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Chapter
VI
RAMA-NAVAMI
FESTIVAL AND MASJID REPAIRS
Efficacy
of the Touch of Guru’s Hand - Rama-Navami Festival - Its
Origin, Transformation etc. Repairs to the Masjid.
Before
describing Rama-Navami Festival and Masjid Repairs, the
author makes some preliminary remarks about Sad-Guru as
follows: -
Efficacy
of the Touch of Guru’s Hand
Where
Real or Sadguru is the helmsman, he is sure to carry us
safely and easily beyond the worldly ocean. The word
Sadguru brings to mind Sai Baba. He appears to me, as if
standing before me, and applying Udi (scared ashes) to my
forehead and placing his hand of blessing on my head. Then
joy fills my heart and love overflows through my eyes.
Wonderful is the power of the touch of Guru’s hand. The
subtle-body (consisting of thoughts and desires), which
cannot be burnt by the world dissolving fire, is destroyed
by the mere touch of the Guru’s hand, and the sins of
many past births are cleaned and washed away. Even the
speech of those, whose heads feel annoyed when they hear
religious and Godly talks, attains calmness. The seeing of
Sai Baba’s handsome form, chokes our throat with joy,
makes the eyes overflowing with tears, and overwhelms the
heart with emotions. It awakens in us ‘I am He
(Brahman)’ consciousness, manifests the joy of
self-realization, and dissolving the distinction of Thou,
and I then and there, makes us one with the Supreme (One
Reality). When I begin to read scriptures, at every step I
am reminded of my Sadguru, and Sai Baba, assumes the form
of Rama or Krishna and makes me listen to his Life. For
instance when I sit to listen to Bhagwat, Sai becomes
Krishna from top to toe, and I think he sings the Bhagwat
or Uddhava Gita (song of teachings by Lord Shri Krishna to
His disciple, Uddhava) for the welfare of the devotees.
When I begin to chitchat, I am at once put in mind of
Sai’s stories for enabling me to give suitable
illustrations. When I myself start to write anything, I
cannot compose a few words or sentences, but when He of
his own accord makes me write, I go on writing and writing
and there is no end to it. When the disciple’s egoism
props up, He presses it down with His hand, and giving him
His own power, makes him gain His object, and thus
satisfies and blesses him. If any one prostrates before
Sai and surrenders heart and soul to Him, then
unsolicited, all the chief objects of life viz. Dharma
(righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (Desire) and Moksha
(Deliverance), are easily and unsolicitedly attained. Four
paths, viz., of Karma, Jnana, Yoga and Bhakti lead us
separately to God. Of these, the path of Bhakti is thorny
and full of pits and ditches, and thus difficult to
traverse, but if you, relying on your Sadguru, avoid the
pits and thorns and walk straight, it will take you to the
destination (God). So says definitely, Sai Baba.
After
philosophising about the Self-Existent Brahman, His Power
(Maya) to create this world and the world created, and
stating that all these three are ultimately one and the
same, the author quotes Sai Baba’s words guaranteeing
the welfare of the Bhaktas: -
"There
will never be any dearth or scarcity, regarding food and
clothes, in any devotees’ homes. It is my special
characteristic, that I always look to, and provide, for
the welfare of those devotees, who worship Me
whole-heartedly with their minds ever fixed on Me. Lord
Krishna has also said the same in the Gita. Therefore,
strive not much for food and clothes. If you want
anything, beg of the Lord, leave worldly honours, try to
get Lord’s grace and blessings, and be honored in His
Court. Do not be deluded by worldly honor. The form of the
Deity should be firmly fixed in the mind. Let all the
senses and mind be ever devoted to the worship of the
Lord, let there be no attraction for any other thing; fix
the mind in remembering Me always, so that it will not
wander elsewhere, towards body, wealth and home. Then it
will be calm, peaceful and carefree. This is the sign of
the mind, being well engaged in good company. If the mind
is vagrant, it cannot be called well-merged."
After
quoting these words, the author goes on to relate the
story of Rama Navami festival in Shirdi. As Rama-Navami is
the greatest festival celebrated at Shirdi, another fuller
account, as published in Sai Leela Magazine of 1925, page
197, is also referred to and a summary of the festival, as
related in both these accounts is attempted here.
