Chapter 15: A Pilgrimage to Shirdi - a podcast by Divine Lineage

Sri Sai Satcharitra: The Wonderful Life of Shirdi Sai Baba, A Modern Rendering of Hemadpant by Monika Penukonda 

If a man utters my name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes and increase his devotion. If he sings earnestly of my life and my deeds, I shall surround him in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees who are attached to me heart and soul will naturally feel happiness when they hear these stories. Believe me, if anybody sings my leelas I will give him infinite joy and everlasting happiness. ~ Shirdi Sai Baba

From this episode:

The readers may remember that in Chapter Six mention was made about the Ramanavami Festival in Shirdi, how the festival originated, how in the early years it was difficult to get good singers for kirtan and how Baba permanently entrusted this function to Das Ganu. Now in this chapter we shall describe the manner in which Das Ganu was performing kirtan.

Das Ganu Changes His Clothes

Generally, kirtan singers wear elaborate dress. They put on a headdress or turban, a long flowing coat with a shirt inside, an uparane (short cloth) on the shoulders and the usual long dhotar (cloth) from the waist below. Dressed in this fashion, Das Ganu once went to bow to Baba. Baba asked,

“Well, bridegroom! Where are you going dressed so beautifully?”

“To perform a kirtan.”

Baba said, “Why do you want all this paraphernalia, coat, uparane and turban and all that before me? Why wear them on the body?” Das Ganu immediately took them off and placed them at Baba’s feet. From that time on, Das Ganu never wore these things while singing kirtan. He was always bare from waist up with a pair of chiplis in his hand and a garland around his neck. This is not the traditional practice by kirtan singers, but this is the best and purest method. The sage Narada, from whom kirtan originated, wore nothing on his trunk and head. He carried a vina (one stringed instrument) in his hand and wandered from place to place, everywhere singing the glory of the Lord....

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