There was a small school near Baba?s Masjid. Madhava Rao

Deshpande used to work as a teacher in that school. During night he would sleep in school.

Like most of the people Madhava Rao too believed Baba to be a mad man in the beginning. On one night Madhava Rao didn?t get sleep even in the late night. He stood at the window, as he found nothing to do. Looking from there the Masjid is clearly visible. From that Masjid different words are heard louder. Madhava Rao thought about who would talk there in such late night and he eagerly concentrated his ears and vision. There was no one except Baba. But Baba was waving hands and showing different facial feelings as if he was talking with someone before him. Baba was talking in Marathi, Hindi, Gujarathi, English … and in many other languages that

Madhava Rao was not aware. Madhava Rao was confused. He thought,

“He was not a mad Fakir as every one thinks of him”.

At sunrise he directly went to Masjid and offered respects to Baba. Then he slowly became very close to Baba. Just as Nandeeswara was to Lord Shiva so do Baba was very close to Madhava Rao. Baba used to call him very lovingly „Shyama?. Even Shyama used to reverentially call Baba as „Lord?.

Shyama would look after the welfare of devotees coming to Shirdi.

Several devotees used to make it convenient to have Baba?s darshan through Shyama.

On one occasion Baba said “Shyama! Our relationship dates back to 72 lakh lives. I am with you for all these days”. Shyama would have intimate relationship with Baba. Their relationship is not just teacher - taught. It was more than that! Many devotees used to give books to Baba and make them holy. Their belief was that by doing so the books would become holy. Baba used to give many books came to him thus to Shyama to read. The Naivedya offered by devotees was even served by Shyama to every one.

Before making many devotees come

Sri Sainathaya Namah.