Shri G. S. Khaparde Diary

[saisewika]

OM SAI RAM


February 8, 1912, Thursday

Shirdi

 
I got up for Kakad Arti, & after it began the routine of the day.  Narayan Rao Bamangaonkar got permission to return.  So he had some-things for delivery at Amravati from my wife, & actually left by a tonga.  Before he start, Ganpatrao, the son of the Karthari of my relation Mutalik of Satara came with the customary presents of Sesamum for Til sankrant.  They consist of very artistically made things out of sugar and sesamum.

Balvant for the first time in these three weeks, ventured out as far as the Masjid & put his head on the feet of Sayin Maharaj.  He has improved so far.  Ganpatrao wishes my son Balvant to go with him to Satara for Ranga Panchami.  I referred him to Sayin Saheb.   The midday arti went off as usual except towards the end, when Sayinsaheb exhibited anger. We spent the afternoon as usual in Dixit reading Ramayan & I reading to myself Das Bodh. We held our Panchadasi class also in the morning. 

We saw Sayin Saheb at his evening stroll.  One Mr Kulkarni has come here from Bombay.  He has a laboratory there where he tests ores etc. He said he saw me at Surat in 1907. We sat talking about old things. At Bhishma had his Bhajan & Dixit read Ramayan.


JAI SAI RAM

[saisewika]

OM SAI RAM

February 9, 1912 Friday

Shirdi
 
I got up as usual, prayed, and attended the Panchadasi class.  During it  We saw Sayin Maharaj go out.  After finishing the class I went to the Masjid. Sayin Baba was in very good mood.  The young boy Kishya whom we call Pisya came there as usual.  On seeing him Sayin Saheb that Pisya saw a Rohilla in his previous birth, that he was a very good man, that he prayed long and came as guest to Sayin Saheb’s grand father.  The latter had a sister who used to live separate.  That Sayin Saheb was a young boy himself then & playfully suggested that the Rohilla should marry her.  This was to be and she did eventually marry her.  The Rohilla lived there with his wife for a long time and ultimately went away with her, no body knew where.  He died and Sayin Saheb put him into the womb of his present mother.  Pisya, he said, would by very fortunate and the protector of thousands.


The Midday Arti passed off as usual.  During it Sayinsaheb said something to Shivanand Shastri & made signs.  The Shastri unfortunately did not catch their import.  Sayin Saheb made signs to Bapusaheb Jog also.  Mr Oke pleader of  Thana is here. I asked him to remember me to Baba Gupte & other friends.  In the afternoon there was Ramayan read by Mr Dixit as usual. Then we went to see Sayin Saheb go out for his stroll and in the evening attended the Sheja Arti after the Wada Arti.  At night Bhishma read Bhagavat & Dixit read Ramayana.


JAI SAI RAM

[saisewika]

OM SAI RAM


February 10, 1912, Saturday

Shirdi

 
I attended Kakad Arti in the morning. Ganpatrao obtained permission this morning to go to Satara with my son Balvant. Madhava Rao Deshpande was with them at the time.  I, Bapusaheb Jog Upasani & Mrs L Kaulgi, had our Panchadasi class & after it I went to the Masjid.  Sayin Baba was in a very pleasant mood and said that his body had been severed from his legs, that he can raise up the former but not the latter.  He said he had a fight with the Teli, that when he was young he raised money for family purposes and agreed to serve the creditor to repay the debt, but he found he could not work, so he applied marking nut to his eyes & another irritant (Shar) to his body and became ill.  He was laid up for a year, but as soon as he recovered, he worked night and day & paid off the debt.

He sat talking very pleasantly but towards the end of the mid-day Arti, began to exhibit signs of impatience. Mr Gadre pleader of Nassik is here. I met him in Dixit’s Wada & sat talking with him. I knew him before. Mr Dixit read Ramayan in the afternoon & at night. Bhishma had Bhajan in the evening. Ganpat Rao & my son Balvant went today to Amravati. From there they will proceed to Satara. We naturally miss them much.


JAI SAI RAM

[saisewika]

OM SAI RAM


February 11, 1912, Sunday

Shirdi

By the time I finished my prayer this morning, I found Mr Gadre up & sat talking with him. He got permission to return & went back to Nasik.  We saw Sayin Saheb go out & held our Panchadasi class with Upasani, Bapusaheb Jog, Mrs L Kaulgi. Mr Lele who is Revenue Inspector of Nasik District also attended the class.  He appears a very nice man & Sayin Maharaj likes him much.

