(Justice Noolkar, when unwell and unable to move, actually saw from Sathewada, what
Baba was doing in the masjid, playing with Bappaji and Baba gave the entire vision
of what had happened in the masjid, to Tatyasaheb by way of a miracle as if that
had happened in front of his eyes, as desired by him.)
(He introduced for the first time, Puja to Baba by waving lighted lamps around Baba
in an arch)
Tatyasaheb Noolkar alias Laxman Krishnaji Noolkar was born in the later half of
the 19th century and was educated at Poona High School. In 1908 Tatyasaheb was working
as Sub Judge at Pandharpur and Nanasaheb Chandorkar was also working as the Mamlatdar
at the same place. Tatyasaheb earned a good name in his profession and was noted
for his firmness, truthfulness, selflessness, benevolence and self control. He was
also good in spiritual matters as he was in the habit of reading Upanishads and
other religious books regularly. He was also in the habit of visiting saints. Nanasaheb
once told and urged Tatyasaheb to visit Shirdi at least once. At last Tatyasaheb
agreed to go to Shirdi on two conditions:
1. He must get a Brahmin cook immediately and
2. He must get good Nagpur oranges for offering to Sai Baba.
In response to his demands, Nanasaheb said, “Yes, with Baba’s Grace you will get
them also”. Surprisingly, the same night one Brahmin cook came to Nanasaheb for
a job and he immediately sent him to Tatyasaheb. Next day morning also Tatyasaheb
received a parcel of excellent Nagpur oranges, but the name of the consigner was
not mentioned on it. Thus Tatyasaheb was convinced of Baba's divine powers and he
went with Nanasaheb Chandorkar to Shirdi. Tatyasaheb was short in stature and fat.
As he bowed down at Baba's feet, Baba placed his hand on Tatyasaheb's head lightly
but with a little force. As a result, Tatyasaheb fell down towards the nearby pillar,
but at that time mixed feelings appeared in his mind and got convinced that Baba
was his real Guru, and that he was in the state of ecstasy.
In that night while sleeping in Sathewada, he woke up and asked Nanasaheb who was
also there, for beeda for chewing even though Nanasaheb was not in the habit of
using it. Just at the same time Baba from the masjid asked someone present in the
masjid to take beeda and give it to the old man who
came with Chandorkar and was in Sathewada. On seeing that man suddenly coming with
the beeda who gave it to Talyasaheb. Tatyasaheb was convinced beyond doubt about
Baba's supernatural powers of knowing the thinking in every body’s mind and his
faith in Baba was further strengthened manifold. Tatyasaheb then returned to Pandharpur
but whenever he got leave or holidays, he used to visit Shirdi for Sai Baba's darshan.
In Shri Sai Satcharita, Tatyasaheb’s experiences were not mentioned in detail and
this is perhaps Hemadpant did not have access to more information about Tatyasaheb.
This detailed information came to light when B.V.Narasimhaswami came across Tatyasaheb's
grandson, by name Shri Raghunath Vishwanath Noolkar from whom Swami received lot
of information based on Raghunath’s personal observation of his father’s instances
which were published as an article in Sant Kripa magazine and these were not known
to earlier devotees.
Once Tatyasaheb had some dangerous eye disease.and was unable to see properly and
pain was unbearable. He tried all types of treatments from well-known eye-doctors,
there was no improvement He then came to Shirdi. He stayed in Sathewada and was
praying to Baba continuously.. On the third day, he went to Baba who placed his
hand on Baba’s (his)own eyes, and said to Shama “Today My eyes are paining severely".
As soon as Baba said these words, Tatyasaheb's eye pain started becoming less and
less and soon the eyes were cured completely.
In those days, there was no regular worship of Baba except accepting garlands brought
by the devotees. But later on, Baba started allowing devotees to apply sandal-paste
to his fore-head, and offer him flowers. It was Tatyasaheb who introduced for the
first time puja to Baba by offering arati by waving of lighted lamps around Baba
in an arch and this practice started on a Guru Pournima Day and later this became
the practice as narrated by Tatyasaheb in his letter to Nanasaheb. Thus, the regular
worship of Baba with arati and with singing of Arati song and playing of musical
instruments started at that time which was continued further. He was one of the
three important devotees (others being Khaparde and Booty) who always kept silent
in the presence of Baba and was also in the habit of obediently following Baba's
orders in all matters, personal as well as official.
