Sai
Hari Sitaram Dixit, was well-known as Kaka Saheb, with respect, to all the devotees of Sai Baba, and is remembered with love.His earlier background is well-known, pleasing and
interesting. Therefore, I respectfully narrate it to the ardent devotees. It will give happiness to those who are eager to hear his life-story He, who did not even know the name of Sai' till 1909, became a great devotee of Sai and was known as such to all.Many years after his university education, Nanasaheb Chandorkar came once to Lonavala. Dixit was his old friend, whom he met there after several years. They talked about their welfare, with each other. Dixit told him about his accident in London, when his foot slipped while boarding a train and was injured. The trouble that he suffered from could not be relieved inspite of
hundreds of remedies. The detailed story about this injury came out in the natural course of conversation. It reminded Nana of the usefulness of Sree Sai Baba in such cases. " Do you feel that you would like to get rid of your lameness for ever? If so, come for my Guru's darshan', said Nana to him. Then, Nana believing it to be unique, narrated in detail about Sai's nature, glory and greatness, Sai being the jewel among saints. " I draw to me my man from afar, even across the seven seas, like a sparrow with a string fastened to its feet .This is Baba's usual assurance. Moreover Nana had given a long discourse.He said: "If you are not his man, you will
not be attracted to him. If you are not his man, you will not even have his darshan. This is one of Baba's significant aspects. Will you go there on your own? Be it so. Hearing all the description about Sai, Dixit felt a great satisfaction. Then he said to Nana: "I will take
Baba's darshan.Why talk about the pain in my leg! The whole body is perishable. Let the injury to my leg remain as long as it does. I am not worried about it.I will go for your Guru's darshan', but for the bliss of attaining liberation. I have no wish for small pleasures and I will not plead for them.There is no happiness other than union with Brahman. That is the only priceless happiness. I will become a servitor of your Guru only for this invaluable bliss. Let the lameness of my leg be. It does not distress me. But I would pray that my lame, fickle mind is brought around.I have got very tired of making efforts but the mind does not become steady. When I make efforts to control it, it runs amok without my knowledge. However attentive I may be in trying to control it, I do not know when it will escape. I am greatly amazed.Therefore, Nana, with my whole heart I will take your Guru's
darshan. I will pray to him to remove this impairment of my mind .
Sai was supremely eager for the spiritual attainment of such a devotee who was not interested in the pleasures of the perishable body but who longed for the ultimate bliss.The election of the then Legislative Council was the topic of conversation everywhere. The people were engaged in this work, in many places. Kakasaheb came suddenly to Nagar (Ahmednagar) to canvass for votes for himself, and was meeting friends for that purpose.There was a chieftain there by the name of Kakasaheb Mirikar. Dixit had close family relations with him. He,therefore, stayed there with him. According to the custom of those times, an exhibition of horses was arranged at Nagar. Therefore, people from all walks of life were engaged in work connected with it.
Balasaheb Mirikar, the Mamlatdar of Kopergaon, was present at Ahmednagar town for the exhibition.After Dixit's work was completed, he came there. How would it be possible to go to Shirdi? Who will take me there?' Once the work had come to an end, his attention was on the way to Shirdi. Dixit's intense desire was only for the opportunity to have Baba's darshan'. Who will come with me? Who will take me before Baba and
place me at his feet?' These were Dixit's dilemmas.Once the work for the elections was over, Dixit was only worried about how he would go to Shirdi. He respectfully
requested Mirikar.Balasaheb Mirikar was the son of Kakasaheb Mirikar. They discussed among themselves as to who should go with Dixit.If any one of them would accompany him, then there would be no need for another. Then who should definitely go with him,was being debated.
Man thinks of ordinary solutions; but God plans something else. For Dixit's journey to Shirdi, something unexpected happened. On this side, there was this turmoil. On the other side,observe the agitation. Knowing the strong desire of the devotee, see how Samartha yearned with compassion!
While Dixit was driven by these thoughts and was seated,worrying about this, Madhavrao himself came to Nagar. Everyone was surprised. The father-in-law of Madhavrao had telegraphed him from Nagar that his mother-in-law was gravely ill and he should come immediately with his wife.As soon as he received the telegram, he prepared to leave
after obtaining Baba's permission. Both of them went to Chithali station.They caught the 3 o'clock train and both went to Nagar. They
took a tonga and got down at the door.At the same time, Nanasaheb Panshe and Appasaheb Gadre were also there, in connection with the exhibition and were passing by that road.As Madhavrao was alighting from the tonga, they saw him unexpectedly. They were quite surprised. They could not contain their joy.
