SREE SAI SAMARTHA SATCHARITA – Part 3
-Foreword to First Marathi Edition by Hari Sitaram Dikshit alias Kakasaheb Dikshit
Out of the three above-mentioned persons, Mhalsapati was quite long lived, and he passed away in ‘Bhadrapad Shake’ 1844 (1922). Maharaj and he had a very close relationship. Maharaj used to sit in the Masjid13; and sleep on alternate nights in the Masjid and the chavadi14. When Maharaj slept in the Masjid, Mhalsapati sat up near Maharaj, on those nights, till daybreak; and intermittently both of them spoke very lovingly to one another. Until his death, Mhalsapati carried on the practice of sitting up the whole night in the Masjid. As he was completely without expectations, though he was influential, Maharaj’s devotees usually received good advice and happiness. In short, after the death of Maharaj, he was the abode of repose for the devotees.
Since Maharaj came here, He generally stayed in the Masjid. That Masjid was greatly dilapidated. During the day, Maharaj wandered here and there but at night He stayed in the masjid. If anyone took Him for a meal He would go; He gave medical advice or medicines to the sick. He never accepted any money for this. Not only that, but if the ill and diseased were not well attended, then He would Himself attend on them. And such persons who were prescribed medicines by Maharaj or who were personally attended by Maharaj exist even today in large numbers. Later on, Maharaj stopped giving any medicines and started to give only udi15 or the
sacred ashes and people were cured by that.
“ Earlier, I used to give medicines to people ”, Maharaj had once mentioned to this writer himself. He said, “Kaka (he used to call this writer ‘Kaka’),I used to give medicines to people earlier. Later, I left off giving medicines and started chanting ‘Hari, Hari’ and as I continued the chant of ‘Hari, Hari’, I got self-realisation (met Hari) ”.
-Foreword to First Marathi Edition by Hari Sitaram Dikshit alias Kakasaheb Dikshit
Out of the three above-mentioned persons, Mhalsapati was quite long lived, and he passed away in ‘Bhadrapad Shake’ 1844 (1922). Maharaj and he had a very close relationship. Maharaj used to sit in the Masjid13; and sleep on alternate nights in the Masjid and the chavadi14. When Maharaj slept in the Masjid, Mhalsapati sat up near Maharaj, on those nights, till daybreak; and intermittently both of them spoke very lovingly to one another. Until his death, Mhalsapati carried on the practice of sitting up the whole night in the Masjid. As he was completely without expectations, though he was influential, Maharaj’s devotees usually received good advice and happiness. In short, after the death of Maharaj, he was the abode of repose for the devotees.
Since Maharaj came here, He generally stayed in the Masjid. That Masjid was greatly dilapidated. During the day, Maharaj wandered here and there but at night He stayed in the masjid. If anyone took Him for a meal He would go; He gave medical advice or medicines to the sick. He never accepted any money for this. Not only that, but if the ill and diseased were not well attended, then He would Himself attend on them. And such persons who were prescribed medicines by Maharaj or who were personally attended by Maharaj exist even today in large numbers. Later on, Maharaj stopped giving any medicines and started to give only udi15 or the
sacred ashes and people were cured by that.
“ Earlier, I used to give medicines to people ”, Maharaj had once mentioned to this writer himself. He said, “Kaka (he used to call this writer ‘Kaka’),I used to give medicines to people earlier. Later, I left off giving medicines and started chanting ‘Hari, Hari’ and as I continued the chant of ‘Hari, Hari’, I got self-realisation (met Hari) ”.
When Maharaj came here first, there was a sadhu here named Devidas at that time; and different sadhus came to him at varying times. Similarly, this was the route for those doing pilgrimages on foot to Rameshwar, Pandharpur and other pilgrim centres in the south and therefore many virtuous persons came here from time to time. Amongst them, was a sadhu named Jankidas who was here for a fairly long time. It is said that he was a person of excellent
authority (in spiritual matters). Maharaj and he had many confabulations. The famous Gangagir Baba also used to come here.
