Satsang MRS. LAXMIBAI GANESH KHAPARDE by By V.B. Kher

Dadasaheb was in England for over two years and even after his
return home was under the surveillance of the Government. Hence
Sai Baba had detained him in Shirdi for a period of about three and
half months in 1911-12. Laxmibai was also at Shirdi with Dadasaheb
and we learn from Shri Sai-Sat-Charita that though Khaparde stayed
at that time for four months in Shirdi, his spouse stayed back in Shirdi
after Dadasaheb was given permission by Baba to leave and in all spent
seven months in Shirdi. So it took a long time for her to understand and
appreciate the new situation and she was naturally unhappy at thai time.
The hindsight of Dadasheb in relation to Baba's order on 1-2-1912 to
Dikshit to give two hundred rupees to Mrs. Khaparde which Khaparde
interpreted in 1923-24 to mean a life of poverty and patience can be
understood and appreciated only in this context.

Laxmibai was robust and healthy but her health began declining from
the beginning of the year 1928- Periodic attacks of fever and asthama
harassed herand she was affected by inflammation of the knees with the
result that she could not walk. There is an entry in Dadasaheb's diary' of
30-4-1928 that she had headache and high fever. The deterioration in
her health thereafter was fast and medicines ceased to act. She must have
had a premonition of events to come. She suggested that a group photograph
of the family should be taken. This was done on llth July, 1928. Thereafter a
touching scene took place which is best described in Dadasaheb's words.
The following is a translation of the extract from Dadasaheb's biography in
Marathi.
"While I was doing my Sandhya just before luncheon, my wife came and
worshipped me in the same way in which an idol is worshipped. I was
puzzled and asked her why she was doing this today when she had not done
anything of the kind all these years. She said, 'I wjsh to depart from the world
with a peaceful mind.' I think she has been unwell for the last few days and
has given up all hope of survival. I "asked her to trust in God and to submit to
His will."

The above incident did not become known to the sons and their wives until
they had read the description in the diary. After the above incident
Laxmibai was confined to bed and within eight days thereof i.e. on 20th July
1928 she passed away quietly and happily after having the darshan of her
Sadguru Sai Baba. The description of her end is best given in the words of
Dadasaheb recorded in the diary for that day.

"Went downstairs to see my wife. She apparently had a bad night, but
appeared calm and collected. At the suggestion of my eldest son all the
family bathed early and had something to eat which they could and we all
watched by her bedside. I spent the whole time practically near her bed.
We removed her from the room in which she was to the chowk and lay her
in front of the room alloted to our family deities. Her breathing became
harder and harder but she was cool and calm and passed on at about
3-15 p.m. I-felt overcome and could not control myself for some time. At last
I got over it...... Everybody said she was very fortunate in passing away during
my life time...... After we returned from the funeral I heard from my sons that
my wife distributed her ornaments, clothes among her daughters-in-law and
their children a few weeks ago and told that she had discharged all her
assets and blessed them to be happy..... She had the darshan of her Guru......
So I think she had a fairly correct idea of passing on. She never asked for
medicine and showed no anxiety to be cured. She passed away very
happily and I have no doubt she is very very happy now."

(Source Shirdi Diary)
http://www.saileelas.org/books/dairy.htm

Satsang MRS. LAXMIBAI GANESH KHAPARDE by V.B.Kher

The reference in Shirdi Diary to the above incident is found in
the entry dated 4-3-1912 and is briefly worded as follows: "My
wife was late in going to worship Sayin Saheb but he very kindly
desisted from his meal and let her worship him."
In his articles in the early issues of Shri Sai Leela Swami Sai-
Sharananand referring to this incident observed as follows: "Baba's
touch was experienced by devotees when He gave Udi or allowed
them to touch His feet or press His legs. Even here, he did not touch
or allow every one to touch in the some way. When He desired to
instruct anyone, He allowed the devotee to touch according to his
faith or feeling (bhawa) and sometimes even objected. When He
wanted to instruct the wife of the Hon'ble Mr. G.S.Khaparde to do
japa of the mantra, 'Rajaram' notwithstanding the rule prohibiting
the entry of women into the Musjid in the afternoon, He not only
permitted her to come up but accepted and took the naivedya
(offering) brought by her and stretched out His legs for her to press
and simultaneously pressed her hands and whispered to her, 'go
on repeating Rajaram, Rajaram'. Swami Sai Sharanand's comment
on the above incident shows in what high esteem Baba held
Mrs. Laxmibai Ganesh Khaparde.

