Laxman Krishanji Nulkar

[Guest guest]

Laxman Krishanji Nulkar

 

“A star has fallen behind the Masjid”said Baba when Tatya

Saheb died. This speaks volumes of love and respect

that Baba had for this great devotee. Baba lovingly called him “Tatyaba:’ or ‘Mathara’.

Tatya Saheb had a habit of

writing about his visits to Shirdi to Nana Saheb Chandorkar. From these

letters it is very evident of the deep Rinanubandh

that existed between them. Tatya Saheb

hailed from Jalgaon; he studied in Pune, worked in Pandharpur,

retired and spent the last years at Baba’s feet in Shirdi.

He

writes on Friday” I went to Dwarakamai. Baba

was sitting with Amirbhai. Sai

was smoking the ‘chillum’. He said “Hey desi

tambako kadu laagthe’[This

indigenous tobacco is bitter “] I had recently gotten excellent Egyptian

tobacco for my pipe and had thought would Sai accept

some of it. So I said I’d fetch some for Him. Sai

saw it and praised it. Amirbhai hastily filled the

‘chillum’. Then Sai took a few puffs. He

returned the tin saying “It will be useful for Mhatara.

The indigenous tobacco is good for us:’

That very day Tatya Saheb “proposed to get some mango juice made for

Baba’s naivedya from the delectable mangoes

from Bombay; but only

a few were left. I was praying that that there would be mangoes coming for

sale. Shortly there after Shyama comes and says

“Baba said “Hey bhag Shyama

Shambar ambe ghavya aani pushkal

raas kadave aani khub khaava”

[‘Look here Shyama, a 100 mangoes should be

taken and plenty of juice prepared and eaten to full satisfaction’] In a

few minutes a man with a basket of mangoes came along I bought them and had

plenty of juice. That Sunday I thought our mangoes were over. But wished and

hoped that in the straw one stray mango would be found to send with the naivedya. I asked my wife and she said at the bottom were 4

good ones and 4 rotten ones. So I took out 2 of the best ones to be kept in the

naivedya dish. Within 2 minutes Appa

Kote came and said Baba wanted 2 mangoes. You can

imagine how glad I was. I told Appa to bring back one

slice from Baba’s left over. ButAppa forgot.

Baba cut one mango and ate it. Then He cut slices from the 2nd one;

gave some slices to Shyama and others. Taking the

last slice He said “Aapan sagale

khatho thya Matharala ekh phank

nako kare Shyama [We are eating the mangoes! Shouldn’t that old

man get at least one slice. Give this one to him] Then Appa

remembered my message and TatyaSaheb continued.

On another visit Tatya Saheb took shira for offering, Baba accepted it. A basket of mangos were

placed before Him; He said “Mhataraya la aasu dey kahi

udhya khaaeyel ‘kahi parva khaaeyel’

[Keep it for Mhatara. He can eat some tomorrow and

some the day after] so the basket was put away. When Sai went to the new Chavadi where

we were going to stay. Sai said “Stay at

the Wada [sahebs Dharamshala]

He actually took us there. There horses had been tied. The kitchen was just

being completed and a lot of mud and debris was lying abou.t

Sai said “This is a nice snug and protected

place; do you like it?” I said yes we would stay here. Then we came out

when Sai said “No Don’t stay here, stay

in the new Chavadi! Tomorrow if you like you may go

to the Wada” We had reached the new Chavadi and

Sai had almost reached the Masjid.

When He returned and said in a whisper “Its damp in the Wada so stay in

the Chavadi” This letter shows how much Baba

cared for Tatya Saheb s

comfort.

 

(Source Shri Sai Leela Magazine)