I went to the Masjid as usual after Sayin Baba returned & found many men sitting there.  They were mostly strangers. Among them was one of Akola Police who on seeing me, said that he had resigned his post and had taken service with Govind Rao Deshmukh Barrister of Nagpur.  After the midday Arti & meal I lay down for a while & then attended the Puran of Ramayan by Mr Dixit.  Later on we went to see Sayin Baba at his evening stroll & meeting Mr.Lelé there, stood talking with him.  In the evening there was the Wada Arti & later on the Sheja Arti,  Bhishmas recital of Bhagavat & Mr Dixit Ramayan. Shivanand Shastri did not get permission today to return.


JAI SAI RAM

[saisewika]

OM SAI RAM

February 12, 1912, Monday

Shirdi

 
I got up early & attended the Kakad Arti. Later on we held our Panchadasi class, & saw Sayin Baba go out.  The midday Arti passed as usual.  I spoke to Bapusaheb Jog to ask Dada Kelkar if reading in the afternoon from 5 to 6 would suit him. Bapusaheb Jog forgot to ask him.  In the afternoon Mr Dixit read Ramayan as usual.  As I descended the stairs after it, Shivanand Shastri who is still here, drew my attention to a man who has come here &shows signs of being in a frenzy. The man moved his hands & feet, glared about, threw shoes at us. I called Mr Dixit. At one time we thought him drunk.  Later on it appeared, he only pretended to have got into a religious frenzy to gain consequence.  I took him to Sayin Baba who ordered him out.

 Mr Sané the father of the Mamledar of Kopargaon came today & sat talking with us for sometime.  He is a very nice gentleman of the old type & said that he saw me first at Dhulia during the Provincial Conference of 1908.  After the wada arti there was Bhishma ’s Bhajan.  I may mention that after the midday arti I invited two men to breakfast. One was from Pauwel & the other from Dharna Jari.  They appeared religiously inclined & poor. Before Puran at night,  we went to the Shimant Pujana ceremony in connection with the wedding of the daughter of the local school master.  Then we had Mr Dixit's Ramayan.


JAI SAI RAM

[saisewika]

OM SAI RAM

February 13, 1912, Tuesday

Shirdi

I was very late in getting up this morning.  So all my usual programme was correspondingly thrown forward.  After prayer I, Upasani, Bapusaheb Jog & Mrs Laxmibai Kaulgi held our Panchadasi class and finished the second chapter.  Then we saw Sayin Saheb go out and went to the wedding of the daughter of the local school master.  His house is small and the people here would not oblige him by letting him put up a Mandap.  So we sat in the Govt Chavadhi, smoking with Fakir Baba who was very pleasant.  The wedding was celebrated later than what we thought it would be.  Thence we went to the Masjid.

Sayin Baba was in a pleased mood and the midday Arti passed off as usual.  After it we returned and had our mid-day meal. My wife, Bhishma & Bandu fasted on account of Ekadasi.  I lay down for a while &then sat reading.  Mr Dixit went as usual to the Masjid after the midday meal & Sayin Maharaj told him to rest a while.  So he returned and lay down & did not get up till about 5 P.M.  We should have begun our Parmamrit class then for the benefit of Dada Kelkar but that he had to go out on some urgent business.  So Mr Dixit read Ramayan instead & then we went to the Masjid.  Sayin Maharaj gave me Udi as soon as I step in.  So I exclaimed that it was telling me to go away.  Thereupon he said “who tells you to go? Sit down.” Then he sat talking pleasantly and said that the cow now possessed by Mr Dixit belonged originally to Mahalsapati.  Then it went to Aurangabad then to Jalna & has now come back as the property of Mr Dixit.  “God knows whose property it is.” Looking at me he said “nobody who has firm faith in god, wants for any thing.”  My wife & others were there. We all saw him at his evening stroll.   Then there was the Wada Arti & later on Sheja Arti. At night Bhishma had his Bhajan & Mr Dixit read Ramayan. Sayin Baba today both after the mid-day arti & after the Sheja Arti told me to go to Wada specially calling me by name.


