Satsang Balwant Ganesh Khaparde

Balwant Ganesh Khaparde

Born in Amrawati to Ganesh and Lakshmi Bai S Khaparde. Both parents were devoted to Baba; spiritually advanced, and very affluent. His home was more like a palace replete with cooks, clerks, watchmen; and 8 grooms or Sykes. They had two bullock carts, one cowherd, and maids. His parents often gave shelter to needy families and students. On an average there were twelve to fifteen students perusing education in their home. There were about 50 people living there excluding the children. His mother was a gracious hostess. She treated every one equally. In Sai Satcharita #7 ‘the wonderful leela of the plague is given’. Khaparde writes in his diary on 8-1-1912 , that Baba got extremely angry and abused violently. “It appears that plague is likely to reappear here”

It was Balwant who started shivering with high fever. This made his mother very restless. She came to Baba to seek permission to take the child home. Baba gently said, “The sky is over cast, but it will rain, bringing forth a harvest, and the clouds will melt away”; and lifting His Kafni showed her four egg sized buboes in His groin.” See I have to take upon myself all your sufferings”. At Aarati Baba cursed violently at the plague. He also said that He had saved Balwant. Balwant remained sick for three weeks, on 8-2-1912 he was well enough to go to Dwarakamai, and place his head on Baba’s feet.

Balwant and his elder brother came to Shirdi on 5-12-1910 . They brought baskets of fruits and garlands for Baba. Balwant often sat on Baba’s lap and asked Him to tell him stories and Baba obliged. Khaparde was a politically marked man, so Baba kept him at Shirdi. Thus his law practice dwindled and Balwant got a taste of poverty. On one hand he lost the luxuries of life, but got to spend a lot of time with Baba, and received His blessings.

The Khaparde’s had three sons. They were Bahu Saheb [Devidas], Baba Saheb [Balkrishna] and Anna Saheb [Balwant Rao]

(Source Shri Sai Leela Magazine)