Shri Shri 1008 Dadaji Dhuniwala Darbar (Khandwa)

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  Gaurav Jamle

  Nobody knows from where and how Dadaji came. Gauri Shankerji is the first one to whom Dadaji showed his Shiv 'roop'. Gauri Shankerji was a very big disciple of Lord Shiva. Sometime in the 18th century, he set out in search of Lord Shiva when, someone told him that its said that 'Narmada kanker, Shiv Shanker' (Shiv ji can be found in the river Narmada). He traveled all the way from somewhere in Afghanistan and reached the banks of the river Narmada. When he did not find Lord Shiva there he asked the people around if Lord Shiva could be found anywhere. He was told that Lord Shiva might be found on the banks of the river and he must start walking along the banks in order to search for him. So started Gauri Shankerji's 'parikrama' (circumambulate) of Narmada ji. Over the years during his 'parikrama' many other 'sadhus' joined him and formed a 'jamaat' of around 200 'sadhus'. One of these 'sadhus' was Dadaji maharaj. Dadaji used to do a lot of 'seva' (service) of all the 'sadhus' in the 'jamaat'. In the night when everyone else would be sleeping, he would make 'maalpoa' and 'halwa' (sweets) in big vessels for the entire'jamaat'. Whenever there was a shortage of 'ghee' (form of cooking oil), he would go to 'Maa' Narmada, dip his utensils in the water and it would get filled with 'ghee'. Later, when the 'jamaat' had enough provisions of their own, he would go and return the 'ghee' to 'Maa' Narmada. After completing 12 'parikramas', when Gauri Shankerji still did not find Lord Shiva, he was saddened and grew disillusioned with life. He decided to end his life by taking 'jal samadhi' (water burial). When he started to walk towards the river, a little girl held his finger and asked him what he was doing. Gauri Shankerji was in a angry and disappointed mood and he replied back that it is of no concern to the little girl what he was doing. The girl replied that she knew that he was going to end his life in the river because he did not find Lord Shiva. Gauri Shankerji's anger had still not subsided and he shot back "who are you?", to which the little girl replied that she was Narmada. A slightly subdued Gauri Shankerji then asked her why she had not fulfilled his wish for 'darshan' of Lord Shiva. 'Maa' Narmada told him that Lord Shiva is in the guise of a young 'sadhu' named Dadaji, in his 'jamaat'. Gauri Shankerji knew who Dadaji was and found it hard to believe that he was Lord Shiva. So 'Maa' Narmada told him to go and meet Dadaji. Gauri Shankerji was skeptical that once he would go to see Dadaji, 'Maa' Narmada would disappear and what if Dadaji is not Lord Shiva. 'Maa' Narmada told him that she will appear again when he would meet Dadaji. Dadaji maharaj was sitting on his heels and washing utensils when Gauri Shankerji came behind him and called out to him. Dadaji turned his head around to look over his shoulder and appeared to Gauri Shanker ji as Lord Shiva. Gauri Shanker ji could not believe what he was seeing and rubbed his eyes thinking that maybe he was hallucinating. When he opened his eyes he saw Dadaji sitting and again in a few seconds he saw Lord Shiva in Dadaji's place. When this carried on for sometime, Dadaji said to Gauri Shankerji that if was still finding it hard to believe then he should come closer and touch him. When Gauri Shankerji touched him with his hands Dadaji again revealed himself in Lord Shiva's form. Lord Shiva was in the legs folded and sitting posture when Gauri Shankerji touched him. At this point 'Maa' Narmada appeared and on seeing the two of them together said that she was glad to see that Gauri Shankerji's life long dream of doing Lord Shiva's darshan had come true. She then disappeared. Gauri Shankerji's aim in life was fulfilled and he said to Dadaji 'ab aap hamari gaadi sambhalo' ('now you sit on my seat'. Meaning that Dadaji should take over the 'jamaat'.) Dadaji replied 'hum tumhari gaadi pey tatti kartey hain' (I shit on your seat). He told Gauri Shankerji that he has no interest in taking over the responsibilities of the 'jamaat' and that he will be leaving the 'jamaat' now. He also told Gauri Shankerji that he should not reveal immediately to the 'jamaat' that Dadaji is Shiv roop and that he should take the 'jamaat' a few miles further before revealing the truth. Dadaji parted ways with the 'jamaat' and went to Sainkheda. Gauri Shankerji took his 'jamaat' a few miles further to Koksar where he revealed the truth to others and took 'jal samadhi'. It is said that Dadaji appeared in 'digamber roop' (without clothes) in the form of Ramlal Dada in Hoshangabad where he performed many miracles. He stayed there for 3 years and again his soul left his body one day when he fell into a well. After a few days he again appeared in 'digamber roop' sitting under a tree with a 'dhuni' (holy fire) lit near him in the Imaliya jungle of Sohagpur. On the request of the villagers he went to Narsinghpur which is situated around 10 - 12 kms from 'maa' Narmada. After sometime he left his body again and became one with the universe. He again appeared as Ramphal Dada in Sissiri Sanduk Gram. Around 1901 he came to Sainkheda to cure people of their sins. He stayed there for many years and performed countless miracles. Around 1929, Dadaji left Sainkheda and traveled to Chiappaner, Bagli, Ujjain, Indore, Navghat Khedi (Badwah), Daudwah and finally Khandwa. He stayed there for 3 days and did 'jan kalyan'. He got ready to move on and started to move when a 'sethani' (lady from the business community), Parvati Bai, came to him and said 'mera daal bhaat ka bhandara khaa ke jaana padeyga' (you must eat these offerings before you go). Dadaji refused her 3 times, saying that he has a lot of work to do. But she kept insisting and lay down in front of his 'rath' (cart). When she refused to budge, Dadaji said 'achha bhai hum to sotey hain, tu teri jaan' (ok, I will sleep now, you do what you want to do). Parvati Bai made an offering to Dadaji from outside his rath and after sometime when he did not wake up, they picked up the offerings and ate it. It had happened on earlier occasions too when Dadaji would sleep for 2 - 3 days at a stretch. After 2 days a strange, sort of mad man went to the police station and told a policeman that all these people are mad and that their Dadaji has taken 'mahasamadhi' and they do not even know this. The policeman came to the place where Dadaji's 'rath' was camped and told the people there this story. They took the policeman to Chottey Dadaji. On seeing them Chottey Dadaji started saying to them "Haan haan bhaiya, Dadaji ney samadhi leh li. Haan haan bhaiya, Dadaji ney samadhi leh li. Haan haan bhaiya, Dadaji ney samadhi leh li." (Yes yes, Dadaji has taken 'samadhi' ). Along with other disciples, Chottey Dadaji got Badey Dadaji out of the 'rath'and laid him on a wooden bed. He then bought that land by paying cash to the owner, 'seth' Gopikishan. He then made Badey Dadaji's samadhi there. Chottey Dadaji lit a 'akhand'dhuni and did 'tapasya' there. He laid down 24 rules, rituals and regulations for Dadaji's samadhi's 'seva' and darbar's 'seva'. Even today these 'puja's', 'aarti's' and other rituals are followed in all the darbars.

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