Satsang Uddhavesh alias Shyamdas Baba

Satsang Uddhavesh alias Shyamdas Baba

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)]