In earlier days Sai Baba was not getting himself worshipped. If
somebody brought a garland, he did not accept it. But later on
due to love of various devotees, he started permitting devotees
to apply sandal-paste to His fore-head, offer Him flowers and
perform Arati (waving of burning lamps). It was Tatyasaheb who
had the privilege of first performing such Pooja on Guru
Pournima Day. Tatyasaheb describes this incident in his letter
to Nanasaheb Chandorkar thus :
"On Saturday just as I got up in bed, I remembered it was GURU
POOJA DAY and made preparations. After Bhiksha (begging
round of Sai Baba) we were permitted to perform Guru Puja.
Baba allowed us to do all 'upachar' (particulars and points of
worship) quietly. He returned all Dakshina that was given at the
time of Pooja. Then He sent word to Radhakrishna and Dadabhai
(Dada Kelkar- father-in-law of Rao Bahadur Salhe) that Pooja and
Arati was being done and they should come soon. So Radhakrishna
sent her Pooja and Dada came wiih his Pooja articles." Thus, with
Tatyasaheb Noolkar, the congregational worship of Baba with
singing of Arati and playing of musical instruments started which
was continued further first by Megha and then later by Bapusaheb
Jog.
Sai Baba's and Tatyasaheb's mutual love was really incomparable.
Sai Baba used to call Talyasaheb Taiyaba' or 'mhatara (old man)'.
At worship time, many dishes of different food items used to come
and sometimes Sai Baba used to say, "Today I want Tatyaba's 'poli'
(wheat cake) and so saying he would accurately pick out poli
received from Taiyaba's house out of the heap of polies, received.
Tatyasaheb once had a desire in his mind (that he should get some
words from Baba's sacred mouth for reciting. Baba having known
this, once uttered some special words to satisfy Tatyasaheb who
continued to recite the same till the end.of his life. Tatyasaheb also
wished lo receive some article from Baba for placing it in his
Pooja-room and worshipping. Then unexpectedly on Datta-Jayanti
Day (Birthday of Sri Dattatreya in the month of Margasirsh), at
about 9 O'clock in the. night Sai Baba sent a messenger for
Tatyasaheb. The messenger had not even reached the Wada when
Baba was in such a hurry that He sent two more, messengers one
alter another. When Tatyasaheb arrived, Baba pulled out one
'Kafani' (a long robe such as used by Baba Himself) from the heap
of kafanies in from and placed it on Tatyasaheb's body saying,
"Let it be with you. It will protect you from severe wind and cold".
Talyasaheb felt that this was a sort of 'sanyas diksha' (initiation
into the fourth stage of life, i.e. abandonment of all worldly
possessions and earthly affections) as per his own liking and with
tears of joy in his eyes he placed his head on the feet of Baba
and returned. Such were the many favours Talyasaheb received
from Sai Baba.
to be contd...
by Late Lt.Col Nimbalkar
Pune
(Source Shri Sai Leela May June 1991)
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