Sri Udhav Rao Maharaj by M.Rama Rao

[Guest guest]

Sri Udhav Rao Maharaj

 

Sai brother Ashok Bhombore is a staunch devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba. He

has made a number of trips to Shirdi at least at an average of 4 trips

in a year since 1981. During his last five year trips he tried his level

best to meet Sri Udhava Rao Maharaj who is a blessed soul and who had

Sai Baba's Grace when Baba was alive but Bhombore could not meet

Maharaj. By Baba's Grace he met him on 29-10-1991. The following is the

version of the meeting between him and Sri Udhav Rao Maharaj.

 

Sometimes Shri Baba used to address " SHAMA'' as School Master. This

School Master who was born at Nimon and had hardly any basic education

except he had studied upto Marathi 5th Standard, was ultimately

transformed into a great scholar, Gyani, Abhigyani and very well

respected man. Shri Baba even taught him and forced him to chant'

'VISHNU SAHASRA NAMA'. In the later stages Shri Madhav Rao Deshpande

(Shama) attained such great enlightenment that he was able to chant

Vishnu Sahasranama and tell the meaning and effect of this great stotram

to several Sai Devotees who were associated with Shri Sainath before and

after Mahasamadhi. Sai Satcharitra is filled with Shama's stories.

Likewise Upasane Maharaj; when he came to Shirdi he was unwell and was

expecting his death. He asked Madhav Rao to request Baba to help him. On

hearing this Baba replied: " that this place (Shirdi) is for saving and

not killing. "

 

We were taken to Sri Udhava Rao's house by his nephew. Shri Madhav Rao

(Shama) had three sons and Shri Udhava Rao is the youngest of the three

sons. He continues to stay in his ancestral house where his father used

to stay and which is very close to Dwarkamai and Samadhi Mandir.

Although his house is very old but we were very much impressed with the

upkeep of the house which is very tidy, clean and seems to be completely

renovated to a middle class family standard.

 

Shri Udhava Rao who is about 86 years old and has good eyesight greeted

us as soon as his elder brother's son took us inside his house. He lives

with his wife who is also quite old but active lady. During our half an

hour discussion in Marathi that is his mother tongue he said that he had

no issue and he was about 12 years when Shri Sai Baba attained

Mahasamadhi in 1918.

 

Shri Udhava Rao showed us photos of his parents hung on wall. His father

Shri Madhava Rao Deshpande lived upto the age of 105 years and so his

mother Smt. Saraswati Bai. He was very proud to tell us about his

beloved father's close association with Shri Sai Nath Maharaj. He also

showed us an old photo of Shri Baba hung on the wall in his house that

was taken by a photographer from Poona who had the opportunity to take

Baba's photo just before he attained Nirvana.

 

We discussed mainly about Shri Baba as to how he used to look at since

he was Parabrahma Swarup and Avtar of this Kaliyug; His behavior with

devotees and the languages He used to speak with them. The Lord was said

to be talking in Marathi with Shri Madhav Rao, Shri Hemadpant and Sri

Gopal Rao Buti; in English with Shri Kaka Saheb Dikshit and other

eminent educated devotees including a few Englishmen etc; In Sanskrit

with Shri Nanasaheb Chandorkar; in Urdu with Bade Babe Roshan Ali, Abdul

and several other Muslim devotees and sometimes in Telugu with South

Indian devotees.

 

Shri Sai Baba's looks were very illuminous and eyes so bright and

shining with Divya Shakti, that nobody could gaze at. If one would look

at him for few minutes he would hug his head with tears in his eyes. His

face was yellowish golden color and He was tall about 6 ft in height.

His arms were very long and reached below His knee. One could see Shri

Sai Nath Maharaj distributing Udi Prasad from a distance of about 3ft

because of His long arms.

 

Baba loved Udhava Rao and other children and used to distribute all the

Prasad, Naivedhya, Almonds, Dry fruits etc, which he used to get

particularly from Bombay, amongst all the children generously.

 

When he was asked about Baba's dress he told us that Baba used to put on

Kafani (long-robe) and covered the head with white cloth that He used to

tie around His head. Baba mostly grew hairs on His head. He used to ask

the poojari to draw a Swastik Mark on His head and to place five Bel

leaves (Belpatras) on it before tying His head with white cloth. He

never used to wash His Kafani (white robe), which He used to wear and He

used to change the clothes once in about three months and He used to

throw these used clothes in the Dhuni (Agni Kunda) which He kept burning

day and night. He used to get new dress made by Shimpi tailor against

payment.

 

Lastly, we discussed about Baba's different looks because most of the

photos that are available are not alike. The reason being Baba could be

seen in different looks. Shri Udhava Rao particularly mentioned Baba's

Nirvirakar roopa when he was in Dwarkamai, or in Chavadi or when he

entered the Samadhi.

 

Shri Udhava Rao strongly and honestly refuted that Shri Sai Nath Maharaj

was Sampoorna Avatar who lived like an ordinary human being throughout

His life at Shirdi. How fortunate and blessed are these people including

Shri Udhava Rao to be in the company of Shri Sai Baba and how they

served Him with pure heart and how they got the Blessings of Shri Sai

Nath.

 

He made it very clear that he never associated himself with Shri Sai

Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, but as far as his livelihood is concerned he has

depended on Baba throughout his life. Baba is not only feeding him and

his wife but also kept him content. Most important thing is that he is

able to get all the love and peace which most of people are deprived of

in this World of today.

 

It is learnt that his father Shri Madhav Rao advised Sri Udhav Rao

Maharaj that no reward or remuneration should be taken from the Sansthan

for the service rendered in Baba's Samadhi Mandir. Accordingly he has

followed his father's instructions strictly in letter and spirit.

Bow to Baba - Peace be to all

(M. Rama Rao,

(Source Faridabad Souviner)