First-person testimony · Part II

Gangadhar Vishnu Kshirsagar

Context

The Kshirsagar family appears in Chapter 4 of the Satcharitra. Bhagwantrao Kshirsagar's father had been a devotee of Vithoba, made annual Varis to Pandharpur, and kept an image at home. After his death the son stopped the Vari, the worship, and the shraddha. When Bhagwantrao came to Shirdi Baba said: "His father was my friend, so I dragged him here. He never offered naivaidya and so he starved Vithal and Me. So I brought him here. I shall remonstrate him now and set him to worship."

About the 1936 statement

Gangadhar's 1936 statement (page 168 of Part II) is the Kshirsagar-family witness.

Verbatim excerpt from Narasimha Swami (1940s)

Baba: “Who is whose? Who gives? Who receives? None will give timely help. If you require Rs. 1,000 or 2,000 (worth of orna ments) receive it from me”. I was looking at Baba as he sat robed in a sack cloth and holding a mere tin for his only utensil. “How will he give me all this?” Was the thought that occurred to me. I went then to the house of my relation i.e. maternal aunt’s husband 155 and explained my need. He said that he had no jewels. I returned in a cheerless mood, as I felt that the marriage must fall through for the time being for want of jewels, and must be put off. Just at that junc ture, a friend came to me and I told him of the exact situation. He at once came to my rescue and by his introduction or intercession, a Gujarati Sowcar at Sinner lent me some anklets, a nose screw and he took out 30 tolas of gold which were converted into jewels in one day, which also were lent to me (on interest). So Baba through this friend and the Gujarati fulfilled his promise and the marriage was duly celebrated without any postponement. After this event, I paid my yearly visits to Baba. For some years I was getting children but they died after a very short life.

Source: B. V. Narasimha Swami, Devotees' Experiences of Sri Sai Baba (All India Sai Samaj, Madras, 1940s; reprint Akhanda Sainama Sapthaha Samithi, Hyderabad). PDF on Internet Archive · OCR full text. Excerpt matched on the term: Kshirsagar. This is the canonical English excerpt; please consult the original PDF for context.