ChapterV

BabasReturnwithChandPatilsMarriagepartyWelcomedandAddressedas"Sai"Contactwith
OtherSaintsHisDressandDailyRoutineTheStoryofthePadukasWrestlingBoutwithMohdin
andChangeinLifeTurningWaterintoOilThePseudoGuruJavharAli.
ReturnwithChandPatilsMarriageParty

AshintedinthelastChapter,IshallnowdescribefirsthowSaiBabareturnedtoShirdiafterHis
disappearance.
TherelivedintheAurangabadDistrict(NizamState),inavillagecalledDhoop,awelltodo
MahomedangentlemanbynameChandPatil.WhilehewasmakingatriptoAurangabad,helosthis
mare.Fortwolongmonths,hemadeadiligentsearchbutcouldgetnotraceofthelostmare.After
beingdisappointed,hereturnedfromAurangabadwiththesaddleonhisback.Aftertravellingfour
Kossandahalf,hecame,ontheway,toamangotreeunderthefootofwhichsataRATNA(queer
fellow).HehadacaponHishead,woreKafni(longrobe)andhada"Satka"(shortstick)underHis
armpitandHewaspreparingtosmokeaChilim(pipe).OnseeingChandPatilpassbytheway,He
calledouttohimandaskedhimtohaveasmokeandtorestalittle.TheFakiraskedhimaboutthe
saddle.ChandPatilrepliedthatitwasofhismarewhichwaslost.ThequeerfelloworFakiraskedhim
tomakeasearchintheNalacloseby.Hewentandthewonderofwonders!hefoundoutthemare.He
thoughtthatthisFakirwasnotanordinaryman,butanAvalia(agreatsaint).HereturnedtotheFakir
withthemare.TheChilimwasreadyforbeingsmoked,buttwothingswerewanting;(1)firetolight
thepipe,and(2)watertowetthechhapi(pieceofcloththroughwhichsmokeisdrawnup).TheFakir
tookHisprongandthrustitforciblyintothegroundandoutcamealiveburningcoal,whichHeputon
thepipe.ThenHedashedtheSatkaontheground,fromwhencewaterbegantoooze.Thechhapiwas
wettedwiththatwater,wasthenwrungoutandwrappedroundthepipe.Thuseverythingbeing
complete,theFakirsmokedtheChilimandthengaveitalsotoChandPatil.Onseeingallthis,Chand
Patilwaswonderstruck.HerequestedtheFakirtocometohishomeandaccepthishospitality.Next
dayHewenttothePatilshouseandstayedthereforsometime.ThePatilwasavillageofficerof
Dhoop.HiswifesbrotherssonwastobemarriedandthebridewasfromShirdi.SoPatilmade
preparationstostartforShirdiforthemarriage.TheFakiralsoaccompaniedthemarriageparty.The
marriagewentoffwithoutanyhitch,thepartyreturnedtoDhoop,excepttheFakiralonestayedin
Shirdi,andremainedthereforever.
HowtheFakirGottheNameSai

WhenthemarriagepartycametoShirdi,italightedatthefootofaBanyantreeinBhagata
MhalsapatisfieldnearKhandobastemple.Thecartswereloosenedintheopencourtyardof
Khandobastemple.ThecartswereloosenedintheopencourtyardofKhandobastemple,andthe
membersofthepartydescendedonebyone,andtheFakiralsogotdown.BhagatMhalsapatisawthe
youngFakirgettingdownandaccostedHim"YASAI"(WelcomeSai).OthersalsoaddressedHimas
SaiandthenceforthhebecameknownasSaiBaba.
ContactwithOtherSaints

SaiBababegantostayinadesertedMasjid.OneSaintnamedDevidaswaslivinginShirdimany
yearsbeforeBabacamethere.Babalikedhiscompany.HestayedwithhimintheMarutitemple,inthe
Chavadi,andsometimelivedalone.ThencameanotherSaintbynameJankidas.Babaspentmostof
Histimeintalkingwithhim,orJankidaswenttoBabasresidence.SoalsooneVaishyahouseholder
Saint,fromPuntambebynameGangagiralwaysfrequentedShirdi.WhenhefirstsawSaiBaba,
carryingpitchersofwaterinbothhands,forwateringthegarden,hewasamazedandsaidopenly,
"BlessedisShirdi,thatitgotthispreciousJewel.Thismaniscarryingwatertoday;butHeisnotan

ordinaryfellow.Asthisland(Shirdi)wasluckyandmeritorious,itsecuredthisJewel."Soalsoone
famousSaintbynameAnandnathofYewalaMath,adiscipleofAkkalkotMaharajcametoShirdiwith
someShirdipeople.WhenhesawSaiBaba,hesaidopenly,"ThisisapreciousDiamondinreality.
Thoughhelookslikeanordinaryman,heisnotagar(ordinarystone)butaDiamond.Youwill
realizethisinthenearfuture."SayingthishereturnedtoYewala.ThiswassaidwhileSaiBabawasa
youngster.
BabasDressandDailyRoutine

