Experiences of Tarkhad Family with Sai Baba - Preface

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PREFACE

Shri Jyotindra Ramchandra Tarkhad of Santacruz, Mumbai had given a good account of his live experiences with Sai Baba of Shridi. Infact through his narration he is putting forward the teachings of Sai Baba in a prominent way. These narrations also give a fair introduction of Tarkhad family to the readers.

The writer, publisher Shri Virendra Jyotindra Tarkhad is a retired engineer staying at Santacruz in Mumbai, which Sai devotees of Mumbai may be aware of. The writer has in all written 17 chapters out of which 16 chapters are the self experiences of his father which he could put across through his sheer memory and this can be tallied with the Sai Satcharitra by Late Shri Annasaheb Dabholkar, by the readers.

Shri Virendra Tarkhad has given the account of the self-experiences of his father to the Sai devotee readers and I would request them to relish the same. The incidences experienced in the association with Lord Sai by Jyotindra gives a fair account of prowess's of Lord Sai which is published by the writer as close to facts as his memory can recall. The writer is expressing in a unique way the close bondage of his father with Lord Sai, which I must say, is admirable. I think the narrations are expressing that the devotees when they visit Shirdi should take darshan of Samadhi Mandir, the Khadoba Temple and practice the teachings of Sai namely Shraddha & Saburi (Faith & Patience) in order to sail smoothly through their life.

Shri Babasaheb Tarkhad could make his life comfortable, which was witnessed by my grandfather, and one of the closest devotees of Sai Baba Shri Mhalsapati Chimanaji Nagare (Bhagat) is what I would like to state. I am sure the reading of this book can provide some guidance and self-satisfaction to the Sai devotee readers. The book takes us closer to Sai Baba once again is what I can experience while writing this preface. I the grandson of Shri Mhalsapati also feel honoured to offer this preface, infact I consider it to be a true reverence to our family.

Ramachandra Atmaram Tarkhad alias Babasaheb Tarkhad in association with Shri Dasganu Maharaj had made a great contribution in the formation of Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi and was the first treasurer of the Sans than. He further went on to publish the Sai Leela magazine and had written the preface for the very first issue of the magazine thus creating history. I must declare to all Sai devotees that the 9 chapter of Sai Satcharitra by Late Shri Annasaheb Dabholkar gives a true account of pure devotion of Tarkhad family towards Lord Sai.

Lastly I would like to close" this preface by saying: -
"ANANTAKOTI BRAHMANDANAYAKA RAJA DHIRAJ YOGIRAJ PARABRHAMA
SHRI SATCHIDANANDA SATGURU SAINATH MAHARAJ KI JAI"

In times to come these narrations of Shri Sai Baba may be well remembered by innumerable Sai devotees is what I sincerely desire and thus offer this preface in the memory of my grandfather Shri Mhalsapati who had welcomed Shri Sai Baba by stating "Aao Sai" in front of the Khandoba Temple.

I now handover this preface to Shri Virendra Jyotindra Tarkhad for publishing.

Sd/-
Manohar Martanda Nagare

INTRODUCTION

Dear readers, before I write these live experiences I beg the pardon from all of you for the single reason that these are not my own experiences but they were narrated to us by our father Shri Jyotindra Ramchandia Tarkhad from time to time when he was alive. During my childhood when I use to listen to him while narrating, they use to sound like fairy tales for me. As I grew up and came to know about the supernatural powers of Shri SaiBaba of Shirdi I realized that my father had experienced something divine during his ten years of association with Sai Baba and they were the precious possessions of his life time which is difficult for any common man to acquire. I use to always feel that I should open up these prized possessions to all of you but our daily routine is such that it is difficult for us to find time to devote for such spiritual writings.

I have visited Shirdi the Karmabhoomi of Sai Baba several times by now and during these visits I met several Sai devotees. During these meetings there was always a natural question whether I am also a Sai devotee. I use to feel rather awkward to declare so because the way my father use to perform Sai Pooja , I was no way near such devotional duty and use to tell those Sai devotees that I have some kind of unique connection with Shri Sai Baba because of my father's association with him when he was alive and very much active in Shirdi and that is the main reason I visit Shirdi. Primarily, there are three individuals in our Tarkhad Family who were the main cause of such connection. My grandmother (father's mother), my grand father Ramchandra Atmaram Tarkhad &my father Jyotindra Ramchandra Tarkhad. These three people came in contact with Shri SaiBaba and their association spanned from the year 1908 to 1918 i.e. till Sai took Maha Samadhi. As a result of this association subsequently for all members of Tarkhad family Sai Baba was their God. Then that Sai devotee would make a request to narrate some divine experience encountered by my father. I use to oblige by narrating whatever used to come to my mind then. This use to take place in a place called Lendi Baug in Shirdi. After hearing the experience invariably the devotee would bow in front of me and touch my feet. I used to then feel very awkward. Once it so happened that a Sai Mandal from Pune requested me to come to Pune & narrate such experiences to Sai Followers in Pune. I obliged them by visiting Pune along with my wife and children. That program lasted for two hours and after I completed my narration there was a big queue in front of me to perform Namaskar to me. As I was a family man I decided to stay away from such a function for simple reason that those were the experiences of my father and I may make some mistake during narration. At the same time decided that after I retire from the services, I might have plenty of free time which I will utilize to write out these out of the world experiences of Tarkhad Family members. Of course the purpose is to express my devotion and love towards Shirdi Sai Baba. On 18th June 2003 I have completed 60 Years & today on 15th August 2003 i.e. 57th Independence day of our beloved country India I have commenced writing this book.

