Bhaktaratno

Among Shriji Maharaj’s devotees, Dādā Khāchar stood out as a paragon of virtues. His unwavering love for Shriji Maharaj was unmatched, and he remained ever eager to obey every āgnā of Shriji Maharaj. Time and again, Shriji Maharaj put Dādā Khāchar through severe tests, yet he emerged victorious in each one. That is why Shriji Maharaj would say, “Dādo is Dādo. Dādo is my everything. I cannot live without him.”

Once, Shriji Maharaj called Dādā Khāchar and said, “Dādā! Transfer this estate to your sisters.” Without a second thought, Dādā Khāchar immediately handed over his entire wealth to them without any hesitation. Shriji Maharaj then told him, “You no longer have a right to stay here. If you wish to stay, you must remain as a servant.” Without question, Dādā Khāchar started living as a mere servant in his own palace!

Another time, in a sabhā, Shriji Maharaj publicly said, “You are dismissed from your service. Leave immediately.” Many present in the sabhā were confused and wondered why Shriji Maharaj was treating such a great devotee this way. But Dādā Khāchar had no such doubts. Without uttering a single word, he simply bowed at Shriji Maharaj’s feet and left with his wife Jashubā and son Bāvā Khāchar. As they departed, Bāvā Khāchar, hungry, began crying. Dādā Khāchar went to the granary to fetch some gram flour, but Harji Thakkar refused to give any, saying, “Maharaj has not given permission.” Without arguing, Dādā Khāchar left empty-handed.

As Dādā Khāchar reached the outskirts of the village, Shriji Maharaj suddenly burst into tears in the darbār. He immediately said, “Call Dādā back!” When Dādā Khāchar returned, Shriji Maharaj embraced him and restored his estate by taking it back from his sisters.

Despite such harsh tests, Dādā Khāchar never wavered. He remained as obedient as a puppet in Shriji Maharaj’s hands, never questioning his actions or harboring doubts about him.

At Shriji Maharaj’s request, Dādā Khāchar selflessly dedicated his entire darbār to the swamis and devotees. Shriji Maharaj frequently organized grand festivals in Gadhadā, hosting thousands of devotees. The expenses were enormous, yet Dādā Khāchar never hesitated to spend for Shriji Maharaj’s sake. Even when his estate was under legal dispute in the Bhāvnagar court, making finances tight, he never once complained to Shriji Maharaj. He never doubted, “If Maharaj is truly Bhagwān, why is he not removing my suffering?”

Shriji Maharaj lived in Dādā Khāchar’s darbār for 28 years, calling it his own home. He once explained why: “Even if I strike Dādā five times a day, he will still tolerate it. I never allow him to settle in one place, and I must have made him move fifty-six times by now. Yet, Dādā has never even wondered, ‘Why is Maharaj doing this to me?’ That is why I choose to stay here.”

If we cultivate the same level of surrender, faith, and unwavering bhakti as Dādā Khāchar, then no hardship or challenge will shake our satsang. Shriji Maharaj himself will reside eternally in our hearts, making it his divine abode.