Now let us turn to the account in canto seven of Shri Sai-Sat-Charita
as to how Sai Baba relieved Laxmibai Khaparde's anxiety on account
of her son's illness.

"How many wonderful leelas of Baba shall I narrate to the reader!
Once there was an outbreak of plague and now listen as to what
miracle happened. Dadasaheb Khaparde's lad was staying (in Shirdi)
along with his mother and both were enjoying bliss in the company of
Shri Sai. The lad developed high fever and his mother became restless
with anxiety. She wanted to return to her hometown Amraoti and
came to take Baba's permission to leave. .During His evening stroll
when Baba came near the Wada, the lady held Baba's feet and narrated
her woe. Women are known to be soft hearted. The boy was struck
down with plague and was shivering. Baba said to her softly. The sky
is overcast. The clouds will burst and pour down rain and the sky will be
clear. Why fear?' So saying, he raised his kafni upto the waist, showed
all the four buboes each of the size of an egg on his body and added,
'Look, I have to take upon myself your suffering.' Seeing this divine and
strange spectacle the people were dumb-founded to witness how saints
have to suffer sorrows for the sake of their devotees. Their minds are
softer than wax and outwardly like butter. They love their devotees
without any expectation and regard them as their kith and kin."
Reference to this incident occurs in Shirdi Diary in entries dated 8-1-1912,
17-1-1912, 18-1-1912, 20-1-1912, 6-2-1912 and 8-2-12 which have been
collected together below:

"8-1-1912 - During the mid-day service after the Arti, Savin Maharaj
exhibited sudden and great anger and abused violently. It appears as if
plague is likely to reappear here and Sayin Maharaj is endeavouring to
prevent its reappearance.

17-1-1912 - Balwant also felt sad and said that he wished to leave Shirdi.
18-1-1912-P.S.I forgot to mention that during the torrent of hard words
that Sayin Baba poured out to-day he said that he had saved my son
Balwant and then often repeated the phrase 'Fakir wishes to kill
Dadasaheb (meaning me) but I would not permit it'.

20-1-1912 - Bhishma and my son are unwell....There was no Bhajan as
Bhishma is indisposed and my son Balwant is slightly worse.
6-2-1912 - When my wife spoke about going, Sayin Baba said that I did
not ask for the permission personally.
8-2-1912 - Balvant for the first time in these three weeks ventured out as
far as the Musjid and put his head on the feet of Sayin Maharaj. He has
improved so far."

(Source Shirdi Diary)
http://www.saileelas.org/books/dairy.htm
(to be contd...)

Satsang MRS. LAXMIBAI GANESH KHAPARDE by V.B.Kher

MRS. LAXMIBAI GANESH KHAPARDE
By V.B. Kher

Mrs. Laxmibai Ganesh Khaparde- was a devotee favoured by
Shri Sai Baba and initialed by him. The story of her rinanubandha
with Sai and her initiation at his hands is narrated in verses
139-69 of twenty-seventh canto of Shri Sai-Sat-Charita. Similarly
in verses 100 to 110 of seventh-canto the story of how Baba took
upon himself the karmic suffering of her son's infection of plague
and relieved her of all anxiety is told. We shall first narrate the
stories and then examine the references in the Shirdi Diary to
these and other incidents not touched upon in Shri Sai-Sat-Charita.
Then we shall trace an outline of her life story till her end which the
reader will find very moving. Her end was not only peaceful but she
was blessed with darshan by her Sadguru Saibaba. What higher joy
can a devotee of Sai expect? So now let us begin with her story of
rinanubandha and initiation.

