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"How Sai Baba blessed Dakisan Baba" is the 38th Leela in the series. In this clip, Vinny Ma narrates the story of Dakisan Baba, who had great influence on the people of Pune and Mumbai. He was born into a poor family and when Dakisan was a few months old, his father passed away. When Dakisan was 18 years old, he entered a Dargah and as soon as he entered, Sai Baba appeared before him, blessed him and encouraged him to serve the needy. However, life continued to throw challenges at him and after a few months of marriage, his wife passed away. He felt very anguished by this and was about to end his life when Alishah Baba saved him and stopped him from ending his own life.
About a year later, Dakisan was introduced to Khusha Bhau, who initiated Dakisan to Guru Bhakti. Since Khusha Bhau was a devotee of Sai Baba, Dakisan was also encouraged to follow Baba. Through Baba's Grace, Dakisan had a vision of Baba while intently praying, and this grew his devotion towards Baba. Later, in Mumbai, Dakisan opened a temple of Baba where he performed Aarti of Baba, spread Baba's teachings and served the needy. Although Dakisan Baba passed away in 1931, the legacy of Annadaan, social service and other seva continues even today.
Transcript
Innumerable saints have been born in Maharashtra, and left their legacy behind. One such saint was Daskisan Baba, who had a great influence on the people of Pune and Mumbai. He was born on Shravan Vad Ashtami by the Hindu calendar, and the month of September in the year 1904 by the English calendar. His parents, Lakshmanrao Naik and Jamunabai, resided in Pune and were exceedingly poor. When Daskisan was a few months old, his father passed away and his mother faced countless hardships and struggles. One day, in utter desperation, his mother took little Daskisan and threw him in a garbage heap. However, a Muslim lady named Chandani who lived nearby rescued him and gave him back to his mother. Around the age of 18, Daskisan left home and wandered about, and finally came to Aurangabad. There he sought refuge in a Dargah that had a lot of Fakirs living there. Upon entering the Dargah, Sai Baba appeared before him and blessed him, saying, “The Almighty God will take care of everything. Child, work honestly for an anna or two, so that you can fill your stomach, and perform service for the needy.”
At that time, Daskisan didn’t even have a rag to cover his body, and Baba gave him a Kafni. When he was 22 years old, he married a pious and devout lady named Radhabai. Unexpectedly, his wife passed away a few months after marriage. Daskisan was devastated and anguished by this, and felt that life was not worth living. One day, he decided to end his life by jumping into the Mulla Mota river. So he went to Lakdi Pull (the name of the bridge) and was about to jump into the river, when Alishah Baba, a Sufi saint, prevented him from doing so. Alishah Baba spoke to him compassionately and calmed his troubled mind.
About a year later, a devout lady named Lakshmibai introduced Daskisan to Sadguru Krishanath alias Khusha Bhau Mirajker. From the very first meeting, a deep friendship developed between the two. Following this, Khusha Bhau, through Professor Narke, gave Daskisan a ‘Guru Mantra’ and initiated him into ‘Guru Bhakti’. At that time, Lord Dattatreya manifested before him and blessed him. As Khusha Bhau was ardently devoted to Sai Baba, it was but natural that he was greatly responsible for influencing Daskisan to worship Sai Baba. Once Khusha Bhau made Daskisan sit in front of a picture of Sai Baba and meditate and worship Him intensely. And lo, Baba appeared before him and blessed him. Thereafter, Daskisan became devoted to Baba and inculcated Baba’s teachings in his life. After Khusha Bhau passed away, Daskisan started performing Baba’s Aartis and preaching about Baba’s divinity.
Finally, Daskishan settled in Girgaon, Mumbai, where he built a beautiful Sai Baba temple, which houses a marble idol of Him. This temple is popularly known as ‘Mangal Sai Dham’. Here, all the festivals are celebrated on a grand scale, along with Aartis of Baba, exactly as they are performed in Shirdi. On a regular basis, there are talks and discourses on Baba’s teachings, along with Kirtans and devotional songs. The focal point of this temple is to make its congregation aware of Baba’s teachings and help them incorporate these into their daily lives. The unique feature of this temple is that it is not just a place of worship, but it is foremost in doing ‘Sai Seva’. They provide food on a daily basis to the slums and poor neighbourhoods. A dispensary is open and takes care of the poor and needy people. There is special care given to needy children, and a doctor is available to examine them free of cost, and provide free treatment. There is an orphanage that provides for all their needs, like meals, clothes and education. Besides this, numerous social services are provided. This temple is one of its kind.
On 14th December 1931, Daskisan Baba breathed his last. However, the wonderful legacy he left behind continues to this day.
This Leela was taken from Shri Sai Leela magazine, vol. 66, no. 10, January 1988.
A special podcast series by Dr. Vinny Chitluri which is on Baba's leelas and life history.