JAI SAI RAM

 

[saisewika]

OM SAI RAM


February 14, 1912, Wednesday

Shirdi


I got up early, attended the Kakad Arti & was very much struck by the fact that Sayin Baba, on leaving the Chavadhi made passes with his short stick towards the East, north & South.  Then he proceeded with hard words as usual.  We held our Panchadasi class as usual, saw Sayin Baba go out and later on went to the Masjid as usual.

Sayin Baba told two stories.  One was that there was a traveller who was accosted in the morning by a demon (Rakshasa). The traveller looked upon it as a bad omen, but on proceeding further met two wells the sweet water of which slaked his thirst.  When he felt hungry, he met a husbandman who on the suggestion of his wife, supplied food.  He saw a field ripe with corn & wished to have Hurda.  The owner of the field gave it to him.  So the traveller felt happy & proceeded merrily smoking.  In the forest through which he was passing he met a tiger, lost courage & hid himself in a cave.  The tiger was very big & wandered about him.  Sayin Baba happened to be passing that way instilled courage into the traveller, got him out & put him on his way saying “the tiger would not hurt unless you hurt him some way.  ” 

The other story was that Sayin Baba had four brothers, one of  whom used to go out, beg & bring cooked food, bread & corn.  His wife used to give out just enough for their father & mother but starved all the brothers.  Sayin Baba then got a contract, brought the money home & every one was supplied with food including the well-to-do brother.  Later on the brother got leprosy.  Every one shunned him. The father turned him out.  Then Sayin Baba used to feed him & see to his comfort.  Ultimately the brother died. The midday Arti passed off as usual & after it we had our food & I had some rest. Shivanand Shastri, & Thakur of Vijayadurga went away today.  The Vyaki of the local master invited all to a meal today.  I declined but all others went. Sayin Baba, at the evening stroll asked why I did not go & I told him the truth, that I could not manage two meals in the course of one afternoon.  Sayin Baba looked immersed in care, gazed steadily at the East & West, & Dismissed us all with the usual words “Go the Wada.” At night Bhishma had his Bhajan and Mr Dixit read Ramayan.


JAI SAI RAM

[saisewika]

OM SAI RAM

February 15, 1912, Thursday

Shirdi

I got up as usual prayed, and held our Panchadasi class with Upasani Shastri, Bapusaheb Jog & Mrs Laxmi Bai Kaulgi.  We saw Sayin Saheb go out and continued our class.  After it  I went to the Masjid as usual & sat listening to what Sayin Saheb was saying.  He was in a pleased mood & said that he had laboured very hard, had gone without food for months, fed on leaves of “Kula Takala ” Nimb, and other trees.  He said God was very good to him, for, life never became extinct though all flesh got wasted & bones appeared to be in danger of crumbling away.

The midday Arti passed off as usual & after it we returned for our meals. My wife & others wished to go to Kopargaon tomorrow for Shivaratri.  Sayin Saheb thought it unnecessary, but they persisted and ultimately got a permission in a way. Today after the afternoon Puran, we held a class for Parmamrit for the benefit of Dada Kelkar.  We did not progress much as it was the first day.  We saw Sayin Maharaj at his evening stroll, and then after the Wada Arti, attended the Sheja Arti. Balasaheb Bhate attended it. He used to hold the Peacock tail before it came to me. So I tendered it back to him.  I got a fan instead. Balasaheb Bhate has made considerable progress.



JAI SAI RAM

[saisewika]

OM SAI RAM

February 16 Friday

Shirdi
 

I attended the Kakad Arti. Sayin Saheb exhibited great grace accompanied by hard words.  We held our Panchadasi class in the morning after prayer.  My wife & others could not go to Kopargaon as they could not get a cart.  We saw Sayin Baba go out.  Mr Morgaonkar has come & distributed a translation of Para-Puja. 

There is a Shastri from Kalyan -Bhivandi.  He is staying with Bapusaheb Jog and is a very quiet nice man.  We fasted today on account of Shivaratri.  There was the afternoon Puran of Dixit & after it we held our Paramamrit class & made good progress.  We saw Sayin Saheb at mid-day arti & also at the evening stroll. He was in a very pleased mood.  After the Wada Arti, there was Puran & Bhajan as usual.