Origin
One,
Mr. Gopalrao Gund, was a Circle Inspector at Kopergaon. He
was a great devotee of Baba. He had three wives, but had
no issue. With Sai Baba’s blessings, a son was born to
him. In the joy that he felt regarding the event, an idea
of celebrating a fair or ‘Urus’ occurred to him in the
year 1897, and he placed it for consideration before other
Shirdi devotees, viz. Tatya Patil, Dada Kote Patil and
Madhavrao Deshpande (Shama). They all approved of the
idea, and got Sai Baba’s permission and blessings. Then
an application for getting the Collector’s sanction for
celebrating the urus was made, but as the village Kulkarni
reported against holding the fair, the sanction was
refused. But as Sai Baba had blessed it, they tried again,
and ultimately succeeded in getting the Collector’s
sanction. The day for the Urus was fixed on the
Rama-Navami day, after having consultation with Sai Baba.
It seems, He had some end in view, in this, viz., the
Unification of the two fairs of festivals, the Urus and
the Rama-Navami and the unification of the two communities
- the Hindus and the Mahomedans. As future events showed,
this end or object was achieved.
Though
the permission was obtained, but other difficulties
cropped up. Shirdi was a village, and there was scarcity
of water. There were two wells in the village, the one in
use, dried up soon, and the water from the second was
brackish. This brackish water was turned into sweet one by
Sai Baba, by throwing flowers into it. The water of this
well was insufficient, so Tatya Patil had to arrange to
get water, from a well by fixing Moats (leather sacks)
thereon, at a considerable distance. Then temporary shops
had to be constructed, and wrestling bouts arranged.
Gopalrao Gund had a friend, by name Damu Anna Kasar, of
Ahmednagar. He also was similarly unhappy in the matter of
progeny, though he married two wives. Sai Baba too blessed
him with sons, and Mr. Gund prevailed upon his friend to
prepare and supply one simple flag for the procession of
the fair; he also succeeded in inducing Mr. Nanasaheb
Nimonkar to supply another embroidered flag. Both these
flags were taken in procession through the village, and
finally fixed at the two ends or corners of the Masjid,
which is called by Sai Baba as Dwarkamai. This is being
done even now.
The
‘Sandal’ Procession
There
was another procession, which was started in this fair.
This idea of ‘Sandal’ procession originated with one
Mr. Amir Shakkar Dalal, a Mahomedan Bhakta from Korhla.
This procession is held in honour of great Muslim Saints.
Sandal i.e. Chandan paste and scrappings are put in the
THALI (flat dishes), and these are carried with incense
burning before them in procession to the accompaniment of
band and music through the village and then after
returning to the Masjid, the contents of the dishes are
thrown on the ‘Nimbar’ (nitche) and walls of the
Masjid with hands. This work was managed by Mr. Amir
Shakkar for the first three years, and then afterwards by
his wife. So on one day, the two processions, the
‘Flags’ by the Hindus and that of ‘Sandal’ by the
Muslims, went on side by side, and are still going on
without any hitch.
Arrangement
This
day was very dear and sacred to the devotees of Sai Baba.
Most of them turned out on the occasion, and took a
leading part in the management of the fair. Tatya Kote
Patil looked to all outward affairs, while the internal
management was entirely left to one Radha Krishna Mai, a
female devotee of Baba. Her residence was full of guests
on the occasion, and she had to look to their needs, and
also to arrange for all the paraphernalia of the fair.
Another work, which she willingly did, was to wash out and
clean and white-wash the entire Masjid, its walls and
floor, which were blackened and were full of soot on
account of the ever-burning Dhuni (sacred fire) of Sai
Baba. This work, she did during the night, when Sai Baba
went to sleep every alternate day in the Chavadi. She had
to take out all the things, including even the Dhuni, and
after thorough cleaning and whitewashing replace them, as
they were before. Feeding the poor, which was so dear to
Sai Baba, was also a great item in this fair. For this
purpose, cooking, on a grand scale and preparing various
sweet dishes, was done in Radha-Krishna Mai’s lodging,
and, various rich and wealthy devotees took a leading part
in this affair.
