Muktaram was a resident of Raverkheda where he lived with his wife, mother, and extended family. Muktaram first visited Shirdi in 1911 when he came with a group of pilgrims. Baba’s divinity had an overwhelming effect on him. He made several visits thereafter and finally made Shirdi his home. He hailed from Ravierked, where he lived with his wife, mother and extended family. Unfortunately his real name is not known. It was Baba who called him Muktaram, so the villagers and other devotees also called him by that name.

He was very affluent. He owned a wada and had vast acres of farm lands. Soon he lost interest in the crops, the farms and his family. The whole day he did Baba’s Naam jap. His only thought was when he could be close to his Sadguru. Finally, he left his family and came to Shirdi.

Muktaram was an ascetic by nature, and was willing to do severe penance to gain the grace of his Sadguru. He was very disciplined and would be with Baba from early morning till noon. He sat in front of Baba next to the Dhuni Maa. Whether it was scorching hot or cold, he sat next to the blazing Dhuni Maa. Just as Hanuman sat in front of Shri Rama, or Garuda sat in front of Shri Vishnu, one could see Muktaram sitting in front of Baba. Muktaram’s devotion towards Baba was no less than that of Maruti towards Rama.

He survived on whatever Baba gave him from his Bhiksha. After the noon Arati, Baba had his lunch, then rested a while. Muktaram would go to his room, which was a cramped tin shed adjacent to Dixit’s Wada. There he sat and meditated in front of the Dhuni. Upon Baba’s instruction he had an ever burning Dhuni Maa in his room, and there he sat till it was time for him to go again to the Dwaraka Mai. This penance he did gladly although the room was hot as a furnace.

Muktaram dressed exactly like Baba. He wore a white Kafni, tied a white cloth around his head, and had langoti around his loin. It was Baba who gave him the Kafni , and the white cloth to tie on his head. Muktaram’s intense love, devotion, and concentration on his Guru, soon bore fruit. After some time his way of living became the mirror image of Baba’s lifestyle.

Once, a few people were sitting on the upper floor of Dixit’s Wada, just before nightfall, when a serpent crept through a hole in the window frame and sat coiled up. A light was brought and the snake was first dazzled by the light. However, it sat still and only moved its head up and down. Then many people rushed there with sticks and cudgels, but as it sat in an awkward place, no blow could be dealt. But upon hearing the commotion, the serpent went out hastily through the same hole. Then everyone there felt relieved. Then, Muktaram who was also present there said that it was good that the poor creature escaped; Hemadpant challenged him saying that serpents should be killed. There was a heated discussion between them−the former contending that serpents and such creatures should not be killed, the latter that they should be. As night fell, the discussion came to an end without any decision being arrived at; The next day, the question was referred to Baba, who gave His opinion which was as follows: “God lives in all beings and creatures, whether they are serpents or scorpions. He is the Master Wire-Puller of the Universe and all beings obey His commands. Unless He wills it, nobody can do any harm unto others. The world is all dependent on Him and no one is independent. So we should take pity on and love all creatures, not engage in adventurous fights and killings and be patient. The Lord (God) protects everyone.” (ref: Chapter 22, Sai Satcharita).

About three months before Baba’s Mahasamadhi, Muktaram was sick with fever and a persistent cough. He spent most of his time in his room. At the time of Baba’s Mahasamadhi his condition was rather serious.

Eight days after Baba’s Mahasamadhi, he went to the Dwaraka Mai and returned to his room very quickly. When he was in the Dwaraka Mai he sat on his sack and leaned against the central pillar. As soon as he sat there, he began to vomit blood and was taken to Dixit Wada. The devotees thought of taking him to the Kopergaon hospital; but before it could be decided as to who should accompany him, with each passing day his condition worsened. He died in Dixit Wada itself. Thus, he breathed his last in the month of January 1919 (ref: Shri Sai Leela Magazine May-June 2000).

Muktaram's Samadhi is in the central part of Lendi Baugh next to Amidas Bhavani Mehta's Samadhi and near Shyam Karan's Samadhi.

Muktaram Samadhi - Old

Muktaram Samadhi - New

(Source: Ambrosia in Shirdi, Baba’s Gurukul by Vinny Chitluri, Shri Sai Leela Magazine, May-June 2000, Chapter 22 of Holy Shri Sai Satcharita, Photo Courtesy: Shri.Pranav, Nirmal District, Telangana)