THE TIME TABLE OF BABA’S DAILY ROUTINE - 3

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THE TIME TABLE OF BABA’S DAILY ROUTINE - 3

At about 8 a.m., Baba would start on his rounds for alms. He went to the houses

of Ganapati Tatya Patil (Bayajabai), Appaji Patil, Sakharam Shelke, Waman

Gondkar and Nanduram Marwadi. To them fell the good fortune of giving

sustenance to the One who was the sustainer of life in all the worlds. Baba had

a different way of calling for alms at each of the houses at which he begged. He

would say, "Abaad-e-abaad, Allah bhala karega," and bless the housewives. He

would say, "Bayaja maa! Jevan de! Roti lao (give food, get the roti)!" at the

house of Bayajabai. He would stand in front of the houses of Appaji Patil and

Waman Gondkar and calling them by name would say, "Bhakri de (give roti)." He

would stand in front of Sakharam’s house and call for his wife, "Itlayi Bai!

Roti lao." He would go last to the house of Nanduram Marwadi and say either,

"Nanduram bhakri de," or call his wife Radhabai, "Bopidi Bai bhakri

de.Bopidi" means "to stutter" in Marathi, and as Radhabai had a slight

stammer, Baba sometimes called her by that name. He would shout at her, "Why so

much delay?" if she were late in bringing the food for Baba. Sometimes, even

when no special occasion such as a festival warranted it, he would say, "Bopidi

Bai, mitha lao" (get the sweetmeats). She would leave all her work and make

puran polies for Baba whenever he asked for sweetmeats. He would put a piece in

his mouth and distribute the rest to the devotees present there. Baba went only

to these houses for alms and he would always go to them in the same order, but

there was no saying how many times a day he would go. There were sometimes

occasions when he went seven or eight times a day. "Baba went eight times a day

for alms in the first three years," says Sri Bayyaji Appakote Patil, "He then

went four times a day for the next three years, and twice a day for the next

twelve years, and in the last days he would go

only once a day."

When Baba went to Bayajabai’s house for alms, she would plead with him to sit a

while in the house and eat his food there. Baba never entered any house as a

rule, however, he could not refuse the loving supplication of the motherly

Bayajabai and so he would sometimes sit on the platform abutting the forecourt

of her house. The devoted Bayajabai never sent Baba away empty-handed no matter

how many times he went for alms. She would eagerly come running out of the house

and put at least some pickles or papadam in Baba’s alms-bag. Baba called her his

sister; she was indeed blessed. She had seen the greatness and the glory of Baba

when the whole world was unaware of him, and had resolved, even in those early

days, not to eat till she had fed him. Her life in the previous birth must

indeed have been meritorious for her to have such discernment. The housewives

of Shirdi in those days may not have been highly educated or considered

cultured by the

so-called high society, however we must salute them for their rare qualities of

devotion and love for Baba.

-Suchitra Devi in Sai Padham

Arun Reddy Nukala

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Pranams to SaiNath Maharaj ! After joining in the of shirdiSai, I

am going thro' vast no. of mails containing the various incidents that occured

during the period of HIS preence...really, today, while going thro' the

incidents of His asking for alms at the houses of certain Sai Bandhus..could

not write really, as the tears r rolling from eyes..s, He has showed somuch to

His devotees and particularly that Bayajabai..oh, saiNatha ur affection and the

grace upon her is so much..now only am feeling..and the affection what she

showed on You the Great Saviour...there are no words to express....I have

nothing to say, b'caz, I am away from India and working..working, thinking on

the material benefits for family..don't know how long I have to and when He

will come for salvation...

Sai Bandhu, Mr.Arun Reddy, what to say, for having given this articles..BABA'S

ROUTINE..u r converting so many into the folds of Shridi sainath Maharaj....at

this jucnture the serious works of another Sai Bandhu, MrLeeladhar is also

doing the best.

May the Almighty Sai be permit us to read, follow the steps what He has already

spelt in the routine life to reach His lotus feet.

KVARADARAJAN from Oman.Do You

?