Hari Sitaram Dixit

By : Sneha Damle

Hari Sitaram Dixit, H.S. Dixit was also called Kaka Dixit, Dixit or simply Kaka. He maintained a diary covering all the incidents and miracles in Shirdi. This diary not only covers the period after his arrival in Shirdi, but also prior to his arrival. His diary covers the period from 1909 to 1926 & is the first written document on Baba

Dixit was born in 1864 in a Brahmin family in Khandwa. He studied in different places, including Mumbai, graduated with a Law degree and was practicing as an eminent lawyer, a Solicitor of repute and earned a very good name. He was also a Notary Public and Justice of Peace, a Member in several public institutions and was a prominent political and social worker. He was an elected member of the Legislative Council and rendered exemplary service to the public with selflessness.

Dixit was an active member in National Congress. Kaka and Nanasaheb Chandrokar were old and close friends. Kaka was in London and one day while boarding a train in 1906, he slipped on the platform and got his leg injured leading to permanent disablement. Due to this reason he was not able to walk straight. He went through surgery and therapy in England but still he was not able to walk properly, and this remained as it was. Due to his lameness he got a chance of placing his feet on the soil of Shirdi. In the year 1909, He went to Lonawala on vacation and he met Nanasaheb Chandorkar, his classmate. After school education, Nanasaheb got engaged in government service and Kakasaheb started his own legal practice. After many years they met in Lonawala. On the advice of Nana, Dixit wanted to visit Shirdi. He was in Ahmednagar staying with Mirikar, his friend and wanted to go to Shirdi. At that time, Shama was also in Ahmednagar to see his ailing mother-in-law.

Mirikar came to know about this and arranged Kaka’s visit to Shirdi through Shama. Kaka and Shama went to the railway station, but train seats were not available; however, through a railway official whom Kaka knew, got accommodation in 1 st  class and reached Kopargaon where they met Nana who was on his way to Shirdi. All the three reached Shirdi. Kaka came to Shirdi first time on November 2^nd, 1909 and had darshan of Sai Baba with utmost happiness. Baba told him that he was waiting for Kaka’s arrival and that he also arranged to send Shama to bring him.

In Shirdi, in Lonavala, and in his house in Vile Parle, Bombay, Dixit regularly invited his friends and even strangers and offered food. His house came to be known as Anna Dhana Centre. In his Vile Parle house also, he regularly allowed several cats and dogs to eat food without any restriction. He was a very generous person and followed all the views of Baba.

Dixit got Baba’s permission to construct a residential quarter in Shirdi on December 9^th, 1910 and started construction work forthwith. He completed the construction work in about four months and the quarters were ready in 1911.

The residential quarters were called Dixit Wada and was inaugurated on Ramanavami day of the same year. Dixit Wada was located just across from Gurusthan. Dixit lived in a modest room on the first floor, leaving the entire area for the use of visiting pilgrims. Dixit did parayana every day in this Wada which was attended by several people, including visiting pilgrims on Baba’s advice. Dixit used to daily read the 11th Chapter of Nath Bhagvat, which is most important. Puja was also performed regularly in this Wada. It was in this Wada that Hemadpant, the author of Sri Sai Satcharitra used to stay whenever he visited in Shirdi. The building was later used as Bhojan Griha or canteen in Shirdi till mid1990s. Dixit bequeathed part of the Wada to the Sai Sansthan and later the whole Wada was given to the Sai Sansthan. A small part of it was open as a reading room. In a recent extension to the Wada, a few of Baba’s personal things and the items used by Baba were subsequently put on display in a museum called: “Museum Hall”.

After seeing Baba, his interest in his profession started diminishing and in 1911 he stayed for a long time in Shirdi in Dixit Wada. Dixit jotted down noteworthy instances indicating the miracles done by Baba on a regular basis and thus wrote a diary in Marathi covering all the incidents and miracles in Shirdi.

He gave up his lucrative legal profession in 1912. He reserved a room in Dixit Wada on the 1st  floor for his stay and use. He lived alone for 9 months during 1912 in that room in complete solitude as per Baba’s desire. Baba used to send his Prasad daily to Kaka. In that room, he was reading pothis, and religious books. After some time, Baba sent a message through Shama that Kaka could attend midday aratis and permitted him to join for the meals in the masjid. At this stage, he almost lost his liquid finances and became poor.

Seeing terrible change in Kaka’s life, his wife Saraswathibai was perplexed and came to Shirdi to live with Kaka. But as per practice no ladies were allowed in the Wada upstairs. Baba was also firm in this regard and told Kaka to continue his practice undisturbed by anybody. Baba also told Saraswathibai that she should not have any fears about Kaka, and He would look after Kaka carefully. Kaka was fond of bhajans, devotional songs and used to sing bhajans on Baba. Baba once gave a kafni to Kaka who used to wear it during his stay in Shirdi. Thus, Kaka became an ascetic in Shirdi.

After Baba’s Mahasamadhi, Bade Baba wanted to live in Shirdi; but nobody was prepared to give him any shelter, even a house on rent. This was all due to communal prejudices prevailing at that time. Despite protests by several people including Nanasaheb Chandorkar, Dixit gave him shelter in his Dixit Wada. This approach of Dixit proved that he literally followed the footsteps of Baba, literally.

Dixit had a leading role in Baba’s Samadhi in Buti Wada and in creating the Saibaba Sansthan of Shirdi in 1922. He worked as Honorary Secretary of the Saibaba Sansthan till his death in July 1926. In 1923 he started “The Sai Leela” magazine in Marathi which was edited by Kaka Mahajani.

Even after Baba’s Mahasamadhi, Kaka continued his services to Baba. After his Mahasamadhi, Baba helped Dixit in several ways. Once when he was in financial troubles and when he was asked to repay a large sum of Rs.30,000/- to his creditors within a few days, he was in a quandary and was perplexed. Baba came to his rescue and suddenly, his old friend’s son, on his own, brought the same amount and gave it to Kaka—which solved the matter.

In July 1926, Dixit, Dabholkar and Purandhare were going in a train and after boarding the train, Kakasaheb said, “How kind is Sai Baba? He takes care of the minutest needs of His devotees. If we had missed the train our day would have spoiled, and we had to spend the night in Colaba”. Eulogizing about Baba, Dixit closed his eyes. Purandhare and Dabholkar assumed that Kakasaheb got fully immersed in Baba’s devotion. After some time, Dabholkar whispered to Kakasaheb, “Bhau, are you awake?” He repeated this statement for about three times, but he did not get any reply from Kakasaheb. So, a railway doctor was called at Mahim station. On examination, the doctor concluded that while speaking about the greatness of Baba, Kakasaheb left his mortal coil. Then Kakasaheb’s dead body was taken to his house in Vile Parle. On July 5, 1926, Monday, Ekadashi day at the age of sixty two, Kakasaheb merged with Lord Baba which is heaven. Baba once told Dixit, “Kaka! I will take you in vimana (heavenly vehicle)”. Kakasaheb’s death was pleasant and peaceful. From the angle of attaining beatitude, his death could be considered as a blessing from his Sadguru. It is said in Gita, “The last wish or thought that a man has at the hour of death, determines his future course (for next birth) and that person attains the same”.

Dixit was highly devoted to Baba and had greatest faith in Baba who blessed him spiritually. He was a devotee of the highest order and followed scrupulously all the directions of Baba.