Meeting of Kakasaheb with Sai Baba

Hariprasad 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 Soliciters 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 bunglow of his own in Lonawala from the money he earned. He was well versed in English language similarly he had good knoweldge of Sanskrit too. He had a practice of reading Ramayan, Mahabharat, Yog Vashit and Jnaneshwari.

Injury to leg:

One Hariprasad 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 Hariprasad’s leg had came only due to remove the fickleness of mind. Due to his lameness he got a chance of placing his leg on the soil of Shirdi. When calamily befalls on a human being, he dislikes everything. But sometimes such calamilies proves to very useful.

When Hariprasad 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 bunglow. There he met Nanasaheb Chandorkar his ‘separated classmate’.

After school education, Nanasaheb got engaged in government service and Hariprasad started his own business. After many years they met in Lonawala.

Hariprasad narrated his leg problem to Nanasaheb in detail. Nanasaheb said, “When all the dava (medicines) stop working then only Duaa(prayers to god) work.

Hariprasad 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 truely. 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 lamness 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 – As a sparrow’s leg is tied to thread and if 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 fortune have not risen are not called to Shirdi.”

Hariprasad 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 Hariprasad’s heart. A divine devotion started growing and Maya (attachment) started decreasing. There and then he decided to meet Baba.

In the year 1910 Hariprasad had to go to Ahmednagar for election work. He resided at Sardar Mirikars house. Mirikars were well known Sai devotees. Every member of Mirikars family had full faith in Baba.

In those days horse race gmabling was popular. People were very interested to witness horse races. Sardar Mirikar also went to horse race with Hariprasad 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 Hariprasad got excited and huggged 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 Hariprasad stepped in Dwarkamai, Baba said, “O Welcome Langda Kaka!”

After that Baba started calling him Langda Kaka and other people of Shirdi started calling him Kakasaheb.

Kakasaheb Dixit get engrossed with 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 give money and it must be used for Him only.

Kakasaheb shared his heart’s desire with Baba and for his noble work, Baba’s 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 rests in abode of Baba, Kakasaheb’s interest from worldly attachements 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.”
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.”

Baba said, “Others may do whatevery they like, but why should we do? Do your business honestly without any falsicity, but there is no need to wind up the business.”

Like this as per Baba’s advice Kakasaheb continued his business, but he spend most time of the year in Shirdi and served Baba whole heartedly.

Baba gave him updesh to read Eknathi Bhagwat in morning and Ramayan at night daily, which he followed strictly even if he was travelling in train. This was his routine till the age of 62 when he took leave from this world forever.

© Shirdi Sai Baba Life Teachings and Stories