Shirdi Sai Satcharitra - Chapter 6 - Rama Navami Festival and Masjid Repairs

Rama-Navami Festival & Masjid Repairs - Efficacy of the Touch of Guru’s Hand - Rama-Navami Festival - Its Origin, Transformation etc. Repairs to the Masjid.

Before describing Rama-Navami Festival and Masjid Repairs, the author makes some
preliminary remarks about Sad-Guru as follows: -

Efficacy of the Touch of Guru’s Hand

Where Real or Sadguru is the helmsman, he is sure to carry us safely and easily beyond
the worldly ocean. The word Sadguru brings to mind Sai Baba. He appears to me, as if
standing before me, and applying Udi (Sacred ashes) to my forehead and placing his
hand of blessing on my head. Then joy fills my heart and love overflows through my
eyes. Wonderful is the power of the touch of Guru’s hand. The subtle-body (consisting of
thoughts and desires), which cannot be burnt by the world dissolving fire, is destroyed by
the mere touch of the Guru’s hand, and the sins of many past births are cleaned and
washed away. Even the speech of those, whose heads feel annoyed when they hear
religious and Godly talks, attains calmness. The seeing of Sai Baba’s handsome form,
chokes our throat with joy, makes the eyes overflowing with tears, and overwhelms the
heart with emotions. It awakens in us ‘I am He (Brahman)’ consciousness, manifests the
joy of self-realization, and dissolving the distinction of Thou, and I then and there, makes
us one with the Supreme (One Reality). When I begin to read scriptures, at every step I
am reminded of my Sadguru, and Sai Baba, assumes the form of Rama or Krishna and
makes me listen to his Life. For instance when I sit to listen to Bhagwat, Sai becomes
Krishna from top to toe, and I think he sings the Bhagwat or Uddhava Gita (song of
teachings by Lord Sri Krishna to His disciple, Uddhava) for the welfare of the devotees.
When I begin to chitchat, I am at once put in mind of Sai’s stories for enabling me to give
suitable illustrations.

When I myself start to write anything, I cannot compose a few words or sentences, but
when He of his own accord makes me write, I go on writing and writing and there is no
end to it. When the disciple’s egoism props up, He presses it down with His hand, and
giving him His own power, makes him gain His object, and thus satisfies and blesses
him. If any one prostrates before Sai and surrenders heart and soul to Him, then
unsolicited, all the chief objects of life viz. Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama
(Desire) and Moksha (Deliverance), are easily and unsolicitedly attained. Four paths,
viz., of Karma, Jnana, Yoga and Bhakti lead us separately to God. Of these, the path of
Bhakti is thorny and full of pits and ditches, and thus difficult to traverse, but if you,
relying on your Sadguru, avoid the pits and thorns and walk straight, it will take you to
the destination (God). So says definitely, Sai Baba.

After philosophising about the Self-Existent Brahman, His Power (Maya) to create this
world and the world created, and stating that all these three are ultimately one and the
same, the author quotes Sai Baba’s words guaranteeing the welfare of the Bhaktas: -
"There will never be any dearth or scarcity, regarding food and clothes, in any devotees’
homes. It is my special characteristic, that I always look to, and provide, for the welfare
of those devotees, who worship Me whole-heartedly with their minds ever fixed on Me.
Lord Krishna has also said the same in the Gita. Therefore, strive not much for food and
clothes. If you want anything, beg of the Lord, leave worldly honors, try to get Lord’s
grace and blessings, and be honored in His Court. Do not be deluded by worldly honor.
The form of the Deity should be firmly fixed in the mind. Let all the senses and mind be
ever devoted to the worship of the Lord, let there be no attraction for any other thing; fix
the mind in remembering Me always, so that it will not wander elsewhere, towards body,
wealth and home. Then it will be calm, peaceful and carefree. This is the sign of the
mind, being well engaged in good company. If the mind is vagrant, it cannot be called
well-merged."

After quoting these words, the author goes on to relate the story of Rama Navami
festival in Shirdi. As Rama-Navami is the greatest festival celebrated at Shirdi, another
fuller account, as published in Sai Leela Magazine of 1925, page 197, is also referred to
and a summary of the festival, as related in both these accounts is attempted here.

