting Shiridi Sai Baba Bhaktas - NANASAHEB NIMONKAR

(He was affluent, holding honorary positions, the first person to settle down in Shirdi, left all his property & positions and always found in the company and service of Baba. Though ignorant of Sanskrit, he had learnt it & became an expert in Sanskrit language, only with the Grace of Baba).

Shankarrao Raghunath Deshpande alias Nanasaheb Nimonkar was from Nimon which was a small village 20 miles from Shirdi. Balwantrao who was father of Shama, was Nimonkar’s uncle. Nanasaheb Nimonkar was Inamdar of Nimon. As he came from Nimon village, he was called Nanasaheb Nimonkar.

Nanasaheb Nimonkar was a special Magistrate of Sangamner and Village Chief of 5 villages in and around Nimon.  He also owned many acres of land in Nimon village and was very affluent and a very influential person. He was married to Jayaji who hailed from Belapur. He left everything in his ancestral village and went along with his wife to Shirdi and settled there permanently to do service to Baba. Nana used to address Baba as “Deva” and Baba used to address Nana as “Matare Kaka” . Nana served Baba till his Mahasamadhi with utmost love and devotion.

Nanasaheb Nimonkar first met Sai Baba at the Maruthi Temple at Rahata in 1890. Nanasaheb Chandorkar, Personal Assistant to the Collector of Ahmednagar first met Baba in Shirdi in 1891. Nana Saheb Nimonkar was the blessed devotee to whom Baba gave his Holy Padukas in the year 1898.

Once Balwantrao took Nimonkar to Baba saying, "People believe he is a mad fakir. I doubt if he is really mad, but you had better go with me, see him and give me your opinion." Whenever Balwantrao had gone to see Baba the latter kept him at a distance by taking up a brickbat and either flinging it or threatening to fling it at him. Thus He kept him away from going into the mosque. But when Balwantrao and Nimonkar went to see him, Baba did not fling any stone and they went near Baba. Nimonkar was attracted to Baba as soon as he saw Baba and on his return to home he told his uncle with certainty that Baba was a divine saint and not a mad fakir. Balwantrao could not understand as to why stones were hurled when he went to Baba earlier but not on the present occasion. For this Nimonkar said, "That is because you doubted if Baba was mad, but I did not”. From that moment onwards, Nimonkar visited Baba several times.

Sri Ramanavami celebrations were permitted by Baba in the year 1911 in Shirdi. Every year, two new flags were ceremoniously carried in the procession and tied to the dome of the Dwarakamai by fixing permanently. Damodar Sevalram Rasane, a staunch devotee of Baba was supplying the green flag and Nimonkar was providing embroidered flag at the time of these celebrations. This tradition was continued by the descendants of Damodar Sevalram Rasane and those of Nimonkar for the supply of the respective flags. After Baba’s Mahasamadhi, these flags were kept on Baba’s Samadhi and Aarti was performed to them. After Lalkari Laghu Aarti was performed, then all the flags were taken in procession through the village with much dancing and merriment to Dwarakamai. Finally, the two flags were fixed on the top of the Dwarakamai, while the Ochere flag was fixed inside the Dwarakamai.

As Nanasaheb Nimonlar was a special Magistrate in Sangamner, he was frequently meeting Nanasaheb Chandorkar (the Collector’s Personal Assistant) who was also a devotee of Baba and both of them used to talk about Baba. When Nanasaheb Chandorkar started the idea of renovating the dilapidated masjid and collected subscriptions, Nimonkar also contributed some amount and in addition, he supervised the entire renovation work. Baba would not allow the workmen to do the work and thus the renovation work was being prevented by Baba. Baba however had great trust in Nimonkar who took it up when Baba slept at the chavadi and thus Nimonkar got the renovation work completed quickly.

He was always found to be with Baba either in the masjid or when Baba was moving within the Shirdri village. In the side picture, Baba was moving to Lendi garden during 1911-12 with Nimonkar standing on His right side. 

Baba also showed his faith in Nimonkar by making him his banker during the years, 1916-18. As and when the funds were received, Baba used to hand them over to Nimonkar for safe custody. But Shama mistook that money given to Nimonkar as gifts. However, Nimonkar was affluent and was not in need of any monetary gifts. He kept Baba’s money safely and intact. Nimonkar was getting an annual income of about 500 rupees from his estate and his son, Somanath Shankar Deshpande was Inspector of police in Pune who was also sending him money. Nimonkar did not want temporal gifts from Baba. But he desired and got gifts from Baba, far superior to monetary gifts, in the shape of his spiritual advancement. Out of the money he kept on behalf of Baba, Nimonkar was paying for Baba’s expenses like buying Burfi sweet for distribution as presents to the people in the masjid and firewood for the dhuni and the like. Every one in Shirdi called him "Kaka," and also Baba.

Once Nanasaheb’s wife Jayaji wanted to go to Belapur as her son was seriously ill and stay there for some time. She made preparations to go there in consultation with Nimonkar. She consulted Baba for permission and Baba permitted her to go to Belapur. She informed Nana about the same. Nana agreed but asked her to return to Shirdi on the next day itself. Jayaji was not willing to return on the next day as the next day happened to be Amavasya Day and travelling on Amavasya Day was considered as inauspicious. Hence, she was in a dilemma. However, she wanted to take leave from Baba and went to Baba when he was standing near Sathewada on his way to Lendibagh. Nimonkar and others were also present near Baba. At that time, Jayaji came and prostrated to Baba and asked permission to leave. Baba immediately told Jayaji to visit and stay in Belapur for 4 days and come back to Shirdi after meeting everyone there. Baba’s words solved the dilemma in her mind and Nimonkar who was standing there also understood Baba’s views. Thus both of them were satisfied with Baba’s direction.

When Shama was bitten by a snake on his small finger, that part became poisonous. Somebody suggested that he should go to Shiva temple. At that moment, Nimonkar who was present there, said that he should first take Udi from Baba and then go. Then Shama ran to the masjid and Baba immediately saved him from the jaws of death just by simple words of command, instructing the poison to get down.

Once Captain (Dr.) Hate from Gwalior, who visited Baba in Dec, 1911 and who was a staunch devotee of Baba, had sent some money by post to his friend who was in Shirdi. He asked him to buy good quality Shidha and some quantity of Valpapadi  (a variety of beans)  from that money and offer the remaining balance as dakshina to Baba. As per Hate’s desire, his friend purchased all the required items except Valpapadi which he could not find in Shirdi. But all of a sudden, at that moment a woman was carrying some Valpapadi on her head for sale. Hate’s friend purchased all the items from that woman and offered them, on behalf of Hate, with reverence to Baba. Then Baba gave them to Nimonkar and asked him to cook for naivedya for the next day. The next day when Baba sat down to eat, he did not touch any of the items like the dal, rice or other items already kept for Baba as naivedya but he took only Valpapadi and ate it with relish. When Hate came to know about this from his friend he was extremely happy.

In the Chavadi Procession that used to take place between the masjid and chavadi, Nimonkar held over Baba’s head, the white Umbrella which moved in a circle on its supporting stick with its pendants and tassels. While going in the procession, Baba would stop opposite to Maruthi Temple and wave his arms mystically, some fifteen or twenty times and would mutter some words, addressed to Maruthi. Baba was also doing similar things whenever he sat before the dhuni early morning every day. It was interpreted that Baba by doing these hand movements and muttering some words, was having communion with the Gods.

