Baba's Kafni

[Guest guest]

Baba's Kafni was made of a coarse [Manjarpat] cloth. In the early days

Baba used to wear either an Orange or white Kafni. Then Bala Shimpi

stitched a green Kafni for Him. Baba asked him to make only white Kafnis for

Him. In the Dwarakamai there would be bundles of Kafnis lying; Baba would often

give His Kafni to some of His devotees, they were Balaram Mankar, Udavesa Bua,

Kaka Dixit and Tatya Saheb Nulkar just to mention a few.

On one of Nulkars visit to Shirdi he writes " In the afternoon Appa Kote came and

stood near the pillar of the Chavadi. He was twisting a rag around his fingers I

asked him if his finger was hurt? He said " No " and told me that the rag was a

piece from Baba's Kafni. I asked him why he tore it? He says Baba tears the

Kafni for wicks, and this bit was hanging out. I prayed to be given the piece

and He gladly gave it.

Little did Tatya Shaeb know that Baba would Himself give him His Kafni?

One afternoon Baba summoned Tatya Shaeb to the Dwarakamai. Tatya Shaeb

ofcourse went immediately. Baba took off His Kafni; and gave it to him

saying, " take this, it will keep you warm on cold winter nights "

Here a leela of Baba's Kafni is appropriate. Jyotindra Tarkad [sai Sat

Charitra #9] was devoted to Baba from a very young age. Their

relationship was more than a father and son. On one of his visits to

Shirdi this wonderful incident took place. Jyotindra Tarkad was ever

willing to do Baba's seva; without expecting any returns. One day Baba

told Jyotindra that He was going to Lendi Baugh, to bathe. He asked him whether

he would do a chore for Him. Baba said " Its not a difficult task, I will bathe.

Before doing so, I'll hand you My Kafni.

Take it to the well and wash it. As you know I take an extremely long time to

bathe, and it will dry in the meantime. But do not allow it to trail on the

ground. So hold it up. Okay! " Jyotinder readily agreed. But he institintctively

felt that there was a lesson in this chore.

Then Baba entered the room to have His bath. Jyotindra waited outside for Baba

to hand over His Kafni. After quite a long time he got impatient, as the Kafni

was not forthcoming. He decided to peep through the slat in the door. What he

saw left him speech less and spellbound. There was Baba, and from each and every

pore He was emanating light. The light was so powerful that he feared loosing

his sight. He at the same time was repentant for trying to see Baba in the nude.

At that very moment Baba called out to him to take the Kafni.

Hastily Jyotindra took the Kafni. He went to the well and carefully

washed it, rinsed it and wrung it. Then he stepped in mid day sun and

held the Kafni with both hands above his head. As time passed by, the

Kafni instead of getting lighter from drying started getting heavier and

heavier. His arms ached as time went by and he knew he would fail. As a last

resort he started praying to Lord Hanuman. To give him strength to complete the

chore, " O! Hanuman, destroyer of Lanka. Give some of your strength so I can

fulfill this Seva. O! Hanuman, Bhakta of Rama, help me to perform this service

as a Bhakta and sevak of Baba " . His lips moved silently in prayer. Just then

Baba yelled " Arre Bhau, why are you praying to Hanuman for help. " At that very

moment the Kafni started getting lighter.

Needless to say Jyotindra confessed to Baba and begged for forgiveness.

 

(Source Sai Leela Magazine)