Capt Purushottam Sharma (Retd)
Vijay Dashmi falling on October, 3rd, 2014, is also the 97th ‘Mahasmadhi’ day of Lord of Shirdhi who shed His mortal coils at 2.30 PM on Monday, October 15th, on Vijay Dashmi Day in 1918.
Chand Bhai Patel, headman of village Dhoop Gaon falling in Maharashtra had a mare by the name of ‘Bijli’ which was very dear to him. One day, it disappeared from the grazing fields of Patel. He made through search for several days but could not trace it. Fatigued and frustrated after many days futile search, he happened to come across a renunciant (‘faquir’) sitting under a tree. Faqir’s face was full of rare luster. He (Faqir) sitting under a tree. Faqir’s face was full of rare luster. He (Faqir) asked Patel about the saddle he was carrying on his person. To this, Patel replied that he had lost his mare about two months back and his diligent search has been in vain. Faqir asked Chand Patel to look for the mare in the nearby Nallah. To his astonishment, Patel found the mare grazing there and made out that the Faqir was not an ordinary person but an elevated soul. Faqir lighted the ‘chillum’ by materializing live ember and water from the ground by striking his throng and Satka respectively and offered the Chillum to Patel. Live ember is used in lighting the pipe and water to moisten the Chhapi (a piece of cloth used in drawing up the smoke from the pipe).
Chand Patel invited the Faqir to stay with him in Dhoop Gaon where he stayed for some days. From there, he acompanied a marriage party of Patel’s relative to Shirdhi. Recognizing His divinity and welcoming Him, Pujari of Khandova Temple at Shirdhi addressed Him “Aao Sai”. From then onwards, Faqir was known as Shirdhi Ke Sai Baba. An elderly lady of the Village was the first person who had seen a very handsome young boy of 16 years sitting in ‘Smadhi’ under a ‘Neem’ tree. He took to severe austerities and vegaries of wheather never bothered Him. He introduced Himself saying ‘Hum to Sai Hai, Gosai Hai, Lambe Lambe Se Aye Hai” He lived in Shirdhi in a dilapidated mosque called Dwarka Mai for 60 years with simple and illiterate folks. He begged food and stored it in ‘Kolamba’ (an earthen pot) and shared it with animals and birds. Though he had no formal education yet He had command over many languages and quoted verses from Holy scriptures of different faiths befitting to the subject and occasion.
He always emphasized on practising ‘Shradha’ and ‘Saburi’ (Faith and patience) to realize the ultimate Truth. He always said “Allah Malik”. Sitting in Dwarka Mai and rubbing coins was Baba’s routine. While doing so, He chanted ‘Taatyacha Shamyacha” thus removed the sufferings of His devotees. Grinding grains was His another mircale. Once Cholera spread in the area. Baba marked the village boundary line with the grinded floor that kept the village people safe from the deadly disease. On another occasion a severe thunderstorm overtook the village. The dark clouds and torrential rains frightened the inhabitants. Baba gave a serious look at dark clouded sky and commanded it to be merciful and the command was promptly carried out.
One day, Baba’s ardent devotee Shama was bitten by a deadly cobra and he rushed to Baba who angrily addressed “O Darpok Pujari, Uper Mat Chad, Savdhan Agar Aisa Kiya To” then He shouted “Hato, Door Hat, Neeche Uter” (O, timid priest, do not climb up, I warn you not to do so, get lost, get lost away, come down). Shama was disappointed to hear these words and stopped where he was. In fact the Baba meant to stop the venom to climb up and spread. The victim Shama was fully cured. Once Baba was refused oil by the local shopkeepers to light the earthen lamps of which He was very fond of. Baba put the sanctified water through His mouth and lamps burnt longer than usual and the glow was more glittering and illuminating than before.
Baba’s wearing was long ‘Kafni’ to cover His body, ‘kaupin’ (lion cloth) around the waist and piece of cloth around His Head, He slept on hard bed and for sometime on a plank and used a brick as a pillow. The plank of very narrow size was hung with frail old cloth pieces which could hardly take on the weight of the plank.
But it was mystry to find Baba climbing up the plank and sleeping on it with four lamps burning on the four corners of the plank.
When the brick inadvertently slipped from the hand of a young boy sweeping the Dwarka Mai and was broken into two pieces, Baba was deeply hurt.
Shirdhi hummed with spiritual and cultural activities in Baba’s time. He possessed immense sense of humour and took keen interest in wrestling, dance, music and folk songs. His own voice was very melodies. All festivals were celebrated in Baba’s presence with fervor and gaiety to create amity and harmony among the people. Devotees always surrounded Baba at the Akhand Dhooni which is still burning and its ash called “UDI’ is Baba’s sacred ‘prasad’ which removes sufferings of the devotees, answers their prayers and fulfills their wishes. Baba was very generous and emphasized on mutual love, purity of thoughts, selfless service, non violence and good conduct. He preached Universal brotherhood saying that there is no difference between Ram and Raheem and advised the people to always sing the glories of the Lord.
Baba conferred the title of Hemad Pant on Shri Govindrav Raghunath Dabolkar, the author of Shri Sai Satcharita, which is the magnificent account of Divine plays of Baba.
Tatya Kote Patil was Baba’s ardent devotee. It was in the year 1918 that he had severe attach of Tuberculosis and his condition deteriorated day by day. Baba declared that so long He was alive, death cannot consum Tatya. Then onwards, Baba’s own health started failing and he passed away on Vijay Dashmi day in 1918.
Tatya Kote Patil’s disease disappeared and he regained good health.
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