While working as Sub-Judge at Pandharpur, he had to dispose off a case. There were
two groups of priests, viz., Badvas and Utpats, in the temple at Pandharpur. One
group consisted of Badvas who were the priests for Vithoba while the other group
was Utpat priests who were the priests for Rukmini. The common men and the devotees
in general and the varkaris mainly, felt very much harassed by the goings-on and
the differences between these groups. At the root cause of all these fights and
disputes in the village, were these two groups. The differences had reached extreme
limits. At this stage, a court case regarding Arati-rights of the famous Vithoba
Temple came up before Tatyasaheb and based on his usual truthful nature he had delivered
a judgement against the expectation of the public. Then he took leave and went to
Shirdi along with his family.and went to see Baba, Baba then enquired Tatyasaheb
as to how long he would stay in Shirdi. For this, Tatyasaheb expressed his desire
to stay in Shirdi for a long time and not to leave Shirdi. He also requested Baba
to permit him to stay in Shirdi only. He also said that in the court he had decided
a case concerning Lord Vithoba. The Badavas and Utpats (both the groups of priests)
were in the habit of behaving very rudely in the temple with the visiting Varkaris
(frequently visiting devotees due to their religious proclivity). They used to harass
such devotees at the time of the Aarati. Incidentally it is worthwhile to mention
here about Jyaneshwar Maharaj who wrote the commentary on Jyaneshwari Geeta at the
young age of 15 years in the year 1290 was a varkari leader. There was a legal dispute
as to who had the right to perform Aarati. He gave judgement ruling that the Aarati
was not the prerogative of Brahmins alone and that even the common man had the right
to perform it. This judgement became important and was against the wishes of the
priest community and by this judgement he brought about discipline in the Temple
and put an end to the antics of the priests. He also requested Baba not to allow
him to hold the pen in future to write such judgements, Baba said that the judgement
was good and reasonable but also said that Tatyasaheb's wish would be accomplished.
Justice Noolkar laid the foundation for the future developments in the puja performance
in the temple. Some of the lower caste persons like Namdev, Chokhamela, Tukaram
and others by degree of their devotion to Lord Vithoba, became saints irrespective
of their castes. Lord Vithoba was so
generous that He did many miracles in the lives of the above saints and also manifested
before them. Lord Vithoba symbolizes an ocean of compassion for such people. There
was lot of resistance and opposition in allowing entry to the temple, Namdev, Cokhamela,
Tukaram and others belonging to lower castes by the Badve and Utpat priests controlling
the temple rites. This was contrary to the views of Lord Vithoba Himself. In a recent
Supreme Court decision, the Badves and Utpats, hereditary priests at Pandharpur,
have been stripped of their powers. Vitthal Rukmini Temple Trust (VRTT) managiung
the administration of the temple, is now appointing shortly its first batch of women
priests, having some rituals knowledge, belonging to the backward (non-Brahmin)
classes. This is the only Hindu temple in the country to appoint such women priests.
This is in tune with the divine desire of Lord Vithoba, Lord Krishna and Lord Shirdi
Sai Baba. The recent judgement of the Supreme Court is in tune with the spirit of
Justice Noolkar
Incidentally a few words about devotee-varkaris: Varkaris are devotees who were
visiting every year, the temple of Lord Vithoba in Pandharpur as a tradition in
the pursuit of their devotional approach. All people belonging to all castes can
become varkaris. Prominent among them are Jyaneshwar Maharaj, Namdev, Janabai and
other saints with Jyaneshwar Maharaj as the leader of the Varkari group during their
times.
Saint Bhanudas was the great grandfather of saint Eknath, who who was instrumental
for having returned the idol of God, Lord Vitthal back to Pandharpur from Hampi,
where it had been taken and kept by the King Srikrishnadeva Raya of Vijaynagar Emphire
for safety purposes. Fortunately, the idol of Lord Vitthal was brought back to and
installed in Pandharpur temple much before the decline of the Vijayanagara Emphire.