" Look at this! By good fortune Madhavrao, who is the sevakari of Vithoba temple, is here, from Shirdi! Who can be better than him to take Dixit to Shirdi? Then calling out to him, said: " Dixit Kaka has come to Mirikar's. Go and see him. Marvel at Baba's leelas! Dixit is our remarkable friend. You will get acquainted with him. He is very eager to go to Shirdi and your arrival will delight him. Giving this message to Madhavrao, they gave the information to Dixit; whose anxiety was relieved on hearing it. He was extremely pleased. When Madhavrao visited his in-laws, he found that his mother-in-law was better. So he rested a little. Then Mirikar sent for him.Respecting the invitation, a little after sunset Madhavrao left to meet Dixit.When Balasaheb introduced him, it was his first meeting. Both of them decided to take the 10 o'clock train, the same night. After this plan was decided, see what an unusual thing happened next. Balasaheb removed the curtain over Baba's portrait This was a photograph of Baba which was worshipped by Megha, a true and great
devotee of Baba, with the conviction that Baba was the holy, three-eyed Shankar,incarnate.
Because the glass was broken, it was sent to Nagar with Balasaheb for repairs. That was how it initially left Shirdi.This picture, having been repaired, was in Mirikar's drawing room, covered with cloth, as if it was waiting for Dixit.
Balasaheb was to return it after the conclusion of the horse-show. But there was yet some more time for that. Therefore, he entrusted it to Madhavrao.Removing the cloth, he uncovered it. He gave it in Madhavrao's keeping; and said: "Go upto Shirdi happily, in
Baba's company. When he first cast a glance at that portrait, which was pleasing in all aspects, Kakasaheb was filled with joy. After prostrating before it with reverence, he began to look at it. Experiencing this unusual incident, and seeing Sai Samartha's photograph unexpectedly, which was so pleasing and pure, Dixit's eyes were riveted to it. He was greatly delighted that he, for whose darshan' he was
longing, his portrait embodying his form, could be seen by him, on the way itself. It was a strange coincidence that it was at Kakasaheb
Mirikar's house, at the same time when Dixit was there, having come earlier from Shirdi. It seemed that Sai Samartha had come at Mirikar's residence, under a pretext, to fulfil Dixit's heartfelt longing. At Lonavala itself, the attraction for the Guru had taken place when he had met Nana and talked at length with him. It was the seed sown for the meeting.
Otherwise why should this portrait from Shirdi have come here at this time and remained covered for so long at this place? So be it.After it was so decided, Madhavrao and Dixit,
taking the picture with them, set out happily. They both left for the station after dinner, that same night. They paid the second-class fare and bought the tickets. Right at the stroke of ten, the sound of the train could be heard. They also saw that the second-class compartments were crammed with passengers.The situation was such that both of them were greatly worried. The time was also short. What arrangement could be made and how? Be it so. Now, because, of the overcrowding, both of them decided to return to their place and go the next day to Shirdi.At that moment, Dixit saw the guard of the train with whom he had an acquaintance. He easily made arrangements for them to travel by the first class.Then, sitting in the train, they started talking about Baba, to their heart's content. Madhavrao narrated the nectar-like
stories. Dixit overflowed with joy.Thus that journey was completed very joyfully. Time passed very quickly. The train reached Kopergaon. They alighted in a very happy mood. At the same time, they unexpectedly saw Nanasaheb Chandorkar at the station. Dixit was full of happiness that they had met each other. Nana too had come for Baba's darshan' and was proceeding to Shirdi. All the three of them were amazed at this coincidence.Then, the three of them hired a tonga and left on the way, animatedly talking. They had a bath in the Godavari, on the
way, and reached holy Shirdi.
Later, after having Sai's darshan' Dixit's heart melted and his eyes filled with tears. The water of Self Bliss spilt and over flowed. " I too was waiting for you. Then I sent Shama to meet you, all the way to Nagar, spoke Sai clearly to him.Hearing these words, every pore in Dixit's body was filled with joy; his throat was choked with emotion; his mind was
full of happiness; and he was sweating profusely. His body trembled; his mind was engrossed in Self Bliss; his eyes were half closed and he was immersed in a cloud of joy." To-day my eyes have served their purpose . Saying this he embraced Baba's feet. He felt truly blessed and the world could not contain his joy.
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