"Once Dadasaheb came to Shirdi with his family and was absorbed
in the love of Baba. Khaparde was no ordinary person. He was very
learned, yet before Baba he bowed in veneration. Well versed in
English education, he enjoyed a high reputation in the Supreme
Legislative Council and the Council of State as a debater and
moved the Legislature with his eloquence. However, before Sai he
assumed silence. Baba had many devotees but no devotees except
Khaparde, Gopalrao Buti and Lax-man Krishna Nulkar remained
silent before Baba. Others spoke to Baba, some engaged in
controversies, spoke whatever came to their mind. But these three
observed total restraint. Leave aside speaking, they always assented
to what Baba said. Indescribable was their humility and their
courtesy in listening. Khaparde who expounded on the subject
matter of Vidyaranya's Panchadashi with great mastery fell silent
as soon as he came to the Musjid. Whatever may be the splendour
of speech, before pure and radiant Brahman incarnate Sai, it would
just be eclipsed.
Khaparde stayed in Shirdi for four months and his wife for seven
months and both of them became increasingly happy. His wife had
great faith in Sai and she herself would bring Naivedya in the
Musjid. She would not touch food until Baba accepted the Naivedya
and partook of it. Only thereafter she would have her meal. It so
happened once that seeing her firm devotion Baba who loved His
bhaktas dearly showed her the way. Various are the ways of gurus
for imparting instruction, but Baba's was quite distinct. He showered
grace so effortlessly that it would sink into the innermost recesses.

Once Mrs. Khaparde brought the Naivedya of a dishful of Shira-puri,
rice, dal, payasam, sandge, papad and koshimbir. As soon as her
Naivedya came, Baba eagerly got up from his seat and rolled up his
sleeves. He took his seat at the usual place of meals, pulled the dish
towards him and removed the covering with a view to commence
eating. Many were the naivedyas, and some more sumptuous than
the present one, which used to be received from other devotees but
they would remain untouched by Baba for a long time. Then why
was this lady's favoured? This is the behavior of a worldly person but
how could such considerations even touch a saint's mind? Therefore,
Madhavrao Deshpande looked askance at Baba and wanted to know
how He could make such distinctions. Madhavrao said, 'You ignore
all naivedyas, even hurl away naivedya in silver dishes but it is strange
that as soon as this lady's naivedya came you started eating. Why does
her naivedya taste so sweet to you is the great puzzle for us, Oh
Gurudeva! What is this mystery of your favouring some?' Baba replied,
'How shall I describe the excellence of this food? In one of her previous
births she was a very fat cow yielding much milk and belonged to a
merchant. Thereafter 1 lost sight of her (for some time) and in Wrth
which followed she was born to a gardener, then to a Kshatriya and
thereafter became the wife of a merchant. Later she was born in a
Brahmin family and has been sighted after a long time. Let me partake
of the food served with love happily and give her satisfaction'. So saying,
he ate heartily, washed his hands and mouth, belched contentedly and
resumed his seat. The lady then bowed to Sai and began his charan-seva.
Taking this opportunity Baba talked to her of her welfare. Baba pressed
her hands with which she was doing charan seva. Shama then observing
the service of each other by God and His devotee, said humorously,
'What a leela we witness, oh God! Seeing the mutuality of faith we are
filled with wonder.' Seeing her spirit of service Baba was pleased and
whisperd to her softly, 'Say Rajaram, Rajaram. Do this japa regularly and
constantly and you will find self-fulfilment. Your mind will be calmed
and you will derive immense benefit'. So power-packed were those words
that they pierced the heart and in a moment imparted spiritual strength.
Thus merciful Shri Samarth Sainath, the protector of the humble, satisfied
the desires of his devotees and ensured their welfare."

(Source Shirdi Dairy)
(to be contd....)