The palanquin stayed for three months in the forecourt of Dwarkamai, encased in its wooden box. The Naik brothers of Harda village had sent a palanquin for the use of Sri Sai Baba as a gift. Baba, however, did not allow anyone to even open it and look at it. It fell to Raghuvir Purandhare to give it the great good fortune of being of service to Sai Baba.
Raghuvir Purandhare was ardently devoted to Baba. He had decided that, come what may, he would take the palanquin out of the box that very day, sit Baba in it, and carry him in state to Chavadi. "Baba, I will take this palanquin out of the box and deck it with flowers. You should ride in it to Chavadi - that would be a sight for sore eyes, wouldn't it?" Purandhare asked with evident delight, taking Sai Baba's agreement for granted.
Baba never cared for outward pomp. Even though he had the entire world at his feet, he always behaved like a penniless fakir and went everywhere on foot. He never climbed on to a vehicle at any time in his life. So this time too, he shook his head, dismissing the idea of getting into the palanquin.
Purandhare tried to reason with him. "The palanquin has already come. How can you now refuse to get into it?" Baba was as adamant as before in his refusal. Purandhare changed tactics. He saluted Sai Baba's feet and said obdurately, "You have to get into the palanquin." He thought that he could get Baba to agree somehow or other and tried to take the palanquin out of its box.
"Don't open it! Stop! Have I not told you to stop opening it?" said Sri Sai Baba, "Why do you not listen to me, my brother?"
Baba tried to stop him. He scolded and shouted at him but Purandhare regarded all these as Baba's blessings and continued unconcernedly to open the box and take out the palanquin. Showing great anger Baba shook his satka at Purandhare and said, "Do you not hear what I am saying? Get away from here!" The other devotees saw Baba's anger and ran away. Purandhare, however, did not even lift his head and continued unconcernedly to do the work and erected the palanquin.
He was a true devotee of Sai Baba who believed that even the anger of Baba is but a veiled blessing. As the rain-bearing cloud can only give life-sustaining water to the crops and not destroy them with fire, so is the anger of Sri Sai Baba a blessing and not a curse. To his loving devotees the anger is indeed a loving blessing. As Purandhare continued his work, Baba could not but stop his tirade. Yes, Baba can punish pride or hatred but he cannot help but love those who love him. God may rule the worlds, but he is ruled by the heart of the loving devotee.
Purandhare got a variety of flowers and decorated the palanquin. It looked very beautiful. Happily he said, "Baba, the palanquin looks beautiful now, but if you sit in it the beauty will be enhanced much more."
"What you have done is enough. Get away from here!" Baba grumbled. But Purandhare was made of stern stuff. He said, "I am going. But you have to get in the palanquin for tonight's festival and we must carry you to Chavadi. That's decided." He saluted Sri Sai Baba's feet and went away.
The news that the palanquin was ready and that it would be part of Chavadi Festival that night spread like wildfire throughout Shirdi. Devotees thronged Dwarkamai in greater numbers than usual to see Baba riding in the palanquin to Chavadi. Nana Saheb Chandorkar, Booty, Jog and many other devotees got ready for the festival. All the devotees were happily and eagerly awaiting to see whether Baba would indeed get into the palanquin or not.
"Jog, do not be in a hurry today. We are not going to celebrate the Chavadi Festival without the palanquin," said Purandhare. Jog was afraid of crossing Baba.
"Have you already forgotten what happened this morning? You can do as you like, but don't put me in an awkward position," said Jog.
"Baba and Purandhare are a match for each other. Let them both have it out and decide. Do not come between them, Jog," Nanasaheb Chandorkar intervened. Jog fell silent at this. Purandhare went to Baba and pleaded with him to get into the palanquin. Baba refused outright to even consider it. Purandhare was even more adamant. He said that he would not take part in the Chavadi Festival unless Baba got into the palanquin and took part.
