Chavadi Procession
In this chapter Hemadpant after
making some preliminary observations on some points of Vedanta, describes the
Chavadi procession.
Preliminary
Blessed is Sai's life, blessed is His
daily routine. His ways and actions are indescribable. Sometimes He was
intoxicated with Brahmanand (divine joy), and at other times content with Self
knowledge. Doing so many things sometimes, He was unconcerned with them. Though
He seemed at times quite actionless (doing nothing) He was not idle or dozing;
He always abided in His own Self. Though He looked calm and quiet as the placid
sea, He was deep and unfathomable. Who can describe His ineffable nature? He
regarded men as brothers, women as sisters and mothers. He was a perfect and
perpetual celibate as everybody knows. May the understanding (knowledge), we
got in His company, last long unto death. Let us ever serve Him with
whole-hearted devotion to His feet. Let us see Him (God) in all beings and let
us ever love His name.
Hemadpant, after making some lengthy
dissertations on some topics of Vedanta, which he himself considers as a
digression, goes on to describe the Chavadi procession.
Chavadi Procession
Baba's dormitory has been already
described. One day He slept in the Masjid and on the next, in the Chavadi (a
small building containing a room or two near the Masjid). This alternate
sleeping in both these buildings went on till Baba's Mahasamadhi. From 10th
December 1909 devotees began to offer regular worship to Baba in the Chavadi.
This we will now describe with His grace. When the turn of retiring to the
Chavadi came, people flocked to the Masjid and made bhajan in the mandap
(courtyard) for a few hours. Behind them was a beautiful Ratha (small car), to
the right a Tulsi-vrindavan and in front Baba, and between these the devotees
fond of bhajan. Men and women who had a liking for the bhajan came in time.
Some took Tal, Chiplis and Kartal, Mridang, Khanjiri and Ghol (all musical
instruments) in their hands and conducted the bhajan. Sai Baba was the Magnet
Who drew all the devotees to Him there. Outside in the open, some trimmed their
divatyas, (torches), some decorated the palanquin, some stood with cane-sticks
in their hands and uttered cries of victory to Baba. The corner was decorated
with buntings. Round about the Masjid, rows of burning lamps shed their light.
Baba's horse 'Shyamakarna' stood fully decorated outside. Then Tatya Patil came
with a party of men to Baba and asked Him to be ready. Baba sat quiet in his
place till Tatya came and helped Him to get up by putting his arm under Baba's
arm-pit. Tatya called Baba by the name of Mama. Really their relationship was
extremely intimate. Baba wore on his body the usual kafni, took His satka
(short stick) under His arm-pit and after taking His chilim (tobacco-pipe) and
tobacco and placing a cloth over His shoulder became ready to start. Then Tatya
threw a golden-embroidered beautiful Shela (Shawl) over His body. After this
Baba, moving a little the bundle of fuel-sticks lying behind with His right toe
and then extinguishing the burning lamp with His right hand, started for the
Chavadi. Then all sorts of muscial instruments, tashe, band and horns and
mridang, gave out their different sounds; and fire-works exhibited their
different and various coloured views. Men and women singing Baba's name started
walking, making bhajan to the accompaniment of mridang and veena. Some danced
with joy and some carried various flags and standards. The Bhaldars announced
Baba's name when He came on the steps of the Masjid. On the two sides of Baba
stood persons, who held chavaris and others who fanned Baba. On the way were
spread folds of cloth on which Baba walked on, being supported by devotees'
hands. Tatyaba held the left hand and Mhalasapati the right and Bapusaheb Jog
held the chhatra (umbrella) over His head. In this fashion Baba marched on to
the Chavadi. The fully decorated red horse, named Shyamakarna led the way and
behind him were all the carriers, waiters, musical players and the crowd of
devotees. Hari-nama (the name of the Lord) chanted to the accompaniment of
music rent the skies as also the name of Sai. In this manner the procession
reached the corner when all the persons that joined this party seemed
well-pleased and delighted.