JAI SAI RAM

[saisewika]

OM SAI RAM

February 17, 1912, Saturday

Shirdi

I got up early in the morning, prayed and held our usual Panchadasi class with Upasani, Bapusaheb Jog, Kunté Shastri of Kalyan, & Moregaonkar.  We finished the third chapter today.  We saw Sayin Maharaj go out & again after he returned.  He was in very pleasant mood &made jokes.

The midday arti passed off as usual & after it we had our food.  Mr Dixit is thinking of going to Nagpur for the mouj of his son.  He wishes to take with him as many from here as he can, but everything depends on the orders which Sayin Saheb gives.  In the afternoon there was Dixits Ramayan & then we held our Parmamrit class, & made good progress.  Later on we saw Sayin Maharaj at his stroll, then there was the Wada Arti & Sheja-Arti.  At the latter the big fan came to me.  On our return Kunté Shastri of Kalyan did Kirtan.   He told the story of Uttargograhana. He is an old man & considering his age which is 80 years, his powers of endurance, his energy and all else is very praiseworthy & remarkable.  Mr Dixit had his Ramayana & Bhishma read Bhagavat.



AI SAI RAM

[saisewika]

OM SAI RAM

February 18, 1912,  Sunday

Shirdi
 

Madhavarao Deshpande woke me up in the morning & after prayers attended the Kakad Arti.  Sayin Saheb took it very cooly and hard words said as usual after it, were of a very mild character.  Mr Dixit is thinking of going to Nagpur for the thread ceremony of his son.  He asked Sayin Baba to let me go with him & got an evasive reply.  I feel almost sure that I shall not be permitted to go.  My wife is very anxious to go.  While I was in our Panchadasi class with Upasani Shastri, Bapusaheb Jog, & others, Mr Nanasaheb Chandorkar came & sat with Mr Dixit. I met him when I went to see Sayin Saheb after our class.  Sayin Saheb was talking with him in the usual way, about Teli, Waman Tatya, Appa Kotya, etc.

The midday Arti passed off as usual except that towards the end of it Sayin Baba got a bit impatient and told people to clear out fast.  I had my food with Mr Dixit in company with Nanasaheb Chandodkar & I asked the latter to resume his conversation with me which was broken off when he was here on a short visit.  He said the matter was in the hands of Sayin Baba.  He has brought with him, artificial garden with a big moon, such as we have on marriage occasions.  It was ordered by Radha Krishna Bai.

 I lay down for a while. Then Nanasaheb went away about 4 P.M. & Mr Dixit read Ramayan.  Later on we held our Paramrit class & after it went to see Sayin Saheb at his evening stroll.  The “moon ” was lit  & shed very splendid light.  My wife renewed her request about returning to Amravati & was as usual given an evasive reply by Sayin Saheb.  After the Wada Arti Mr Dixit read Ramayan & Bhishma had his Bhajan. We finished early to admit Mr Dixit & Madhavarao Deshpande making preparations to depart tomorrow early in the morning.


AI SAI RAM

[saisewika]

OM SAI RAM

February 19, 1912,  Monday

Shirdi
 

Mr Dixit, his wife, Madhavarao Deshpande, Hiralal & others went away this morning.  The Dixits went to Nagpur for the ninnja of their son Babu.  Madhavarao went to Harda for a similar ceremony in a friends house.  After prayer we held our Panchadasi class.  Morgaonkar said that he lost his watch & chain. They were both valuable being of gold. They were searched for in vain.

We saw Sayin Saheb go out & again after he returned. The midday Arti passed off as usual except that there were two Chamars instead of only one.  Balasaheb Bhate worshipped & wished to stay for the Arti but Sayin Baba ordered him home. After food I lay down for a while and then We continued our Panchadasi class, with our usual members.  Later on Dada Kelkar Bala Shimpi & others came.   We saw Sayin Maharaj at his evening stroll, & after the Wada Arti attended the Sheja Arti when the artificial gardens and moon were used for the first time.  They looked very nice & attracted a large crowd. Sayin Saheb did not appear to dislike them.  I think the moon is helpful. Bhishma read Bhagavat and ten Samasa of Dasabodha tonight.  Mr Natekar alias Hamsa writes to me today to say that I ought to return to Amravati by the end of this month.


