Houses of Sai Baba Devotees

Dixit wada

Although the face of Shirdi has changed dramatically since Sai Baba was physically present here, some of the build- ings from that era still remain. As they include the houses of some of his closest followers with whose names devotees will be familiar, we include them here. Among them were two purpose-built wadas constructed by devotees from outside Shirdi. A third, Booty Wada, became the Samadhi Mandir.

Location of Devotees' Housesfabiti

 

1. Tatya

2. Bhagoji Shinde

3. Laxmibai Shinde

4. Mhalsapathi

5. Abdul Baba

6. Nandaram marwari

7. Shama

8. Dixit wada

Sathe Wada (now demolished)

This wada occupies a significant place in the history of Baba's Shirdi as it was built on Baba's instruction, and was the first of its kind. Moreover, it was during preparations for its foundations that Baba revealed that this was the place of his guru. Furthermore, several of the devotees whose names have gone down in history stayed here. For example, it was here that Khaparde wrote part of his informative Shirdi Diary, that Jog did daily parayana as asked by Baba, that Dada Kelkar lived, and where Hemadpant had his first darshan of Baba standing outside; arati to Baba's picture was conducted regularly at the wada. By providing what was, at that time, the only accommodation for visitors to Shirdi, Sathe rendered valuable service to pilgrims.
H. V. Sathe was a man of considerable social standing who worked in the colonial government as a Deputy Collector. Four years after his wife died in 1900, he came to Baba to ask whether he should remarry. Baba advised him that if he did so, he would have a son. Sathe did remarry and the couple had two daughters and a son. Sathe became a keen devotee and played a prominent part in life around Baba. He was also responsible for bringing Megha (who became Baba's pujari and faithful devotee) into contact with Sai Baba.
The wada was built in 1908 on a site between the Gurusthan neem tree and where Booty Wada (now the Samadhi Mandir) was subsequently constructed. Sathe describes the building's inception as follows:
Near Baba's favourite neem tree were the remnants of the old village wall. Baba told me: "Pull down the wall and build." Baba's suggestion was for building residential quarters there and for including the village wall in the construction. So I bought the land there and using the remnants of the village wall built a wada enclosing or surrounding the neem tree.
In 1924 the wada was bought by R. S. Navalkar and in 1939 his heirs gave it to the Sansthan. Two years later the Sansthan added four rooms for the use of pilgrims.
Until 1998 part of the wada still stood and was being used by the Sansthan as an administrative office. It was pulled down during the restructuring of the Temple Complex.

Dixit Wada

H. S. Dixit

Dixit Wada is to be found just opposite Gurusthan. Work on the building began with Baba's permission in late 1910, the year after Dixit had taken his first darshan of Baba and been so touched by him. The building took about four months to complete and was inaugurated on Ramnavami the following year. Dixit lived in a modest room on the first floor and generously kept the rest of the building, including a small dining hall, for the use of visiting pilgrims. Many people benefited from the facility - Hemadpant, author of Sri Sai Satcharitra, always stayed here when he was in Shirdi and the wada is mentioned several times in the literature. Baba sometimes sent people to the wada to attend the parayana that Dixit did every day and puja was also conducted regularly. It was while lying on the verandah here that Sri Bhishma conceived the idea of celebrating Ramnavami, a festival that grew in size each year and is one of the grandest events in the Shirdi calendar.
Hari Sitaram Dixit, better known as Kakasaheb Dixit, was a close and exemplary devotee of Sai. He came to Baba in 1909 as an influential lawyer, active in politics, through his good friend Nana Chandorkar. While studying in London, Dixit had injured his leg in a train accident which left him limping and lacking in confidence. It was ostensibly for his recovery that Nana persuaded him to visit Sai Baba. How this trip came about and the beautiful way in which Baba arranged it, with Shama as his escort, is described in the Sri Sai Satcharitra, Ch. 50. Upon having Baba's darshan, Dixit forgot why he had come and reported that the handicap of his leg was nothing compared to the limitations of his mind.
Baba apparently once asked Dixit, "Why are you anxious? All care is mine."Dixit accordingly entrusted all responsibility for his material, physical and spiritual welfare to Baba. In each area he received ample and dramatic help, including being saved from a near fatal fever and unexpectedly getting last minute relief from a huge debt. There are many inspiring instances of his deep devotion to Baba and of Baba's response. Baba once promised that he would "take Kaka in a vimana" (i.e. secure him a happy death). This transpired in 1926 when Dixit passed away peacefully while travelling on a train with some close fellow devotees, as he was fondly recalling the greatness of his beloved gurudeva.
Dixit bequeathed part of the wada to the Sansthan and later it was given the whole building. Until the mid-1990s the building was used as a canteen. A small part of it is now open as a reading room. In a recent extension to the wada a few of Baba's things have recently been put on display in a small museum with a sign above the door: "Museum Hall". The Sansthan is planning to expand the display.

