Dasganu Maharaj’s Confusion Cleared By Kakasaheb Dixit’s Maid Girl

Stories About Dasganu Maharaj Translated from the book Sai Sarovar, shared previously

1. Police Turned Into Poise
2. How Dasganu Served As A Saint In Ram Mandir
3. Dasganu Maharaj – A Dedicated Police Officer
4. How Dasganu Maharaj Composed Shirdi Maze Pandharpur
5. Dasganu Maharaj’s Kirtan Brings Laxmichand To Shirdi
6. Dasganu Maharaj’s Confusion On Isha Upanishad

In the last post, we read that Dasganu Maharaj was confused about a Shloka on Isha Upanishad, but when he goes to Sai Baba for clarification, he got an unexpected reply. Baba said, “Oh, what’s there to think so much in this matter? Even the helper of Kakasaheb knows this fact. When you happen to visit Mumbai go to her and get the clarification”.

Dasganu Maharaj had unshakable faith in Sai Baba’s words. He knew Sai Baba never uttered false words.

Kakasaheb Dixit lived in the Vile Parle suburb of Mumbai and his house was famous and known as Dixit Wada. Dasganu Maharaj went to Mumbai and stayed at Kakasaheb’s house. Kirtan went on till late that night and everyone slept late.

It was early morning when Dasganu was still sleeping, but half awake, he heard a sweet voice. The song described the beauty of an orange-colored saree. The voice reflected happiness and contentment. Dasganu Maharaj while he was still in bed, concluded that the voice was of a lady who hails from a well-to-do family and was eager to see and meet her. Upon searching for her and inquiring about her whereabouts he came to know that she was Maalkarni, the sister of a helper at Kakasaheb Dixit’s house. She was singing with all her heart without thinking about her position or bothering that she had only a torn end of a saree on her shoulder. She had a joyful temperament in her and the song that was sung by her clearly surfaced it. The orange-colored saree which she was praising in her song was not owned by her, instead, a small end of a green saree was on her.

When Dasganu Maharaj stepped out in the afternoon, he meet Rao Bahadur Moreshwar Pradhan and got a beautiful saree for the girl in Kakasaheb’s service. He gave her the saree that evening to her.

She was happy on receiving the saree and the next day she wore it. She was happy again and finished her chores in time to go and play with her friends. Her happiness was clearly visible and she was overflowing with emotions.

The following day, she kept the new saree back home safe in a trunk and came with the same torn end of the saree she was wearing the other day. Now that she had a new saree, keeping it she choose the old one, and that too with no sense of disappointment on her face. She was in the same joyous mood and her face was glowing with the same happiness.

Seeing the whole episode, Dasganu Maharaj understood the meaning of enjoying and sacrificing at the same time. The girl who can enjoy the happiness of richness (wearing a new saree), left it behind and chose to be in a less privileged situation (wearing the old torn saree). She enjoyed it for a while the previous day and the next day she sacrificed it. So being happy and sad are the two dimensions of thoughts of the mind and not quality or characteristic of a person. He realized that everything that pervades this world is ordained by God and the universe is all a showoff, there is no space without God. That is why the Upanishads say that the remnant that remains after removing the whole from the whole is complete. Thus Sai Baba, with His special knowledge, explained to His devotees the principles of philosophy, devotion, humanity, and love. His way of explaining was different and practical.

Our views: In this episode the saree (old and new) plays the role of Maya. The helper here plays the role of a Sansari who has to perform various duties to sustain herself. While she is doing so and following her Swa-dharama as well as being distached to it. She has balanced state of mind. The old saree as a rag on her did not upset her nor the new saree swayed her from her point of balance. She was concentrated on her Swa-Dharma and carrying on her journey. The saree also symbolizes "कस्य-स्वीत धनं" which means other's wealth. It shows we should not be deviated with the wealth that does not belong to us and stick to the Inner-Consciousness. That is real penance in this Kaliyug. Performing duties of sustanance and not getting deviated from the equilibrium are the characteristics of a Karma Yogi. Our Sai Baba wanted to forward this message to all His devotees and that is why He made His one devotee as an instrument and directed the show.

There is another instance that is worth discussing here. Sai Baba never had an aversion to onions. He used to say, “The one who has the power to subdue the aphrodisiac power of onions, should happily eat it”. Dasganu never ate onions as he was a public figure, a kirtankaar, and belonged to a conservative society. Baba once asked Dasganu to cook and bring a dish called ‘Pithla’ (an authentic Maharashtrain dish made with onion and gram flour by adding spices) from home. He also asked Dasganu to eat some before he bring the dish to Him. After the dish was prepared, Dasganu took a little on his finger and placed the food on his lower lip. He mentally convinced himself of eating Pithla and washed his hands and face. He took the dish, then to Dwarkmai. Sai Baba with His intuition asked, “O Ganya, did you eat the Pithla before you came here?” Dasganu just nodded his head in affirmation. Baba replied without any pause, “This Ganya is a hypocrite. Do you all know in what way he ate the Pithala?” Then Baba exactly mimicked Dasganu’s trick to touch the Pithala to his lip and considered it to be eaten. In this way, Baba exposed Dasganu’s hypocrisy in a fun way. After this, Dasganu started eating onion every day except Ekadasi.

Source: Translated from Gujarati Book Sai Sarovar

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