Nimonkar’s daughter-in-law was in the family way and in 1916, her delivery was expected and Nimonkar and his wife started for Poona and visited Shirdi which was on the way. After Baba’s darshan, they wanted leave to go to Poona, but Baba refused permission. Baba also told Nimonkar.that he should stay by Baba's side, bury him and then leave Shirdi. Asked about the delivery, Baba replied, "Why are you anxious? God will help". Then Nimonkars stayed in Shirdi. And at Poona, no body was there to help his daughter-in-law and when she got pains, she was taken to a hospital and there within an hour, she delivered a male child without the assistance of a doctor or nurse and the child was in good health. At that time in Shirdi in the masjid, Baba told Nimonkar that there was a woman who was taken to the hospital where she delivered a male child safely and Nimonkar understood that this matter referred to them.

Once Somnath Shankar Deshpande, CID Inspector at Poona and son of Nimonkar, started to go to his ancestral home in Nimon in 1917 where his brother's wife had recently delivered a child and on the way, he visited Shirdi and had darshan of Baba. When he took leave from Baba, Baba gave him udhi and asked him to save the child. But. Somnath took this advice of Baba as referring to his own boy travelling with him and gave him the udhi and left for Nimon. When he reached Nimon, his brother's new born child was in very bad health and the child’s survival was doubtful. Then he remembered Baba's words at his parting time and felt that the matter referred to this child only and he immediately looked for the udhi. But it was not available. Then he took the child on his own lap and prayed to Baba with lot of faith and devotion. Miraculously in a short while, the child picked up health and became normal. How kind was Baba to protect devotees and their children. The child was named Padmakar and when the child was taken to Shirdi after few months, Baba took the child in his lap and said, “Here is my Dutta” and hence Padmakar’s name was changed as Dutta.

Nimonkar and Shama used to serve food daily to the devotees in the masjid. After all the food brought by devotees were mixed and offered to God and consecrated, Baba used to fill the platters and give them to Nimonkar and Shama for distribution to the devotees present in the masjid. Everyday these two had the fortune of serving the food with their hands in the masjid.  The two considered the distribution of the naivedya as their regular religious duty and performed the task with great love and devotion.

All these details came to light when Somnath Shankar Deshpande was interviewed in 1936 by B.V.Narasimhaswamiji about Nimonkar’s and Somnath’s experiences with Baba. As regards the spiritual benefit Nimonkar received with Baba’s Grace, Somnath said that his father had a desire to read the religious books in Sanskrit as Pothi for parayana purpose, but he did not know Sanskrit. Baba once asked, on his own, Nimonkar to read religious books as Pothi, but he said that he did not know Sanskrit. Baba then asked him to read religious books in Sanskrit even though he did not know Sanskrit as Masjid Mother (Masjidmai or Dwarakamai) would teach him Sanskrit. Then he started reading Shrimad Bhagwat and its commentary, both in Sanskrit without understanding any word in the books. As he continued reading the books, after some time, he started understanding what he had read. Thereafter he read Jnaneshwari also. Thus he became proficient in Sanskrit and at one time when Dixit and Jog had doubts in these Sanskrit books, he cleared their doubts. It would be surprising to observe that both Dixit and Jog were learned Sanskrit scholars. But Nimonkar with Baba’s Grace, had attained that level of proficiency in Sanskrit so as to clarify the doubts of Sanskrit scholars in understanding Pothis written in Sanskrit.

Somnath also said that he was fortunate enough to serve Baba for four days when his father went to Ahmadnagar and stayed there for four days for giving evidence. He said though he was young compared to his father’s age and in spite of this, he felt that service to Baba during the four-day short period itself, was physically taxing for him. The only difference between his service and his father’s service was that his father was doing service while sitting and he, being young, was doing service while standing. Thus Somnath felt that his father doing service to Baba during his entire life time, by being always at the beck and call of Baba, was really credit worthy and was an eloquent testimony of his father’s unswerving devotion to Baba.

In “Shri Sai Sahasranamavali” & “Ashtotharam” composed by B.V..Narasimhaswamiji, special mention was made in verse 521 about the Granting of Holy Padukas by Baba to Nana Saheb Nimonkar and its meaning reads as “One who has bestowed spiritual bliss to Nimonkar by granting Padukas”.

In Oct, 1918, Baba had stopped moving around in the Lendibagh and also stopped his begging rounds, but only was sitting in the masjid. Baba was very much conscious to the last moment of his human life. He did not give any hint to any one about the exact time of his departure. Dixit and Booty were always dining daily with him in the masjid. But on 15^th October after arati puja, Baba asked them to go to the wada for dining. At that time, Laxmibai Shinde, Bhagoji Shinde, Bayaji, Laxman Bala Shimpi, Nanasaheb Nimonkar and Chandrabai Borkar were present in the masjid and Shama was sitting down on the steps. Then Baba gave Rs.9/- to Laxmibai Shinde. Then Baba said that he did not feel well in the masjid and that he should be taken to the Dagadiwada (stone building) of Booty where he would be alright and with these words, Baba leaned on Bayaji's body and went to Mahasamadhi. Bhagoji observed that his breathing had stopped and he immediately told this to Nanasaheb Nimonkar who was sitting below. Nimonkar brought some water and poured it in Baba's mouth and it came out. Then he shouted out loudly, ”'Oh Deva.” Then Baba seemed just to open his eyes and said, “Haa” in a low tone. The news of Baba's passing away spread like a wild fire in the village of Shirdi and all people ran to the masjid and began to mourn this loss in various ways. After discussions for 36 hours, all the people, despite the different view expressed by some of them, have finally agreed unanimously by Baba's inspiration, for the proposal of interment of Baba’s body in the Dagadiwada. On Wednesday evening Baba's body was taken in procession and brought to the Wada and was interred there with due formalities. In fact Baba became the Murlidhar and the Bootywada became a temple and a holy shrine.

From 1890 onwards much before other important devotees started visiting or staying in Shirdi, Nanasaheb Nimonkar, though affluent and also a Special Magistrate, an Inamdar of Nimon, the Village Chief of five villages and also owned several acres of land in Nimon village, discarded all the assets and ignored all the positions and came with his wife and settled in Shirdi much before others, in the service of Baba till Baba’s Mahasamadhi. He was also with Baba even in the Chavadi Procession or in the celebrations of Ramanavami Festival.   Such  was  his  greatness and devotion,  he  had displayed towards Baba and he was, therefore, a blessed devotee of Baba of the highest order. After Baba’s Mahasamadhi, Nimonkar left Shirdi, went to Nimon and then to Ahmednagar and from there he went to Poona where Somnath was there and in Poona, Nimonkar passed away in January, 1919.

Even though the Holy Padukas were given by Baba in the year 1898 to Nimonkar, they were not allowed for public darshan till the year 2008. .Nandakumar Revannath Deshpande (great grandson of Nanasaheb Nimonkar) got a dream in the year 2008 in which Baba instructed him to allow the public to have darshan of the Holy Padukas. Hence, Nandakumar obeyed the orders of Baba and started allowing the public to have darshan of the holy Padukas from the auspicious month of Shravan in the year 2008. The centenary celebrations of Sri Ramanavami Festival were performed in 2011 in Shirdi and Nandakumar had the fortune of hoisting the Flag on the top of Dwarakamai and Nandakumar continued the legacy of his Great Grand Father with equal zeal and devotion.

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Om Sai Ram...

Shiridi Sai Baba Bhaktas - SAISAGUNOPASANA by K. J. BHISMA

K. J. BHISMA

[BEGINNING  OF  PUJA  TO  SAIBABA  &  COMPOSITION  OF  ARATI  SONGS]

(Bhishma prepared a booklet entitled “Shri Sainath Sagunopasana” which contained, besides the arati-psalms composed on Baba and sung at the time of Arati to Baba, some traditional hymns from the Hindu liturgy like, Purusha Suktam, Sree Suktam, Mantra Pushpam & Sri Lakshmi Ashtotharam. In all, there are thirty psalms in the booklet.)