Inhisyoungdays,SaiBabagrewhaironHishead;neverhadHisheadshaved.Hedressedlikean
athlete.WhenHewenttoRahata(3milesfromShirdi),HebroughtwithHimsmallplantsofMerry
Gold,JaiandJui,andaftercleaning,heplantedandwateredthem.AdevoteebynameVamanTatya
suppliedHimdailywithtwoearthenpitchers.WiththeseBabaHimselfusedtowatertheplants.He
drewwaterfromthewellandcarriedthepitchersonHisshoulders.Intheeveningthepitcherswere
keptatthefootoftheNeemtree.Assoonastheywereplacedthere,theywerebroken,astheywere
madeofrawearthandnotbaked.Nextday,Tatyasuppliedtwofreshpitchers.Thiscoursewentonfor
3years;andwithSaiBabastoilandlabour,theregrewaflowergarden.Onthissite,atpresent,stands
thebigmansionSamadhiMandirofBaba,whichisnowfrequentedandusedbysomanydevotees.
TheStoryofPadukas(footprints)undertheNeemTree

AdevoteeofAkkalkotMaharajbynameBhaiKrishnajiAlibagkarworshippedthephotoofAkkalkot
Maharaj.HeoncethoughtofgoingtoAkkalkot(SholapurDistrict),takingthedarshanaofthePadukas
(footprints)oftheMaharajandofferinghissincereworshipthere;butbeforehecouldgothere,hegot
avisioninhisdream.AkkalkotMaharajappearedinthevisionandsaidtohim"NowShirdiismy
restingplace,gothereandofferyourWorship."SoBhaichangedhisplanandcametoShirdi,
worshippedBaba,stayedthereforsixmonthsandwashappy.Asareminiscenceofthisvisionetc.,he
preparedthePadukasandinstalledthemonanauspiciousdayofShravan,Shaka1834(1912A.D.)
undertheNeemtreewithdueceremoniesandformalities,conductedbyDadaKelkarandUpasani.One
DixitBrahminwasappointedforworship,andthemanagementwasentrustedtodevoteeSagun.
CompleteVersionofthisStory

Mr.B.V.Deo,RetiredMamalatdarofThana,andagreatdevoteeofSaiBaba,madeenquiredabout
thismatterwithSagunMeruNaikandGovindKamlakarDixitandhaspublishedafullversionofthe
PadukasinSaiLeelaVol.11,No.1,page25.Itrunsasfollows:
In1834Shaka(1912A.D.)oneDoctorRamaraoKothareofBombaycametoShirdiforBabas
darshana.Hiscompounder;andhisfriend,BhaiKrishnajiAlibagkar,accompaniedhim.The
compounderandBhaibecameintimatewithSagunMeruNaikandG.K.Dixit.Whilediscussing
things,thesepersonsthoughtthattheremustbesomememorialofthefactofSaiBabasfirstcoming
toShirdiandsittingundertheholyNeemtree.TheythoughtofinstallingBabasPadukasthereand
weregoingtomakethemofsomeroughstones.ThenBhaisfriend,thecompounder,suggestedthatif
thismatterbemadeknowntohismaster,Dr.RamaraoKothare,whowouldpreparenicePadukasfor
thispurpose.AlllikedtheproposalandDr.Kotharewasinformedofit.HecametoShirdianddrewa
planofthePadukas.HewenttoUpasaniMaharajinKhandobastemple,andshowedhimhisplan.The
lattermademanyimprovements,drewlotuses,flowers,conch,disc,manetc.,andsuggestedthatthe
followingSHLOKA(verse)regardingNeemtreesgreatnessandBabasYogipowersbeinscribed.
Theversewasasfollows:
"SadaNimbarvrikshasyamooladhiwasat,
Sudhasravinamtiktamapiapriyamtam,

