Chavadi Procession
In this Chapter Hemadpant, after making 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. Doing so many things, sometimes He was unconcerned with them. Though He seemed at times quite action-less (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, women as sisters and mothers. He was a perfect and perpetual celibate as everybody knows. May the understanding (knowledge) we got in His company, last long unto death. Let us ever serve Him with whole-hearted 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 himself considers as a digression, goes on to describe the Chavadi procession.
Chavadi Procession
Baba's dormitory has been already described. One day He slept in the Masjid and on the next, in the Chavadi (a small building containing a room or two near the Masjid). This alternate sleeping in both these buildings went on till Baba's Mahasamadhi. From 10th December 1909 devotees began to offer regular worship to Baba in the Chavadi. This we will now describe with His grace. When the turn of retiring to the Chavadi came, people flocked to the Masjid and sang bhajans in the mandap (courtyard) for a few hours. Behind them was a beautiful ratha (small car), to the right a Tulsi-vrindavan and in front Baba Himself, and between all these were the devotees fond of bhajans. Men and women who had a liking for the bhajan came in time. Some took tal, chiplis and kartal, mridang, khanjiri and ghol (all musical instruments) in their hands and conducted the bhajan. Sai Baba was the Magnet Who drew all the devotees to Him there. Outside in the open, some trimmed their divatyas (torches), some decorated the palanquin, some stood with cane-sticks in their hands and uttered cries of victory to Baba. The corner was decorated with buntings. Round about the Masjid, rows of burning lamps shed their light. Baba's horse 'Shyamakarna' stood outside, fully decorated . Then Tatya Patil came with a party of men to Baba and asked Him to be ready. Baba sat quietly in his place till Tatya came and helped Him to get up by putting his arm under Baba's arm-pit. Tatya called Baba by the name of Mama. Really their relationship was extremely intimate.
Baba wore the usual kafni, took His satka (short stick) under His arm-pit and after taking His chilim (tobacco-pipe) and tobacco and placing a cloth over His shoulder became ready to start. Then Tatya threw a golden-embroidered beautiful Shela (Shawl) over His body. After slightly moving the bundle of fuel-sticks lying behind him with His right toe, and then extinguishing the burning lamp with His right hand, Baba started for the Chavadi. Then all sorts of musical instruments, tashe, band, horns and mridang gave out their different sounds; and fireworks exhibited their different and various coloured views. Men and women singing Baba's name started walking, singing bhajans to the accompaniment of mridang and veena. Some danced with joy and some carried various flags and standards. The Bhaldars announced Baba's name when He came on the steps of the Masjid. On both sides of Baba stood people, who held chavaris and who fanned Baba. Folds of cloth were spread on the way on which Baba, being supported by devotees' hands, walked. Tatyaba held the left hand, Mhalasapati the right, and Bapusaheb Jog held the chhatra (umbrella) over His head. In this fashion Baba marched on to the Chavadi. The fully decorated red horse, named Shyamakarna led the way and behind him were all the carriers, waiters, musical players and the crowd of devotees. Hari-nama (the name of the Lord) chanted to the accompaniment of music rent the skies as also the name of Sai. In this manner the procession reached the corner, and all the people that had joined this party seemed well-pleased and delighted.
On coming to this corner Baba stood facing the Chavadi and shone with a peculiar lustre. It seemed, as if the face of Baba glittered like dawn, or like the glory of the rising Sun. Baba stood there with a concentrated mind, facing the north, as if He was calling somebody. All the instruments played their music, while Baba moved His right arm up and down for sometime. Kakasaheb Dixit at this time came forward with a silver plate containing flowers besmeared with gulal (red powder), and threw them on Baba's body intermittently. The musical instruments played their best at this juncture. Baba's face beamed with steady and added radiance and beauty, and all the persons drank this lustre to their hearts' content. Words fail to describe the scene and splendour of this occasion. Some times Mhalasapati began to dance being possessed or obsessed by some deity, but all were surprised to see that Baba's concentration was not in the least disturbed. With a lantern in his hand, Tatya Patil walked on Baba's left side whereas Bhagat Mhalasapati walked on the right, holding the hem of Baba's garment in his hand. What a beautiful procession and what an expression of devotion! To witness this, men and women, poor and rich, flocked together there. Baba walked very slowly. Bhaktas followed on both sides with love and devotion. With joy pervading the whole atmosphere of the place, the procession reached the Chavadi. That scene and those days are gone now. Nobody can see them now or in the future; still, remembering and visualising that scene and sight we can bring solace and comfort to our minds.
The Chavadi was also fully decorated with a good white ceiling, mirrors and many sorts of lamps. On reaching it, Tatya went ahead and spread an asan, put a bolster, made Baba sit there, and then made Him wear a good angaraksha (coat). Then the devotees worshiped Him in various ways. They put a mugut (crown) with a tuft above, on His head, and placed garlands of flowers and jewels round His neck. Marking His forehead with musk-mixed vertical lines and a dot (as Vaishnava devotees do), they stared at Him for long to their hearts' content. They changed His head-dress now and then, but held it aloft on the head fearing that Baba might throw it away. Baba knew what was in their hearts, and meekly submitted to all their methods without objection. With these decorations, He looked wonderfully beautiful.
Nanasaheb Nimonkar held the chatra (umbrella) with its beautiful pendants that moved in circles. Bapusaheb Jog washed Baba's feet in a silver dish, offered 'arghya', and worshiped with due formalities. He then besmeared His arms with sandalwood paste, and offered tambul (betel-leaves). Baba sat on the asan (gadi), while Tatya and others kept standing and falling at His feet. When Baba sat on the gadi supporting Himself against the bolster, devotees on both sides waved chamars and fans. Shama then prepared the chillim and handed it over to Tatyaba, who drew a flame out of it by his breath, and then gave it to Baba. After Baba had His smoke, it was given to Bhagat Mhalasapati, and then it was passed round to all. Blessed was the inanimate chillim. First It had to undergo many ordeals of penance, such as being treated by pot-makers, dried in the open sun and burnt in fire, and then it had the good fortune to get the contact of Baba's hand and His kiss.
After this function was over, devotees put garlands of flowers on His neck and gave Him nose-gays and bunches of flowers for smelling. Baba who was dispassion or non-attachment incarnate, cared a fig for all these necklaces of jewels, and garlands of flowers and other decorations; but out of real love to His devotees, He allowed them to have their own way and to please themselves. Finally Bapusaheb Jog waved the arati over Baba, observing all formalities, while the musical instruments played their auspicious tunes. When this arati was over, the devotees returned home, one by one, saluting Baba and taking His leave. When Tatya Patil, after offering chillim, attar (scent) and rose-water, rose to depart, Baba would say to him lovingly, "Guard Me, go if you like, but return some time at night, and enquire about Me." Replying in the affirmative Tatyaba would leave the Chavadi and go home. Then Baba Himself prepared His bed. He arranged 50 or 60 white chadders one upon another; and thus making His bed, He went to rest.
We shall also now take rest and close this Chapter with a request to the readers that they should remember Sai Baba and His Chavadi procession daily before they retire and go to bed.