Seethamma, the sister of Laxmi Bai, Rani of Chincholi, talked about her family's
long association with Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Her nephew, Krishnaswamy, was only a young boy when he insisted
on going to Shirdi. At that time, since Shirdi Sai Baba's death, there were a few
people who could communicate with him and one such mediator was Abdulla Baba. When
Krishnaswamy was taken to Shirdi, Abdulla Baba told him that
in a year Sai Baba would grant darshan
to his whole family. Exactly a year after that, they found
themselves quite unexpectedly in puttaparthi.
It was only after being there and meeting Sri Sathya Sai Baba
that they thought of the prediction made in Shirdi. Sri Sathya Sai Baba welcomed
them to Puttaparthi saying that he had been waiting for them.
Seethamma remembers how difficult that first journey to Puttaparthi
had been, in a bullock cart; difficult, slow and
hazardous, but they were very happy that they had made it.
Seeing Sri Sathya Sai Baba had brought them peace and
happiness. They garlanded him and, Seethamma remembers how in
those days he used to keep his head bent and his eyes down
when speaking to women. He spoke to them warmly and said, "I have kept the kitchen
free for you." That had surprised them. It had indeed been one of their worries;
whether they would have a kitchen to themselves. They had heard that lodgings were
almost impossible to get, that there were very few kitchens, and that people had to
cook, eat and sleep together, either in the big prayer hall or in the open air. So
they were truly delighted to be given a kitchen. They were content with the
arrangement and never gave another thought to any more comfort. The young Sri Sathya
Sai Baba's presence made up for everything.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba granted them interviews and materialised miniature portraits of himself for them. These portraits were the
size of an ordinary postage stamp. Then he materialised scrolls of gold foil and
yantras with mantras engraved on them and asked them to wear them always as
talismans.
Did they think, at first sight, that he was God?
"No" said Seetharamma, "I cannot say so for it would be untrue. We felt good to have
his blessings, but we did not immediately believe he was divine. That feeling grew
slowly as the days went by, as we became more and more conscious of his powers and
of the nature of his personality".
On one of the trips, Seethamma's sister, the Rani of Chincholi, went with her. Her
husband, the late Raja, had been an ardent devotee Of Shirdi Sai Baba. When Sri
Sathya Sai Baba saw the Rani, he asked her several things about her palace. He said
that he had been a Visitor to the palace in his previous body, that of Shirdi Sai
Baba, and referred to renovations caried out after his visit. He mentioned them in
detail. He then asked what had happened to the stone image of Maruti (Hanuman, the
monkey god) he had given to the Raja.
The Rani was completely ignorant of the things he mentioned. When she returned she
had a search made in some storerooms that had been kept locked. She checked up on
the repairs and renovations too and found that all that Sri Sathya Sai had said was
correct in every detail. For instance, he had said that a certain Margosa tree had been uprooted during the
renovations and that was
confirmed.
One day, the Rani was having one of the store-rooms cleaned, she came across a
beautiful brass vessel called a kamandala
Sanskrit. This is a gourd-shaped vessel used by monks and holymen to store drinking
water. The Rani had it cleaned and
fished and put on display in her drawing room.
The next day, she found it encircled by a cobra. She burned a camphor in an aarati
in front of the snake and it slid away "quitetly. Later, she took the kamandala to
Puttaparthi to show it Sri Sathya Sai Baba and ask him about it.
No sooner had the Rani arrived in Puttaparthi than Sri Sathya " Baba sent word
asking her to come and see him "with his drinking vessel." He pointed to the two Hindi letters engraved on kamandala: saa and
baa. He had seen them during his lifetime Shirdi Sai Baba. People wondered why he
had asked for this vessel and received the answer during the Dassera Festival when
Vedapurusha Saptaha Yagna was being performed.
The officiating priests asked for a
vessel of a particular shape and as prescribed by Scriptures. Sri Sathya Sai Baba
produced this vessel for them and it met their requirements fully.
Years later, the Rani of Chincholi found in one of the locked store yards a cart
referred to by Sri Sathya Sai Baba. It appeared that Shirdi Sai Baba had travelled in
the cart. For a long time it was kept on show in the prayer hall at Prashanti
Nilayam. Later, it was used to cart mud and earth when the Purnachandra Auditorium
was built.
Once, when Sri Sathya Sai Baba was visiting Hyderabad, he visited nearby Chincholi
at the request of the Rani. Seethamma and her mother formed part of his entourage
and spent several eventful days at the Chincholi palace with Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Seethamma remembers seeing Sri Sathya Sai Baba create small idols. And, during his
stay there, he brought out anKrishna idol from his mouth and gave it to the Rani. Then he
let them see another instance of creation from the sand in the bed of river Godavari: a set of three idols, two of Rama and
laxmana in marble, and one of Sita in translucent
crystal. Sri Sai Baba gave these to Seethamma's nephew, Krishnaswamy, with whom he and
his entourage had been staying. That night under a serene full moon, he also materialised a
milk sweet for distribution as prasad. Then he asked everyone to see crystal effigy of
Sita glowed in the moonlight.
Sathya Sai Baba showed Seethamma's mother, Namagiri a great deal of consideration
and affection. Namagiri had many experiences of Shirdi Sai Baba before meeting Baba.
One of the most dramatic of these happened at a time
when there were communal riots in the
area. She was a staying in a large house with her daughters and she was
worried one day,
Shirdi Sai Baba appeared at her doorstep carrying Kamandala. He poured water from its
spout and drew a line water around the rangoli design in front of her house. He
told her,
"Do not cross this boundary line and no harm will
come to you or your family." Then he
vanished. His boon proved infallible, for many homes were robbed and many families
humiliated, but
nothing awful happened to Namagiri Amma or her family.
