Shri Sai Satcharitra Chapter 4

Chapter – 4

Mission of the Saints - Shirdi a Holy Tirth - Personality of Sai Baba - Dictum of Goulibuva - Appearance of Vitthal - Kshirasagar’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 Shri Sai Satcharita. Let me now describe the first advent of Sai Baba in Shirdi.

Mission of the Saints

Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter IV, 7-8), “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 the establishment of righteousness, I manifest Myself in age after age.” This is the mission of the Lord, and of the sages and saints who are His representatives who appear here at proper times to help in their own way to fulfill that mission. The following are some examples necessitating the appearance of saints who must try to set matters right by their words and actions:

1. When spiritual preceptors are not respected, but humiliated.

2. When nobody cares for religious instruction.

3. When everyone thinks themselves very learned.

4. When people begin to partake of forbidden foods and intoxicating drinks.

5. When, under the cloak of religion, people indulge in malpractices.

6. When people belonging to different sects fight amongst them.

7. And lastly, when people begin to think that wealth, progeny, and wife are their sole concern, and thus turn away from the true path of salvation. Thus, it is for many reasons that saints and avatars manifest to show the right path that leads to truth and light. They serve as beacon lights, showing us the right way to follow which leads to liberation. In this way, many saints, viz. Nivritti, Jnanadev, Muktabai, Namdev, Gora, Gonayi, Ekanath, Tukaram, Narahari, Narsi Bhai, Sajan Kasai, Sawata, Ramdas and a number of others appeared at various times to show the way of salvation to the people. As such, Shri Sai Baba came to 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 Janeshwar. Shirdi also falls in the Kopargaon Taluka of the Ahmednagar District. After crossing the Godavari River at Kopargaon, one is nearing Shirdi. If one continues three koss (9 miles), one arrives at Nimgaon, at which point Shirdi is visible. Shirdi is as famous and well known as other holy places, like Ganagapur, Narsinhwadi, and Audumbar on the banks of the Krishna River. As the devotee Damaji flourished in, and blessed Mangalvedha (near Pandharpur), as Samarth Ramadas at Sajjangad, as Shri Narsinha Saraswati at Narsobachiwadi, 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 being 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, and the quintessence 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 the world, or of the world beyond. His antarang (heart) was as clear as a mirror and His speech always rained nectar. Rich and poor people were the same to Him. He did not know, or care for, honor or dishonor. He was the Lord of all beings. He spoke freely and mixed with all people, saw the acting and dances of Nautch-girls, 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 could His actions be definitely understood. Though He sat (lived) in one place, He knew all the transactions of the world. His darbar was imposing. He told hundreds of stories daily, but 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 the Chavadi, but still, He abided in the Self at all times. Though a siddha, He acted like a sadhaka. He was meek, humble and egoless, and pleased all. Such was Shri Sai Baba, and as the soil of Shirdi was trodden by Sai Baba’s feet, it attained extraordinary importance. Just as Janeshwar elevated Alandi and Ekanath elevated Paithan, so Sai Baba raised Shirdi. Blessed are the grass blades and stones of Shirdi, for they could easily kiss the holy feet of Sai Baba. Shirdi became to Baba’s devotees, another Pandharpur, Jagannath, Dwarka, Banaras (Kashi) and Rameshwar, Badrikedar, Nasik and Tryambakeshwar, Ujjain, Maha Kaleshwar and Mahabaleshwar Gokarn. Contact with Sai Baba in Shirdi was veda and tantra. It quieted samsara (world consciousness) and rendered Self-realization easy. The darshan of Shri Sai was yogasadhana, and talk with Him removed sins. Shampooing His legs was a bath in Triveni Prayag, and drinking the holy water of His feet destroyed desires. His command was 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. He was our para Brahma (Absolute Reality). Sai Baba was beyond the pair of dwandwas (opposites), never dejected nor elated. He was always engrossed in Him Self as Existence, Knowledge and Bliss. Shirdi was His center, but His field of action extended far and wide, to Punjab, Calcutta, North India, Gujarat, Dacca (Now in Bangladesh) and Konkan. Thus, the fame of Sai Baba was pervasive, and people from all parts came to take His darshan and be blessed. By His mere darshan, the minds of people, whether pure or impure, would at once become quiet. They received the same sort of unparalleled joy from Baba 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

A devotee named Goulibuva, who was about 95 years old, was a Varkari of Pandhari. He stayed for eight months at Pandharpur and for four months - Ashada to Kartik (July - November) - on the banks of the Ganges. He had a donkey with him for carrying his luggage and a disciple as his companion. Every year he made his vari (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 Vitthal 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. He testified that Sai Baba was real Pandharinath.

