Lakshmibai Shinde was a well to do woman. Her full name is Lakshmibai Tukaram Shinde. Bhagoji Shinde was her husband’s uncle. She used to prepare food for Baba every day. She had, during her entire life time, served Baba during day and night with utmost devotion and unswerving faith. Baba used to address her as “Laxmi Ma”. She was allowed access into the masjid at all times including nights, similar to the privilege granted to Mhalasapati and Tatya Patil. She was the only woman who was allowed to go into the masjid when the curtain was down (in those days the curtain acted as a door and covered the upper portion of the masjid) and at that time no body was allowed inside the masjid. Once, in the evening, as usual Baba was reclining against the wall and chatting with Tatya Patil. Laxmibai came there and bowed down before him. Baba said, “Laxmibai ! I am very hungry.” Laxmibai rushed to her home and gladly prepared rotis etc. immediately and brought that hot food to Baba. Baba picked up the plate of the hot food and placed it before a hungry dog. Laxmibai was surprised to see this. She immediately said, “Baba, I hurriedly cooked the food for you; but you gave it to the dog. You did not even taste a morsel.” Baba replied, “Laxmibai, there is God in every being. If your food enters any mouth that is hungry, be assured that it has fallen into my own mouth.” Thus, Baba indicated to Laxmibai that feeding any hungry animal was feeding him. From that day onwards, Laxmibai started bringing rotis etc. for Baba. She mixed it with milk and with great love brought it to Baba. Baba on his part also waited for her rotis to come and did not touch any other food before her food arrived. On some occasions, the food from her would come late even though everyone in the masjid would be feeling very hungry. But, still Baba would not start his meals till Laxmibai’s food arrived. After some period, Baba started demanding kheer (sweet) made from Shevaya from her. After Laxmibai brought such type of kheer, Baba would ask her to sit by his side. He then used to taste a little and was sending the remaining food to Radhakrishnamai . She served Baba for about 45 years. Baba used to give her daily four rupees. Laxmibai brought meal for Baba, which was his last supper on 15 th October, 1918. Lakshmibai Shinde was one of the seven devotees who were present with Baba in the masjid when Baba passed away into Mahasamadhi. Baba gave her first five silver coins and then four silver coins, total 9 (nine) silver coins of British Era. All were very much surprised to know as to how Baba got those silver coins of British Era and how he preserved them. They knew that Baba did not keep any thing with him. Thus as to how and from where Baba had got these 9 silver coins, had become a mystery. Some people felt that those nine coins would symbolize the nine forms of devotion and others viewed them as the nine characteristics of a good disciple. When Baba’s Marble Statue, sculpted by B.V.Talim, the celebrated sculptor of Bombay, was brought to Shirdi before installation, Laxmibai Shinde was one of the few living devotees who saw the Statue of Baba and expressed happily that the Statue looked like Baba exactly and felt that Baba came back to Shirdi in the form of Life-Like Statue. She was also lucky to observe the installation ceremony of Baba’s Statue at the hands of Sri Sai Sharananandji in the Samadhi Mandir on 7 th Oct, 1954, the Vijayadasami day, exactly 36 years after Baba’s Mahasamadhi. She lived for 115 years upto 1963 and passed away on 2 nd June, 1963 which was an Ekadasi day. The nine coins were kept with the statue of Laxmibai in the small house which is open to the public for darshan. The house with her Samadhi in front, is located a few metres near the Chavadi. In 1963, Laxmibai handed over these divine coins to her daughter-in-law, Sonubai who performed puja for these coins from the year 1963 to 1984 in the house.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 12:50:57 +0000
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