TarumKalpavrikshadhikamsadhayantam
NamameeshwaramSadgurumSaiNatham"
Upasanissuggestionswereacceptedandcarriedout.ThePadukasweremadeinBombayandsentto
Shirdiwiththecompounder.BabasaidthattheyshouldbeinstalledonthePournima(15th)ofShravan.
Onthatdayat11a.m.,G.K.DixitbroughtthemonhisheadfromKhandobastempletothe
Dwarkamai(Masjid)inprocession.BabatouchedthePadukas,sayingthatthesearethefeetofthe
Lordandaskedthepeopletoinstalthem,underfootoftheNeemtree.
Adaybefore,oneParsidevoteeofBombaynamedPasthaShetsentRs.25/bymoneyorder.Baba
gavethissumfortheinstallationofthePadhukas.ThetotalexpenseofinstallationcameuptoRs.100/
outofwhichRs.75/werecollectedbysubscriptions.Forthefirst5years,G.K.Dixitworshippedthe
PadukasdailyandthenthiswasdonebyLaxmanKacheshwarJakhadi.Inthefirstfiveyears,Dr.
KotharesentRs.2permonthforlightingandhealsosenttherailingroundthePadukas.Theexpense
ofbringingtherailingfromthestationtoShirdi(Rs.780)(presentlyRs.7.50p)androofingwaspaid
bySagunMeruNaik.Now,Jakhadi(NanaPujari)doestheworshipandSagunMeruNaikoffersthe
naivaidyaandlightstheeveninglamps.
BhaiKrishnajiwasorginallyadevoteeofAkkalkotMaharaj.HehadcometoShirdiattheinstallation
ofthePadukas,inShaka1834onhiswaytoAkkalkot.HewantedtogotoAkkalkotaftertakingthe
darshanaofBaba.HeaskedBabaspermissionforthis.Babasaid"Oh,whatisthereinAkkalkot?
Whydoyougothere?TheincumbentMaharajofthatplaceishere,Myself."HearingthisBhaididnot
gotoAkkalkot.HecametoShirdioffandon,aftertheinstallationofthePadukas.
Mr.B.V.DeoconcludedthatHemadpantdidnotknowthesedetails.Hadbeknownthem,hewouldnot
havefailedtodepicttheminhisSatcharita.
WrestingBoutwithMohdinTamboliandChangeinLife

ToreturntootherstoriesofBaba.TherewasawrestlerinShirdi,bynameMohdinTamboli.Baba
andhedidnotagreeonsomeitems,andbothhadafight.InthisBabawasdefeated.Thenceforth,Baba
changedHisdressandmodeofliving.HedonnedKafni,woreaLangot(waistband)andcoveredHis
headwithapieceofcloth.HetookapieceofsackclothforHisseat,sackclothforHisbedandwas
contentwithwearingtornandwornoutrags.Healwayssaidthat"PovertyisbetterthanKingship,far
betterthanLordship.TheLordisalwaysbrother(befriender)ofthepoor."Gangagirwasalsoveryfond
ofwrestling.Whilehewasoncewrestling,asimilarfeelingofdispassioncameoverhim,andatthe
propertimeheheardthevoiceofanadept,sayingthatheshouldwearouthisbody,playingwithGod.
SohetoogaveupSamsaraandturnedtowardsGodrealization.Heestablishedamathonthebanksof
therivernearPuntambe,andlivedtherewithdisciples.
SaiBabadidnotmixandspeakwiththepeople.Heonlygaveanswerswhenhewasquestioned.By
dayhealwayssatundertheNeemtree,sometimesundertheshadeofabranchofaBabultreenearthe
streamattheoutskirtsofthevillage.Intheafternoon,Heusedtowalkatrandomandgoattimesto
Nimgaon.ThereHefrequentedthehouseofBalasahebDengale.BabalovedMr.Balasaheb.His
youngerbrother,namedNanasaheb,hadnoson,thoughhemarriedasecondwife.Balasahebsent
NanasahebfortakingdarshanaofSaiBaba,andaftersometimewithHisgrace,Nanasahebgotason.
Fromthattimeonwards,peoplebegantocomeinnumberstoseeSaiBaba,andHisfamebeganto
spreadandreachedAhmednagar;fromthenceNanasahebChandorkarandKeshavChidamber,and
manyothersbegantocometoShirdi.BabawassurroundedbyHisdevoteesduringday;andsleptat
nightinanoldanddilapidatedMasjid.BabasparaphernaliaatthistimeconsistedofaChilim,
tobacco,a"Tumrel"(tinpot),longflowingKafni,apieceofclothroundHishead,andaSatka(short
stick),whichHealwayskeptwithHim.Thepieceofwhiteclothontheheadwastwistedlikematted
hair,andfloweddownfromtheleftearontheback.Thiswasnotwashedforweeks.Heworenoshoes,
nosandals.ApieceofsackclothwasHisseatformostoftheday.Heworeacoupin(waistcloth
band)andforwardingoffcoldhealwayssatinfrontofaDhuni(sacredfire)facingsouthwithHisleft

handrestingonthewoodenrailing.InthatDhuni,Heofferedasoblation;egoism,desiresandall
thoughtsandalwaysutteredAllahMalik(Godisthesoleowner).TheMasjidinwhichHesatwasonly
oftworoomdimensions,wherealldevoteescameandsawHim.After1912A.D.,therewasachange.
TheoldMasjidwasrepairedandapavementwasconstructed.BeforeBabacametoliveinthisMasjid,
HelivedforalongtimeinaplaceTakia,wherewithGHUNGUR(smallbells)onHislegs,Baba
dancedbeautifullysangwithtenderlove.
TurningWaterintoOil

