Persons who lived with Sai Baba and whose names appears in this book..

[PiyaSoni]

****OmSaiRam****

1. Baija Bai Kote Patil (बायजा बाई कोते पाटिल ) - Baija Bai had extreme love and devotion towards Baba and she used to prepare food and take it to Baba. Baija Bai, wife of Appa Kote Patil and mother of Tatya Kote Patil used to refer to Shri Sainath as her brother. She had taken a vow that until Sai Baba had his food she won’t take food. Such was her devotion to Sai Baba that she would carry food in a basket and went looking for him to feed him.

2. Tatya Kote Patil (तात्या कोते पाटिल ) - Tatya Kote Patil had a unique relationship with Baba and was under his protection from the age of seven. As a child, Tatya addressed Baba as ‘Mama’ (Uncle or Mother’s brother). They would play and romp together, with Tatya climbing on Baba’s back and sitting in his lap. Being so close to Baba afforded him privileges that few had. Only he and Mahalsapati were allowed to sleep with Baba in the mosque and this he did for 14 years until his father died and family responsibilities compelled him to go home.

3. Mahalsapati (म्हलसापति ) - Mahalsapati was the priest of the Khandoba Temple on the edge of the village of Shirdi. When Sai Baba first arrived in Shirdi, it was he who hailed the young Fakir in the words, ‘Aao Sai!’ (Welcome Saint), thus giving him the beloved name of Sai. Sai Baba used to call Mahalsapati as‘Bhagat’.

4. MadhavRao Deshpande alias Shama (माधवराव देशपांडे /शामा ) - Shama was among Baba’s most intimate devotees. He was regarded as the ‘Nandi’ of Baba and acted like his personal secretary. Baba once told Shama that they had been together for 72 generations. His parents had moved to Shirdi from Nimon (five kilometres away) when he was only two. He became a school teacher in a room next door to the mosque.

5. Bapu Saheb Buti (बापू साहेब बूटी ) – He was a devout devotee of Sai Baba. He had made Shirdi his residence to be close to Baba. The Samadhi Mandir, initially called ‘Buti Wada’, was built by him. Baba had appeared in Buti’s dream and ordered him to build a wada with a temple.

6. Bayaji Appa Kote Patil (बायाजी अप्पा कोते पाटिल ) - He was a close devotee of Baba. In the last moments of his life, Baba leaned on Bayaji’s body and breathed his last.

7. Luxmibai (लक्ष्मीबाई ) - Luxmibai Shinde was a well-to-do woman of Shirdi, who worked in the Masjid day and night. Except Bhagat Mahalsapati, Tatya and Luxmibai, none was allowed to step in the Masjid at night. Later she prepared food for Baba and served him with great love and devotion. Baba was highly grateful to her and showed his gratitude by giving her a gift of Rs. Nine before taking Samadhi, which is thought to symbolize the nine characteristics of a good devotee.

8. Bhagoji Shinde (भागोजी शिंदे ) - Bhagoji Shinde was a sort of attendant to Baba, engaged in regular service to him. He was the first to enter the mosque in the early morning, and every day he used to massage first Baba’s right arm and then his body. Bhagoji Shinde suffered from leprosy and yet he was among the closest to Sai Baba. He accompanied Sai Baba to Lendi garden carrying a parasol to give him shade. Once Sai Baba got hurt while thrusting his hands into Dhuni, Bhagoji was the one who bandaged the wound and dressed him long after it had healed.

9. Das Ganu Maharaj (दास गणु महाराज ) - Shri Ganpat Rao Dattatreya Sahasrabuddhe alias Das Ganu Maharaj, a high class Brahman was fondly called as Ganu by Baba. He spread the life stories of Sai in the form of hymns. The rapid spread of Baba’s name in Maharashtra was very largely due to his efforts. He sang Baba’s glory in the form of Kirtans. He had written lots of literature & poems on Baba.

10. Kaka Saheb Dixit (काका साहेब दीक्षित ) - Hari Sita Ram alias Kaka Saheb Dixit was a prominent solicitor and another of Sai Baba’s ardent devotees. Sai Baba used to call him affectionately Langda Kaka. Kaka Saheb Dixit was known for his obedience to Baba’s orders.

11. Nana Saheb Chandorkar (नाना साहेब चांदोरकर ) - Nana Saheb Chandorkar was one of the most prominent devotees of Baba. He was well educated and a Brahman. A Deputy Collector by profession, he had the distinction of being one of the very few devotees directly called to Shirdi by Baba.

12. Govind Raghunath Dabholkar alias Hemadpant (गोविन्द रघुनाथ दाभोलकर / हेमाडपंत ) - Most notably known for being the author of the work – ‘Shri Sai Satcharitra’, Annasaheb Dabholkar was called Hemadpant by Sai Baba after a well known poet of 13th Century. His work is a great insight into the life and philosophy of Sai Baba.

13. Gaulibuva (गौलिबुवा ) - A devotee of Lord Vitthal (Krishna) of Pandharpur. He was a ‘Varkari’ (regular visitor) of Pandharpur. As he visited Pandharpur every year, he also visited Shirdi once a year. He loved Baba very much. Gazing at Baba with all humility, he would say, “This is Pandharinath Incarnate, protector of the destitute”.

Om Sai Sri Sai Jai Jai Sai !!

(found on net, sharing)