The other devotees were trying to first pacify one and then the other but everyone ardently wanted to see Baba in the palanquin in the Chavadi Festival, carried as befits a king. Baba could not refuse the ardent desire of so many loving devotees but he could not forsake his principles either. So, in the end, after many deliberations and much carrying of proposals between Baba and Purandhare, a compromise was duly arrived at. Baba agreed that his padukas would be carried in pomp in the palanquin, while he would walk behind it in his usual manner.
Purandhare and the other devotees were disappointed that Baba was not going to ride in royal style in the palanquin, but accepted this compromise of Baba's padukas being carried in the palanquin, albeit unwillingly.
"Baba, shall I carry the palanquin?" asked Purandhare eagerly at the beginning of the festival.
"No. You light the 125 torches first. The palanquin can be lifted later," said Baba. The torches blazed. The palanquin was lifted up in the glorious light of 125 torches and it reached Chavadi in the splendour of that light. No doubt the palanquin felt that its life's purpose was fulfilled by the good fortune it had in carrying the padukas of Sri Sai Baba. It must have conveyed its heartfelt thanks to Raghuvir Purandhare for making it all possible!
Baba returned to the mosque as usual the next morning, but refused to let the palanquin accompany him back, so it stayed on in Chavadi for two or three days. During this period someone stole the silver decoration pieces off it. When this news was conveyed to Baba, he had a hearty laugh and said, "It would have been better if the whole palanquin had been stolen!"
The devotees were perturbed by the theft of the silver ornaments. Purandhare decided to build a shed for safety. The only place suitable for this shed was the space between the mosque and Narayana Teli's house. For this it was necessary to drill some holes in the walls of the mosque as well as Narayana Teli's house. Narayana Teli was a devotee of Sri Sai Baba so he would agree, but getting Baba to agree to boring holes in the wall of the mosque was a different matter altogether.
It was therefore decided to complete the job in the two to three hours that Baba spent every day at Lendi garden. The work started the moment Baba left for Lendi. The drilling the holes in the walls of Narayana Teli's house was over, however the work on the walls of the mosque had barely started when Baba returned from Lendi around ten in the morning. Seeing Baba return and knowing what his reaction would be, those working on the walls and those watching the work all ran away in fear. Only Fakira, the brother of Tulasi Ram, and Purandhare were left. Fakira was holding the roof beams and was standing on the walls of Narayana Teli's house and Purandhare was drilling a hole in the walls of the mosque, so Baba could easily catch them.
Baba caught Purandhare by his neck and growled in anger, "What are you doing?"
"Baba, I am building a room for your palanquin," said Purandhare.
Baba was beside with himself in anger. "Earlier they dug up my mosque and took away all the cash. Even the nimbar was not spared. Now you have started boring holes in the walls too!" He pushed Purandhare to the door of the mosque and taking a brick in his hand, said menacingly, "You better go away from here or you will get some kicks from me."
"Baba, you can hit me or do whatever you want to me, but I am not moving from here until I build the room for the palanquin," said Purandhare who was as adamant as Baba.
Baba showered Purandhare with abuse and pushed him away. He washed his feet and entered the mosque but the hail of abuses and curses did not stop. Purandhare was unperturbed by all this. Baba had once said to him "I have known you for 700 years. No matter how far you are from me, I take responsibility for looking after you." So Purandhare knew that the ties of love bound Baba to him. He did not pay much heed to Baba's fulmination.
Baba sent for him after a while. Purandhare entered the mosque and stood by the outer side of the hand railing. Baba said in tones of anger and annoyance, "Will you not heed me? Do you want to destroy the walls of the mosque?" Purandhare respectfully replied, "No Baba, I will take care to see that the walls are safe."
Baba calmed down and said, "All right, go and finish the work as you wish. But do the work with care and concentration." It was noon. Baba's afternoon arati was over and all the devotees had gone for their lunch. The devotees who had finished lunch started trickling back to the mosque. Purandhare, however, did not go for lunch but continued to be fully immersed in the work.
