By: D. Sankaraiah
The Sapatnekars came from a village called Sapatne and settled in Madhegaon, the taluk headquarters. They were a family of lawyers. Mahadev Waman Sapatnekar was a prominent, successful, and rich lawyer in Akkalkot and his father also was a lawyer.
When Mahadev Waman Sapatnekar was studying law, a friend co-student by the name of Shevade told him of his confidence in passing the Law examination as Sai Baba of Shirdi had blessed him, but Mahadev couldn’t fathom how a begging fakir in Shirdi would make him pass the examination and made fun of Shevade as well as Sai Baba. Later it was observed that Shevade passed the examination., to their surprise. After graduation, Mahadev started practicing as a pleader in Akkalkot in 1893. Later he got married and had a son. After some time he lost his son due to a throat disease in 1913. He went on pilgrimage and visited holy places like Pandharpur, Gangapur, and others, but was unable to get peace of mind.
Mahadev was a devotee of Datta and would frequently go to Gangapur.
His wife, Parvatibai Sapatnekar was married at the age of 13.
Mahadev was very sad because his only son had died and was always unhappily thinking about him. At this stage, his father told them about Sai Baba of Shirdi and asked them to visit Shirdi as many people had gone there and found peace. Mahadev did not have faith in Baba and was unwilling to visit Shirdi for Baba’s darshan.
However, to respect his father’s words, he went to Shirdi in 1913, taking his brother Pandithrao along with him.
In the masjid, when Sapatnekar approached Baba to touch his feet and salute him, Baba suddenly shouted, saying, “Chal hut!” (Go away)! and also pushed him away with so much force thathis headdress fell at a distance and then he came out of the masjid unhappily.
Mahadev’s father insisted that he visit Shirdi again and take his wife along to take Sai Baba’s darshan. He also said that there should be some reason why Baba was so angry with Mahadev. He also asked Mahadev to take his elder sister-in-law along, as she had only daughters and no son. Seeing his father’s firm order, Mahadev started and reached Shirdi with his wife and sister-in-law.
When they reached Shirdi, Mahadev’s wife was surprised to observe that Baba was the same person who had appeared in her dream. Because of her sincere devotion and humility, Baba called her and uttered the following statement, “My stomach, waist, hands, and legs are paining for several days. Despite using several medicines, there is no relief. After coming here the pains have subsided.” Though Baba looked healthy, he expressed like this and she understood that the matter was related to her and also thought that how Baba knew all her problems. She also felt that she was going to get well after Baba’s darshan.
Mahadev went with folded hands near Baba. Again this time, Baba asked him to get out. Mahadev then realized by introspection that this was the result of insulting his friend, Shevade and Baba. He blamed himself for his past deeds and realized that because of his past misconduct, he was facing this unpleasant situation then. He also told Baba that he was ignorant of Baba’s divinity and earnestly begged Baba to forgive him. Baba blessed him and put his hand on Mahadev’s head and stroked it.
Mahadev and his wife were still there in Shirdi. He told his wife in detail all that had happened in the masjid with Baba. He said that Baba was an ocean of kindness and a divine saint. He told her to get ready for the arati puja after preparing puranpolis (chapatis with sweet content inside) as an offering for Baba. However, one of the priests there told them that halwa (sweet) would also make a better offering, so they prepared halwa and took it on a plate to the masjid as naivedya to Baba. After the arati was over, the various offerings to Baba were kept ready in front of him. Even though their plate was slightly far away, Baba bent down, took some halwa, and ate it with relish. They felt extremely happy and offered their heartfelt thanks to Baba for his kindness.
Afterwards, Baba took two rupees as dakshina from Mahadev. He gave a coconut to him and asked him to put it in the lap of his wife and also told him that they will have nine children.
Parvatibai Sapatnekar was alive 65 years after Baba’s Mahasamadhi. She passed away on 30th October 1983.
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