"Do not enter in purposeless wordy philosophies, do not study Purana, do not
follow the strains of blind devotion, do not rush after penance or
recitations of Japa. The only which you should resort to is the surrender at
My feet. Which will carry you to the desired goal. Fix your eyes on My feet,
merge your mind in My remembrance, and immerse your mind, intellect in My
contemplation. Your body, mind, intellect and existence should lose its
identity and mingle in My form absolutely." --SAIBABA
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SHRI SAI SATHCHARITHA
"Sada Nimbarvrikshasya mooladhiwasat,
Sudhasravinam tiktamapi-apriyam tam,
Tarum Kalpavrikshadhikam sadhayantam
Namameeshwaram Sadgurum Sai Natham"
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Chapter 50
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Stories of (1) Kakasaheb Dixit (2) Shri Tembye Swami
(3)Balaram Dhurandhar.
Chapter 50 of the original Satcharita has been incorporated in Chapter 39, as
it dealt with the same subject matter. Now, Chapter 51 of the Satcharita has
been treated here as Chapter 50. This Chapter gives the stories of (1) Kakasaheb
Dixit (2) Shri Tembye Swami (3) Balaram Dhurandhar.
Preliminary
Victory be unto Sai Who is the main-stay of the Bhaktas,
Who is our Sadguru, Who expounds the meaning of the Gita and Who gives us all
powers. Oh Sai, look favourably on us and bless us all.
The sandal-wood trees, grow on the Malaya mountains and ward off heat. The
clouds, pour their rain-water and thereby, cool and refresh all the people. The
flowers, blossom in the spring and, enable us to worship God, therewith. So the
stories of Sai Baba come forth, in order to give solace and comfort to the
readers. Both, those, who tell; and those who hear the stories of Baba, are
blessed and holy, as also the mouths of the former and the ears of the
latter.
It is well-established fact, that though we try hundreds of means or
sadhanas, we do not attain the spiritual goal of life, unless a Sadguru blesses
us with his grace. Hear the following story in illustration of this
statement
Kakasaheb Dixit (1864-1926)
Mr. Hari Sitaram alias Kakasaheb Dixit was born in 1864 A.D., in a Vadnagara
Nagar - Brahmin-family, at Khandwa(C.P). His primary education was done at
Khandwa, Hinganghat, and secondary education at Nagpur. He came to Bombay for
higher eduaction and studied first in the Wilson College and then in the
Elphinstone College. After graduation in 1883 A.D., he passed his LL.B. and
solicitor's examination; and then served in the firm of the Govt. Solicitors,
Messrs Little and Co., and then, after sometime started a solicitors' firm of
his own.
Before 1909 A.D., Sai Baba's name was not familiar to Kakasaheb, but after
that he soon becomes His great devotees. While he was staying at Lonavla, he
happened to see his old friend. Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar. Both spent some time,
in talking about many things. Kakasaheb described to him, how when he was
boarding a train in London, he met with an accident, in which his foot slipped
and was injured. Hundreds of remedies gave him no relief. Nanasaheb then told
him that if he wished to get rid of the pain and lameness of his leg, he should
go to his Sadguru-Sai Baba. He also gave him all the particulars of Sai Baba and
mentioned to him Sai Baba's dictum "I draw to Me My man fram far off, or even
across the seven seas, like a sparrow with a string fastened to its feet." He
also made it clear to him that if he be not Baba's man, he would not be
attracted to Him and given a darshan. Kakasaheb was pleased to hear all this,
and said to Nanasaheb that he would go to Baba, see Him and pray to Him to cure
not so much his lame leg, but bring round his lame, fickle mind and give him
eternal Bliss.
Some time after, Kakasaheb went to Ahmednagar; and stayed with sirdar
Kakasaheb Mirikar in connection with securing votes for a seat, in the Bombay
Legislative Council. Mr. Balasaheb Mirikar, son of Kakasaheb Mirikar, who was a
Mamalatdar of Kopergaon, also came at that time to Ahmendnagar in connection
with a Horse-Exhibition there. After the election business was over, Kakasaheb
Dixit wanted to go to Shirdi and both the Mirikars, father and son were also
thinking in their house about a fit and proper person, as a guide, with whom he
should be sent there. There Sai Baba was arranging things for his reception.