Once, in Puttaparthi, she had a dream in which Sri Sathya
Baba knocked on her door and
asked her to come out and a certain spot in the direction of West Prashanti. She follwed
him out and looked in the indicated direction. As she looked there was a blinding flash of
light and then, in the light, Shirdi Sai Baba lifting his hand in blessing as he
used to do,before he disappeared again - a truly divine vision.
All had several experiences with Swami. But these days it is very difficult to get anywhere near Him because of the crowds. whenever we really want him or need his
counsel, he always sends us his message," said Seethamma.
Recenly, Seethamma had a problem with her eyes. The
doctor thought she ought to have an operation.
In a quandary, she went to whitefield. As she sat waiting in the darshan queue, Sri
Sathya Sai Baba came
up to her, took a slate from a child sitting next to her and wrote 'Om' on it. As he wrote the
word he said, dont have the operation, there is no need for it. Swami will look after you."
See the way He knows and can talk to us when we most
need His advice says Seethamma with
thankfulness.
The Shirdi Link
The Same Baba: Shirdi Sai
and Sathya Sai
Bhagawan invariably refers to Shirdi Sai Baba as 'my previous body' when He speaks
about Him; He often describes to His devotees how He, 'in His previous body' dealt
with people and situations, what illustrations He gave to clarify a cerain point,
what questions were asked, etc. While telling people about Shirdi Baba, He may be
heard saying, "Just as you have seen me do now" or, "Just as I do while in trance,"
to make the point clear. When some one asks Him a question today, He starts His
reply sometimes with the remark, "The same doubt was raised by a man who had come to
Shirdi" and He will continue the conversation with the reply He gave that other man
long ago in Maharashtra!
He recognises all devotees of Shirdi Baba as His own; in fact,
He tells them, "I have known you since ten years," or, "Though this is the first
time you see this Sariram (body) I have seen you twenty years ago, when you came
to Shirdi." And, the person will find that he has been to Shirdi exactly twenty
years previously! Here are some instances where devotees have had experiences that
have convinced them of the identity of the two Sais.
The Cure and the Confirmation
How Baba proved to Mr. Dixit that He is same Shirdi Sai
come again
Mr. M S Dixit had the unique privilege of seeing Shirdi Sai
Baba when he visited Shirdi in 1909 as a young lad and later Sri Sathya Sai Baba in
1961 when he was past sixty. Here’s how he realised that both the Sais are in fact
the same, as related by Howard Murphet in his book, “Sai Baba: Man of Miracles”:
M S Dixit was born in 1897 to Sadashiv Dixit, an advocate who was
at one time Diwan (Prime Minister) of the royal state of Kutch. Sadashiv's eldest
brother, Hari S. Dixit, was a solicitor in Bombay and a member of the Legislative
Council. Hari Dixit became a close devotee of Shirdi Baba.
In the company of his uncle Hari, M. S. Dixit told me, he made
his earliest visits to Shirdi; first in the year 1909, and again in 1912. Before
this second visit he had been suffering what he called "half-headaches".
At sunrise half his head would start to ache agonizingly; then a
little before sunset it would stop. This would go on each day for about two months
at a stretch; it was very distressing. His uncle took him to Sai Baba hoping for a
cure of the strange headaches.
Mr. Dixit recalls vividly how he was sitting near Sai Baba one
day when Baba suddenly said to him: "Why are you sitting here - go home!"
Young Dixit replied that he had a bad headache and the heat of
the fire near which he was sitting brought him some relief. But Baba insisted that
he must go. It was the custom when leaving to take some ash from the fireplace and
put it in Baba's hand, so that He might with it give His parting blessing.
The fourteen-year-old boy did this. Baba held the udhi for a
moment and then applied it to the lad's forehead with some force. Young Dixit felt
that he had been slapped on the head as well as ordered to go away, so he told his
uncle that he would not visit Baba anymore.
Hari Dixit replied: "Are you a fool? The slap means that your
headache will not recur."
This turned out to be true. The strange and terrible headaches
never came back after that day, and young Dixit understood that Baba had been in His
enigmatic way ordering, not the boy, but the headache to go away.
Six years later, in July 1918, M. S. Dixit found himself ill
again, this time with bad haemorrhoids and an anal fistula. The medical men of
Bombay where he was living said he must undergo an operation, but he felt very
nervous about having surgery and did not want it.
Yet he was suffering a lot and there was much bleeding. He felt
very miserable about his condition. At one of the regular Thursday evening
gatherings of Shirdi Baba's Bombay devotees, M.S. Dixit was somehow overcome by the
devotional atmosphere combined with his own misery. Although a young man of twenty,
he broke down and cried like a child.
That night he had a dream in which Shirdi Baba came to him and
chided him for "weeping like a girl". Then the old saint told him what to use as a
cure for his ailment.
After waking, Dixit could remember everything except the name of
the medicine that Baba had prescribed. He was very distressed about this and decided
to go to Shirdi as soon as possible and get the name from Baba's lips.
But before he could go he heard the news Baba had passed
away."Now” he thought gloomily, "I shall never know the medicine’s name and must go
on suffering."
The next Thursday evening meeting, following the news of Baba's
passing, he found himself again overwhelmed with sorrow for himself, and wept once
more. The same night brought him another vivid dream.
In this Baba stood before him again, still in the old Shirdi
form. He said, "What! Crying like a girl again."
Then he told the young man to "take seven seeds of pepper, crush
them to powder, and each day take a pinch of the powder mixed with udhi. All
devotees, incidentally, kept some of Baba's udhi in their homes. M. S. Dixit
remembered these instructions clearly next morning and carried them out. On the
third day of treatment the pain stopped; on the seventh the bleeding stopped.
