Bhakkal Flowers [Mahasamadhi]

Aum Sairam

"Sada Nimbarvrikshasya mooladhiwasat, Sudhasravinam tiktamapi-apriyam
tam, Tarum Kalpavrikshadhikam sadhayantam Namameeshwaram Sadgurum Sai Natham"

Light of Guru's grace removes out fear of the mundane existence, opens
the path of salvation and turns our misery into happiness. If we always
remember the feet of the Sadguru, our troubles come to an end, death
loses its sting and the misery of this mundane existence is
obliterated. Therefore those who care for their welfare should
carefully listen to these stories of Sai Samarth, which will purify
their minds.

In the beginning, Hemadpant dwells on Dr.Pandit's worship and his
marking Baba's forehead with Tripundra, i.e., three horizontal lines.
But as this has been already described in chapter XI.

Baba got a slight attack of fever on 28th September, 1918. The fever
lasted for 2 or 3 days, but afterwards Baba gave up his food and
thereby He grew weaker and weaker. On the 17th day, i.e., Tuesday, the
15th October 1918, Baba left His mortal coil at about 2.30 p.m.

Two years before this, i.e., in 1916, Baba gave an indication of His
Passing away, but nobody understood it then. It was as follows: - On
the Vijayadashmi [Dussera] day Baba at once got into wild rage in the
evening when people were returning from 'Seemollanghan' [crossing the
border of the village]. Taking off His head dress, kafni and langota
etc., He tore them and threw them in the Dhuni before Him. Fed by this
offering, the fire in the Dhuni began to burn brighter and Baba shone
still brighter. He stood there stark naked and with His burning red
eyes shouted "You fellows, now have a look and decide finally whether I
am a Muslim or a Hindu." Everybody was trembling with fear and none
dared to approach Baba. After some time Bhagoji Shinde, the leper
devotee of Baba, went boldly near Him and succeeded in tying a langota
[waist-band] round His waist and said "Baba, what is all this? Today is
the Seemollanghan, i.e., Dussera Holiday." Baba striking the ground
with His satka said

"This is my Seemollanghan [crossing the border]." Baba did not cool
down till 11.00 p.m. and the people doubted whether the chavadi
procession would ever take place that night. After an hour Baba resumed
His normal condition and dressing Himself as usual attended the chavadi
procession as described before. By this incident Baba gave a suggestion
that Dussera was the proper time for Him to cross the border of life,
but none understood its meaning. Baba gave also another indication.

Some time after this, Ramachandra Patil became seriously ill. He
suffered a lot. He tried all remedies, but finding no relief, despaired
of his life and was waiting for the last moment. The one midnight Baba
suddenly stood near his pillow. Patil held His Feet and said, "I have
lost all hopes of life, please tell me definitely when I shall die."
Merciful Baba said "Don't be anxious, your hundi [death-warrant] has
been withdrawn and you will soon recover, but I am afraid of Tatya
Patil. He will pass away on Vijayadashmi of Shaka 1840 [1918 A.D.]. Do
not divulge this to anybody, nor to him, for he will be terribly
frightened." Ramachandra Dada got well, but he felt nervous about
Tatya's life, for he knew that Baba's word was unalterable, and that
Tatya would breathe his last within two years. He kept this hint
secret, told it to none but one Bala Shimpi [a tailor]. Only these two
persons, Ramachandra Dada and Bala Shimpi were in fear and suspense
regarding Tatya's life.

Ramachandra Dada soon left his bed and was on his legs. Time passed
quickly. The month of Bhadrapad of Shaka 1840 [1918 A.D.] was ending
and Ashwin was in sight. True to Baba's word, Tatya fell sick and was
bed ridden and so he could not come for Baba's darshana. Baba was also
down with fever. Tatya had full faith in Baba and Baba in Lord Hari,
who was His Protector. Tatya's illness began to grow from bad to worse
and he could not move at all but always remembered Baba. The
predicament of Baba began to grow equally worse. The day predicted,
i.e., Vijayadashmi was impending and both Ramachandra Dada and Bala
Shimpi were terribly frightened about Tatya and with their bodies
trembling and perspiring with fear, thought that as predicted by Baba
Tatya's end was nigh. Vijayadashmi dawned and Tatya's pulse began to
beat very slowly and he was expected to pass away shortly. But a
curious thing happened. Tatya remained, his death was averted and Baba
passed away in his stead. It seemed as if there was an exchange. People
said that Baba gave up His life for Tatya; why He did so? He alone
knows as His ways are inscrutable. It seems, however, that in this
incident, Baba gave a hint of His passing away, substituting Tatya's
name for His.

Next morning [16th October] Baba appeared to Das Ganu at Pandharpur in
his dream and said to him "The Masjid collapsed; all the oil men and
grocers of Shirdi teased me a lot, so I leave the place. I therefore
came to inform you here, please go there quickly and cover me
with 'Bhakkal' flowers." Das Ganu got the information also from Shirdi
later. So he came to Shirdi with his disciples and started bhajan and
kirtan and sang the Lord's name, all through the day before Baba's
Samadhi. He weaving a beautiful garland of flowers studded with Lord
Hari's name he placed it on Baba's Samadhi and gave a mass feeding in
Baba's name.

Allah Malik