Shama got a telegram from his father-in-law at Ahemdnagar, stating that his wife
was seriously ill, and that he should come to see her with his wife. Shama with
Baba's permission went there, and saw his mother-in-law and found her improving
and better. Nanasaheb Panshe and Appasaheb Gadre happened to see Shama, on their
way to the Exhibition Dixit there and take him to Shirdi along with him.
Kakasaheb Dixit and the Mirikars were also informed of Shama's arrival. In the
evening Shama came to Mirikars, who introduced him to Kakasaheb. They arranged
that Shama should leave for Kopergaon with Kakasaheb by the 10 O'Clock night
train. After this was settled, a curious thing happened. Balasaheb Mirikar threw
aside the veil or covering on Baba's big portrait and showed the same to
Kakasaheb. He was surprised to see that He, Whom he was going to meet at Shirdi,
was already there in the form of His portrait to greet him, at this juncture. He
was much moved and made his prostration before the portarit. This portrait
belonged to Megha. The glass over it was broken and it was sent to Mirikars for
repairs. The necessary repairs had been already made; and it was decided to
return the portarit with Kakasaheb and Shama.
Before ten O'Clock, they went to the station and booked their passage; but
when the train arrived, they found that the second class was overcrowded; and
then there was no room for them. Fortunately, the guard of the train turned out
to be an acquaintance of Kakasaheb; and he put them up in the first class. Thus
they travelled comfortably and alighted at Kopergaon. Their joy knew no bounds
when they saw there Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who was also bound for Shirdi.
Kakasaheb and Nanasaheb embraced each other, and then after bathing in the
sacred Godavari river they started for Shirdi. After coming there and getting
Baba's darshan, Kakasaheb's mind was melted, his eyes were full of tears and he
was overflowing with joy. Baba said to him, that he also was waiting for him;
and had sent Shama ahead to receive him.
Kakasaheb then passed many happy years in Baba's company. He buit a Wada in
Shirdi which he made as his, more or less, permanent home. The experiences he
got from Baba are so manifold, that it is not possible to relate them all here.
The readers are advised to read a special (Kakasaheb Dixit) No. of 'Shri Sai
Leela' magazine, Vol 12, No. 6-9. we close this account with the mention of one
fact only. Baba had comforted hi by saying that in the end "He will take him in
air coach (Viman)", (i.e., secure him a happy death). This came out true. On the
5th of July 1926 A.D., he was travelling in the train with Hemadpant and talking
about Sai Baba. He seemed deeply engrossed in Sai Baba. All of a sudden he threw
his neck on Hemadpant's shoulder, and breathed his last with no trace of pain
and uneasiness.
Shri Tembye Swami
We come to the next story, which shows how Saints love aech other with
fraternal affection. Once Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati, known as Shri Tembye
Swami encamped, at Rajamahendri (Andhra Country), on the banks of Godavari. He
was a devout, orthodox, Jnani and Yogi Bhakta of the God Dattatreya. One, Mr.
Pundalikrao, pleader of Nanded (Nizam State) went to see him, with some friends.
While they were talking with him, the names of Shirdi and Sai Baba were casually
mentioned. Hearing Baba's name, the Swami bowed with his hands; and taking a
coconut gave it to Pundalikrao, and said to him, "Offer this to my brother Sai,
with my pranam and request Him not to forget me, but ever love me." He also
added that the Swamis do not generally bow to others, but in this case an
exception had to be made. Mr. Pundalikrao consented to take the fruit and his
message to Baba. The Swami was right in calling Baba a brother, for as he
maintained an Agnihotra (Sacred fire) day and night, in his orthodox fashion;
Baba too kept His Agnihotra, i.e., Dhuni ever burning in the Masjid.