A complete cure took place and the complaint never returned. The
years passed and the pages of Dixit's life turned over: he was in business; he got
married; he was a major and Brigade Education Officer in the army during the Second
World War and for some years afterwards. The year 1959 found him back in commercial
life in the west-coast city of Mangalore.
During his leisure time he would read the
‘Guru Charitra’.
It is said that if this book is read through completely within seven days, great
spiritual benefits will ensue. On the evening of the sixth day of the reading he had
a dream.
In the dream, he was walking along a broad avenue of trees, and
felt that someone was following him. He looked back. There was a man, very
distinctive looking, close behind him. Dixit asked: "Who are you and why are you
following me?"
But there was no reply. The figure just continued to follow
silently. After a few minutes Dixit looked back again and saw the man still
following him. Neither said anything. Soon the footsteps drew closer, and Dixit felt
that something was being poured over his head from behind. He realised that it was
ash…
That was all of the dream he could remember on waking, but very
clear in his mind remained the striking, unique figure and face of the man who
followed him.
Some months afterwards - through an odd set of circumstances he
heard that there was a reincarnatian of Shirdi Baba but did not believe it. Then
later on he heard the same story again from another quarter and was shown a
photograph of Sathya Sai Baba. It was the man who had followed him in the dream.
Now his interest was really aroused. He remembered his uncle's
story that Shirdi Baba had once told him: "I will appear again as a boy of eight
years."
Was this the boy, now grown to manhood? He decided to go as soon
as possible to Puttaparti and find out all he could. It was early in 1961 when he
managed to get there, as one of a party of about thirty people. The ashram was
choked with the thousands who had arrived for the Shivaratri festival, and Dixit
stood among them waiting for a view of Sathya Sai Baba on the high balcony.
When the little red-robed, dome-haired figure with the sweet,
lovable face appeared, Dixit knew for certain that it was the figure of his strange
dream. Yet, he thought, how can this be the old saint of Shirdi? With His coloured
silks, hair like a woman and the big crowds around Him, this man is more like a film
star. Shirdi Baba was rugged, homespun, simple: how can this possibly be the same
man?, he pondered. Suddenly he wanted to go home.
But he stayed to watch Sathya Sai pour huge quantities of sacred
ash from a small bowl over the statue of Shirdi Sai, and the same evening take nine
lingams from his mouth. Then during a public discourse next day Baba said: "Some who
have come here think I am too much like a film star; they object to my
bright-coloured robes and the style of my hair…"
With consternation, Dixit heard all of his own unspoken critical
thoughts being repeated from the platform. Then Baba went on to explain the reasons
- good reasons Dixit felt - for the striking attire, the unique hairstyle and the
other features of this incarnation.
Well, Dixit decided, He is certainly something very special.
There is no doubt about His paranormal powers, but.... He is so different from old
Shirdi Baba. Can it really be the same soul?
On his second visit to Prasanthi Nilayam three months later, he
was called into a room with a group of half-a-dozen people for an interview. Baba
came in, spoke to a few people, and then went up to M. S. Dixit who was holding a
small photo of his uncle, H. S. Dixit, in his hand. Baba took the photo from him,
looked at it, and said: "That's H. S. Dixit, your uncle, your father's elder
brother, and my old devotee at Shirdi. Now have you any more doubts?"
His doubts were fewer because all that Baba had just said was
true. And Dixit had told no one his name at the ashram. He was there
incognito
- just an unknown member of a crowd of visitors. But Baba had recognised the face of
his uncle in the photo at first sight.
After that Dixit often made trips to the ashram and, through the
years, enjoyed the wealth of Sai Baba's miraculous powers, great compassion and
spiritual teachings.
Once, speaking of Shirdi Baba's remark to his uncle Hari about
coming back to earth "as a boy of eight years", Baba told Dixit that what he had
really said was he would return as a boy in eight years, that is, eight
years after his death - which he in fact did.
Sathya Sai added that H. S. Dixit must have misunderstood him.
But it was, the many, many little things, more than these big ones that finally,
convinced him that the two Sais were one, Dixit told me.
He went on to describe these important little things: the
similarities in the siddhis (powers), the parallels in the teachings and
manner of instruction, the subtle echoes from the past in gesture, phrase and
attitude. "Sometimes I even see on his face the same old smile that I saw long ago
on the face of Shirdi Baba," he said.
Of course, the differences which he felt so sharply at first are
indeed there, he admits. But there, is, after all, a different body, a different
setting, a different period in time - a different environment for the Sai mission.
And therefore the mission, while in spirit the same, cannot be precisely the same in
form and style, and it is to be expected that the outer personality through which
the message comes to the world will also be different.
Sai Baba himself comments that He is not as hard or angry now as
he was in the earlier manifestation. He is more tolerant and gentle. He explains the
difference by means of a simile: "The mother is usually hard when the children enter
the kitchen and disturb the cooking; but while serving the food she is all smiles
and patience. I am now serving the dishes cooked then. Wherever you may be, if you
are hungry and if your plate is ready, I shall serve you the dishes and feed, you to
your heart's content.”
At another time, concerning the controversy about whether He is
the same Baba or not, He said: "When there are two pieces of candy, one square,
another circular, one yellow and the other purple in colour, unless one has eaten
and realised the taste of both pieces one cannot, believe that both are the same.
Tasting, experiencing - that's the crucial thing for knowing the identity."
Reference: “Sai Baba: Man of Miracles” by Mr. Howard Murphet.
Page: 62-66 (Paperback Edition).
Published by Macmillan India Ltd, 1972.
