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Chapter
XXXVII
Chavadi
Procession
In
this chapter Hemadpant after making some preliminary
observations on some points of Vedanta, describes the
Chavadi procession.
Preliminary
Blessed
is Sai's life, blessed is His daily routine. His ways and
actions are indescribable. Sometimes He was intoxicated
with Brahmanand (divine joy), and at other times content
with Self knowledge. Doing so many things sometimes, He
was unconcerned with them. Though He seemed at times quite
actionless (doing nothing) He was not idle or dozing; He
always abided in His own Self. Though He looked calm and
quiet as the placid sea, He was deep and unfathomable. Who
can describe His ineffable nature? He regarded men as
brothers, women as sisters and mothers. He was a perfect
and perpetual celibate as everybody knows. May the
understanding (knowledge), we got in His company, last
long unto death. Let us ever serve Him with whole-hearted
devotion to His feet. Let us see Him (God) in all beings
and let us ever love His name.
Hemadpant,
after making some lengthy dissertations on some topics of
Vedanta, which he himself considers as a digression, goes
on to describe the Chavadi procession.
Chavadi
Procession
Baba's
dormitory has been already described. One day He slept in
the Masjid and on the next, in the Chavadi (a small
building containing a room or two near the Masjid). This
alternate sleeping in both these buildings went on till
Baba's Mahasamadhi. From 10th December 1909 devotees began
to offer regular worship to Baba in the Chavadi. This we
will now describe with His grace. When the turn of
retiring to the Chavadi came, people flocked to the Masjid
and made bhajan in the mandap (courtyard) for a few hours.
Behind them was a beautiful Ratha (small car), to the
right a Tulsi-vrindavan and in front Baba, and between
these the devotees fond of bhajan. Men and women who had a
liking for the bhajan came in time. Some took Tal, Chiplis
and Kartal, Mridang, Khanjiri and Ghol (all musical
instruments) in their hands and conducted the bhajan. Sai
Baba was the Magnet Who drew all the devotees to Him
there. Outside in the open, some trimmed their divatyas,
(torches), some decorated the palanquin, some stood with
cane-sticks in their hands and uttered cries of victory to
Baba. The corner was decorated with buntings. Round about
the Masjid, rows of burning lamps shed their light. Baba's
horse 'Shyamakarna' stood fully decorated outside. Then
Tatya Patil came with a party of men to Baba and asked Him
to be ready. Baba sat quiet in his place till Tatya came
and helped Him to get up by putting his arm under Baba's
arm-pit. Tatya called Baba by the name of Mama. Really
their relationship was extremely intimate. Baba wore on
his body the usual kafni, took His satka (short stick)
under His arm-pit and after taking His chilim
(tobacco-pipe) and tobacco and placing a cloth over His
shoulder became ready to start. Then Tatya threw a
golden-embroidered beautiful Shela (Shawl) over His body.
After this Baba, moving a little the bundle of fuel-sticks
lying behind with His right toe and then extinguishing the
burning lamp with His right hand, started for the Chavadi.
Then all sorts of muscial instruments, tashe, band and
horns and mridang, gave out their different sounds; and
fire-works exhibited their different and various coloured
views. Men and women singing Baba's name started walking,
making bhajan to the accompaniment of mridang and veena.
Some danced with joy and some carried various flags and
standards. The Bhaldars announced Baba's name when He came
on the steps of the Masjid. On the two sides of Baba stood
persons, who held chavaris and others who fanned Baba. On
the way were spread folds of cloth on which Baba walked
on, being supported by devotees' hands. Tatyaba held the
left hand and Mhalasapati the right and Bapusaheb Jog held
the chhatra (umbrella) over His head. In this fashion Baba
marched on to the Chavadi. The fully decorated red horse,
named Shyamakarna led the way and behind him were all the
carriers, waiters, musical players and the crowd of
devotees. Hari-nama (the name of the Lord) chanted to the
accompaniment of music rent the skies as also the name of
Sai. In this manner the procession reached the corner when
all the persons that joined this party seemed well-pleased
and delighted.
