Satsang LATE RAO SAHEB V. P. IYER

LATE RAO SAHEB V. P. IYER
In Shirdi, near the temple of Sri Sai Baba is the Lendi
garden. There are a few Samadhis to the right side
of the entrance of the garden and one of them is of
Rao Saheb V. P. Iyer. He was my husband. He
breathed his last at Lakshmiwadi which is four and
a half miles from Shirdi - Kopargaon road.
I was at Lucknow at that time I got a telegram
informing me about his death. I wished to see the
place where he had passed away and I went there.
The children and myself reached the place four days
after his death. When the people of Shirdi knew that
I had come to Lakshmiwadi, many came to condole
me and talked about my husband.

Mr. V. P.Iyer was a Sugar Technologist. He worked
at various sugar factories. I had settled in Lucknow
for the sake of education of my children. When the
contract for his work was over, my husband would
come and stay at Lucknow till he again got a
contract for a job in another sugar factory.

For the 1943-44 sugar season, he did not have a job
and so he was at Lucknow. He was not worried
about it for he had absolute faith in Baba. He said
that why should he worry, for Baba will do what is
best for him. He was happy that he had more time
now to pray to Sai Baba. Before having- his meals
he would offer the food to his beloved Baba. He
would have all the various dishes served in the
Thali, even raw onions and salad and offer the
food to Baba. He would sit with eyes closed for
a few minutes and then start eating When someone
told him not to offer raw onions, he replied that
Baba would 'like it because it was a side dish for
the poor.

He had sent applications for job and he got one in
November 1944. He got a contract to work in the
Lakshmiwadi Sugar Mills, at Lakshmiwadi near
Kopargaon. When he saw the letter he said "Baba's
grace is great and he has called me near him". He
went to Lakshmiwadi and joined duty. He was
happy for, now he could go to Shirdi whenever he
got time. He often went in the evenings and
returned late at night. As he stood in prayer at
Baba's Samadhi he forgot everything. Many a time
people there reminded him that he should go
home as it was getting late. With great reluctance
he would leave the Mandir and return home. His
only wish seemed to be near Baba all the time.

His desire to be with Baba was so great that he
wrote in the letters to me that he wanted to stay
at Shirdi and not leave the place. When his friends
there heard this they advised him against it. They
told him that he cannot think of such a thing. He
must work and provide for the family till the
children are grown up and able to look after
themselves. His only reply was that he did not
want to leave Baba and go, and that he wanted
only to stay at Shirdi. In May 1945 the season was
over and his work there was finished. Mr. Iyer
wrote report and submitted it to the factory
management on the 26th May, and thought of
leaving Kopargaon on the 27th May for Lucknow.

Two of my sons had gone to Lakshmiwadi to
spend a part of the summer vacation with their
father. So they were there during his last days.

On the 26th evening, he went to Shirdi to have
the darshan of Baba. The Mandir was not as it
is today. It was small. Only the Samadhi of Sai
Baba was there and there was no statue. He
stood near a pillar in front of the Samadhi with
his eyes closed. Sometimes tears would come
from his eyes and he was not conscious of his
surroundings. Some persons tried to talk to him
but he did not respond. At about 9 p. m. he came
out of the trance. With great reluctance he left the
Mandir to return home. Since he was leaving
Shirdi, he said good-bye to the many persons
whom he knew. He felt no difference whether
they were rich or poor. All were the same to him.
When he said good-bye, tears were shed on either
side. He reached home at about 11 p. m. and after
dinner went to bed. At about 2 a. m. he woke his
sons and said that he was ill. The neighbour was
informed and he called the doctor The doctor came
and diagonised it as cholera and gave medicine.
By morning he had become very weak. By noon he
was only half conscious. He was lying quietly with
eyes closed. At times he would open his eyes and
look at Baba's photo which was on the opposite
wall. He was oblivious of his surroundings except
for Baba At about 4.30 p. m. he opened his eyes and
beckoned to the person standing near him. When
that person went to him and asked him what he
wanted, he made a sign that he wanted the picture
of Sai Baba. It was removed from the wall and
brought to him. He opened his arms and with his
eyes indicated that the picture should be put on
his chest. He then embraced Baba and said "Baba,
Sai Baba, Baba" and smiling, breathed his last.
When the people heard of the death of Mr. Iyer,
they were shocked and grieved, for the night
before he was well and now no more. Large
crowds of people came from Shirdi walking,
not minding the distance and the time for they
all loved him. He was cremated late at night.

The people of Shirdi approached the Samsthan
and requested that a Samadhi be built of Mr. Iyer
and they agreed. His ashes were buried and the
Samathi was built and the name and date were
engraved on it. Baba heard the prayer of his
Bhakta and fulfilled the wish and kept the loving
Bhakta near him forever. Baba has looked after
me and my six children. They are all educated
and well placed. All are married and have
children and are devotees of Sai Baba. I submit
to His will and have had no fear for I have
complete faith in Sai Baba.

Mrs. Hirabai lyer
(Source Shri Saileela Magazine Feb 1976)