Lets explore Shirdi-HOUSES OF BABA'S DEVOTEES IN SHIRDI

July 27, 2005

MADHAV RAO DESHPANDE (SHYAMA)

This house is situated towards the right bylane while going from Dwarakamai

to the Bazaar. Shyama was 'the Nandi to Bhola Baba'. He was born in Nimon

and came to Shirdi at the age of two years along with his parents and stayed

in this house till his Mahasamadhi. Mention is made in Sai Satcharitra when

Baba asked Dhabolkar to go to Shyama's house and take Dakshina from him and

sit and chitchat for a while. Shyama came out of the inner room, and told

Dhabolkar to be seated, as he was about to do Puja so saying he went into

the inner room. Dhabolkar sat on this verandah and waited till he finished

the Puja. Then Shyama came out and told him the beautiful story of Radha Bai

Deshmukh (Ref. ESS Ch.XVIII & XIX). This house is very sacred as Baba gave

him various books to keep and read. There is a statue of Ganapati towards

the right hand corner in the main room and it is said that this Ganapati was

given by Baba. There are some original photographs of Baba (going to Lendi

Bagh and Baba sitting with Shyama to His left and Mahalsapathi to His

right.)

After Shyama, this house was looked after by his son Udhavrao Deshpande who

breathed his last on 27.6.1998. Udhav Rao stated that he was a young lad

before Baba's Mahasamadhi and often he would play with Baba. Baba loved

children a lot, and he spent many evenings playing with Baba. Once Shyama

asked Baba "What would happen to this child?. It is stated that Baba said,

"He will grow up in the Masjid and that there will be no dearth of funds for

his livelihood". Now the widow of Udhav Rao looks after this house.

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

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)

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