On coming
to this corner Baba stood facing the Chavadi and shone
with a peculiar lustre. It seemed, as if the face of Baba
glittered like dawn, or like the glory of the rising sun.
Baba stood there with a concentrated mind, facing the
north, as if He was calling somebody. All the instruments
played their music while Baba moved His right arm up and
down for some time. Kakasaheb Dixit at this time came
forward with a silver plate containing flowers besmeared
with gulal (red powder) and threw them on Baba's body off
and on. The musical instruments played their best at this
juncture and Baba's face beamed with steady and added
radiance and beauty, and all the persons drank this lustre
to their hearts' content. Words fail to describe the scene
and splendour of this occasion. Some times Mhalasapati
began to dance being possessed or obsessed by some deity,
but all were surprised to see that Baba's concentration
was not in the least disturbed. With a lantern in his hand
Tatya Patil walked on Baba's left side and Bhagat
Mhalasapati on the right, holding with his hand the hem of
Baba's garment. What a beautiful procession and what an
expression of devotion! To witness this, men and women,
poor and rich, flocked together there. Baba walked very
slow. Bhaktas followed on both sides with love and
devotion. With joy pervading the whole atmosphere of the
place, the procession reached the Chavadi. That scene and
those days are gone now. Nobody can see them now or in the
future; still remembering and visualising that scene and
sight, we can bring solace and comfort to our minds.
The
Chavadi was also fully decorated with a good white
ceiling, mirrors and many sorts of lamps. On reaching it
Tatya went ahead and spread an asan and placing a bolster
made Baba sit there and made Him wear good angaraksha
(coat). Then the devotees worshipped Him in various ways.
They put on His head a mugut (crown) with a tuft above,
placed garlands of flowers and jewels round His neck and
marking His forehead with musk-mixed vertical lines and a
dot (as Vaishnava devotees do) they started at Him for
long to their hearts' content. They changed His head-dress
now and then and held it aloft on the head, fearing that
Baba might throw it away. Baba knew the heart of them all
and meekly submitted to all their methods without
objection. With these decorations He looked wonderfully
beautiful.
Nanasaheb
Nimonkar held the Chhatra (umbrella) with its beautiful
pendants which moved in a circle with its supporting
stick. Bapusaheb Jog washed the feet of Baba in a silver
dish and offered 'arghya' and worship with due
formalities, then besmeared His arms with sandal paste,
and offered tambul (betel-leaves). Baba sat on the asan (gadi),
while Tatya and others kept standing and falling at His
feet. When Baba sat on the gadi supporting Himself against
the bolster, devotees on both sides waved chamars and
fans. Shama then prepared the chillim and handed it over
to Tatyaba who drew a flame out of it by his breath and
then gave it to Baba. After Baba had His smoke, it was
given to Bhagat Mhalasapati and then it was passed round
to all. Blessed was the inanimate chillim. It had first to
undergo many ordeals of penance, such as being treated by
pot-makers, dried in the open sun and burnt in fire and
then it had the good fortune to get the contact of Baba's
hand and His kiss. After this function was over, devotees
put garlands of flowers on His neck and gave Him nose-gays
and bunches of flowers for smelling. Baba who was
dispassion or non-attachment incarnate, cared a fig for
all these necklaces of jewels, and garlands of flowers and
other decorations; but out of real love to His devotees,
He allowed them to have their own way and to please
themselves. Finally Bapusaheb Jog waved the arati over
Baba, observing all formalities, the musical instruments
playing thier auspicious tunes. When this arati was over,
the devotees returned home one by one saluting Baba and
taking His leave. When Tatya Patil, after offering chillim,
attar (scent) and rose-water, rose to depart, Baba said to
him lovingly - "Guard Me, go if you like, but return
sometimes at night and enquire after Me." Replying in
the affirmative Tatyaba left the Chhavadi and went home.
Then Baba Himself prepared His bed. He arranged 50 or 60
white chadders one upon another and thus making His bed,
went to rest.
We shall
also now take rest and close this chapter with a request
to the readers that they should remember Sai Baba and His
Chavadi procession daily before they retire and go to bed.
Bow
to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
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