Baba said, "You too go and have lunch." There was no response from Purandhare. Baba again said, "Are you not feeling hungry? Go have your lunch and come."
Purandhare did not move. He did not care to have lunch while the work was still unfinished. Baba started pacing about impatiently. After a while he said complainingly to Kaka Saheb Dixit who was present, "Look at this obsessive fool! He could have had his meal and then finished the work! Why does he not heed me however much I tell him to eat? How can he not know his own hunger?" Baba waited for five minutes to see whether Purandhare would go for his meal. He again said, "How can I deal with this zealous maniac? His intestines must be crying out for food."
"Baba, he does not have much leave left, so he wants to complete the work fast. Shall I ask him to go for lunch?" asked Kaka Saheb Dixit. Baba skeptically said, "He is not obeying even me - is he likely to listen to you? Bhagoji, go and call him."
Purandhare was continuing his work but was also listening to all these words. His heart melted to see the love Baba had for him. He came running and fell at Baba's feet and started weeping. Baba put his hand on Purandhare's head and caressed him.
"What happened now brother? Why are you crying?" asked Baba consolingly.
"Baba, I obstinately disobeyed you and am doing work which you did not really like. Why do you have such love for me? In the morning you shouted at me, you said that you would beat me, you even threatened to kill me. And now you are feeling so miserable that I have not eaten. Who else but you can show me such love which exceeds even my mother's love for me? Baba, you are my mother, my father, my guru, my god. You are indeed everything to me. I do not want anything else in this world except you. Please grant me the great good fortune of serving you every second of my life," importuned Purandhare tearfully. "All right, but have your meal," said Baba like a loving mother.
Purandhare wiped his eyes and rose to his feet. He turned and was about to go out of the mosque when a doubt assailed him again. "Baba, will you demolish what I have done the moment I go? asked Purandhare.
Baba smiled. "Don't be childish. Go have your meal and come back," promised Baba, "I will do nothing of the sort."
Later he turned to Kakasaheb Dixit and said, "What can we do? If the child unknowingly passes stools on our leg do we strike it? Do we cut off the leg? We have to put up with it."
Purandhare returned after lunch and began to work again. By evening the shed was built. He had intended to have two doors on it but could complete the fixing of only one of them as he had to return home the next day. He thought that with Baba's permission, he could request Tatya to complete the work.
He came to Baba and said, "The work is almost finished. Only one door is yet to be fixed, but my leave is over and I must depart for Bombay tomorrow. If you permit me I will ask Tatya to finish the work."
"We can see to that later," said Baba lovingly. "You go and rest first. You have been working since morning without a break." He gave udi to Purandhare, who saluted his feet and left.
After Purandhare left, Baba said to Kaka Saheb Dixit, "Kaka, a person's progress depends on their faith and devotion."
The kakad arati was finished next day. Purandhare saluted Baba's feet and asked leave to go home.
"Brother, what we decide to do, we must do. We should not do only half the work and hand the balance over to someone else to complete," said Baba. "Complete your work and go home tomorrow."
Baba had not wanted Purandhare to take up this work at all. He had shouted at him and tried to stop him from doing it, but now, due to the love he had for Purandhare, Baba wanted him to complete it. Purandhare's eyes filled with tears. He saluted Baba's feet mentally and agreed. He resumed work on the palanquin shed and finished it.
When the job was completed to his satisfaction Purandhare examined the shed and the palanquin carefully once again to see if anything had been left undone. He then went to Baba and prostrating at his feet asked for permission to go home. Baba blessed him, "Go, but keep coming to Shirdi frequently." Purandhare took udi from Baba and touched it respectfully to his eyes and agreed to come as often as possible to Shirdi.
The palanquin also seemed to bless Purandhare. "Come again soon, Purandhare. You have given me the immense good fortune of a permanent place at Baba's feet. I will never forget the good deed you have done me. May you always have good fortune."
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