Balasaheb Bhate was a Mamlatdar in Kopargaon until 1890. He used to feel Baba was a mad fakir and only foolish people worshipped Him. Once his friends were going to Shirdi and forced him to come with them. He did not visit Baba for five days after his arrival in Shirdi. On the sixth day when they were leaving, Baba called Bal Bhate and presented a shawl to him. From that moment, Bhate became Baba’s devotee and was inseparable from Him. It was difficult to pursue him to attend to his duties as mamlatdar. With lot of difficulty, his friends put up an application for his leave, as he did not want to be away from Baba. However, after the leave sanctioned got over still he did not want to join his duty. The collector feeling pity on his situation granted pension of Rupees 30 to him. He spent his lifetime serving Baba and reading devotional books. This devotee led a key role in the funeral preparations of Baba. On Wednesday morning Baba appeared to Laxman Mama Joshi in his dream and drawing him by his hand said – “Get up soon; Bapusaheb Jog thinks that I am dead and won’t come for worship; you do the worship and the Kakad (morning) arati.” Laxman Mama was the village astrologer and was the maternal uncle of Shama. He was an orthodox Brahmin and on a daily basis first worshipped Baba in the morning and then all the village deities. He had full faith in Baba. After the vision, he came with all the pooja materials and not minding the protests of the moulvis, did worship and the Kakad arati with all due formalities and went away. Then at noon Bapusaheb Jog came with all others and went through the noon arati ceremony as usual.
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