Krishnashastri Jageshwar Bhishma (K.J.Bhishma) was a resident of a village called Bori or Butibori in the district of Nagpur. He lived on the income derived from his farms. He got married but his married life was short lived. He married once again. He had four children. He became restless after the death of his second wife. He was Revenue Inspector at that time and left the job. His relatives, friends and well wishers advised him to remarry again but he declined.  During 1908, on one night, he had a dream in which he saw a person of dark complexion  in  traditional dress with tripundra mark on his forehead, sandalwood paste mixed with saffron was applied to his body and puja was
performed at the feet of that person who appeared as a vaishnava holy man. In the dream, that holy man gave Bhishma a newspaper and Bhishma desired to know who he was and enquired; but the holy man did not reply but pointed to the newspaper on which “Sat-Chit-Ananda” (Being-Consciousness-Bliss) was printed in bold letters. When Bhishma wanted to know what it was, the holy man again simply pointed to the newspaper wherein appeared another set of words, “Mantra va shikava” which means “chant mantra and learn”. It was not clear to Bhishma and Bhishma wanted to know further about him. But both the holy person and the newspaper had disappeared.. Bhishma could not make out anything and before he posed another question the Vaishnava saint vanished with his mystic scroll. Bhishma was puzzled and totally confused, but in the meantime he heard a knock at the door and his dream ended. He immediately recorded the dream and was thinking about the import of the dream for some time, but was unable to unravel the mystery and significance of the dream. After some time a sadhu, a devotee of Ganesh, visited Bori. Bhishma narrated his dream to the sadhu who told him that “Sat-Chit-Ananda Swami” was his guru, and gave him the mantra “va shikava”. He had 90 acres of land and was affluent. He renounced all his property and became an ascetic and started wearing ochre robes. He was a prolific writer and wrote many religious books. He started spending his life in performing kirtans and bhajans(eulogies to God). He was interested in social work and removing untouchability. 

After sometime Bhishma happened to visit Amraoti where Dadasaheb Khaparde, his friend, was preparing to visit Shirdi. He asked Bhishma whether he would like to accompany him to Shirdi. Bhishma agreed and accompanied Khaparde to Shirdi. Khaparde was in the habit of maintaining diaries and there is a mention about Bhishma in Khaparde’s diary pertaining to his second visit to Shirdi. Khaparde stayed for a long time in Shirdi beginning from 6th December, 1911. When Bhishma went into the masjid for Baba’s darshan, Baba uttered with folded hands, “Jai Sat-Chit-Ananda”. Bhishma, though perplexed initially, was wonder-struck as to whether the holy man of his dream was Baba himself. But he thought that the holy man of his dream was a Vaishnavite while Baba appeared to be a Muslim. In spite of this, why Baba uttered those words was not clear to him. A thought appeared in his mind that Baba might be the holy man who appeared in his dream. But, he thought that the holy man who appeared in his dream was a Vaishnava saint while Baba in Shirdi was a Muslim Guru. He further reconciled thinking that due to his orthodox proclivity, he was unable to identify the holy man of his dream with Baba whom he considered as a Muslim. While at Shirdi though he saw many Brahmins devoutly receiving Baba's pada teerth without any orthodox scruple, he gently avoided taking Baba’s pada teerth. Baba was in the habit of smoking tobacco from a chillim and as he smoked he used to offer a puff to the devotees present. Bhishma was apprehensive at heart at the possibility of smoking a chillim polluted by the lips of a Muslim. As per his internal thought, for the first few days, Baba never offered a puff to Bhishma even though he was sitting very close by. One day while Baba was narrating a parable to a group of devotees including Bhishma, a devotee got the chillim ready and gave it to Baba. Baba held it out to Bhishma and directed him to smoke after merely touching the chillim to his mouth. Bhishma followed Baba’s order without any demur and had a puff and then returned it to Baba. Baba accepted it and remarked, “I roam everywhere, my friend – Bombay, Pune, Satara, Nagpur; all those towns are filled with the presence of Rama”. Then he suddenly said to Bhishma in a complaining tone, "Well, Why do you eat the laddus all yourself without offering a single piece to me? At least now give me five laddus!"

As Baba spoke those words something happened which changed the basic outlook of Bhishma. His mental outlook and orthodox proclivity suddenly got changed, as if blown away in the single puff he had from Baba's chillim. Baba’s remark had created the desired effect on Bhishma and it resulted in the disappearance of the distinction between the Vaishnav Saint who appeared in his dream and Sai Baba of Shirdi. He was also convinced that Baba only appeared in his dream in the garb of a Vaishnav holy man. Then he himself asked for Baba's pada teerth and wholeheartedly placed his head on Baba's feet. Baba blessed him by placing his hands on his head for a few moments which brought about a strange ecstasy in his mind which was only felt by him and which could not be described in words. Then he went to the wada and started worrying as to how he could prepare five laddus in a new place where he himself was a guest. But he was still thinking in his mind about Baba's cryptic remarks about the five laddus. He did not take Baba's words literally. He also could not understand what actually Baba meant by “five laddus”.

In the beginning, there was no regular worship of Baba except accepting garlands brought by the devotees. In one of Nanasaheb Chandorkar’s visits to Shirdi, his second son, Mahadeo alias Bapurao Chandorkar at the age of 4 years took the liberty of performing puja to Baba by decorating Baba’s head with flowers and this happened in 1900. At the age of 4, he also started applying chandan to Baba’s forehead and this became the practice subsequently. Only Bapu Rao was permitted at that time to perform puja to Baba and this became a practice later on. It was Mhalasapati who first started a formal puja to Baba in the masjid. But later on, Baba started allowing devotees to apply sandal-paste to his fore-head, and offer him flowers. It was Tatyasaheb Noolkar who introduced for the first time puja to Baba by offering arati by waving of five lighted lamps around Baba in an arch and this practice started on a Guru Pournima Day and later this became the regular practice. Thus, the regular worship of Baba with arati and with singing of Arati song, composed by Madhav Adkar and playing of musical instruments started at that time which was continued further. After Noolkar, Megha started offering arati to Baba in some more traditional and rigorous way. Whenever Megha was performing puja to Baba, he used to stand on one leg and perform the puja with utmost devotion. After Megha, Bapusaheb Jog continued these aratis till Baba’s Mahasamadhi.

In the beginning, there were not many psalms which were especially composed on Baba except a few psalms composed by Madhav Adkar and Das Ganu Maharaj. Most of them were adaptations of the traditional arati-psalms composed by the mediaeval saint-poets of Maharashtra on Lord Vitthal of Pandharpur. It was only about a year after the commencement of traditional aratis at Shirdi, a number of arati psalms were composed.

After Bhishma’s arrival in Shirdi, on the next day in the morning, he got up seized by an overwhelming impulse to write a poem, which he started composing immediately. He continued his efforts of composing further poems also and thus he composed five poems in all as if under a divine inspiration of Baba. When he offered those five songs to Baba in lieu of the five laddus he had asked for, Baba approved them and also blessed him. After completing the five poems,, he tried very much to compose further poems, but he was unable to do despite his serious attempts. And perhaps this was due to Baba’s five laddus order.

