Sri Shirdi Sai Baba: When Time Stood Still On 28th September 1918.

Aum Sai Ram.

On 28th September 1918, Sai Baba got a slight attack of fever which lasted for a couple of days, but afterwards Baba gave up his food and thereby he grew weaker and weaker. Bapusaheb Butti felt dejected, wondering whether Baba would live to even see the completed Wada he was making, never mind grace it with his presence. The whole construction seemed pointless to him if Baba was not going to remain there in his body. However, Baba was to move into the Wada in a way that had not been foreseen by others.

Baba's health rapidly deteriorated and on Tuesday 15th October 1918, Baba told that He did not feel well there (in the Masjid) and that He should be taken to the Dagadi (stone) Wada of Butti, where He would be alright. Saying these last words, He leaned on Bayaji's body and at about 02:30 p.m Baba breathed His last. (Vide Professor G.G. Narke's letter, dated 05th November 1918, to Dadasaheb Khaparde - Leela magazine, Page 78, 1st year).

The Shri Sai Satcharitra informs us that Baba was not alone at the masjid, though he had sent away most of his devotees with the excuse that they had to go take their meal. At least six persons remained there, assisting him until the end.

Two Women, that is Lakshmibai Shinde and Bayajibai, and four men, that is Bhagoji Shinde, Lakshman Bala Shimpi, Nanasaheb Nimonkar and Shyama Deshpande who was sitting on the steps of the mosque.

Bhagoji noticed that His breathing had stopped and he told that to Nanasaheb Nimonkar who was sitting below. Nanasaheb brought some water and poured it into Baba's mouth. It came out. Then he cried out loudly: 'Oh, Deva.' Baba seemed just to open His eyes and say 'Ah' in a low tone. But it soon became evident that Baba had left His body for good.

The Shri Sai Satcharitra gives a vivid account of the profound grief that immediately swept through the village: The news of Baba's passing away spread like wild fire in the village of Shirdi and all people, men, women and children ran to the Dwarkamai Masjid and began to mourn that loss in various ways. Some cried out loudly, some wallowed in the streets and some fell down senseless. Tears ran down from the eyes of all and everyone was smitten with sorrow. The news of Baba's death rapidly spread to the neighboring areas.

So now, devotees were confronted with a major problem: though both Hindus and Muslims agreed on the necessity of giving Baba a burial, there were different opinions concerning where and how. A dispute soon arose. Some Muslims requested that the body of Sai Baba be kept in Samadhi, outside the mosque in the open space (perhaps the same spot that Baba, thirty-two years previously, had indicated to Mhalsapati). Khushal Chand and Amir Shakkar also supported this.

The Hindus wanted to bury him inside Butti Wada as Sai Baba himself, they argued had expressly wished. 24 hours had not yet elapsed since Baba's death, but already this dispute had grown hot and divisive. By Tuesday evening, the Sub-Inspector of Police from Rahata, Chakranarayan came to Shirdi. When he searched Baba’s body he found Seven rupees in his pocket.

Discussion regarding Baba's Burial site went on till Wednesday Morning. Finally, it was decided that a Mamlatdar from Kopergaon, that is the district revenue officer should be called in to Shirdi for settling the matter. Because of these rival claims, the body was kept for 36 hours as no decision could be arrived at regarding the manner of disposal of the body.

The Mamlatdar came and decided to have all the devotees and villagers vote in writing along with their Signatures: naturally the plebiscite was largely favorable to the Hindu majority. Even then the Mamlatdar had no courage to take a decision and so wanted to act according to the orders of the District Collector, Ahmednagar.

Meantime the Muslims reconciled to have Baba's Samadhi inside the Butti Wada provided they be given free access to His Tomb and be allowed to worship Him as per their customs. When this decision was arrived at, a pit was being dug in the Butti Mandir. Some persons opposed the digging. Thus the village officer, Mr.Ramachander Patil took a firm decision that Baba's Samadhi should be in Butti Wada only.

Bappa Baba, an old devotee of Shirdi, witness to the events, said:

"Soon after Baba had dropped the body, many disputes arose in Shirdi between the Muslim and Hindu communities. The Hindu and Muslim groups each claimed Baba's body, by saying that Baba really had been one of them. The Hindus said: "Baba was Hindu, therefore his body should be given to us? The Muslims said: "Baba was a Muslim," and so forth. While this argument raged on, Mr. Sitaram Dikshit sent a telegram to the district collector of Nagar. For three days, Baba's body was kept on a plank inside the Chavadi. Then the district collector arrived, and he decided the issue. He [the collector] inspected Baba's body and, seeing that Baba wore a Langoti and other garbs in the Hindu style, came to the conclusion that Baba couldn't be a Muslim; he could only be a Hindu. The langoti is a Hindu underdress; emblematic of his belonging to Hinduism. After these things, the body was given to the Hindus for the celebration of the funeral rites."

