HEMAD PANT'S FIRST VISIT TO SHIRDI

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HEMAD PANT’S FIRST VISIT TO SHIRDI

The mantle of H. S. Dixit fell on Govind Raghunath Dabolkar called Anna Saheb

Dabolkar who proves a good Elisha following in the footsteps of the Elija

Dixit. The two were very well acquainted with each other though occupying

widely different positions in the world. Dixit was a well read B.A., L.L.B., a

solicitor with a great reputation and vigorously carrying on his activities in

political, legislative, legal, municipal and social affairs, having an all

India fame. Dabolkar was only a humble government servant devoid of any of

those activities and unequipped with the high education and studies and

contacts of the former.

Anyhow the two got into contact and along with the famous Novelist H. N. Apte

compared notes and found they had common tastes and uncommon ambitions

especially in the spiritual field. They agreed that a Samartha Sadguru like

Ramdas of Sivaji was decidedly the best person to resort to, if one could be

found. They were all feeling that no such person had yet appeared in their

horizon. They agreed between themselves if it was the lot of anyone of them to

light on such a blazing light, he should straightway inform the other two and

enable them to share the discovered treasure.

Dixit was the first one to find the treasure, in the person of Sri Sai Baba of

Shirdi in 1909. He at once communicated it to the others. He wrote from Shirdi

to Anna Saheb Dabolkar about Sai’s greatness and insisted on his visiting Baba.

Dabolkar was somewhat impressed. But he could not definitely make up his mind. A

self-made man who studied only up to fifth standard and passed his public

service examination, obtaining the post of a village talati and rising from

that humble position to the post of Mamlatdar and first class magistrate by

sheer ability, he was also a good student of work like E.K. Bhagavat Samkara’s

V. Chudamani and he felt that self reliance was the first and foremost virtue

in his nature. Contact with numerous Prarthana Samajists also weakens belief in

or at least reliance on saints and sadhus. So he was being pressed by his doubts

about the good of a guru.

When Easter vacation came in 1910, he almost made up his mind and did actually

prepare himself for a trip to Shirdi. But the day, on which he came to that

decision, he learnt that a friend of his lost his son and lost him even though

that friend’s guru was by his side. "If a guru could not save the boy from

death what is the good of a Guru?" was the powerful thought swaying him and he

gave up his Shirdi trip. Later on Chandorkar pressed him to go to Sai and then

he started (and by lucky or foreordained intervention of a Mohammedan friend

was prevented from missing his train).

At last he went to Shirdi where Dixit met him and the rest of the story is

narrated below. Here it is enough to point out that Dixit had a great part in

drawing Dabolkar to Baba.

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

 

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