The Shirdi Link
Chronology of the life of Shirdi Sai Baba
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF EVENTS -SHRIDI
SAI BABA
1835
Sai Baba was born in very early hours of September 27 or 28, 1835 to a poor Hindu
couple, Gangabhavadya and Devagiriamma. The newborn infant is left in the woods,
abandoned. The infant is immediately discovered and adopted by a childless Muslim
fakir and his wife.
1838
Sai Baba lives with the Muslim couple for 4 years. Meanwhile the fakir dies. The
wife is left to tend the child alone. Even as a small child Baba stirs up sentiments
between the Hindu and Muslim community by worshipping Allah in Hindu temples, and
Hindu gods in the mosque. In fear of increased problems by a sole widow, Baba is
handed over for care with a local mendicant and story-teller, Venkusa.
1839-51
Sai Baba spent 12 years with his Guru. The name of his Guru was Gopal Rao Deshmukh (Venkusa,
also known as Venkavadhuta) ) of Selu. Some say " Baba practiced penance at the tomb
of His Guru in the cellar under the Neem Tree at Shirdi". Arrival of Devidas at
Shirdi (Aged 10-11 years) took place in 1846. When he enquired, BABA mentioned the
name of his GURU as Venkusa implying VISHNU (Parvardigar).
1851
Sai Baba first appeared at Shirdi and stays in the village for two months. He is
noted to reside day and night under a Neem Tree (aged about 16 Years) which he
claims is growing over the tomb of his old guru. After two months Baba disappeared
to an unknown place.
ca. 1855-1857
Sai Baba travels about from place to place and finally ends up in Dhoopkheda (or
Dhoop) in Aurangabad District. There he ends up attending the marriage of Chandu
Patel's son in 1858.
1858
Sai Baba returns to Shirdi along with the marriage-party of Chand Patil and remained
at Shirdi for ever till His Samadhi. A widowed Deputy Collector and Settlement
Officer by name H.V. Sathe (Hari Vinayaka Sathe) comes to Shirdi on the death of his
wife. Baba takes great fondness to Sathe. Sathe was the first to set up apartments
at Shirdi for temporary visitors. Baba regarded Sathe as his right hand in regard to
all matters. Because Baba was keeping Sathe close to him and relying on him for
everything, the residents of Shirdi grew jealous towards him.
1865
Saint Manik Prabhu of Homanabad in Bidar District of Karnataka passed away in 1878,
Chaitra Vadya 14. H. H. Akkalkot Swami left His mortal coil at Akkalkot in Solapur
District of Maharashtra. (First appeared in 1835). It is reported that three of them
(Manik Prabhu, Swami Samartha and SAIBABA) met at Humanabad.
1885
Saint Anandnath (aged 95 years) of Yewala Math and a disciple of Akkalkot Swami
visited Shirdi and seeing Sai Baba exclaimed, "This is a precious real diamond."
1886, April 16
Mahasamadhi of Shri Ramkrishna Paramahansa of Bengal 1886, Margashirsh 15 Sai Baba
got rid of an attack of asthma, by going into samadhi for 72 Hrs.
1887
Manthrapragada Ramalaksmhi Devi, and my father, Venkata Narasimha Rao—who were
childless in spite of efforts—visited their Guru, Shirdi Sai Baba, in 1887 and
prayed to him for a child. As the fruit of Shirdi Sai Baba's grace, I was born to
them on August 8, 1888. Shirdi Sai Baba himself gave me my name, Shringeri Sharada
Devi. As I am of fair complexion, he used to lovingly call me Gori.
1889
Abdullah arrived at Shirdi from Nanded (in West Khandesh near Jalgaon and Amalner)
1892 (approx)
Nanasaheb Chandorkar arrived at Shirdi for the first time after being invited by
BABA many a time showing his intimate relations with NANA since his many previous
births.
1894 (approx)
Das Ganu (Ganesh Dattatreya Sahasrabuddhe) accompanied Nanasaheb Chandorkar to
Shirdi for the first time
1896
Celebration of 'Urus' ( fair) started at Shirdi owing to the efforts of Gopalrao
Gund, a Circle Inspector of Kopargaon
1898
Sai Baba was seen sleeping on a narrow plank suspended with old rags about 7 or 8
feet above ground with lighted lamps placed on the plank.
(Uknown year) About this time, the parents of Shyam came to Shirdi with the two-year
old child named Mohan Shyam. A small school for children were adjoining Baba's room.
Shyam used to watch Baba at nights through the ventilator. Baba used to sleep on an
eighteen-inch wide plank suspended suspended with old rags about 7 or 8 feet above
ground with lighted lamps placed on the plank. Shyam was apprehensive that Baba
might fall from his lofty but narrow perch during sleep. Shyam prayed to stay near
Baba and serve him for his remaining days.
1899-1900
Nanasaheb Chandorkar visited Shirdi with his sister-in-law's husband, Shri Biniwale.
Baba scolded Nanasaheb for dissuading Biniwale, a devotee of Shri Dattatmya from
visiting Datta Temple on the bank of Godavari River to avoid delay in reaching
Shirdi.
1900-1902
Sai Baba like a learned Pandit explained Geeta to Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who believed
that BABA was not well versed with Sanskrit language of Pandits (learned people).
1903
Das Ganu left Govt. service and as per Baba's instructions settled at Nanded and
started performing keertans and writing life histories of recent saints
1903
Das Ganu's book 'Sant Kathamrit' was published. (Ch. 57 about Sai Baba's advice to
Nanasaheb Chandorkar)
1904, April
Rao Bahadur H. V. Sathe first arrived at Shirdi. (Aged 49 years)
1904-1905
Nanasaheb Chandorkar's pregnant daughter Mainatai at Jamner in Jalgaon District had
severe pains of delivery. Sai baba sent Udi and Arati with Ramgir Gosavi from Shirdi
and she had a safe delivery. Sai Baba even took the form of tonga's Rajput driver to
make Ramgir reach Jamner safe and on time.
