Shri Sai Baba in his life time tried His best to make all living beings to live in harmony in Shirdi. The moment Baba took Samadhi suddenly few realized this was a human body which is trying to find its place in Buty Wada in place of Muralidhar. Few had an opinion His body should be placed in open field and last rites performed as per their custom. Mir Shakar, a body builder of Korhale saw the developments and sought the help of Appaji Kote Patil who was the grandfather of Ramachandra Patil. He convinced him that it was bad, to keep a dead body in the village. This appealed to Appaji and he called a meeting of the villagers and told the villagers his views. Then the villagers agreed to take the body out of Shirdi.
Ramachandra Patil heard this and disagreed vehemently saying that Baba’s last wish should be followed and honored. Ramachandra was successful in convincing the villagers of Shirdi for Baba’s MahaSamadhi in Shirdi and succeeded in honoring Baba’s last wish. This enraged Appaji and he told him not to step into his house again. Ramachandra Patil agreed as he was determined to honor Baba’s last wish at any cost. He did not enter his grandfather’s house for almost 12 years although his first wife Sitabai stayed there.
However, problems cropped up as soon as the Sub-Inspector of Rahata, Shri Sane arrived. Some of them were unanimous in their opinion that Sainath’s body should be interred in Buty wada and nowhere else. No definite decision was taken until Mamlatdar of Kopergaon arrived next day, to sort out the matter with everyone. The Mamlatdar therefore took a general plebiscite and found that the proposal to use the Wada secured double the number of votes.
In favor of Buty Wada 1,503 votes
In favor of Open field 760 votes
Thus, the matter was resolved to intern Baba’s body in Buty wada. Still being hesitant, Mamlatdar sought to refer the matter to the collector of Ahmednagar. Kakasaheb Dixit meanwhile, got ready to personally visit Ahmednagar and obtain the approval on the basis of poll results. Gradually by Baba’s inspiration there was a change of opinion from those who opposed to Baba’s Samadhi in Buty Wada and there was a total unanimous approval to inter Sainath’s holy body in Buty wada. Thus, after a grand procession throughout the village, the holy body was interred in central portion reserved for Murlidhar. In fact, Baba became the Murlidhar and the Wada became a temple and a holy shrine, where so many devotees went and are going now too find rest and peace. All the obsequies of Baba were duly performed by Balasaheb Bhate and Upasani, a great devotee of Baba.It is to be noted that the Samadhi is about 6 feet by 2 feet and there is an altar of about 3 feet in height, 9 feet in length and nine feet in breadth. The broken brick lying in Dwrakamai was fixed by silver thread together and kept under Baba’s head. When they opened a small cloth bag, which He always had with Him and never let anybody touch it, they found an old green kafni and a cap (topi). This also they kept beside Baba. On 17th, Maha Samadhi was done and a portrait of Baba was kept above the Samadhi.
A Marble Samadhi was built atop the Samadhi and since that time Buty wada is known as Samadhi Mandir. “Build the Wada with the Temple. I shall fulfill the desires of all” Shri Sai Baba.
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