H.S. Dixit Part 1

H.S Dixit attained an eminent position among Sai devotees. He is a role model and there is so much to learn from his life and the worship that he did for Sai Baba. Even though he was in worldly life until the age of 45, Sai made him advance in his spiritual life. Sai Maharaj protected him every second of his life so that he will not be a victim to the pressures of this mundane life. He helped him in daily family issues and his work related problems. He was not immune to the worldly problems that we all face every day. Sri Satcharita gives us some details about Dixit (Kaka Saheb) and later on some details were published in Sai Leela Masik (Journal). Sri Narasimha Swami gave some of the details about his personal life and other stories. Kaka Saheb also wrote a dairy.  His life fully revolved around Baba after his first meeting and we can relate to him as a common man. The greatness and what separated him from regular devotees, is his dedication. Even though he can earn fame, money and every thing in life, he ignored all of that to serve Baba. This is what we can learn from this great personality.

Birth, Family and job details:

His full name is Hari Sitaram Dixit. Baba used to call him Kaka. He was born in 1864 in Khandva, Madhya Pradesh. He belongs to Nagari Brahman sect. His primary education took place in Khandva and Hingan Ghat. He later went to Alfiston college in Bombay and received his LLB degree at the age of 19. Then he passed all the required exams and joined Littile & Co.  Then he started his own solicitors business.  He earned lot of fame and money.  He built a bungalow of his own in Lonawala.

He took some prominent cases in his life which includes the case of Freedom fighter Sri Bala Gangadhar Tilak, case of Times of India and Poona Vaibhav etc. He became prominent both in the eyes of British and in Indian national congress.  He was elected for Bombay counsel in 1901. In 1904, he was elected the

Secretary of Indian National Congress. He became honorary position in Bombay University. He had so many high cadre positions that people can not imagine even getting there. His life took a turn when all of this has been going smoothly.

  In 1906 Dixit was visiting England. 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. He was walking with a limp. If he walks for a while he used to get pain in his leg. This changes his life in travel and his psyche was also affected. Even though this was a handicap from the out side but this became a blessing for Dixit. He started thinking about his life and how transient things around us. He also started analyzing his priorities in his life. He was around 45 years of age at that time. He met Gurus like Datta Maharaj at that time. He started realizing that there is no happiness in worldly objects and wanted to understand the meaning of life.

First Meeting with Baba:

Once he goes on vacation to rest in his Bungalow in 1909. Nana Saheb Chandorkar happened to meet him for the first time after they got separated as classmates. Nana took government job and Dixit remained in his private practice as an attorney. They caught up with lots of issues about their past friendship. Then Dixit spoke to him about his accident in England, how it changed his life. Then Nana suggested him to go to Baba and told him that he will cure this lameness. Then Dixit said, “Nana this physical lameness is not bothering me but I want help with lameness in my mind. I need to meet my Guru, and I am longing for salvation. I did so much worship, sang bhajans (devotional singing) but my mind is still not at ease. I am trying to redirect my mind with out much success. Some one needs to cure lameness in my mind”.

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 him, 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 m 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 up to 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.

Later, years passed. His faith was firmly rooted at Sai’s feet. He attained Sai’s grace fully; and wearied his body in Sai’s service. To serve Sai well, he built a house or ashram in Shirdi and stayed there for many years. He spread Sai’s fame. In conclusion, whosoever longs for Sai is fulfilled by him. Sai is the abode of refuge for his devotees and the giver of ultimate joy to them.

Building Dixit wada:

After his first meeting with Baba in 1909 November, Dixit again came back to Shirdi in December for another darshan and thought of staying on. He had to stay in Sathe wada and could not find solitude. He first thought of disposing off some twenty-five shares of his to build a tin shed which would be useful also to the pilgrims. Later on he decided to build a wada and find the auspicious day for the laying of the foundation stone, in the following year. On the 9^th December, he took Baba’s permission and considered that very day to be an auspicious one, for laying the foundation stone. Dixit’s brother, who otherwise would not have come even after an invitation, had arrived on that very day for the auspicious muhurat(Time). Dadasaheb Khaparde had already come there alone.

He felt awkward to ask Baba for permission to return home. But on the tenth of December, Khaparde was allowed to leave Shirdi and Dikshit to lay the foundation – both these permissions were given on that day. Another important event took place on this day. The bed-time arati (Shej) at the Chavadi was started on this day, with great love and faith. Later on, in 1911, the auspicious day of Ramnavami, the house-entering ceremony was accomplished according to the usual rites. They called this wada as Kaka wada or Dixit wada. He allowed the lower portion of the building to be used by the visitors and he kept a room for himself on the upper level.

OM SAI RAM!