Based on research conducted by Sri M.B.Nimbalkar, it was Noolkar who was permitted
by Baba and who did first Gurupoornima day celebrations in Shirdi with all the sixteen
puja items and that happened to be a Saturday, 3rd July 1909 where Dada Kelkar,
Jog, Shama were also present along with others. This information was collected based
on the letter written by Noolkar to Nanasaheb Chandorkar who was not present in
Shirdi to witness the first Gurupoornima day celebrations to Baba. Though it was
not clear about the exact date of first Gurupoornima day celebrations, this date
was construed based on certain events.
When Tatyasaheb arrived this time, Baba pulled out one 'Kafani' from the heap of
kafanies and placed it on Tatyasaheb's body saying, that it would protect him from
severe wind and cold". But he felt that this was a sort of initiation into the fourth
stage of life, i.e.sanyas diksha as per his desire and he accepted it with ecstasy
and then placed his head on Baba’s feet.
While in Shirdi, he had no other thought in his mind except that of Baba.and he
was thinking of having Baba’s darshan continuously and he was unable to move to
the masjid because of his sudden sickness. One day he told his elder son, Dr. Wamanrao
to go and request Baba about his desire to have darshan of Baba. Wamanrao went to
the masjid and conveyed Tatyasaheb’s desire to Baba. Then Baba replied, “O.K. He
will have darshan. Allah Bhala Karega.” At that time when Wamanrao went to the masjid,
there was nobody else in the masjid except one or two small boys. Whenever boys
used to get into the masjid, Baba used to play with them happily. At that time Baba
was in a playful mood and Laxman Mama’s son Bappaji was also present. Before the
masjid on the road, one hawker selling clothes was passing through. The hawker then
went to the verandah in a house and the villagers started looking at the various
pieces of clothes. Bappaji also went there and seeing the colourful cloth pieces,
he wished to have a piece of cloth for tying round his head. So Bappaji selected
and picked up one red coloured brocade piece and coming to Baba said, “Baba, may
I take this?” Baba replied, “Yes, take it.” So Bappaji unfolded the cloth and tied
it round his head and bowed down at Baba’s feet. Baba then fondly pinched and pulled
Bappaji’s cheeks and Bappaji removed the cloth from his head and placed it on Baba’s
head and started laughing. Baba also allowed it to remain on his head for some time
and looking all round in dignity and gave a smile. Then Baba removed it and placed
it on Bappaji’s head. Bappaji again placed it on Baba’s head and Baba again returned
it on Bappaji’s head, and these things repeated for a while. After this was over,
Wamanrao returned to Sathewada.
Then, Tatyasaheb asked him as to what had happened in the masjid and what all Baba
said. Since the above happenings were of routine nature and not at all special,
Wamanrao replied, that nothing had happened there and that he conveyed the desire
of his father to Baba. But Tatyasaheb was not satisfied with the reply and wanted
to know what all had happened there, whether important or unimportant. So Wamanrao
narrated the above incidents about
Bappaji’s brocade cloth. On hearing the detailed narration from his son, he felt
extremely happy and tears of joy started flowing from his eyes and he told his son
that he had seen all these incidents that took place in the masjid and that he had
Baba’s darshan continuously and then he told his son, “Go and tell Baba that I had
His darshan.” He actually saw what Baba was doing in the masjid playing with Bappaji
and Baba gave the entire vision of what had happened in the masjid to Tatyasaheb
by way a Leela, as if that had happened in front of his eyes.
During childhood, Tatyasaheb and Nilkanth Ramachandra Sahasrabuddhe were close friends
while studying at Poona High School. After leaving the school, they did not meet
each other during the last several years. Nilkanth suddenly landed at Shirdi from
Bombay at the instance of Nanasaheb and Dixit, who paid him the railway fare and
also gave a note to Shama.
After a few days, Tatyasaheb's sickness started getting worse. Nilkanth, his school-friend
was always ready to serve others and also served Tatyasaheb this time. Tatyasaheb's
two sons were present and were also serving him. The elder son ‘Wamanrao’ was a
doctor. In Shirdi in those days, there was no hospital or any medical shop. Wamanrao
then sent a telegram to Bombay and got medicines and needed equipment to Shirdi
and operated on the carbuncles on the body of his father and bandaged them. Nilkanth
also assisted as a nurse all the while including during the nights. It looked as
though Tatyasaheb did not wish to be cured and he did not appear to be praying to
Baba for any cure.
