First-person testimony · Part III

S. A. Patnakar (Sapatnekar)

Context

Mr. Sapatnekar is the protagonist of Chapter 48 of the Satcharitra. As a law-student at Akkalkot he had jeered when his co-student Mr. Shevade said "my Sai Baba is there" with calm confidence about passing the exam. Ten years later, in 1913, Sapatnekar lost his only son to a throat disease. Pilgrimages to Pandharpur, Ganagapur, and Vedanta-study all failed to console him. Remembering Shevade's confidence he came to Shirdi with his brother Panditrao — and was twice driven out by Baba: "Get away!" / "Get out!"

A year later his wife dreamed of a fakir at Lakadsha's well neem-tree offering to fill her pitcher with pure water. At Shirdi she recognised Baba as the fakir. Baba narrated "his own" arm/abdomen/waist pains — which were her hidden pains — and they left her at once. Sapatnekar finally came alone, penitent. Baba narrated "a bania's life story" including the death of an only son, pointing to Sapatnekar, and to the shepherdess massaging his waist said: "This fellow blames Me and charges Me with killing his son. Do I kill people's children? Now I will do this — I will again bring that very child back in his wife's womb."

Within a year the son Murlidhar was born. The pair brought him at five months to Baba's feet. Two more sons followed: Bhaskar and Dinkar.

About the 1936 statement

Sapatnekar's own 1936 statement at page 281 of Part III is the witness-side documentation of the Satcharitra's Chapter 48 episode.

Verbatim excerpt from Narasimha Swami (1940s)

d to other in high praise of Sai Baba, and said “This (Baba) is a Chintamani”. Therefore, Nana Saheb Dengle went to Sai Baba and bowed at his feet, while he was seated at the foot of a Babul tree. Later on, Baba came to Shirdi and was living at the foot of a Margosa tree. Once, Baba himself spoke of that tree, that under it (i.e. its shade) was a tomb. Baba was living under that tree for 4 or 5 years. From the neem tree foot, he moved to the Mosque and made that his residence ever afterwards. Baba lived about 50 years here (i.e.) after his arrival. Baba did not do any wrestling. But Gangagir was first a wres tler, and he wrestled with Dondalgaon Patel, a Mahratta. In that engagement, he came off second best. He then gave up wrestling and became a Bua (i.e.) an ascetic. This was approximately about the time of Baba’s first arrival at Shirdi. Baba and Gangir recognized each other. I was throughout my life a wanderer. But every now and then I would return to Shirdi. So I know much of what I said above by hearing from others and verifying myself. I know a few remarkable facts about Baba.

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