Devotee biography

Hemadpant (G. R. Dabholkar)

Govind Raghunath Dabholkar — given the title "Hemadpant" by Baba. Resident Magistrate of Bandra. Wrote the 51-chapter Shri Sai Satcharita in Marathi, completed shortly before his death.

How Baba Sanctioned the Book (Ch. 2-3)

Hemadpant first came to Shirdi reluctantly, after a domestic quarrel; the visit transformed his life. The decision to write a complete record of Baba's leelas was made in 1916; Baba placed a coin in his hand as Prasad and gave the order. The book was completed shortly before Hemadpant's death.

The Name "Hemadpant"

Originally a title given to a 13th-century Yadava minister of literature (Hemadripant). Baba dropped the "ri," giving Dabholkar the name Hemadpant. The Satcharitra preserves the moment. (Ch. 2)

The Grams-in-the-Sleeve Lesson (Ch. 24)

One Sunday at the crowded bazar-day masjid, Hemadpant was shampooing Baba's legs when Shama noticed grains stuck to the sleeve of his coat. Hemadpant straightened his arm; gram-seeds rolled out. Baba's gentle accusation: "This fellow has the bad habit of eating alone… But do you remember Me before eating? Am I not always with you? Then do you offer Me anything before you eat?" The lesson Hemadpant carried for the rest of his life: nothing should be enjoyed without first being inwardly offered to the Guru.

The Stealing-the-Rags Episode (Ch. 41)

Hemadpant's parallel — when B. V. Deo asked another devotee how the other had received Baba's grace, Baba caught him: "You stole away My rags without My knowledge… I am sitting here ready to give you the whole gold-embroidered Shela; why go to others to steal rags?" The principle: ask the Guru, not other disciples.

The Cup of Butter-Milk (Ch. 38)

Once Hemadpant had eaten his full when Baba offered him a cup of butter-milk. He feared he had no room. Baba said: "Drink it all, you won't get any such opportunity hereafter." He drank. Baba passed away soon after. The episode is among the Satcharitra's most personal moments — and the one Hemadpant most often returns to.

The Satcharitra's Closing

Hemadpant did not survive to revise the final Epilogue chapter (originally Chapter 52). It was published incomplete; the verse-index of contents was composed posthumously by B. V. Deo, Retired Mamlatdar of Thana. (Epilogue)