Every year alternatively in May and June on the day of ‘Jyaishta Shukla Prathipada’ (the next day of Vaishak Shukla Amvasya) as per the Hindu calendar, the Bapu Mama Utsav is celebrated in the Kamat household in Shiroda. And the whole village and people from adjoining areas come to attend the Utsav, seek blessings and have prasad served to one and all who come to the Utsav. And every year devotees come here without fail.
The Story
As the story goes, he was hailed as Sidhpurush, Bapumama, etc. He was also called Yogiraj Bapumama Keni. Around 1730, Bapumama a spiritually inclined saintly person arrived in Shiroda and stayed at Harbanna Kamat’s house for 40 years. He worshipped Vetoba as Vitthal, the avatar of Lord Krishna. It is believed that while standing in front of Vetoba with folded hands, a small flame emerged from the deity’s heart, floated through the air and stopped in front of Bapumama’s heart. It was as if saying that he and Bapumama were one. This incident has been widely reported. Hence any description of Aravali’s Vetoba is incomplete without reference to Bapumama.
It is said that through his pravachanaas (lectures), Bapumama
sang the glories of Vetoba and preached about His power and compassion to the
devotees, turning hundreds of people into Vetoba’s staunch devotees. Due to his presence in the
region, Aravali soon blossomed into a holy pilgrimage place, where devotees
thronged, and still do for Vetoba’s darshan and blessings.
Since Bapumama was very close to Vetoba that his anniversary programme is called ‘Bapumamacha Padwa,’ and is celebrated every year. It takes place on Jeshtha shuddha pratipada at the residence of Gajanan Pandurang Kamat at Shiroda. In honour of the occasion, it is the tradition to send from Aravali’s Shri Dev Vetoba Devasthan members of Joshi, Haridas, Puranik families, together with vajantri (troupe with instruments) and the temple gurav to Kamat’s residence at Shiroda.
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| Door to the underground room |
A well-laid out house with many rooms, the one-storey traditional house built of earth and wood still
stands as a mute spectator to the hundreds of years gone by. It has seen the
highs and lows of the well-to-do family. Due to the wear and tear and the
vagaries of the nature, certain damaged walls have been replaced with ‘Chira’
(big cut stone bricks typical of Konkan region and also found in Coastal
Karnataka and Kerala). It has an open space with a well, which provides water
to
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| Staircase leading to the top floor |
the house as well as the needy staying around this big house. And attached
to this house is a verhanda with two small rooms. One of the rooms is devoted
to Bappu Mama, said to be a saintly person revered by the locals. Daily puja is
performed by the family-appointed priest, as the Kamat family has now shifted to
Sawantwadi for their livelihood, visiting the place not very often, mainly
during the Hindu festivals.
Every
year alternatively in May and June on the day of ‘Jyaishta Shukla Prathipada’ (the
next day of Vaishak Shukla Amvasya) as per the Hindu calendar, the Bapumama
Utsav is celebrated in the Kamat household in Shiroda. Relatives of the Kamat
family from far and wide gather here for this auspicious day, to commemorate
Bapumama. Special puja is performed by the traditional local priests. Since there is no image or statue of Bappumama, a big coconut (freshly
removed from
the tree for the occasion) represents him and is worshipped in traditional pomp as
per age-old custom. It is followed by a feast, a traditional vegetarian meal
with rice, vegetables, sweets and other delicacies, served to the villagers and
guests who attend the utsav. Some years ago, the villagers and guests partaking
the Prasad would be around 300-400 people. I have had the privilege of being
present at the utsav for the last few years as my wife is directly related to the Kamat
family. It also provides an opportunity for the members of the large extended family
to meet and interact. The extended family through marriage – Kamats, Pai, Banavalkars,
Herwadkars, Kerkars, Deshpande, Kelkar, Naik, etc make it a point to be present
at the utsav or otherwise, to seek blessings of the revered Bappumama.
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| The original vastu |
As
per tales passed on to generations, the great, great grandfather of the present
Kamat family was a well-to-do man, owning a large tract of land used as
Mithagar (salt pans) in and around the area. And being a well-to-do person; was
well respected and known to many people in and around the village. But once the
salt pans were taken over by the authorities, there was a
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| Vastu site |
transformation in
him; he was a changed man, who went into depression. He was so upset and
disoriented that one fine day, he left all, home, property and family and just
walked out. Months passed, years passed by, but no sign of his return. However
his faithful wife, in traditional attire of the conservative GSB women in those
days, waited for him believing that he would be back amongst his loved ones.
One
day, a stranger, a man with spiritual inclination came to the door, asking for
fire to burn the chillum (smoking pipe). The lady of the house, who was
expecting her husband to return, offered him burning charcoal to fire his
chillum. Nobody was aware of the man – who was he, from where he came, etc. He
wandered around the place, going from one area to another, meditating and
praying. The Kamat house was the place he would return from time to time, to
rest. And after some time, he just left and vanished but left an imprint in the
house, suggesting his presence and his spiritual power. As per the legend, the
then Raja of Sawantwadi, Shri Som Sawant Bhosle who had heard about Bappu mama
and his spiritual powers, ordered his guards to bring him to the court to
question him so that his popularity as a Sidhpurush may not hamper the Raja’s
rule over his territory. As the guards were taking him to present him before
the Raja, he just vanished at Malgaon, bordering Sawantwadi. Nobody knew where
he disappeared. The ‘Punya thiti’ of Bappumama is held on that day every
year.
Like
Sai Baba, nobody is aware, who he was and from where he came and where he
vanished. But his spiritual presence is felt by the Kamat family and locals who
revere him as a saint or Sidhpurush. His samadhi is believed to be to be in
the verandha of the old house as told by him in a dream to one of the family
members of the Kamat family. And it is considered sacred and has become a place
of worship where relatives of the Kamat family come to pay their respects,
along with the devotees and believers – men and women folk from around Shiroda and adjoining
areas.
The
young generation may agree or disagree, but the belief remains and his considered
sacred to all. On the day of the utsav, during the evening bajan and puja in
the Kamat household, the spirit of Bappumama is believed to enter the body of
a close Kamat family member. I have been witness to this. And they believe it
to be embodiment of Bappumama who makes his presence felt every year during
the Bappumama utsav and blesses the family and the devotees. The family and
the locals feel blessed by his eternal presence in the Kamat household.
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| Relatives of Kamat family |
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| Womenfolk of Kamat family |
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| Men enjoying the meal |
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| Men enjoying the meal |
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| Kids enjoying the meal |
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| Meals ready to be served |
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| Women enjoying the meal |
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| Girls enjoying the meal |
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| Men enjoying the meal |
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| Women enjoying the meal |
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| Warkaris' singing bhajans |
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| Devotional discourse |
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| Mr Pai & Shripad Kamat |
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| Kirtan |
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Picture Post
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Picture Post
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| Mahuli Temple, Shiroda, Maharastra |
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