Abdul Baba's Cottage

Abdul baba's cottage

Just opposite the Chavadi next to a couple of tea stalls is a small entrance with a sign above it: "Abdul Baba's cottage". This is the room where one of the devotees serving Sai Baba, Abdul Baba, lived for the last years of his life. The building is open to the public and there is a pair of chimta (fire tongs) here, said to have been given to Abdul by Sri Sai Baba.

Laxmibai Shinde's House

Laxmibai shindes house with her samadhi in front

Laxmibai shinde

Laxmibai Shinde was one of the half dozen or so devotees who were with Baba when he passed away, and the only woman who was allowed in the mosque when the curtain was down. (In those days, the curtain acted as a door, and screened the upper part of the mosque.) Like several other close devotees, she used to prepare food for Baba every day. Baba gave her four rupees daily, and just before he died he gave her a total of nine rupees. Some people see these as symbolizing the nine forms of devotion, others as the nine characteristics of a good disciple, as indicated in the Bhagavata Purana. The coins are kept with a statue of Laxmibai in the small house which is open to the public. To find it, walk a few metres down the narrow lane which starts opposite the Chavadi until you come to a small open area on your left; here you will see the house with samadhi in front.

Bhagoji Shinde's House

Bhagoji was a sort of attendant to Baba, engaged in regular service to him. He was the first to enter the mosque in the early morning, and every day he used to massage first Baba's right arm and then his body. Then he would light a chillim and the two of them would share it. Bhagoji also had the privilege of carrying the umbrella for Baba when he went to Lendi.
When Bhagoji came into contact with Baba he had leprosy. The disease was cured by taking Baba's teerth, though he remained partially disfigured.
Bhagoji's house, known as Shinde Wada, is just behind Laxmibai's house. To find it, turn left out of the Chavadi. Within a few metres you will see Narasinh Lodge on a right-hand corner, with a pair of holy padukas set in the wall. Turn right down this lane, and the compound of Shinde Wada lies on your right, behind a solid old wooden door. Entering, you may see Bhagoji's house in the back right-hand corner. The compound is adjacent to a pharmacy run by a relative of Bhagoji.

Mhalsapati's Houseth

Mhalsapati's house

 

Mhalsapati, who had the benefit of forty to fifty unbroken years with Sai Baba, may be considered among the foremost of his devotees. He was the first to worship Baba, the first to greet him on his arrival in Shirdi and to address him as "Sai" (Saint). Only Mhalsapati and one other (Tatya Kote Patil) were allowed to stay with Baba in the mosque at night.
Mhalsapati was the hereditary priest of Khandoba Temple, and hereditary goldsmith of Shirdi (though later he gave up this trade). His education was minimal, but he was noted for his piousness. He also used to receive and help visiting fakirs, and sadhus such as Devidas and Janakidas. His income was so scant that he and his family would sometimes have to go without food, but absorbed as he was in his religious practices, this did not seem to disturb him unduly. Mhalsapati was so identified with his God, Khandoba, that he sometimes entered trances and talked as if possessed by him. In this way, he fulfilled the role of village shaman and villagers would put questions to Khandoba, via the medium of Mhalsapati.
In 1886 Mhalsapati was entrusted with a very important responsibility that was literally a matter of life and death, and which had far-reaching implications. Baba, who had been suffering from breathing difficulties, told him that he was "going to Allah", and that Mhalsapati should look after his body for three days. "If I do not return," said Baba, "then get it buried near the neem tree." On uttering these words, Baba passed out. Mhalsapati sat for three days with Baba's body on his lap. When village officers held an inquest and declared Baba dead, Mhalsapati remained steadfast and refused to allow them to take the body for burial. After this, Baba revived to live for another thirty-two years!
In such ways, Mhalsapati gave continued and devoted service to Baba throughout. In return, Baba guided and protected him, and kept him on a high moral and spiritual course. In his Life of Sai Baba B. V. Narasimhaswami has recorded some of the many occasions on which Baba came to Mhalsapati's aid during their long association. They include curing his wife's throat tumour, manifesting to Mhalsapati at Jejuri 150 miles away to reassure him that his party would not be touched by the plague that raged there, and warning him of the peril of coming events (such as a snake on his pathway home, a fight in a house he was to visit, an insulting situation at another, etc).
Mhalsapati survived Baba by four years. During that time he continued to sleep in the mosque, perform daily worship of Baba and Khandoba, observe mouna (silence) and sit in meditation. Baba had moulded this simple and conservative yet dedicated priest into a paragon of spiritual excellence. An indication of his attainment is the mode of his death. On an auspicious ekadasi day, Mhalsapati gave instructions to his family and told them that he would "close [his] earthly life and go to heaven" that day. With his loved ones around him chanting Ramachandra japa, and himself uttering the word "Ram", he left consciously and peacefully. It was a fitting end to a lofty life of spiritual endeavour.
Mhalsapati's remains are interred in his modest house, where his great grandson now lives. It is open to visitors and some people like to worship at the samadhi and take darshan of the things here that Baba gave Mhalsapati. One of Baba's kafnis, one of his satkas, three coins, some udi and a pair of Baba's padukas are kept here. The house is located just beyond Laxmibai Shinde's place, a little further up the lane at the next opening. The walls are painted and there is a sign above the door.

