|
When
and for how long He used to sleep no one knew. But He would get up in the
early hours at about 4.00 to 4.30 a.m. His devotees used to assemble at
that time to have the first darshan (divine vision) of the Sadguru.
After worship, He would sit near
Dhuni
– the sacred fire and talk to devotees about distant places he visited
overnight and His activities there. He frequently referred to His
‘travels’ over great stretches of space and time though He was
physically present in Shirdi whole night. Sitting near dhuni Baba would
move His arms and fingers, as if making gestures to some invisible spirits
and sometimes uttering words like "Haq" (God) etc
to Himself.
Baba generally washed himself
once in three days. And when He did people noticed the extraordinary
control He had over his physical frame. But on other occasions Baba bathed
twice or more times in a day.
After first round of begging He
would offer a morsel to the dhuni and take some Himself. After
morning breakfast, at about 9 a.m. He would leave for Lendi-garden
accompanied by his devotees in a procession bare footed. It was in the
later years that Baba wore his chappals (leather footwear) on
vehement request from devotees. Sai Sansthan now preserves these as sacred
relics. It was during one of these processions that Baba was photographed
along with his devotees. There was a pit dug in the garden and a lamp was
kept burning in it. Baba would sit before it and ask Abdul, His personal
attendent and the only one to be allowed with Him in the garden, to keep
two pots of water near Him. He would sprinkle the water in various
directions and meditated thereafter. These actions had some mystique
significance:
After returning to the mosque by
about 10 a.m. Baba would spent an hour and half with His devotees and
visitors who used to come from all partsof India. Sometimes during this
period He would go out to five houses for begging alms. He remained a
mendicant all His life.
At noon after devotees performed
aarati in the mosque, Baba would distribute udi (sacred ash)
to devotees and send them back home. After aarati Baba would sit
down for lunch along with close devotees behind a curtain. Devotees said
that the lunch session was very often the occasion for Baba to manifest
some of His divine powers. Baba used to be offered betel and nut after the
meal. After lunch Baba would spend some time alone. Devotees did not
disturb Him during this period, as He was believed to be in a state of
mystique meditation.
Inside the mosque during the
recess between 1 and 2 p.m. Baba usually engaged himself in what would
normally appear to be inexplicable rites which He never explained. His
devotees were not allowed to be present and He would conceal himself from
view with a cloth screen. One devotee Dasganu recorded in 1910 that Baba
was standing near dhuni and doing pradakshina (circumbulation).
Chandorkar noted that all mantras that Baba muttered was either in
Arabic or Persian but not in Sanskrit. Baba sometimes blew the
conch, which the devotees felt produced the cosmic sound ‘Aum’
(Om).
At about 2.30 p.m. devotees and
visitors used to assemble at the mosque, present their problems and
offered prayers to Him. Towards the evening Baba would walk to the
frontyard of the mosque and stand there for some time leaning
against the outer wall and talking to the passers by in the lane. At
about 4 p.m. He would again go for a stroll to the Lendi garden. Baba used
to return in time from Lendi garden for the evening aarti. Devotees
used to wave lamps and burnt camphor before Him.
As a rule there were three
common sittings or 'durbars' during the day. First one in the
morning after breakfast, second after Baba's return from Lendi garden and
the third about 5 p.m. During all these sittings Baba gave general advice
which was universal in character. The sum and substance of His advice was
to have strong faith in God and patience for His realization, to love all
creatures alike, not to wound the feelings of others, to be honest and
sincere in all the actions, not to take the services of others without due
payments, etc. Usually He gave advice through stories and parables
which used to solve the different questions and anxities of the different
devotees at the same time.
In the evening after the sunset
He would distribute the daily gifts of money to beggars, needy and also
some devotees, emptying the day’s collections from his pockets. This
daily distribution continued till his last breath. Then he would send the
devotees and visitors’ home for the evening meal after giving udi (sacred
ash). Some however would stay on with Him a little longer. Baba never
allowed anyone to stay with Him at night in the mosque in the later
years,except the close ones like Mhalsapati, Tatya Kote Patil etc.
Baba and these two would sleep in Dwarkamai in a manner that the feet of
all these would touch each other’s at the centre. At times, they would
gossip till late night. Tatya Kote Patil and Mhalsapati would sleep but
Baba would not. What He did the whole night only He knows. But as He used
to say, he took the name of Hari continuously.
Baba was sleeping in Dwarkamai
and Chawri
on alternate nights. Baba was taken in a colourful ‘Palki
Procession’ from Dwarkamai mosque to Chawri. A regal palanquin,
state umbrella, and a horse preceded by bearers of silver mace, whisks and
other regal paraphernalia were part of the procession. Although the
devotees offered these materials, Baba never used them. He used to walk
behind the horse
and the palanquin. These days, on every Thursday and important occasions
this procession is being taken out with Baba’s photo in the palanquin.
This procession is one of the most attractive and popular activities at
Shirdi. Visitors to Shirdi must see it. After spending the night in Chawri
Baba would return to mosque in the morning.On the next morning when Baba
was preparing to leave for the mosque devotees offered aarati,
which is called ‘Kakad
aarati’. |