Then in the evening around 04:00 pm, it was decided to bathe Baba's body which was kept on a handcart the whole night. When they tried to remove Baba's Kafni, the hands bent as usual. In ordinary cases the limbs cannot be bent as they stiffen. Baba's body was laid on a big table before Dwarakamai, and pots full of water were poured on the body with devotion. After that they spread a white cloth on the body and put flowers, sandalwood and akshatas (rice) over the cloth.

For the final time devotees had the darshan of Baba's body to their hearts content. A grave, 6 feet in length was dug in Butti Wada's central portion. The body was taken into Butti Wada in procession to the sounds of various musical instruments.

First, the broken brick of Baba was broken into smaller pieces and put in the grave, over that soft beds were spread. Dixit, Butty, Shyama and Mhalsapati slowly lifted the body. A few of them got into the grave and from below caught the body and it was slowly lowered . The head side went down first. The entire body was lowered and rested on the soft beds. Rose water and perfumes were sprayed on the body. When they started putting earth on the body, the people wept and rolled on the floor crying.

Thirty-six hours after he had left his body, Baba was finally interred.
Certain personal articles were buried with him:
1) The Broken Brick - now mended with gold and Silver Wire,
2) One of his Satkas,
3) A Chillum, needle and cotton (Baba would mend his clothes until they were a mass of repairs, a cause of affectionate amusement among devotees),
4) Some Spices to preserve the body, and
5) An Old Cloth Bag containing a green Kafni and a cap, which Baba never allowed anyone to touch.

The burial was completed by early Thursday morning.  At 05:00 pm in the evening, after the Samadhi, Bapu Saheb Jog and Laxman Mama gave Sandhya Aarti in Butti temple for the first time on 16th October 1918. Nanavalli, who was like Baba's life, watched the Samadhi from a distance. He stopped taking food from that day and died on the 13th day.

Das Ganu, after reaching Shirdi on Thursday morning, did sankeertan for two days near the Samadhi of Baba and he fed a large number of people. Baba Saheb Bhate and Upasani Baba of Sakori Ashram performed the last rites of Baba. Where Butti wanted to install the idol of Sri Krishna, Baba's Samadhi came up.

Uddhao Madhavrao Deshpande, Shyama's son, was present at Baba's funeral rites, narrates: "At that time, about 7000 people assembled here in Shirdi. They were all agitated and weeping, and there was intense commotion all over the place. Solemn ceremonies were held with great pomp. There was a long procession and every-one lamented and wept. It was then that Baba's body was placed in the Butti Wada, which became the present Samadhi Mandir. From that time on, it has always been kept there."

Bappa Baba added some interesting details concerning the burial of Sai:
"Camphor was placed in the tomb, as well as other essences. Sprinklings were also done. Then the body was laid about one and a half metres beneath the earth. Baba had been dressed in white. He was not naked.... Flowers, garland, incenses, and various scents were placed on him. Then the samadhi was closed. These things I have seen with my own eyes."

Then the devotees decided that sites that had been particularly sanctified by Baba's physical presence, such as Dwarkamai - the Mosque, the Chavadi, the Dhuni, and so on needed to be preserved. Soon, a Committee was formed to manage Sai Baba's Samadhi, comprising of 15 members with Shriman Bapusaheb Butti as the Chairman. Butti employed G.K.Dixit to take care of Baba's Samadhi. The conduct of the Gurupurnima festival was the responsibility of Bapusaheb Butty after whom his sons conducted this festival till 1940, and since 1941, the Sansthan has been conducting this festival, the sons of Butti were then contributing Rs.100/- as part of the expenses. A Photograph of Sai Baba was placed on a Throne on the platform of the Samadhi. It remained there until the statue was installed in 1954. Blessed and fortunate is Bapusaheb Butti in whose Wada lies the holy and the pure body of Baba. The Butti Temple with Baba's Samadhi in it had become the holiest of the holy places, fulfilling the prayers of millions of devotees.

Sai Baba had maintained his vow of leading a "Faqiri Life" was proven by the fact that, when he died and the Government took possession of his cash, it amounted to only 16 Rupees!!!