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 Sri Saileela Magazine)