Shri Sai Satcharitra Chapter 37

Chapter – 37

Chavadi Procession

In this chapter, Hemadpant, after making some preliminary observations on some points of Vedanta, describes the Chavadi procession.

Preliminary

Blessed is Sai’s life. Blessed is His daily routine. His ways and actions are indescribable. Sometimes He was intoxicated with Brahmanand (divine joy) and at other times, content with Self knowledge. At all times, while doing so many things, He was ever detached. Though sometimes He seemed quite actionless (doing nothing), He was not idle or dozing. He always abided in His own Self. Though He looked calm and quiet as the placid sea, He was deep and unfathomable. Who can describe His ineffable nature? He regarded men as brothers, and women as sisters and mothers. He was a perfect and perpetual celibate, as everyone knows. May the understanding (knowledge) we gain in His company last long unto death. Let us ever serve Him with wholehearted devotion to His feet. Let us see Him (God) in all beings and let us ever love His name. Hemadpant, after making some lengthy dissertations on some topics of Vedanta, which he actually considered a digression, goes on to describe the Chavadi procession.

Chavadi Procession

Baba’s dormitory has already been described. One day He slept in the masjid, and the next, in the Chavadi, a small building near the masjid containing two rooms. This alternate sleeping pattern went on until Baba’s mahasamadhi. By the tenth of December, 1909, devotees began offering regular worship service to Baba in the Chavadi. This will now be described with His grace.

On alternate evenings, when it was time for Baba to proceed from the masjid to the Chavadi, people would gather in the mandap (courtyard) of the masjid and sing bhajans for a few hours in front of Baba. A beautiful ratha (small car) was parked behind them, and a tulsi vrindavan was to their right. Both men and women devotees sang bhajans and some played various musical instruments - tal, chiplis and kartal, mridang, khanjiri and dhol. Sai Baba was the magnet who drew all the devotees to Him there.

Outside in the open, some devotees trimmed their divatyas (torches), some decorated the palanquin, and still others stood with cane sticks in their hands and uttered cries of victory to Baba. The corner of the masjid was decorated with buntings and all around the masjid, rows of burning lamps shed their light. Baba’s horse, Shyamakarna, stood beautifully decorated outside. After everything was prepared, Tatya Patil would then arrive with a group of men and ask Baba to be ready. (Tatya called Baba by the name of Mama. Their relationship was extremely close.) Baba would sit quietly in His place until Tatya helped Him get up by putting his arm under Baba’s arm pit. Then Baba, wearing His usual kafni, would put His satka (short stick) under His arm pit, and, after taking His chilim (tobacco pipe) and tobacco, and throwing a cloth over His shoulder, was ready to start the procession. Tatya would then throw a beautiful golden embroidered shela over Baba’s body. After this, Baba would move a small bundle of fuel sticks lying nearby with His right toe and, after extinguishing the burning lamp with His right hand, He would start for the Chavadi. All sorts of musical instruments sounded - tashe, band and horns, and mridang. Fireworks burst into different colors. Men and women singing Baba’s name and doing bhajan to the accompaniment of mridang and veena would then start walking in a procession. Some devotees danced with joy and some carried various flags and banners. The bhaldars announced Baba’s name when He reached the steps of the masjid. Two people, each holding a chavaris, stood on either side of Baba, while some of the devotees fanned Him. Folded cloths covered the path on which Baba would walk in procession to the Chavadi. Tatyaba held Baba’s left hand, Mhalasapati held His right, and Bapusaheb Jog held the chhatra (umbrella) over Baba’s head. Thus, the procession marched solemnly toward the Chavadi. Shyamakarna, Baba’s fully decorated red horse, lead the way and behind him were waiters, carriers, musical players and the crowd of devotees.

Harinama (the name of the Lord) was chanted to the accompaniment of music and the skies were filled with the name of Sai. In this manner, the procession reached the corner whereby the Chavadi came into view and all the people that had participated in the procession were pleased and delighted.

