Blessed Houses that Saibaba took Bhiksha

SAKHARAM PATIL SHELKE'S HOUSE

This house is next to Baba's Chavadi with a west face entrance. Sakharam was a farmer, a wealthy landlord, and devoted to Baba. The wife of his grandson, Hari Bau, (Sakar Bai) relates how Baba in turn loved Sakharam. Baba would stand at the crossroad between Vaman Rao Gondkar's house and Shelke's house and call out "Sakharam Roti de". She also stated that his son Triambak donated some land to Baba's Sansthan. Triambak's Samadhi is inside the compound of the Narasimha Temple which is adjacent to Sakharam's house. The other two Samadhis are of Thana Bai (Triambak's wife), and Ramghir Bhau. The Narasimha Temple was constructed by the Shelke family.

VAMAN RAO GONDKAR'S HOUSE

This house is on the right hand side opposite to Sakharam Shelke's house. Vaman Rao was born and bred in Shirdi. His family were wealthy farmers and landowners. The descendants say they owned 500 acres of land in and around Shirdi. They also state that they owned Lendi Bagh and adjacent lands. They sold Lendi Bagh to Moreshwar Pradhan who donated it to the Sansthan. This is one of the blessed houses that Baba took Bhiksha from. Mention is made of this house in Ch.XIX English Sai Satcharitra. Baba placed a ladder against this house and climbed up on the roof and passed the roof of Radhakrishna Ayi's house. Baba gave Rs.2/- to Venku Kamblekar, who brought the ladder, for his labour.

The other devotees objected saying that Baba had paid too much. Baba told them that any labour should be paid for promptly and adequately. Kamblekar had no children but after he received this money he prospered and got two sons. Vaman Rao Gondkar took Mahasamadhi on 15.3.1964. His descendants are living in Shirdi and carrying on his legacy.

PADUKAS

Padukas where Baba rested while going for Bhiksha to the five houses.

BAYAJA BAI KOTE PATIL'S HOUSE

This house is situated adjacent to 'Sai Kutir'. Bayaja Maa came to Shirdi after she married an affluent landowner, Ganapath Kote Patil. She was a dutiful, loving wife, who did all the household chores. But most of all she loved to cook and feed various guests and relatives. 'Food is Brahma' she knew and was the first person to feed Baba when He came to i in the early days. Bayaja Maa recognising His divinity would roam about in search of the Fakir and feed Him daily (Ref.. ESS, Ch. VIII). She then returned home to eat. Her trouble ended when Baba came to live in the Masjid.

Daily Baba took Biksha from her. She made fresh food and fed Him lovingly. Baba was very pleased with this. Baba asked her once what she wanted? "Do you want Sampathi (wealth) or Santhathi (welfare of your family)"? Unhesitatingly she asked for the welfare of Tatya, who had no children, though he had three wives. With Baba's blessings he had three sons and two daughters. True to His promise Baba looked after Tatya and his family, and even took 'niryan' for him.

BAYAJA MAA

TATYA (SON OF BAYAJA MAA)

'SAI KUTIR' BAYYAJI APPA KOTE PATIL

Bayyaji Appa Kote Patil was a land owner, revenue and police patel of Birgoan. He states that Baba took Bhiksha from his house many times up to His Mahasamadhi. Bayyaji started serving Baba from his 11^th year. He noticed that Baba was very fair and just and would enjoin silence on others when Namaj was being done and vice versa. Sweets and Pedas were distributed to all alike. Baba forewarned him of his father's death, which later happened as Baba had predicted. Baba used to give him Rs.4/- daily and said "Do not eat and excrete". So he invested it in land and had 84 acres. Baba also advised him what to cultivate on it, and He was always right. On Baba's Mahasamadhi he states that Baba told him "/ am going, carry me to the Wada. All Brahmins mil be living near Me." With these words He took Mahasamadhi (Ref. DE, p.158)

NANDARAM SANCLECHA'S HOUSE

Nandaram was a rich landowner and moneylender by profession. But he was kindhearted and a gentle person. His grandfather came to Shirdi from Rajasthan (Kharade village) and Nandaram was born in 1866 and grew up in Shirdi. Nandaram's house was one of the blessed houses that Baba took Biksha from. It is said that Baba would visit this house last although it was very near to the Dwarakamai, almost in front of it.. Baba loved this family and He would call out to Nandaram's wife who had a speech problem. Baba would say "Oh, Bhopadi Bai, Biksha de". If she was late in offering Biksha He would shower abuses on her. Baba sometimes asked her to make puran poli and a full meal. After making all the preparations she would take the thali to the Dwarakamai, but Baba would eat very little and distribute the rest. In 1911 when plague was rampant in Shirdi the villagers quickly started fleeing. Nandaram met some of the villagers who remarked that his eyes were red with fever and that was the beginning of the plague. He was startled to hear this and went on horseback to take Baba's permission to leave and go to Ekruka. Baba dissuaded him from leaving. He assured Him that he was not going to die. "I will not let you die till I die" and gave him Udi and he recovered. (Ref. DE, p. 153). Nandaram's grandmother, Radhabai, asked Baba to look after her family as the male children died in infancy. Baba gave her three mangoes and she got three sons. After this leela all the male children survived. The best deed he did was to donate the land that was between Butti Wada and Dwarakamai for Baba's use. This was done through Damu Anna and hence the Samadhi Mandir was extended. Nandaram believed in doing good and giving rather than receiving. He also repaired and made the flooring of Maruti and Ganesh temples. He took Mahasamadhi on 13.10.1946 and his philanthrophic and social work is carried on by his descendants.