1906
Das Ganu's book 'Bhakta-Leelamrit' was published. (Chs.. 31, 32 and 33 about Sai
Baba)
1906
Nanasaheb Chandorkar was transferred as Mamlatdar from Nandurbar to Pandharpur. On
the way, he stopped at Shird! with his family and started requesting Baba to
accompany them to Pandharpur and stay there permanently with them. The devotees then
told Nanasaheb about the singing of bhajan just finished in which Baba's mood of
going to Pandharpur and staying there for ever was expressed. The text of the song
was,'I want to go and stay at Pandharpur .'
1906
Shivamma Thayee's uncle meets Baba for the first time, while Baba is visiting
Vellakinaru in Coimbatore. Baba told Shivamma's uncle, 'She is the only girl in the
whole lot who will be a highly elevated soul.' Baba then slowly chanted the Gayatri
Mantra to Shivamma.
1907
Radhakrishna Mai (Sunderabai Kshirsagar) arrived at Shirdi.(Young good-looking widow
aged 25 years). She was blessed by BABA who used to send a part of food collected as
(Bhiksha) to her.
1908
Sathe Wada was constructed.
1908 Ekadashi
Kashirarn Shimpi died. (Chaitra Shuddha 11). BABA saved his life in a mysterious way
when he was assaulted by Thieves in a jungle.
1908
Pundalikrao of Nanded met Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati. (Tembe Swami) at Rajahmundry
on banks of Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh and Swami gave a coconut to be
presented to Sai Baba. BABA showed cognizance of Swamiji's gilt and showed his
oneness with Swami by describing him as his brother (Bhau)
1908
Shri Tatyasaheb Noolkar, (Aged 45 years) the Sub-judge of Pandharpur first arrived
at Shirdi in 1908. Gurupournima festival was prompted by Baba for Dada Kelkar,
Tatyasaheb Noolkar, Madhavrao Deshpande and others.
1909
Saibaba threw an ochre garment on Balasaheb Bhate, Mamlatdar of Kopargaon, and an
atheist, on his very first visit and Balasaheb lost complete interest in worldly
matters. He retired prematurely from service and settled down at Shirdi permanently.
1909
Bapusaheb (Sakharam Hari) Jog on retirement from Govt. service came to stay at
Shirdi permanently accompanied by his wife.
1909
Bhimaji Patil of Narayangaon (Pune District) came to Shirdi for getting his chronic
tuberculosis at the last stage and was cured by Baba's blessings.
1909, Nov 2
Hari Sitaram alias Kakasaheb Dixit (Aged 45 years), a prominent solicitor and M.L.C.
first arrived at Shirdi. Baba used to call him affectionately Langda Kaka and
removed fear complex from his mind. Kaka Dixit was known for his obedience to Baba's
orders.
1909, Dec 10
Devotees began to offer regular worship to Baba in the Chavadi, where He slept on
alternate days
1909, Dec 25
Baba gave darshan in the form of Sri Rama to a doctor, devotee of Sri Rama who came
with a Mamlatdar.
1910
Baba's 'Handi' ritual, occasionally cooking food Himself in a big copper pot and
distributing it to devotees and poor people without discrimination. This practice
continued till this year. After wards owing to Das Ganu's keertans (musical recitals
praising Baba), Baba's fame spread far and wide and devotees started flocking
together in large numbers offering large quantities of food as 'naivedya' and thus
there was no need of 'Handi.
1910
Ramachandra Atmaram alias Babasaheb Tarkhad from Bandra (Bombay) first visited
Shirdi.
1910
Rao Bahadur Moreshwar W. Pradhan of Santacruz (Bombay) first visited Shirdi.
1910
Govind Raghunath alias Annasaheb Dabholkar (Aged 51 years), the author of Shri Sai
Satcharita (Marathi), had his first darshan of Sai Baba and received significant and
prophetic title of 'Hemadpant. Baba gave him his blessings and inspired him to write
SAI SATCHARITA - a religious scripture describing BABA's life story and his divine
play (leela) as monumental as GURU CHARITRA- the old monumental POTHI - a poetic
religious scripture inspiring worship to GURU, NARASINHA SARASWATI.
1910
Balkrishna Vishwanath alias Balasaheb Deo (Dahanu Mamlatdar) first visited Shirdi
prompted by Nanasaheb Chandorkar. Deo used to describe him as Baba's child - with a
full sense of surrender.
1910,
Bhadrapad Shuddha 5H. H. Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon (Buldhana District of
Maharashtra) left His mortal coil. (First appeared in 1878). At that very time at
Shirdi, Sai Baba grieved profusely and said, "Hallo! My Gajanan is gone. I must take
bath again in reverance to the Great Soul."
1910
Shrimant Gopalrao Mukund alias Bapu saheb Butty of Nagpur, (a rich statesman)
started staying permanently at Shirdi.
1910
Harishchandra Pitale's son suffering from epilepsy, was cured by Baba's mere glance
at him. Baba gave Pitale three rupees and reminded him of two rupees earlier
received by him from Swami Samarth of Akkalkot and thus showed his oneness with all
the other SAINTS (Vibhutis)
1910, Ashwin Vady13
Sai Baba pushed his arm into the brightly burning Dhuni to save a blacksmith's
child. 'The arm was scorched and burnt. Nanasaheb came from Bombay with Dr.
Parmananda but Baba did not allow the doctor to treat him.Bhagoji Shinde's service
of massaging the arm with ghee and bandaging it continued till Baba's Samadhi. This
episode is in testimony to BABA's cosmic existence- HIS super consciousness.