Madhav Rao Deshpande's ("Shama") Houseth

Shama

This house is mentioned in the Sri Sai Satcharitra, as Baba sent Hemadpant here to collect dakshina from Shama and to have a chat with him. Hemadpant had been feeling disconsolate because a newcomer to Shirdi had just had a wonderful vision after doing a seven-day parayana of Gurucharitra, whereas Hemadpant had been studying it for forty years and felt he had not had any result. "No sooner did this thought cross his mind, than Baba knew it then and there." Hemadpant's subsequent conversation with Shama on the verandah of this house resulted in one of the most beautiful passages in the entire Sri Sai Satcharitra (Ch. 18), in which Baba speaks (to Radhabai Deshmukh) of the great bond between himself and his guru.
Shama was among the most intimate devotees of Baba, and acted like a personal secretary to him. Baba once told Shama that they had been together for seventy-two generations. Shama's parents had moved to Shirdi from Nimon (five kilometres away) when Shama was only two. He became a school teacher in a room next door to the mosque and his interest in Baba was kindled there.

Shama's house

Shama's house is a few metres from Dwarkamai - take the lane opposite and bear immediately right following the narrow winding lane. There is a sign on the building and it is still occupied by Shama's daughter-in-law. His son, Uddhavrao, passed away in 1998.

Bayajabai, who served Baba Bhiksha throughout his life in Shirdi

Right up to his last days, Baba used to beg for his food. He usually confined his bhiksha rounds to the same five houses which were all within a few metres of Dwarkamai, and went several times a day. On rare occasions when he was unable to go himself, Baba sent someone in his place. Baba would stand outside and call for bread, but he never went into the houses. Baba collected the food all together in a cloth bag and any liquids in a tin mug, then took it back to Dwarkamai. He would offer some at the dhuni and empty the rest into a pot (the kolamba) by the fire, where any creature could take from it. Only later would Baba eat a small amount himself.

Baba on His biksha rounds, c 1916

The first two houses Baba used to go to were those of Vaman Gondkar and Vaman Sakharam Shelke, beside the Chavadi. Both were wealthy landowners. These two substantial houses were demolished in 2001, though the small Narasimha Temple beside them, with its three little samadhis, still stands.
Vaman Gondkar's house appears in one of the leelas in the Sri Sai Satcharitra. Hemadpant narrates that one day at noon, Baba suddenly got up and went and stood near Radhakrishnayi's place and asked some men to bring a ladder and lean it against the wall of Gondkar's house. Baba then climbed up, walked over the roof and the adjacent one (which was Radhakrishnayi's), got them to move the ladder there, and then climbed down again. As Hemadpant says, "No one could understand this mystery." For one thing, "Baba could only walk if two people on either side of him supported him. When he himself was so feeble, from where did this strength come?" Secondly, for this small service, Baba paid the owner of the ladder the then princely sum of two rupees! When asked about this, Baba simply replied that we should never take anybody's labour for free. It so happened though, that the owner of the ladder later prospered and had two sons, having been childless until then. Villagers also wondered if Baba had done something for Radhakrishnayi's benefit, as she had been suffering from malaria at the time.

Bayajabai, who
served Baba Bhiksha
throughout his life in
Shirdi

The next houses Baba went to on his rounds were also very close to each other those of Bayajabai (Tatya's mother), and Bayaji Appa Kote Patil (in whose arms Baba passed away). They are just beyond Narasinh Lodge opposite Ithiraj Hotel (its sign is in Hindi only), around the corner from what is currently Saikkon Colour Laboratory. It was in this area that the photo of Baba on his begging rounds was taken. Bayajabai's family later moved to a bigger house a few metres away behind Mahalaxmi Temple. This has been converted into a hotel and is now known as Bayajabai Guesthouse.
Finally, Baba used to go to the house of the local money-lender, Nandaram Marwari. This is in the lane between Dwarkamai and Gurusthan behind what is now the Madras Hotel. Like the other families to whom Baba went for bhiksha, this one was devoted to Baba and, also like the others, received many blessings from him. Baba sometimes went to all or any of these houses more than a dozen times a day (later the number of daily visits became fewer). In the case of Nandaram's wife, Baba would sometimes shout and heap abuse on her if she was slow in preparing the offering. Nandaram's descendants are still living in part of this house, which has been extended; the rest of it has been turned into a lodge.

Bayajabai house. It is said that baba used to stand on the stone
seen in front of the door

On Vijayadasami, as part of the annual celebrations, Baba's bhiksha routine is ritualistically re-enacted by devotees. The Participants are selected by lottery and taken ceremoniously in the procession to the five houses, via Dwarkamai, starting at the Samadhi Mandir.