Sri Saisatcharita Chapter - 37

This chapter gives an excellent glimpse of Chavadi utsav and Hemadpanth talks about the essence of vedanta taught by Baba. Blessed is the course of his life. His ways and actions are wonderful and indecribable in entirety. Sometimes he appeared as intoxicated with divine bliss, sometimes he was content with self knowledge and other times he was aloof. May our desire to serve him be abundant and let our devotion be exclusiviely at his feet. May we see God in all beings and ever love his name. Many people fight for the joys of heaven. People might consider life on earth contemptible since there is fear of death here. As humans we run after pleasures of this world and heaven. Good deeds might grant us the heavenly pleasures but they are also temporary. Once the fruits of good deeds exhausted, we are kicked out of there. Moreover we can attain moksha only through human body. Our scriptures reiterate that life as human is superior to any other form of life.

Baba taught us the importance of human life in previous chapters in Sri Saisatcharita. If we leave this body without knowing the self (Atma) then our life is considered as a waste. Baba always tried to teach this fact to us. This life is transient and we do not know when it ends and we have to perform every action in the name of God. That's why Baba always used to say "God is the master". Unrighteous conduct, ignorance, anger, hatred etc are chains which fetter us to death. Detachment is heaven. Of what use is a place where the devotees do not listen to and recite God's and Guru's stories or dance and sing to worship God? We have to Surrender body, mind, speech, and five pranas to the Guru. The questioning intellect should be merged in the Guru. Knowledge acquired about the union of Brahman and Atman is the only true knowledge which can take away the ignorance (Ajnana). once this Ignorance is removed there will be no duality. The greatest fear in this world is the death and to escape from this we have to hold our Guru's feet tight.

Intellect(buddhi) gives support to desires. Intellect gives support to desires. Therefore, immediately, on its extinction there appears Atman and the state of non-decay at the feet. Ignorance, illusion, desire and action are verily the main attributes of death. On alleviation of all these, bondage comes to an end. Once these bonds are destroyed, the feeling that we are the body, mind, intellect will be gone. Then Atman effortlessly manifests. This is the ultimate and highest state. Sainath is the supreme Guru and his words had unfailing potency and what is needed is faith and little courage. Then glory is yours. Let us not bother about the devotees who are attached to money, progeny, wife. Even the great yogis who came for darshan got deeply attached to his lotus feet. He who chants Sai’s name and has love for Sai in his heart is always assured of his well-being and repose. Sai himself protects him. Same is the case for him who hears only Sai, and speaks of nothing but Sai, inhales only Sai’s fragrance and savors only Sai’s name on his tongue. How wonderful was Sai’s smiling visage which granted the purest of happiness! Blessed and fortunate is he who saw it and savored the nectar of his words. Sai is the treasure house of all virtues. He is the grantor of liberation to his devotees. But we have to change our mind set and purify our internal state. Then Baba can guide us to reach the ultimate goal of human life.  

In this chapter Chavadi utsav was shown so beautifully. On December 10th, 1909 Baba's worship started in Chavadi. Every other day Baba used to sleep in Chavadi. So he alternated between Dwarakamai and Chavadi.  On the night when Baba used to go the Chavadi, the bhajan singing group came to the Masjid to sing bhajans in the courtyard. Behind, there was the beautifully decorated chariot; to the right was the small pedestal in which the sacred basil (tulsi) was planted; facing which Baba was himself seated; and, in the middle, were the

singers doing the bhajans. All devotees, men and women, who had a great respect for devotional songs, came to the courtyard early in all readiness for the bhajans. The torch bearers would light their torches, some people decorating the palanquin and the staff bearers ready to proclaim salutations repeatedly. At the road crossing (corner) there were arches, garlands and buntings. Flags flew high in the sky. The children were dressed in new clothes and ornaments. Many rows of earthen lamps around the masjid brightened it.

There is the horse Shyamakaran standing in the front fully caparisoned. In the meanwhile, Tatya Patil would come and sit near Baba, in all readiness to leave with Baba. Tatya Patil gets Baba ready by putting his hand under his arm.  Baba would be wearing his usual ‘kafni’; and would place his ‘sataka’ under his arm. He would carry the ‘chillum’ and tobacco and throw a cloth on the shoulder. When Baba was thus ready, Tatya would drape a beautiful zari embroidered cloak on his body and head, properly covering him. After this, Baba makes sure dhuni is lighted well and would extinguish the lamp that was burning there with his right hand. Then he would leave for the Chavadi.

