T A T Y A P A T I L (Tatya used to call Baba Mama as their relationship was intimate. He was the first among the devotees who were fully devoted to Baba. During the Chavadi processions, his role was the main one. Baba averted the death of Tatya Patil and offered his body instead.) Tatya Kote Patil or Tatya Patil or simply Tatya was his name and his family was one who loved Baba right from the beginning for himself and not with any expectation from him or from his divinity. Tatya was the first amongst the devotees who was fully immersed in the devotion to Baba. Tatya was a little boy of six or seven years old when Baba first came to Shirdi. Tatya used to call Baba Mama as their relationship was intimate. Baba used to treat him like his own nephew. Baba used to watch his childish behavior with motherly love. Sometimes Bayajabai, his mother scolded Tatya for his childish behavior, but Baba would advise her to leave Tatya alone. Baba used to call Tatya Tatya or Kotya or Kote chaa Ghod Mukhya (horse-faced-one). Tatya was receiving Rs.35 everyday from Baba. The Income-tax authorities who came with the purpose of levying tax on Baba’s income, could not do that and instead levied tax upon the regular recipients of Babas daily doles such as Tatya Patil, Bayyaji Patil and Bade Baba. Tatya belonged to a middle class farming family. Initially as a result of his hard work, and later on with the money given to him daily by Baba, Tatya became a big farmer in the village. He had six pairs of oxen working in his fields, which in those days meant a rich landlord. Tatya had a helping nature and was very co- operative with other villagers. Tatyas house was one of the houses from where Baba used to accept the alms daily. Tatyas mother never sent Baba away empty handed, no matter how many times he went for alms. Baba used to seek alms initially eight times a day. When there was a famine in 1876 in the State, Baba went for alms only to Tatyas and Nanduram Marwadis houses. At the age of 17/18 Tatya went to many places to participate in Nama Sapthaha with Gangagir Maharaj, who praised Sai Baba as Precious Jewel when he first visited Shirdi. When Tatya told Baba about attending the Nama Saptahas, Baba was very happy about it. After some time in 1909, Chavadi procession was started with all the paraphernalia and when the turn of proceeding to the Chavadi came, many people flocked to the masjid and made bhajan for a few hours. Behind them was a beautiful Ratha (small car), to the right a Tulsi-vrindavan and in front, Baba and between these, all the devotees interested in the bhajan came in time to participate. They took up the musical instruments like tal, chiplis and kartal, mridang, khanjira and ghol in their hands and performed the bhajan. Sai Baba was the cynosure who drew all the devotees towards him. They decorated the palanquin and Baba’s horse “Shyamkarna” who stood fully decorated outside and then all the people uttered cries of victory to Baba. Baba sat quiet in his place in the masjid till Tatya came and helped Baba to get up by putting his arm under Baba’s arm pit. Tatya then placed a golden embroidered beautiful shawl over Baba’s body. Baba then moved to the Chavadi with the look of a royal entourage and in dignity to the accompaniment of all musical instruments, walking on the spread- folds of cloth placed on the way, while Tatya held the left hand and Mhalasapati held the right hand of Baba and Bapusaheb Jog held the umbrella over Baba’s head, all led by Shyamkarna in front of the procession. It is really impossible to describe in words the Stately Chavadi Procession. To cover a distance of a few yards between the Masjid and the Chavadi, the procession used to take three hours and based on this it can be easily understood how Stately the Chavadi procession was moving with all the required paraphernalia. After pooja in Chavadi was over, when Tatya was about to leave, Baba would ask him to return some time during the night to enquire about Baba. That was the relationship that existed between Tatya and Baba. Tatya slept in the masjit with Baba for full 14 years. He had three wives as his first two wives did not bear any children. His third wife, too, did not bear him any children. He was disappointed and decided to adopt the son of his friend, Ramachandra Patil. He arranged for the adoption ceremony and taking the adoption papers went to Baba for his blessings. When Baba saw the papers he said, Why do you need to adopt anyone? You will get children yourself. Tatya had full belief in Babas words and immediately stopped the adoption process. But he did not get any children for a long time even after this. Finally he went to Baba and told him that he was still childless. Baba replied, Tatya, if you get children you will lose your wealth. Choose whether you want riches or children. Tatya, who was yearning day and night for children, replied Let the riches go, I want children. Baba then smiled and said that he would get many children. When Tatya was 55 years old, all his wives started bearing children and he ultimately produced a large family. Afterwards his family, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren, numbered over a hundred. But as Baba had stated, his prosperity vanished and Tatya had to face many financial problems which he had managed with the Grace of Baba. Once Bapu Saheb Buti, Kaka Saheb Dixit, Dr. Pillai and Tatya got together for dinner at Radhakrishnamai’s house. At that time Tatya openly narrated his own experience regarding Radhakrishnamai. He said once he had some conflict with Radhakrishnamai, at that time her anger was at its height. After that he went to his farm and got busy in his farm work. He observed that some stones came flying from somewhere and started hitting him on his legs. He was much hurt by these stones. But he could not understand and find out who was throwing the stones at him. At last he realized that this deed must be at the instance of Radhakrishnamai only. She served Baba very well and was instrumental for introducing in Shirdi several systems many of which are being followed by the Sansthan even today. Baba averted the death of Tatya Patil and offered his body instead. Baba knew the on coming death of Tatya Patil and told Ramachandra Patil about this and asked him to keep it as a secret. But Ramachandra told Bala Shimpi about this and advised him to keep it as a secret. As the Vijayadasami day was fast approaching in 1918, Tatya became very unwell and weak and was bed ridden at which Ramachandra and Bala Shimpi were very much worried. On 15th Oct, 1918, while Tatya miraculously became well, Baba was unwell and passed away into Mahasamadhi, by taking on him the death of Tatya and saved Tatya. Tatya Kote Patil passed away in 1945. His Samadhi is located between the entrance gate to Lendi garden and the power house of Sri Sai Baba Sansthan.. Tatya was very close to Baba and was a blessed soul.
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 07:26:41 +0000
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