First-person testimony · Part III

Balakrishna Govind Upasani Sastri

Context

Upasani Maharaj appears multiple times in the Satcharitra. He refined the inscription on the Padukas at Shirdi's neem tree (1912, see Chapter 5): "Sada Nimbarvrikshasya mooladhiwasat / Sudhasravinam tiktamapi-apriyam tam / Tarum Kalpavrikshadhikam sadhayantam / Namameeshwaram Sadgurum Sai Natham." Upasani also performed Baba's funeral obsequies along with Balasaheb Bhate (see Chapter 43-44). He is also described in Chapter 41 as reading some religious books with Nanasaheb Chandorkar at the Khandoba temple.

About the 1936 statement

Balakrishna Govind Upasani Sastri's statement (page 228 of Part III) is one of the more substantial Part III accounts.

Verbatim excerpt from Narasimha Swami (1940s)

d and then asked me to go to Nana Saheb Chandorkar and ask him for a loan. I went to Khandobas temple where Nana Saheb Chandorkar was read ing some religious books with the learned K.Upasani Sastri. I went and told Nana Saheb all that had occurred and Babas order that I should approach him for money. Nana Saheb at once showed his worldly wis dom. He said that he knew how delicate the situation was when Baba asked for dakshina and there was nothing to be given to him to satisfy him and that I should learn his plans and was. “Whenever I go to Shirdi”, he said, “I start with a certain sum, and leave a half at Kopergaon, i.e. on this occassion I came with Rs.200 out of which I have left Rs.100 at Kopergaon and come down to Shirdi with only Rs. 100. It is very painful to say ‘No’ when Baba asks for money. So I go on giving dakshina out of the stock in hand to Baba and when it is exhausted, I send for the reserve at Kopergaon. You must act like this”. I went back to Baba and then told him what Nana said. While I sat there. Baba sent for Nana and asked him for dakshina Rs.40. He paid it and went away. Again he sent for him and asked for Rs.40 more.

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