When Sai set off all the musical instruments started playing and fireworks were lit, also the earthen lamps illumined the whole area. Some played the horns; some blew the large brass trumpets; some played the drums and the cymbals; and other people clapping to the music.  All the people were very joyous. They would leave with banners and standards in procession. There were salutations and the horse capered. Thus, with the reverberations of the musical instruments, the procession left the Masjid. When Baba came to the steps, the ushers made proclamations. On both sides of Baba, stood persons holding whisks and fanning him. People folded their shawls, and cloths and spread them on the way, like carpets, on which Baba was made to walk, supported by

devotees’ hands, as other waved whisks over him. Tatyaba held his left hand, while Mhalsapati held his right. Bapusaheb (Jog) held an umbrella as a conopy over his head and in this manner the retinue proceeded to the Chavadi. In front was that copper colored horse, Shyamakaran. He was richly decorated and caparisoned and bells jingled on his feet. The staff bearers walked ahead, proclaiming Sai’s name. As he stood facing the Chavadi, a lustre like the sun in the early morning or late evening sky shone like the heated, purified gold, from Sree’s countenance. Sai Maharaj stood full of delight, moving his right hand up and down. Kakasaheb showered rose petals, mixed with red farinaceous powder, on Sai’s forehead with love and devotion. Sometimes, Mhalsapati began to dance being possessed by some deity; but all were surprised to see that Baba’s concentration was not in the least disturbed. 

On Baba’s right stood Bhagat (Mhalsapati) holding the hem of Baba’s ‘kafni’ very lightly; and to the left, Tatya Kote walked with a lantern in his hand. How enjoyable was the celebration! which was nothing but a glorious exposition of love and devotion. The Chavadi’s ceiling was decorated with a white awning from which chandeliers and lamps were suspended, whose light was reflected in the mirrors. The whole place was brilliantly lit up. All the assembled devotees gathered closely at the Chavadi. Then, Tatya makes sure that Baba is sitting  and then beautiful apparels were placed on his body. The ‘Arati’ was done at the top of their voices and he was presented with garlands and bouquets. Anointing his hands with sandalwood paste and perfume, ornaments were placed on him after the expensive clothes. A crown also was placed on his head and they stared at him. Sometimes it was a beautiful golden crown, sometimes a lovely turban embroidered with gold and a bejeweled tuft on which shone a plume of feathers. Round his neck were diamonds and rubies. Then a white pearl necklace was put around his neck. All these ornaments and clothes were brilliantly lit up by the lights. 

On the forehead was drawn a vertical black line of fragrant musk and a round black ‘tilak’ was also put on the forehead. That purple velvet cloak, fully embroidered with zari, was placed on the shoulders; and if it slipped, it was immediately gathered together on both sides. Similarly, the crown or the turban was held aloft over his head and placed gently so that Baba was not aware of it. Whatever it was the crown or the turban, as soon as it touched his head Baba threw it away. Considering their love and affection, he deliberately kept quiet.  How wonderful it all looked when the devotees had completed dressing and bedecking Baba. Nana Saheb Nimonkar held the white umbrella which moved in a circle on its supporting stick with its pendants and tassels. Bapusaheb washed the Guru’s feet with great love. He offered the oblations of water with great devotion and offered puja with all the rites. Then he washes Baba's feet in a silver dish, applies fragrance to his hands and offers betel leaf. Then Syama crumbles tobacco and everyone will smoke one after another after Baba. In the end Jog does the pancha arathi. After the arathi every one prostrates to Baba and leave. Then Baba asks Tatya "Go if you are going, but during the night inquire about me from time to time". Then Baba makes his bed with his own hands. Here ends the story of Chavadi as it used to happen. 

In this chapter after the essence of vedanta was given, the chavadi utsav was described. We have to purify our personality and walk the path that Baba showed. To overcome the obstacles during this travel we have to use the devotion named Chavadi utsav where we worship our Guru. Worshiping our Guru means walking the path that was shown. Baba told Tatya to think of him in the night which means we have to think of Sai to come out of darkness. For this we need Sradda and Sabhuri. 

Om Srisainatharpanamasthu!