JAI SAI RAM

[saisewika]

OM SAI RAM

February 20, 1912, Tuesday

Shirdi


We attended the Kakad Arti & the remarkable part of it was that Sayin Saheb left the chavadhi and entered the Masjid without saying a single word except “God is the greatest of all ”.  After prayer I, Upasani, Bapusaheb Jog, Bhishma and Mrs Laxmi Bai Kaulgi held our Panchadasi class. 

When I went to the Masjid after Sayin Saheb returned from his morning walked, he said he wished to get the Masjid rebuilt.  He said there was enough money for it & went on talking about it.   Some Baroda ladies of the Shirke family have come here. They attended the mid-day Arti.  It passed off as usual. Radha Krishna Bai had the eggs of ostrich hung up where Sayin Saheb sits and he had them pulled down & thrown away.  We continued our Panchadasi class in the afternoon & I went to the Masjid about 6 P.M. Sayin Saheb told two stories of which,  I can not recall the first.  I asked my wife & all others present & they also forget which is wonderful.

The other story was that there was an old women living with her son. He used to assist in the disposal of the dead body  of every body in the village & got remuneration for it.  There prevailed a sort of plague & many died.  So his emoluments were great.  Allah met her one day & told her not to profit by the trade of her son.  She spoke about it to her son but the latter paid no attention & eventually died.  The old woman then maintained herself by spinning cotton.  Allah told her to go to the house of the relations of her husband but she declined to do so.  One day some Brahmans came to purchase cotton from her, spied out all the details of her house and broke into it at night.  One of the burglars stood naked before her.  She told him to run away, as the townspeople would murder him for his crime.  So the man ran away. Eventually the old woman died & was born as a daughter of the burglar.  I was not quite sure that I understand the story quite right. We saw Sayin Saheb at his evening stroll & at night, after the Wada Arti Bhishma read Bhagavat & Das Bodha.


JAI SAI RAM

[saisewika]

OM SAI RAM

February 21, 1912, Wednesday

Shirdi

I got up as usual but my prayers were disturbed by the noise which Devaji whom we call Sakshatkaribwa made.  I managed to control my mind and finished my prayers.  Later we saw Sayin Maharaj go out & held our Panchadasi class. After it I went to the Masjid and saw Sayin Baba being served by the Baroda ladies of the Shirke family.  A dancing woman of Bombay arrived today & sang a few songs in the Masjid.   She says she is a pupil of BalKrishna Bwa. Sayin Baba heard her songs. Then the midday Arti passed off as usual.  Sayin Baba was in a very good mood.

After midday meal I lay down for a while and then continued our Panchadasi class with our usual members.  About sunset I went to see Sayin Baba at his evening stroll, and again after Wada Arti, for the Sheja Arti. The procession & other arrangements were very grand today.  The Bhajan was with cymbals & all. The Bombay dancing girl gave a few songs in the Masjid also after the Sheja Arti. At night Bhishma read Bhagavat & Dasbodh.

JAI SAI RAM

[saisewika]

OM SAI RAM

February 22, 1912, Thursday

Shirdi

This morning there was Kakad Arti & we all attended it.  The ladies of the Shirke family went away soon after the arti with their attendants.  The Bombay dancing girl also went away with her men.  She said she wished to go to Amravati.  We held our Panchadasi class. After it I learnt that my wife had a dream this morning that Sayin Baba sent her a message by Bandu to go away today before 9 A.M.  Sayin Baba also asked Dada Kelkar & Bala Shimpi whether I was talking of going away. There is note from Natekar (Hamsa) that I would be permitted to return to Amravati about the end of this month.  All this raised the hopes of my wife but at the mid-day Arti time there was no mention of the matter made by Sayin Baba.

Madhavarao Deshpande returned in time for the midday arti from Harda. His wife & children also came from Ahmednagar. After the midday meal I lay down for a while &then continued our Panchadasi class till nearly nightfall when I hastened to the Masjid saw Sayin Saheb & took Udi.  At night Bhishma read Das Bodh &Bhagavat & had Bhajan.  Mr Balasaheb Bhate, Mr Bapusaheb Abkari Inspector & some children of the latter came to see me at night and we sat talking for sometime on the usual subject of the wonders daily worked by Sayin Baba.  Madhavarao Deshpande was also present then.

 

JAI SAI RAM