Dutta Nimonkar
January 1919:
Nana Saheb Nimonkar Shankarrao Raghunath Deshpande also known as Nana Saheb Nimonkar. Nimon is small village 20 miles off Shirdi. Balwantrao (father of Madhava Rao Deshpande i.e., Shyama) was Nimonkars uncle
Once Balwantrao took Nana Saheb to Sai Baba saying "People believe He is a mad fakir. I doubt if He is really mad, but you had better go with me, see Him and give me your opinion." Whenever Balvant had gone to see Baba the latter kept him at a distance by taking up a brickbat and either flinging it or threatening to fling it at him. Thus He kept away people from going into the Mosque where He stayed. But when Nimonkar went to see Him, He flung no stones and they approached quite close to Him. Nimonkars heart was attracted to Sai as soon as he saw Him and on his return home he assured his uncle that Baba was a Saint and not a mad man.
Balwantrao wondered why stones were hurled when he went to Baba formerly but not on the present occasion. "That is because you doubted if He was mad, but I did not” said Nimonkar Since then, Nimonkar paid annual and later biennial or more frequent visits to Baba — as his faith was steadily increasing.
Nanasaheb was an Honorary Magistrate of Sangamner and there he met Nana Sheb Chandorkar (the Collector’s Chitnis ) who also was an admirer of Baba and both would talk together about Baba. When Nana Saheb Chandorkar started the idea of rebuilding Baba's Musjid and collected subscriptions, Nimonkar contributed his mite and what is more he supervised the building operations. Baba would not let the workmen to go on with the work— as He complained of their work and undid their work. The building was long being prevented from completing even its foundation. Baba however had great trust in Nimonkar and Nimonkar hurried on the work all night when Baba slept at the chavadi. Baba showed His faith in Nimonkar by making him his banker during the years (1916-18) that he stayed with Baba. As funds came, Baba would hand them over to Nimonkar. Even Madhav Rao mistook them for gifts. Nimonkar stood in no need of gifts. He had about 500 rupees per annum from his estate his son somanath shankar deshpande Inspector of police in PUNE was sending him all moneys he required. Besides, Nimonkar also knew the truth of Baba's often repeated statement. "Fakir's money is forced away". If one grasped at and swallowed a Fakir's money, he will in due course have to disgorge it all, to the last pie. Nimonkar desired and got from Baba gifts superior to monetary gifts temporal and spiritual welfare. So Nimonkar paid up all the deposits for Baba's expenses. Baba himself frequently called upon him for these expenses e.g.(a) Burfi would have to be purchased and distributed as present (b) firewood on a large scale also had to be bought etc.. His children called him "Kaka,", so did the villagers; and so also Baba called him "Kaka".
Nimonkars daughter-in-law was on the family way and in September-October, 1916, her accouchement was expected Mr & Mrs. N. Nimonkar started for Poona to help in the accouchement and called en route at Shirdi. When they wanted leave to go to Poona, Baba refused. He told Nimonkar. on the other hand that the latter should stay by Baba's side, bury him and then leave Shirdi. Asked about the accouchement, Baba replied, "Why are you anxious? God will help". That meant of course that Baba undertook the safe delivery of the child and that Nimonkars stayed on.
At Poona, no preparations for helping the lady were made and when the pains began, she was taken about 10 p.m. to a hospital and there within an hour, in the total absence of help when even the attendant nurse was absent, a male child was born in good health. At about that time, Baba told Nana Saheb Nimonkar at Shirdi, "There was woman. She was taken to a place. There she was delivered safe of a male child". Here again as promised, God did help through Baba of course.
Mr. Somnath Shankar Deshpande, (C.I.D. Inspector at Poona), son of Nana Saheb Nimonkar, he started to go to Nimon in December 1917, his ancestral home where his brother's wife had been recently delivered of a child (Dutta Nimonkar). En route, he called at Shirdi and paid his respect to Baba. In sending him away, Baba gave him udhi as usual, but added the significant words "Porala Jiva Love" i.e., "Save the child". Mr. Somnath taking this to refer to his own healthy three years boy travelling with him, gave him the udhi and left for Nimon. Soon after he reached that place, his brother's new born baby was found to be in extreme bad health; and all hope of its life was given up. Then it struck him that Baba's parting words referred to this child and he looked for the udhi. But it was not to be found. Then taking the baby on his own lap, he intently prayed to Baba. In 15 minutes, the child began to revive and was at last restored to health. How kind of Baba to think of a devotee's child some 30 miles away from Shirdi and to take steps to save its life.