After some time, Bhishma composed further four more arati songs with Baba’s Grace. In all, Bhishma composed nine songs. Thus, after the arrival of Bhishma, a shape was given to an Arati-Psalm-Book, by incorporating the arati psalms composed by him and also collecting several other arati songs written on Baba by other devotees. The entire credit of giving a formal shape by way a book for all the Shirdi Arati songs, goes to Bhishma. Thus, Bhishma prepared a booklet entitled “Shri Sainath Sagunopasana” which contained, besides the arati-psalms composed on Baba and sung at the time of Arati to Baba, some traditional hymns from the Hindu liturgy like, Purusha Suktam, Sree Suktam, Mantra Pushpam and Sri Lakshmi Ashtotharam, intended for use in the daily worship of various deities. Then all these songs were published and Khaparde had paid all the expenses for the publication. After Baba's Mahasamadhi, the book was adapted as the official “Book of Daily Worship” at the Samadhi Mandir. Khaparde continued to bear the expenses for the publication of the arati-palms booklet till 1922, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, made, in consultation with Bhisma, some additions in the book and had taken up the publication of the revised edition of “Shri Sainath Sagunopasana” from 1923 onwards.

Madhavrao Adkar was one of the earliest composers of hymns on Baba. He was a very good friend of Das Ganu Maharaj. Both of them considered Baba as their spiritual guru. Both of them were gifted with a sweet metallic voice and used to sing spiritual and religious songs. They became an excellent medium for popularizing Baba through their compositions and kirtans. It was Das Ganu, who took Madhavrao Adkar to Baba. Mahavrao Adkar treated with respect Das Ganu as his elder brother. Madhavrao managed himself by offering private tuitions. In the year 1903-04, when he was in Shirdi, he was fully immersed in devotion to Baba and due to his ecstasy, he suddenly composed a poem in the form of arati song. He wrote it on a piece of paper which was read by Das Ganu who became very happy. Thus he wrote the earliest arati song on Baba.

In all, there are thirty psalms in the Book of Shirdi Aratis for daily worship of Baba. Out of these thirty psalms, only sixteen were mainly composed on Baba. Out of the remaining fourteen, thirteen are traditional arati-psalms composed by the medieval poet-saints of Maharashtra and the fourteenth one is a Vedic hymn.

Out of the sixteen psalms mainly composed on Baba, as many as nine psalms were composed by Bhishma, three by Das Ganu Maharaj, one each by Madhav Adkar, Upasani Maharaj, Mohini Raj and B.V. Dev.

Of the fourteen traditional psalms, five were composed by Sant Tukaram Maharaj, two each by Sant Namdev and Sant Janabai, one each by Shri Ramjanardhan Swami and Shri Rameshwar Bhat. Shri Janardhan Swamy was a Minister in Devgiri kingdom, a Rigveda scholar and a staunch devotee of Lord Dattatreya and also a Guru to saint Eknath. Shri Rameshwar Bhat was the main disciple of Sant Tukaram Maharaj. From out of the remaining three psalms, one is a Vedic hymn and the other two are traditional prayers. Incidentally Sant Janabai was the maid servant in the house of Sant Namdev whose unswerving devotion towards Lord Vithoba of Pandharpur attracted her more to the Lord of Pandharpur. She was a famous woman-saint in Maharashtra who composed many abhangas (short spiritual poems) about the Lord and the closet follower of Sant Namdev. Sant Tukaram Maharaj, Sant Namdev and Sant Janabai were born in lower castes and had attained the highest spiritual progress through continuous devotion and ultimately got merged with the Lord.  

Incidentally a few words about devotee-varkaris: Varkaris are devotees who were visiting every year, the temple of Lord Vithoba in Pandharpur as a tradition in the pursuit of their devotional approach. All people belonging to all castes can become varkaris. Prominent among them are Jyaneshwar Maharaj, Tukaram Maharaj, Namdev, Janabai and other saints and Jyaneshwar Maharaj was the leader of the Varkari group during their times.

Linguistically, of the thirty arati psalms, twenty five are in Marathi, two in Hindi, two in Sanskrit and one in a bilingual anthology expressed in Marathi and Sanskrit languages.

The annual Urus festival, started in 1897, went on till 1912 and the Hindus and Muslims participated in the festival with equal fervor. After the arrival of Bhishma to Shirdi, Bhishma mooted just before the Urus festival,  the idea of celebrating Ramnavami festival in 1912. Bhishma suggested to Kaka Mahajani and both of them approached Baba for permission which Baba approved. Thus Urus festival and Ramnavami festival were combined in 1912 and the celebration of both the festivals was performed with great zeal and on a grand scale. Bhishma was thus instrumental in celebrating the Ramnavami festival in Shirdi. Bhishma is remembered for his composition of Saisagunopasana-arati hymns on Baba. He acquired spiritual powers and spent his last years in the Murlidhar Mandir at Mohappa near Nagpur where he passed away happily on August 8, 1935. His was a blessed soul.

Shiridi Sai Baba Bhaktas - BAPUSAHEB JOG

BAPUSAHEB JOG

Jog  did  the  arati  puja  in  the  masjid  and  the  chavdi,  thrice  a  day and continued till Baba’s   Mahasamadhi.  Besides  puja  to  Baba,  he  was  also daily  reading and   Jnaneshwari  and    Eknathi   Bhagwat    in   Sathewada to    the   pilgrim-visitors   as   he   was   a   renowned   Sanskrit scholar. He thus  served  both  Sai  Baba and Upasani Baba  till his last breath. His soul was a blessed one.

Sakharam Hari alias Bapusaheb Jog was a resident of Poona and had no children. After his retirement from P.W Department in 1906, he came and lived in Shirdi with his wife, Mrs.Tai Jog. Both of them had unswerving faith in Baba and served and worshipped Baba with utmost devotion. After Megha’s death, Jog did the arati puja in the masjid and the chavdi, thrice a day and continued till Baba’s Mahasamadhi. Thus he performed puja to Baba for the longest period of seven years. Besides puja to Baba, he was also daily reading and explaining Jnaneshwari (a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna) and Eknathi Bhagwat in Sathewada and the devotees and pilgrims were listening. He was conducting the regular religious classes in Sathewada for the benefit of the pilgrims. He was highly proficient in Sanskrit language and also in religious scriptures. After giving permission to Jog to read pothi daily in the Sathewada, Baba would ask the devotees who came for his darshan to go to Sathewada and listen to Jnaneshvari which is a commentary on the Bhagvat Gita which is also called Bhavarth Deepika.  The 11^th Chapter of Bhavarth Deepika or Bhagvat Gita, also called (Nath) Bhagvat is the quintessence of Eknath’s exposition of spiritual pursuits.

 Jog observed utmost austerity during his entire life in Shirdi. Jog and his wife would get up at 3-00 a.m. every day and take bath in cold water at the well near Dikshitwada. He would attend morning arati of Baba in Dwarakamai. He would accompany Baba during Baba's visit to lendibagh and when he was not accompanying Baba, he would recite religious scriptures like Bhagwat Gita at home until Baba returned from lendibagh. Then he would participate in the preparation of naivedya (an offering to god) and offer naivedya to a holy person of Baba's choice. He would also attend noon arati to Baba in the masjid and then go home with a guest sent by Baba for lunch. In the afternoon at about 3-30 p.m. he would come to masjid and read Eknath Bhagwat upto evening. When Baba was in chavadi (village public hall) on alternative days, he would attend the night arati at 9-30 p.m. Thus Jog performed and discharged these duties with utmost devotion uninterruptedly for seven years. From Jan,1912 onwards, Jog started performing arati to Baba in the masjid and also in the chavadi till the Mahasamadhi of Baba. He was a devotee of Baba of the highest order.

Jog served Baba in this fashion for several years and even then he did not attain mental peace and contentment and did not acquire spirituality. Once in Shirdi, his wife was unwell and was not taking any medicines as she had unswerving faith in Baba, but her illness did not come down. So she lost patience and wanted to go away from Shirdi to the place of her parents. But when she was about to go away from Shirdi, she suddenly became well and did not leave Shirdi.

