Shri Sai Satcharitra · Chapter 37

TL;DRChapter 37 is the Satcharitra's set-piece description of the Chavadi procession — the alternate-night ceremonial conduct of Baba from the masjid to the Chavadi (a small two-roomed building near the masjid) that began 10 December 1909 and continued until Baba's Mahasamadhi in 1918.

Listen to this chapter

3:25 · 1.2 MB

0:00

Editor’s note

Chapter 37 is the Satcharitra's set-piece description of the Chavadi procession — the alternate-night ceremonial conduct of Baba from the masjid to the Chavadi (a small two-roomed building near the masjid) that began 10 December 1909 and continued until Baba's Mahasamadhi in 1918. Hemadpant opens with a brief Vedantic preamble — Baba sometimes intoxicated with Brahmanand, sometimes content with Self-knowledge, sometimes active and sometimes apparently idle, but always abiding in his own Self; he regarded men as brothers and women as sisters and mothers, was "a perfect and perpetual celibate as everybody knows." The chapter then narrates the entire procession from end to end: Tatya Patil arriving with men to ready Baba; Baba's start-routine (moving the bundle of fuel-sticks with his right toe, extinguishing the burning lamp with his right hand); the gold-embroidered shela on his body; the procession of horse Shyamakarna, Bhaldars announcing his name, devotees holding chavaris and chhatra, Tatyaba on left and Mhalsapati on right, flags and standards, mridang and veena, fire-works; the corner where Baba stood "facing the north as if calling somebody," face shining like dawn, while Kakasaheb Dixit threw gulal-besmeared flowers; the arrival at the decorated Chavadi (white ceiling, mirrors, many lamps); the dressing in angaraksha and crown; the chillim that "had first to undergo many ordeals of penance" before reaching Baba; Bapusaheb Jog's arati; Tatya's parting line: "Guard Me, go if you like, but return sometimes at night and enquire after Me." Baba then prepared his own bed of 50 or 60 white chadders and went to rest. For modern readers Chapter 37 is the canonical Satcharitra source for the most photographed and reconstructed devotional event in Shirdi's daily life, including the precise organization, instruments, and roles of named devotees.

Chapter XXXVII — The Chavadi Procession

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/sai37.html

Sections

Preliminary — Baba's Inner State

Hemadpant: blessed is Sai's life, blessed is his daily routine; his ways are indescribable. Sometimes intoxicated with Brahmanand (divine joy), at other times content with Self-knowledge; sometimes active, sometimes apparently idle, but always abiding in the Self. He regarded men as brothers, women as sisters and mothers — "a perfect and perpetual celibate as everybody knows."

The Origin of the Procession

Baba's dormitory pattern (the alternate sleeping between masjid and Chavadi) had already been described in Chapter 8 — Baba slept one night in the masjid, the next in the Chavadi, throughout his Shirdi residence. From 10 December 1909 the devotees began to offer regular worship at the Chavadi. The procession was the ceremonial conduct of Baba from masjid to Chavadi on his Chavadi nights.

Assembly at the Masjid

When the turn of retiring to the Chavadi came, devotees flocked to the masjid and made bhajan in the mandap (courtyard) for hours. Behind them stood a beautiful Ratha (small car); to the right a Tulsi-vrindavan; in front Baba. Men and women came in time with tal, chiplis, kartal, mridang, khanjiri, ghol — every instrument. Outside, some trimmed divatyas (torches); some decorated the palanquin; some held cane-sticks shouting victory to Baba. Buntings decorated the corners. Around the masjid, rows of burning lamps. Baba's horse Shyamakarna stood fully decorated outside.

Tatya Patil's Call

Tatya Patil came with a party of men and asked Baba to be ready. Baba sat quietly until Tatya helped him up by putting an arm under Baba's armpit. Tatya called Baba "Mama" — their relationship was extremely intimate.

Baba wore his usual kafni; took his satka under his armpit; took his chilim and tobacco; placed a cloth over his shoulder. Tatya then threw a golden-embroidered shela (shawl) over his body.

Baba's start-routine — a precisely recorded ritual:

He moved the bundle of fuel-sticks lying behind him with his right toe.
He extinguished the burning lamp with his right hand.
Then he started for the Chavadi.

The Procession

Tashe, band, horns, and mridang sounded; fireworks lit varied colours. Men and women singing Baba's name walked making bhajan to mridang and veena. Some danced; some carried flags. The Bhaldars announced Baba's name as he came on the masjid steps.

On either side stood devotees holding chavaris and fanning Baba. Folds of cloth were spread on the path; Baba walked on them supported by devotees' hands. Tatyaba held the left hand, Mhalsapati the right; Bapusaheb Jog held the chhatra (umbrella) over Baba's head.

Behind them came the fully decorated red horse Shyamakarna, all the carriers, waiters, musical players, and the crowd of devotees. The names of Hari and Sai chanted to music rent the skies.

The Corner — Baba Facing North

On reaching a particular corner, Baba stood facing the Chavadi. His face glittered "like dawn, or like the glory of the rising sun." He stood with concentrated mind, facing the north, as if calling somebody. The instruments played; Baba moved his right arm up and down for some time.

Kakasaheb Dixit came forward with a silver plate of flowers besmeared with gulal (red powder) and threw them on Baba's body. The instruments played their best; Baba's face beamed. Sometimes Mhalsapati danced — possessed or obsessed by some deity — but Baba's concentration was never disturbed.

