Sai Satcharitra-Chapter 50-Part 2

Thursday, July 21, 2011, 15:52

Read Sai Satcharitra, Chapter 50, Part 1 here.

Some time after, Kakasaheb went to Ahmednagar; and stayed with Sirdar Kakasaheb Mirikar in connection with securing votes for a seat, in the Bombay Legislative Council. Mr. Balasaheb Mirikar, son of Kakasaheb Mirikar, who was a Mamalatdar of Kopergaon, also came at that time to Ahmendnagar in connection with a Horse-Exhibition there. After the election business was over, Kakasaheb Dixit wanted to go to Shirdi and both the Mirikars, father and son were also thinking in their house about a fit and proper person, as a guide, with whom he should be sent there. There Sai Baba was arranging things for his reception. Shama got a telegram from his father-in-law at Ahmednagar, stating that his wife was seriously ill, and that he should come to see her with his wife.

Shama with Baba's permission went there, and saw his mother-in-law and found her improving and better. Nanasaheb Panshe and Appasaheb Gadre happened to see Shama, on their way to the Exhibition. They told about Kakasaheb Dixit there and asked him to take Kakasaheb Dixit to Shirdi along with him. Kakasaheb Dixit and the Mirikars were also informed of Shama's arrival. In the evening Shama came to Mirikars, who introduced him to Kakasaheb. They arranged that Shama should leave for Kopergaon with Kakasaheb by the 10 O'Clock night train. After this was settled, a curious thing happened. Balasaheb Mirikar threw aside the veil or covering on Baba's big portrait and showed the same to Kakasaheb. He was surprised to see that He, Whom he was going to meet at Shirdi, was already there in the form of His portrait to greet him, at this juncture. He was much moved and made his prostration before the portrait. This portrait belonged to Megha. The glass over it was broken and it was sent to Mirikars for repairs. The necessary repairs have been already made; and it was decided to return the portrait with Kakasaheb and Shama.

Sai Ram. It may be mentioned that the portrait, photograph or idol of Sai Baba, His udhi, and His name are identical with His physical body (because Sai was not limited to His Physical body or Shirdi as a location). We have already seen in one earlier chapter how Baba remarked to a devotee when he came first to Shirdi that He knew him for four years and on further introspection, the devotee remembered how he prostrated before a photo of Sai four years ago. Sai, thus came to Ahmednagar to personally welcome His devotee Kakasaheb Dixit. Sai Ram.

Before ten O'Clock, they went to the station and booked their passage; but when the train arrived, they found that the second class was overcrowded; and then there was no room for them. Fortunately, the guard of the train turned out to be an acquaintance of Kakasaheb; and he put them up in the first class. Thus they travelled comfortably and alighted at Kopergaon. Their joy knew no bounds when they saw there Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who was also bound for Shirdi. Kakasaheb and Nanasaheb embraced each other, and then after bathing in the sacred Godavari river, they started for Shirdi. After coming there and getting Baba's darshan, Kakasaheb's mind melted, his eyes were full of tears and he was overflowing with joy. Baba said to him, that he also was waiting for him; and had sent Shama ahead to receive him.

Sai Ram. As mentioned above, Baba was indeed waiting for His great devotee and not only sent Shama ahead but gave blessings in the form of His own portrait and we can say He was so eager to welcome His devotee that He went to Ahmednagar Himself! Sai Ram.

Kakasaheb then passed many happy years in Baba's company. He built a Wada in Shirdi which he made as his, more or less, permanent home. The experiences he got from Baba are so manifold, that it is not possible to relate them all here. The readers are advised to read a special (Kakasaheb Dixit) No. of 'Shri Sai Leela' magazine, Vol. 12, No. 6-9. We close this account with the mention of one fact only. Baba had comforted him by saying that in the end "He will take him in air coach (Viman)", (i.e., secure him a happy death). This came out true. On the 5th of July 1926 A.D., he was travelling in the train with Hemadpant and was talking about Sai Baba. He seemed deeply engrossed in Sai Baba. All of a sudden he threw his neck on Hemadpant's shoulder, and breathed his last with no trace of pain and uneasiness.

Sai Ram. What a great way to go out of the physical body, a real prison for many souls? Kakasaheb Dixit was indeed a blessed devotee of Baba. Let us prostrate ourselves to him too (bowing to devotees and servants of Guru is a good way of seva to Guru Himself.). Sai Ram.