SREE SAI SAMARTHA SATCHARITA – Foreword Part 2

SREE SAI SAMARTHA SATCHARITA – Part 2
-Foreword to First Marathi Edition by Hari Sitaram Dikshit alias Kakasaheb Dikshit

When Maharaj came to Shirdi, He came with the marriage procession, along with a Muslim gentleman. His name was Chandbhai. He was the headman (Patil) of Dhoopkheda village. One day as his horse was missing; he was walking in its search. Then, under a tree he saw Maharaj sitting. He had never before seen Maharaj. Maharaj called him and said to him “Take a puff from the chillum2 and then proceed ”. He replied: “My horse is missing and I have set out in its search ” . Maharaj said: “ Why go far for that? It is just across and beyond that fence there ”.

Accordingly, Chandbhai went towards that fence as directed by Maharaj. The horse was really grazing there. Chandbhai took the horse and came near Maharaj. After smoking the chillum given by Maharaj, he pressed Maharaj to come to his home. Maharaj said: “ I will come tomorrow ”. Maharaj, accordingly, went to his home the next day. Where Chandbhai had been given a smoke from the chillum, in the woods, there was no burning coal. Maharaj had
struck the tongs, in His hands, on the earth and produced a burning coal to serve His own purpose.

Maharaj stayed at Chandbhai’s home for some days. Later, the nephew of Chandbhai’s wife got betrothed to a girl from Shirdi; and Maharaj came to Shirdi, in that wedding procession. The
marriage party had alighted at the pounding grounds, near Khandoba’s3 temple, outside the village. When Maharaj went to the Khandoba temple, He met a man called Mhalsapati there.

This Mhalsapati was a resident of Shirdi and a goldsmith. As he was a devotee of Khandoba, he was the authorised regular visitor of Khanderaya4, since many generations. When Maharaj went to the Khandoba temple His dress comprised of a kafni5, a cap and a dhoti6. As soon as Mhalsapati saw Him, he welcomed Him with the words: “Welcome Sai Baba ”, and that name viz. “Sai Baba ” was adopted by Maharaj till the end.

Most of the devotees of Maharaj called Him “Sai Baba ” or just “Baba ”.

On one occasion, when Maharaj had to give testimony before the Commissioner,7 and He was then asked His name, He had replied: “They call me Sai Baba ”. Mhalsapati brought Maharaj into the village and introduced Him to his friends Kashiram Shimpi and Appa Jagale. These three usually served, according to their capacity, the sadhus, saints, gosavis8, fakirs and ascetics visiting the village, and graciously took care of them. As Shirdi was so located that there
was considerable movement of such people or groups. Such groups came often and the above-mentioned three persons gave them respectful treatment as per their capacity. All these three
(Kashiram, Appa and Mhalsapati) became complete devotees of Maharaj.

Out of these Kashiram and Appa died after some years. Kashiram died first and some years later Appa passed away. But, both of them, were fortunate to die on Ekadashi Day9. It is appropriate that the devotees of God should die on His special day – and, in that way, the death occurred of both of them.

Kashiram served Maharaj in the best possible manner, that is truly with ‘tana, mana and dhana10’. Earlier, Maharaj’s kafni used to be saffron coloured or white. Kashiram stiched a green kafni and a green cap for Maharaj; but, generally Maharaj wore a white kafni and tied a “ dhoti ” round His head. Similarly, he supplied Maharaj with tobacco for His ‘chillum’, fuel for His ‘dhuni11’, and if need be, also money – this was what Kashiram undertook upon himself to do. Later on, he would place his bag of money before Maharaj and humbly request Him to take as much as he wished. Maharaj was not used to taking ‘dakshina12’ in those days; even then He took a piece or two from Kashiram. Kashiram was so keen for Maharaj to take ‘dakshina’ from him that if on some odd day Maharaj failed to take the ‘dakshina’, then he would feel very bad and tears would spring to his eyes. To feel bad thus, also hinders the spiritual progress, because it presupposes an egoistic attitude of having the capacity to give. Naturally, it is the Lord’s usual aim to remove all impediments in thedevotees’ spiritual progress. Thus, it happened in the case of Kashiram. After some time, he experienced shortage of money and Maharaj commenced asking for ‘dakshina’ from him, repeatedly. He had to acknowledge that he had no money left. Then “Ask the grocer for a loan and give it to Me ”: so said Maharaj.

Accordingly, for some time, the practice of asking the grocer and bringing it, continued. Later, the grocer also refused to give. Virtually, this sport was to remove Kashiram’s ego. He realised
that he did not have the capacity to give; and as soon as this dawned on him, his financial position improved and he was comfortable again, as in the past. He also no longer had the
intense desire that Maharaj should always take ‘dakshina’ from him. Kashiram was a dealer in textiles; and, he travelled to different villages and set up shop there on market days. Once, whilst returning from Naura, on market day, he came across some Bhil robbers. Kashiram was on horse back. They did not go to him first; but they intercepted the carriages that were going
alongside him. Later, when they spied Kashiram, they ran across to him. The robbers prepared to loot Kashiram; and, in fact took some of his belongings also. Kashiram did not offer any
resistance. Later, those robbers laid their hands on the small bundle he had with him. The robbers believed that there were some valuables in it. In reality there was only fine, soft sugar in
it. Kashiram had been advised by Jankidas Baba, a Satpurush so named, to feed ants regularly with sugar, therefore Kashiram usually kept sugar with him. Hence this bundle was very precious to him and he decided that come whatsoever he would not part with this bundle. At that moment the sword of one of the robbers was noticed lying around by Kashiram. He picked it up and killed two of the robbers. A third robber came from behind, at that time and gave him a blow on his head with a pick-axe. Thereupon, Kashiram became unconscious and fell down like a corpse. The remaining thieves, believing that Kashiram was dead, abandoned him there and left.

As a matter of fact, he was not dead. After some time he gained consciousness and became well after some days. As he had complete faith in Maharaj, he refused to be admitted to a hospital and earnestly requested: “ Take me only to Shirdi ”. Accordingly, he was brought there and as per Maharaj’s instructions, he was given medication by Madhavrao Deshpande. In effect, by Maharaj’s grace, Kashiram’s health improved and he became fit.

The Government of Bombay awarded Kashiram with a sword, on account of this brave deed. While Kashiram was scuffling with the robbers, here, in Shirdi, Maharaj created a commotion. Continuous stream of abuses, shouts and similar agitations started. Those near Him, from among the devotees, immediately realised that some bhakta, dear to Him, was facing some grave calamity; and all this commotion was only to protect the devotee and this was found to be true. The thieves were numerous and well-armed. No one could have believed that Kashiram would escape alive from their resounding blows and violence but who can harm when there is a
saviour! May that be whatsoever. Kashiram survived after this, for several years, and passed away on (Ekadashi) the 11th day of ‘Chaitra Shudha, Shake’ 1830 (1908).