NANA SAHEB DENGLE'S HOUSE
It was Nana Saheb who brought the wooden plank for Baba to sleep on. This Nana Saheb begged Baba to allow him to do formal Puja, but Baba refused, and asked him to do Puja to the pillar (now painted red in the Dwarakamai). Das Ganu states in Ch.31 of Bhakt Leela Amrit when the grocers refused to give oil to Baba to light the lamps, and then followed Him to Masjid to see what He would do. Unperturbed Baba poured consecrated water in the lamps. The grocers watching said "this man must be down right mad". Nana Saheb disagreed with them and said, "Shri Hari knows what power this man has, if a diamond lies in a heap of stone would you call it a stone?". After the lamps were lit and burnt throughout the night, Dengle was full of astonishment and wonder and fell at Baba's feet. He remained a staunch devotee of Baba forever. This is the home of Nana and his brother Bala Saheb Dengle at Nimgoan (Nigoj Nimgoan). This village lies 3 km away from Shirdi towards Kopergoan. Baba rarely left Shirdi in the physical body but some afternoons He did visit the home of Bala Saheb Dengle. His younger brother Nana had no son, though he married a second wife and Baba blessed him with a son. Then Nanasaheb became an ardent devotee of Baba, and Baba's fame spread far and wide. Along with it, it brought numerous devotees like Nanasaheb Chandorkar and Keshav Chidambaram (Ref. ESS, Ch.V). This family was famous because of Nana Saheb's great grandfather Triambak Dengle, who was a Peshwa in 1800 A.D. with an infantry of over 20,000, and was honoured for his bravery.
THE DOOR
This door is the entrance to Nana Saheb's estate, which is inside a fortress, now in ruins. There are two such doors. It is said when Baba first visited this house the doors opened automatically thus welcoming Baba in. The inhabitants of the house were wonderstruck! and knew that a Satpurush had come.
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THE SACRED PLACE WHERE BABA SAT
Vasant Rao the descendant of Bala Saheb says that Baba rarely went inside the house, but He sat in the open courtyard. To mark this holy site, they had built a cement structure with a Tulsi growing in it. Now the the Tulsi Brindavan is no more there, and the place is marked with a stone in the below image for the benefit of Sai Devotees.
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NEEMTREE
The neem tree that grew on its own as if following Baba's Asan, is a few yards away from where Baba used to sit. It is said to have grown some 20 years after Baba's Mahasamadhi. It is a luscious beautiful tree, growing towards Baba's Asan, with lovely green leaves that truly are not bitter.
SAIBABA TEMPLE
A Saibaba temple has come up in the open space next to Nana Saheb Dengle’s House as a mark of remembering Sai Baba’s visit to this place. |
KHANDOBA TEMPLE
As one enters this village there is a Khandoba Temple. Baba used to go and sit in the corner. In memory of Baba's visit to this temple, the villagers have installed an idol of Baba and holy Padukas in the corner where Baba used to sit.
CHAVADI
Next to Khandoba's temple there is an old Chavadi now in ruins. It is said that Baba used to go there and walk up and down. There remains a plaque on the pillar, which dates it back to 1209 A.D.
HOLY WELL
A little away from the Khandoba temple lies a well (vihir), more like a tank with steps leading into it. Baba used to draw water from this well, wash His hands and feet and then go to Khandoba temple. This well is said to have an underground passage which could be used if the village was attacked and the people could evacuate. Because of Baba's use the water was sufficient to deal with the needs of the village, but it is not in use at present.
(Source: Ambrosia in Shirdi by Vinny Chitluri)
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