KAKA SAHEB DIXIT'S DIVINE ATTRACTION

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KAKA SAHEB DIXIT’S DIVINE ATTRACTION

Hari Sitaram Dixit, a well-known solicitor of Bombay, he was very largely

responsible for the establishment and progress of Shirdi Sai Sansthan, the

affairs were managed by him as Hon., Secretary very ably and enthusiastically

up to the time of his death, i.e., 5-7-1926. He was also responsible for

drawing large numbers to Shirdi and filling them with admiration and enthusiasm

for Sai Baba. The ‘Sai Lila Masik’ the Marathi monthly organ of the

Sai Sansthan, which had the same result, was mainly his work, up to July 1926,

most of his experiences and those of his friends (numbering 151 and more)

swelling the first four volumes of that journal and still giving excellent

guidance to devotees.

H S Dixit was born in 1864 of high caste Nagari Brahmin parents enjoying a high

position and affluence at Khandwa. His scholastic career was bright as he

secured a first class in Matric and good marks in F.A., B.A., and L.L.B., He

very soon settled himself as a leading solicitor at Bombay, and his name

frequently appeared in Law Reports and in the press as distinguishing himself

as an able advocate in sensational cases e.g., Bhavnagar Exposures, Sedition

trials against Poona Vaibhava, Lok B.G. Tilak and Globe and Times of India,

etc., He attained great fame and wide popularity and commanded high esteem both

with the people and the Government. He had numerous public activities;

political, social, municipal, etc., by means of which he was rendering good and

valuable service to the public. In politics, he was in the Indian National

Congress, and he was the redoubtful follower of Sir Pherozesha Mehta. He was an

elected member of Bombay Legislative Council from 1910 till he gave it up to

devote himself to spiritual progress under Sai Baba. He was also an elected

Fellow of Bombay University, a Notary Public, and Justice of Peace. He achieved

great fame by his bold speeches (e.g., by being the sole protestor against

Valedictory address to H.E. Lord Sandhurst who prosecuted Tilak) and action in

the councils. He helped bodies by serving on Committees with his keen intellect

and strenuous observation and study. He was Secretary of the Indian National

Congress of 1940 at Bombay wherein D. Nowroji stated its goal to be attainment

of Swarajya. He rapidly rose by his influence and ability to greater and

greater positions of honour and, had he continued in that line, he would surely

have achieved a Knighthood, membership of the Executive Council and appointment

as Commissioner of the some province with ample emoluments and gunfire salutes.

But his destiny and rinanubhandha drew him to other lines and the turning point

was what – looked like a mischance. He was in the Bombay Corporation also

as a councilor; and he frequently served on other public bodies. He was a

patriotic and self-sacrificing man, and for the sake of principle and public

good, he readily resigned his position in the Corporation, and walked hard for

national welfare.

About 1906 he went to England. There he had some accident in which his leg was

injured. In spite of repeated efforts, the injury could not be cured. The

limping impeded free movement, as there was pain if he walked a few furlongs.

Not only did it make him look awkward, it made him less fit for his numerous

activities, personal, domestic, political, legal and public, and thus had the

double effect of giving him an inferiority complex and a disgust for these

aspects of life, thus preparing him for the nobler and holier life. About 1909,

Nana Saheb Chandorkar advised him to go and see Sai Baba, the wonderful

personality at Shirdi, who might cure his lameness. The same year he went to

Ahmadnagar in connection with some Council election business to the house of

Sardar Kaka Saheb Mirikar, who was a Sai bhakta, and who had with him a huge

picture of Sai Baba. Dixit saw the picture and his reverence were heightened.

Learning of Dixit’s desire to go to Baba, he (Sardar) sent for Madhava Rao

Deshpande otherwise known as Shama. Baba’s constant attendant, who had

gone to Ahmadnagar, and asked him to take Dixit to Baba. Accordingly Shama took

him to Baba in 1909. This very first experience which Dixit had in connection

with Baba strengthened his attachment to and admiration for Baba, especially

because he had from infancy a great desire to be with Sadhus and Saints. He

repeated his visits to Shirdi frequently, and in 1910 resolved to have a

building of his own there. So the foundation stone was laid for wada there in

December 1910, popularly known afterwards as Kakawada or Dixit wada. The work

was pushed through and completed in five months (i.e.) in April 1911. From the

very beginning Kaka wanted only a very small room for himself upstairs for

Ekanta Dyana (solitude and meditation). The rest of the building was used by

the pilgrims i.e., public. Baba’s kindness towards him was manifested

from the very beginning, and Baba expressed this to others also. He told Anna

Saheb Dabolkar Kaka Saheb is a good man. Be guided by what he says’. He

told R. B Purandhare to be with Kaka Saheb and assist him. The greatest

interest in a saint for any seriously minded person is, and ought to be,

spiritual interest. So, though originally Dixit's idea was to go to Baba for

the cure of his lameness, he soon gave up that idea and said "Lameness of the

body does not matter much", and wanted Sai to cure the lameness of his soul,

Sai made distinct promises to Dixit, whom he always called "Kaka", meaning

uncle. As many persons called him "Kaka", Sai Baba also called him "Kaka". One

of the early notable statements of Baba was "I will take my ‘Kaka’

in a vimana" (BCS 100) meaning thereby that he would give Kaka a happy end

– Anayasa Marana and Sadgati. Baba did give him both as will appear from

what follows. Dixit in 1909 was a leading solicitor with a highly lucrative

practice and had made his name in notable trials. He had abundance of social

contact and great influence in social and political matters. In 1909 he was

only 45 years old and hehad a very good prospects of amassing much wealth and

achieve, many honours in social and political matters also. Perhaps due to

early contact with saints, such as Dattaa Maharaja, his mind, however, was

drawn away from worldly attractions, and the meeting with a wonderful

personality as Baba gave a powerful impetus. On account of Rinanubandha, Baba

drew him (see BCS 502). Almost from the beginning of his contact with Baba he

resolved to have Satsanga with Baba, and to embark on a spiritual career under

Sai’s guidance, whatever may be its consequence on his worldly affairs.

Though his income was ample, his generosity and liberality left very little

fluid resources remaining with him and, barring his three bungalows at Bombay,

Ville Parle, and Lonavla, which did not yield any income, he had no other

property. Yet Sai’s attractions being strong, his visits to Shirdi were

more and more frequent and his attention to practice was greatly diminished.

One consequence of this diminution was that his partners in the solicitor

business, viz., Rao Bahadur S. Narapandas and Dhanji Shah broke up their

partnership with him, and he had to form a new firm with a newly enrolled

advocate Purushotham Rai Markhad, for his partner. That gentleman also, on

account of Dixit’s frequent absence and lack of interest withdrew his

partnership. Other partners also, Mareklal etc., very soon left him alone or

rather he left them very soon, and his income from law became very little. From

1911 onwards, his practice may be said to have been nil, though Baba asked him

to go to Bombay to practice. He obeyed Baba and went to Bombay, but returned

soon as his heart was at Shirdi and not at Bombay. All his friends,

acquaintance, and admirers were astonished when he closed his lucrative

practice in 1912, and several people were saying that ‘A Fakir called Sai

Baba had cast a fascination on him that pushed him to Shirdi and made him

crazy.’

Author: HH Pujyasri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji

(Vasuki Mahal Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Trust, Coimbatore 641025, India)