Arrival at the Chavadi

The Chavadi was decorated with a good white ceiling, mirrors, and many lamps. Tatya spread an asan and placed a bolster; Baba sat; Tatya helped him into a good angaraksha (coat).

Devotees worshipped: a mugut (crown) with a tuft above placed on his head; garlands of flowers and jewels round his neck; the forehead marked with musk-mixed vertical lines and a dot (in Vaishnava fashion). They held the head-dress aloft, fearing Baba might throw it away. Baba submitted meekly.

The Worship

Nanasaheb Nimonkar held the chhatra with beautiful pendants moving in a circle. Bapusaheb Jog washed Baba's feet in a silver dish; offered arghya and full formal worship; besmeared his arms with sandal-paste; offered tambul (betel-leaves). Baba sat on the gadi against the bolster; devotees waved chamars and fans.

The Chillim

Shama prepared the chillim and handed it to Tatyaba, who drew a flame by his breath and gave it to Baba. After Baba's smoke, it was given to Bhagat Mhalsapati and then passed round. Hemadpant's gloss: "Blessed was the inanimate chillim. It had first to undergo many ordeals of penance — being treated by pot-makers, dried in the open sun, burnt in fire — and then it had the good fortune to get the contact of Baba's hand and His kiss."

Garlands of flowers were placed on Baba's neck; nosegays for smelling. Baba — dispassion incarnate — cared nothing for the necklaces and decorations but allowed devotees their way out of love.

Arati and Departure

Bapusaheb Jog waved the final arati with full formality; the instruments played their auspicious tunes. The devotees returned home one by one, saluting Baba and taking leave.

When Tatya Patil, after offering chillim, attar (scent), and rose-water, rose to depart, Baba said lovingly:

"Guard Me, go if you like, but return sometimes at night and enquire after Me."

Tatya agreed and left for home.

Baba's Bed

Baba then prepared his own bed: he arranged 50 or 60 white chadders one upon another and went to rest.

Hemadpant closes: "Remember Sai Baba and His Chavadi procession daily before retiring."

Verbatim Sai Baba quotes documented in this chapter

(To Tatya Patil at the Chavadi, on parting) "Guard Me, go if you like, but return sometimes at night and enquire after Me."

Frequently asked about this chapter

When did the Chavadi procession begin?

From **10 December 1909**, the day Dadasaheb Khaparde was permitted to return home (the same day Kakasaheb Dixit's Wada foundation was laid). On that day devotees began to offer regular evening worship to Baba in the Chavadi, formalizing the alternate-night pattern into the canonical procession of Chapter 37.

What is the Chavadi?

A small building of one or two rooms near the masjid in Shirdi. Baba slept there on alternate nights (the other nights in the masjid) throughout his Shirdi residence. During Baba's alternate Chavadi nights, the masjid was washed and whitewashed by Radha-Krishna Mai (see Chapter 6). The Chavadi procession of Chapter 37 was the ceremonial conduct between the two buildings.

Who carried what in the procession?

Tatyaba held Baba's left hand; Mhalsapati held the right hand; Bapusaheb Jog held the chhatra (umbrella). Baba's red horse Shyamakarna led the way fully decorated. Behind came the Bhaldars announcing his name, carriers and waiters, musical players (mridang, veena, tashe, band, horns), flag-bearers, and the crowd of devotees with torches.

What was Baba's start-routine before each procession?

A precisely recorded ritual: Baba moved the bundle of fuel-sticks lying behind him with his **right toe**; he extinguished the burning lamp with his **right hand**; he wore the gold-embroidered shela that Tatya draped on him; took his satka under his armpit; took his chilim and tobacco. Only then did he start for the Chavadi.

What happened at the "corner" of the procession?

At a particular corner along the route, Baba stood facing the Chavadi (north). His face shone "like the rising sun." He stood with concentrated mind, as if calling someone. The instruments played; Baba moved his right arm up and down. Kakasaheb Dixit came forward with a silver plate of gulal-flowers and threw them on Baba. Mhalsapati was sometimes seen dancing in trance at this point.

What was the chillim's role in the worship?

Shama prepared the chillim. Tatyaba drew a flame from it by his breath and gave it to Baba. After Baba's smoke it passed to Mhalsapati and then around. Hemadpant offers it as a teaching: the chillim "had first to undergo many ordeals of penance — being treated by pot-makers, dried in the open sun, burnt in fire — and then it had the good fortune to get the contact of Baba's hand and His kiss."

How did Baba prepare his bed?

After the devotees departed and Tatya took his leave with "Guard Me, go if you like, but return sometimes at night and enquire after Me," Baba arranged 50 or 60 white chadders one upon another and went to rest. The detail is among the most often-cited concrete textures of Baba's domestic life in the Satcharitra.

Source: Shri Sai Satcharitra by Govind Raghunath Dabholkar (Hemadpant), 1929. English adaptation by N. V. Gunaji. Original chapter text: saibaba.org/satcharitra/sai37.html. This page is a factual summary with verbatim quotations from the source. We add no commentary attributed to Baba.

← Previous

Ch. 36 — Two Goa Gentlemen; Mrs. Aurangabadkar's Coconut

Ch. 38 — Baba's Handi; Kala; Cup of Butter-Milk