Ovi to Ovi english Translation - Foreword

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Tatya

Ganpati Kote Patil looked after all the arrangements and management of this fair at Shirdi, right from the beginning. Maharaj loved him dearly. He called Maharaj as maternal uncle. His mother, Saubhagyavati Bayjabai served Maharaj devotedly. And that too, at such a time when the majority of the common folk in the village counted Maharaj amongst the mad men. In the earlier days, Maharaj used to go four or five times into the village for alms. But Saubhagyavati Bayjabai never ever turned him back. Naturally the lady received the fruits of her devotion; but her whole family and specially Tatya was the beneficiary. Not only did Maharaj give money to Tatya but he was indulged in every way. When Tatya went every evening to Maharaj, the loving occasion between the uncle and the nephew was worth watching and their loving discussions were worth listening to.

Similarly, all arrangements at the Masjid and the chavadi were in Tatya’s hands. Maharaj did not get up till Tatya came and helped Him up; and it was Tatya who held Him by the arm and took Maharaj, to the ‘asan’18 spread out by Him, on which Maharaj would take a seat. This was the routine. Even the ‘chillum’ was filled by Tatya. At the time of the Ramnavami festival, that is on Ramnavami day itself, a procession of two big flags is taken with pomp to the Masjid; and there, these two flags are tied to two ends. Out of these, one of the flags comes from Shankar Rao Raghunath Deshpande alias Nanasaheb Nimonkar, and the second one from Nagar’s Damu Seth Kasar. Nanasaheb Nimonkar was the Deshpande of Nimon (the District Accountant). Nimon

village is in Sangamner Taluka. As Nanasaheb was counted as a leading personality amongst the men of the Taluka, the Government had appointed him as an Honorary Magistrate; and he discontinued this assignment at the end because of old age. His uncle resided here, therefore he sometimes came here. Whenever he came here he went for Maharaj’s darshan at the instance of his uncle. By and by, his faith in Maharaj increased and his last three years he spent in Maharaj’s continuous service. He went to his home only for a bath, morning and evening prayer rituals, and his usual ritualistic practices; the rest of the time he was at the beck and call of Maharaj. Though he was past sixty, he did not think of resting or avoiding any service to Maharaj; nor did he have any wish for it. Maharaj called him “Kaka”. He did not survive long after Maharaj. Soon thereafter, he attained Maharaj’s feet. By Maharaj’s grace the end

came very well. In the last three days, he saw Maharaj everywhere, and whoever came near him he addressed as Saibaba. (It has already been mentioned earlier that Maharaj was called Baba). Even his own wife he addressed as “Come Saibaba”. The wife felt he was under some delusion so she said: “I am not Baba, I am your wife”. Whereupon he said: “Who is in you? Baba only. You are Baba”. Thus, with continuous remembrance of Maharaj, his end came. Devotees can read this book from the Book Section of http://www.saileela s.org/books/ sss/index. htm

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