Sai Satcharitra - Chapter IV
SAI BABA’S FIRST ADVENT IN SHIRDI
Mission of the Saints - Shirdi a Holy Tirth - Personality of Sai Baba - Dictum of Goulibuva - Appearance of Vithal - Kshirsagar’s Story - Das Ganu’s Bath in Prayag - Immaculate Conception of Sai Baba and His First Advent in Shirdi - Three Wadas.
In the last chapter, I described the circumstances, which led me to write Sai-Sat-Charita. Let me now describe the first advent of Sai Baba in Shirdi.
Mission of the Saints
Lord Krishna says in Bhagvadgita (Chapter IV, 7-8) that
"Whenever there is a decay of Dharma (righteousness) and
an ascendancy of unrighteousness, I manifest Myself; and for the
protection of the virtuous, the destruction of the vicious and
for the establishment of righteousness, I manifest Myself in age
after age".
This is the mission of Lord, and the Sages and Saints, Who are His representatives and who appear here at proper times, help in their own way to fulfil that mission. For instance, when the twice born, i.e. the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas and the Vaishyas neglect their duties and when the Shudras try to usurp the rights of the higher classes, when spiritual preceptors are not respected but humiliated, when nobody cares for religious instructions, when every body thinks himself very learned, when people begin to partake of forbidden foods and intoxicating drinks, when under the cloak of religion, people indulge in malpractices, when people belonging to different sects fight amongst themselves, when Brahmins fail to do Sandhya adoration, and the orthodox their religious practices, when Yogis neglect their meditation, when people begin to think that wealth, progeny, wife are their sole concern, and thus turn away from the true path of salvation, then do Saints appear and try to set matters right by their words and action. They serve us as beacon-lights, and show us the right path, and the right way for us to follow. In this way, many saints, viz. Nivritti, Jnanadev, Muktabai, Namdev, Gora, Gonayi, Ekanath, Tukaram, Narahari, Narsi Bhai, Sajan Kasai, Sawata, Ramdas, and various others did appear at various times to show the right path to the people, and so presently came Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi.
Shirdi - A Holy Tirth
The banks of the Godavari river, in the Ahmednagar District, are
very fortunate for they gave birth and refuge to many a Saint,
prominent amongst them being Jnaneshwar. Shirdi also falls in
the Kopargaon Taluka of the Ahmednagar District. After crossing
the Godavari River at Kopargaon, one gets the way to Shirdi. When
you go three Koss (9 miles), you come to Nimgaon, from whence;
Shirdi is visible. Shirdi is as famous and well known as other
holy places like Gangapur, Narsinhwadi, Audumbar on the banks
of Krishna River. As the devotee Damaji flourished in and blessed
Mangalvedha (near Pandharpur) as Samarth Ramdas at Sajjangad,
as Shri Narasimha Saraswati at Saraswatiwadi, so Sainath flourished
at Shirdi and blessed it.
Personality of Sai Baba
It is on account of Sai Baba that Shirdi grew into importance.
Let us see what sort of a personage Sai Baba was. He conquered
this Samsar (worldly existence), which is very difficult and hard
to cross. Peace or mental calm was His ornament, and He was the
repository of wisdom. He was the home of Vaishnava devotees, most
liberal (like Karna) amongst liberals, the quint-essence of all
essences. He had no love for perishable things, and was always
engrossed in self-realization, which was His sole concern. He
felt no pleasure in the things of this world or of the world beyond.
His Antarang (heart) was as clear as a mirror, and His speech
always rained nectar. The rich or poor people were the same to
Him. He did not know or care for honour or dishonour. He was the
Lord of all beings. He spoke freely and mixed with all people,
saw the actings and dances of Nautchgirls and heard Gajjal songs.
Still, He swerved not an inch from Samadhi (mental equilibrium).
The name of Allah was always on His lips. While the world awoke,
He slept; and while the world slept, He was vigilant. His abdomen
(Inside) was as calm as the deep sea. His Ashram could not be
determined, nor His actions could be definitely determined, and
though He sat (lived) in one place, He knew all the transactions
of the world. His Darbar was imposing. He told daily hundreds
of stories; still He swerved not an inch from His vow of silence.
He always leaned against the wall in the Masjid or walked morning,
noon and evening towards Lendi (Nala) and Chavadi; still He at
all times abided in the Self. Though a Siddha, He acted like a
Sadhaka. He was meek, humble and egoless, and pleased all. Such
was Sai Baba, and as Sai Baba’s Feet treaded the soil of
Shirdi, it attained extraordinary importance. As jnaneshwar elevated
Alandi, Ekanath did to Paithan, so Sai Baba raised Shirdi. Blessed
are the grass-leaves and stones of Shirdi, for they could easily
kiss the Holy Feet of Sai Baba, and take their dust on their head.
