PHOTO - Shirdi Sai Bhagat Mhalsapati - ACTUAL PHOTO OF MHALSAPTI WITH DETAILS

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Bhagat Mhalsapati

Sai Baba damands two coins viz. Faith and Patience from His devotees. He advocates silent Guruseva instead of 'Mantropadesh'. The lives and experiences of Sai devotees of yesterday and today are all lessons to learn, to digest and to implement for realising Sai within themselves. Among the notable devotees of earlier years was Mhalsapati. We learn that Sai was addressing him as "Bhagat" while others were called by names or nick names. If we analyse the life of this Bhagat we can understand why Baba addressed him, as 'Bhagat*, Mhalsapati, whom Baba addressed as 'Bhagat', was given several first chances in the development of Sai cult. Shri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji declared that Mhalsapati was the poineer of Sai Pooja and the Sai movement.

BHAGAT MHALSAPATI He was a native of Shirdi, goldsmith by profession. His income from the barren land of 71/2 acres or the mud house or through profession was negligible. He had to maintain three daughters and a son apart from his wife. He was highly religious and pious. He was a worshipper of 'Kbandoba', (another name to Shiva) their family deity. He used to spend his time in Khandoba worship and reading Mhalsapati puranam. He used to be possessed by Lord Khandoba now and then. During that period villagers used to ask him questions and got replies. He had great respect for saintly persons. Mahalsapati's House When the young Fakir, who accompanied Chand Patil's marriage party to Shirdi, caught the eye of Mhalsapati near Kbandoba temple while alighting from the cart, be unintentionally addressed Him "Ya Sai" (welcome to Sai). Thus be was given the rarest privilege of naming our Baba as "Sai" which name has become immortal. This is the first service rendered by him to Sai movement. Mhalsapati was the first devotee who realised the real worth of Sai and started His Pooji. We learn that in the initial period Baba was considered to be a mad Fakir. But Mhalsapati continued to realise the godliness in Baba. Shirdites could realise the greatness of Baba only when lamps were burnt with water instead of oil. He used to apply Sandal paste to His throat and place flowers and milk at Baba's feet. Thus he was the "Poineer' of Sai Pooja. Of course the credit of applying Sandal paste to Baba's forehead goes to Dr. Pandit. Baba, Tatya and Mhalsapati used to sleep together in the Chavadi/Dwarkamayi. Though Tatya had to discontinue this practice after 14 years due to the demise of his father, Mhalsapati continued till Baba's Mahasamadhi. Even on this account he was given this rare privilege of sharing Baba's bed. We learn from Sai Satcharita that Mhalsapati was asked by, Baba to watch Harenama Smarana by placing his bands on Baba's heart. Are there any devotees who got such opportunity ? Another important point to be noted is preserving the body of Baba for 72 hours in his lap in the year 1886, In fact we all are indebted to Mhalsapati for this act. Baba instructed Mhalsapati to preserve His body for 72 hours during which time He wanted to take His prana high up and to go into samadhi. With Baba's body on his lap, he sat for full three days guarding it. How much faith and patience one requires to sit like that ? Mhalsapati used to follow Baba on the right side during Chavadi procession. In a way this is also a rare privilege. That was his spiritual life. He led a very simple life, of course, amidst poverty. ' He did not have a share in the amount distributed among certain devotees by Baba, out of the amount collected by Him by way of Dakshina. He did not care for money though it was required very much by him to support his family. In this connection it is worth quoting Baba's words, "poverty is better than Kingship; far better than Lordship. The Lord is always brother of the poor." Perhaps Mhalsapti wanted to be nearer to his God by not attempting to earn money. That does not mean that he suffered. In fact he led a very peaceful life till his end. The soul of such a dedicated devotee left bis body on 11-9-1922 (Ekadasbi - Monday). He was fully concious till the last moment. While chanting Ramnam his soul merged in Sai. Readers are advised to go through Dr. Parchure's (Executive] Editor) editorial "Khandoba Temple** of November, 1981 issue of Shri Sai Lee la for further details. Perhaps, Baba addressed Mbalsapati as Bhagat for the above noble qualities of head and heart. D. Sankaraiah Hyderabad-500873 (A. P.]

 

" The Natural Tendency Of Water Is To Flow Downwards,So, Is Of The Mind,To Make Water Move Upwards, You Need A Yantra,To Make The Mind Move Upwards, You Need A Mantra !!! ".....Rohit Behal

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