| Sai Satchritra - Chapter
XXXVII
In this chapter Hemadpant after making some preliminary observations
on some points of Vedanta, describes the Chavadi procession.
Preliminary
Blessed is Sai's life, blessed is His daily routine. His ways and
actions are indescribable. Sometimes He was intoxicated with Brahmanand
(divine joy), and at other times content with Self knowledge. Doing
so many things sometimes, He was unconcerned with them. Though He
seemed at times quite actionless (doing nothing) He was not idle
or dozing; He always abided in His own Self. Though He looked calm
and quiet as the placid sea, He was deep and unfathomable.
Who can describe His ineffable nature? He regarded men as brothers,
women as sisters and mothers. He was a perfect and perpetual celibate
as everybody knows. May the understanding (knowledge), we got in
His company, last long unto death. Let us ever serve Him with whole-hearted
devotion to His feet. Let us see Him (God) in all beings and let
us ever love His name.
Hemadpant, after making some lengthy dissertations on some topics
of Vedanta, which he himself considers as a digression, goes on
to describe the Chavadi procession.
Chavadi Procession
Baba's dormitory has been already described. One day He slept in
the Masjid and on the next, in the Chavadi (a small building containing
a room or two near the Masjid). This alternate sleeping in both
these buildings went on till Baba's Mahasamadhi. From 10th December
1909 devotees began to offer regular worship to Baba in the Chavadi.
This we will now describe with His grace.
When the turn of retiring to the Chavadi came, people flocked
to the Masjid and made bhajan in the mandap (courtyard) for a few
hours. Behind them was a beautiful Ratha (small car), to the right
a Tulsi-vrindavan and in front Baba, and between these the devotees
fond of bhajan. Men and women who had a liking for the bhajan came
in time. Some took Tal, Chiplis and Kartal, Mridang, Khanjiri and
Ghol (all musical instruments) in their hands and conducted the
bhajan. Sai Baba was the Magnet Who drew all the devotees to Him
there. Outside in the open, some trimmed their divatyas, (torches),
some decorated the palanquin, some stood with cane-sticks in their
hands and uttered cries of victory to Baba. The corner was decorated
with buntings. Round about the Masjid, rows of burning lamps shed
their light. Baba's horse 'Shyamakarna' stood fully decorated outside.
Then Tatya Patil came with a party of men to Baba and asked Him
to be ready. Baba sat quiet in his place till Tatya came and helped
Him to get up by putting his arm under Baba's arm-pit. Tatya called
Baba by the name of Mama. Really their relationship was extremely
intimate.
Baba wore on his body the usual kafni, took His satka (short stick)
under His arm-pit and after taking His chilim (tobacco-pipe) and
tobacco and placing a cloth over His shoulder became ready to start.
Then Tatya threw a golden-embroidered beautiful Shela (Shawl) over
His body. After this Baba, moving a little the bundle of fuel-sticks
lying behind with His right toe and then extinguishing the burning
lamp with His right hand, started for the Chavadi. Then all sorts
of muscial instruments, tashe, band and horns and mridang, gave
out their different sounds; and fire-works exhibited their different
and various coloured views.
Men and women singing Baba's name started walking, making bhajan
to the accompaniment of mridang and veena. Some danced with joy
and some carried various flags and standards. The Bhaldars announced
Baba's name when He came on the steps of the Masjid. On the two
sides of Baba stood persons, who held chavaris and others who fanned
Baba. On the way were spread folds of cloth on which Baba walked
on, being supported by devotees' hands. Tatyaba held the left hand
and Mhalasapati the right and Bapusaheb Jog held the chhatra (umbrella)
over His head. In this fashion Baba marched on to the Chavadi. The
fully decorated red horse, named Shyamakarna led the way and behind
him were all the carriers, waiters, musical players and the crowd
of devotees. Hari-nama (the name of the Lord) chanted to the accompaniment
of music rent the skies as also the name of Sai. In this manner
the procession reached the corner when all the persons that joined
this party seemed well-pleased and delighted.
