Installation of Ashtikalash and Padukas of Shree Baba Maharaj at Mumbai
On 19th August, 1954, the last rites of Shree Baba Maharaj was carried out at Pune. At that time, Shri Pandurangrao Marballi got a Divine vision of Shree Baba Maharaj in the dream who ordered Shri Marballi, that while collecting bones (asthi), he should keep two bones separately and give them to Shree Maharaj. As per the orders, Shri Marballi, kept two bones (asthi) of Shree Baba Maharaj separately and took them to Mumbai. In 1965, Shri Marballi gave these asthi (bones) to Shree Maharaj. Shree Maharaj carried out the sacred rites of the asthi (bones) as per the procedure of the shastras (scriptures) and he got prepared a silver pitcher (kalash). He placed the two bones in a silver box and kept the box in the silver pitcher. On the top of the pitcher, he installed small silver padukas (silver model of the feet). These padukas are being worshipped daily as per the shodshopachar method (sixteen ways of doing homage to a deity or a Guru) alongwith ceremonial ablution (abhishek) and Ekadashani. This is the Charsamadhi (samadhi of padukas) of Shree Baba Maharaj. In the beginning it was installed in the house of Shri S.N. Joshi. The daily worshipping ritual was carried out by Vedmurthy (learned priest) Dadu Nam Joshi.
On 13th January 1966. Shree Maharaj brought the Asthi Kalash (silver pitcher containing bones) of Shree Baba Maharaj to the house of Dr.Shrinivas Dattatray Joshi at Hindu Colony Dadar, Mumbai from the house of Shri S.N. Joshi. At that time, Shree Maharaj was accompanied by Dr. Joshi Vedmurthy Dadu Namjoshi, Shri D.N.Banavali and Shri Vasant Vasudev Pandit.
Afterwards, in January 1969, Shree Maharaj brought this Asthikalash to the house of Shri Vasant Vasudev Pandit, at Byculla, Mumbai. Till today this Asthikalash is still in the house of Shri Vasant Vasudev Pandit only. In this house, last Sunday of every month, the devotees of Shree Maharaj, from Mumbai, assemble here and carry out the reading of religious books like Shree-mad-Bhagwat and life history of Sadgurus and saints and also carry out the Namasmaran (the continuous repetition of the name of God or Sadguru).
On 21st May1989, when Shree Maharaj took Mahasamadhi (last conscious communion with God), his bones (asthi) were purified by sacred rites as per the procedure of the Shastras (scriptures) and then placed in three silver pitchers (kalash). Out of these, one Asthikalash (silver pitcher containing the bones of Shree Maharaj) was installed as per the rituals of the Shastras (scriptures) on 16th February, 1991 in the house of Shree Kamalakar Walwalkar (at Suyash Bldg., Gokhale Road, Dadar, Mumbai – 28). On last Sunday of every month the devotees of Shree Maharaj assemble here and carry out the reading of religious books like Shree-Mad-Bhagvat, Short Biography of Sadgurus and Saints and also carry out the Namsmaran (continous repetition of the name of God or Sadguru).