Once Balwantrao took Nana Saheb to Sai Baba saying "People believe He is a mad fakir. I doubt if He is really mad, but you had better go with me, see Him and give me your opinion." Whenever Balvant had gone to see Baba the latter kept him at a distance by taking up a brickbat and either flinging it or threatening to fling it at him. Thus He kept away people from going into the Mosque where He stayed. But when Nimonkar went to see Him, He flung no stones and they approached quite close to Him. Nimonkars heart was attracted to Sai as soon as he saw Him and on his return home he assured his uncle that Baba was a Saint and not a mad man.
Balwantrao wondered why stones were hurled when he went to Baba formerly but not on the present occasion. "That is because you doubted if He was mad, but I did not” said Nimonkar Since then, Nimonkar paid annual and later biennial or more frequent visits to Baba — as his faith was steadily increasing.
Nanasaheb was an Honorary Magistrate of Sangamner and there he met Nana Sheb Chandorkar (the Collector’s Chitnis ) who also was an admirer of Baba and both would talk together about Baba. When Nana Saheb Chandorkar started the idea of rebuilding Baba's Musjid and collected subscriptions, Nimonkar contributed his mite and what is more he supervised the building operations. Baba would not let the workmen to go on with the work— as He complained of their work and undid their work. The building was long being prevented from completing even its foundation. Baba however had great trust in Nimonkar and Nimonkar hurried on the work all night when Baba slept at the chavadi. Baba showed His faith in Nimonkar by making him his banker during the years (1916-18) that he stayed with Baba. As funds came, Baba would hand them over to Nimonkar. Even Madhav Rao mistook them for gifts. Nimonkar stood in no need of gifts. He had about 500 rupees per annum from his estate his son somanath shankar deshpande Inspector of police in PUNE was sending him all moneys he required. Besides, Nimonkar also knew the truth of Baba's often repeated statement. "Fakir's money is forced away". If one grasped at and swallowed a Fakir's money, he will in due course have to disgorge it all, to the last pie. Nimonkar desired and got from Baba gifts superior to monetary gifts temporal and spiritual welfare. So Nimonkar paid up all the deposits for Baba's expenses. Baba himself frequently called upon him for these expenses e.g.(a) Burfi would have to be purchased and distributed as present (b) firewood on a large scale also had to be bought etc.. His children called him "Kaka,", so did the villagers; and so also Baba called him "Kaka".
Nimonkars daughter-in-law was on the family way and in September-October, 1916, her accouchement was expected Mr & Mrs. N. Nimonkar started for Poona to help in the accouchement and called en route at Shirdi. When they wanted leave to go to Poona, Baba refused. He told Nimonkar. on the other hand that the latter should stay by Baba's side, bury him and then leave Shirdi. Asked about the accouchement, Baba replied, "Why are you anxious? God will help". That meant of course that Baba undertook the safe delivery of the child and that Nimonkars stayed on.
At Poona, no preparations for helping the lady were made and when the pains began, she was taken about 10 p.m. to a hospital and there within an hour, in the total absence of help when even the attendant nurse was absent, a male child was born in good health. At about that time, Baba told Nana Saheb Nimonkar at Shirdi, "There was woman. She was taken to a place. There she was delivered safe of a male child". Here again as promised, God did help through Baba of course.
Mr. Somnath Shankar Deshpande, (C.I.D. Inspector at Poona), son of Nana Saheb Nimonkar, he started to go to Nimon in December 1917, his ancestral home where his brother's wife had been recently delivered of a child (Dutta Nimonkar). En route, he called at Shirdi and paid his respect to Baba. In sending him away, Baba gave him udhi as usual, but added the significant words "Porala Jiva Love" i.e., "Save the child". Mr. Somnath taking this to refer to his own healthy three years boy travelling with him, gave him the udhi and left for Nimon. Soon after he reached that place, his brother's new born baby was found to be in extreme bad health; and all hope of its life was given up. Then it struck him that Baba's parting words referred to this child and he looked for the udhi. But it was not to be found. Then taking the baby on his own lap, he intently prayed to Baba. In 15 minutes, the child began to revive and was at last restored to health. How kind of Baba to think of a devotee's child some 30 miles away from Shirdi and to take steps to save its life.
Later when the infant named Padmakar was to have darshan of Saideva when he was two months old. Deva Himself took the child in His lap and said "here is my Dutta" hence Padmakars name was changed.
No comments:
Post a Comment