|
Chapter
XLII
Baba's
Passing Away
Previous
Indication - Averting Death of Ramachandra Dada Patil and
Tatya Kote Patil - Charity to Laxmibai Shinde - Last
Moment.
This
chapter describes the Passing away of Baba.
Preliminary
The
stories given in the previous chapter have shown that the
light of Guru's grace removes out fear of the mundane
existence, opens the path of salvation and turns our
misery into happiness. If we always remember the feet of
the Sad-guru, our troubles come to an end, death loses its
sting and the misery of this mundane existence is
obliterated. Therefore those who care for their welfare
should carefully listen to these stories of Sai Samarth,
which will purify their minds.
In the
beginning, Hemadpant dwells on Dr.Pandit's worship and his
marking Baba's forehead with Tripundra, i.e., three
horizontal lines; but as this has been already described
in chapter XI, this has been omitted here.
Previous
Indication
The
readers up till now heard the stories of Baba's life. Let
them now hear attentively Baba's Passing away. Baba got a
slight attack of fever on 28th September, 1918. The fever
lasted for 2 or 3 days, but afterwards Baba gave up his
food and thereby He grew weaker and weaker. On the 17th
day, i.e., Tuesday, the 15th October 1918, Baba left His
mortal coil at about 2-30 p.m. (Vide Professor G.G.
Narke's letter, dated 5th November 1918, to Dadasaheb
Khaparde, published in "Sai Leela" magazine,
Page 78, first year). Two years before this, i.e., in
1916, Baba gave an indication of His Passing away, but
nobody understood it then. It was as follows:- On the
Vijayadashmi (Dasara) day Baba at once got into wild rage
in the evening when people were returning from 'Seemollanghan'
(crossing the border or limits of the village). Taking off
His head-dress, kafni and langota etc., He tore them and
threw them in the Dhuni before Him. Fed by this offering,
the fire in the Dhuni began to burn brighter and Baba
shone still brighter. He stood there stark naked and with
His burning red eyes shouted - "You fellows, now have
a look and decide finally whether Iam a Moslem or a
Hindu." Everybody was trembling with fear and none
dared to approach Baba. After some time Bhagoji Shinde,
the leper devotee of Baba, went boldly near Him and
succeeded in tying a langota (waist-band) round His waist
and said - "Baba, what is all this? To-day is the
Seemollanghan, i.e., Dasara Holiday." Baba striking
the ground with His satka said - "This is my
Seemollanghan (crossing the border)." Baba did not
cool down till 11-00 p.m. and the people doubted whether
the chavadi procession would ever take place that night.
After an hour Baba resumed His normal condition and
dressing Himself as usual attended the chavadi procession
as described before. By this incident Baba gave a
suggestion that Dasara was the proper time for Him to
cross the border of life, but none understood its meaning.
Baba gave also another indication as follows:-
Averting
Death of Ramachandra and Tatya Patil
Some
time after this, Ramachandra Patil became scriously ill.
He suffered a lot. He tried all remedies, but finding no
relief, despaired of his life and was waiting for the last
moment. The one midnight Baba suddenly stood near his
pillow. Patil held His Feet and said - "I have lost
all hopes of life, please tell me definitely when I shall
die." Merciful Baba said - "Don't be anxious,
your hundi (death-warrant) has been withdrawn and you will
soon recover, but Iam afraid of Tatya Patil. He will pass
away on Vijayadashami of Shaka 1840 (1918 A.D.). Do not
divulge this to anybody, nor to him, for he will be
terribly frightened." Ramachandra Dada got well, but
he felt nervous about Tatya's life, for he knew that
Baba's word was unalterable, and that Tatya would breathe
his last within two years. He kept this hint secret, told
it to none but one Bala Shimpi (a tailor). Only these two
persons - Ramachandra Dada and Bala Shimpi were in fear
and suspense regarding Tatya's life.
Ramachandra
Dada soon left his bed and was on his legs. Time passed
quickly. The month of Bhadrapad of Shaka 1840 (1918 A.D.)
was ending and Ashwin was in sight. True to Baba's word,
Tatya fell sick and was bed-ridden; and so he could not
come for Baba's darshana. Baba was also down with fever.
Tatya had full faith in Baba and Baba in Lord Hari, who
was His Protector. Tatya's illness began to grow from bad
to worse and he could not move at all but always
remembered Baba. The predicament of Baba began to grow
equally worse. The day predicted, i.e., Vijayadashami was
impending and both Ramachandra Dada and Bala Shimpi were
terribly frightened about Tatya and with their bodies
trembling and perspiring with fear, thought that as
predicted by Baba, Tatya's end was nigh. Vijayadashami
dawned and Tatya's pulse began to beat very slow and he
was expected to pass away shortly. But a curious thing
happened. Tatya remained, his death was averted and Baba
passed away in his stead. It seemed as if there was an
exchange. People said that Baba gave up His life for Tatya;
why He did so? He alone knows as His ways are inscrutable.
