Hari Sitaram Dixit alias Kakasaheb Dixit
Hari Sitaram Dixit alias Kakasaheb
Dixit was born in a Brahmin family in a taluka named Khandva in Madhya Pradesh
in the year 1864. His primary education was completed in Khandva and Hingan
Ghat, after that he took admission in Alfiston College of Mumbai and became
L.L.B. at very tender age of 19. After that, he appeared in Solicitors examination
and at the age of 21 only, he joined a solicitors firm by name Little & Co.
Then he started his own solicitors business. Due to sharp intelligence &
good presence of mind he started earning good amount of money. He built a
bungalow of his own in Lonawala from the wealth he earned. He was well versed
in English language similarly he had good knowledge of Sanskrit too. He had a
practice of reading Ramayan, Mahabharat, Yog Vashit and Jnaneshwari.
Injury to leg:
Once Kakasaheb Dixit went to London
for some social service, while trying to board a fast train he missed a step of
the train and fell at platform. There was sprain in his leg. It was a deep
wound. Due to this reason he was not able to walk straight. He went through
many treatments in London, operation was also undergone, still he was not able
to walk properly and this remained till his end.
This Lameness of Kakasaheb Dixit's
leg occurred only due to remove the fickleness of mind. Due to his lameness he
got a chance of placing his feet on the soil of Shirdi. When calamity befalls
on a human being, he dislikes everything. But sometimes such calamities prove
to very useful.
When Kakasaheb Dixit returned with his lame leg to India, Sai Baba's name was
not known to him. In the year 1909, once he went to Lonawala to spend vacation
and stayed in his bungalow. There he met Nanasaheb Chandorkar his 'separated
classmate'. After school education, Nanasaheb got engaged in government service
and Kakasaheb started his own business. After many years they met in Lonawala.
Kakasaheb narrated his leg problem
to Nanasaheb in detail. Nanasaheb said, "When all the dava (medicines)
stop working then only Duaa (prayers to God) work.
Kakasaheb said, "Nana, I agree
with you totally but today true saints are rare to find. If by chance we are
successful in finding one, then it is only we have to repent in the end."
Nanasaheb answered, "Let me
tell you something and hope that you will trust me truly. I am a disciple of
one Guru Maharaj. His name is Sai Baba and he lives in Shirdi a small village
near Kopergaon. You take his refuge, your lameness of leg will be cured and
also the fickleness of your mind be destroyed. I have shared my views and
opinion with you. My Guru Maharaj always said - If a sparrow's leg is tied to
thread and pulled it is drawn to us without any effort, in the same way I draw
My men towards Me from any corner of this earth. Those persons whose good
fortunes have not risen are not called to Shirdi."
Kakasaheb was also a person of
religious nature. His roots had deep knowledge and an urge to study
spirituality. Nanasaheb was a learned person and he would not say anything
meaningless. On hearing the words of Nanasaheb a new love towards Baba rised in
Kakasaheb's heart. A divine devotion started growing and Maya (attachment)
started decreasing. There and then he decided to meet Baba.
In the year 1910 Kakasaheb had to go
to Ahmednagar for election work. He resided at Sardar Mirikar’s house.
Mirikar’s were well known Sai devotees. Every member of Mirikar’s family had
full faith in Baba.
In those days horse race gambling
was popular. People were very interested to witness horse races. Sardar Mirikar
also went to horse race with Kakasaheb and they met Balasaheb Mirikar,
Mamlatdar of Kopergaon. Sardar Mirikar and Bala Saheb Mirikar were cousins.
Nana Panse and Appa Gadre also turned up in due course. All started sharing
infinite leelas of Baba with each other. Nana Panse said, "An intimate
devotee of Baba, Madhavrao Deshpande is in Ahmednagar".
After retiring from horse race, Mirikar sent his servant to fetch Madhavrao. On
his arrival Kakasaheb got excited and hugged Madhavrao lovingly.
Madhavrao said, "My mother in
law is now well due to Baba's grace, so leaving behind the advantage of darshan
of Baba, now there is no need for me to stay here. I am leaving by today
night's train". Kakasaheb Dixit thought that Shirdi is not very far from
Kopergaon. The work of election can be done anyday. When the golden opportunity
of Madhavrao's company is in front of me, I cannot miss it”. They boarded in
train at 10 o'clock from Ahmednagar and when they alighted at Kopargaon, they
saw Nanasaheb Chandorkar standing on the platform.
Nanasaheb said, "Had not I said
that Sai Baba pulls his devotees like a sparrow with its legs tied to
thread."
The trio fully engrossed in
happiness, took darshan of Lord Dattatreya and hired a tonga to Shirdi.
As soon as Kakasaheb stepped in Dwarkamai, Lord Sai Baba said, "O Welcome
Langda Kaka!"