He asked his both sons to sing Bhajans. Everybody knew that the end was approaching.
Wamanrao, his brother Viswanath, their mother and Dixit and some others were present
at that time. Tatyasaheb disclosed a desire to get holy water from Baba’s Feet.
It was almost past 1-00 o'clock in the night. Who could dare to go to Baba at that
midnight. But Shama went to the masjid with a vessel. Baba got up from his place
and roared and enquired as to why Shama came at that midnight. Shama requested Baba
and asked him to give the holy water from his feet as Noolkar was in the death bed
and that he desired holy water from Baba's feed as his thirtha at his last moment.
With these words, Shama came forward and then Baba put forward his toe and Shama
immediately dipped the toe in the water in the vessel and carried the vessel and
fulfilled the last desire of Noolkar. That was the intimacy
Shama had with Baba. Udi was applied to Tatyasaheb's forehead, he opened his eyes
clearly and looked around and Baba’s Pada-Tirtha was given to Tatyasaheb for three
times and then Tatyasaheb breathed his last. At that time Baba said in the masjid
that behind the masjid a big star had collapsed. Then Baba came out from the masjid
and shouted loudly, beating his mouth with hands. Whenever a dear devotee passed
away, Baba used to behave like this. Baba also said that Tatyasaheb was a good man,
and that he would have no further birth.
In the interview by Narasimhaswami, Raghunath produced some proof by way of a letter
from Shama in his own hand-writing and a letter written by Tatyasaheb to Nanasaheb
about Tatyasaheb’s spiritual attainments. Swami had thus collected lot of information
about Tatyasaheb’s instances and about his beatitude at the feet of Baba in March,
1911.The following three paragraphs are taken out from the articles written by Shri
B.V.Narasimhaswami’s interview in about 1936.
To show how much Sai Baba loved Tatyasaheb, his grandson Shri Raghunath Vishwanath
Noolkar, narrated to Narasimhaswami one more incident along with a copy of a letter
dated 20th December 1912 in Shama's own hand¬writing as proof and what his grand
son expressed to him was reproduced below:
Our grandfather died at Shirdi in 1911 at the age of 48 years. Afterwards my father
(Tatyasaheb's younger son Vishwanath) to satisfy the wishes of our grand-mother
(Shrimati Janakibai) got a locket prepared, in which on one side there was Baba's
photo and on the other side that of my grandfather Tatyasaheb. The locket was sent
to Shirdi by registered post, the idea probably being to get it back after Baba
touching it and blessing it. When the parcel reached Shirdi, what actually happened
at the Masjid, was conveyed to my father by Shama by a letter in Marathi language
and its English version is given below. Shirdi Shri Date 20-12-1912 Humble Salutations,
Yesterday on Thursday the 19th instant, at the time of Arati, the postman delivered
to Sai Maharaj the locket parcel sent by you. Sai Maharaj took it and moving the
box round His face, kissed it. He then said to me, "There are two persons in this"
and handed over the parcel to me. On opening the box I found in it the locket with
photos and the letter from your mother. I read out the letter to Sai Maharaj and
handed over the locket to Him. He held the
photo in His hand for about 15 to 20 minutes and showed it to almost every person
who came for Arati, saying, "This person took me away with him." These exact words
said by Sai Maharaj have been written down and sent to you by me. The locket has
been handed over to me for safe custody.
My respects to your mother.
Sai Das
Madhavrao Deshpande(Shama)
From the above letter, we can imagine how much Baba loved Tatyasaheb Noolkar. By
saying "There are two persons in the locket", Baba had, as if, equated Tatyasaheb
with Himself and certified the advanced spiritual status of Tatyasaheb and looking
at Tatyasaheb's photo in the locket, Baba said, ‘This person took Me away with him",
it seems as if Baba had confirmed that, after death, Tatyasaheb's soul had been
merged with that of Baba.