Shirdi became to us, devotees, another Pandharpur, Jagannath,
Dwarka, Banaras (Kashi) and Rameshwar, Badrikedar, Nasik, Tryambakeshwar,
Ujjain, and Maha Kaleshwar or Mahabaleshwar Gokarn. Contact of
Sai Baba in Shirdi was like our Veda and Tantra; it quieted our
Samsara (world consciousness) and rendered self-realization easy.
The darshana of Shri Sai was our Yoga-Sadhana, and talk with Him
removed our sins. Shampooing His Legs was our bath in Triveni
Prayag, and drinking the holy water of His Feet destroyed our
desires. To us, His commands were Vedas, and accepting (eating)
His Udi (sacred ashes) and Prasad was all purifying. He was our
Shri Krishna and Shri Rama who gave us solace and He was our Para
Brahma (Absolute Reality). He was Himself beyond the Pair of dwandwas
(opposite), never dejected nor elated. He was always engrossed
in His Self as ‘Existence, Knowledge and Bliss.’ Shirdi
was His centre; but His field of action extended far wide, to
Punjab, Calcutta, North India, Gujarat, Dacca (Now in Bangladesh)
and Konkan. Thus the fame of Sai Baba spread, far, and wide, and
people from all parts came to take His darshana and be blessed.
By mere darshan, minds of people, whether, pure or impure, would
become at once quiet. They got here the same sort of unparalleled
joy that devotees get at Pandharpur by seeing Vithal Rakhumai.
This is not an exaggeration. Consider what a devotee says in this
respect.
Dictum of Goulibuva
An old devotee by name Goulibuva, aged about 95 years, was a (Varkari)
of Pandhari. He stayed 8 months at Pandharpur and four months
- Ashadha to Kartik (July - November) on the banks of the Ganges.
He had an ass with him for carrying his luggage, and a disciple,
as his companion. Every year he made his Vari or trip to Pandharpur
and came to Shirdi to see Sai Baba, Whom he loved most. He used
to stare at Baba and say, "This is Pandharinath Vithal incarnate,
the merciful Lord of the poor and helpless." This Goulibuva
was an old devotee of Vithoba, and had made many a trip to Pandhari;
and he testified that Sai Baba was real Pandharinath.
Vithal Himself Appeared
Sai Baba was very fond of remembering and singing God’s
name. He always uttered Allah Malik (God is Lord) and in His presence
made others sing God’s name continuously, day and night,
for 7 days. This is called Namasaptaha. Once He asked Kakasaheb Dixit to do the Namasaptaha. He
replied that he would do it,
provided he was assured that Vithal would appear at the end of
the 7th day. Then Baba, placing His hand on his breast assured
him that certainly Vithal would appear, but that the devotee must
be ‘earnest and devout’. The Dankapuri (Takore) of
Takurnath, the Pandhari of Vithal, the Dwarka of Ranchhod (Krishna)
is here (Shirdi). One need not go far out to see Dwarka. Will
Vithal come here from some outside place? He is here. Only when
the devotee is bursting with love and devotion, Vithal will manifest
Himself here (Shirdi).
After the Saptaha was over, Vithal did manifest Himself in the following manner. Kakasaheb Dixit was, as usual, sitting in meditation after the bath, and he saw Vithal in a vision. When he went at noon for Baba’s darshana, Baba asked him point-blank - "Did Vithal Patil come? Did you see Him? He is a very truant fellow, catch Him firmly, otherwise, he will escape, if you be a little inattentive." This happened in the morning and at noon there was another Vithal darshana. One hawker from outside came there for selling 25 or 30 pictures of Vithoba. This picture exactly tallied with the figure that appeared in Kakasaheb’s vision. On seeing this and remembering Baba’s words, Kakasaheb Dixit was much surprised and delighted. He bought one picture of Vithoba, and placed it in his shrine for worship.
Bhagwantrao Kshirsagar’s Story
How fond was Baba for Vithal worship was illustrated in Bhagwantrao
Kshirsagar’s story. The father of Bhagwantrao was a devotee
of Vithoba, and used to make Varis (annual trips) to Pandharpur.
He also had an image of Vithoba at home, which he worshipped.
After his death, the son stopped everything - the Vari, the worship
and shraddha ceremony etc. When Bhagwantrao came to Shirdi, Baba
on remembering his father, at once said - "His father was
my friend, so I dragged him (the son) here. He never offered naivaidya
(offering of food) and so he starved Vithal and Me. So I brought
him here. I shall remonstrate him now and set him to worship."
Das Ganu’s Bath in Prayag
The Hindus think that a bath in the holy Tirth of Prayag, where
the Ganga and Yamuna meet, is very meritorious and thousands of
pilgrims go there, at periodical times, to have the sacred bath
there. Once, Das Ganu thought that he should go to Prayag for
a bath, and came to Baba to get His permission for doing so. Baba
replied to him - "It is not necessary to go so long. Our
Prayag is here, believe me." Then wonder of wonders! When
Das Ganu placed his head on Baba’s Feet, out came or flowed
streams, of Ganga - Yamuna water, from both the toes of Baba.
