THE PROGENITOR OF THE FORMAL WORSHIP OF SRI SAI BABA: SRI TATYA SAHEB NOOLKAR

[Guest guest]

A divine vision

Tatya Saheb's health worsened. There were a total of eleven carbuncles on

his body. They had to be cut and dressed every day. Noolkar was suffering

from unbearable pain. But Noolkar bore the pain stoically. He never even let

his facial expression to show that he was suffering or even enduring pain.

He left all desires and spent his days calmly. He did not even ask Baba to

lessen the pain or alleviate his disease. He spent all his time in the

unending japa of Sai Nama. He used to meet the devotees who returned from

the masjid and ask them with great interest about the daily occurrences at

the masjid. He would never show the slightest interest in anything except

for Baba. As Noolkar was bedridden he began to pine for Baba's darshan. Baba

would walk to the Lendi garden twice a day following the same route. This

route was visible from behind the Sathe Wada. Those devotees who could not

go to the masjid used to open the back door of the Sathe Wada and would have

the darshan of Baba. Noolkar, being bedridden, could not have even this

darshan and pined away in unrequited desire for the darshan of Baba's form.

One day he called his elder son, Vaman Rao and sent him to Baba to convey

his request for a darshan of Baba. Vaman Rao left for the masjid. Baba loved

children and would play with them whenever he got the chance. He would keep

joking with them and make them laugh. As Vaman Rao reached the masjid he saw

the eight-year-old Bappaji (son of Lakshman mama, the uncle of Shama)

playing with Baba. Vaman Rao saluted Baba reverently and conveyed Noolkar's

request to Baba. Baba said, "All right, he will get darshan. Allah will do

good to him," and started playing with Bappaji again. He was telling him

some silly stories and making him laugh. He would pinch his cheek

affectionately and kiss him. At that time a cloth seller came with his pile

of clothes to the masjid. He had some handkerchiefs embroidered with

beautiful floral designs in his hand. A red coloured kerchief attracted

Bappaji. He asked, "Baba, can I take that red kerchief?" Baba, "Take it"

Bappaji took the kerchief, folded it and tied to his head and bent down to

salute Baba. Baba pinched his cheek in affection. Bappaji later put the

kerchief on Baba's head and laughed. Baba did not object at all. He behaved

as if that kerchief was a king's headdress and started acting as if he was a

king showing a kingly manner and an affected walk. Bappaji clapped his hands

and laughed in gales of mirth. Baba placed that kerchief on Bappaji's head.

Bappaji took it off and placed it on Baba's head. Baba kept it on Bappaji's

head again and intimating that the play was enough, pinched his cheek in

affection. Vaman Rao, who watched all this horseplay, left the masjid and

went away to the Wada.

Vaman Rao went to his father and told him that he had conveyed his prayer to

Baba and that Baba had agreed to grant him darshan. Noolkar was not

satisfied with this bare narration and urged Vaman Rao to tell him of all

that transpired at the masjid. Vaman Rao, then began describing the

horseplay indulged at the masjid by Baba and Bappaji. Noolkar who was

listening to this was astounded by the narration. He started weeping at the

extent of kindness shown to him by Sri Sai Baba. Vaman Rao was surprised to

see his father crying and asked for the reason. Noolkar replied that his

tears were of happiness rather than sorrow. He said that Baba had granted

him his darshan the moment he had asked for it. Vaman Rao was amazed, as

Baba was in front of him at the masjid all this while and asked him as to

how Baba had granted his darshan to him. Noolkar, still immersed in ecstatic

happiness, began to tell him of Baba's darshan.

 

 

(To be continued)....

 

Source (source www.saipatham.org) Saipatham August 2002 Magazine