Chapter V — Return with Chand Patil's Marriage Party; "Ya Sai"; the Lamps with Water; the Pseudo-Guru Javhar Ali

Source: Shri Sai Satcharitra, trans. Gunaji
Marathi original: Sai Satcharita (archive.org scan) · Devotee testimonies: Narasimha Swami 1936 (Internet Archive) · Full bibliography: /sources.html

URL: https://www.saibaba.org/satcharitra/sai5.html

Sections

Return with Chand Patil's Marriage Party

A well-to-do Muslim from the village of Dhoop in the Aurangabad District, Chand Patil, lost his mare on a trip to Aurangabad. After two months of search he was returning home carrying the saddle on his back. Four and a half kos from Aurangabad he came upon a young fakir under a mango tree, wearing a kafni and cap, with a satka under his arm-pit, preparing to smoke a chilim. The fakir called him over, asked about the saddle, and directed him to search in a nearby nala. Chand Patil found the mare there.

The chilim needed fire and water for the chhapi (filter cloth). The fakir thrust his prong into the ground and a live coal came out; he struck his satka on the ground and water sprang up. Chand Patil, wonder-struck, called him an Avalia. He invited the fakir to his house; the fakir stayed some days, then accompanied Chand Patil's wedding party to Shirdi for the wedding of his wife's nephew. The party returned to Dhoop; the fakir remained in Shirdi for the rest of his life.

"Ya Sai" — How the Name Was Given

The wedding party alighted at the foot of a banyan tree in Bhagat Mhalsapati's field near Khandoba's temple. As the young fakir descended from the cart, Mhalsapati greeted him: "Ya Sai" — "Welcome, Sai." Others addressed him likewise and the name remained.

Contact with Other Saints

Saints Devidas (already in Shirdi for years), Jankidas, and Gangagir of Puntambe are named as Baba's associates in this early period. Gangagir, on first seeing Baba carrying water for the garden, said openly: "Blessed is Shirdi, that it got this precious Jewel." Saint Anandnath of Yewala Math, a disciple of Akkalkot Maharaj, said: "This is a precious Diamond in reality. Though he looks like an ordinary man, he is not a gar (ordinary stone) but a Diamond."

Baba's Dress and Daily Routine

In his early years Baba grew hair, dressed like an athlete, brought plants of Mary Gold, Jai and Jui from Rahata (3 miles) and planted them. Vaman Tatya supplied two earthen pitchers daily; Baba drew water from the well, watered the garden, and left the pitchers at the foot of the Neem tree where they broke each evening (made of raw, unbaked earth). This continued for three years, and a flower garden grew. The site is now occupied by the Samadhi Mandir.

Story of the Padukas under the Neem Tree

A devotee of Akkalkot Maharaj, Bhai Krishnaji Alibagkar, planned a pilgrimage to Akkalkot for darshana of the Maharaj's Padukas. Before he could leave he had a vision: Akkalkot Maharaj appeared and said, "Now Shirdi is my resting place, go there and offer your Worship." Bhai came to Shirdi and stayed six months. The Padukas were installed on the auspicious day of Shravan, Shaka 1834 (1912 A.D.), conducted by Dada Kelkar and Upasani.

The full version (per B.V. Deo, published in Sai Leela Vol. 11): in 1912 Dr. Ramarao Kothare of Bombay came for darshana with his compounder and Bhai. The Padukas were drawn by Dr. Kothare, refined by Upasani Maharaj (who added the inscription `Sada Nimbarvrikshasya mooladhiwasat / Sudhasravinam tiktamapi-apriyam tam / Tarum Kalpavrikshadhikam sadhayantam / Namameeshwaram Sadgurum Sai Natham`), made in Bombay, brought to Shirdi by the compounder, and installed on the Pournima (15th) of Shravan at 11 a.m. Baba touched them and said: "These are the feet of the Lord."

When Bhai asked permission to go to Akkalkot afterwards, Baba said: "Oh, what is there in Akkalkot? Why do you go there? The incumbent Maharaj of that place is here, Myself." Bhai did not go.

Wrestling Bout with Mohdin Tamboli and the Change in Dress

Baba had a wrestling bout with Mohdin Tamboli; Baba was defeated. From that day he changed his dress: kafni, langot, cloth round his head, sack-cloth for seat and bed. He often said:

"Poverty is better than Kingship, far better than Lordship. The Lord is always brother (befriender) of the poor."

Turning Water into Oil — The Lamps

Baba was fond of keeping many lamps burning at night in the masjid and temple. The shopkeepers (Banias) of Shirdi, who had been giving him oil for free, conspired one day to refuse him. Baba returned to the masjid with his tin pot (containing only a few drops of oil), added water to the pot, drank from it and forced it back out into the container — consecrating it. He then filled the lamps with water and lit them. The lamps burned through the night. The Banias came in the morning to apologise.

The Pseudo-Guru Javhar Ali

Five years after the wrestling bout, the learned fakir Javhar Ali came from Ahmednagar to Rahata, then to Shirdi. He could recite the entire Koran. He began to claim Baba as his disciple; Baba did not object and acted the part of Chela. The two returned to Rahata. The Shirdi devotees, missing Baba, went to bring him back. Baba refused at first, saying the fakir was ill-tempered. The fakir appeared and was angry. Eventually all returned to Shirdi together.

Some days later Devidas of Shirdi (who had come to Shirdi twelve years before Baba) examined Javhar Ali, who was found wanting and fled to Bijapur. Many years later Javhar Ali returned and prostrated before Sai Baba. Baba treated him with respect. Hemadpant notes that Baba's behaviour was a demonstration of how a true disciple performs the duties of discipleship despite knowing the master's defects — egolessness in action.

Verbatim Sai Baba quotes documented in this chapter

1. (Receiving the Padukas) "These are the feet of the Lord."
2. (To Bhai Krishnaji) "Oh, what is there in Akkalkot? Why do you go there? The incumbent Maharaj of that place is here, Myself."
3. (Recurrent saying) "Poverty is better than Kingship, far better than Lordship. The Lord is always brother (befriender) of the poor."
4. (Welcoming greeting from Mhalsapati — the origin of the name "Sai") "Ya Sai" — "Welcome, Sai."
5. (Continuous utterance at the Dhuni) "Allah Malik" — "God is the sole owner."