Satsang TARKHAD FAMILY by Lt.Col.M.B.Nimbalkar

Mrs. Tarkhad had a great desire to visit Pandharpur and take
darshan of Vithoba there. In Maharashtra people believe that
they must go to Pandharpur and bow down at the feet of Vithal
Raj least once in lifetime. Mrs. Tarkhad therefore asked Baba
for permission and also said, "Baba! I shall go only if you permit
me. Otherwise my Pandharpur will be at Your feet only." But Baba
said, "Aye! Go! you will have a satisfying darshan and pooja of
Vithal."
Mrs. Tarkhad then went to Pandharpur with her son Jyotindra. At
the temple she took darshan of Vithoba and started her pooja.
Mrs. Tarkhad had the habit of not taking anybody's assistance
while performing pooja of idols at home. In spite of great
inconvenience and fatigue, she did everything herself. Now here
problem arose while garlanding Vithoba's idol. Mrs. Tarkhad was
very short and could not reach the head of the idol. The Badava
(Brahmin official at the temple) standing by said, "Give the
garland to me. I shall place it on the idol." But Mrs. Tarkhad would
not give it to him. The Badava also would not allow her to step on
the platform and garland the idol. Mrs. Tarkhad was worried and
looking at her son said, "What shall we do now? Baba had
promised a satisfying darshan and pooja. How then this problem?"
Jyotindra, thereupon, said. "This is your earnest desire. So you
only pray to Vithoba. If He wishes to accept your pooja, He will
find some solution." Mrs. Tarkhad therefore started praying with
great devotion and tears in her eyes and lo! What a great wonder!
The idol of Vithal moved and slowly lowered down. Mrs. Tarkhad
then in great joy applied the sandal-paste to Vithoba's forehead
and lovingly placed the garland around the neck. Then both mother
and son bowed down on the ground in front of the idol.

On seeing the idol moving, the Badava's eyes rolled in wonder
and he fell unconscious on the ground. Afterwards when he arose,
he bowed down to the mother and son and said, "We have been
worshipping here for years and we considered this idol only of
stone. Today I realise the truth. Indeed you are Vithal and
Rakhumai (consort of Vithal) for us. Please stay on now with us
here " Mrs, Tarkhad and Jyotindra however explained lo him that
they were no other than ordinary pilgrims and only their earnest
devotion must have created this miracle. They then returned to
Bombay. Next time when they went to Shirdi. Baba asked Mrs.
Tarkhad, "Aye! have you a satisfying darshan and pooja at
Pandharpur?" Mrs. Tarkhad replied, "Baba! With Your blessings
why should it not happen. I was fully satisfied. Hence-onwards,
You are in Vithoba and Shirdi is my Pandharpur,"

(to be contd...)
by
Lt. Col. M. B, Nimbalkar, Pune.
(Source :http://saileelas.org/articles/nimbalkar/tarkhad.htm
(Shri Sai Leela September October 1991)