HE STORY OF BABA'S PALANQUIN

[Guest guest]

“Have you already forgotten what happened this morning? You can do as you

like, but don’t put me in an awkward position,” said Jog.

“Baba and Purandhare are a match for each other. Let them both have it out

and decide. Do not come between them, Jog,” Nanasaheb Chandorkar intervened.

Jog fell silent at this. Purandhare went to Baba and pleaded with him to get

into the palanquin. Baba refused outright to even consider it. Purandhare

was even more adamant. He said that he would not take part in the Chavadi

Festival unless Baba got into the palanquin and took part.

The other devotees were trying to first pacify one and then the other but

everyone ardently wanted to see Baba in the palanquin in the Chavadi

Festival, carried as befits a king. Baba could not refuse the ardent desire

of so many loving devotees but he could not forsake his principles either.

So, in the end, after many deliberations and much carrying of proposals

between Baba and Purandhare, a compromise was duly arrived at. Baba agreed

that his padukas would be carried in pomp in the palanquin, while he would

walk behind it in his usual manner.

Purandhare and the other devotees were disappointed that Baba was not going

to ride in royal style in the palanquin, but accepted this compromise of

Baba’s padukas being carried in the palanquin, albeit unwillingly.

“Baba, shall I carry the palanquin?” asked Purandhare eagerly at the

beginning of the festival.

“No. You light the 125 torches first. The palanquin can be lifted later,”

said Baba. The torches blazed. The palanquin was lifted up in the glorious

light of 125 torches and it reached Chavadi in the splendour of that light.

No doubt the palanquin felt that its life’s purpose was fulfilled by the

good fortune it had in carrying the padukas of Sri Sai Baba. It must have

conveyed its heartfelt thanks to Raghuvir Purandhare for making it all

possible!

Baba returned to the mosque as usual the next morning, but refused to let

the palanquin accompany him back, so it stayed on in Chavadi for two or

three days. During this period someone stole the silver decoration pieces

off it. When this news was conveyed to Baba, he had a hearty laugh and said,

“It would have been better if the whole palanquin had been stolen!”

The devotees were perturbed by the theft of the silver ornaments. Purandhare

decided to build a shed for safety. The only place suitable for this shed

was the space between the mosque and Narayana Teli’s house. For this it was

necessary to drill some holes in the walls of the mosque as well as Narayana

Teli’s house. Narayana Teli was a devotee of Sri Sai Baba so he would agree,

but getting Baba to agree to boring holes in the wall of the mosque was a

different matter altogether.

It was therefore decided to complete the job in the two to three hours that

Baba spent every day at Lendi garden. The work started the moment Baba left

for Lendi. The drilling the holes in the walls of Narayana Teli’s house was

over, however the work on the walls of the mosque had barely started when

Baba returned from Lendi around ten in the morning. Seeing Baba return and

knowing what his reaction would be, those working on the walls and those

watching the work all ran away in fear. Only Fakira, the brother of Tulasi

Ram, and Purandhare were left. Fakira was holding the roof beams and was

standing on the walls of Narayana Teli’s house and Purandhare was drilling a

hole in the walls of the mosque, so Baba could easily catch them.

Baba caught Purandhare by his neck and growled in anger, “What are you

doing?”

“Baba, I am building a room for your palanquin,” said Purandhare.