Once Baba asked Jog to give dakshina, knowing fully well that he did not have any money with him. Consequently he became angry. But Baba told him not to get angry and lose temper.

In the past once Jog had lent money to some relative of his wife when he was in service and he did not repay. Based on his present bad financial position, he wanted to go to Aurangabad town to recover the money from that person, if necessary by legal process as about 14 years had elapsed since he lent the money. He then approached Baba for his permission to go to Aurangabad. But Baba advised him not to go and refused permission. Baba also informed that the debtor himself would come to Shirdi shortly and advised him not to worry about it but have patience. Though Jog was unhappy in not getting Baba’s permission in this regard but he was helpless and stayed in Shirdi only. Then all of a sudden, the debtor came to Shirdi on his own and offered the principal amount to Jog who was happy at the turn of events. This had happened even though the debt was time barred and was also without any effort from the side of Jog. Though he was initially unhappy for not getting the interest also, on the principal amount, he accepted, on Baba's advice, the amount without interest. Any amount of legal process would not have helped him to recover the money when the debt was time barred. This was really a great miracle.

Once Jog wanted to perform annual ceremony to his deceased father and as he could not get a Brahmin priest of his sub caste for the purpose, he approached Baba’s permission to go to Kopargaon to get a priest. But Baba did not give permission to leave Shirdi. When he again asked on some other day, Baba again refused permission and also informed him that the Brahmin priest of the same sub caste would be coming on the particular day and that he would have no problem in the matter. On the day the ceremony was to be performed, two Brahmin priests of his sub caste came suddenly to Shirdi, had darshan of Baba and then went to Jog’s house on Baba’s instructions. Jog performed his father’s annual ceremony with their help. Jog was very happy at the unexpected turn of events and their arrival to Shirdi on that particular day. This was an example to show that Baba would take care of the needs of the devotees even in small matters.

One day, Jog told Baba that even though he was serving Baba and doing puja and performing arati to Baba in the masjid and the chavadi, he did not get mental peace and asked Baba as to when he was likely to get mental peace and Baba’s blessings. Baba told him that he should complete his enjoyment or result of his sinful acts in his previous births. Baba also told him that he should cultivate the habit of conquering anger, desire, and attachment and also resort to begging, and then only he would deserve to be blessed and he would then attain eternal peace. Afterwards, Jog’s wife passed away and he lost worldly interest and developed a sense of detachment. He then became a sanyasi (an ascetic) and started begging food for his living. As per Baba’s words, all these happened and in the process he became totally free and detached,  attained beatitude and supreme happiness. After Baba's Mahasamadhi, he then moved to Sakori (which was in glory; also visit the following paragraphs) and became a pujari (priest) to Upasani Baba in Sakori. Finally he passed away peacefully at the age of 70 

years in 1926. His samadhi is there in Sakori near Shirdi just opposite to the ashram. He thus served both Sai Baba and Upasani Baba till his last breath. His soul was a blessed one.

Sakori: During 1917 Upasani Maharaj laid the foundation for establishing Shri Upasani Kanyakumari Sthan or a hermitage for the spinsters meant to enable young Bramhacharins girls (spinsters) to learn Sanskrit and Vedas as well as to perform all the ritualistic functions according to Vedas and Upanishads. The participation of women in such functions was hitherto prohibited. The Sthan is situated at Sakori, about 6 KMs from Shirdi, in a quiet and calm village. This is actually a hermitage for spinsters to learn Sanskrit language, Vedas, Upanishads and perform yajnas or homas/sacrificial religious ceremonies with offerings to fire. It is equipped with modern amenities like mandaps, rooms for residents and guests, surrounded by little gardens. It was a haven of equanimity and purity with an atmosphere charged with positive vibrations. This ashram/hermitage stands as a proud monument of spiritual inspiration, a mighty creation of a simple ascetic who dared to elevate women to higher levels of spiritual growth and freedom and who proved that the women also could perform religious rituals on par with the men. This was an ideal and a revolutionary scheme started or kindled by Upasani Maharaj. The credit goes to him.

The first disciple of Upasani Maharaj was Godavari Matha who was admitted to the ashram when she was 10 years old. She was from Shegaon (the residence of Saint Gajanan Maharaj), Akola District in Maharashtra and was born in 1914. Upasani Maharaj appointed her as his spiritual successor before attaining samadhi in Sakori on 24.12. 1941. Godavari Matha attained samadhi on 11th of August 1990. She named no successor. Samadhis of Shri Upasani Maharaj and Godavari Mata are within the ashram premises. There is a yagna mandap. Yagnas were performed seven times in a year during all major Hindu festivals. Lord Ganesha visage or appearance which appeared on its own on a tree miraculously, can be seen. Devotees can worship the visage and their wishes are fulfilled. Dattatreya temple is located opposite the ashram.

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...

Shiridi Sai Baba Bhaktas - ABDUL BABA

ABDUL BABA

(Baba used to quote some passages from the Koran and immediately Abdul was writing down in a book, called "the utterances of Baba".    Abdul considered it as a very sacred book. He used to consult this book for the purpose of prophecy. Baba used to pour water and move in different directions perhaps with chanting of mantras in Lendibagh at noon time & at that time nobody was allowed to move in that area except Abdul who had the rare privilege). 

 

Abdul was born in 1871 at Nanded on the banks Tapti river in Khandesh and was the son of Sultan of Nanded. His father was conferred with the title of 'Sultan' and called 'Chotu Sultan of Manded' village. Abdul was married to Umran Rao Bi and had a son. He was staying with Sufi fakir, Amiruddin Baba in Nanded. When he was staying with fakir Amiruddin in Nanded, Sai Baba appeared in 1889 in the dream of fakir Amiruddin, delivered two mangoes to him and asked him to deliver the mangoes to Abdul and send him to Shirdi. Amiruddin Baba was surprised to find two ripe mangoes materialized near him and gave the mangoes to Abdul and sent him immediately to Sai Baba at Shirdi. He came to Shirdi at the age of 18 years in 1889 itself.
Accordingly Abdul came to Shirdi and when he arrived in the masjid, Baba welcomed him, saying "mera kavala aala" “My crow has come”. Baba used to call him as "Mera Cowa", my crow or "Halalkhor", scavenger. Baba asked him to devote his services entirely for Baba. Accordingly, he was cleaning the masjid, feeding oil to the lamps in the masjid, lendibagh and chavadi. He was also sweeping and cleaning all streets near the masjid. Baba also called him as scavenger. He was living in the area adjoining the masjid which later became the stable. He was continuously attending on Baba and rendering all the services with devotion to Baba. Baba advised him to eat less and sleep for shorter time which he followed. In Shirdi he worked as a dedicated Sevak, doing all kinds of menial jobs. Having no money he even begged for his food. He strictly followed Baba's instructions 'eat little and sleep little'.

He used to read the Koran sitting near Baba in the masjid. Baba now and then used to open a page in Koran and would ask him to read that page and some times used to quote some other passages from the Koran and immediately Abdul was writing down in a book all the utterances that were coming from the mouth of Baba. Abdul used to write the utterances of Baba in the book either in Devanagari or in Modi(Marathi Shorthand) script. Baba told him about Islam and Sufism occasionally. The utterances may pertain to Muslim and Sufi principles with a number of quotations in Arabic. The fact that Baba was familiar with both the Islamic and Sufi traditions has been brought out by this utterances book. He noted down all such statements that came out from the mouth of Baba for the purpose of preserving them as they were considered as sacred. This book became to be known as Baba’s utterances book and Abdul considered it as a very sacred book. Later on this book was found very useful in that whenever any person facing any problem and desirous of knowing the solution and the outcome in the future, was approaching him and Abdul was opening the book and the page that was opened would give solution and tell the future and the solutions indicated proved correct in several cases. In many cases, this book was used for the purpose of prophecy also. Once, Mr.Gaadgil, a lawyer approached Abdul and asked him regarding his son that whether he would return from England or permanently settle there? Abdul referred the book and told him that he would return. And this proved to be true. His son returned to India with his English wife and kids. In course of time, Abdul became as Abdul Baba. An attempt was made in 1997 by Marianne Warren and V.B.Kher who tried to transliterate  into English Baba's utterances book as written down in Devanagari and Urdu scripts by Abdul Baba. In this attempt they came to know that the utterances have revealed Baba's wonderful knowledge of Islam and Sufism.

