Overall, Kashibai was on her first pilgrimage for five long years. For the second one, she left Pune on 16 February 1746 with her brother Krishnarao Chaskar Joshi. She took the route of Kaigaon-Toke, Verul, Burhanpur, Sironj and Kalpee, where she entered the Doab and reached Prayag. A large group of ten thousand pilgrims accompanied her, and a passport for them was obtained from the Badshah in Delhi. From Kalpee onwards, she was escorted by Naro Shankar who was in charge of Jhansi. From Prayag, she visited Kashi, returned to Prayag and went back to Kashi. This gentleman, Krishnarao was extremely disingenuous and would keep engaging in unnecessary affairs. Due to that, there were many obstacles that arose in the pilgrimage.
In Kashi, Raja Balwant Singh gave Kashibai a place to stay in his own palace. At this time, of the large number of horses and camels with her, five horses were stolen. The lady’s aides blamed Balwant Singh. The Raja then managed to get two of the horses back, but hearing of the accusations against him, was annoyed. The Awadh Nawab Safdarjung was the Subedar of the province and Balwant Singh complained to him and asked him to get Kashibai to leave. However, it was the middle of the monsoon and travel was not yet possible.
Hingne wrote to the Peshwa, “Balwant Singh has written from Varanasi, that revered mother has enjoined Dasharam Zamindar along with her convoy, and wrote to him, asking him to give Dasharam half the kingdom, otherwise there would be military attack. The Badshah had informed Balwant Singh, to consider her his own mother, and help her in every way he could. Even if her men kill off four of his soldiers, he should not utter a single word. Upon request the convoy made a stop at Balwant Singh’s house. After that, a news came to Safdarjung, that Krishnarao threw away the documents in Ganga’s stream, and spoke the way he wished openly. Whatever we got report about, we have written at your service.”
Despite Balwant Singh’s resistance, Kashibai continued to sojourn at Gaya and Kashi that whole year. Innumerable letters from the Peshwa and other officials reached Kashi asking her to leave the place. However, Kashibai refused. Seeing her determination, eventually her brother Chaskar Joshi threatened he would drown himself in the Ganga if she did not agree to leave the place. Finally, Kashibai left for Prayag in the Indian month of Magha (around February 1747). The total journey occupied nearly fifteen months.
Another letter by Hingne from 23 February 1747 mentions, “Revered mother carried out the Shraadh ritual at Gaya, and came to Shri-Prayag. She completed the Makar-Snan (ritual bath during the Makar Sankraman, or winter solstice) ritual at Prayag. She will celebrate Shimgi Pournima (Holi) and then return to homeland.” Hingne further informs in this letter, “At the court of Safdarjung a news was discussed, that the revered mother is upset with her son, due to which she wishes to stay back at Varanasi. The Nawab asked us to confirm this news. We submitted, that it is all a rumour. All these religious places are such that no Hindu desires to leave them willingly. There are many such incidents one could relate about various religious places of the Hindus.”
Due to all such affairs, Kashibai’s long Kashi pilgrimage turned out to be quite controversial. Purport similar to the above seems to have been written from Vishwanath-Nagari too, “The moment revered mother Tai came here, she was provided resting quarters at the imperial palace by Balwant Singh. Later, since her horses were stolen, Balwant Singh gave the responsibility of her protection to Mansoor Ali Khan, who used to oppress the residents of the town through his forces. Upon that, the Nawab wrote back asking her to be bade farewell towards Gaya.”
Later, in November 1747, “Revered mother Tai arrived at Gaya taking the usual stops.”
To be continued…
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