Shirdi Sai Ashtotramala –Meaning, Meditation and
Miracle
Day-107
– “Om Shri Sai Samarasa Sanmarga Sthapanaya Namaha.”
Meaning:
Humble salutation to Him who consolidates
the true path of amity, unity and understanding among all people” (Shirdi Sai Trust).
Meditation:
Almost
all ethnic groups of humanity have pursued one quest invariably. That is the
quest to find a Super Human, who they believed had the power to go beyond the
natural limitations, had the power to defy death, had the power to mitigate
their difficulties, give relief from pains, and reward the “good” and
punish the “bad” among them as defined by them, either in this world while
living or at another world after death. The Super Human was given different
names according to the language, culture, nature’s forces etc., All the
perceived powers and virtues were attributed to this Super Human without any
limitation particularly power over nature’s forces and nature’s laws. The more
experienced, more intelligent or the more articulate among the group became the
most vocal to explain this Super Human to others. Over a period this person self-declared or
declared by close associates as the spokesperson for the Super Human and a link
for the group and the Super Human. This spokesperson
or the close associates or leaders of believers of the Spokesperson laid down
the conventions, traditions, and rules, all in good faith and sincerity
speaking on behalf of the Super Human.
Thus codes of religions, scriptures, religious traditions and conventions
and religious hierarchies were formed.
Some of them were indeed able to demonstrate a power to perform miracles
which others believed to have been delegated by the Super Human.
Though
this process was the same for all groups, each culture evolved different
conventions, codes, and traditions suitable to its physical and other living
conditions, and creativity and knowledge accumulation developed different forms
and attributes to the Super Human and evolved different religions. When two such groups came to face each other,
each claimed its own religion and Super Human was better than the other, wanted
the other group to change its concepts thus creating religious
differences. The sophistication and
advancement of knowledge of one group decided the understanding and tolerance
for the religion of the other group. The
more refined and knowledgeable the group was, the higher was the level of
tolerance and understanding shown.
Our
Rishis and Sages understood the “Super Human” and the process of evolution of a
religion. They found that the Super
Human in effect as the Brahmam, God or Guru and resides in each human
being. Having found that it is “Aham
Brahamasmi” (Self is Brahmam) they found that God can be found in all creations
if one attains Self-realisation. This should result in Universal Love, love and
respect for all cultures all religions all traditions. The Brahmam God or Guru, a realised Self
indeed teaches that to all, creating love, amity and unity among all groups of
human race.
Urus, Sandal Procession
and Ramnavami in Shirdi
“As
Ramnavami is the most celebrated festival at Shirdi, another fuller account, as
published in Sri Sai Leela Magazine of 1925 page 197, is also referred to and a
summary of the festival as related in both accounts is attempted here.
Origin
One
Mr.Gopalrao Gund, was a surveyor in Survey dept. 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 due to
this, an idea of celebrating a fair or ‘Urus’ (Urus are celebrated at the tombs
of Muslim Holy men. It is surprising
that how Mr Gund, a Hindu got this idea) 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 obtained Sai Baba’s permission and
blessings for it. Then an application
was made to get the Collector’s sanction for celebrating the Urus, but as the
village Kulkarni held against holding the fair the sanction was refused. But,
as Sai Baba has blessed it, they tried again and ultimately succeeded in
getting the Collector’s sanction. The
day for the Urus was fixed on Ram Navami, after having consultations with Sai
Baba. It seems He had some purpose
behind this, viz., the unification of the two festivals, the Urus and the Ram
Navmi and the unification of the two communities – the Hindus and the
Mohammedans. As future events showed,
this end or objective was duly 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
water by Sai Baba, by putting flowers into it.
As the water of this well was insufficient, so Tatya Patil had to
arrange to get water from outside.
Temporary shops were to be constructed and wrestling bouts arranged. Gopal
Rao Gund had a friend by name Damu Anna Kasar of Ahmednagar. He also was
similarly unhappy in the matter of progeny, though he had two wives. He too was blessed by Sai Baba with sons and Mr
Gund prevailed upon his friend to prepare and supply one flag for the
procession of the fair. He also succeeded
in inducing Mr Nanasaheb Nimonkar to supply another flag. Both these flags were taken in procession
through the village and finally, fixed at the two corners of 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. The idea of ‘Sandal’ procession originated
with one Mr Amir Sarkar Dalal, a Mohammedan Bhakta from Korhla. This procession is held in honour of great
Muslim saints. Sandal i.e., chandan paste
and scrapings are put in a Thali ( flat
dishes) with incense burning before them and carried 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’ (niche)
and walls of the Masjid by hand. This
work was managed by Mr.Amir Shakkar for the first three years and then
afterwards, by his wife. So, on the same
day the two processions, the ‘Flags’ by
the Hindus and ‘Sandal’ by the Muslims went on side by side and are still going
on without any problem.
