Baba's Mahasamdhi Day - The day was Tuesday, the 15.10.1918

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The day was Tuesday, the 15th of October 1918.

 

It was the last day for Baba's physical body. The sun had risen as

usual. That day was Vijayadashami (Dushera). Baba became bodily very

weak. For ordinary persons, it would have been difficult even to get

up and sit. But, Baba got up as usual and sat in his place. Devotees

came for his Darshan as usual. Shama stopped some devotees from

coming inside the mosque, as Baba was unwell and advised them to have

Darshan from outside. But Baba did not agree to this and asked all

the devotees to come inside and have his Pada Darshan from outside.

But Baba did not agree to this and asked all the devotees to come

inside and have his Pada Darshan. The devotees did so. Baba put his

Abhaya Hastha on their heads, blessed them and gave them udi prasad.

For unknown reasons, even the close devotees of Baba who were always

with him, fell at his feet one after another. Baba gave them

necessary advice as per their need. They took them as usual advice

which Baba used to give, but failed to think that they were Baba's

last ones to them while in physical body. Baba asked Laxman Mama, who

was an astrologer and devotee , to do God’s Naamasmarana for some

time.

 

The time was eleven in the morning. Tatya vomited blood frequently

and went into unconscious state. His pulse also became weak.

Ramachander Patil and Bala Shimpe feared that Tatya would die that

day as per Baba's prediction. They brought Shama and showed him the

condition of Tatya. Thinking that Tatya would die in a few moments,

Shama came running to Baba. He explained the condition of Tatya to

Baba and prayed him to come to Tatya's house immediately and save

him. Baba consoling Shama told him not to worry and assured him that

Tatya would escape death as soon as Ekadashi set in that day. But

Shama again requested Baba to come once and see Tatya. Then Baba told

Shama, " All of you have the tie of friendship only with Tatya. But

for me there is also the responsibility for his welfare. I gave word

to his mother Baija Bai at the time of her death, that I would look

after Tatya equal to my life. The service rendered by that mother and

the word given by me to her cannot be forgotten. So you do not worry

at all. To save Tatya, I need not go there, and I can do it sitting

here, " After hearing this Shama calmed down.

 

The time was noon. Preparations were being made for noon Aarti. It

appeared as if some divine light entered Baba. Aarti was started.

Throughout the Aarti Baba's facial features were changing every

moment. Those who looked at him had peace of mind and felt like

looking at him continuously. During that period Baba appeared in

different forms to the devotees present there. He appeared in the

forms of Maruthi, Vittal, Dattatreya, Rama and to Muslim devotees as

Mecca and Medina. For one Christian devotee, he appeared as Jesus.

For Booty he appeared as Sri Krishna playing the flute in the Wada

built by him. One devotee brought his little son for initiating him

to education by Baba, that being Vijayadashami day. To him Baba

appeared as Vigneshwara and writing the Sanskrit alphabet 'OM' showed

it to the boy and blessed him. In this manner Baba, during Aarti time

that day, had shown his divine form to the devotees as per their

thoughts.

 

Aarti was over. The time was one hour past noon. Baba ordered all the

devotees to go away quickly. With joy at Baba's divine Darshan, all

of them went away to their houses and Wadas. Suddenly Baba had a

severe cough and he vomited blood. There, Tatya recovered and his

pulse came to normal. Some new strength entered his body. He stood up

and could walk also. He cried out of joy. He could not understand

from where he got this new energy all of a sudden. The onlookers were

also surprised. Before he recovered from his surprise, he remembered

Baba. Thinking that Baba had given him another lease of life, he went

running to the mosque.

 

By that time Baba leaned on Baija Appaji Patil and was telling him

something secretly. Saying this, he warned him not to reveal this to

others, otherwise, he would die. Tatya heard these last words. Baba

was getting severe cough and was heaving. Whenever he coughed, blood

poured out through his mouth and fell all over Dwarakamayi.

Beforehand Baba had asked his devotees to be without fear and sent

them for their meals. But a few devotees refused to leave Baba.

Lakshmi Bai, Bhagoji, Appaji, Laxman, Bala Shimpe were sitting near

Baba. When Tatya saluted Baba, he asked Shama to take Tatya and leave

him in his house. Shama returned after leaving Tatya in his house.