Dr.Pillai was an ardent devotee, who was suffering from  pain due to guinea-worms in his leg. He once told Kakasaheb Dixit that his pain became most excruciating and that he would prefer death to suffering with pain and he also expressed that he knew that his severe suffering was due to his past karma and asked Dixit to convey to Baba his feelings and request Baba to stop the pain and transfer the working of his past Karma (actions in previous births) to ten of his future births. Dixit went to Baba and told him his request. Then Baba, being moved by his request, said to Dixit,"Tell him to be fearless. Why should he suffer for ten births? In ten days he can work out the sufferings and consequences of his past Karma. While I am here to give him temporal and spiritual welfare, why should he pray for death? Bring him here on somebody's back and let us work and finish his sufferings once for all". The doctor was brought in that condition and was seated on Baba's right side. Baba gave him the bolster and asked him to stretch his legs and lie down comfortably. Baba also said that  a crow would come and peck you, and then he would recover. While this conversation was going on, Abdul Baba who always cleaned the masjid and trimmed the lamps, turned up in the masjid. While Abdul was attending to his work of trimming, his foot accidentally fell upon the stretched leg of Dr. Pillai. The leg was already swollen and when Abdul's foot fell upon it and pressed it, all the seven guinea-worms were squeezed out at once. The pain at once became unbearable and Dr. Pillai bawled out loudly. After some time, he calmed down and began to sing and cry alternately. Then Pillai enquired when the crow would come for pecking. Baba said, "Did you not see the crow? He won't come again. Abdul was the crow. Now go and rest yourself in the Wada and you will be soon all right." By application of the udi and by taking it in the stomach with water, and without taking any other treatment or medicine, the disease was completely cured in ten days as promised by Baba.
In the Lendibagh where Nanda Deep was kept, Baba used to sit behind the Lendi pillar and Abdul used to keep near Baba two pots full of water. Baba sitting near the pots, would go on pouring the water in various directions. Baba also would get up from the Lendi place and walk few steps in each direction and go on gazing towards that direction. What Baba was doing was not known to any body and it was also not known whether Baba, while pouring the water and moving in that direction, was chanting any mantras. No body was allowed to move in that area at that mid day time when Baba was doing these offerings except Abdul who had the rare privilege of observing such rare events. Baba advised him to eat less and sleep for few hours only and also advised him to understand the Koran while reading it.   Even after Baba’s Mahasamadhi, Baba was protecting Abdul Baba. In about 1927 Abdul Baba was staying in the thatched mud house where Radhakridhna Mai was staying earlier. That was a very old cottage.

Once it so happened that Abdul Baba was reading the Koran in that mud house and suddenly the cottage collapsed and he was almost buried in the debris. However, he was not injured due to Baba’s Grace. After the Mahasamadhi of Baba, Abdul was taking care of and looking after the shrine of Baba till 1922. He was cleaning, decorating the shrine with flowers and performing other ritual services. After the offering of food to Baba as prasadam, he was getting a portion of prasadam for his sustenance and he was receiving and living on the dakshina offered by the devotees. He was also living in a room in the shrine. This system continued till 1922. Dixit, staunch devotee of Baba approached in 1922 the Ahmednagar District Court for permission to set up a Public Trust to administer the shrine and got permission from the Court. At this stage, Abdul Baba, induced by some of his well wishers, approached the Court, claiming that he was the legal heir to Sai Baba and that he had every right to manage the shrine and thus challenged the formation of the Trust. The court with Baba’s Grace held that there was no Math or Ashram and that there was no heir or successor to Sai Baba and that no body was entitled as heir or successor to Sai Baba. Thus he lost the case and consequently was prevented from having any connection with the maintenance of the shrine. He was refused free food and asked to vacate the room occupied by him in the shrine.   After some time, the Sansthan relaxed these severe restrictions and Abdul Baba was allowed again to participate in the maintenance of the shrine till his death in April 1954. Abdul Baba lived for 36 years after Mahasamadhi of Baba and served Baba for the longest period till 1954. After his death in 1954, he was buried in the complex of Samadhi Mandir near Lendibhag. His original small dwelling house was located just opposite to the Chavadi. The main room in that house was converted as a memorial to the memory of Abdul Baba and visitors can visit and pay homage to Abdul Baba. He was an ankitha baktha who devoted his entire life in the service to 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...

Shiridi Sai Baba Bhaktas - CHANDRABAI BORKER

CHANDRABAI  BORKER

(She visited Shirdi several times from 1892 to the last day of Baba's Mahasamadhi & witnessed many miracles of Baba. Despite contrary medical view, she knew that Baba blessed her and that she was pregnant. Having unswerving faith in Baba, she managed for 10 months and delivered a son when she was 51 years old easily without the assistance of any doctor or nurse in 1921).

Chandrabai Borker first visited Shirdi in 1892 and was an ardent devotee of Baba.  In  one of her visits to Shirdi, Baba gave her his tooth as  a  memento  which  she made into a talisman for veneration. Baba also gave  her a small photo of his, painted by Shamrao which she  preserved in their Bombay house. She  also visited  Shirdi  in  about 1898 when Baba was lighting the lamps with water  only  and  also saw Baba sleeping, in the same year, on small narrow  wooden  plank  (given  by  Nanasaheb Dengle)  with  4  earthen lamps at the four corners on the plank,  suspended  from  the  roof  beam with slender cloth threads. Baba sleeping  on  the  suspended plank  tied  with slender cloth pieces—surprised  as to how  the  plank  withstood  the  weight  of  Baba  and  plank,  without  any  fall  &   equally surprising was how Baba climbed the plank and  came down  from the plank which no body knew. At that time the  masjid  was  not  renovated  and even Sathewada was not existing by then. Whenever she went to Shirdi she put up in the houses of some villagers.

Ramachnadra Borker was her husband. In about 1909 Ramachandra who was an engineer, was supervising the construction of a bridge at Pandharpur and his family was residing in Pandharpur. Once she went from Pandharpur to Shirdi. But Baba advised her to go back immediately to Pandharpur. She was not aware of the developments in Pandharpur but however reached Pandharpur on Baba’s advice and found that her husband was not there and had gone to Bombay after resigning the job and she felt extremely unhappy at the sudden developments. She did not have enough money to buy tickets and on the other hand she had two companions with her. She was perplexed and was in a quandary as to what to do and at that time a fakir appeared before her and told her that her husband was in Dhond and asked her to proceed to Dhond and delivered three railway tickets to her. She received the tickets and then proceeded to Dhond. On reaching Dhond, she observed that her husband was waiting on the platform, to her surprise, to receive her. He also told her that a fakir appeared before him and advised him not to neglect his wife and also informed that she was coming to Dhond and informed her bogie number also. He enquired who was that fakir and then she showed a photo of Baba to him and he recognized saying that the same fakir appeared before him and gave the information. Such was the miracle performed by Baba. This indicated that Baba would watch constantly his devotees and help them in all their endeavours.