Arrangement
This
day was very dear and sacred to the devotees of Sai Baba. Most of them turned up for the occasion and
took part in the management of the fair.
Tatya Kote Patil looked to all outward affairs, while the internal management
was entirely left to Radhakrishnamai, a devotee of Baba. Her residence was full of guests on the
occasion, and she had to look after their needs, and also to arrange for all
the paraphernalia of the fair. Another work, which she willingly did, was to
clean and white-wash the entire Masjid, its walls and floor, which were
blackened and were full of soot on account of the perpetual Dhuni,(Sacred fire)
of Sai Baba. This she did during the night, when Sai Baba had gone to sleep
every alternate night in the Chavadi. She
to take out all the things, including the Dhuni, and
after thorough cleaning and white washing replace them, as they were
before. Feeding the poor, which was so
dear to Baba, was also an important item in this fair. For this purpose cooking on a grand scale and
preparing various sweet dishes, was done in Radhakrishnamai’s lodging, and
various, rich and wealthy devotees took a leading part in this.
Transformation of Urus in
to Ramnavami Festival.
Things
were going on in this way and the fair was gradually increasing in importance
till 1912, when a change took place.
That year one devotee, Mr.Krishnarao Jogeshwar Bhism (the author of Sai
Sagunopasana) came for the fair with Dadasaheb Khaparde of Amravati and was
staying ( on the previous day) in the Dixit Wada. While he was lying in the veranda, and while
Mr.Laxmanrao alias Kaka Mahajani was going with Puja materials to the Masjid, a
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 Ram Navami festival – the celebration of the birth of Shri Ram on
this day here? 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 do ‘Kirtan’ and sing the glories of the Lord on the
occasion. But, Bhism solved the
difficulty by saying that his ‘Ram Akhyan’, the 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
Radhakrishnamai. So they immediately
went to the Masjid to get Baba’s permission.
Baba Who knew everything and aware of what was happening 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 Bhism what he had to say. He
explained the idea of celebrating Ram 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 Radhakrishnamai and placed in front of
Baba’s seat and the proceedings started. Bhism stood up for Kirtan and Mahajani
began to play on the harmonium. Sai Baba
sent a man to call Mahajani. He was
hesitating to go, doubtful whether Baba would allow the festival to go on or
not 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 Ram Navami festival had commenced and the cradle was put out
for that purpose. Then Baba took a
garland from the ‘Nimbar’ (niche) and placed it round his neck and sent another
garland for Bhism. Then the Kirtan
commenced. When it came to a close, loud
sounds of “Victory to Ram” went up and Gulal (colour-powder) was thrown up all
around, amidst band music. Everybody was
overjoyed, when suddenly a roar was heard.
The red powder thrown promiscuously, went up and somehow fell into
Baba’s eyes. Baba got wild and began to
scold and abuse loudly. People got
frightened and took to their heels. The
intimate devotees who knew Baba well, took these scoldings and outpourings of
Baba, as blessings in disguise. They thought that when Ram was born, it was
proper for Baba to get wild and enraged to kill Ravan 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. Radhakrishnamai was rather afraid and thought
that Baba might break her cradle and she asked Mahajani to pull 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 sometime 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 over. Next day
another ‘Kirtan’ and Gopal-kala ceremony (an earthen pot containing parched
rice mixed with curd is hung, to be broken after the ‘Kirtan’ and the contents
distributed to all, as was done by Lord Krishna amongst his cow-herd-friends)
was performed and then, Baba allowed the cradle to be removed. While the Ram 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 Ram
Navami festival.
Since
1912, this festival began to grow gradually year by year. From the 8th
to 12th of Chaitra, Shirdi looked like a bee- hive 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
Radhakrishnamai turned Shirdi into a Sansthan. (State) Paraphernalia increased.
A beautiful horse, a palanquin, chariot and many silver items, utensils, 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 and modesty as before.
It is to be noted that both the Hindus and Mohammedens have been working in
unison, in both the processions during the entire festival, and there has been
no confrontation or quarrel between them at all so far. At the first about
5000- 7000 people used to gather, but that figure went up to 75,000 in some
years, still, there was no outbreak of any epidemic disease nr any riots worth
the name during all these years.( Shri Sai Satcharita- Ch. 6).