Transformation
of Urus into Rama-Navami Festival
Things
were going on in this way and the fair was gradually
increasing in importance till 1912 A.D., when a change
took place; That year one devotee, Mr. Krishnarao
Jageshwar Bhisma (the author of the pamphlet ‘Sai
Sagunopasana’), came for the fair with Dadasaheb
Khaparde of Amraoti, and was staying on the previous day
in the Dixit Wada. While he was lying on the verandah, and
while Mr. Laxmanrao alias Kaka Mahajani, was going down
with Puja materials to the Masjid, a new thought arose in
his mind and he accosted the latter thus - There is some
providential arrangement in the fact that the Urus or fair
is celebrated in Shirdi on the Rama-Navami day; this day
is very dear to all the Hindus; then why not begin the
Rama-Navami Festival - the celebration of the birth of
Shri Rama here on this day? Kaka Mahajani liked the idea,
and it was arranged to get Baba’s permission in this
matter. The main difficulty was how to secure a Haridas,
who would perform ‘Kirtan’ and sing the glories of the
Lord on the occasion. But Bhishma solved the difficulty,
by saying that his ‘Rama Akhyan’ (composition on
Rama’s birth) was ready, and he would do the
‘Kirtan’ himself, while Kaka Mahajani should play on
the harmonium. It was also arranged to get the
‘Sunthavada’ (ginger-powder mixed with sugar) as
Prasad prepared by Radha-Krishna Mai. So they immediately
went to the Masjid to get Baba’s permission. Baba, who
knew all things and what was passing there, asked Mahajani,
as to what was going on in the Wada. Being rather
perturbed, Mahajani could not catch the purport of the
question and remained silent. Then Baba asked Bhishma,
what he had to say. He explained the idea of celebrating
Rama-Navami festival, and asked for Baba’s permission
and Baba gladly gave it. All rejoiced and made
preparations for the Jayanti-festival. Next day, the
Masjid was decorated with buntings etc., a cradle was
supplied by Radha-Krishna Mai, and placed in front of
Baba’s seat and the proceedings started. Bhishma stood
up for Kirtan and Mahajani played on the harmonium. Sai
Baba sent a man to call Mahajani. He was hesitating to go,
doubting whether Baba would allow the festival to go on;
but when he went to Baba, the latter asked him as to what
was going on and why the cradle was placed there. He
answered that the Rama-Navami festival had commenced, and
the cradle was put on for that purpose. Then Baba took a
garland from the ‘Nimbar’ (nitche), and placed it
round his neck and sent another garland for Bhishma. Then
commenced the Kirtan. When it came to a close, pound
sounds of "Victory to Rama" went up; and Gulal
(red - powder) was thrown up all round, amidst band and
music. Everybody was overjoyed, when suddenly roaring was
heard. The red-powder thrown promiscuously all round, went
up, somehow entered Baba’s eyes. Baba got wild and began
to scold and abuse loudly. People got frightened by this
scene and took to their heels. Those intimate devotees,
who knew Baba well, took these scoldings and outpourings
of Baba, as blessings in disguise. They thought that when
Rama was born, it was proper for Baba to get wild and
enraged to kill Ravana; and his demons, in the form of
egoism and wicked thoughts etc. Besides they knew, that
whenever a new thing was undertaken at Shirdi, it was
usual with Baba to get wild and angry, and so they kept
quiet. Radha-Krishna Mai was rather afraid; and thought
that Baba might break her cradle, and she asked Mahajani
to get the cradle back. When he went to loosen and
unfasten the cradle, Baba went to him, and asked him not
to remove it. Then after some time, Baba became calm, and
that day’s programme, including Mahapuja and Arati was
finished. Later on, Mr. Mahajani asked Baba, for
permission to remove the cradle, Baba refused the same
saying, that the festival was not yet finished. Next day,
another ‘Kirtan’ and Gopal-Kala ceremony (an earthern
pot containing parched rice mixed with curds is hung, only
to be broken after the ‘Kirtan’, and the contents
distributed to all, as was done by Lord Krishna amongst
His cow-herd (friends), were performed, and then Baba
allowed the cradle to be removed. While the Rama-Navami
festival was thus going on, the procession, of the two
flags by day and that of the ‘Sandal’ by night, went
off with the usual pomp and show. From this time onwards,
the ‘Urus of Baba’ was transformed into the
Rama-Navami festival.
