Sau 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 Satcharita. 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), "Whenever there is a decay of Dharma (righteousness) and an ascendancy of unrighteousness, I manifest Myself for the protection of the virtuous and the destruction of the vicious; and for the establishment of righteousness I manifest Myself age after age".
This is the mission of the Lord. The Sages and Saints, who are His representatives and Who appear here at proper times, help in their own way to fulfill this mission. For instance, when the twice-borns i.e. the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas and the Vaishyas, neglect their duties, 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 everybody thinks himself as 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, when the orthodox abandon 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 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 to follow. In this way many saints, viz. Nivritti, Jnanadev, Muktabai, Namdev, Gora, Gonayi, Ekanath, Tukaram, Narahari, Narsi Bhai, Sajan Kasai, Sawata, Ramdas, and many others appeared at various times in history to show the right path to the people; and so has Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi.
Shirdi - A Holy Tirth
The banks of the Godavari river in the Ahmednagar District are very fortunate because they gave birth and refuge to many a Saint, prominent amongst them being Jnaneshwar. Shirdi falls in the Kopargaon Taluka of the Ahmednagar District. After crossing the Godavari river at Kopargaon, one has to travel three Koss (9 miles) to reach Nimgaon, from where Shirdi is visible. Shirdi is as famous and well-known as other holy places like Gangapur, Narsinhwadi, and Audumbar on the banks of the Krishna river. As Damaji flourished in and blessed Mangalvedha (near Pandharpur), as Samarth Ramdas did at Sajjangad, and Shri Narasimha Saraswati at Saraswatiwadi, so did Sainath flourish in and bless Shirdi.
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; he was the 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 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, he 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. Neither His ashram nor his actions could be determined. Though He sat (lived) in one place He knew all the transactions of the world. His Darbar was imposing. He told hundreds of stories every day, 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 abided in the Self at all times. Though a Siddha, He acted like a Sadhaka. He was meek, humble, egoless, and pleased all. Such was Sai Baba. As the soil of Shirdi was trodden by Sai Baba’s Feet, it attained extraordinary importance. As Jnaneshwar elevated Alandi, Ekanath elevated Paithan, so did Sai Baba raise Shirdi. Blessed are the grass-leaves and stones of Shirdi, for they could easily kiss the Holy Feet of Sai Baba, and could smear their heads with the sacred dust of His feet. Shirdi became to us, the devotees, another Pandharpur, Jagannath, Dwarka, Banaras (Kashi), Rameshwaram, Badrikedar, Nasik, Tryambakeshwar, Ujjain, and Maha Kaleshwar or Mahabaleshwar Gokarn. Contact of Sai Baba in Shirdi was like Veda and Tantra to us; it quieted our Samsara (world consciousness), and rendered self-realization easy. The darshana of Shri Sai was our Yoga-Sadhana, and conversation 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. His commands were Vedas to us. Accepting (eating) His Udi (sacred ashes) and Prasad was all-purifying. He was our Shri Krishna and Shri Rama. He gave us solace. He was our Para Brahma (Absolute Reality). He was 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 center 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. People from all parts came to take His darshana, and be blessed. By His mere darshan, minds of people, whether pure or impure, would become quiet at once. They got the same sort of unparalleled joy that devotees got at Pandharpur by seeing Vithal Rakhumai. This is not an exaggeration. Consider, in the following paragraph, 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 the most. He used to stare at Baba and say, "This is Pandharinath Vithal incarnate, the merciful Lord of the poor and helpless". Goulibuva was an old devotee of Vithoba, and had made many a trip to Pandhari; he testified that Sai Baba was really 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 Das Ganu Maharaj 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 are 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
Baba's fondness for Vithal worship was illustrated in Bhagwantrao Kshirsagar’s story. Bhagwantrao's father 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 worshiped. After his death, the son stopped everything: the vari, the worship and shraddha ceremony etc. When Bhagwantrao came to Shirdi, Baba 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 have 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. Thousands of pilgrims go there periodically 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 go so long. Our Prayag is here, believe me". Then wonder of wonders! When Das Ganu placed his head on Baba’s Feet, the streams of Ganga and Yamuna gushed out 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 of the parents, birth, or birthplace of Sai Baba. Many inquiries were made; many questions were put to Baba and others regarding these topics 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 was 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, for the sake of Bhaktas, as a young lad of sixteen under a Neem tree in Shirdi. Even at that young age He seemed to be brimming with the knowledge of Brahman. He had no desire for worldly objects even in His dreams. He kicked out Maya. Mukti (deliverance) was serving at His feet. An 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 wonderstruck 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, He 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 a devotee, and people began to ask Him, "Deva (God), please enquire what blessed father’s son this lad is, and 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 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. He 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 the most. Mahalaspati and other Shirdi devotees regarded this site as the resting place (Samadhi-Sthana) of Baba’s Guru, and prostrated before it.
Three Wadas
- The site with the Neem tree and the surrounding space was bought by Mr. Hari Vinayak Sathe; on this site a big building named 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. Devotees sit on the platform facing north. It is believed that he who burns incense there on Thursday and Friday evenings will be, by God’s grace, happy. This Wada was old and dilapidated, and needed repairs. The necessary repairs, additions and alterations have been made now by the Sansthan.
- 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 gotten rid of by any means. Nanasaheb Chandorkar advised him to see Sai Baba. So he met Sai Baba in 1909 A.D., and requested Him to cure the lameness of his mind rather than that of his leg. He was so much pleased with Sai Baba's darshana 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: Mr. Dadasaheb Khaparde was given permission to return home, and 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.
- 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 all the amount was well utilized. 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 that 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.