1910 Dec 5
Hon'ble Mr. Ganesh Shrikrishna alias Dadasaheb Khaparde of Amraoti (Maharashtra)
first visited Shirdi. (Refused on 10 Dec. 1910) Mr.Babasaheb Khaprde was an ardent
devotee of BABA and his efforts were instrumental in bringing Loka Manya Tilak- (a
great national leader -Khapurde's contemparary) to Shirdi for Baba's darshan and
blessings in his movement for India's freedom from the British Rule
1910, Dec10
Foundation-stone of Dixit Wada laid with Baba's permission
1910, Christmas
Lala Lakhamichand of Santacruz (Bombay) came to Shirdi. Baba loved him very much and
affectionately accepted his petty gifts given with love.
1910
Megha returns to Shirdi and stays till his death. In Baba's company he underwent
mysterious experiences which transformed Megha from an athiest to an ardent devotee
of Baba and spent his life in the service of Sai -Shiva. He regarded Baba as Shiva-Shankar
(Lord Shiva-Shankar -the welfare Doer).
1911
Madrasi Sanyasi Vijayanand, while on a pilgrimage to Manas Sarovar, haulted at
Shirdi and breathed his last while reading 'Bhagawat' (a religious script written by
Saint Eknath) for 3 days on Baba's advice.
1911, March
Tatyasaheb Nulkar (Aged 48), the Sub-judge of Pandharpur breathed, his last at
Shirdi . Baba showed HIS oneness with Tatya Nulkar and described him as a pure soul
and expressed HIS grief at Nulkars demise.
After Tatyasaheb Nulkar passed away, Megha took over the regular daily worship of
Baba in the Dwarakamai. (He used to stand on one leg while performing the Arati).
Tatyasaheb Nulkar relinquished everything and stayed at Shirdi in Baba's company
till his demise Baba bestowed him with the unique experiences in self realization.
Baba advised him and Mr Shyama Deshpande to perform Guru worship (Pooja).
1911
Ram-Navami Festival was started at Shirdi owing to the efforts of Shri Bhishma and
Kaka Mahajani
1911, Ram-Navami
Construction of Dixit Wada was completed and was inhabited with due rites.
1911
Extension and roofing of the open space in front of the Dwarakamai was carried out
by Kakasaheb Dixit. Baba got enraged and tried to shake and uproot a pole. Then
removing Tatya Patil's pugree, struck a match, set the pugree on fire and threw it
in a pit along with one rupee as if an auspicious offering to avert evil. Baba never
liked renovation of his dwelling place viz. Dwarkamai (the masjid) and opposed any
such effort by the devotees.
1911
Somdav Swami alias Haridwar Swami visited Shirdi.
1911, June 27
Kashinath Govind Upaswii (aged 41 years) first visited Shirdi and returned again on
6 July. Baba ordered him to stay for 4 years in the Khandoba Temple.
1911, Dec
Kashinath Upasani composed the famous 'Shri Sainath Mahimna Stotra (hymn) in
Sanskrit. (Now being recited daily during Arati at Shirdi.)
1911, Dec
Bubonic plague raged at Shirdi (Lasted upto March 15 next year) Baba however saved
lives of plague inflicted devotees by taking upon himself i.e. on his body the
malody.
1911, Dec
Baba's grinding of wheat in the hand-mill. It was not wheat that was ground but
plague or cholera itself was ground to pieces and cast out of village. Seeing this
Annasaheb Dabholkar (Hemadpant) was inspired to write 'Shri Sai Satcharita.'
1911, Dec5
Dadasaheb Khaparde of Amraoti arrived at Shirdi again with family and stayed for 3
months. Shri Krishna Bhishma the author of Arati book 'Sagunopasana' accompanied
him. Dadasaheb Khaparde wrote diary (daily record of his stay at Shirdi in Baba's
company).
1911, Dec 11
Waman Rao Patel (Aged 22 years) (Later Swami Sai Sharanananda) first arrived at
Shirdi.
1911, Dec 13
Chandrabhan Shet Marwadi, uncle of Khushalchand of Rahata. expired.
1911, Dec 16
Dr. Capt. Hate first visited Shirdi (who had just appeared at LCPS examination.)
Baba sent him a messege in the dream saying, 'have you forgotten me?'
1911, Dec 19
Sai Baba's great devotee and a great saint of Nath-panth order, Shri Rama Maruti
visited Shirdi. (Stayed for 34 days.) '. Ram Maruti offered 'Naivedya' to Baba and
Baba very affectionately took a part of it (SWEET SANJA).
1911-12
Sagun Meru Naik arrived at Shirdi at the age of 23 and on Baba's advice settled
permanently running a small restaurant for the devotees visiting Shirdi.
1912, Jan
Dadasaheb Khaparde's youngest son Balwant was cured of bubonic plague by Baba by
taking the disease on himself.
1912, Jan 3
Megha fed some Brahmins on completion of his Gayatri Punascharana (a religious
ritual). Dadasaheb Khaparde attended it at Sathe Wada.
1912, Jan 19
Megha died at Shirdi at about 4 A.M. Baba lamented loudly and followed the funeral
procession for some distance. Baba showered flowers on Megha's body.
1912, Jan 20
Bapusaheb Jog started performing Baba's Pooja and Arati after Megha's death.He
continued this till Baba's Samadhi and even some years afterwards until he shifted
to Sakuri and joined Upasani Maharaj there.
1912
Transformation of Dwarakamai (the masjid) started. Pits were patched up and the
stone slabs fixed on the floor. Baba gave up sack-cloth seat and started using
cushion scat and boister in deference to devotees' wishes
1912 Jan
Ganapatrao, father of Tatya Kote Patil passed away. Tatya Patil stopped sleeping in
the Dwarakamai with Baba.
