Shri Sai Satcharitra - Chapter 5 - Part I Contd

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When He went to Rahata (3 miles from Shirdi), He tookt with Him small plants of Merry Gold, Jai and Jui, and after cleaning, he planted and watered them. A devotee by name Vaman Tatya supplied Him daily with two earthen pitchers. With these Baba Himself used to water the plants. He drew water from the well and carried the pitchers on His shoulders. In the evening the pitchers were kept at the foot of the Neem tree. As soon as they were placed there, they were broken, as they were made of raw earth and not baked. Next day, Tatya supplied two fresh pitchers. This course went on for 3 years; and with Sai Baba's toil and labour, there grew a flower-garden. On this site, at present, stands the big mansion - Samadhi Mandir of Baba, which is now frequented and used by so many devotees.

Sai Ram. Sai Baba prepared very carefully His resting place, so that it is free from all negative vibrations, so that devotees who come to visit His Samadhi, get the benefit of only the positive vibrations. In fact, all the plants planted by Him represent individual souls like us. He planted us in His spiritual garden and took good care of us. The pots made of unbaked clay were held together by His power, and when their purpose was served at the end of the day, they returned to the mother earth from whom they took their birth. Sai was thus hinting at how we should live. Our birth is for a specific purpose, which we may not be aware. When the purpose is over, we return to the five elements from which we took our bodies or rather our maker who gave us the body. Sai Ram.

The Story of Padukas (foot-prints) under the Neem Tree

A devotee of Akkalkot Maharaj by name Bhai Krishnaji Alibagkar worshipped the photo of Akkalkot Maharaj. He once thought of going to Akkalkot (Sholapur District), taking the darshana of the Padukas (foot-prints) of the Maharaj and offering his sincere worship there; but before he could go there, he got a vision in his dream. Akkalkot Maharaj appeared in the vision and said to him - "Now Shirdi is my resting place, go there and offer your Worship." So Bhai changed his plan and came to Shirdi, worshipped Baba, stayed there for six months and was happy. As a reminiscence of this vision etc., he prepared the Padukas and installed them on an auspicious day of Shravan, Shaka 1834 (1912 A.D.) under the Neem tree with due ceremonies and formalities, conducted by Dada Kelkar and Upasani. One Dixit Brahmin was appointed for worship, and the management was entrusted to devotee Sagun.

Sai Ram. The version of the story of Padukas as given by Shri Hemadpant is slightly different from the 'full story' given by Shri Gunaji based on the published version of Shri B.V.Dev, another great Sai devotee of that time. The differences are slight, but significant. In Shri Dev's version, when Shri Bhai Krishnaji Alibagkar, went to Shirdi en route to Akkalkot and went to Sai after the installation of the Padukas to take His permission to go to Akkalkot to visit that Maharaj, Sri Sai is reported to have dissuaded him saying, - "Oh, what is there in Akkalkot? Why do you go there? The incumbent Maharaj of that place is here, myself." Hearing this Bhai did not go to Akkalkot." Whereas in Shri Hemadpant's version, Akkalkot Maharaj appeared to Shri Alibagkar in a dream and told him, "Now Shirdi is my resting place, go there and offer your Worship." So Bhai changed his plan and came to Shirdi, worshipped Baba, stayed there for six months and was happy. Which is correct or both are correct, only Sai and Akkalkot Maharaj (they are One) know. However, one important aspect of the story is that we got Padukas to worship, thanks to Bhai Krishnaji, who was an able instrument in the hands of God. And thanks to Shri Upasani Baba, we got a nice Sloka about the greatness of Sai.

Complete Version of this Story

Mr. B.V. Deo, Retired Mamalatdar of Thana, and a great devotee of Sai Baba, made enquiries about this matter with Sagun Meru Naik and Govind Kamlakar Dixit and has published a full version of the Padukas in Sai Leela Vol. 11, No. 1, page 25. It runs as follows:

In 1834 Shaka (1912 A.D.) one Doctor Ramarao Kothare of Bombay came to Shirdi for Baba's darshan. His compounder; and his friend, Bhai Krishnaji Alibagkar, accompanied him. The compounder and Bhai became intimate with Sagun Meru Naik and G.K. Dixit. While discussing things, these persons thought that there must be some memorial of the fact of Sai Baba's first coming to Shirdi and sitting under the holy Neem tree. They thought of installing Baba's Padukas there and were going to make them of some rough stones. Then Bhai's friend, the compounder, suggested that if this matter be made known to his master, Dr. Ramarao Kothare, who would prepare nice Padukas for this purpose. All liked the proposal and Dr. Kothare was informed of it. He came to Shirdi and drew a plan of the Padukas. He went to Upasani Maharaj in Khandoba's temple, and showed him his plan. The latter made many improvements, drew lotuses, flowers, conch, disc, man etc., and suggested that the following SHLOKA (verse) regarding Neem tree's great ness and Baba's Yogi powers be inscribed. The verse was as follows:

"Sada Nimbarvrikshasya mooladhiwasat,
Sudhasravinam tiktamapi-apriyam tam,
Tarum Kalpavrikshadhikam sadhayantam
Namameeshwaram Sadgurum Sai Natham"

Upasani's suggestions were accepted and carried out.