In 1918, she visited Shirdi and Baba asked her what was her heartfelt desire. For this, she replied saying that Baba knew every thing and there was nothing for her to tell Baba which he did not know. Her desire was to have a child which she did not express. She was 48 years old in 1918 and her family members, friends and even doctors ruled out conception at that advanced age. However, she knew that nothing was impossible for Baba. Three years later, her menses stopped. But after five months, she observed bodily signs of pregnancy. But doctors ruled otherwise, saying that there was a tumor in the uterus and it required surgical removal which she refused and wanted to wait for some more months. She knew that Baba blessed her and was confident that she was pregnant. Having unswerving faith in Baba, she refused medicines and depended only on udi and water. Like that she managed for 10 months and she delivered a son when she was 51 years old easily without the assistance of any doctor or nurse. This had happened 3 years and 2 days after Baba’s Mahasamadhi,  in 1921.

Once she was in Panchgani and on Dixit’s advice, she rushed to Shirdi on getting information that Baba was critically unwell. She went in time to Shirdi during the last days of Baba and also poured tulasi leaves water in Baba’s mouth during his last moments. She kept on visiting Shirdi even after Baba’s Mahasamadhi and visited Shirdi in 1919 and 1933 also.

Her husband, Ramachandra Borker was an engineer and was working in a small town near Nasik, constructing a bridge. One day Ramachandra came from office with high fever. Being a small place, there were no doctors in that place. Chandrabai being a staunch devotee of Baba kept some Baba’s udi always with her and preserved in a box and knew udi was the panacea for all diseases and gave udi to him. After mid night, she had a dream in which Baba appeared and told her that her husband would be alright, but advised her not to allow him to go out after 11-00 AM. Next day. She told him about the dream but her husband did not have faith in Baba. Next day he went to the Railway station nearby and was knocked down suddenly by a coming train which he could not notice. As the station was very near their house, she was able to see the incident with her eyes and cried loudly Baba’s name instantaneously and then became unconscious. After some time, Ramachandra was brought back to the house and he suffered a bone fracture. Even though the running train knocked him down, it was a miracle that he sustained only a bone fracture for which Chandrabai thanked Baba. In a semi conscious stage, Ramachandra saw a fakir in the house and told her about fakir moving in the house. She told him that he was their Baba who saved him from the clutches of death. She asked him at least then to develop faith in Baba. Doctor later came and examined him and found a fracture in the leg. But Baba appeared again that night in the dream and advised her to apply home made medicine and put a bandage over that area on the leg. She did accordingly and the fracture got cured after a few months. No other treatment was given. Seeing this wonder, their relatives and friends were surprised. This had happened in 1921 during post Baba's Mahasamadhi period.

Baba told her in a dream that her husband would pass away shortly. Though she told her husband about the dream, he did not believe it. As those days were not auspicious, she prayed to Baba requesting to postpone the matter till good days arrived. Even though her husband did not visit Shirdi even once, his end came very peacefully on an auspicious day and this was all due to her visits to Shirdi, her faith in Baba and Baba’s Grace. Her husband passed away in 1934 without suffering any pain while chanting “Shri Rama-Shri Rama” Even after that, Baba was helping her in bringing up her son and in discharging her other responsibilities.

When Narasimha Swamiji met her in 1936, she said that she was worshipping Baba for the last 44 years or so and visited Shirdi number of times.  She also said that she visited Shirdi when Baba took Mahasamadhi on 15th Oct, 1918 and that she placed Tulasi leaf in Baba's mouth before his Mahasamadhi.  She said that Baba's kindness and helping hand to her was continuous and really great. 

Her son grew very well and got married also. She got a temple for Baba constructed within the compound of their house.Her desire was to install the statue of Baba in that temple. Finally in 1958, Baba's statue was installed in that temple. Her desire was fulfilled. She passed away happily in Nov, 1958. Hers was a blessed soul.

 

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...

Shiridi Sai Baba Bhaktas - M E G H A

(When  Megha  poured   whole  pot  of  water  on  Baba, water  had  fallen on the  head only without  touching  Baba’s  body.  He  was  the  first  pujari  to  Baba  to  perform  puja in  a congregational form).

Megha or Meghasham or Megharaj was a very peculiar orthodox Brahmin who was illiterate. He did not even know his Gayathri Sloka.  Sathe found him living at Viramgaon when he was the Deputy Collector. He became a cook with Sathe.  He found Megha always repeating Namas-Sivaya. So, finding that he was sufficiently pious, Sathe taught him Sandhya and Gayathri sloka and sent him to Broach to worship Siva there. After he did Siva worship at Broach, Sathe asked and sent him to Shirdi telling him that Siva was in flesh and blood at Shirdi in the form of Sai Baba and gave him the necessary money for his journey. But at the Broach railway station, Megha learnt that Sai Baba was a Muslim and he was immediately shaken. By nature, he did not wish to go near any Muslim or have any thing to do with the worship related to Muslims.  “What? Have I to go and bow to a Muslim and pray?”. He thought. He requested Sathe not to send him to Shirdi. But Sathe insisted and gave him a letter to Dada Kelkar who, he said, would introduce him to Baba and make him understand Baba. But when Megha went to the masjid in Shirdi, Baba got angry and would not allow him to get into the masjid. Baba said, “Kick out that rascal” and asked, “What a fool is this Saheb to send this man here?” Megha then went away to Triambak and worshipped Gangadareswar for a year and half. He suffered there from severe pains in his abdomen and after some time became alright. There he visited a Shiva temple where he saw Sai Baba in the place of Shiv Lingam in that temple.  After that time, he developed faith in Baba and came back to Shirdi. Dada Kelkar interceded on his behalf and Baba allowed him to stay in Shirdi and he started worshipping  Baba in the masjid.

Baba’s worked on Megha by internal spiritual development. Baba did not give any oral instructions at all. But by that internal change. Megha became the most remarkable devotee of Sai Baba, whom he considered really as Lord Siva. Megha, being a hardy man, would go to Godavari DAILY, which is locally called Ganga (5 miles away from Shirdi en route to Kopergaon station),  and used to bring Ganga water and pour it on the head of Sai Baba whom he considered as Siva. Whenever Megha was performing puja to Baba, he used to stand on one leg and perform the puja rituals with utmost devotion.  Purandhare, a staunch devotee of Baba, mentioned about one miracle about Baba. Once Megha on a Sankranti day had brought a pot full of water from Godavari river to do abhishekam on Baba. But Baba told him to put only a few drops on Baba's head as head was the important organ of the body. But the impetuosity of Megha’s bhakti made him take up the whole pot and turn it upside down over the head of Baba. Strangely, not a drop of water fell on the body of Baba. The whole pot of water had fallen on the head only without touching Baba’s body. So, just as Siva had tied up Ganga in his own tuft, Baba also used his head for retaining and throwing away the water so as not to touch his body or clothes.

Megha was given better treatment by Baba and Megha became a staunch devotee of Baba. As Megha developed a good liking in Siva worship, Baba gave him a Pindi or  Shivlingam, an elongated round stone which is worshipped as Siva, when placed in the hollow portion of another stone, which is called yoni. A follower of Ramdasi sect had once brought this Shiv Idol to Baba, and Baba presented it to Megha and asked him to perform its worship. This was installed in Sathewada, and Megha worshipped the Siva Idol in that place. Just immediately before this pindi came, Baba appeared in Megha’s sleep and told him, “Draw up a Trisul” that is, Siva’s Trident. Megha wondered how Baba’s voice could be heard inside Sathewada. So, he went to the masjid and asked Baba whether he gave the order. Baba said he did, and when asked how he could get entrance into Sathewada when door was bolted from inside, Baba cleared his doubts by saying, “Bolted doors do not bar access to me”. Baba also said that he was formless and could move any where and every where.  Megha was also given a huge picture of Baba by H. S. Dixit, an ardent devotee, to be placed by the side of his Shiv Idol  so that he could worship the Siva Idol together with Sai Baba’s picture which he did.