Vitthal Himself Appeared

Sai Baba was very fond of remembering and singing God’s name. He always uttered Allah Malik (God is Lord) and made others sing God’s name in His presence continuously day and night for seven days. This is called namasaptaha. Once, Sai Baba asked Das Ganu Maharaj to do the namasaptaha. He replied that he would do it, provided he was assured that Vitthal would appear at the end of the seventh day. In response, Baba placed His hand on Das Ganu’s chest, assuring him that certainly Vitthal would appear, but that the devotee must be ‘earnest and devout’. The Dankapuri (Takore) of Takurnath, the Pandhari of Vitthal, and the Dwarka of Ranchhod (Krishna) is here (Shirdi). After the saptaha was over, Vitthal manifested Himself in the following manner. Kakasaheb Dixit was, as usual, sitting in meditation after his bath and saw Vitthal in a vision. When he went for Baba’s darshan at noon, Baba asked him point blank, “Did Vitthal Patil come? Did you see him? He is a very truant fellow. Catch Him firmly, otherwise, if you be a little inattentive, He will escape.” This happened in the morning, and at noon, there was another Vitthal darshan. A hawker from outside came to sell 25 or 30 pictures of Vithoba. This picture tallied exactly 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 Kshirasagar’s Story

Baba’s fondness for Vitthal worship is illustrated by Bhagwantrao Kshirasagar’s story. The father of Bhagwantrao was a devotee of Vithoba and used to make varies (annual trips) to Pandharpur. He had an image of Vithoba at home, which he worshiped. After his death, the son stopped everything - the vari, the worship and shraddha ceremony etc. When Bhagwantrao came to Shirdi, Baba, remembering his father, immediately said, “His father was my friend, so I dragged him (the son) here. He never offered naivedya (offering of food), and so he starved Vitthal and Me. I brought him here now and shall demonstrate and teach him how 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 periodic times to have the sacred bath. 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 travel so far. Our Prayag is here, believe me.” Then, wonder of wonders! When Das Ganu placed his head on Baba’s feet, out came (flowed) streams of Ganga and Yamuna water from the toes of Baba’s feet. 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 birth place of Sai Baba. Many inquiries were made, many questions were put to Baba and others regarding these items, but no satisfactory answer or information could be obtained. Practically nothing is known about these matters. Namdev and Kabir were not born like ordinary mortals. They were found as infants in mother-of-pearls, Namdev being found in the Bhimrathi River by Gonayee, and Kabir in the Bhagirathi River by Tamal. The case with Sai Baba is similar. He first manifested Himself as a young lad of sixteen under a neem tree in Shirdi for the sake of His bhaktas. Even then, He seemed to be full of knowledge of Brahman. He had no desire for worldly objects, even in dreams. He kicked out maya. Mukti (deliverance) was serving at His feet. An old woman in 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 practicing such hard penance, not minding heat and cold. By day, He associated with none, by night, He was afraid of no one. People were wondering and asking from whence came this young chap. His form and features were so handsome that a mere look endeared Him to all. He went to nobody’s door and always sat near the neem tree. As ashwattha and audumbar trees are held sacred, Baba regarded this neem tree equally sacred and loved it most. Outwardly, Baba looked very young, but by His actions, 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 a devotee and people began to ask him, “Deva (God), would you please inquire what blessed father’s son is this lad and from whence did He come?” God Khandoba asked them to bring a pick-axe and dig in a particular place. When it was dug, bricks were found, and underneath, a flat stone. When the stone was removed, a corridor was seen in which four samayis (lights) were burning. The corridor led to a cellar where cow-mouth shaped structures, wooden boards, and necklaces were seen. Khandoba said, “This lad practiced penance here for twelve years.” The people then began to question the lad about the same. He put them off the scent by telling them it was His guru’s place, His holy watan, and requested them to guard it well. The people then closed the corridor as before. Mhalasapati and other Shirdi devotees regard this site as the resting place (samadhi-sthana) of Baba’s guru and would prostrate before it.

Three Wadas

(1) The site with the neem tree and surrounding space was bought by Hari Vinayak Sathe and on that site, Sathe’s Wada was erected. This wada was the sole resting place for pilgrims who flocked to Shirdi. A par (platform) was built around the neem tree and lofts with steps were constructed. Under the steps is a niche facing south, and devotees would 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 needed repairs. The necessary repairs, additions and alterations were made by the Sansthan.

(2) After some years, another wada, Dixit’s Wada, was constructed. Kakasaheb Dixit, a solicitor from Bombay, had gone to England and had injured his leg in an accident there. The injury could not be healed by any means. Nanasaheb Chandorkar advised him to try Sai Baba, so Dixit saw Baba in 1909 and requested Him to cure the lameness of his mind, rather than that of his leg. He was so pleased with the darshan of Sai Baba, he decided to reside in Shirdi and built a wada for himself and other devotees. The foundation of this building was laid on December 10, 1910. On this day, two other important events took place. (1) Mr. Dadasaheb Kharpade was given permission to return home, and (2) the night arati in the Chavadi was commenced. Dixit’s wada was completed and was inhabited on Rama-Navami day in 1911 with due rites and formalities.

(3) Still another wada (palatial mansion) was put up by the famous millionaire, Shriman Booty of Nagpur. A large amount 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 formerly had a garden, which was watered and looked after by Baba. Three wadas thus sprung up where there were formerly none. 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, Baba’s coming again to Shirdi with the marriage party of Chand Patil, the company of Devidas, Jankidas and Gangagir, Baba’s wrestling match with Mohidden Tamboi, Baba’s residence in the masjid, His 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