HOLI POURNIMA UTSAV

ll Hari Om ll

HOLI POURNIMA UTSAV – SAI NIWAS

Shree Sai Niwas is a holy pilgrim place for devotees just like Pandharpur is a pilgrim place for the warkaris.

‘Shree Sai Niwas’ is the residence of Shri. Govind Raghunath Dabholkar alias Hemadpant, who scripted the Grantha (holy scripture) Shree Saisatcharita.

It was in this holy abode that Sainath held the hand of Hemadpantji and made him script the divine grantha Shri Saisatcharita

Shri. Govind Raghunath Dabholkar alias Hemadpant

Author of the original Sri Sai Saccharitra

Chapter 40 of Shri Sai Saccharitra narrates the story how Baba arrived in Hemadpantji's house (Sai Niwas) in form of Murti

In 1917 on the full-moon morning, Hemadpantji had a vision. Baba appeared to him in his dream in the form of a well-dressed Sannyasi, woke him up, and said that He would come to him for meals that day. This awakening constituted a part of the dream. When he fully awoke, he saw no Sai nor any Sannyasi. But when he began to recollect the dream, he remembered each and every word the Sannyasi uttered in his dream.

Courtesy Pratyksha

Though he was in contact with Baba for seven years and though he always meditated on Baba, he never expected that Baba would come to his house for meals. However, being much pleased with Baba's words, he went to his wife and informed her that being the Holi day, a Sannyasi guest was coming for meals and that some more rice should be prepared. She enquired about the guest, who he was and whence he was coming. Then not to lead her astray and not to cause any misunderstanding he gave her the truth, i.e., told her about the dream. She doubtingly asked whether it was possible that Baba should come there (Bandra) from Shirdi, leaving the dainty dishes there for accepting their coarse food. Hemadpant then assured her that Baba might not come in person but He might attend in the form of a guest and that they would lose nothing if they cooked some more rice.

After this, preparations for the dinner went on and it was quite ready at noon. The Holika-worship was gone through and the leaves (dishes) were spread and arranged with 'Rangoli' marks around them.

Courtesy Pratyksha

Two rows were put up with a central seat between them for the guest. All the members of the family - sons, grandsons, daughters and sons-in-law etc., came and occupied their proper seats and the serving of the various articles commenced. While this was being done, everybody was watching for the guest, but none turned up though it was past noon. Then the door was closed and chained; the anna-shuddhi (ghee) was served. This was a signal to start eating. Formal offering to the Vaishwadeva (Fire), and Naivedya to Shri Krishna were also over and the members were about to begin, when foot-steps in the staircase were distinctly heard. Hemadpantji went immediately and opened the door and saw two men there: (1) Ali Mahomed and (2) Moulana Ismu Mujavar. These two persons, seeing that meals were ready and all the members were about to begin eating, apologized to Hemadpant and requested him to excuse their interference. They said - "You left your seat and came running to us, others are waiting for you, so please take this your Thing and I shall relate all the wonderful tale about it later on at your convenience." So saying he took out from his arm-pit a packet wrapped in an old newspaper cover and placed it on the table. Hemadpantji uncovered the packet and saw, to his great wonder and surprise, a big nice picture of Sai Baba. Seeing it, he was much moved, tears ran from his eyes and hair stood on end all over his body, and he bent and placed his head on the feet of Baba in the picture.

He thought that Baba had blessed him by this miracle or Leela. Out of curiosity he asked Ali Mahomed whence he got this picture. He said that he bought it from a shop and that he would give all the details about it some time afterwards and wished that as all the members were waiting for him, he should go and join them. Hemadpantji thanked him, bade them good-bye and returned to the dinning-hall. The picture was placed on the central seat reserved for the guest and after the due offering of the Naivedya, the whole party commenced eating and finished it in proper time. Seeing the beautiful form in the picture everybody was extremely pleased and wondered how all this happened.

The is how Sai Baba kept up and fulfilled His words uttered by Him in the dream of Hemadpant. The story of the picture with all its details, viz., how Ali Mahomed got it, why he bought it and gave it to Hemadpant, is given chapter 41 of Shri Sai Satcharitra.

On 28th March 1996, Shri Appasaheb Dabholkar and Meenavahini Dabholkar, Grandson and Granddaughter-in-law of Shree Hemadpant had the darshan (vision) of Sainath Himself in place of Sadguru Aniruddha Bapu. Shree Sai Niwas has since then been transformed into Dwarkamaai to protect its devotees.

"Sai Niwas me parjat gwala Hemadyaki antim jwala

poojan Meena bhabhi kinha Sadguru roop me darshan dinha"

In the year 1997, Sadguru Shri Aniruddha Bapu established the statue of Sainath in Sai Niwas for the purpose of meditation. From that day onwards devotees are allowed to sit or meditate in front of this divine statue and chant the mantra ‘Om Krupasindhu Shri Sainathaya Namaha’.