Ramnavami At Shirdi 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 Sad-Guru 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 fore-head 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 I and Thou, 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 care-free. 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. He too was blessed by Sai Baba 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 Kri
shna 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 bee-hive 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 w orth 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 Mhalsapati, 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 a 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 From : Chapter 6
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