.: ॐ साई राम :.
Tatya Kote Patil's family was one who loved Baba for Himself and not for
what they got from His divinity. Tatya was the first amongst the
devotees who was fully soaked in the gentle rain of Baba's love. Tatya
Kote patil was a little boy of six or seven years old when Baba first
came to Shirdi. Tatya used to call Baba 'Mama'. Baba used to treat him
like His own nephew. Baba used to watch his childish behavior with
motherly love. Sometimes Bayajabai scolded Tatya for his unseemly
behavior, but Baba would remonstrate with her to leave Tatya alone. Baba
used to call Tatya "Tatya or Kotya or Kote chaa Ghod Mukhya
(Horse-faced-one)" Tatya received Rs. 35 everyday from Baba. The
Income-tax authorities levied tax upon the regular recipients of Baba's
daily doles such as Tatya Patil, Bayyaji Patil and Bade Baba.Tatya Kote Patil belonged to a middle class farming family. Initially as a result of his hard work, and later on with the money given to him daily by Baba, Tatya became a big farmer in the village. He had six pairs of oxen working in his fields, which in those days meant a big land holding.Tatya had a helping nature and was very co-operative with other villagers. Tatya's was one of the houses from where Baba used to accept the alms.
Tatya's mother never sent Baba away with empty handed, no matter how many times He went for alms. When there was a famine in 1876 in the state, Baba went for alms only to Tatya's and Nanduram Marwadi's houses. At the age of 17/18 Tatya went to many places to participate in Nama Sapthaha with Gangagir Maharaj, who praised Sai Baba as "Precious Jewel". When Tatya told Baba about attending the Nama Saptahas, Baba was very happy about it. Sri Tatya Kote Patil passed away in 1945. Sri Tatya Kote Patil's samadhi is located between the entrance gate to Lendi garden and the powerhouse of Sri Sai Baba Sansthan. Tatya was widely regarded as the light in the eyes of Sri Sai Baba. Perhaps his Samadhi being adjacent to the powerhouse giving light to the whole of Shirdi is the divine will of Sri Sai Baba and not entirely a coincidence.
