The devotees felt the only way to avoid the risk of theft was to build a lockable shed for it at the side of the mosque. The building job entailed boring holes into the side of the mosque - conventionally an act of extreme desecration. However, in his determination to honour his beloved gurudeva with the provision of a palanquin, Purandhare started the drilling, taking his opportunity when Baba was out at Lendi. Almost all the other villagers fled the place, fearing Baba's wrath.

Predictably, once Baba returned and saw what was going on, he flew into a rage, but Purandhare, who loved Baba very dearly, was extremely stubborn. Baba continued raining down abuse on him and Purandhare retorted that Baba could do whatever he liked with him - even kill him - but that he would not leave without finishing the job. At last, after lamenting that Purandhare would not listen to him and was intent on breaking the mosque, Baba gave his permission for the work to go ahead, but told him to do it carefully. All the while Purandhare doggedly continued with his labour, despite Baba's outbursts, and would not pause for food. (This meant that his wife and his mother also had to wait for their meal, since in India it is customary for women to serve the men of the house before taking food themselves.) Knowing that Purandhare had not eaten, Baba became upset and concerned. He commented to Dixit that because Purandhare was hungry, Baba was also feeling pangs of hunger. Dixit explained that Purandhare was anxious to complete the work quickly as the leave from his job was almost over. Purandhare was listening to all this while he was working. When he heard Baba send somebody for him, he immediately came running, fell at Baba's feet and wept. There was a touching scene of reconciliation - Baba at once scolding and consoling, and Purandhare overwhelmed by Baba's extraordinary love and care for him, even while he was intent on doing something Baba did not like. At last Baba succeeded in persuading him to take a break and go home for food. However, at the doorway, Purandhare had second thoughts and came back saying, "No Baba, if I do that you'll simply pull it down the moment I'm gone." Only when Baba had promised not to interfere with the work, did Purandhare agree to take a break and the job was soon completed. Once the palanquin had been moved inside Purandhare finally took leave from Baba and returned home.

The palanquin was kept, but it is noteworthy that Baba never did condone such pomp and always refused to get into it himself; devotees had to be content with carrying his padukas in it. Today a palanquin is still used in the Thursday Chavadi procession.