Sai Satcharitra

The Sai Satcharita (, also called Sri Sai Satcharitra) is a biography based on the true life stories of Sai Baba of Shirdi. Authored by Shri. Govind Raghunath Dabholkar alias Hemadpant, the original edition of the Sai Satcharitra was published in Marathi on 26 November 1930. A subsequent English edition was soon published in 1944, by Shri. Nagash Devastate (N.V.) Gunaji, translated from the original Marathi composition.
The work has since been translated to English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Nepali, Odiya, Punjabi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Konkani, Sindhi and Urdu languages. Another English version was also published in New York.
History
In 1910, when Hemadpant (also known as Late. Govindrao (Annasaheb) Raghunath Dabholkar) came to Shirdi, he observed a miracle by Sai Baba in which baba had prevented the raging cholera epidemic from entering Shirdi by grinding wheat on a grindstone and dispersing them around the borders of the Shirdi village.
Witnessing this event is believed to have inspired Hemadpant to document the of Sai Baba of Shirdi. Hemadpant soon sought the help of "Madhavrao Deshpande" alias Shama who advocated his cause before Sri Sai Baba himself. In 1916, Sai Baba gave his consent, stating,
This event, mentioned in the second chapter of Sri Sai Satcharita, marked the beginning of the Sai Satcharita. Hemadpant wrote the Sai Satcharita at his residence called Sai Niwas in Bandra, Mumbai. Sai Niwas is more than 100 years old today and still carry forwards the tradition of Sai Bhakti (Sai Devotion) for numerous Sai devotees across the world. Shri Sai Satcharitra also mentions about Sai Niwas (Chapter 40 : Attending Mrs.Deo's Udyapan Ceremony as a Sannyasi with two Others (Trio) and Hemadpant's House in the Form of His Picture) where this divine holy book was written. The Sai Satcharita consists of 9309 verses spread over 53 Chapters.
Hemadpant is believed to have begun writing the Sri Sai Satcharita in 1922. He died after finishing the 52nd Chapter in 1929.
The final chapter 53 was written by Dev Mamledar (Balasaheb Dev). The desk on which Hemadpant wrote the manuscript of the Sai Satcharita is well preserved and is placed in the same room in Sai Niwas on which he sat and wrote the Sai Satcharita. Besides the desk, other memorable, such as Hemadpant's turban, etc. have also been well preserved.
Sai Satcharitra Panchasheel Exam
Every time one reads Sai Satcharitra, it provides a new perspective and ever evolving answers to the questions of the devotees and hence Sai Satcharitra is a treasure imparting joy and contentment to the readers.
Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu says “Shree Saisatcharitra is not just about the life and times of Shree Sainath, but it is the history of how all devotees, who came in close contact with Him, could receive the grace of Sadguru Shree Sainath”. It is a great guide for all the devotees and an invaluable, everlasting treasure of worldly as well as spiritual thoughts and experiences. Reading (studying) Sai Satcharitra helps us to understand the lives of devotees of Shree Sainath, their experiences, their demeanour and the transformation that took place in their lives due to the close association with Shree Sainath.
Shree Sai Samartha Vidnyan Prabodhini in association with Shree Aniruddha Upasana Foundation, Mumbai, India conducts special Panchasheel (Five Levels) Examination on Sai Satcharitra twice every year which aims to unwind the treasure in the form of Sai Satcharitra to all the devotees. The objective of Panchasheel exam is to percolate the Sai Satcharitra in the minds of devotees. The examination is a tool to test the knowledge due to which one studies and learns a subject with concentration. Sai Satcharitra Panchasheel Exams help devotees to read, learn and understand Sai Baba's stories more clearly which ultimately improves their bhakti (devotion).

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