As Baba stood at the corner facing the Chavadi, He shone with a peculiar luster. Baba’s face appeared to glitter like dawn, bathed in the glory of the rising sun. Majestically, Baba stood facing north, deep in concentration, as if He was calling someone. All the musical instruments rang out as Baba moved His right arm up and down for some time. At that same time, Kakasaheb Dixit came forward with a silver plate containing flowers besmeared with gulal (red powder) and lightly tossed them on Baba’s body every so often. The musical instruments sounded their very best at this juncture and Baba’s face beamed with steady radiance and beauty. Everyone breathed in this splendor and beauty. As the festivities continued, Mhalasapati would often begin to dance, as if possessed by some deity, but all were surprised to see that Baba’s concentration was not in the least disturbed. The procession would then continue, as Tatya Patil, holding a lantern in his hand, walked along Baba’s left side and Bhagat Mhalasapati, holding the hem of Baba’s garment in his hand, walked along Baba’s right side. It was indeed a beautiful procession and an expression of devotion. Everyone flocked together to see such a divine sight. Baba would walk very slowly, His bhaktas following on both sides with love and devotion. Thus, with joy pervading the whole atmosphere, the procession reached the Chavadi. (That scene and those days are now gone, never more to be seen, but solace and comfort can be had by remembering and visualizing that scene and sight.)

The Chavadi was fully decorated with mirrors, many sorts of lamps, and a clean, white ceiling. Upon reaching the Chavadi, Tatya would spread an asan with a bolster, put a beautiful anagarkha (coat) on Baba, and make Him sit there. The devotees would then worship Him in various ways. They put a mugut (crown) with a tuft above on His head and placed garlands of flowers and jewels around His neck. Baba’s forehead was marked with musk mixed vertical lines and a dot as Vaishnava devotees do. His devotees would stare at Him in wonder. They would change His head dress now and then and hold it aloft on the head, fearing Baba might throw it away. But Baba knew the heart of them all and meekly submitted to all their methods without objection. With all these decorations, Baba looked wonderfully splendid.

Standing near Baba, Nanasaheb Nimonkar held the chhatra (umbrella) with its beautiful pendants which moved in a circle with its supporting stick. Bapusaheb Jog washed Baba’s feet in a silver dish and offered arghya and worship with due formalities. He then besmeared Baba’s arms with sandal paste and offered tambul (betel leaves). Baba sat on the asan (gadi) while Tatya and others would bow and worship His feet. Other devotees on either side of Baba waved chamars and fans. Shama would then prepare the chillim and hand it over to Tatyaba, who would draw a flame out of it with his breath and present it to Baba. After Baba had His smoke, the chillim was given to Bhagat Mhalasapati and then passed around to all. Blessed was the inanimate chillim. It first had to undergo many ordeals of penance, i.e. being treated by pot makers, being dried in the open sun, and being burnt in fire, but when all was finished, it received the good fortune of being touched by Baba’s hand and lips. After the smoking of the chillim, devotees would put garlands of flowers around Baba’s neck and give Him nosegays and bunches of fragrant flowers. Although Baba was entirely without attachment to all these necklaces of jewels, garlands of flowers and various decorations, He allowed these displays out of love for His devotees, knowing it pleased them to show devotion in this way.

The final part of the ceremony in the Chavadi was conducted by Bapusaheb Jog as he waved the arati over Baba, observing all formalities, while musical instruments sounded their auspicious tunes. When the arati was over, the devotees would bow before Baba one by one and, after taking His leave, return home. At times, when Tatyaba, after offering chillim, attar (scent) and rose water, stood up to depart, Baba would say to him lovingly, “Guard Me. Go if you like, but return sometime at night and inquire after Me.” After replying in the affirmative, Tatyaba would leave the Chavadi and go home. Baba would then prepare His bed. He would arrange 50 or 60 white chaddars, one upon another, to make His bed, and then He would lie down to rest.

We shall also take rest now and close this chapter with a request to the readers that they should remember Sai Baba and His Chavadi procession every night before they retire to go to bed.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all