The time was two o’ clock in the afternoon. Baba sent away the

others also for meals.

 

Charity of Nine Rupees

 

Lakshmi Bai Shinde and Bayyaji were the only ones remaining. She was

near Baba's feet. Baba put his right hand in his shirt pocket twice,

took out Rs.5 and Rs.4 and gave them as charity to Lakshmi Bai. Baba

explained the significance of these nine rupees as the nine qualities

a devotee should have (1) Absence of egoism (2) Absence of jealousy

(3) Untiring service (4) Absence of worldly desires (5) Complete

faith in Guru (6) Peaceful nature (7) Desire to know the truth (8)

Absence of envy, and (9) Absence of self-boasting and finding faults

in others. Unless a devotee improved these nine qualities, he could

not have true devotion to reach God. Thus Baba taught to Lakshmi Bai

even in his last moments.

 

Baba's Mahasamadhi

 

Dashami ended and Ekadashi came. The time was 2.30 in the afternoon.

Baba told Bayyaji that he was leaving this world and his body was to

be kept in Booty Wada, assuring him that from there, he would be

protecting his devotees at all times. So saying, Baba leaned on the

body of Bayyaji. He did not fall on the floor, or his bed. He

breathed his last giving charity and teaching Jnana to his children.

This is the way the king of yogis - Yogi raja - attained Samadhi.

Lord Shiva who is capable of commanding death, and who was born as

human, invited death. The divine light which came out of the body of

Baba, joined Gurudhan, Dwarakamayi and Venkusa, who were already in

the form of divine lights (Jyothis) and all the four Jyothis combined

into one as Sai's divine power. It again divided into four parts. One

part went to Gurusthan. The second part when to Chavadi and settled

there. The third part merged in Dwarakamayi, and the fourth part went

into Booty Wada. These four powers represent the four Vedas. These

are the proofs of Sai Power, which can command, and control the whole

world. The Sivasakthi from Kailas came and stayed in Shirdi. In this

way Shirdi became a holy place. The body of Sai who exhibited

supernatural powers and saved several devotees, was lying in

Dwarakamayi.

 

The physical body of Sai Baba, lying in Dwarakamayi, cannot be seen

again. So let us imagine ourselves to be in Dwarakamayi and touch the

holy feet of Sai Baba and make our life meaningful.

 

The news of Baba's Samadhi spread throughout Shirdi and the

neighboring villages in minutes. People came along with women and

children to Dwarakamayi. They wept uncontrollably as Sai Baba, who

was God to them, was no more. They became speechless when they saw

the lifeless body of Sai Baba, and felt as if the entire world had

come to standstill. There was not a single family either in Shirdi or

the neighboring places, which had not experienced Baba's Leelas and

greatness. They cried loudly, recollecting the good things Baba had

done to them. Some fell down unconscious after seeing Baba's body.

Some were seen weeping and running in the streets. There is none who

did not shed tears. They now understood the 'Seemollanghan' incident

of two years back and how Baba had taken on himself Tatya's death and

give his life to him. Several people were recollecting Baba's strange

actions and words. Some said that Baba had indicated that he would be

born again after eight years, in Madras State. Some imagined that

what Baba had told Appaji secretly must be about his future birth.

Since he had warned Appaji not to reveal anything to others, he kept

silent in spite of so many people questioning him.

 

After a few hours, the question as to what to do with Baba's mortal

remains arose. Some Muslims requested that the body of Sai Baba may

be kept in Samadhi, outside the mosque in the open space. Khushal

Chand and Amir Shakkar also supported this. But the village Munsiff,

Ramachander Patil took a firm decision that Baba's Samadhi should be

in Booty Wada and nowhere else. This way two groups formed in Shirdi

and began arguing over the matter. By Tuesday evening, the Sub-

Inspector of Police from Rahata, Chakranarayan, came to Shirdi. When

he searched Baba's body he found seven rupees in his pocket. The

whole night discussions and arguments went on regarding the location

of the Samadhi.

 

In the early hours before daybreak on Wednesday the 16th , Baba

appeared to Das Ganu in his dream and told him that the mosque came

down, and the merchants were angry with him, so he left his body. He

asked him to proceed immediately to Shirdi and cover his body with

jasmine flowers.

