Sai Satcharitra
Sai Satchritra - Chapter L
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 - "Today
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