Gopal Rao Butti

Gopalrao Butti, known as Bapusaheb Butti, was a millionaire from Nagpur. He was first a follower of Gajanan Maharaj and was brought to Baba by Bhausaheb Dhumal. He soon became so devoted that he spent long periods in Shirdi, and Baba called him affectionately.

In 1915 Baba appeared to Butti in a dream and told him to build a wada with a temple in it. Shama had the same dream on the same night. Butti began building a large stone building in Shirdi, and planned to place an idol of Murlidhar (Krishna) in its central hall. Baba took a close interest in the construction and said that once it was finished, "we will stay there".

When Baba took Mahasamadhi on 15 October 1918, the devotees remembered these words. Baba's body was laid to rest in the central hall of Butti's wada, the very place meant for Murlidhar. This building is the Samadhi Mandir where millions of devotees now come for Baba's darshan. In this way Butti's service became the greatest gift any devotee has given to Shirdi.