On coming to this corner Baba stood facing the Chavadi and shone
with a peculiar lustre. It seemed, as if the face of Baba glittered
like dawn, or like the glory of the rising sun. Baba stood there
with a concentrated mind, facing the north, as if He was calling
somebody. All the instruments played their music while Baba moved
His right arm up and down for some time. Kakasaheb Dixit at this
time came forward with a silver plate containing flowers besmeared
with gulal (red powder) and threw them on Baba's body off and on.
The musical instruments played their best at this juncture and
Baba's face beamed with steady and added radiance and beauty, and
all the persons drank this lustre to their hearts' content. Words
fail to describe the scene and splendour of this occasion. Some
times Mhalasapati began to dance being possessed or obsessed by
some deity, but all were surprised to see that Baba's concentration
was not in the least disturbed. With a lantern in his hand Tatya
Patil walked on Baba's left side and Bhagat Mhalasapati on the right,
holding with his hand the hem of Baba's garment. What a beautiful
procession and what an expression of devotion!
To witness this, men and women, poor and rich, flocked together
there. Baba walked very slow. Bhaktas followed on both sides with
love and devotion. With joy pervading the whole atmosphere of the
place, the procession reached the Chavadi. That scene and those
days are gone now. Nobody can see them now or in the future; still
remembering and visualising that scene and sight, we can bring solace
and comfort to our minds.
The Chavadi was also fully decorated with a good white ceiling,
mirrors and many sorts of lamps. On reaching it Tatya went ahead
and spread an asan and placing a bolster made Baba sit there and
made Him wear good angaraksha (coat). Then the devotees worshipped
Him in various ways. They put on His head a mugut (crown) with a
tuft above, placed garlands of flowers and jewels round His neck
and marking His forehead with musk-mixed vertical lines and a dot
(as Vaishnava devotees do) they started at Him for long to their
hearts' content. They changed His head-dress now and then and held
it aloft on the head, fearing that Baba might throw it away. Baba
knew the heart of them all and meekly submitted to all their methods
without objection. With these decorations He looked wonderfully
beautiful.
Nanasaheb Nimonkar held the Chhatra (umbrella) with its beautiful
pendants which moved in a circle with its supporting stick. Bapusaheb
Jog washed the feet of Baba in a silver dish and offered 'arghya'
and worship with due formalities, then besmeared His arms with sandal
paste, and offered tambul (betel-leaves). Baba sat on the asan (gadi),
while Tatya and others kept standing and falling at His feet. When
Baba sat on the gadi supporting Himself against the bolster, devotees
on both sides waved chamars and fans. Shama then prepared the chillim
and handed it over to Tatyaba who drew a flame out of it by his
breath and then gave it to Baba.
After Baba had His smoke, it was given to Bhagat Mhalasapati and
then it was passed round to all. Blessed was the inanimate chillim.
It had first to undergo many ordeals of penance, such as being treated
by pot-makers, dried in the open sun and burnt in fire and then
it had the good fortune to get the contact of Baba's hand and His
kiss. After this function was over, devotees put garlands of flowers
on His neck and gave Him nose-gays and bunches of flowers for smelling.
Baba who was dispassion or non-attachment incarnate, cared a fig
for all these necklaces of jewels, and garlands of flowers and other
decorations; but out of real love to His devotees, He allowed them
to have their own way and to please themselves. Finally Bapusaheb
Jog waved the arati over Baba, observing all formalities, the musical
instruments playing thier auspicious tunes. When this arati was
over, the devotees returned home one by one saluting Baba and taking
His leave. When Tatya Patil, after offering chillim, attar (scent)
and rose-water, rose to depart, Baba said to him lovingly - "Guard
Me, go if you like, but return sometimes at night and enquire after
Me." Replying in the affirmative Tatyaba left the Chhavadi
and went home. Then Baba Himself prepared His bed. He arranged 50
or 60 white chadders one upon another and thus making His bed, went
to rest.
We shall also now take rest and close this chapter with a request
to the readers that they should remember Sai Baba and His Chavadi
procession daily before they retire and go to bed.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
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