Nanasaheb Chandorkar

Narayan Govind Chandorkar, known as Nanasaheb, was a Deputy Collector and one of the first educated, high-ranking officers to come to Baba, around 1892. Baba first sent for him through the village accountant, saying they had a bond from past lives. Nanasaheb went reluctantly, but Baba's words won him over, and he became one of Baba's dearest devotees.

Nanasaheb brought many people to Shirdi, including Das Ganu, Kakasaheb Dixit and Hemadpant. Baba taught him patiently and sometimes sternly. When Nanasaheb was massaging Baba's feet and murmuring a verse of the Bhagavad Gita, Baba asked him its meaning and then explained it more deeply than any scholar, showing that true knowledge comes from surrender and service.

The Satcharitra's famous Jamner story is about him. His daughter Mainatai was in a dangerous childbirth at Jamner, far away. Baba sent udi and an arati through Ramgir Bua. When Ramgir reached the station with no money, a tonga driver was waiting, fed him and drove him to Nanasaheb's house. The udi was given and the child was born safely. When Ramgir turned to thank the driver, the tonga and driver had vanished. Nanasaheb passed away in 1921.