1912, Feb 25
Madhavrao Deshpande (Shama) left Shirdi to attend Kakasaheb Dixit's son's
thread-ceremony at Nagpur and Nanasaheb Chandorkar's son's wedding at Gwalior. From
there accompanied by Appa Kote, he went on a pilgrimage to Mathura, Prayag, Ayodhya,
Kashi and Gaya. At Gaya Madhavrao saw Baba's picture at the priest's house and was
reminded of Baba's words, "After visiting Kashi and Prayag I would be reaching the
religious place ahead of Shama."
1912, Mar 15
Dadasaheb Khaparde returned to Amraoti. Mrs. Laxmibai Khaparde stayed behind.
1912, Ram-navami
Dada Maharaj Satarkar, known as 'Modern Tukaram', was invited to perform Ram-navami
Kirtan.When he bowed down in obeisance, Baba said, "I know this man since last 4
years". Bala Buva had never met Sai Baba before but 4 years ago at Bombay, he had
prostrated before Baba's picture. Thus Baba proved to His devotees that seeing His
picture was equivalent to seeing Him in person.
1912, April
First visit of Balaram Dhurandhar along with his brothers. Before they arrived Baba
had expressed, "Today many of my Durbar people are coming". Baba offered Balaram
Chillim to smoke and since then his 6 year old asthma was cured for ever
1912, Shravan 15
Guru-sthan padukas were installed under the Neem Tree at Shirdi
1913.
First visit of Mahadev Rao Sapatnekar of Akkalkot accompanied by his younger brother
Pandit Rao. When Mahadev Rao prostrated before Baba, Baba shouted 'Chal hat' (Get
away) in the protest of absence of faith in Saptnekar's mind and his prejudice for
Baba.
1913
Baba gave at Dwarakamai darshan of himself as Vitthal and Rakhumai of Pandharpur to
the wife and mother of R. B. Purandare of Bandra.
1913, Ram-Navaimi
Bala Buva Satarkar performed Ram-Navami Kirtan at Shirdi and Baba gave him a gift of
Rs.150/- for the Kirtan. These coins were collected in a dish (Thali) after Baba's
prayer (Aarti). Baba poured the whole dish in Satarkars bag (zoli)
1913, May
Wamanrao Patel (Aged 24 - 25 Years.) (Swami Sai Sharanananda ji) visited Shirdi
again and this time stayed for 11 months.
1913
Rao Bahadur Sathe got a son by Baba's Grace at the age of 57 years.
1914
Sapatnekar of Akkalkot arrived at Shirdi again with wife and returned being blessed
for begetting a son.
1914, Feb 14
Mr.B.V. Deo (Memlatdar of Dahanu in Thane Distict) was charged and reprimanded by
Baba for stealing His rag and after lot of abusing and scolding was favoured with
instruction to read Dnyaneshawari regularly every day as per Deo's desire. This
episode is an example of how Baba sometimes displayed his transcendental powers to
read devotees mental inclinations even without formal oral communication.
1914, Feb 22
A Sadhak of Yoga (Swami Ram Baba) visited Shirdi and seeing Baba eating bread with
onion got suspicious and disappointed. However Baba proved His power of omniscience
by reading his mind and the Sadhak returned highly satisfied and blessed.
1914, April 2
Before the year was over, Baba appeared to Deo in a dream and inquired if he
understood Dnyaneshwari properly. Deo said 'No' and added that without Baba's Grace
it will not be understood. Then Baba explained to Deo how to read it slowly (and
without making haste) with full concentration for knowing the subtle meaning between
the lines (Bodha -Knowledge)
1914, Ram-Navami
Das Ganu was ordained by Baba to perform Ram-Navami Kirtan at Shirdi every year.
1914, Shravan
H. H. Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati (Aged 80 years) (Tembe Swami) left His mundane
body at Garudeshwar on the banks of River Nannada in Gujarat.
1914. July 15
Kashinath Upasani left Shird! (total stay 3 years, 19 days) and proceeded towards
Nagpur, Khadakpur etc.
1915, Dec
Sai Baba suffered from asthma and was very weak. Yet He climbed over Radhakrishna
Mai's roof with a ladder. Paid Rs. 2/- to the person bringing and placing the
ladder. Honouring a worker for his work, Baba showed how Dignity of labour should be
maintained.
1915, Dec
Balakram Mankar passed away at Shirdi.
1915, Dec
Mrs Tarkhad (wife of Babasaheb Tarkhad of Bandra) sent a pedha (made of milk and
sugar) which was already offered as naivedya and that too with Balakram's son
Govindji who was in mourning. Yet Baba swollowed it with great eagerness and love
1915, Dec 30
Construction work of Butty's Wada was in progress. Baba occasionally used to go at
this place to see the progress of this work and gave instructions.
1916
Sai Baba made Das Ganu to do 'Nam-saptah and Kirtan' at Shirdi for a week
1916
Radhakrishna Mai (Aged 35 years) passed away. Baba used to bless her by sending a
portion of food collected by him by way of Bhiksha.
1916.
Arrival of a Madrasi Bhajani Mela (Party of the Ramdasi Order). Baba gave darshan to
the chief's wife in the form of her beloved diety Shri Rama. The chief also got a
dream and his attitude towards Baba was completely changed.
1916
Nephew of Dr. Mulky from Malegaon (District Nasik), suffering from tubercular bone-abcess,
was fully cured by Sai Baba's Udi and his loving glance. The doctor himself visited
Shirdi afterwards and became a staunch devotee of Shri Sai Baba realising that
Baba's service is to be performed not only for the sake of money or other mundane
things but for the welfare of the disabled, helpless and downtrodden.
