LEGAL ACTION OVER - SHIRDI SAI BABA'S 9 SILVER COINS 25th Sept`2011

Late Smt.Laxmibai Shinde had, during her entire lifetime, served Shri Shirdi Sai Baba with utmost devotion and care. She used to feed Baba everyday. On 15th October 1918, a few moments before attaining Samadhi, Sai Baba gave Laxmi Ma, 9 Silver Coins as Prasad, in appreciation of her devotion towards him. The Nine Coins signify the 9-fold path of devotion: 1. Sharvana (Listening) 2. Kirtana (Devotional Music) 3. Smarana (Remembrance) 4. Pada Seva (Resorting to Guru's Feet) 5. Archanan (Worship) 6. Namaskara (Making Obeisance) 7. Dastya (Service) 8. Sahnyatva (Friendliness) 9. Atmanivedana (Surrender of the Self)

Smt. Laxmibai Shinde had Two Sons: 1) Shri.Nana Tukaram Patil Shinde married to Smt.Sonubai and whose Daughter is Smt.Shailaja Maa. 2) Shri.Tatya Tukaram Patil Shinde whose great Grandson is Shri.Chandrakant Bapusaheb Shinde And today, Laxmibai's Grand-Daughter Smt.Shailaja Maa and Laxmibai's Great Grand-Son Shri.Chandrakant Bapusaheb Shinde are at loggerheads with each other. Each Claim to have the possession of the Original 9 Silver Coins given by Sai Baba to Laxmibai. Thus, these 9 Silver Coins given by Baba to Laxmibai 93 years back, have become 18 Silver Coins !!! According to the daughter of Shri.Nana Tukaram Patil Shinde & Sonubai, Shailaja Maa, in 1963, at the time of her Grand Mother Laxmibai Shinde's demise, Laxmibai had handed over these blessed 9 Silver Coins to her mother Sonubai, who then later handed them over to her. And from 1918 to 1990, these Coins were in a wooden frame and in 1990 they were fixed in a Silver frame. Shailaja Maa said that she has kept these 9 Silver Coins at her House ever since and were open for Darshan for all Sai Devotees. Her son Shri.Arun Gaikwad has also traveled to various places with these 9 Silver Coins so that all Sai Devotees could have their darshan.

On the other hand, according to the Great Grandson of Laxmibai Shinde, Shri.Chandrakant Bapusaheb Shinde, his Great Grand Mother Smt.Laxmibai had given the Original 9 Silver Coins to her son Shri.Tatya Tukaram Patil Shinde, who then passed it on to his son Shri.Bhaskar Nana Patil Shinde who in-turn handed it down to his son Shri.Bapusaheb Bhaskar Rao Shinde and from whom finally he inherited these 9 Silver Coins. Shri.Chandrakant Bapusaheb Shinde said that he has kept these 9 Silver Coins in a wooden frame next to Laxmibai Shinde's Idol at Laxmibai Shinde's ancestral House itself, where he too has been staying for the past so many years. Many Sai devotees who visit Shirdi, also have Darshan of these 9 Blessed Silver Coins in Laxmibai's house. So while both Claim to be in possession of the Original 9 Silver Coins given by Baba to Laxmi Ma, a huge controversy is brewing n Shirdi as to who has the actual possession of Baba's ORIGINAL 9 Silver Coins. As according to both their claims, now there a total of 18 Silver Coins instead of only 9 Coins originally given by Baba to Laxmibai.

Claiming that she is in possession of the Original 9 Silver Coins of Baba, Shailaja Maa Gaikwad said that Shri.Chandrakant Shinde had got fake Duplicate Coins from the Market and by claiming that they were the Original 9 Silver Coins given by Baba to Laxmi Ma, he was was cheating innocent Sai devotees. She added that Shri.Chandrakant Shinde came out with these 9 Silver Coins only in 1986, whereas she has had them in her house for Darshan since 1963. Shri. Arun Gaikwad, son of Shailaja Maa said that in 1980 due to family feud with his Uncle, he with his Grand Mother Sonubai and Mother Shailja Maa left Shirdi with the Original 9 Silver Coins given by Baba to Laxmibai. They stayed in Kopergaon, only to return back to Shirdi in 1996 when they learnt that their Uncle's son Shri.Chandrakant Shinde was fooling Sai Devotees by claiming that he had the Original 9 Silver Coins given to Laxmibai by Sai Baba. Thus, taking strict legal action against such malpractices, on 23rd Sept`2011, the Hon.Managing Trustee of 'Saibhakta Laxmibai Shinde Trust`Shirdi' Smt.Shailaja Maa registered a complaint at the Shirdi Police Station stating that her nephews Shivaji Bhaskar Shinde, Govind Bhaskar Shinde and Bapushaeb Bhaskar Shinde are allegedly duping devotees by showing them fake Silver coins and collecting money. According to the Senior Police Inspector of Shirdi Police Station, investigations will be based on the documents given by Shailaja Maa, showing how Shailaja Maa got the 9 Silver coins. And both the Set of 9 Silver Coins will be taken in & send to the concerned department for testing, to ascertain which is actually the original set of 9 Coins given by Baba to Laxmibai. Meanwhile, the Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan is silent on this whole issue as it prefers to stay away from any such controversies.

- GRAND DAUGHTER SHAILAJA MAA GAIKWAD -

GREAT GRANDSON SHRI.CHANDRAKANT SHINDE

Three Things gOd Has Never Seen: gOd has never seen.......A persOn that has nOt Sinned. gOd has never seen.......A Sinner He dOes nOt LOve. gOd has never seen.......A LOved One He cannOt Save !".......anOnymOus

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