Shree Mahadevappa Shabade Kaka
Mahadevappa Shabade is the fellow student of Shree Gajanan Maharaj
when he was in Shahaji High School of Akkalkot. Shree would stay to
Himself and did not freely mix with everyone except Shabade kaka. He
was very affectionate with Shabade kaka. Both used to share a bench.
Even if Shree would be absent on a particular day no one would sit
on His bench. Shabade kaka followed Paramsadguru later like His
shadow. He followed and obeyed Paramsadguru's every word like a
command.
As footwear Shree used 'Padukas' (Wooden sleepers or shoes). He
was wearing since many years, as is the practice of ascetics.
However due to an incident He abstained from their use. It was since
1946 or 47. Once He was in Bombay for His annual visit in the month
of Shrawan. On the day of His return He was to reach the railway
station after visiting various houses of His devotees. Since morning
He was wearing the Padukas. At the last house, before taking His
seat, when He removed the 'Padukas' and kept them aside and didn't
put them on. After the visit He came out of the house without
wearing them and sat in the car. He told Shabade to take care of
them. Shabade put them in a carry-bag and accompanied Shree to the
railway station. Shree was travelling first class and Shabade was in
the adjoining compartment. Once again Shree told him to keep the
Padukas carefully. After reaching Akkalkot Shabade took them out
from the bag and kept them in front of the worship room in the math.
Somehow Shree did not wear them and they remained just where Shabade
had kept them. After two or three days Shabade saw in a vision the
familiar Padukas of Shree. The Padukas were the same but the feet
wearing them were that of Shri Swami Samarth. Five days before this
vision Shree had already stopped wearing them. Now after hearing
about the vision from Shabade, Shree thought why should He wear the
Padukas of Shri Swami Samarth and thus permanently discontinued use
of them. Since then they have been kept aside, now in a closed
wooden box in His personal room upstairs in the Math.