By : Dr. K. Nagesh
Among close associates of Sai Baba, Nanavalli is considered a model of Vairagya. Shankar Narayan Vaidya alias Nanavalli was a peculiar person. It was not clear whether Nanavalli was treating Baba as a divine saint. He was treating Baba with love and lot of respect. His early childhood and background were shrouded in mystery. He was notorious for his erratic and eccentric behavior. Baba warned him several times not to create problems in Shirdi village. Many people were afraid of him. Sometimes, he would carry snakes in his pockets and scorpions in his mouth. He would also violently abuse and attack some people for no valid reason. He called himself as the General of Sai Baba Army. Some others felt that he was a great person with lot of foresight. His appearance was wild and disheveled. Sometimes he would appear nude and at some other occasions he was dressed in an old sacking. If we study the life of Nanavalli, we will understand about his strong but concealed devotion towards Baba and also as an outstanding model of vairagya (dispassion).
Similar to Sai Baba, little was known about Nanavalli’s background, birth and other details. One account says that he was a Brahmin by birth and some others say that he was born into a Muslim family. Sometimes he wore the clothes of a Muslim fakir and at other times he was found in the dress of a Hindu ascetic. Then again like Baba, his religious roots were not known. However, both versions agree that as a small boy Nanavalli served in a Muslim darga and came to attend Baba upon divine inspiration. Nobody knows when he came to Shirdi, but some say that he was already there when Baba arrived in Shirdi with the wedding party. At that time, on seeing Baba, it appeared that Nanavalli greeted Baba affectionately, saying, “Oh, Uncle, you have come!” Thereafter, he always addressed Baba as “Mama” or “Uncle.” Nanavalli was content to see Baba occasionally and from a distance, but his devotion to Baba was such that Baba should get lot of fame and glory. He used to say, “My duty is only to protect my uncle”. Nanavalli could not bear immorality or hypocrisy. He seemed to read the inner thoughts of devotees and target them accordingly. He was known to occasionally wait outside the masjid and abuse and beat certain individuals for no apparent reason. Though people would rush to Baba and complain, and though Baba would warn Nanavalli, He would ask the devotees to be careful about him.
H.V. Sathe was a prominent devotee holding the post of a Deputy Collector. Sathe constructed the first wada, called Sathe Wada as per the orders of Baba for the benefit of the visiting pilgrims to Shirdi for having darshan of Baba. Earlier there was no such shelter in Shirdi for the pilgrims to stay. For some reason, Sathe was particularly harassed by Nanavalli. During the Chavadi processions, Sathe had the privilege of carrying a sort of Regal Scepter (Royal Staff) and used to walk in front of Baba. On one such occasion, Nanavalli attacked Sathe on the back with a piece of broken glass. Another time, when Sathe was about to go to the masjid to worship Baba, Dada Kelkar, his father-in-law observed and rushed to the masjid and begged him not to do any harm to Sathe, as Nanavalli was waiting near the masjid with an axe threatening to kill him. Sathe was so afraid that he had to leave Shirdi with Baba’s permission and settle in Poona once and for all. This incident happened in 1916.
Shyamrao Jayker, the famous painter who painted Baba’s original portraits and Dr. Chidambaram Pillai, both staunch devotees of Baba, were initially moving with Nanavalli who also once beat Dr. Pillai. Then Baba warned Nanavalli and cautioned both to not move with Nanavalli. Like that, some other devotees also had similar experience with Nanavalli.
As Baba’s fame grew, a large number of pilgrims started visiting Shirdi and Baba was worshipped with increasing pomp and splendor with royal dignity. One day Nanavalli suddenly came into the masjid, which was crowded with many visitors and to the surprise and horror of one and all present, he asked Baba, saying, “Please get up. I want to sit there” Baba immediately got up from his gaddi/seat and then Nanavalli sat in his place. The devotees were shocked at his audacity and thought of dragging him from that place. But seeing the calm posture of Baba, they stopped that idea. Thereafter Nanavalli addressed Baba as Nawab and asked Baba how he was. Baba replied saying that he was not a Nawab, but only the same fakir. Then Nanavalli asked Baba how the world was looking to him. To this, Baba replied saying that the world was looking the same as it was earlier and that there was no change. Then Nanavalli exclaimed, “Shabhash”. (Good, well done) and then prostrated before Baba and expressed happiness and danced ecstatically before leaving the masjid. This had happened in 1915 on a Thursday. It is difficult to understand the behaviour of Nanavalli. About this incident, some expressed that Nanavalli wanted to test Baba whether any egoism had crept in, following lot of fame of Baba due to influx of large number of devotees, but others also felt that he had no such doubts but simply wanted to demonstrate to the public at large about Baba’s simplicity, purity and detachment. But Baba did not comment on the incident and none dared to ask Baba about it.
Nanavalli’s attachment to Baba was so great that he used to say, “If Baba goes, I’ll not be around for long” Accordingly, when Baba passed away into Mahasamadhi, Nanavalli rushed to the masjid and cried, saying, “Uncle, without you, how can I live? I am coming with you”. He then went to the Hanuman Mandir where he wept grievously and took no food for several days. On the thirteenth day after Baba’s Mahasamadhi, Nanavalli passed away on 27th Oct 1918 at the age of 70 years and his Samadhi is in the Lendi Bagh. His ways were always inscrutable.
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