NANASAHEB CHANDORKAR

 

                                                                    

NARAYAN GOVIND CHANDORKAR/NANASAHEB CHANDORKAR WAS USALLY CALLED AS NANA BY BABA. HE WAS DEPUTY COLLECTOR AND LIVED IN SHIRDI.HE FIRST HAD BABA DARSHAN IN 1892. HE DIED ON 21-09-1921. HE WAS INSTRMENTAL FOR GETTING BABA DARSAHAN TO INNUMERABLE DEVOTEES.

Narayan Govind Chandorkar (Nanasaheb Chandorkar), was an ardent and staunch devotee of Sai Baba.He was born of highly respected parents, who were good and pious Hindus, held in high esteem in their social circles and followed the shastras to the best of their ability. They performed daily Vaishwadeva and fed innumerable number of guests on a daily basis. His father was a retired Government officer, and had built a decent storeyed building at Kalyan known as “Chandorkar Wada” which still continues to be the family mansion for so many generations.

Nanasaheb Chandorkar completed his graduation in Arts at the age of twenty. He was serving as a high ranking Govt.officer under the British Rule (PA to the Collector) in the year 1887. In a very short span of 7 years he rose to the position of a Gazetted officer, a deputy collector which was considered a marvelous achievement. He was a learned Sanskrit Pundit (expert) and was well read in religious philosophy propounded by monumental master pieces like Bhagavad-Gita (philosophical discourses given by Lord Krishna) and Dhyaneshwari by Saint Dhyaneshwar and other pieces of Philosophical literature (Religious scriptures).

Baba calls for His Nana:

Baba sent several messages to Mr. Chandorkar, through one of His devotees – Mr. Appa Kulkarni who was working as a clerk in Chandorkar’s office. In spite of several messages, Chandorkar did not take seriously Baba’s invitation to visit Shirdi because he did not like to entertain such persons as sadhus or fakirs and believed that these persons do not have divine powers and through their magical tricks they attract innocent and ignorant people for their money making business and thus encouraged blind belief which is not based on any scientific, objective or rational thought or judgment.

Ultimately, however, he came to Shirdi. Baba welcomed him and said, “Oh!, you have come at last to me after several messages. Nana, you do not know why from among thousands of Nanas in the world I have specifically invited you.” Nanasaheb was forthright in speaking.

He said, “Then, tell me the reason!” Baba replied,”Arre, we have relations spanning over four births. You do not know this; but I am aware of it. Therefore, I have been repeatedly calling you! Whenever you have time, do make it a point to come.” Ok. I will come.” Nanasaheb bowed before Baba and departed.Later in the company of Baba Mr. Chandorkar had an intellectual dialogue and then was awe-struck by a very original and new interpretation of Geeta given by Baba.

Baba sent several messages to Mr. Chandorkar- through one of His devotees- Mr. Appa Kulkarni who was working as a clerk in Chandorkar’s office. In spite of several messages Chandorkar did not take seriously Baba’s invitation to visit Shirdi because he did not like to entertain such persons as sadhus or fakirs and believed that these persons do not have divine powers and through their magical tricks they attract innocent and ignorant people for their money - making business and thus encouraged blind belief which is not based on any scientific, objective or rational thought or judgment. Ultimately however he came to Shirdi. Baba welcomed him and said. "Oh!, you have at last come to me after several messages. Nana, you do not know why from among thousands of Nanas in the world I have specifically invited you." Nansaheb was forthright in speaking. He said, "Then, tell me the reason!" Baba replied,"Arre, we have relations spanning over four births. You do not know this; but I am aware of it. Therefore, I have been repeatedly calling you! Whenever you have time, do make it a point to come." Ok. I will come." Nanasaheb bowed before Baba and departed.Later in the company of Baba Mr. Chandorkar had an intellectual dialogue and then was awe-struck by a very original and new interpretation of Geeta given by Baba.

The Jamner Miracle:

When Chandorkar’s daughter, Mainatai was pregnant and was in deep pain, Baba made all arrangements in mystic ways to send udi and his arti to Chandorkar’s place and the moment she consumed udi, due to Baba’s grace, she had a safe delivery. This incident occurred in 1904 when Nana Chandorkar was Deputy Collector at Jamner. He was at Jamner along with his pregnant daughter Mainatai whose pregnancy was in a very advanced state.

The first delivery proved to be troublesome and risky. But Nana knew that Baba was aware of everything and that there was no need to send a telegram or letter to Him. He performed Kashtanivaarana Homa with the help of his Shastri.

All the while, Sai Baba was fully aware of what was going on at Jamner. In the evening, he called Ramgir Bua, a Gosavi, whom he used to call “Babugir”. Baba asked him to go to Jamner first in order to deliver a packet of Udi and a writing of Bhishma’s Aarti to Nanasaheb Chandorkar. One person who was present in the Masjid handed over Rs.2/- to Gosavi to enable him to perform this journey.

Then Gosavi complained that from Kopargaon to Jalgaon the journey would cost Rs.1.14 leaving only a balance of 2 annas to cover the ordinary road journey of 30 miles. Baba simply told Babugir to start and that everything will be provided for. Accordingly, Gosavi started. He got down at Jalgaon and was in a fix about the onward road journey for which he had only 2 annas.

Suddenly he found a liveried peon bawling out, “Who is Babugir from Shirdi?”. Then this Bua said that he was indeed Babugir from Shirdi. Then that peon said that he had been sent by his master with a tonga and a horse to fetch him to Jamner. He gave him a meal also. After the meal they started the 30 mile journey to Jamner. When the tonga reached Nana’s house, the peon told Bua, “There is the master’s house. You can go”.

Babugir got down from the tonga and when he turned back he was astonished to see that there was no horse, tonga or the peon there. Babugir went inside Nana’s house and Nana and his wife were waiting anxiously for the Udi from Shirdi. At once the Udi was applied to Mainatai, and thereafter it was no longer Mainatai that was crying but the newborn child, for she had a very easy delivery.

When Bua thanked Nana for his timely help with the cart and food, Nana was taken aback. He said he was not aware of anybody coming from Shirdi and so had not sent anything. Then both Bua and Nana understood that it was Sai Baba’s leela.

Nanasaheb Chandorkar’s bungalow where the famous incident took place at Jamner is very easy to locate and is just opposite Jamner Police Station. Jamner is a town situated in Jalgaon District, Khandesh Division of Maharashtra State. Police Inspector Shri.Nazir Shaikh who is also a Sai devotee stays in this place now. There is a Sai Baba Temple inside this famous bungalow.

Silver padukas:

                                                     

                

                Silver Padukas given by Das Ganu to Maina Tai (Photo Courtesy: Shri.Nagaraj Anvekar)

Das Ganu gave these silver padukas to Mina Tai Kuvelekar. She was Nana Sahib Chandorkar’s eldest child.

Her husband died of plague in Poona in 1904. Mina Tai was just 17 years old at that time. Mina Tai was pregnant when her husband passed away. She delivered a baby boy in 1905 that died soon after birth. She was devastated by such a great loss; Das Ganu gave these padukas of Baba. She prayed to them daily and found solace doing so.