Origin

One, Mr. Gopalrao Gund, was a Circle Inspector at Kopergaon. He was a great devotee
of Baba. He had three wives, but had no issue. With Sai Baba’s blessings, a son was
born to him. In the joy that he felt regarding the event, an idea of celebrating a fair or
‘Urus’ occurred to him in the year 1897, and he placed it for consideration before other
Shirdi devotees, viz. Tatya Patil, Dada Kote Patil and Madhavrao Deshpande (Shama).
They all approved of the idea, and got Sai Baba’s permission and blessings. Then an
application for getting the Collector’s sanction for celebrating the urus was made, but as
the village Kulkarni reported against holding the fair, the sanction was refused. But as
Sai Baba had blessed it, they tried again, and ultimately succeeded in getting the
Collector’s sanction. The day for the Urus was fixed on the Rama-Navami day, after
having consultation with Sai Baba. It seems, He had some end in view, in this, viz., the
Unification of the two fairs of festivals, the Urus and the Rama-Navami and the
unification of the two communities - the Hindus and the Mahomedans. As future events
showed, this end or object was achieved.

Though the permission was obtained, but other difficulties cropped up. Shirdi was a
village, and there was scarcity of water. There were two wells in the village, the one in
use, dried up soon, and the water from the second was brackish. This brackish water
was turned into sweet one by Sai Baba, by throwing flowers into it. The water of this well
was insufficient, so Tatya Patil had to arrange to get water, from a well by fixing Moats
(leather sacks) thereon, at a considerable distance. Then temporary shops had to be
constructed, and wrestling bouts arranged. Gopalrao Gund had a friend, by name Damu
Anna Kasar, of Ahmednagar. He also was similarly unhappy in the matter of progeny,
though he married two wives. Sai Baba too blessed him with sons, and Mr. Gund
prevailed upon his friend to prepare and supply one simple flag for the procession of the
fair; he also succeeded in inducing Mr. Nanasaheb Nimonkar to supply another
embroidered flag. Both these flags were taken in procession through the village, and
finally fixed at the two ends or corners of the Masjid, which is called by Sai Baba as
Dwarkamai. This is being done even now.

The ‘Sandal’ Procession

There was another procession, which was started in this fair. This idea of ‘Sandal’
procession originated with one Mr. Amir Shakkar Dalal, a Mahomedan Bhakta from
Korhla.

This procession is held in honor of great Muslim Saints. Sandal i.e. Chandan paste and
scrappings are put in the THALI (flat dishes), and these are carried with incense burning
before them in procession to the accompaniment of band and music through the village
and then after returning to the Masjid, the contents of the dishes are thrown on the
‘Nimbar’ (nitche) and walls of the Masjid with hands. This work was managed by Mr.
Amir Shakkar for the first three years, and then afterwards by his wife. So on one day,
the two processions, the ‘Flags’ by the Hindus and that of ‘Sandal’ by the Muslims, went
on side by side, and are still going on without any hitch.

Arrangement

This day was very dear and sacred to the devotees of Sai Baba. Most of them turned out
on the occasion, and took a leading part in the management of the fair. Tatya Kote Patil
looked to all outward affairs, while the internal management was entirely left to one
Radha Krishna Mai, a female devotee of Baba. Her residence was full of guests on the
occasion, and she had to look to their needs, and also to arrange for all the
paraphernalia of the fair. Another work, which she willingly did, was to wash out and
clean and white-wash the entire Masjid, its walls and floor, which were blackened and
were full of soot on account of the ever-burning Dhuni (sacred fire) of Sai Baba. This
work, she did during the night, when Sai Baba went to sleep every alternate day in the
Chavadi. She had to take out all the things, including even the Dhuni, and after thorough
cleaning and whitewashing replace them, as they were before. Feeding the poor, which
was so dear to Sai Baba, was also a great item in this fair. For this purpose, cooking, on
a grand scale and preparing various sweet dishes, was done in Radha-Krishna Mai’s
lodging, and, various rich and wealthy devotees took a leading part in this affair.
Transformation of Urus into Rama-Navami Festival

