Uddhavesh alias Shyamdas Baba

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Uddhavesh alias Shyamdas Baba

 

 

Date of Birth: 9th June, 1865

Date of Samadhi: 8th August, 1951

 

It was from Konkan prantha, Ratnagiri Jilha, Devgad Gaon,

and his ancestors hailed from. Then they moved to Thane, where Uddhavesh

grew up. From early childhood, he was an ascetic by nature, and loved to

go on pilgrimages and visit saints and sadhus. He first visited Shirdi

in 1904. This visit itself was very predictive of Baba's grace on him.

He had undertaken an elaborate pilgrimage of Rameshwar; from Wardha it

was by foot. Upon takng Gajanan Maharaj's darshan, the saint told him to

go south of Shegaon, where he would meet his Guru. Then, Harihar Baba at

Shivlee who did not speak, except for saying Harihar, indicated that

Uddhavesh would find his moksha Guru at a place that rhymed with Shivlee

(Shiladi) in the westward direction. At Shivlee, a party gave Uddhavesh

a wild horse for his journey. The horse was bad-natured for he bit if a

person stood before him, and kicked him, if he stood behind him.

Nonetheless, taking him along, he came to Ahmednagar Jilha, 'the land of

saints'. At Belapur, he did darshan of Keshav Govind's Samadhi and

reached Kopargaon. Bathed in the Godavari, he did Naamjap and thence

came to Shirdi.

 

In those days, Shirdi was a desolate place with abundant

Babul trees. He tied his horse to a Babul tree, taking care to muzzle

his mouth and tying his hind legs to another tree, lest he attack

way-farers. It was then that he noticed a fakir in a torn-tattered

kafni. A tin tumrel in his hand, he walked about aimlessly. He went up

to him and politely asked him, where the Sadhu of Shirdi stayed. The

Fakir blessed him with a shower of abuses. This episode hurt him to the

core and he made his way to the village. " He is an old cantecarous man

and instead of answering a simple question civilly, he abuses my mother

and me " , he thought. Upon reaching the village, he came to the Masjid.

There was a hut next to it and an old lady was making Bhakar and Pitla.

He enquired about the saint of Shirdi. She told him that he had gone

out, but there was no saying as to when he would return. So, she was

making Bhakar ready for him to eat whenever he would return. He enquired

about his appearance. She described in great detail about Baba's torn

tattered Kafni and headgear.

The Masjid was littered with garbage in front of it, but the

inside was clean and neat. In a corner, there were four lighted lamps,

next to it a hand-mill and some old and faded marigold garlands and some

fresh garlands. A Dhuni was burning in front of the pillar. He wondered

about the lighted lamps and the entire setup as he made his way back.

The lady was a Hindu, the sadhu described was a Muslim, and his mind was

in a turmoil. " Agni in the Masjid! Why? " Many questions arose in his

mind on his way back.

 

There he saw Baba patting his horse. He had one hand in the

horses mouth and with the other, He was patting his head. Spontaneously,

he said, " Be careful Maharaj! This is a wild creature and he bites

viciously. " He then went and laid his head on Baba's feet. He was filled

with peace and he stood up and asked the burning question. " Maharaj,

where and when will I find my Guru? " Still patting the horse, Baba

answered, " Kallel pudhe, tu kothun aalas? Mee tar vedaa fakir aahe (You

will realize in the future where you came from. I am but a mad Fakir). "

Then He added, " After five years, everything will be clear, okay. Go.

Leave today and do Upwas (Upwas here is indicated of Sadhna). " Then Baba

and Uddhavesh returned to the Masjid. Some devotee had left a coconut

offering. Baba broke it and gave half to Uddhav. Then He said, " Arre,

how can a whole bhakar go down the stomach all at once. You will realize

in five years. At that time, we will see. " Then, Uddhav bowed to Baba

and left for Kopargaon and joined the rest of the group and continued

his pilgrimage.

 

Between 1906 and 1911, he was fortunate to meet Nana

Chandorkar, Janardhan Gonddev Kandikar and Balasaheb Dev, who told him

many leelas of Sai Baba.

In 1906, he visited Shirdi and Baba said, " Come Shyamdas,

it is good you have come. Ghoda Baeel Chaavka. Aamhasee bhet to paavka

(Rough translation: Horses and bulls bite. But when they meet me, they

become meek and gentle). " These words reminded him of Baba's divine

presence which was perceived even by the vile horse. Harihar Bua, who

had told him he would find his Moksha Guru at Shirdi. Everytime he

visited Shirdi, thence, he stayed for longer periods of time.

 

(to be contd...)

 

[REF : Sai Leela 1926 (June-July)]