After one month Pundalikrao and others left for Shirdi with the coconut, and
reached Manmad, and as they felt thirsty they went to a rivulet for drinking
water. As water should not be drunk on an empty stomach, they took out some
refreshments, i.e., Chivda (flattened rice mixed with spice). The Chivda tasted
pungent and in order to soften it, some one suggested and broke the coconut and
mixed its scrapings with it. Thusthey made the Chivda mare tasty and palatable.
Unfortunately the fruit broken, turned out to be the same, that was entrusted to
Pundalikrao. As they neared Shirdi, Pundalikrao remembered the trust, i.e., the
coconut and was very sorry to learn that it was broken and utilized. Fearing and
trembling, he came to Shirdi and saw Baba. Baba had already received a wireless
message, regarding the coconut, from the Tembye Swami, ad Himself asked
Pundalikrao first to give the things sent by His brother. He held fast Baba's
Feet, confessed his guilt and negligence, repented and asked for Baba's pardon.
He offered to give another fruit as a substitute, but Baba refused to accept it
saying that the worth of that coconut was by far, many times more, than an
ordinary one and that it could not be replaced by another one. Baba also added-
"Now you need not worry yourself any more about the matter. It was on account of
my wish that the coconut was entrusted to you, and ultimately broken on the way;
why should you take the responsibility of the actions on you? Do not entertain
the sense of doership in doing good, as well as for bad deeds; be entirely
prideless and egoless in all things and thus your spiritual progress will be
rapid." What a beautiful spiritual instruction Baba gave!
Balaram Dhurandhar (1878-1925)
Mr. Balaram Dhurandhar belonged to the Pathare Prabhu community, of
Santacruz, Bombay. He was an advocate of the Bombay High Court and sometime
Principal of the Governament Law School, Bombay. The whole Dhurandhar family was
pious and religious. Mr. Balaram served his community, and wrote and published
an account of it. He then turned his attention to spiritual and religious
matters. He studied carefully Gita, and its commentary Jnaneshwari; and other
philosiphical and other metaphysical works. He was a devotee of Vithoba of
Pandharpur. he came in contact with Sai Baba in 1912 A.D.. Six months previous,
his brothers Babulji and Vamanrao came to Shirdi and took Baba's darshan. They
returned home, and mentioned their sweet experiences to Balaram and other
members. Then they all decided to see Sai Baba. Before they came to Shirdi, Baba
declared openly that - "To-day many of my Darbar people are coming." The
Dhurandhar brothers were astonished to hear this remark of Baba, from others; as
they had not given any previous intimation of their trip. All the other people
prostrated themselves before Baba, and sat talking to Him. Baba said to them-
"These are my Darbar people to whom I referred before" and said to the
Dhurandhar brothers- "We are acquainted with each other for the last sixty
generations." All the brothers were meek and modest, they stood with joined
hands, staring at Baba's Feet. All the Sattwic emotions such as tears,
horripilation, choking, etc., moved them and they were all happy. Then they went
to their lodging, took their meals and after taking a little rest again came to
the Masjid. Balaram sat near Baba, messaging His Legs. Baba Who was smoking a
chillam advanced it towards him and beckoned him to smoke it. Balaram was not
accustomed to smoking, still he accepted the pipe, smoked it with great
difficulty; and returned it reverentially with a bow. This was the most
auspicious moment for Balaram. He was suffering from Asthma for six years. This
smoke completely cured him of the disease, which never troubled him again. Some
six years later, on a particular day, he again got an attack of Asthma. This was
precisely the time when Baba took his Mahasamadhi.
The day of this visit was a Thursday; and the Dhurandhar brothers had the
good fortune of witnessing the Chavadi, Balaram saw the lusture of pandurang on
Baba's face and next morning at the Kakad-Arti time, the same phenomenon - the
same lusture of his Beloved Deity- Pandurang was visible again on Baba's
face.
Mr. Balaram Dhurandhar wrote, in Marathi, the life of the Maharashtra Saint
Tukaram, but did not survive to see its publication. It was published, later on,
by his brothers in 1928. In a short note on Balaram's life given in the
beginning of the book, the above account of Balaram's visit has been fully
corroborated therein (Vide page 6 of the book).
Bow to Shri Sai -- Peace be to all