Things were going on in this way and the fair was gradually increasing in importance till
1912 A.D., when a change took place; That year one devotee, Mr. Krishnarao
Jageshwar Bhisma (the author of the pamphlet ‘Sai Sagunopasana’), came for the fair
with Dadasaheb Khaparde of Amraoti, and was staying on the previous day in the Dixit
Wada. While he was lying on the verandah, and while Mr. Laxmanrao alias Kaka
Mahajani, was going down with Puja materials to the Masjid, a new thought arose in his
mind and he accosted the latter thus - There is some providential arrangement in the
fact that the Urus or fair is celebrated in Shirdi on the Rama-Navami day; this day is very
dear to all the Hindus; then why not begin the Rama-Navami Festival - the celebration of the birth of Sri Rama here on this day? Kaka Mahajani liked the idea, and it was arranged to get Baba’s permission in this matter. The main difficulty was how to secure a Haridas, who would perform ‘Kirtan’ and sing the glories of the Lord on the occasion. But Bhishma solved the difficulty, by saying that his ‘Rama Akhyan’ (composition on Rama’s birth) was ready, and he would do the ‘Kirtan’ himself, while Kaka Mahajani should play on the
harmonium. It was also arranged to get the ‘Sunthavada’ (ginger-powder mixed with
sugar) as Prasad prepared by Radha-Krishna Mai. So they immediately went to the
Masjid to get Baba’s permission. Baba, who knew all things and what was passing there,
asked Mahajani, as to what was going on in the Wada. Being rather perturbed, Mahajani
could not catch the purport of the question and remained silent. Then Baba asked
Bhishma, what he had to say. He explained the idea of celebrating Rama-Navami
festival, and asked for Baba’s permission and Baba gladly gave it. All rejoiced and made
preparations for the Jayanti festival. Next day, the Masjid was decorated with buntings
etc., a cradle was supplied by Radha-Krishna Mai, and placed in front of Baba’s seat
and the proceedings started. Bhishma stood up for Kirtan and Mahajani played on the
harmonium. Sai Baba sent a man to call Mahajani. He was hesitating to go, doubting
whether Baba would allow the festival to go on; but when he went to Baba, the latter
asked him as to what was going on and why the cradle was placed there. He answered
that the Rama-Navami festival had commenced, and the cradle was put on for that
purpose. Then Baba took a garland from the ‘Nimbar’ (nitche), and placed it round his
neck and sent another garland for Bhishma. Then commenced the Kirtan. When it came
to a close, pound sounds of "Victory to Rama" went up; and Gulal (red - powder) was
thrown up all round, amidst band and music. Everybody was overjoyed, when suddenly
roaring was heard. The red-powder thrown promiscuously all round, went up, somehow
entered Baba’s eyes. Baba got wild and began to scold and abuse loudly. People got
frightened by this scene and took to their heels. Those intimate devotees, who knew
Baba well, took these scoldings and outpourings of Baba, as blessings in disguise. They
thought that when Rama was born, it was proper for Baba to get wild and enraged to kill
Ravana; and his demons, in the form of egoism and wicked thoughts etc. Besides they
knew, that whenever a new thing was undertaken at Shirdi, it was usual with Baba to get
wild and angry, and so they kept quiet. Radha-Krishna Mai was rather afraid; and
thought that Baba might break her cradle, and she asked Mahajani to get the cradle
back.

When he went to loosen and unfasten the cradle, Baba went to him, and asked him not
to remove it. Then after some time, Baba became calm, and that day’s programme,
including Mahapuja and Arati was finished. Later on, Mr. Mahajani asked Baba, for
permission to remove the cradle, Baba refused the same saying, that the festival was
not yet finished. Next day, another ‘Kirtan’ and Gopal-Kala ceremony (an earthern pot
containing parched rice mixed with curds is hung, only to be broken after the ‘Kirtan’,
and the contents distributed to all, as was done by Lord Krishna amongst His cow-herd
(friends), were performed, and then Baba allowed the cradle to be removed. While the
Rama-Navami festival was thus going on, the procession, of the two flags by day and
that of the ‘Sandal’ by night, went off with the usual pomp and show. From this time
onwards, the ‘Urus of Baba’ was transformed into the Rama-Navami festival.
From next year (1913), the items in the programme of Rama-Navami began to increase.
Radha-Krishna Mai started a ‘Nama-Saptah’ (singing the glory of God’s name
continuously day and night for seven days), from 1st of Chaitra, For this, all devotees
took part by turns, and she also joined it, sometimes early in the morning. As Rama-
Navami Festival is celebrated in many places all over the country, the difficulty of getting
a Haridas was felt again. But 5 or 6 days before the festival, Mahajani met accidentally
Balabuva Mali, who was known as modern Tukaram, and got him to do the ‘Kirtan’ that
year. The next year (1914), another Balabuva Satarkar of Brihadsiddha Kavate, District
Satara, could not act as a Haridas in his own town, as plague was prevailing in his town,
and so he came to Shirdi; With Baba’s permission, which was secured through
Kakasaheb Dixit, he did the Kirtan; and was sufficiently recompensed for his labour. The
difficulty of getting a new Haridas every year was finally solved from 1914 by Sai Baba,
as He entrusted this function to Das Ganu Maharaj permanently, and since that time, he
has been successfully and creditably conducting that function uptill now.

