Sai Mahasamadhi

Baba knew when he is going to leave his body so he asked Mr. Vaze to read Rama Vijaya to him. He read this for one week, then Baba asked him to read this again day and night. In the next three days he finished the parayana. Then third time Baba asked him to continue but Mr. Vaze was exhausted. Still he read for three more days. Baba let him go and kept to himself for the ultimate moments. Here Baba followed the general practice amongst the Hindus that when a man is about to die, some good religious scripture is read out to him with the object that his mind should be withdrawn from worldly things and fixed in matters spiritual, so that his future progress should be natural and easy. We all heard about Great Shuka brahma expounding Bhagavat purana to king Parikshit who was cursed by the son of a Brahmin Rishi and was about to die after a week.  Baba being an incarnation of God needed no such help, but just to set an example to the people, He followed this practice.

Baba let nobody know the exact time of His departure. Baba stopped going for bhiksha two or three days before his Mahasamadhi. He was conscious to the last and was advising the devotees not to lose heart. Kakasaheb Dixit and Booty were dining daily with Him in the Masjid. That day (15th October) after arati, Baba asked them to go to their residence for dining. Still a few, viz., Laxmibai Shinde, Bhagoji Shinde, Bayaji, Laxman Bala Shimpi and Nanasaheb Nimonkar remained there. Shama was sitting down on the steps. After giving Rs. 9/- to Laxmibai Shinde, Baba said that He did not feel well in the Masjid and that He should be taken to the Dagadi (stone) Wada of Booty, where He would be alright. Saying these last words, He leaned on Bayaji, he left his mortal coil. Bhagoji noticed that His breathing had stopped and he immediately told this to Nanasaheb Nimonkar who was sitting below. Nanasaheb brought some water and poured it in Baba's mouth. It came out. Then he cried out loudly 'Oh Deva.' Baba seemed just to open His eyes and say 'Ah' in a low tone. But it soon become evident that Baba had left His body for good.

Everyone in Shirdi came running to Dwarakamai as they heard the news. Then the big question arose on how to dispose Baba’s physical body? Muslims wanted this to happen in an open space with a tomb. Other people did not agree with this opinion as Baba asked to be taken to Booty wada. After 36 hours of conflict some officers came and everyone voted for this. More people voted to support Baba’s word that he should be in Booty wada. While all the arguments were going on, Baba appeared to Laxman Joshi and told him to continue with arathi. Then Bapusaheb Jog did the afternoon arathi. On Wednesday evening Baba's body was taken in procession and brought to the Wada and was interred there with due formalities in the garbha, i.e., the central portion reserved for Murlidhar. In fact Baba became the Murlidhar and the Wada became a temple and a holy shrine, where so many devotees went and are going now to find rest and peace. All the obsequies of Baba were duly performed by Balasaheb Bhate and Upasani, a great devotee of Baba.

Breaking of the Brick

Baba gave another indication also which occurred few days before Baba’s Mahsamadhi. Baba used to rest on a brick and used this as a pillow. One day, during Baba's absence, a boy who was sweeping the floor, took it up in his hand, and unfortunately it slipped from thence fell down broken into two pieces. When Baba came to know about this, He bemoaned its loss, crying - "It is not the brick but My fate that has been broken into pieces. It was My life-long companion, with it I always meditated on the Self, it was as dear to Me as My life, it has left Me to-day." Some may raise here a question - "Why should Baba express this sorrow for such an inanimate thing as a brick?" To this Hemadpant replies that saints incarnate in this world with the express mission of saving the poor helpless people, and when they embody themselves and mix and act with the people, they act like them, i.e., outwardly laugh, play and cry like all other people, but inwardly they are wide awake to their duties and mission.

OM SRI SAIRAM!