BAYAJA BAI KOTE PATIL'S HOUSE
This house is situated adjacent to 'Sai Kutir'. Bayaja Maa came to Shirdi after she married an affluent landowner, Ganapath Kote Patil. She was a dutiful, loving wife, who did all the household chores. But most of all she loved to cook and feed various guests and relatives. 'Food is Brahma' she knew and was the first person to feed Baba when He came to i in the early days. Bayaja Maa recognising His divinity would roam about in search of the Fakir and feed Him daily (Ref. ESS, Ch. VIII). She then returned home to eat. Her trouble ended when Baba came to live in the Masjid.
Daily Baba took Biksha from her. She made fresh food and fed Him lovingly. Baba was very pleased with this. Baba asked her once what she wanted? "Do you want Sampathi (wealth) or Santhathi (welfare of your family)"? Unhesitatingly she asked for the welfare of Tatya, who had no children, though he had three wives. With Baba's blessings he had three sons and two daughters. True to His promise Baba looked after Tatya and his family, and even took 'niryan' for him.
(Photos courtesy : Sai Bhakta Dr.Vinni, Shirdi- Author of Ambrosia in Shirdi )