After that Lord Sai Baba started calling him Langda Kaka and other people of
Shirdi started calling him Kakasaheb.
Kakasaheb Dixit got engrossed with
Lord Sai Baba's darshan and he become still as picture drawn on canvas. His
eyes were fixed as a stone.
Construction of Wada:
During his short presence in Shirdi he stayed in Sathe Wada. But he was
uncomfortable there so he decided that God has given him money in abundance and
it must be used for Him only.
Kakasaheb shared his heart's desire with Lord Sai Baba and for his noble work,
His permission was seeked. He bought a small piece of land exactly in front of
Sathe Wada. With the permission of Baba, the construction of wada started on
December 10, 1910 and it was completed after four months. The wada was put to
use from March 12, 1911.
With the powers, that rest in abode of Lord Baba,
Kakasaheb's interest from worldly attachments and affairs started decreasing
and he made Shirdi his home. He, one day said to Baba, "Baba, God has
given enough money for food then why I be engaged in these worldly knots? I
have got a chance to live in Shirdi by good fortune. I have no desire to leave
the pleasure of heaven like Shirdi and go to any hell. I wish to wind up this
solicitor's business and live in Shirdi forever."
Lord Sai Baba spoke in sweet voice, "Kaka Why there is
need to wind up your business?"
Kakasaheb answered, "O Baba in my business, I have to falsify the truth
and false facts are to be made true."
Lord Baba said, "Others may do whatever they like, but
why should we do? Do your business honestly without any false action, but there
is no need to wind up the business."
Like this as per Lord Baba's advice Kakasaheb continued his
business, but he spend most time of the year in Shirdi and served Lord Baba
whole heartedly.
Lord Baba gave him updesh to read Eknathi Bhagwat in morning
and Ramayan at night daily, which he followed strictly even if he was traveling
in train. This was his routine till the age of 62 when he took leave from this
world forever.
In the year 1926, Kakasaheb Dixit's son Ramkrishna fell ill.
He was admitted in hospital of Dr. Deshmukh. Kakasaheb intended to see him so
he went to meet Govindrao R. Dabholkar in Colaba from Vile Parle. Before
starting for the hospital, he lighted perfumed incense stick and sung the
following melodious gazal by Dasganu Maharaj:
Sai Reham Nazar Karna... Bachoo Ka Palan Karna... Jaanaa
Tumne Jagat Pasara...Sab Hi Jhoot Zamaanaa... Sai Reham Nazar Karna... Bachoo
Ka Palan Karna... Main Andha Hu Banda Apka...Mujh Se Prabhu Dikhalana... Sai
Reham Nazar Karna... Bachoo Ka Palan Karna... Dasganu Kahe Ab Kya Bolu...Thak
Gayi Meri Rasna... Sai Reham Nazar Karna... Bachoo Ka Palan Karna... Sai Reham
Nazar Karna... Bachoo Ka Palan Karna...
Then he left and reached Mahim station with Dabholkar where
he meet Lord Baba's intimate devotee Raghunath Purandhare. On hearing about
Ramkrishna's bad health, he also expressed his desire to go and see him in
hospital. When they reached Mahim station, they were late by three minutes;
still they were able to board the train with Lord Baba's grace.
After boarding the train, Kakasaheb said, "How kind is
Sai Baba? He takes care of the minutest needs of His devotees. If we had missed
the train our day would have spoiled and we had to spend the night in
Colaba". Saying these words Kakasaheb closed his eyes. Purandhare and
Dabholkar assumed that Kakasaheb got engrossed in Lord Baba's meditation.
About four to five stations passed away, now Dabholkar
whispered to Kakasaheb, "Bhau, are you awake?" He repeated his
question about three times, but he did not get reply and Kakasaheb seemed to be
turning. So a doctor of railway was called from Mahim station. On examination doctor
concluded while speaking Kakasaheb left this mortal world.
Kakasaheb's dead body was taken to his house in Vile Parle.
On July 5, 1926, Monday, Ekadashi day at the age of sixty two, Kakasaheb
entered Lord Sai Baba's real world (i.e. heaven). Lord Baba always said him,
"Kaka! I will take you in aeroplane".
From the point of view of a Sansaari purush, Kakasaheb's
death was pleasing, fearless and surprising.
From the point of view of spirituality, his death could be considered as a
blessing from his Sadguru.
It is said in Gita, "The last wish or thought that a man has at the hour
of death, determines his future course and he attains the same".
In this case, when Kaksaheb was talking about Lord Sai
Baba' fame and kindness, he breathed his last. Thus he attained Sadgati. It is
very rare that at the time of death a person has Lord's name in his mouth, only
great person like Kakasaheb Dixit cannot forget to take the name of Lord Baba
in his last moment.
