Lets explore Shirdi-Five Blessed Houses That Baba Took Bhiksha From

[Guest guest]

BAYAJA BAI KOTE PATIL (BAYAJA MAA)

This house is situated adjacent to 'Sai Kutir'. Bayaja Maa came to Shirdi

after she married an affluent landowner, Ganapath Kote Patil. She was a

dutiful, loving wife, who did a'l the household chores. But most of all she

loved to cook arid feed various guests and relatives. 'Food is Brahma' she

knew and was the first person to feed Baba when He came to i in the early

days. Bayaja Maa recognising His divinity would roam about in search of the

Fakir and feed Him daily (Ref. ESS, Ch. VIII). She then returned home to

eat. Her trouble ended when Baba came to live in the Masjid.

Daily Baba took Biksha from her. She made fresh food and fed Him lovingly.

Baba was very pleased with this. Baba asked her once what she wanted? "Do

you want Sampathi (wealth) or Santhathi (welfare of your family)"?

Unhesitatingly she asked for the welfare of Tatya, who had no children,

though he had three* wives. With Baba's blessings he had three sons and two

daughters. True to His promise Baba looked after Tatya and his family, and

even took 'niryan' for him.

NANDARAMMARWARI

Nandaram was a rich landowner and moneylender by profession. But he was

kindhearted and a gentle person. His grandfather came to Shirdi from

Rajasthan (Kharade village) and Nandaram was born in 1866 and grew up in

Shirdi. Nandaram's house was one of the blessed houses that Baba took Biksha

from. It is said that Baba would visit this house last although it was very

near to the Dwarakamai, almost in front of it. Baba loved this family and He

would call out to Nandaram's wife who had a speech problem. Baba would say

"Oh, Bhopadi Bai, Biksha de". If she was late in offering Biksha He would

shower abuses on her. Baba sometimes asked her to make puran poli and a full

meal. After making all the preparations she would take the thali to the

Dwarakamai, but Baba would eat very little and distribute the rest. In 19U

when plague was rampant in Shirdi the villagers quickly started fleeing.

Nandaram met some of the villagers who remarked that his eyes were red with

fever and that was the beginning of the plague. He was startled to hear this

and went on horseback to take Baba's permission to leave and go to Ekruka.

Baba dissuaded him from leaving. He assured Him that he was not going to

die. "7 will not let you die till I die" and gave him Udi and he recovered.

(Ref. DE, p. 153). Nandaram's grandmother, Radhabai, asked Baba to look

after her family as the male children died in infancy. Baba gave her three

mangoes and she got three sons. After this leela all the male children

survived. The best deed he did was to donate the land that was between Butti

Wada and Dwarakamai for Baba's use. This was done through Damu Anna and

hence the Samadhi Mandir was extended. Nandaram believed in doing good and

giving rather than receiving. He also repaired and made the flooring of

Maruti and Ganesh temples. He took Mahasamadhi on 13.10.1946 and his

philanthrophic and social work is carried on by his descendants.

 

 

(Adopted from Ambrosia In Shirdi by Dr.Vinny Chitluri, this book can be read

at http://saileelas.org/books/ambrosiainshirdi1.htm and this book is a

virtual guide on Shirdi with

lots of rare photos on Baba. This book can be purchased from Dr.Vinny

Chitluri 304, Bhagchand Apartments Pimpalwadi Road Shird, District

Ahmednagar, Maharastra India Pin-423 109 Phone : 91-02423 - 255835, cost

INR.70)