 

Das Ganu, along with his disciples, started for Shirdi immediately.

Pradhan's wife at Bombay had a dream on the night of 15th. She dreamt

of Baba's life was leaving his body and she cried that Baba was

dying. Baba told her in the dream that one should not say dying in

the case of saints, but say " attained Samadhi " .

 

He again appeared in her dream on the 16th night and requested her to

give him all the money she had in her box. Next day she sent all the

money in her box to Shirdi for utilising for the last rites of Baba.

The same night Baba appeared in the dream of Pradhan's sister and

asked her to send silk clothes to put on his Samadhi. She sent the

clothes to Shirdi. In the early hours of Wednesday, Baba appeared in

the dream to Laxman Mama Joshi and said, " Bapu Saheb, Jog is thinking

that I am dead. I only left my body and I am alive. Get up and give

Kakad Aarti. " Laxman Mama, who had full faith in Baba, went to the

mosque taking with him the Puja items required for Kakad Aarti. Even

though the police and village servants tried to prevent him from

entering the mosque, he forcibly entered inside and gave Kakad Aarti

to Baba's body. Seeing his determination none could stop him. Bapu

Saheb Jog gave the noon arathi. This was the last Aarti given in

Dwarakamayi.

 

On Wednesday morning the Tahsildar of Kopergaon Taluk came and

gathered the views of both the groups regarding the place of Samadhi

and asked them to express their views in writing along with their

signatures. The majority wanted that Baba should be laid to rest in

Booty Wada. Even then, the Tahsildar had no courage to take a

decision, but wanted to act according to the orders of the District

Collector, Ahmednagar. But in the meantime, the other group

reconciled to the situation and agreed for the Samadhi inside Booty

Wada.

 

 

In the evening of Wednesday at about 4 clock they wanted to bathe the

body of Baba. When they tried to remove the Kafni (long shirt) the

hands bent as usual. In ordinary cases the limbs cannot be bent as

they stiffen. Baba's body was laid on a big table before Dwarakamayi,

and potfuls of water were poured on the body with devotion. After

that they spread a white cloth on the body. The put flowers, sandal

and Akshatas (rice) over the cloth. For the last time everyone had

the Darshan of Baba's body to their hearts content. A grave, 6 feet

in length was dug in Booty Wada's underground structure, enough for

keeping his body. The body was taken into Booty Wada in procession to

the sounds of various musical instruments. First, the broken brick of

Baba was broken into smaller pieces and put in the grave, over that

soft beds were spread. Dixit, Booty, Shama and Mahalasapati slowly

lifted the body. The thought that in a few moments the body would be

hidden from their view, gripped the devotees present there and all of

them burst into tears. There was complete silence except for

snifflings. Due to sadness, the devotees felt weak and all of them

together could not lift Baba's body. A few of them got into the grave

and from below caught the body and it was slowly lowered . The head

side went down first . Someone cried aloud that Baba was going away.

The devotees surrounding the grave tried to catch a glimpse of the

body for the last time. The entire body was lowered and rested on the

soft beds. Rose water and perfumes were sprayed on the body. When

they started putting earth on the body, the people wept and rolled on

the floor, crying. Even God, if He is born on this earth, has to be

buried under the earth. This is a fact.

 

Samadhi Temple

 

Booty's life was blessed. The Wada built by him became Baba’s

Samadhi. At five o clock in the evening, after the Samadhi, Bapu

Saheb Jog and Laxman Mama gave Sandhya Aarti in Booty temple for the

first time on 16 October 1918. From that day onwards till date, four

Aarti are given to Baba daily. Nanavalli, who was like Baba's life,

watched the Samadhi from a distance. He stopped taking food from that

day and died on the 13th day.

 

Das Ganu, after reaching Shirdi on Thursday morning, did sankeertan

for two days near the Samadhi of Baba. In the name of Baba, he fed a

large number of people. Baba Saheb Bhate and Upasani Baba of Sakori

Ashram performed the last rites of Baba. Where Booty wanted to

install the idol of Sri Krishna, Baba’s Samadhi came up. This way

Baba became Muralidhar. The Booty temple with Baba’s Samadhi in it

had become the holiest of the boly places, giving millions of

devotees peace and happiness.

 

" Om Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi "