Shri Tatya Kote Patil

Tatya used to call Baba “Mama” as their relationship was intimate. He was the first among the devotees who were fully devoted to Baba. He had an important role during the Chavadi processions. It is said that Baba averted his death and offered his body instead.

Tatya Kote Patil or Tatya Patil or simply Tatya and his family was one who loved Baba right from the beginning without any expectations from him or from his divine powers. Tatya was the first among the devotees who were fully immersed in Baba’s devotion. Tatya was a little boy of six or seven years old at the time of Baba’s advent to Shirdi. Tatya used to call Baba ‘Mama’ as their relationship was intimate. Baba used to treat him like his own nephew. Baba used to watch his childish behavior with motherly love. Sometimes Bayajabai, his mother used to scold Tatya for his childish behavior, but Baba would advise her to leave Tatya alone. Baba used to call him Tatya or Kotya or Kote chaa Ghod Mukhya (horse-faced one) out of love. Tatya belonged to a middle class farming family. Initially as a result of his hard work, and later on with the money given to him daily by Baba, Tatya became a big farmer in the village. He had six pairs of oxen working in his fields, which in those days meant a lot of rich. Tatya had a helping nature and was very co-operative with other villagers. Tatya’s house was one of the houses from where Baba used to accept the alms daily. Tatya’s mother never sent Baba away empty handed, no matter how many times he went for alms. At the age of 17/18 Tatya went to many places to participate in Nama Sapthaha with Gangagir Maharaj, who praised Sai Baba as “Precious Jewel” when he first visited Shirdi. When Tatya told Baba about attending the Nama Saptaha, Baba was very happy about it.

After some time in 1909, Chavadi procession was started at Shirdi with all the paraphernalia and at the time of proceeding to the Chavadi, many people used to flock to the masjid and used to sing bhajans for a few hours. Behind them used to be a beautiful Rath (small car), to the right Tulsi-vrindavan and in front, Baba and between these all the devotees who used to participate in the procession. They used to bring musical instruments like tal, chiplis and kartal, mridang, khanjira and ghol in their hands and perform the bhajan. Sai Baba was the cynosure who drew all the devotees towards him. They would decorate the palanquin and Baba’s horse Shyamkarna who used to stand outside fully decorated and then all the people would utter cries of victory to Baba. Baba used to seat quietly in his place inside the masjid till Tatya used to come inside and help Baba to get up. Tatya would then place a golden embroidered beautiful shawl over Baba’s body. Baba would then move to the Chavadi with the royal entourage accompanied by the musical instruments, walking on the spread-folds of cloth placed on the way, while Tatya holding the left hand and Mhalasapati the right hand and Bapusaheb Jog holding the umbrella over Baba’s head, all led by Shyamkarna in front of the procession. It is really impossible to describe in words the Stately Chavadi Procession. To cover a distance of a few yards between the Masjid and the Chavadi, the procession used to take about three hours and from this one can understand how Stately the Chavadi procession must be moving with all the required paraphernalia. After the pooja at Chavadi gets over, when Tatya were about to leave, Baba would ask him to return some time during the night to inquire about him. Such was the relationship which existed between Tatya and Baba. Tatya slept in the masjid with Baba for full 14 years.

Baba averted the death of Tatya and offered his body instead. Baba knew the on coming death of Tatya. Baba appeared in a dream and told Ramachandra Patil who was also unwell that he is not on death bed and that it is Tatya Patil who is going to die. Baba also asked him to keep it as a secret. But Ramachandra told Bala Shimpi about this and advised him to keep it as a secret. As the Vijayadasami day was fast approaching in 1918, Tatya became very unwell and weak and was bed ridden at which Ramachandra and Bala Shimpi were very much worried. On 15th Oct, 1918, Tatya recovered and his pulse came to normal. Some new strength entered his body. He stood up and could even walk also. He cried out of joy. He could not understand all of a sudden from where he got this new flow of energy. The onlookers were also surprised. He remembered Baba. Thinking that Baba had given him another lease of life, he went running to the mosque and saluted Baba. Baba saw that Tatya recovered fully well. He then asked Shama to take Tatya to his house. While Tatya miraculously became well, Baba became unwell and passed away into Mahasamadhi. Incidentally Ramachandra Patil was one among the staunch advocates of keeping Baba’s samadhi in Butty wada.

Tatya Kote Patil lived thereafter in the service of Baba and passed away in 1945. He got extension of his life by 27 years after Baba’s Mahasamadhi. His Samadhi is located between the entrance gate to Lendi Bagh and the power house of Shri Sai Sansthan. Tatya was very close to Baba and was a blessed soul.