Shri Sai Satcharitra - Chapter 8 - Part VIII

Add as a preferred source on Google

Bayajabai, a great soul, took care of Sai, when His fame was still not wide spread and when people were not coming to Him for miracles and worshipping Him. She could see through the external appearances and had a soul-to-soul communication with Him. Baba also responded to that soul-level communication of love. Bayajabai's son Tatya also was another great soul, who believed in Sai. It is apparent that these soul mates of Sai were with Him for many generations. Sai made references to some such long-lasting relationships elsewhere in Satcharitra. Sai Ram. It is interesting to note that when Sri Bhagawan Ramana went to Arunachala and when He was still not famous, a few simple souls took care of His physical body. And another great soul, Seshadri Swamy also took care of Ramana. To see the greatness in another requires greatness, greatness arising out of humility, in us.

Dormitory of Trio

Even blessed are the Saints in whose heart Lord Vasudeo dwells, and fortunate, indeed, are the devotees who get the benefit of the company of such Saints. Two such fortunate fellows, Tatya Kote Patil and Bhagat Mhalsapati, equally shared the company of Sai Baba. Baba also loved them both equally. These three persons slept in the Masjid with their heads towards the east, west and north and with their feet touching one another at the centre. Stretching their beds, they lay on them, chitchatting and gossiping about many things, till late at midnight. If any one of them showed any signs of sleep, others would wake him up. For instance, if Tatya began to snore, Baba at once got up and shook him from side to side and pressed his head. If it was Mhalsapati, He hugged him close, stroked his legs and kneaded his back. In this way for full 14 years, Tatya, leaving his parents at home, slept in the Masjid on account of his love for Baba. How happy and never to be forgotten were those days! How to measure that love and how to value the grace of Baba? After the passing away of his father, Tatya took charge of the household affairs and began to sleep at home.

It is significant to note that Mhalsapati was the first to greet Sai with that name when the Fakir landed in Shirdi along with the marriage party of Chand Patil. And Tatya, along with his mother, Bayajabai, was among the few, who worshipped Sai as a holy man and fed His body. It is appropriate that Sai too took a special interest in the spiritual development of these two and so He chose a very special method, of sleeping with them in the Dwarakamai.

If any of them showed sings of sleep, others would wake him up - But we don't read an instance of Sai sleeping and Tatya or Bhagat waking Sai. He was always awake, especially spiritually. He alludes to this in another chapter when a discussion about the wooden plank comes up. But the same Bhagat Mhalsapati sat for three days with the body of Sri Sai, obviously without sleeping. So, Guru's grace can do any thing. The physical waking up by Sai of Tatya and Bhagat was just a symbolism of the spiritual awakening by Him of those whom He pulled close. Sai Ram.

In this way, for a period of 14 years, Tatya, leaving his parents at home, slept in the Dwarakamai on account of his love for Baba - A real growing up period indeed. Which stood him in good stead for the rest of his life.Sai Ram.