As we begin this beautiful journey of sharing stories, we are honored to bring you a glimpse into the life of Shivamma Thaiyee, one of the most devoted and revered followers of Shirdi Sai Baba. This article is not a comprehensive biography of her remarkable life but a prelude to one of the most extraordinary experiences she witnessed during her visits to Shirdi. To set the stage, however, it is only fitting to first introduce this exceptional devotee, whose unwavering faith and service to Baba serve as an inspiration to us all.
The Early Life of Shivamma Thaiyee
Shivamma Thaiyee was born on May 29, 1889, in the remote village of Vellaikinaru in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Her journey toward Sai Baba began under the spiritual guidance of her uncle (father’s elder brother), a sanyasi, who introduced her to the divine presence of Shirdi Sai. From an early age, her heart and soul were captivated by Baba’s teachings, and she eventually became one of His most ardent devotees. In later years, she established a modest ashram in Bangalore, where her tomb now lies beneath the main Mandir dedicated to Baba.
A Glimpse into Shivamma Thaiyee Miraculous Experiences
While a more detailed account of her life and spiritual contributions will be shared later, today we wish to narrate an awe-inspiring incident that Shivamma personally experienced in Shirdi, a testament to Baba’s divine powers and His mastery over the physical and spiritual realms.
This article recounts Sivamma Thaiyee’s miraculous encounter with Sai Baba’s extraordinary practices of Dhauti Yoga and Khand Yoga, as described in an interview she gave to Dr. Satya Pal Ruhela in 1992. Dr. Ruhela documented this fascinating narrative in his article, “Thrilling Memories of Shivamma Thayee.”
Sai Baba, as many of us doesn’t know, was detached from His physical body, having been freed from the ‘erroneous’ identification of self with form by His Guru. He once remarked, “My Murshid (Guru) has taken me away from this body. You can put the whole of this body on fire, and I will enjoy the ganath (fun).” This detachment, which enabled Baba to perform seemingly impossible feats, was witnessed not only by Shirdi villagers but also by select devotees, including Shivamma Thaiyee.
The Gruesome Night: An Encounter with Khand Yoga
It was around 1915 when Shivamma alias Rajamma (her original name is Rajamma, later our Baba named her as Shivamma Thaiyee), then a young woman, visited Shirdi and encountered something both terrifying and divine. She narrated:
“One night, around 1:30 a.m., I had to step out of my rented room near the Dwarkamai Mosque as the house lacked a latrine. The night was pitch dark, and as I cautiously walked through the deserted street, my foot struck something solid. Thinking it was a piece of wood, I bent down to pick it up. To my horror, it was a human leg, severed and smeared with blood.
I dropped it instantly and stumbled forward in shock, only to encounter another gruesome sight, a mutilated arm, torn from the shoulder. Fear gripped my heart, and I ran back to my room, locking the door behind me. Tears streamed down my face as I wept through the night, convinced that some horrific tragedy had befallen Baba. My mind was overwhelmed with the dreadful thought that someone might have murdered Him.
At the crack of dawn, trembling but determined, I mustered the courage to look out of my window toward the Dwarakmai Mosque. To my astonishment, there sat Baba, as serene as ever, smoking His chillum. I rushed to Him, recounting the horrors of the previous night.
Baba listened patiently and then, with a gentle smile, explained, “Beti Rajamma, what you saw last night was my Khand Yoga. I sometimes separate my limbs from my physical body, and during that time, my physical life ceases to exist. My spirit saw you moving in the street and stumbling upon my dismembered body parts, but I chose not to reveal my presence to you. Had I done so, it might have frightened you even more in the darkness of the night.”
The Extraordinary Practice of Dhauti Yoga
Shivamma Thaiyee also shared another extraordinary incident of Sai Baba’s mastery over His body. She recounted:
“On another occasion, Baba took me to a well outside Shirdi. There, I witnessed Him perform Dhauti Yoga. He extracted His intestines through His mouth, washed them meticulously in the well water, and then spread them out on the outer wall of the well to dry. My task was to guard the intestines from crows, eagles, and other birds.
On one such occasion, a large eagle began circling above, ready to swoop down and snatch Baba’s intestines. In panic, I cried out, ‘Swami, the eagle is coming to take your intestines. Please swallow them back!’ Baba, with His characteristic calm, reassured me, ‘Don’t worry. If the eagle takes them, I will create another one.’ However, the eagle eventually flew away, and after the intestines dried, Baba swallowed them back as if nothing unusual had happened.”
A Glimpse into Sai Baba’s Divine Mastery
These extraordinary experiences, witnessed by Shivamma Thaiyee, offer us a glimpse into the enigmatic and miraculous life of Shirdi Sai Baba. They go beyond the well-documented accounts in the Shri Sai Satcharita and reveal yet another dimension of Baba’s divine mastery.
As we move forward, we look forward to sharing more such lesser known stories and experiences that will enrich our understanding of Baba’s miraculous life. Together, let us all join on this journey into the unexplored realms of the Sai World.
Jai Sainath 🙏🏻
Address of Shivamma Thaiyee Ashram
Sri Sadguru Shirdi Saibaba Mutt
N.G.R.Layout, Roopena Agrahara,
Off to Hosur Main Road,
Madivala Post,
Bangalore-560 068
More to Explore
© Shirdi Sai Baba Life Teachings and Stories – Member of SaiYugNetwork.com