Dear Sai devotee reader I wish to express that I am not Hon Hemadpant the great Late Annasaheb Dabholkar who has composed the Immortal Sai Satcharitra. I regularly read this Holy Book which consists of 54 Chapters covering the life span of Shirdi Sai Baba. There are incidences in this Holy Book when my father was also present in Shirdi and I shall be humbly narrating them to you as they were viewed and passed on to me by my father. Dear readers please pardon me as I am not in a position to state the exact dates and time of these incidences but during the time span of 1908 to 1918 my father had visited Shirdi 17 times and his stay per visit used to be from 8 days to one month. During these 17 Rounds please believe me my father had a first hand experience of the divine powers of Shri Sai Baba which were in the true sense supernatural. In fact I wish he should have had written these himself as he was a student of St Xavier's School. Of course the sole purpose of my writing is purely to express our deep and sincere Shraddha (faith) in Shri Sai Baba which gives me immense peace of mind.

Dear reader Sai Devotee, I am sure after reading this book you may think that I might have also come across some divine experiences But I humbly state that certainly not the kind that my father had come across. I firmly believe that my father was destined to come in contact with Shri SaiBaba may be due to his Poorva Punyaee (good deeds of last birth) and his experiences have been all before his marriage i.e. from his age span of 14 to 25 years. Many a times I wonder that experiencing such divine power why did my father resorted to family life? Well in that case, I would not have been there and may be this book too would not see the light of the day.

Now a brief introduction about Tarkhad Family. Our native place Tarkhad village near Vasaj_Fort (Fort of Bassein). Our surname is therefore Tarkhadkar. The history goes that my ancestors had fought the Battle of Bassein Fort along with the Great Maratha Warrior Chimaji Appa against the Portuguese who were defeated in the battle. As recognition of their bravery Chimaji Appa granted them Jahagiri of Tarkhad village. Later on British took over the fort from Marathas and my great great grand father Pandurang Tarkhad shifted to Mumbai. He had built his Bungalow on Charni Road Chaupaty near Wilson College. Pandurang had two sons Dadoba and Atmaram. Out of this Dadoba became very famous Grammarian for writing the grammar books for Marathi speaking people who could speak and write correct English language. Second son Atmaram was doctor by profession. He was family doctor to the erstwhile Viceroy of Bombay. My grand father Ramchandra. Atmaram Tarkhad was a specialist in cotton textile & he was secretary to Khatau Group of Mills. He had established his own household in Bandra and later on came in contact with Shirdi SaiBaba. He was one of the founder members and the first treasurer of Shirdi Sai Sansthan. He extend all possible support to Dasganu Manaraj who was spreading Baba's Message to people of Mumbai and Maharashtra. When you visit Shirdi Sai Samadhi Mandir you will find their photos amongst the photos of Baba's devotees of that time Late Annasaheb Dabholkar has written the famous Sai Satcharitra, which gives detailed accounts of Baba's Leelas in Shirdi during his tenure.

The 9th chapter of Sai Satcharitra narrates the experiences of Tarkhad Family with Sai Baba. Babasaheb Tarkhad as stated in this 9th chapter my grandfather. The lady Tarkhad as stated is my grandmother and their son as stated is my father Jyotindra Ramchandra Tarkhad. The life experiences as I am going to state in this book are mostly that of my father Jyotindra. He was born on 15th June 1895 and expired on 16th August1965. Brief information about the author would be appropriate at this stage. My name is Virendra Jyotinjra Tarkhad, second son of Jyotindra (1st son Ravindra has" expired). I am an engineer by profession and have worked in two companies Crompton Greaves Ltd and Siemens India Ltd in the managerial capacity currently I am a retired person staying at Santacruz.

Dear Sai devotees after going through this book if you wish to get in touch with me please do so but purely to express our mutual devotion towards Lord Sai.

Sd/-
V. J. Tarkhad


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