It seems, however, that in this incident, Baba gave a hint
of His passing away, substituting Tatya's name for His.
Next
morning (16th October) Baba appeared to Das Ganu at
Pandharpur in his dream and said to him - "The Masjid
collapsed, all the oilmen and grocers of Shirdi teased me
a lot, so I leave the place. I therefore came to inform
you here, please go there quickly and cover me with 'Bhakkal'
flowers." Das Ganu got the information also from
Shirdi letters. So he came to Shirdi with his disciples
and started bhajan and kirtan and sang the Lord's name,
all through the day before Baba's samadhi. Himself weaving
a beautiful garland of flowers studded with Lord Hari's
name he placed it on Baba's samadhi and gave a
mass-feeding in Baba's name.
Charity
to Laxmibai
Dasara
or Vijayadashami is regarded by all the Hindus as the most
auspicious time and it is befitting that Baba should
choose this time for His crossing the border-line. He was
ailing some days before this, but He was ever conscious
internally. Just before the last movement He sat up erect
without anybody's aid, and looked better. People thought
that the danger had passed off and He was geeting well. He
knew that He was to pass away soon and therefore, He
wanted to give some money as charity to Laxmibai Shinde.
Baba
Pervading All Creatures
This
Laxmibai Shinde was a good and well-to-do woman. She was
working in the Masjid day and night. Except Bhagat
Mhalasapati, Tatya and Laxmibai, none was allowed to step
in the Masjid at night. Once while Baba was sitting in the
Masjid with Tatya in the evening, Laxmibai came and
saluted Baba. The latter said to her - "Oh Laxmi, Iam
very hungry." Off she went saying - "Baba, wait
a bit, I return immediately with bread." She did
return with bread and vegetables and placed the same
before Baba. He took it up and gave it to a dog. Laxmibai
then asked - "What is this, Baba, I ran in haste,
prepared bread with my own hands for You and You threw it
to a dog without eating a morsel of it; You gave me
trouble unnecessarily." Baba replied - "Why do
you grieve for nothing? The appeasement of the dog's
hunger is the same as Mine. The dog has got a soul; the
creatures may be different, but the hunger of all is the
same, though some speak and others are dumb. Know for
certain, that he who feeds the hungry, really serves Me
with food. Regard this as an exiomatic Truth." This
is a ordinary incident but Baba thereby propounded a great
spiritual truth and showed its practical application in
daily life without hurting anybody's feelings. From this
time onward Laxmibai began to offer Him daily bread and
milk with love and devotion. Baba accepted and ate it
appreciatingly. He took a part of this and sent the
remainder with Laxmibai to Radha-Krishna-Mai who always
relished and ate Baba's remnant prasad. This bread-story
should not be considered as a digression; it shows, how
Sai Baba pervaded all the creatures and transcended them.
He is omnipresent, birthless, deathless and immortal.
Baba
remembered Laxmibai's service. How could He forget her?
Just before leaving the body, He put His hand in His
pocket and gave her once Rs.5/- and again Rs.4/-, in all
Rs.9/-. This figure (9) is indicative of the nine types of
devotion described in chapter 21 or it may be the Dakshina
offered at the time of Seemollanghan. Laxmibai was a
well-to-do woman and so she was not in want of any money.
So Baba might have suggested to her and brought
prominently to her notice the nine characteristics of a
good disciple mentioned in the 6th verse of chapter ten,
skandha eleven of the Bhagwat, wherein first five and then
four characteristics are mentioned in the first and second
couplets.* Baba followed the order, first paid Rs.5/- and
then Rs.4/- in all Rs.9/-. Not only nine, but many times
nine rupees passed through Laxmibai's hand, but Baba's
this gift of Nine,
she will ever remember.
Being so
watchful and conscious, Baba also took other precautions
in His last moment. In order that He should not be
embroiled or entangled with love and affection for His
devotees, He ordered them all to clear off. Kakasaheb
Dixit, Bapusaheb Booty and others were in the Masjid
anxiously waiting upon Baba, but He asked them to go to
the Wada and return after meals. They could not leave
Baba's presence, nor could they disobey Him. So with heavy
hearts and heavy feet they went to the Wada. They knew
that Baba's case was very serious and that they could not
forget Him. They sat for meals, but their mind was
elsewhere, it was with Baba. Before they finished, news
came to them of Baba's leaving the mortal coil. Leaving
their dishes, they ran to the Masjid and found that Baba
rested finally on Bayaji's lap. He did not fall down on
the ground nor did He lie on His bed, but sitting quietly
on His seat and doing charity with His own hand threw off
the mortal coil. Saints embody themselves and come into
this world with a definite mission and after that is
fulfilled they pass away as quietly and easily as they
came.
Bow
to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
|