Seeing this miracle, Das Ganu was overwhelmed with feelings of
love and adoration and was full of tears. Inwardly, he felt inspired,
and his speech burst forth into a song in praise of Baba and His
Leelas.
Immaculate Conception of Sai Baba and His First Advent in Shirdi
Nobody knew the parents, birth or birthplace
of Sai Baba. Many inquiries were made, many questions were put
to Baba and others regarding these items, but no satisfactory
answer or information has yet been obtained. Practically we know
nothing about these matters. Namdev and Kabir were not born like
ordinary mortals. They were found as infants in mother-of-pearls,
Namdev being found on the bank Bhimrathi River by Gonayee, and
Kabir on the bank Bhagirathi River by Tamal. Similar was the case
with Sai Baba. He first manifested Himself as a young lad of sixteen
under a Neem tree in Shirdi, for the sake of Bhaktas. Even then
He seemed to be full with the knowledge of Brahman. He had no
desire for worldly objects even in dream. He kicked out Maya;
and Mukti (deliverance) was serving at His feet. One old woman
of Shirdi, the mother of Nana Chopdar, described Him thus. This
young lad, fair, smart and very handsome, was first seen under
the Neem tree, seated in an Asan. The people of the village were
wonder-struck to see such a young lad practising hard penance,
not minding heat and cold. By day he associated with none, by
night he was afraid of nobody. People were wondering and asking,
whence this young chap had turned up. His form and features were
so beautiful that a mere look endeared Him to all. He went to
nobody’s door, always sat near the Neem tree. Outwardly
he looked very young; but by His action he was really a Great
Soul. He was the embodiment of dispassion and was an enigma to
all. One day it so happened, that God Khandoba possessed the body
of some devotee and people began to ask Him, "Deva (God),
you please enquire what blessed father’s son is this lad
and whence did He come". God Khandoba asked them to bring
a pickaxe and dig in a particular place. When it was dug, bricks
were found underneath a flat stone. When the stone was removed,
a corridor led to a cellar where cow-mouth-shaped structures,
wooden boards, necklaces were seen. Khandoba said - "This
lad practiced penance here for 12 years." Then the people
began to question the lad about this. He put them off the scent
by telling them that it was His Guru’s place, His holy Watan
and requested them to guard it well. The people then closed the
corridor as before. As Ashwattha and Audumbar trees are held sacred,
Baba regarded this Neem tree equally sacred and loved it most.
Mhalasapati and other Shirdi devotees regard this site as the
resting place (Samadhi-Sthana) of Baba’s Guru and prostrate
before it.
Three Wadas
(1) The site with the Neem tree and surrounding space was bought
by Mr. Hari Vinayak Sathe, and on this site a big building styled
Sathe’s Wada was erected. This Wada was the sole resting
place for pilgrims, who flocked there. A Par (platform) was built
round the neem tree and lofts with steps were constructed. Under
the steps, there is a niche facing south and devotees sit on the
Par (platform) facing north. It is believed, that he who burns
incense there, on Thursday and Friday evenings will, by God’s
grace, be happy. This Wada was old and dilapidated and wanted
repairs. The Sansthan has made the necessary repairs, additions
and alterations now. (2) Then after some years another Wada, Dixit’s
Wada was constructed. Kakasaheb Dixit, Solicitor of Bombay, had
gone to England. He had injured his leg by an accident there.
The injury could not be got rid of by any means. Nanasaheb Chandorkar
advised him to try Sai Baba. So he saw Sai Baba in 1909 A.D.,
and requested Him to cure rather the lameness of his mind than
that of his leg. He was so much pleased with the darshana of Sai
Baba that he decided to reside in Shirdi. So he built a Wada for
himself and other devotees. The foundation of this building was
laid on 10-12-1910. On this day, two other important events took
place. (1) Mr. Dadasaheb Khaparde was given permission to return
home, and (2) the night Arti in Chavadi was commenced. The Wada
was complete and was inhabited on the Rama-Navami day in 1911
A.D., with due rites and formalities. (3) Then another Wada or
palatial mansion was put up by the famous millionaire, Mr. Booty,
of Nagpur. Lots of money was spent on this building, but the entire
amount was well utilized, as Sai Baba’s body is resting
in this Wada, which is now called the Samadhi Mandir. The site
of this Mandir had formerly a garden, which was watered and looked
after by Baba. Three Wadas thus sprang up, where there was none
formerly. Of these, Sathe’s Wada was most useful to all,
in the early days.
The story of the garden, attended to by Sai Baba with the help of Vaman Tatya, the temporary absence of Sai Baba from Shirdi, and His coming again to Shirdi with the marriage-party of Chand Patil, the company of Devidas, Jankidas and Gangagir, Baba’s wrestling match with Mohdin Tamboli, residence in Masjid, love of Mr. Dengale and other devotees; and other incidents will be described in the next Chapter.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all