On coming to this corner Baba stood
facing the Chavadi and shone with a peculiar lustre. It seemed, as if the face
of Baba glittered like dawn, or like the glory of the rising sun. Baba stood
there with a concentrated mind, facing the north, as if He was calling
somebody. All the instruments played their music while Baba moved His right arm
up and down for some time. Kakasaheb Dixit at this time came forward with a
silver plate containing flowers besmeared with gulal (red powder) and threw
them on Baba's body off and on. The musical instruments played their best at
this juncture and Baba's face beamed with steady and added radiance and beauty,
and all the persons drank this lustre to their hearts' content. Words fail to
describe the scene and splendour of this occasion. Some times Mhalasapati began
to dance being possessed or obsessed by some deity, but all were surprised to
see that Baba's concentration was not in the least disturbed. With a lantern in
his hand Tatya Patil walked on Baba's left side and Bhagat Mhalasapati on the
right, holding with his hand the hem of Baba's garment. What a beautiful
procession and what an expression of devotion! To witness this, men and women,
poor and rich, flocked together there. Baba walked very slow. Bhaktas followed
on both sides with love and devotion. With joy pervading the whole atmosphere
of the place, the procession reached the Chavadi. That scene and those days are
gone now. Nobody can see them now or in the future; still remembering and
visualising that scene and sight, we can bring solace and comfort to our minds.
The Chavadi was also fully decorated
with a good white ceiling, mirrors and many sorts of lamps. On reaching it
Tatya went ahead and spread an asan and placing a bolster made Baba sit there
and made Him wear good angaraksha (coat). Then the devotees worshipped Him in
various ways. They put on His head a mugut (crown) with a tuft above, placed
garlands of flowers and jewels round His neck and marking His forehead with
musk-mixed vertical lines and a dot (as Vaishnava devotees do) they started at
Him for long to their hearts' content. They changed His head-dress now and then
and held it aloft on the head, fearing that Baba might throw it away. Baba knew
the heart of them all and meekly submitted to all their methods without
objection. With these decorations He looked wonderfully beautiful.
Nanasaheb Nimonkar held the Chhatra
(umbrella) with its beautiful pendants which moved in a circle with its supporting
stick. Bapusaheb Jog washed the feet of Baba in a silver dish and offered
'arghya' and worship with due formalities, then besmeared His arms with sandal
paste, and offered tambul (betel-leaves). Baba sat on the asan (gadi), while
Tatya and others kept standing and falling at His feet. When Baba sat on the
gadi supporting Himself against the bolster, devotees on both sides waved
chamars and fans. Shama then prepared the chillim and handed it over to Tatyaba
who drew a flame out of it by his breath and then gave it to Baba. After Baba
had His smoke, it was given to Bhagat Mhalasapati and then it was passed round
to all. Blessed was the inanimate chillim. It had first to undergo many ordeals
of penance, such as being treated by pot-makers, dried in the open sun and
burnt in fire and then it had the good fortune to get the contact of Baba's
hand and His kiss. After this function was over, devotees put garlands of
flowers on His neck and gave Him nose-gays and bunches of flowers for smelling.
Baba who was dispassion or non-attachment incarnate, cared a fig for all these
necklaces of jewels, and garlands of flowers and other decorations; but out of
real love to His devotees, He allowed them to have their own way and to please
themselves. Finally Bapusaheb Jog waved the arati over Baba, observing all
formalities, the musical instruments playing thier auspicious tunes. When this
arati was over, the devotees returned home one by one saluting Baba and taking
His leave. When Tatya Patil, after offering chillim, attar (scent) and
rose-water, rose to depart, Baba said to him lovingly - "Guard Me, go if
you like, but return sometimes at night and enquire after Me." Replying in
the affirmative Tatyaba left the Chhavadi and went home. Then Baba Himself
prepared His bed. He arranged 50 or 60 white chadders one upon another and thus
making His bed, went to rest.
We shall also now take rest and close
this chapter with a request to the readers that they should remember Sai Baba
and His Chavadi procession daily before they retire and go to bed.
Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all
