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Chavadi Procession

Baba's dormitory has been already described. One day He slept in the Masjid and

on the next, in the Chavadi (a small building containing a room or two near the

Masjid). This alternate sleeping in both these buildings went on till Baba's

Mahasamadhi. From 10th December 1909 devotees began to offer regular worship to

Baba in the Chavadi. This we will now describe with His grace. When the turn of

retiring to the Chavadi came, people flocked to the Masjid and made bhajan in

the mandap (courtyard) for a few hours. Behind them was a beautiful Ratha

(small car), to the right a Tulsi-vrindavan and in front Baba, and between

these the devotees fond of bhajan. Men and women who had a liking for the

bhajan came in time. Some took Tal, Chiplis and Kartal, Mridang, Khanjiri and

Ghol (all musical instruments) in their hands and conducted the bhajan. Sai

Baba was the Magnet Who drew all the devotees to Him

there. Outside in the open, some trimmed their divatyas, (torches), some

decorated the palanquin, some stood with cane-sticks in their hands and uttered

cries of victory to Baba. The corner was decorated with buntings. Round about

the Masjid, rows of burning lamps shed their light. Baba's horse 'Shyamakarna'

stood fully decorated outside. Then Tatya Patil came with a party of men to

Baba and asked Him to be ready. Baba sat quiet in his place till Tatya came and

helped Him to get up by putting his arm under Baba's arm-pit. Tatya called Baba

by the name of Mama. Really their relationship was extremely intimate. Baba

wore on his body the usual kafni, took His satka (short stick) under His

arm-pit and after taking His chilim (tobacco-pipe) and tobacco and placing a

cloth over His shoulder became ready to start. Then Tatya threw a

golden-embroidered beautiful Shela (Shawl) over His body. After this Baba,

moving a little the bundle of fuel-sticks lying behind with His right toe and

then

extinguishing the burning lamp with His right hand, started for the Chavadi.

Then all sorts of muscial instruments, tashe, band and horns and mridang, gave

out their different sounds; and fire-works exhibited their different and

various coloured views. Men and women singing Baba's name started walking,

making bhajan to the accompaniment of mridang and veena. Some danced with joy

and some carried various flags and standards. The Bhaldars announced Baba's

name when He came on the steps of the Masjid. On the two sides of Baba stood

persons, who held chavaris and others who fanned Baba. On the way were spread

folds of cloth on which Baba walked on, being supported by devotees' hands.

Tatyaba held the left hand and Mhalasapati the right and Bapusaheb Jog held the

chhatra (umbrella) over His head. In this fashion Baba marched on to the

Chavadi. The fully decorated red horse, named Shyamakarna led the way and

behind him were all the carriers, waiters, musical players and the crowd of

devotees. Hari-nama (the name of the Lord) chanted to the accompaniment of music

rent the skies as also the name of Sai. In this manner the procession reached

the corner when all the persons that joined this party seemed well-pleased and

delighted.

On coming to this corner Baba stood facing the Chavadi and shone with a peculiar

lustre. It seemed, as if the face of Baba glittered like dawn, or like the glory

of the rising sun. Baba stood there with a concentrated mind, facing the north,

as if He was calling somebody. All the instruments played their music while

Baba moved His right arm up and down for some time. Kakasaheb Dixit at this

time came forward with a silver plate containing flowers besmeared with gulal

(red powder) and threw them on Baba's body off and on. The musical instruments

played their best at this juncture and Baba's face beamed with steady and added

radiance and beauty, and all the persons drank this lustre to their hearts'

content. Words fail to describe the scene and splendour of this occasion. Some

times Mhalasapati began to dance being possessed or obsessed by some deity, but

all were surprised to see that Baba's concentration was not in the least

disturbed. With

a lantern in his hand Tatya Patil walked on Baba's left side and Bhagat

Mhalasapati on the right, holding with his hand the hem of Baba's garment. What

a beautiful procession and what an expression of devotion! To witness this, men

and women, poor and rich, flocked together there. Baba walked very slow.

Bhaktas followed on both sides with love and devotion. With joy pervading the

whole atmosphere of the place, the procession reached the Chavadi. That scene

and those days are gone now. Nobody can see them now or in the future; still

remembering and visualising that scene and sight, we can bring solace and

comfort to our minds.

The Chavadi was also fully decorated with a good white ceiling, mirrors and many

sorts of lamps. On reaching it Tatya went ahead and spread an asan and placing a

bolster made Baba sit there and made Him wear good angaraksha (coat). Then the

devotees worshipped Him in various ways. They put on His head a mugut (crown)

with a tuft above, placed garlands of flowers and jewels round His neck and

marking His forehead with musk-mixed vertical lines and a dot (as Vaishnava

devotees do) they started at Him for long to their hearts' content. They

changed His head-dress now and then and held it aloft on the head, fearing that

Baba might throw it away. Baba knew the heart of them all and meekly submitted

to all their methods without objection. With these decorations He looked

wonderfully beautiful.

Nanasaheb Nimonkar held the Chhatra (umbrella) with its beautiful pendants which

moved in a circle with its supporting stick. Bapusaheb Jog washed the feet of

Baba in a silver dish and offered 'arghya' and worship with due formalities,

then besmeared His arms with sandal paste, and offered tambul (betel-leaves).

Baba sat on the asan (gadi), while Tatya and others kept standing and falling

at His feet. When Baba sat on the gadi supporting Himself against the bolster,

devotees on both sides waved chamars and fans. Shama then prepared the chillim

and handed it over to Tatyaba who drew a flame out of it by his breath and then

gave it to Baba. After Baba had His smoke, it was given to Bhagat Mhalasapati

and then it was passed round to all. Blessed was the inanimate chillim. It had

first to undergo many ordeals of penance, such as being treated by pot-makers,

dried in the open sun and burnt in fire and then it had the good fortune to get

the

contact of Baba's hand and His kiss. After this function was over, devotees put

garlands of flowers on His neck and gave Him nose-gays and bunches of flowers

for smelling. Baba who was dispassion or non-attachment incarnate, cared a fig

for all these necklaces of jewels, and garlands of flowers and other

decorations; but out of real love to His devotees, He allowed them to have

their own way and to please themselves. Finally Bapusaheb Jog waved the arati

over Baba, observing all formalities, the musical instruments playing thier

auspicious tunes. When this arati was over, the devotees returned home one by

one saluting Baba and taking His leave. When Tatya Patil, after offering

chillim, attar (scent) and rose-water, rose to depart, Baba said to him

lovingly - "Guard Me, go if you like, but return sometimes at night and enquire

after Me." Replying in the affirmative Tatyaba left the Chhavadi and went home.

Then Baba Himself prepared His bed. He arranged 50 or 60 white chadders one

upon another and thus making His bed, went to rest.

We shall also now take rest and close this chapter with a request to the readers

that they should remember Sai Baba and His Chavadi procession daily before they

retire and go to bed.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all"Gurur Brahma Gurur VishnuGurur Devoh

Maheshwar;Gurur Shakshat ParambramhaTashmai Shri Gurur Veh Namah"May the

Merciful Sri Sai Baba always shower His grace on us and our families and remove

our problems and anxieties by giving us all - strength , goodluck, success and

happiness with peace of mind.Sai bhakt,Deepa Hdebu7366

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