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Sai Mahabhakta Late Shri.Vinayak Harischandra Thakur's name is mentioned in Chapter 21 of Holy Shri Sai Satcharitra. Shri.Vinayak Harischandra Thakur was the son of Late Shri.Harischandara Thakur. The exact birth date of Vinayak Harischandra Thakuris not known. However, he is believed to be born in between 1865-1870 according to his descendants. He was married to Late Smt.Saraswati Thakur. Shri.Vinayak Harischandra Thakur was working as a Mamaltedar in the Revenue Department. He once came to a town named Vadgaum with a survey team. There he met a Kanarese Saint, Appa, and bowed before him. The Saint was explaining a portion from the book “Vichar-Sagar”,by Nischaldas (a standard work on the Vedanta), to the audience. When Thakur was about to leave, Appa said to him, “You should study this book and if you do so, your desires will be fulfilled. And when you go to the North in the discharge of your duties in the future, you will be fortunate enough to come across a great Saint. Then he will show you the future path and give rest to your mind and make you happy”.
Sant Nischal Das
Late Shri.Vinayak Harischandra Thakur Then he was transferred to Junnar, where he had to cross the Nhane Ghat (a rugged valley) every day to get to work. This incident occured when Shri.Vinayak Harischandra Thakur was around 40 years of age according to his descendants. This Ghat was very steep and almost impassible, and no conveyance, other than a buffalo, was of use in crossing it. So he had to take a buffalo-ride through the Ghat. This trip inconvenienced him greatly. He was later transferred to Kalyan on a promotion and there he met Nanasaheb Chandorkar. He heard a lot about Sai Baba from Chandorkar and wished to see Baba. The next day, Nanasaheb had to go to Shirdi and he asked Thakur to accompany him. Thakur could not do so, as he had to appear in the Thana Civil Court for a case. So, Nanasaheb went alone. Thakur went to Thana, but there the case was postponed. Then he regretted for not accompanying Nanasaheb. Nevertheless, he left for Shirdi and when he arrived, he found that Nanasaheb had left the previous day. Some of his other friends, whom he met there, took him to Baba. He saw Baba, fell at His Feet and was overjoyed. His eyes were full of tears of joy and his hair stood on end. Then after a while, the omniscient Baba said to him, “The path of this place is not as easy as the teachings of the Kanarese Saint Appa or even as easy as the buffalo-ride in the Nhane Ghat. On this spiritual path, you have to put in your best effort, as it is very difficult”. When Thakur heard these significant words, which no one else knew, he was overwhelmed with joy. He immediately knew that the words of the Kanarese Saint had turned out to be true. Then joining both hands and placing his head at Baba’s Feet, he prayed that he should be accepted and blessed. Baba then said, “What Appa told you was right; but these things have to be practiced and lived. Mere reading won’t do. You have to think through and carry out what you read, otherwise it is of no use. Mere book-learning without the grace of the Guru or without self-realization, is of no avail”. The theoretical portion was read from the work “Vichar Sagar”, but the practical way was shown to him at Shirdi.
Old House of Late Shri.Vinayak Harischandra Thakur
Pooja Room of Late Shri.Vinayak Harischandra Thakur
Shri Sai Baba's Photo in Late Vinayak Harischandra Thakur's Ancestral Home
Late Shri.Vinayak Harischandra Thakur's Photo in Ancestral Home Shri.Vinayak Harischandra Thakur passed away peacefully in the year 1936 (Exact date of death not known). Shri.Dilip Shivaji Thakur, Grand Son of of Late Shri.Vinayak Harischandra Thakur & his wife Smt.Hemalatha Dilip Thakur are residing in Thane, West Mumbai and carrying on the legacy left by Late Shri.Vinayak Harischandra Thakur.
Smt.Hemalatha Dilip Thakur and Shri.Dilip Shivaji Thakur Please find below the Family Tree of Late Shri.Vinayak Harischandra Thakur.
We are giving below the contact details of Shri.Dilip Shivaji Thakur, Grand Son of Late Shri.Vinayak Harischandra Thakur: Shri.Dilip Shivaji Thakur (Grand Son of Late Shri.Vinayak Harischandra Thakur) (Source: Chapter 21 of Holy Shri Sai Satcharitra & Personal Interview Shri.Jignesh C Rajput, Surat, Shri.Krishna Chaitanya Akella & Shri.Naresh Kancharla had with Shri.Dilip Shivaji Thakur Ji on 9th July 2023. Photo Courtesy: Shri.Jignesh C Rajput, Surat) |