SaiBabawasveryfondoflights.Heusedtoborrowoilfromshopkeepers,andkeeplampsburning
thewholenightintheMasjidandtemple.Thiswentonforsometime.TheBanias,whosuppliedoil
gratis,oncemettogetheranddecidednottogiveHimoil.When,asusual,Babawenttoaskforoil,
theyallgaveHimadistinctNo.Unperturbed,BabareturnedtotheMasjidandkeptthedrywicksin
thelamps.ThebaniaswerewatchingHimwithcuriosity.BabatooktheTumrel(tinpot)which
containedverylittle(afewdrops)ofoil,putwaterintoitanddrankitandforceditfallinthecontainer.
Afterconsecratingthetinpotinthisway,Heagaintookwaterinthetinpotandfilledallthelamps
withitandlightedthem.TothesurpriseanddismayofthewatchingBanias,thelampsbegantoburn
andkeptburningthewholenight.TheBaniasrepentedandapologized.Babaforgavethemandasked
themtobemoretruthfulinfuture.
ThePseudoGuruJavharAli

Fiveyearsafterthewrestlingboutmentionedabove,oneFakirfromAhmednagerbynameJavharAli,
cametoRahatawithhisdisciplesandstayedinBakhal(spaciousroom)nearVirabhadratemple.The
Fakirwaslearned,couldrepeatthewholeKoranandhadasweettongue.Manyreligiousanddevout
peopleofthevillagecametohimandbegantorespecthim.Withthehelpofthepeople,hestartedto
buildanIdgah(awallbeforewhichMahomedansprayonIdgahday),neartheVirabhadratemple.
Therewassomequarrelaboutthisaffair,onaccountofwhich,JavharAlihadtoleaveRahata.Thenhe
cametoShirdiandlivedintheMasjidwithBaba.Peoplewerecapturedbyhissweettalk,andhebegan
tocallBabahisdisciple.BabadidnotobjectandconsentedtobehisChela.ThenbothGuruandChela
decidedtoreturntoRahataandlivethere.TheGuru(Teacher)neverknewhisdisciplesworth,butthe
discipleknewthedefectsoftheGuru,stillheneverdisrespectedhim,observingcarefullyhisduties.
HeevenservedtheMasterinvariousways.TheyusedtocometoShirdioffandon,buttheirmainstay
wasinRahata.ThelovingdevoteesofBabainShirdididnotlike,thatBabashouldstayawayfrom
theminRahata.SotheywentinadeputationtobringBababacktoShirdi.WhentheymetBabanear
theIdgahandtoldthepurposeforwhichtheycame,BabasaidtothemthattheFakirwasanill
temperedfellow,hewouldnotleavehimandthattheyshouldbetterreturntoShirdiwithouthim,
beforetheFakirreturned.Whiletheywerethustalking,theFakirturnedupandwasveryangrywith
themfortryingtotakeawayhisdisciple.Therewassomediscussionandaltercationanditwasfinally
decidedthatboththeGuruandChelashouldreturntoShirdi.Andsotheyreturnedandlivedinshirdi.
ButafterafewdaystheGuruwastestedbyDevidasandhewasfoundwanting.Twelveyearsbefore
BabaarrivedinShirdiwiththemarriageparty,thisDevidasagedabout10or11cametoShirdiand
livedintheMarutitemple.Devidashadfinefeaturesandbrillianteyes,andhewasdispassion
incarnateandaJnani.Manypersons,namelyTatyaKote,Kashinathandothersregarded,himastheir
Guru.TheybroughtJavharAliinhispresence,andinthediscussionthatfollowed,Javharwasworsted
andfledfromShirdi.HewentandstayedinBijapurandreturnedaftermanyyearstoShirdi,and
prostratedhimselfbeforeSaiBaba.ThedelusionthathewasGuruandSaiBabahisChela,wascleared
away,andasherepented,SaiBabatreatedhimwithrespect.InthiscaseSaiBabashowedbyactual
conducthowoneshouldgetridofegoismanddothedutiesofadiscipletoattainthehighestend,viz.,
selfrealization.ThisstoryistoldhereaccordingtotheversiongivenbyMhalsapati(agreatdevoteeof
Baba).
InthenextChapterwillbedescribedRamaNavamiFestival,theMasjid,itsformerconditionandlater
improvementetc.