Observing his peculiar idiosyncrasy to worship all the gods in the temples of the village, that is, Devi, Sani, Siva, Maruti and Khandoba, told him, Baba once told him “after worshipping all these, come and worship Me”. Megha did so regularly. Megha was impressed with Baba’s omnipresence, by his directions on some occasions. One day when he went to Khandoba’s temple, Upasani Maharaj, who lived there, had bolted the door from within, and Megha could not enter into the temple and could not worship Khandoba. So he returned to Baba. Khandoba’s temple is very far away from Baba’s masjid and is not in visible distance from the masjid. When Megha went to worship Baba on that day, Baba told him, “You have not yet done worship at Khandoba’s temple. If you go there now, you will find the door open. Do the puja of Khandoba and then come here.” Megha then went to Khandoba's temple and saw the door open as stated by Baba. After doing the puja there, he came back to the masjid to worship Baba. 

Though puja was done to Baba till then, it was only individual puja as there were no fixed rituals with songs coupled with arati worship. Krishnarao Bhishma, a devotee of Pandharpur Vithoba and famous kirtankar came and wrote some songs on Baba on the Pandharpur model and also another arati song composed by Madhav Adkar, also on the Pandharpur model. Baba got these songs approved by Nanasaheb Chandorkar,  and thereafter these songs were being sung at Baba’s aratis. And some of the songs composed by Das Ganu and Upasani Baba,  were also sung at Baba’s aratis. With Das Ganu’s kirtans, eulogizing Baba’s miracles thoughout Maharashtra, a large number of pilgrims started visiting Shirdi and then a need was very much felt for a priest with congregational form of puja for Baba and that need was solved with the arrival of Megha who became the first pujari of Baba. Megha started performing puja rituals in congregational form. He served Baba for about two years doing puja very sincerely with utmost devotion.

Megha died in 1912 at Shirdi. Baba’s appreciation was shown by his coming to the corpse and placing his hands over it saying, “This was a true devotee of mine”. Baba bore the expenses of the funeral dinner and Kaka Saheb Dixit carried out Baba's order. Such was the great devotion with which Megha served 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...

Shiridi Sai Baba Bhaktas - ANNA CHINCHNIKAR

ANNA CHINCHNIKAR

ANNA   CHINCHNIKAR [Alias   DAMODAR   GHANSHYAM   BABARE] 

(He won a civil suit & got money. He used the money for the renovation of Chavadi in memory of Anna Chinchnikar & his wife, Lakshmibai).   

Damodar Ghanshyam Babare came from the village Chinchani in Thana district. Hence, every body started calling him as Anna Chinchanikar. He and his wife, Laxmi Bai came and were living in Shirdi in the service of Baba and were devoted to Baba. For many years they did selfless service not expecting or asking any favours from Baba. Anna Chinchanikar was a simple and rough but straightforward person. He cared for nobody, always spoke plainly and carried all dealings in cash. Though he looked outwardly harsh and uncompromising, he was a good natured, frank and fair person. So Baba loved him.

A civil suit regarding his lands was then in progress at Dhanu. Anna Chinchanikar was anxious about the civil suit and asked, time and again, Baba about the outcome. Baba always used to say "Allah Bhala Karega". A famous lawyer, Achyut Narayan Khare, was handling the civil suit. Once someone wrote to Anna saying that he had lost the case. Anna ran to Kaka Dixit and informed him and then both of them went to Baba in the masjid. As they were entering the masjid, Baba shouted "This old man has no faith in Me, throw away that letter". Later the lawyer informed Anna that he had won the case and a sum of Rs.1,800/- along with the court costs was awarded to him. Then Anna and Kaka went to Baba with the letter Baba immediately said "Have you got faith in Me now?" Anna placed the letter at Baba's feet and said "Baba this is all yours, I do not want it". But, Baba refused to accept the money saying that he was a fakir. Still Anna begged Baba to accept it. While the conversation was going on for some time,. Kaka intervened and suggested that the sum could be used for renovating the Chavadi and that it should be named after Anna and his wife Lakshmi Bai. Renovation was taken up and completed. The sitting platform along the outside of the front wall were added later.

One day Shama asked Baba that why Baba had not blessed this couple with a son, while other devotees were blessed and their wishes were fulfilled. Baba smiled and said "Has it happened so, that whenever anybody has asked me for any thing, I have not given to him "?. Baba being Antaryami saw that the son, would only continue the name of Anna for one generation, while Baba wanted Anna's name to last for a very very long time. .

One day in the afternoon, Anna, while standing, was shampooing the left arm of Baba which was resting on the railing. On Baba’s right side, one aged widow named Venubai Koujalgi alias Laxmibai Koujalgi whom Baba used to call mother, was serving Baba by kneading Baba’s abdomen. Venubai Koujalgi was called by others as Mavsibai who was an elderly woman of pure heart but humorous now and then and was staying with her relative, Radhakrishnamai. She clasped the fingers of both her hands round the trunk of Baba and was pressing Baba's abdomen from one side to another.. She was doing this with so much force that Baba’s back and abdomen became flat and Baba stomach was moving from one side to another. Anna on the other side was standing steady but in the process Mavsibai's face was moving up and down with her movements. At one point of time, it so happened that her face came very close to Anna's face. Perhaps in the lighter vein, she said – “Oh, this Anna is a lewd [bad] fellow, he wants to kiss me. Even being so old with grey hair he feels no shame in kissing me”. These words enraged Anna and he pulled up his sleeves and said “you say that I am an old bad fellow, am I quite a fool? It is you that have picked up a quarrel and are quarreling with me”. All the persons, present in the masjid were enjoying these humorous quarrel between them. But Baba, who loved both of them equally and wanted to pacify them. Baba then said very skillfully and lovingly, “Oh Anna, why are you unnecessarily raising this hue and cry? I do not understand what harm or impropriety is there, when the mother is kissed?" Hearing these words of Baba, both of them became calm and satisfied but all the persons present laughed happily and enjoyed Baba's witty repartee.

                       Inside Chavadi: There is a large portrait of Baba kept inside the chavadi.

                                                              Large Portrait of Baba:

The above large portrait of Baba kept inside Chavadi was painted by Ambaram residing in Nausari in Gujarat after Baba had given him darshan in a dream in 1953. At that time, Ambaram was only eighteen years old. Ambaram painted this portrait based on his dream vision of Baba. The Nausari villagers were very happy at Baba’s painting done by Ambaram. The residents of Nausari village collected donations and got the portrait framed and brought it to Shirdi and handed it over to the Sansthan. This portrait was first proposed to be kept in the Samadhi Mandir. But as the marble statue of Baba was being sculpted by blessed B.V. Talim at that time, this portrait was placed in the Chavadi.in the place where Baba used to sit during Sej (night) arati and Kakad (early morning) Arati in Chavadi. The marble statue sculpted by blessed Talim was installed in the Samadhi Mandir in 1954 at the hands of Swami Sai Sharananandaji (Wamanrao Patel) on the Vijayadasimi day.

On entering the south facing chavadi, one can see the above plaque on which was inscribed “ Shri Sai Nath Babanchi Lakshmi Bai Damodar Babre, Chinchanikar Chavadi Saka 1859”. Baba being Antaryami saw that the son would only continue the name of Anna for one generation. While Baba wanted Anna’s name to last for a very very long time. Thus whoever visits Shirdi and Chavadi, seeing the plaque, remembers Anna Chinchnikar and his wife, Lakshmi Bai and this will continue for ever, as per the desire of 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...