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'Baba’s unique way of showering his love' is the 62nd story in this series.
'Sai Baba's Divine Leelas' is a new audio series compiled and recited by Dr Vinny Chitluri. Repeated hearing of these Leelas will deepen one's faith and love in Baba.
Transcript
Baba played with children and that was quite natural, but surprisingly he played pranks with Tatya Kote Patil, a grown man. Baba and Tatya had deep Rinanubandhik ties, and intense, immeasurable love for each other. The Parabrahma who created the whole cosmos would dance for Tatya. In the afternoons, when nobody was around, Baba performed for Tatya just to hear him laugh. Tatya, on the other hand, would carry Baba around. Tatya would put his hand under Baba’s buttocks and lift Him. “Arre Kothya, I’ll fall. Be careful or you will sprain a muscle,” cautioned Baba. But, no such thing ever happened. Could the Lord who created this universe ever fall?
Unfortunately, very little information is available on Tatya, but a few interesting facts are given here. His mother, Baija Bai Ganpat Kote, was the first devotee to feed Baba. Baba said that she was his sister in a previous incarnation. So He lovingly ate the food that she brought. Tatya, from a young age, saw his mother take care of Baba’s meagre needs. Tatya was much younger than Baba. He considered Baba as his loving uncle and called him Mama. Tatya became very close to Baba around the age of 5 or 6 years.
It seemed as if Baba could not, or rather would not, do many things without Tatya. It was Tatya who went to the Chavadi to bring Him back to the Dwarka Mai on alternate days. Baba would wait for him no matter how late he got. Tatya would place his hand in Baba’s armpit and raise Him to a standing position. Then he would say, “Mama, let’s go to the Dwarka Mai.” Only then would Baba go. Nor would Baba go for the Chavadi procession until Tatya came and took Him there. Tatya had the honour of lighting Baba’s Chillum and he had the first puff. Only then would Baba take a puff, and between the two of them, they would finish smoking the Chillum.
He was the only devotee who could pacify Baba when he flew into a rage. Many times, Tatya would get upset with Baba and he would go away and sulk in the Chavadi. Baba could not bear the thought of his beloved Tatya staying away from Him. After a while, He would send some devotee to go and fetch him. Tatya would then sulk some more and tell the devotee to leave him alone. Repeatedly, Baba would send for him, then Tatya would come and both of them would be happy. Oftentimes, both of them would sulk like little children, then Dixit would pacify both of them.
Baba was fond of wrestling, and Tatya often invited wrestlers to Shirdi. Then matches were set, and Baba gave the winners handsome amounts of money. Tatya also invited jugglers and organised shows and the whole of Shirdi would be entertained. Kirtans, Hari Katha and devotional songs, or Bhajans, would be organised by him.
Another noteworthy deed that Tatya did was to repair the old heritage temples of Shirdi. Liberally, he spent his own money and repaired the Ganapati, Shani, and Mahadev temples. He was instrumental in constructing the temple of Maruti, who is the presiding deity of the village. Unfortunately, these heritage temples have been destroyed, and new temples stand in their place. This would have saddened his tender heart. At the end of 2009, the Maruti Mandir was torn down and a new temple now stands in its place.
Tatya owned vast acres of land and was a farmer by profession. He was just and honest in his dealings. The villagers respected him and brought their problems and disputes to him, and abided by his decision. Thus, the title of Patil suited him amply. The decision to place Baba’s body in Butti Wada was carried out only after he was consulted. Although he was very sick at that time, Ramchandra Dada Patil waited for Tatya to approve of the decision.
Although Tatya had three wives, he did not have any progeny. One day, Baba sent for Rambha, Tatya’s eldest wife. He sat her down near Dhuni Mai, and filled her Oti. This he did with the most unusual things. He placed two bricks and some Udi in it, and blessed her. Then, a son was born to her, who was named Bajirao. The family believed that Baija Mai had reincarnated as this child. Thus, Baba kept his promise to Baija Mai to give Tatya Santhithi. Baba, however, also gave him Sampathi, which he used very wisely.
Once, in the month of Pitru Paksh, a feast was given in honour of their ancestors. Baija Mai was extremely busy looking after the Brahmins and the numerous guests that she had invited. Thus, she forgot to send a platter of food to Baba. When she realised her mistake, it was about 4 p.m. Nonetheless, she prepared a platter with unleavened bread and cooked vegetable dishes, and asked a little girl to deliver it to Baba. Upon seeing the platter, Baba told the girl to take it back as He wanted to eat Kadhi that day. He said, “There is a pot of Kadhi kept in the kitchen next to the hearth. Ask Mai to serve it to me.” Baija Mai was surprised to hear this.
Nonetheless, she went into the kitchen. Imagine her astonishment when she found a pot full of delicious Kadhi, piping hot with all the garnishing. Kadhi is a preparation of butter milk with gram flour. Baija Mai was quite upset for not having sent the Kadhi for Baba. She immediately left everything she was doing, prepared a platter of food with a huge bowl of Kadhi, and took it to the Dwarka Mai. Like a fond mother, she sat and watched Baba have a hearty meal and then returned home.
Baba was not very fond of plain rice. He liked Khichdi (rice cooked with mung beans) and Kadhi. Baba taught by example, and His fondness for Khichdi and Kadhi teach us that we should eat simple meals that are not smothered in spices. Besides, they are easily digested and have a cooling effect on the body. He also liked Meetha Chawal. This He often made when He did Annadan. He also cooked Pilaf, i.e., rice cooked with vegetables and spices.
Baba usually ate a small piece of millet Bhakri. Tatya took great care to make sure that there was sufficient millet flour at his residence. Once, there was a scarcity of millet, so Tatya sent someone to bring it from Nagpur. This gives a glimpse of his love for Baba.
Once, Tatya wished to go to Pandharpur for Ekadashi. He asked Baba for permission, but Baba refused to let him go. Tatya left, nonetheless. His Tonga had reached Savlivhir, which is a village near Shirdi, when somehow the bridle of the horse got entangled. Tatya got stuck in it, and a noose formed around his neck. Here, in the Dwarka Mai, Baba shouted, “My Tatya is getting strangled.” Of course, Tatya never sustained any serious injury. Baba quickly sent some devotees to fetch Tatya. Tatya learned his lesson, and he never visited Pandharpur.
His descendants are living in Shirdi and are leading fruitful lives. His descendants have preserved the two pockets (cloth bags) and two coins that Baba gave them. The above information was related by Mangla Kote Patil, Tatya’s descendant.
A special podcast series by Dr. Vinny Chitluri which is on Baba's leelas and life history.