Amidas Bhavani Mehta - Shirdi Sai Devotee

Om Sai Ram,

Amidas Bhavani Mehta, the name is mentioned in Shri Sai Satcharitra, chapter number 2. Hemadpant mentioned, this name as one of the few authors, who had written about Sai Baba and His leelas, when Sai Baba communicated with devotees in physical body, in early 1900 A.D. This book is not available these days. Part of the books noted by some devotees are available, which we will read on this blog.

Amidas Bhavani Mehata (Amrutlal was his name) was an affluent and intelligent, scholar and a poet. He was trained in Indian classical and voacl music. He came from Nagar Brahmin, a community of Narsiha Mehta and lived in Bhavnagar (Kathewad, Saurashtra).

He was greatly devoted to Lord Krishna and did his daily worship of Lord Krishna. However, there was new  experience during his worship. He saw an image of Fakir, over imposing the image of His lord Krishna. He started searching for the Muslim Fakir, whose image appeared during his worship and devotion. He soon found out that, the image that appeared was of Shri Sai Baba a venetrated saint of Shirdi.

Sai Baba has and still,attracts and guides the people with devotional heart. Many on the

way to spiritual paths, who had never herd of Sai Baba or seen His pictures were approached by Sai Baba in many mystirious ways. For Amidas Mehata it was appearing on His Lord's image, while in devotion and worship. It is Sai Baba's love and compassion for this clean hearted people that He himself goes and attracts them to divinity.

Being well off financially he often visited Shirdi and rented a house, so that He can be close to Shri Sai Baba, and spent long periods of time in Shirdi with Baba. Being a learned scholar and poet, he started writing about the habits, likes, dislikes and characteristic of His beloved Sadguru Sai Baba. Since he was close to Baba and spent  much time with Him in Shirdi, with Baba's grace he was able to write on His life. The book was titled, "Purna
Parabrahma Sri Sadguru Sainath Maharaj ni Jaanvajog vigato temaj chamatkaro." (if anybody finds this book, please let us know, there are many Sai devotees, active with publishing of Sai Baba related books and maintaining libraries and translation of the books in various languages. They all will be very glad if this book is found somewhere, lying in the collection of books that their forfathers owned).

Amidas had a very gentle nature and Baba loved and appreciated it. If someone got sick in Shirdi, Baba would send him to Amidas. Amidas would gently, gladly and lovingly take care of the needs of sick person, and  would nursed him back to health.

Today those who visit Sai Baba's devotees Samadhi in Shirdi, must have seen the Samadhi of Amidas near Lendi Baug. It was Amidas's wish that he leaves his body in Shirdi, in vicinity of his Guru Sai Baba. Sai Baba knew his desired and said, "You may die anywhere, but you will always be with me." According to his heart'swish he left his body in Shirdi and his samadhi is next to Muktaram's Samadhi.

Note : Details about Amidas Mehata were read in a book called Baba's Rinanubandh one of few very good books written by  Vinny Chitluri. Vinniji, is a dedicated Sai Baba's devotee, who lives in Shirdi.