The story of Mhalsapati - 4

మహాల్సాపతి జిజూరి యాత్ర మరియు దేహత్యాగము 

The story of Mhalsapati

Part 4: Jejuri  

Baba helping Mhalsapati in Jejuri pilgrimage:

Once Mhalsapati and other devotees, were going on their horses, the police intercepted them on the way and examined their passes. Finding one having no pass, they stopped him and put him into the police station; and the procession could not start from the village. That man had to go and get a pass from the Kulkarni. That Kulkarni delayed the issue of a pass and said 'You go on splitting fuel for me'. He gave Mhalsapati's man an axe to split fuel. Then the man took up the axe and after few strokes, the handle was broken. Then the Kulkarni gave him a second handle. The second handle also broke. Then a third handle was given, and that also shared the same fate. Then the Kulkarni said, 'God does not allow you to work', and gave him the pass.

 On one occasion when Mhalsapati and party reached Jejuri, 150 miles from Shirdi, plague was raging there, and Mahlsapathy sat down dejected leaning against his palki (Kavadi), not knowing what to do. Suddenly he saw Baba behind him; and Baba vanished. Then he got up and told his companions: 'Baba is with us and we need not worry'. Accordingly the pilgrimage was satisfactorily over, and there was no loss of life. When he returned to Shirdi, Baba told him, 'I found you leaning against the Palki at JeJuri'. Mhalsapati was convinced that his eyes did not deceive him at Jejuri and that Baba was everywhere guarding his bhaktas.

On another occasion when Mahlsapathy and his group had gone for an annual Jejuri pilgrimage, they were returning followed by another group i.e. Malam Bhagat Pilki. Then they met thieves who were armed with axes and who wore masks or were covering their faces with thick blankets. As they approached the Palki to rob it, Mhalsapati courageo­usly took out a handful of Bhandar, i.e. coloured rice and sandal and threw it at them as prasad. Then they quietly retreated in to the woods. Then Mhalsapati and his friends went on followed by Malam Bhagat palki, and they noted that there was no image in their own palki. All the party looked into it (i.e., Mhalsapati's palki) to see whether all their images were there. They found none. Then someone said. 'Are we to carry an empty palki to Shirdi? That day was a Sunday, which is Khandoba's day. Then Mhalsapati said, 'No pilgrimage on Sunday' but the others had disagreed, and now Mhalsapati told others, 'This is the evil of doing pilgrimage on Sunday’. Suddenly Mhalsapati got in to a trance, and Khandoba talking through him said, ‘Arre, what day is this? Is it not my day? Why are you carrying palki? To-day I am busy hunting out on a hill. After hunting is over, I will come to Shirdi. You had better go now'. Then he woke up from trance, and the palki went on and came to Kandoba's temple at Shirdi. People at Shirdi, came to the palki to take Darsan. One Shakaram looked into the palki and found all the images ' there. 'What is the talk of all the images missing?' he asked the people. He showed them, and said 'Here are all the images'.

 Baba was ever present and all the time protected Mhalsapati. He works like a protective shield for his devotees. Whenever we surrender to Baba, there develops a relationship. When Baba was in flesh, he did not care for his own body in protecting his devotees.

Mhalsapati leaving his body:

Baba knew the present, past and future. When Mhalsapati had his second male child in 1897 and took him to Baba and asked him to give him a name. Baba, evidently to prevent his being too much attached to the son, told him "Look after the child for 25 years and that would be sufficient". Mhalsa did not understand all this, or that 25 years period indicated the length of his life which was to end in 1922; but with true humility and submission he told Baba that "looking after" the child was not in his power-but only in Baba's power.

Baba had given Mhalsapati a hint. He told him once when he (Mhalsapati) was preparing to light a lamp and fill up Baba's pipe, “Arre Bhagat, in a few days from this, I will be going somewhere. After that, you come at night for 2 or 4 years”. This was not understood by Mhalsapati. Mhalsapati was able to do his nightly usual puja to Baba only for 2 or 4 years, for he passed away on 11—9—1922.

When Baba took Mahasamadhi (left his mortal body) in 1918, Mhalsapati declined all food and fasted for 13 days. Probably to prevent a shock, Baba had given him hints of his (Baba's) impending final departure. Mhalsapati always followed the path of Dharma and was very faithful to Baba’s teachings.  

The end of such a soul when life passes away must necessarily be a good end, (sadgati). Baba made this assurance doubly sure and granted him the merit of dying on an Ekadasi day (with God in his mind and on his lips) just as he did this for several other devotees of his. Bhagavad Gita says; that “Whatever a person thinks of (being in constant touch with it) at the time of death he reaches”.

Mhalsapati was well aware of the timing of his death and had full-consciousness and control of his mind. 

The day was Monday (which is in the month of Badrapada, Ekadasi), 11th Sep. 1922. This is supposed to be very auspicious day and that to it was a Monday which is sacred to Lord Siva his Khandoba. 

He told his family as follows; “To-day is my father's Shraddha day (Death anniversary). Finish cooking soon. To-day I close my earthly life and go to Heaven”. 

One of the Brahmins by the name Laxman, came and finished the required rituals for the anniversary.  Guests were fed after which family meals were finished. Mhalsapati took betel leaves and betel nuts after his meal. 

After chewing a bit, he put on a kupni (garment which was given by Baba). He asked his friends who were there that day, Bala Gurav, Ramachandra Kothe, etc., to do Rama nama japa (Recitation of Lord Rama’s name). While recitation was going on, he called his son, and he gave him his stick. 

Mhalsapati said to his son, 'Spend time piously in Uttama Bhakti Marga i.e. in holy devotion. All that I told you will happen." 

Then Mhalsapati uttered the word 'Ram’ and breathed his last. Thus he passed away in calm faith and cheerfulness on the 11th September 1922.

Mhalsapati is a great soul and he gave us direction in how to worship Baba. He taught us the value of life, how to live and follow Dharma. 

OM SAI RAM!