LIVE EXPRIENCES OF THE TARKHAD FAMILY WITH SHRI SAI BABA OF SHIRDI -Introduction

[Guest guest]

Here is the Introduction by Shri Virendra Jyotindra Tarkhad .

INTRODUCTION

Dear readers, before I write these live experiences I beg the pardon from all of

you for the single reason that these are not my own experiences but they were

narrated to us by our father Shri Jyotindra Ramchandia Tarkhad from time to

time when he was alive. During my childhood when I use to listen to him while

narrating, they use to sound like fairy tales for me. As I grew up and came to

know about the supernatural powers of Shri SaiBaba of Shirdi I realized that my

father had experienced something divine during his ten years of association with

Sai Baba and they were the precious possessions of his life time which is

difficult for any common man to acquire. I use to always feel that I should

open up these prized possessions to all of you but our daily routine is such

that it is difficult for us to find time to devote for such spiritual writings.

I have visited Shirdi the Karmabhoomi of Sai Baba several times by now and

during these visits I met several Sai devotees. During these meetings there was

always a natural question whether I am also a Sai devotee. I use to feel rather

awkward to declare so because the way my father use to perform Sai Pooja , I

was no way near such devotional duty and use to tell those Sai devotees that I

have some kind of unique connection with Shri Sai Baba because of my father's

association with him when he was alive and very much active in Shirdi and that

is the main reason I visit Shirdi. Primarily, there are three individuals in

our Tarkhad Family who were the main cause of such connection. My grandmother

(father's mother), my grand father Ramchandra Atmaram Tarkhad &my father

Jyotindra Ramchandra Tarkhad. These three

people came in contact with Shri SaiBaba and their association spanned from the

year 1908 to 1918 i.e. till Sai took Maha Samadhi. As a result of this

association subsequently for all members of Tarkhad family Sai Baba was their

God. Then that Sai devotee would make a request to narrate some divine

experience encountered by my father. I use to oblige by narrating whatever used

to come to my mind then. This use to take place in a place called Lendi Baug in

Shirdi. After hearing the experience invariably the devotee would bow in front

of me and touch my feet. I used to then feel very awkward. Once it so happened

that a Sai Mandal from Pune requested me to come to Pune & narrate such

experiences to Sai Followers in Pune. I obliged them by visiting Pune along

with my wife and children. That program lasted for two hours and after I

completed my narration there was a big queue in

front of me to perform Namaskar to me. As I was a family man I decided to stay

away from such a function for simple reason that those were the experiences of

my father and I may make some mistake during narration. At the same time |

decided that after I retire from the services, I might have plenty of free time

which I will utilize to write out these out of the world experiences of Tarkhad

Family members. Of course the purpose is to express my devotion and love

towards Shirdi Sai Baba. On 18th June 2003 I have completed 60 Years & today on

15th August 2003 i.e. 57th Independence day of our beloved country India I have

commenced writing this book.

Dear Sai devotee reader I wish to express that I am not Hon Hemadpant the great

Late Annasaheb Dabholkar who has composed the Immortal Sai Satcharitra. I

regularly read this Holy Book which consists of 54 Chapters covering the life

span of Shirdi Sai Baba. There are incidences in this Holy Book when my father

was also present in Shirdi and I shall be humbly narrating them to you as they

were viewed and passed on to me by my father. Dear readers please pardon me as

I am not in a position to state the exact dates and time of these incidences

but during the time span of 1908 to 1918 my father had visited Shirdi 17 times

and his stay per visit used to be from 8 days to one month. During these 17

Rounds please believe me my father had a first hand experience of the

divine powers of Shri Sai Baba which were in the true sense supernatural. In

fact I wish he should have had written these himself as he was a student of St

Xavier's School. Of course the sole purpose of my writing is purely to express

our deep and sincere Shraddha (faith) in Shri Sai Baba which gives me immense

peace of mind.

Dear reader Sai Devotee, I am sure after reading this book you may think that I

might have also come across some divine experiences But I humbly state that

certainly not the kind that my father had come across. I firmly believe that my

father was destined to come in contact with Shri SaiBaba may be due to his

Poorva Punyaee (good deeds of last birth) and his experiences have been all

before his marriage i.e. from his age span of 14 to 25 years. Many a times I

wonder that experiencing such divine power why did my father resorted to family

life? Well in that case, I would not have been there and may be this book too

would not see the light of the day.

Now a brief introduction about Tarkhad Family. Our native place Tarkhad village

near Vasaj_Fort (Fort of Bassein). Our surname is therefore Tarkhadkar. The

history goes that my ancestors had fought the Battle of Bassein Fort along with

the Great Maratha Warrior Chimaji Appa against the Portuguese who were defeated

in the battle. As recognition of their bravery Chimaji Appa granted them

Jahagiri of Tarkhad village. Later on British took over the fort from Marathas

and my great great grand father Pandurang Tarkhad shifted to Mumbai. He had

built his Bungalow on Charni Road Chaupaty near Wilson College. Pandurang had

two sons Dadoba and Atmaram. Out of this Dadoba became very famous Grammarian

for writing the grammar books for Marathi speaking people who could

speak and write correct English language. Second son Atmaram was doctor by

profession. He was family doctor to the erstwhile Viceroy of Bombay. My grand

father Ramchandra. Atmaram Tarkhad was a specialist in cotton textile & he was

secretary to Khatau Group of Mills. He had established his own household in

Bandra and later on came in contact with Shirdi SaiBaba. He was one of the

founder members and the first treasurer of Shirdi Sai Sansthan. He extend all

possible support to Dasganu Manaraj who was spreading Baba's Message to people

of Mumbai and Maharashtra. When you visit Shirdi Sai Samadhi Mandir you will

find their photos amongst the photos of Baba's devotees of that time Late

Annasaheb Dabholkar has written the famous Sai Satcharitra, which gives

detailed accounts of Baba's Leelas in Shirdi during his tenure.

The 9th chapter of Sai Satcharitra narrates the experiences of Tarkhad Family

with Sai Baba. Babasaheb Tarkhad as stated in this 9th chapter my grandfather.

The lady Tarkhad as stated is my grandmother and their son as stated is my

father Jyotindra Ramchandra Tarkhad. The life experiences as I am going to

state in this book are mostly that of my father Jyotindra. He was born on 15th

June 1895 and expired on 16th August1965. Brief information about the author

would be appropriate at this stage. My name is Virendra Jyotinjra Tarkhad,

second son of Jyotindra (1st son Ravindra has" expired). I am an engineer by

profession and have worked in two companies Crompton

Greaves Ltd and Siemens India Ltd in the managerial capacity currently I am a

retired person staying at Santacruz.

Dear Sai devotees after going through this book if you wish to get in touch with

me please do so but purely to express our mutual devotion towards Lord Sai.

Sd/-V. J. TarkhadDo You

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