First-person testimony · Part II

Nandaram Sivaram Marwadi

Context

The Marwadi (Marwari) merchants of Shirdi appear throughout the Satcharitra — most notably the Marwadi family whose boy's death is mentioned in Prof. G. G. Narke's statement ("He must be nearing the river now, just crossing it" — Baba's reference to the Vaitarini river of post-death tradition).

About the 1936 statement

Nandaram Sivaram Marwadi's statement (page 165 of Part II) preserves the Marwadi merchant-community witness.

Verbatim excerpt from Narasimha Swami (1940s)

t for it. Thus I got some relief. Then with similar accessions to my little marriage fund, I was able to celebrate the marriage on the date fixed by Baba (about 1913 or 1914) Another and later instance of his help was towards the close of Baba’s career. I had acted as a broker between a Marwadi and the man who mortgaged a building to him, giving him a title deed pur porting to be issued by the Collector. This title deed was impugned and the police charge-sheeted me and the mortgagor for using a fab ricated document etc. I went to Baba and prayed for his help He said “Do not fear. Everything will come right.’’ Then I went to Mr.Tendulkar and entreated his wife to pray to Baba for me and say that I would be discharged. She said so. That day I was discharged and others, i.e. the Mortgagor were committed to the sessions, wherein I was examined as a Prosecution witness. I have had numerous experiences, I have forgotten them. But they were all about earthly i.e. worldly matters. I did not read Quran or ask for spiritual advice; nor did Baba ask me to read Quran or speak to me of spiritual matters. Baba used to ask Bade Baba to go and read Quran or attend to his work.

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: Nandaram. This is the canonical English excerpt; please consult the original PDF for context.