1916
Annasaheb Dabholkar (Hemadpant) retired from Govt. service. On Guru Poumima Day
while at Shirdi, Anna Chinchanikar pleaded before Baba for getting some other
appointment for Hemadpant as his pension was quite insufficient and his family was
growing. Baba assured him about his source of income for livelyhood after
retirement.
1916, Vijaya Dashami
When in the evening Shirdi residents were returning from 'Simollanghan' ceremony
(crossing of the border or limits of the kingdom village), Baba suddenly got into
wild rage and taking off His head-dress, kafni and langota (loin cloth) etc., tore
them into pieces and threw them in the burning Dhuni before Him. The fire in the
Dhuni became brighter and Baba stood there stark naked. Later when cooled down and
dressed again Baba said, "This is My Simollanghan" and thus hinted at His departure
from this world soon on Dassehra Day. This Darshan provided an enlightenment that
Baba's body cannot be described as Hindu or Muslim or of any cast or belonging to
any religion in vogue.
1916
Ramchandra Dada Patil became seriously ill. One night. appearing before him, Baba
told him that he would recover soon but Tatya Patil will die on Vijaya Dashami Day
in 1918. Thus by substituting Tatya's name for HIS, Baba foretold Tatya's passing
away. However, Baba sacrificed his body to save devotees life by saying 'instead of
him another person will go?'.
1916
Baba averted Gopal Narayan Ambadekar's effort of suicide by prompting him to read an
appropriate incident from Akkalkot Swami's Chaiitra (religious scripture) and
avoided greatest sin in his devotees life.
1917
Shyam, the faithful servant of Baba falls at Baba's feet and dies, merging in Baba.
1917
Baba tells Shringeri Sharada Devi, "Gori, I will appear in Andhra [Pradesh] with the
same name of Sai Baba but in another Avathar . Then again, you will come to me. I
will keep you with me and give you joy."
1917
Baba names a young girl Shivamma Thayee and proclaims that she will be a saint.
1917
Haribhau Karnik of Dahanu (District Thane) wished to offerd. one more rupee to Baba
while leaving Shirdi, but could not do so. On the way at Nasik, in the Kala Rama
Temple another saint Narasing Maharaj demanded one rupee from him. Karnik gave it
willingly thinking that Baba was demanding the rupee he wanted to offer at Shirdi.
Baba fulfilled in HIS many mysterious ways devotees' desire to offer dakshina
through all the media.
1917
Sai Baba appeared at Thane (North of Bombay) to inquire the well-being of Appasaheb
Kulkarni's wife and children when he was away on tour. When Appasaheb returned Baba
not only fulfilled his desire of offering Rs.10 as Dakshina but also favoured him by
returning nine rupees consecrated by His touch. These nine rupees are the symbol of
nine bhakti services done to HIM.
1917
Upasani Maharaj (Aged 47 years) made Sakuri (near Rahata) his permanent residence.
1918
Rao Bahadur Moreshwar Pradhan purchased Lendi Baug and later presented it to Shirdi
Sansthan'. Baba himself planted some trees at the Lendi Baug
1918, April 1
At Vile Parle (East) (now suburb of Bombay) on Hanuman Road, Narayan Mahadev
Thosar's residence (later known as Narayan Ashram) was built a Hanuman Temple. On
the day it was consecrated, Baba paid Rs. 25 to a Brahmin named Waze and made him
perform Shri Satya-narayan Pooja
1918
Prof. G. G. Narke, son-in-law of Butty got a permanent job by Baba's Grace as
Professor in the Engineering College at Pune. Baba always remebered him by saying
'where has he (Narke) gone? Baba gave him a begging bag (zoli) for collecting food
-an exercise in cultivating humility and eliminating ego.
1918, August
Baba offered Hemadpant a glass of butter-milk and said, "Drink it all, you won't get
such opportunity again suggesting that time for his Samadhi has arrived.
1918, Sep 9
Das Ganu wrote 'Shri Sai Stavan Manjaril at Maheshwar (Madhya Pradesh) on the banks
of River Narmada.
1918, Sept 28
Nath Panthi saint Rama-Maruti of Kalyan passed away.
1918, Sept 28
Sai Baba had a slight attack of fever which lasted for 3-4 days. Since then Baba
abstained from food and day by day His weakness increased.
1918, Oct 1
Baba asked a Brahmin devotee by the name Waze to read 'Raum- Vijay' (by Sridhar
Swami) and listened to it for 14 days.
1918,Oct 8
A tiger met its death at the feet and presence of Sai Baba and was emancipated.
1918, Oct 15, Tuesday
On Vijaya Dashmi, Sai Baba left his mortal coil at about 2-30 p.m. Few minutes
before He gave Rs. 9/- as prasad to Laxmi Shinde. These nine coins represent nine
dimensional devotion to GOD.
1918, Oct 16
WednesdayEarly morning Baba appeared to Das Ganu at Pandharpur, in dream and said,
"The Dwaraka mai has collapsed and all the oilmen and grocers have troubled Me a
lot. So I am leaving the place. Go there quickly and cover My body copiously with
flowers".
1918, Oct 16
Wednesday in the evening Baba's body was taken in procession through the Shirdi
village and then interred in Butty Wada with due formalities
1918, Oct 27
On the 13th day Baba's devotees from all over gathered and funeral rites were
performed by Balasaheb Bhate with a feast (Bhandara) to Brahmins and poor. Later
Upasani accompanied by Bapusaheb Jog went to Prayag (Allahabad) and performed all
the remaining obsequies on the banks of River Ganges
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