From Khaparde’s Notes

Baba knew the emotional conflict going on in Kaka Dixit’s mind. Still he wanted to test him. Kaka Dixit raised his hand with a force to strike down the knife on the goat’s neck, when suddenly Baba intervened, shouting aloud – “Stop that, stop Kaka! Take back your hand! You fool, if you Brahmins cut a goat what will the butchers do?”
Kaka Dixit stopped his hand on time and saved that innocent animal! Baba further said to Kaka Dixit – “Well done! You have put others to shame! You have obeyed Guru to the word! Keep down that knife and bring here that Brahmin friend of yours! See there he stands with a large turban, thick mustache, a long coat – that Patel from Berar! He has come to see you!”

Kaka Dixit looked around and saw Dada Saheb Khaparde, in all smiles. He was amused with his own description in Baba’s words. But more interested he was by Baba’s clairvoyance! Baba had correctly said that he was from Berar, that he is a friend of Kaka Dixit. This convinced him that he had not erred in coming to Sai Baba. Only that he had come at a time which made him misunderstand Sai Baba and Kaka Dixit!

Dixit brought Dada Saheb Khaparde to Baba.  Baba made him sit near him. Hardly had he settled, when Kondaji, his brothers and a few villagers came running to Baba.  As they panted for breath, Kondaji said – “A great calamity is threatening our village, Baba!  At five or six places, we have found plague infested rats!  What is to be done now?”

The news terrorized the crowd and they stood up in fear!  Dada Saheb Khaparde was frightened and had second thoughts!  To avoid one danger, he has jumped into the other!  Indeed, he was in a dangerous situation!  He had run to Sai Baba to avoid the risk of his own arrest by the British Government who wanted to involve him in a sedition case against Lokamanya Tilak.  He wondered as to where else he could go now since there was an outbreak of plague in Shirdi.  All seemed worried and the devotees coming from outside began to plan their departure.

Baba got up.  He was furious.  He began to shout aloud – “Sit down!  Sit down!  Why should you be scared when I am here?  Sit down all of you!  Look here!  Look at me carefully?”

So saying, He raised his gown and held it up.  Two plague bubos were peeping out of his arm pit!”

It was the first experience for Dada Saheb Khaparde to see before his own eyes as to how a Sadguru takes upon himself a calamity that befalls on his devotees!  This thrilling experience prompted him to note down in his diary his experiences of Sai Baba and whatever he experienced in Shirdi.  He knew that his stay at Shirdi would be prolonged and for Khaparde, maintaining a diary proved to be a great source of information for posterity!

That night Khaparde’s son Balwant had high temperature and by morning two bubos appeared in the armpit indicating that he was afflicted with Plague.  The family decided to seek permission from Baba to leave Shirdi.  Even though it was only five in the morning they went to the mosque.

Even small details of Baba’s life are interesting.  Khaparde observed Baba’s routine and has recorded it in his diary.

According to his daily routine, Baba, after getting up would sit near the ‘Dhuni’ and kindle the fire with fresh billets.  Then he would ask Bhagoji Shinde to massage his right hand with oil.  This hand was burnt when he had put his hand quite a while back to save a child from a fire accident!  Even though it had healed up, Baba gave an opportunity of service to Bhagoji.  After the massage was complete, Bhagoji would fill up the pipe, light it and hand it over to Baba.  Baba would have a couple of puffs and give it back to Bhagoji.  Bhagoji would smoke the pipe and return it to Baba.  This touching scene of co-existence would go on for some time.  By then, Abdulla would heat water for Baba’s mouth wash.  Baba would use warm water for his wash.  After washing the mouth, He would sprinkle hot water on His face, nose, ears, eyes, even tongue and hands and would clean them thoroughly and tenderly.  Then He would wipe Himself with a clean cloth.  He would never hurry through all this procedure.  Naturally it would take some time and the day would have dawned by the time this routine would be finished.  After this He would leave for begging alms from the regularly visited five houses in the village.

Dada Saheb Khaparde and his wife were so much engrossed in watching all this early hour routine of Baba that only when He came down with His bowl and called them aloud they came to their senses – “You are a wonderful man, Khaparde!  You came to tell me about your son and you both kept quiet.”  Dada Saheb Khaparde did not reply as he was wise enough to know that Baba knew everything.  It was not necessary to tell him at all.  Khaparde who was known for his oratorical skills in the Legislature and in the courts, maintained stoic silence in the presence of Sai Baba out of reverence to him.  Baba spoke to Khaparde’s wife – “Mother, the sky is overcast!  It will rain, crop will ripen, sky will be clear, and the earth will glitter with glee!”

With these words Baba left for his begging round.  He did not ask them anything more, neither gave udhi nor did he suggest any remedy.  He left with a mere glance of grace at the boy.  Khaparde knew that his work is done and along with his family returned to Sathe’s wada!

Learning that Khaparde’s son had an attack of Plague, his friends in the wada – Gopalrao Buti, Dada Kelkar, Kaka Dixit and others rushed to their room.  Dr. Pillai examined the boy and to his surprise found no fever or plague bubos.  They had disappeared.  Though Dada Saheb Khaparde kept quiet, his wife revealed everything.  Everyone had a fresh experience of Baba’s omnipotence.  By then they heard the ‘arathi’ song – “Jaya Jagadeesha Hare, Sai Shambo Mahadeva!’ from Megha’s room and this added to their devotional mood.  They all went to Megha’s room.  Waving an ‘arathi’ before Baba’s big picture on the wall, Megha was singing the prayer completely lost himself in emotional ecstasy!  The image appeared to be fully alive and gleamed with an unusual luster!  Khaparde was fascinated by Megha’s prayer and with his own experience, decided not to leave Shirdi until Baba permitted.  Then, the group left for the mosque.

According to Baba’s daily routine He would return after begging, feed the dogs, crows and birds with the charity food he got, eat some if he felt like and then would sit down for first ‘darshan’ session of the morning.  He would narrate anecdotes with morals which may include indirect answers to devotees coming with problems.  Baba would also distribute udhi to those who would be leaving!  After this Baba would go to Lendi Baug.  On return from there the second ‘darshan’ session would begin.  In this session devotees were offered opportunity to worship Baba by themselves.  In between Baba would give short discourses.  With noon ‘arathi’ the second session would be over.  Baba will participate in a collective lunch and after this He would once again go to Lendi Baug.  The third session would begin around five in the evening and would go on till night.  After ‘arathi’ again and ‘palanquin procession’ in the night devotees would disperse bidding ‘adieu’ to Baba.

After having his wonderful experience in respect of his own son, Dada Saheb Khaparde decided to participate in every aspect of this program in Shirdi in order to have maximum benefit of Baba’s association.