Tajuddin Baba lived his final days at Raja Bhosle's Lal Kothi. Some years before he dropped his body, he hinted about it and even specified his burial place to be at another end of Nagpur. He had selected a particular spot where he himself picked up some earth and smelled it, remarking, "This soil of Hazrat [the Great One] is sweet. If a house is built here for me, I will remain in it."
His health deteriorated and Raja Bhosle requested Tajuddin to allow people to have darshan, even if the doctors did not permit it. Tajuddin smiled and agreed. As the news of the Master's poor health spread, thousands came to the king's palace for a final farewell. The stream of visitors continued until his last moments on Monday, 17 August 1925. That day, Tajuddin lifted his hand in blessing to all and looked lovingly at those gathered. Then quietly he lay down on the bed and closed his eyes forever on this material sphere. By the time doctors could check him, he had already dropped his body.
The news of his death spread throughout the district, and his devotees felt as if their hearts had been torn out. The entire city mourned the loss of their most holy tavern keeper. Wine had poured through the streets, the asylum and the raja's palace for nearly 45 years. But where the Master had poured wine, tears now flooded.
Thirty to forty thousand people of all religions — Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Zoroastrian and Christian — marched in his funeral procession from one end of the city to the other. Tears of love flowed from their eyes, and every heart was filled with grief, repentance and gratitude.
Tajuddin Baba was buried according to Islamic custom in the particular spot he himself had selected. The area was later renamed Tajabad in his honor.1 Tajuddin Baba's body is buried there; but in reality he is now in deep sleep. This sleep is the true awakening when the heart drinks its own tears — when one becomes conscious of one's own eternal infinity!
O Tajuddin Baba, your wine still flows in our hearts!
You showered roses and crowned our King!
Footnotes
- 1.Raja Bhosle's Lal Kothi (now called Taj Darbar [Taj's Court]) is the second main shrine in Nagpur dedicated to Tajuddin.