When Gangagir came for the first time here, after Maharaj had arrived, then Maharaj was carrying two earthern pots in His two hands, filled with water from the well. On seeing Him, Gangagir Baba immediately told the village folk present, “when did this person come here? He is a pure gem. He has great worthiness. It is the great good fortune of the village that you have acquired this gem ”. Then Gangagir Baba went for Maharaj’s darshan16 and they both talked, with great love, with each other. Anandnath Maharaj of Akkalkot had spoken in the same vein about Maharaj. This Anandnath Maharaj was the disciple of the famous Akkalkot Swami. Once when he had gone to Savargaon, near Yeola, Madhavrao Balwant Deshpande, Dagadu Bhau Gayake, Nandram Shivram Marwadi and Bhagchand Marwadi, all of Shirdi, had gone for his darshan.
authority (in spiritual matters). Maharaj and he had many confabulations. The famous Gangagir Baba also used to come here.
When Gangagir came for the first time here, after Maharaj had arrived, then Maharaj was carrying two earthern pots in His two hands, filled with water from the well. On seeing Him, Gangagir Baba immediately told the village folk present, “when did this person come here? He is a pure gem. He has great worthiness. It is the great good fortune of the village that you have acquired this gem ”. Then Gangagir Baba went for Maharaj’s darshan16 and they both talked, with great love, with each other. Anandnath Maharaj of Akkalkot had spoken in the same vein about Maharaj. This Anandnath Maharaj was the disciple of the famous Akkalkot Swami. Once when he had gone to Savargaon, near Yeola, Madhavrao Balwant Deshpande, Dagadu Bhau Gayake, Nandram Shivram Marwadi and Bhagchand Marwadi, all of Shirdi, had gone for his darshan.
After the darshan, this group set out to return to Shirdi, when Anandnath Maharaj suddenly came running and sat in their cart, saying “I will come with you ”. The people from Nevargaon and Yeola made efforts to dissuade him, but in vain. When Anandnath Maharaj came here, he spoke these words in respect of Maharaj: “ This is a diamond. You do not know its worth. Even if it is on a dunghill, it is a diamond ”. At that time, Maharaj had not attained fame and the village folk believed Him to be an ordinary person, in fact, a mad fakir.
Maharaj’s state at this point of time was: – “Wearing torn and tattered (clothes); Sitting wherever it pleases; Appearing as a crazy madcap! But absorbed in Brahman ”. Sometimes, Maharaj would go and sit at the stream; sometimes underneath a particular margosa tree near the village wall; sometimes in somebody’s farm; the clothes on His body were tattered; on and off He put on a ferocious appearance. He appeared to the ordinary persons as mad, because of these and similar modes of behaviour. But soon, the people’s erroneous misconception was removed and the people of Shirdi realised the worth of Maharaj. It happened thus:- Maharaj had a great desire to light many lamps in the Masjid as well as in the temples. In reality, to say “a great desire ” is to put it in common parlance. Really speaking, none of His actions were meant to fulfil any great desire. (Because, He had no desires left to fulfil). But they had a different purpose, namely the welfare of the people. May it be whatsoever. For these lamps, Maharaj used to go to the shops of the oil vendors and grocers to ask for oil and bring it. For some time, they gave oil to Maharaj. Of course, for how long would these practical persons give oil? One day they told Him that there was no oil. Was that going to bring any change in Maharaj’s daily routine? Maharaj poured water instead of oil in the earthern lamps, and placed the wicks, as usual, struck a match and lit them. When Maharaj had thus set about the matter, the people were convinced about His madness; but when the lamps lit up, by the striking of the matches, and kept burning the whole night, then the people were astonished. They went to Maharaj and submitted themselves requesting His pardon for treating him scornfully. So many had
harrassed Maharaj in different ways, little by little. Those also got very frightened. But Maharaj was full of compassion; Maharaj’s creed was to oblige even those who had offended Him and
even disregarding their injury to Him. Therefore, really speaking, no one had cause to fear. As Maharaj loved all the people, He cared for them as if they were His own children. Whenever the village was to face any distress, Maharaj advised them ahead of time, and those who acted as He said remained fearless.
harrassed Maharaj in different ways, little by little. Those also got very frightened. But Maharaj was full of compassion; Maharaj’s creed was to oblige even those who had offended Him and
even disregarding their injury to Him. Therefore, really speaking, no one had cause to fear. As Maharaj loved all the people, He cared for them as if they were His own children. Whenever the village was to face any distress, Maharaj advised them ahead of time, and those who acted as He said remained fearless.
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