Sakharam Hari Alias Bapu Saheb Jog.

[Guest guest]

Bapu Saheb was

a kind and gentle man, but because of his position of power, and his dealings

with the labor force he looked stern. But he did have a quick temper. Baba,

slowly but surely changed this. He lived frugally and had quite a bit of money

saved. Baba knew that he was egoistic about his wealth. So on the pretext of Dakshina Baba kept demanding Dakshina

again and again from him till he was depleted of all his savings. Bapu Saheb learned a valuable

lesson. His routine every month was to collect his pension from Kopergaon, pay his dues to the shopkeepers, and what ever

remained he would place before Baba. Baba trusted him immensely and would often

give His money to him, for safekeeping. Bapu Saheb would keep the money safely, and was constantly aware

of Baba’s money. When the need arose Baba would ask him to buy this or

that from it. Baba would often give him Rs100, and a few days latter jokingly

say “Bapu Saheb I

gave you Rs 125 a few days ago. Go and fetch

it.” Bapu Saheb would

tell Baba that He had given him only Rs100. This happened a few times, and Bapu Saheb indignantly said

“Baba I don’t want to be involved with Your

money business. Keep Your money with someone else” Baba would then pacify

him saying “ Bapu Saheb don’t get angry! I made a mistake, it was Rs 100 okay” Once a devotee gave Baba a guinea. Baba

gave to Bapu Shaeb and

said, “What is this?” He told Baba that it was a guinea or

equivalent to 15 Rs. Baba said, “it is worth 30 Rs you keep it and

give Me 30 Rs”.

Bapu Saheb

looked after Baba’s affairs, after Megha’s

death on 19.1. 1912, he was given the honour of

performing Baba’s Aarati till Baba’s Niryan in 1918. All the Seva that

Megha used to perform fell on Bapu

Saheb’s shoulders. Like Baba’s Aarati in Dwarakamai, evening Aarati in Sathe Wada, Aarati in Dixit Wada, and Guru Paduka Sthan. Bapu

Saheb took his duties very seriously usually there

were a substantial number of devotees present for the Aarati.

However if there were a few or none at all, it did not bother Jog, he conducted

the Aarati with devotion and zeal. The couple led a

life of austerity; they were up at the crack of dawn. After bathing in cold

water, they performed ‘puja’ to their

household deities. Followed by religious rituals, and reading of the Pothi, then they went to the Dwarakamai

for Baba‘s darshan. Bapu

Saheb stayed at Baba’s side doing all the

chores required. Tai went home, prepared the prasad

for the Aarati and looked after the innumerable

guests that Baba sent.

Tai was the epitome of

“Bhakti”. She was intensely devoted to

Baba. Her love for her ‘Guru’ was so passionate that after

Baba’s Niryan she lost self control. She

wandered the streets of Shirdi aimlessly, as if

searching for her Guru. She had a vacant look on her face, oblivious of her

surroundings. So desolate was she that she died two months later.

Once Bapu

Saheb asked Baba, as to when He would give him Sanyas. Baba replied, “As soon as you are free of

your worldly responsibilities” Thus Bapu Saheb was now free. He stayed on at Shirdi

for a few years and looked after Baba’s Samadhi. After Kaka Saheb Dixit’s death the

other devotees left Shirdi. Being quite alone he

decided to go to Sakori. There he wore a Kafni, and took Sanyas. His

decision to go to Sakori is perplexing, as he and Upasani never had a cordial relationship. Once he dragged Upasani and brought him to Dwarakamai.

Then he proceeded to tell Baba about the disagreement and asked Baba to be the

judge. Never the less at Sakori he attended to Upasani with the same devotion, as he had for Baba.

As he had died a Sanyasi, his Samadhi lies in front of the Upasani Ashram in Sakori.

(Source Shri Sai Leela

Magazine)