From next
year (1913), the items in the programme of Rama-Navami
began to increase. Radha-Krishna Mai started a
‘Nama-Saptah’ (singing the glory of God’s name
continuously day and night for seven days), from 1st of
Chaitra, For this, all devotees took part by turns, and
she also joined it, sometimes early in the morning. As
Rama-Navami Festival is celebrated in many places all over
the country, the difficulty of getting a Haridas was felt
again. But 5 or 6 days before the festival, Mahajani met
accidentally Balabuva Mali, who was known as modern
Tukaram, and got him to do the ‘Kirtan’ that year. The
next year (1914), another Balabuva Satarkar of
Brihadsiddha Kavate, District Satara, could not act as a
Haridas in his own town, as plague was prevailing in his
town, and so he came to Shirdi; With Baba’s permission,
which was secured through Kakasaheb Dixit, he did the
Kirtan; and was sufficiently recompensed for his labour.
The difficulty of getting a new Haridas every year was
finally solved from 1914 by Sai Baba, as He entrusted this
function to Das Ganu Maharaj permanently, and since that
time, he has been successfully and creditably conducting
that function uptill now.
Since
1912, this festival began to grow gradually year-by-year.
From the 8th to 12th of Chaitra, Shirdi looked like a
beehive of men. Shops began to increase. Celebrated
wrestlers took part in wrestling bouts. Feeding of the
poor was done on a grander scale. Hard work and sincere
efforts of Radha-Krishna Mai turned Shirdi into a Sansthan
(State). Paraphernalia increased. A beautiful horse, a
palanquin, chariot and many silver things, pots, buckets,
pictures, mirrors etc. were presented. Elephants were also
sent for the procession. Though all this paraphernalia
increased enormously, Sai Baba ignored all these things,
and maintained His simplicity as before. It is to be noted
that both the Hindus and Mahomedans have been working in
unison in both the processions, and during the entire
festival, there has been no hitch or quarrel between them
at all so far. First about 5000-7000 people used to
collect, but that figure went up to 75000 in some years;
still there was no outbreak of any epidemic or any riots
worth the name during so many past years.
Repairs
to the Masjid
Another
important idea occured to Gopal Gund. Just as he started
the Urus or fair, he thought that he should put the Masjid
in order. So in order to carry out the repairs, he
collected stones and got them dressed. But this work was
not assigned to him. This was reserved for Nanasaheb
Chandorkar, and the pavement -work for Kakasaheb Dixit.
First, Baba was unwilling to allow them to have these
works done, but with the intervention of Mahalsapati, a
local devotee of Baba, His permission was secured. When
the pavement was completed in one night in the Masjid,
Baba took a small Gadi for His seat, discarding the usual
piece of sack - cloth used till then. In 1911, the Sabha -
Mandap (court - yard) was also put in order with great
labour and effort. The open space in front of the Masjid
was very small and inconvenient. Kakasaheb Dixit wanted to
extend it and put on it roofing. At great expense, he got
iron-posts, and pillars and trusses and started the work.
At night, all the devotees worked hard and fixed the
posts; but Baba, when he returned from Chavadi next
morning, uprooted them all and threw them out. Once it so
happened that Baba got very excited, caught a pole with
one hand, and began to shake and uproot it, and with the
other hand caught the neck of Tatya Patil. He took by
force Tatya’s Pheta, struck a match, set it on fire and
threw it in a pit. At that time, Baba’s eyes flashed
like burning embers. None dared to look at Him. All got
terribly frightened. Baba took out a rupee from his pocket
and threw it there, as if it were an offering on an
auspicious occasion. Tatya also was much frightened. None
knew what was going to happen to Tatya, and none dared to
interfere. Bhagoji Shinde, the leper devotee of Baba, made
a little boldly advance, but he was pushed out by Baba.
Madhavrao was also similarly treated, he being pelted with
brick pieces. So all those, who went to intercede, were
similarly dealt with. But after some time, Baba’s anger
cooled down. He sent for a shopkeeper, got from him an
embroidered Pheta and Himself tied it on Tatya’s head,
as if he was being given a special honour. All the people
were wonderstruck to see this strange behavior of Baba.
They were at a loss to know, what enraged Baba so suddenly
and what led Him to assault Tatya Patil, and why His anger
cooled down, the next moment. Baba was sometimes very calm
and quiet and talked sweet things with love, but soon
after, with or without any pretext, got enraged. Many such
incidents may be related; but I do not know which to
choose and which to omit. I, therefore, refer them as they
occur to me.
In the
next Chapter the question whether Baba was a Hindu or a
Mahomedan will be taken up; and His Yogic practices and
powers, and other matters will be dealt with.
Bow
to Shri Sai Baba - Peace be to all
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