Hemadpant: part 1

హెమద్పంత్-1 

We as human beings have different paths to attain salvation but the goal is only one. The scriptures say that we attained this human form after so many past lives as different organisms. The scriptures also say that we have to take advantage of this opportunity. The supreme God himself came as Guru several times. Learning, reading about Guru and following Guru is one of the best methods to reach that goal. Those books about Guru helped so many people in the process and changed the lives of others. One such example is Sai Satcharita where Sai chose Hemadpant to write his story. Hemadpant’s past deeds helped him to be in that situation. Sai devotees saw the benefit of reading the Satcharita but people can imagine how blessed Hemadpant for writing this. Not only we have to do parayana (study) of these books but donate them to other people when possible. We spend so much money on our needs and luxuries, but this well spent money will accompany you as your good deed. Sri Sai Satcharita is not only a great book but also a way of life. We read several spiritual books, but Sri Sai Satcharita gives you methods to follow these scriptures. Baba was never about theory that much but he will provide you the experience.

Birth, family and Job details:

His full name is Anna Saheb Dabolkar. He was born in 1859 in Thana district. He belongs to Arya Gowda Brahmin family. His father, grand father and other family members were very pious and very spiritual family. He had his primary education in his own village. He studied up to 5^th standard (English) in Poona. Due to his poverty, he could not continue his school and had to take a job. He joined as a school teacher in his own village. Because of his extraordinary abilities, he was given a job as village officer. He worked hard and impressed every one in the higher ranks. He became well versed in English and Marathi. Then he becomes a clerk in the government and climbs the ladder up to retire as magistrate. How many people can do this kind of Herculean task with out proper education? He was married with one son and 5 daughters. They say that every one was in good situation and did not have many difficulties due to Sai’s grace.

Obstacles to first meeting with Sai:

 Some of us have more of Rajo guna (passion) when compared to other qualities in life. We want to reach to new heights in our goals and attain lots of success in our lives. When we do routine things in our lives, ego peeks out when ever possible. We go through feelings like “I did this with my own hands” and several other thoughts like that. In case of Hemadpant, he is no ordinary man. He became a Magistrate with out relevant higher education. These qualities might have created an obstruction for his first meeting with Sai. Only Sai will know the real reasons.

Hemadpant was definitely blessed to have the company of Sai devotees like Dixit and Nana Chandorkar. Dixit and Nana both told him several times about the greatness of Sai but Hemadpant was not convinced. Finally he agrees to go and see Baba at Shirdi. At the same time, one of his best friends son became ill. They tried every thing to save him and finally they take him to his friend’s Guru. His son dies there. Then Hemadpant thinks that it is of no use to go to a Guru. After Dixit and Nana’s intervention, he decided to try again. This time Dixit’s daughter dies in Shirdi itself. He feels that even Baba could not save her and what good is to have a Guru. He drops the idea of going to Shirdi.

The past impressions that we have are not just from one life but for so many past lives. We become slaves to these impressions. We think we are doing every thing in life perfectly but ego is hiding behind all the time. This will deceive us. There is so much passion (Rajo Guna) in some of the tasks and this quality creates obstacles in the path. You are running away from Guru’s grace with out your knowledge. We have to humble and surrender to higher power, only then you will get a step closer to this goal. Some times Guru wants to pull us from these problems but we become stubborn. We do not let Guru do his work. We make mistake after mistake. This rigidity and ignorance becomes a wall. Hemadpant was very pious and righteous. He was reading all kinds of scriptures and trying to live a meaningful life. He also read Guru Charitra several times but could not grasp the gist of the scripture yet.

Then third time was a charm. When Nana happened to come to Bombay and had some free time. They both met. Nana confronted Hemadpant about his inability and resistance to meet Baba. Here he reminds him of their pledge to meet a great guru and let others know when they meet one. Hemadpant told Nana that he felt that Guru could not do any thing when Dixit’s and other friend’s children died. Then Nana told him that Baba is different. He mentions all his experiences and all the Baba’s miracles. First of all we need to advance in spiritual life and Baba is the best Guru. When you are in presence of Baba you will feel some kind of peace.  Nana tells him that he should not hesitate this time and visit Baba some how. This was also Baba’s miracle to persuade Hemadpant.

First Meeting with Baba:

To have company of great people is not pure luck; you should have accumulated enough good deeds. Hemadpant after talking to Nana Saheb Chandorkar, was convinced this time. This time Baba himself is calling him so he can not avoid. Baba always says that no body can visit him with out his will. Hemadpant wanted to go to Dadar from Bombay and catch Manmad mail (train service). He took a ticket to Dadar. But he did not know that this train does not stop at Dadar. Then one Fakir came and asked where he is going. Then hemadpant tells him the details. He advises him to go to Bori bandhar. He follows this advise and was able to reach Shirdi with out any difficulty. This Fakir was no one other than Sai himself. But we can not recognize Guru when we are not vigilant. This was kind of first meeting but Hemad does not know that it was Sai.

Hemad reaches Shirdi where kaka Sahheb Dixit was waiting for him. This was in the year 1910. Then they only had Sathe wada to reside for visitors. After he got down from Tanga (horse carriage) he could not wait to see Baba. Tatya Saheb Noolkar came and told them that Baba was on his way to Masjid. He should go quickly and have a darshan (Vision) of Baba. Hemad runs immediately and falls on Baba’s feet. Hemadpant describes his feelings at his first meeting as follows;

My joy knew no bounds.  What I actually saw far exceeded what Nanasaheb had told me. I considered myself blessed. My eyes were fulfilled. I had never heard of nor seen such a personality. I experienced the gratification of seeing a much revered person. I lost my hunger and thirst. My senses stood still. By the touch of Sai’s feet, I achieved the highest plenitude of my life. A new life began thence. To those, through whom I attained this saintly association, I am entirely and inviolately under their obligation. Every fiber of my being was filled with joy. They are my real kith and kin, because of whom I attained the supreme spiritual riches. Beyond them there are no closer relations. This is what I believe in my heart of hearts. What a great obligation. I am unable to requite it. Therefore, I fold my hands to them and lay my head at their feet. I got the benefit of Sai’s darshan and all the doubts in my mind vanished. Moreover, I came in touch with Sai. It was exceeding joy that I experienced. Sai darshan is an exceptional experience. The whole nature changes with it. The memories of past deeds disappear and slowly a dislike develops for worldly pleasures. The sins accumulated from many past lives were destroyed by the benevolent glance. Hope awakened of unending joy being received at Sai’s feet. By my good fortune I reached Sai’s feet, which are as holy as the Lake Manas, which will transform a crow like me into a swan. Sai is a great ‘mahant’, foremost amongst saints, ascetic of highest order and a great yogi. He is the destroyer of sins, difficulties and miseries. By the darshan of such a person as Sai, I am greatly blessed by coming into contact with the treasure house of virtue. My meeting with Sai Maharaj is the outcome of the good deeds of all my previous births. If the eyes are filled with the form of Sai, then the whole world takes the form of Sai.

He narrated his blissful experience so beautifully. This is possible only with Sai’s grace. We all have to thrive for this kind of experience and ask Baba to give us this kind of experience. To have this we have to have eligibility. What did he ask us? Shradda and Sabhuri (Faith and Patience). We have to invite these two great qualities in to our lives. When we see Baba or when we go to Shirdi, we have to believe that he is in front of you and have complete faith in him. Then Baba will definitely shower his grace.

OM SAI RAM!