Sai Ram. These symbols are found in the feet of great Saints and were similar to the good signs described in Shri Guru Charitra (the birth of Sri Pada Vallabha, the first incarnation in Kali Yug of Lord Dattatreya, for example). Baba probably never allowed anyone to check out His feet (after all He declined to show His palm to Moolay Shastri as we shall see in later chapters and also discouraged His devotees from placing too much faith in astrology). So, Upasani's suggestion was out of reverence to Baba's powers, which He has already experienced by that time. And the Feet of the Lord are anyway known to contain all the auspicious signs so those devotees, who take shelter at His feet, never have to fear anything. Thus, the story of Padukas gives us an opportunity to realize the Oneness of Akkalkot Maharaj, Sai and God. Sai Ram.

The Padukas were made in Bombay and sent to Shirdi with the compounder. Baba said that they should be installed on the Pournima (15th) of Shravan. On that day at 11 a.m., G.K. Dixit brought them on his head from Khandoba's temple to the Dwarkamai (Masjid) in procession. Baba touched the Padukas, saying that these are the feet of the Lord and asked the people to install them, under foot of the Neem tree.

Sai Ram. Baba always or most of the time, described Himself as a humble devotee of God. This act of His touching the Padukas saying that those are the feet of the Lord is one good example. Only one instance of Baba saying His feet are old and holy comes up, when an advocate from Akkalkot (isn't it a nice coincidence that Akkalkot figures in both the stories?), Shri Sapatnekar went to get Baba's blessing. Initially Sai punishes that man for his earlier lack of faith as expressed in ridiculing his co-student Shri Shevade, but later when Saptnekar repents truly, blesses him. "With these words, He placed His blessing hand on his head and comforted him saying - "These feet are old and holy, you are care-free now; place entire faith in Me and you will soon get your object." "Sapatnekar was much moved with emotion, he bathed Baba's feet with his tears and then returned to his residence."(Chapter48, SaiSatcharitra). Sai Ram. Sai showed that when awareness is one with God, we become God and when that awareness is lacking; we are his humble servants Sai Ram

A day before, one Parsi devotee of Bombay named Pastha Shet sent Rs.25/- by money order. Baba gave this sum for the installation of the Padhukas. The total expense of installation came up to Rs.100/- out of which Rs.75/- were collected by subscriptions. For the first 5 years, G.K. Dixit worshipped the Padukas daily and then Laxman Kacheshwar Jakhadi did this later. In the first five years, Dr. Kothare sent Rs. 2 per month for lighting and he also sent the railing round the Padukas. Sagun Meru Naik bore the expense((Rs. 7-8-0) (presently Rs.7.50p) ) of bringing the railing from the station to Shirdi and the roofing. Now, Jakhadi (Nana Pujari) does the worship and Sagun Meru Naik offers the naivaidya and lights the evening lamps.

Wresting Bout with Mohdin Tamboli and Change in Life

There was a wrestler in Shirdi, by name Mohdin Tamboli. Baba and he did not agree on some terms and both had a fight. In this Baba was defeated. Thenceforth, Baba changed His dress and mode of living. He donned Kafni, wore a Langot (waist band) and covered His head with a piece of cloth. He took a piece of sackcloth for His seat, sackcloth for His bed and was content with wearing torn and worn out rags. He always said "Poverty is better than Kingship, far better than Lordship. The Lord is always the brother of the poor." Gangagir was also very fond of wrestling. While he was once wrestling, a similar feeling of dispassion came over him, and at the proper time he heard the voice of an adept, saying that he should wear out his body, playing with God. So he too gave up Samsara and turned towards God-realization. He established a math on the banks of the river near Puntambe, and lived there with disciples.

Sai Ram. The above story is really enlightening. It may be recalled that dressed like an athlete. He grew long hair. He was fond of wrestling. When the time came, Baba 'lost' a wrestling fight with Mohiddin Tamboli and used that opportunity to gain a great spiritual victory over materialistic desires. He converted a worldly loss into a great spiritual gain. He changed His mode of dressing and shaved His head. He also consciously changed His external living style. He deliberately chose the life style of a Fakir. Saint Gangagir also had a similar spiritual experience. Both these incidents are spiritually parallel to the struggle that the Elephant King (Gajendra) put up with the Crocodile (Makar) depicted in Srimad Bhagavatham. Man is especially endowed with two natures, the lower, which runs after worldly pleasures and is full of desires for wealth, name, fame etc., and the higher nature of discrimination and devotion. Baba, showed through His wrestling bout with Tamboli that sooner or later, we are bound to lose to someone. We should use that loss to learn a spiritual lesson and stop struggling with a desire for victory. By surrendering to God, we are freed from struggles. Sai Ram.