Since 1912, this festival began to grow gradually year-by-year. From the 8th to 12th of
Chaitra, Shirdi looked like a beehive of men. Shops began to increase. Celebrated
wrestlers took part in wrestling bouts. Feeding of the poor was done on a grander scale.
Hard work and sincere efforts of Radha-Krishna Mai turned Shirdi into a Sansthan
(State). Paraphernalia increased. A beautiful horse, a palanquin, chariot and many silver
things, pots, buckets, pictures, mirrors etc. were presented. Elephants were also sent for
the procession. Though all this paraphernalia increased enormously, Sai Baba ignored
all these things, and maintained His simplicity as before.

It is to be noted that both the Hindus and Mahomedans have been working in unison in
both the processions, and during the entire festival, there has been no hitch or quarrel
between them at all so far. First about 5000-7000 people used to collect, but that figure
went up to 75000 in some years; still there was no outbreak of any epidemic or any riots
worth the name during so many past years.

Repairs to the Masjid

Another important idea occured to Gopal Gund. Just as he started the Urus or fair, he
thought that he should put the Masjid in order. So in order to carry out the repairs, he
collected stones and got them dressed. But this work was not assigned to him. This was
reserved for Nanasaheb Chandorkar, and the pavement -work for Kakasaheb Dixit. First,
Baba was unwilling to allow them to have these works done, but with the intervention of
Mahalsapati, a local devotee of Baba, His permission was secured. When the pavement
was completed in one night in the Masjid, Baba took a small Gadi for His seat,
discarding the usual piece of sack - cloth used till then. In 1911, the Sabha - Mandap
(courtyard) was also put in order with great labor and effort. The open space in front
of the Masjid was very small and inconvenient. Kakasaheb Dixit wanted to extend it and
put on it roofing. At great expense, he got iron-posts, and pillars and trusses and started
the work. At night, all the devotees worked hard and fixed the posts; but Baba, when he
returned from Chavadi next morning, uprooted them all and threw them out. Once it so
happened that Baba got very excited, caught a pole with one hand, and began to shake
and uproot it, and with the other hand caught the neck of Tatya Patil. He took by force
Tatya’s Pheta, struck a match, set it on fire and threw it in a pit. At that time, Baba’s eyes
flashed like burning embers. None dared to look at Him. All got terribly frightened. Baba
took out a rupee from his pocket and threw it there, as if it were an offering on an
auspicious occasion. Tatya also was much frightened. None knew what was going to
happen to Tatya, and none dared to interfere. Bhagoji Shinde, the leper devotee of
Baba, made a little boldly advance, but he was pushed out by Baba. Madhavrao was
also similarly treated, he being pelted with brick pieces. So all those, who went to
intercede, were similarly dealt with. But after some time, Baba’s anger cooled down. He
sent for a shopkeeper, got from him an embroidered Pheta and Himself tied it on Tatya’s
head, as if he was being given a special honor. All the people were wonder-struck to
see this strange behavior of Baba.

They were at a loss to know, what enraged Baba so suddenly and what led Him to
assault Tatya Patil, and why His anger cooled down, the next moment. Baba was
sometimes very calm and quiet and talked sweet things with love, but soon after, with or
without any pretext, got enraged. Many such incidents may be related; but I do not know
which to choose and which to omit. I, therefore, refer them as they occur to me.
In the next Chapter the question whether Baba was a Hindu or a Mahomedan will be
taken up; and His Yogic practices and powers, and other matters will be dealt with.

Bow to Sri Sai Baba - Peace be to all