Don’t say ‘Thevite,’ Say ‘Thevito’

Shri Anna Puranik was one of Saint Baba Maharaj Arvikar’s close disciples. He was originally from Akkalkot, and an ardent devotee of Shri Swami Samarth. So whenever Baba spoke about him, he would always say that Anna came from the ‘head office,’ meaning he was sent by Akkalkot Swami. 

While Baba was in his physical form (deha), Anna was transferred quite a few times, to various villages, for work. But Baba would go and meet him in each of these places. 

Once, while Anna was living in Kolhapur, Baba had gone to visit him, and during that visit, Anna had gone to a temple of Katyayani Devi, where Baba was scheduled to give a discourse. Anna’s youngest daughter, Sunanda Tai, was 6 or 7 years old at the time, and she was asked to recite a shlok before the discourse began. 

She read out the following shlok: 

|| Jya Jya Thikani Mana Jaaya Maze | Tya Tya Thikani Nijaroop Tuze | Mi Thevito Mastak Jya Thikani, Tethe Tuze Sadguro Pay Donhi ||

Sunanda Tai recited this shlok, but instead of ‘Mi Thevito Mastak,’ she said, ‘Mi Thevite Mastak.’ After she had finished, Baba called her over and told her, “You said that beautifully, but you made one mistake. It is not ‘Mi Thevite,’ (feminine) it is ‘Mi Thevito.’ (masculine)” 

She simply replied, “But Baba, I am a girl.”

Baba laughed and said, “When you are older, you will understand. For now, say it the way I am telling you to.”

Since then, Sunanda Tai has always recited the shlok as it was written. As she grew older and the pull towards spirituality got stronger, Sunanda Tai began to read more and more spiritual texts (granths). Eventually, she realized why Baba had told her not the differentiate between male and female when reciting a shlok. She learned that the one reciting the shlok is the jeev-atma, and there should be no difference between being a man or a woman there. Instead, one should only identify as a divine speck and recite the shlok with that bhav (feeling/understanding).

Saint Baba’s teachings were so deeply implanted, even after so many years, that no matter how long it took for its impact to be felt, the impact is always eventually clearly understood. This is the experience of so many people. 

Sunanda Tai says, “Because of the virtuous karma from past lives, at an age where I could understand neither man nor god, I was blessed with enough krupa (grace) for a lifetime. Every time I offer a flower to the photo of Saint Baba in my home temple, I say, “Mi Thevito Mastak Jya Thikani, Tethe Tuzhe Sadguro Pay Donhi."