Shri Sai Satcharita
Chapter 37
Chavadi Procession
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 Brahmananda (divine joy), and at other times content
with Self knowledge. Doing so many things at the same time, He was unconcerned
with them. Though He seemed at times quite action less (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 (chariot), to the
right a Tulsi Vrindavan (Basil plant) and in front Baba, and between these the
devotees fond of Bhajan (singing holy songs). 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 chillim
(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 musical instruments,
band and horns and mridang, gave out their different sounds; and fire-works exhibited
their different and various colored views. Man 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 (Uniformed
Escorts) announced Baba's name, when He came on the steps of the Masjid. On the
two sides of Baba stood persons who held chamars (animal hairs tied at one end
of a stick, used as fan) and others who fanned Baba. On the way were spread
folds of cloth on which Baba walked on, being supported by devotees' hands. Tatya Patil held the left hand and Mhalsapati the
right; and Bapusaheb Jog held the Chhatra (umbrella), over His head. In this
fashion, Baba marched on to the Chavadi.
The fully decorated horse, named
Shyamakarna led the way; and behind him were all the carriers, waiters, musical
players and the crowd of devotees. Hari-naama (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 the corner,
Baba stood facing the Chavadi and shone with a peculiar luster. 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 luster to their hearts'
content.
Words fail to describe the
scene and splendor of this occasion. Some times Mhalsapati 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 Mhalsapati 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 visualizing 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 (small mattress) and placing a bolster made Baba sit there. He made Sai 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' (water) and worship with due formalities, then besmeared His
arms with sandal paste, and offered tambul (betel-leaves). Baba sat on the asan
(small mattress), while Tatya and others kept standing and prostrating 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 Tatya 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 Mhalsapati 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. 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
their 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 - Go if you like, but return sometimes at
night and enquire after Me. Replying in the affirmative Tatya left the Chavadi
and went home. Then Baba Himself
prepared His bed. He arranged 50 or 60 white sheets 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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