Shri Sai Satcharitra - Chapter 4 - Part IV

Add as a preferred source on Google

Sai Ram. Sai is considered by almost all devotees to be a Datta Avatar like Shri Akkalkot Swami and Shri Manikprabhu Maharaj, after Sripada Vallabha and Sri Narasimha Saraswati Swamy. It is interesting to see that in the case of Sripada Vallabha and Sri Narasimha Saraswati Swamy, no one has seen their passing away. And in the case of Sri Akkalkot Swami (also called Swami Samartha) and Sri Sai Baba, no one has seen their beginning. Datta's ways are beyond human comprehension. Sai Ram.

He first manifested Himself as a young lad of sixteen under a Neem tree in Shirdi, for the sake of Bhaktas. Even then He seemed to be full with the knowledge of Brahman. He had no desire for worldly objects even in dream. He kicked out Maya; and Mukti (deliverance) was serving at His feet. One 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 wonder-struck 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, 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 some devotee and people began to ask Him, "Deva (God), you please enquire what blessed father's son is this lad 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 and 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 most. Mhalasapati and other Shirdi devotees regard this site as the resting place (Samadhi-Sthana) of Baba's Guru and prostrate before it.

Three Wadas

(1) The site with the Neem tree and surrounding space was bought by Mr. Hari Vinayak Sathe, and on this site a big building styled 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 and devotees sit on the Par (platform) facing north. It is believed, that he who burns incense there, on Thursday and Friday evenings will, by God's grace, be happy. This Wada was old and dilapidated and needed repairs. The necessary repairs, additions and alterations have been made now by the Sansthan. (Swamy's note: I could not see this Wada when I visited Shirdi.) (2) Then 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 got rid of by any means. Nanasaheb Chandorkar advised him to try Sai Baba. So he saw Sai Baba in 1909 A.D., and requested Him to cure rather the lameness of his mind than that of his leg. He was so much pleased with the darshan of Sai Baba, 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. (1) Mr. Dadasaheb Khaparde was given permission to return home, and (2) 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.

Talking about Dixit's Wada, Shri Hemadpant pays a great tribute to Sri Kakasaheb Dixit. So, he saw Sai Baba in 1909 A.D., and requested Him to cure rather the lameness of his mind than that of his leg." What a great mind! Kakasaheb knew by his poorvajanma Punyam, merits of past births, what is important. Let us all pray to Sai Maharaj to cure our mind and spirit and if He be pleased and thinks it necessary, to cure our physical ailments also. Sai Ram.

(3)Then another Wada or palatial mansion was put up by the famous millionaire, Mr. Booty, of Nagpur. Lots of money were spent on this building, but all the amount was well utilized, as Sai Baba's body is resting in this Wada, which is now called the Samadhi Mandir. The site of this Mandir had formerly a garden, which 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.

The third Wada, was built by Sriman Buti and is the present Samadhi Mandir, where the physical remains of Sai Baba are kept. The site of this Mandir had formerly a garden, which was watered and looked after by Baba. Thus it was well prepared by Baba, freed of all weeds, physical and spiritual and all the positive vibrations of those flowers made that place fit to receive Baba's body.

Do the three Wadas represent the Three Gunas, the Three Sheaths (physical, mental and spiritual)? Do they represent the Tripuras? Is Baba the Tripurasundari (Divine Mother)? We may speculate. Shirdi and Samadhi Mandir have especially has become a powerful spiritual magnet, which draws devotees from far and near. While the other two Wadas are named after the devotees (Sathe and Dixit), Buti's Wada was the most fortunate since it became Baba's Samadhi Mandir. Sriman Buti was a multi-millionaire of Nagpur and was also spiritually and devotionally very rich. So, he became a fit instrument for carrying out Baba's wish to be interred there and from there continue His mission of putting people on the right path. Sai Ram.

The story of the garden, attended to by Sai Baba with the help of Vaman Tatya, the temporary absence of Sai Baba from Shirdi, and His coming again to Shirdi with the marriage-party of Chand Patil, the company of Devidas, Jankidas and Gangagir, Baba's wrestling match with Mohdin Tamboli, residence in Masjid, love of Mr. Dengale and other devotees; and other incidents will be described in the next Chapter.