KAKA SAHEB DIXIT'S GURUDAKSHINA

[Guest guest]

KAKA SAHEB DIXIT’S GURUDAKSHINA

Kaka Saheb was confirmed in his absolute belief in the divine protection of Sai

Baba, and the absolute truth of every word that Baba uttered. This faith is

called ‘Nishta’, one of the two coins which Baba insisted on being

given by the disciple as Dakshina to the Guru (namely ‘Nishta and

Saburi’. Saburi means patience, courageous, cheerful and perserving).

These qualities were steadily developing in Dixit, and these two coins (Nishta

and Saburi) he gave to Sai Baba his Gurudeva. There were frequent occasions to

revive and strengthen these qualities in Kaka. For instance on one occasion,

Kaka went to Baba thinking he should present him a garland and Rs.25. But he

first presented only the garland. Then Baba said, "This garland calls for

Rs.25", Kaka gladly noted Baba’s Antaryamitva i.e., knowledge of all

minds. On another occasion, he had gone on with his puja to Sai Baba in his

quarters but he forgot to offer the usual betel and nut after naivedya. When

later he went to Baba, baba asked for the betel and nut. This convinced Dixit

that Baba was watching him every moment of his life and his every act. Again

Dixit was a perfect gentleman with excellent manners and a very good heart.

Dixit would not scandalise any one. But on one occasion, it so happened that he

joined in scandalising Lord Christ. A little while after, he went to baba for

massaging him. Baba was angry and said ‘Do not massage’. At once

Dixit remembered that he had scandalised Lord Christ, and that Baba was

therefore angry. He repented his mistake and resolved never to commit such

mistakes again. Kaka had the immense advantage of what Roman Catholocs call

"practising the presence of God."They deal with an unseen God and take immense

pains to realize his presence before them at every moment and a few of them

succeed in this herculean effort. In Kaka’s case, the presence of the

divine watching him and directing him every instant of his life was evident,

too patent for him to ignore and the consequent elevation and freedom from fear

and care, quite easy and natural for him. Whether he was talking ill of Christ

or resolving to fast or whether he failed to offer betelnut to Baba at his

private puja to Baba’s photo, Baba was on the watch and when Kaka went to

Baba later, there was the appropriate rebuck and demand. Once Kaka resolved to

observe fasting for the night. But as Baba did not encourage unnecessary

observances, he repeatedly told Dixit to take his night meal. So Dixit gave up

his idea of fasting. This reminds us of St. Mark II 18-21 wherein Jesus

informed people that his disciples were not fasting as other devout people did,

as the children of the bride chamber would not fast so long as the bridegroom

was with them. As long as Jesus watched over his disciples and kept them pure,

fasts and vigils were unnecessary. When Baba was there to keep Kaka free from

lascivious thoughts and tamasic disposition, there was no need to fast. Even

after 1918 Kaka was feeling Baba to be the God within. He struggled against

evil thoughts and tendency to idle gossip or acceptance of low levels of

thought and action. He prayed within himself to Baba to correct him and guide

him. Even if his thoughts strayed, he would pray Baba to forgive him and

strengthen him in his avoidance of the same or similar falls.

Written by: HH Pujyasri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji in Life of Sai Baba

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

To read more articles on Shri Shirdi Sai Baba, please visit http://shirdisaibaba.blogspot.com