THE STORY OF BABA'S PALANQUIN

[Guest guest]

Baba was beside with himself in anger. “Earlier they dug up my mosque and

took away all the cash. Even the nimbar was not spared. Now you have started

boring holes in the walls too!” He pushed Purandhare to the door of the

mosque and taking a brick in his hand, said menacingly, “You better go away

from here or you will get some kicks from me.”

“Baba, you can hit me or do whatever you want to me, but I am not moving

from here until I build the room for the palanquin,” said Purandhare who was

as adamant as Baba.

Baba showered Purandhare with abuse and pushed him away. He washed his feet

and entered the mosque but the hail of abuses and curses did not stop.

Purandhare was unperturbed by all this. Baba had once said to him “I have

known you for 700 years. No matter how far you are from me, I take

responsibility for looking after you.” So Purandhare knew that the ties of

love bound Baba to him. He did not pay much heed to Baba’s fulmination.

Baba sent for him after a while. Purandhare entered the mosque and stood by

the outer side of the hand railing. Baba said in tones of anger and

annoyance, “Will you not heed me? Do you want to destroy the walls of the

mosque?”

Purandhare respectfully replied, “No Baba, I will take care to see that the

walls are safe.”

Baba calmed down and said, “All right, go and finish the work as you wish.

But do the work with care and concentration.” It was noon. Baba’s afternoon

arati was over and all the devotees had gone for their lunch. The devotees

who had finished lunch started trickling back to the mosque. Purandhare,

however, did not go for lunch but continued to be fully immersed in the

work.

Baba said, “You too go and have lunch.” There was no response from

Purandhare. Baba again said, “Are you not feeling hungry? Go have your lunch

and come.”

Purandhare did not move. He did not care to have lunch while the work was

still unfinished. Baba started pacing about impatiently. After a while he

said complainingly to Kaka Saheb Dixit who was present, “Look at this

obsessive fool! He could have had his meal and then finished the work! Why

does he not heed me however much I tell him to eat? How can he not know his

own hunger?”

 

 

(To be contd....)

 

 

(Source Saipatham Feb 2001)