With complete surrender to God, devotion rises to the peak of perfection. Mere formal ceremonial worship, mere singing devotional songs, mere making religious marks on the body and merely talking about or boasting about one’s devotion can’t make a person an ideal devotee. There had been perfect devotees in all countries and in all religions but even among all such devotees the most remarkable name is that of Dada Khachar. This brief life-sketch will tell you why.
Dedication and surrender to Guru or God has made many such names immortal in the cultural history of India. Such as Ekalavya, Karna, Harishchandra, Dhruva, Prahlad, Narad etc. But the life of Dada Khachar is unique so for as devotion is concerned.
Ebhal Khachar, the ruler of Godhada, was a great devotee of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan. Shree Hari fondly called him Abhayraj, the man who ruled over fear! One year after Shree Hari had come for the first time to Loj hermitage of Ramanand Swami, Ebhal Khachar in old age got a son, after the birth of four daughters. Jivuba, Laduba, Panchuba and Nanuba. He thought he got a son by way of grace of his Guru, Shree Hari. He was born on the sixth day of the dark half of the month of Pause in Samvat 1857.
Before Ebhal Khachar breathed his last he invited Shree Hari by his side and prayed to him to look after his family and all family affairs. When Shree Hari agreed, he left this mundane world peacefully.
Shree Hari then stayed at their royal residence. The first thing he did was to make arrangement for the study of the child Dada Khachar. For this He engaged Bechar Chavada a devoted brave man. who taught Dada Khachar the skill of various arms.
The test for true devotees can’t be a trifling one. So once Shree Hari said to Dada Khachar and his sisters:” Transfer all your inherited property in my name.”
Dada Khachar, Jivuba and Laduba agreed to this in writing.
Shree Hari then said: “Now leave my property.”
Shree Hari prohibited them to take any food or money before they left.
On their way to Kariyani they met Sura Khachar a prominent devotee of Shree Hari. When he learnt about this heart-rending incident, he was upset. He rushed to Shree Hari and said : “ O Lord, as God you are to be graceful and not so unkind. If this is how you treat your devotees who would worship you upon the earth? So please have mercy.”
Shree Hari called them back and said: “Transfer all your property to me on a copper plate!” Dada Khachar did the same ! And Shree Hari then asked them to manage the property in His name only.
But the test by Shree Hari didn’t end here. Once he demanded five thousand rupees on the spot, but Dada Khachar promised to give the amount next day. Shree Hari was upset and he left the royal residence. He tried to persuade Him by embracing four times but lastly Shree Hari pushed him to the ground where he fell profusely bleeding through his forehead! The sight of the blood melted the heart of Shree Hari who while bandaging the cut said: “Dada I will always be with you!”
Once Shree Hari asked Dada Khachar to chop up the head of an old women who had come to return money stolen by her from the royal residence
Dada Khachar said: “Killing a woman is a heinous sin. Again killing the surrendered one is also a similar sin. Killing one who recites the name Swaminarayan is also such a sin. However, if you stick to your command I will do what you said.”
Shree Hari withdrew the command and applauded the right spirit of Dada Khachar. Once when Dada Khachar was seriously ill. Shree Hari asked him to bequeath all his property to his sisters. At that time women had no share in hereditary or paternal property. Dada Khachar did this. At that time Jiva Khachar the uncle of Dada Khachar came there for a courtesy call to sick Dada Khachar whom Shree Hari asked to sign as a witness. But the crooked uncle said: “I will sign after the death of my nephew!”
After asking Dada Khachar to construct two rooms as a mini temple for Shree Vasudev Narayan Shree Hari left for Vadtal. When he returned He said: “These rooms are too small. Destroy them and construct two spacious rooms.”
Without any argument Dada Khachar obeyed the order.
Once Shree Hari said: “Vacate your room for my stay.”
Dada Khachar immediately vacated the room and occupied another one.
Dada Khachar and Shree Hari once saw a traveller trying in vain to light up a stove during the rainy season.
Shree Hari said: “Let there be a free Dharmashala for such travelers for free lodging.” Dada Khachar immediately gave the traveller a room and promised to build a travelers’ inn.
Dada Khachar’s wife had no children but he wouldn’t agree to his wife Kunverbai’s suggestion to remarry. With great persuasion by Shree Hari he agreed to remarry provided Shree Hari drove his royal chariot to the bride’s home. To the great surprise of all Shree Hari drove the chariot. And Dada Khachar got married to Jashuba the daughter Nagpal Varu of the village Bhatvadar.
Once Shree Hari said Dada Khachar : “I am pleased with you so ask for any boon.”
Dada Khachar said: “Since you have been always with me I need nothing else but my only request is this: if your devotees knowingly or unknowingly commit any sin please forgive them and after death you take them straight to Akshardham.”
The second wife Jusaba of Dada Khachar always addressed Shree Hari as Father and Shree Hari always took fatherly care of her.
Once Dada Khachar and his family requested Shree Hari to construct a temple at Gadhada. Shree Hari selected the land and the rooms of Panchuba, the sister of Dada Khachar in the royal residence. The rooms were pulled down and in the land cleared thus the foundation of the temple was laid on the eleventh day of the bright half of the month of Jyeshtha in Samvat 1885.
As monsoon was to set soon Dada Khachar said: “O Lord, monsoon is quite nearby. When the carts of farmers will be busy for agricultural work and thus they would be unable to bring stones and other building materials. So, that is my great worry.”
Shree Hari asked him to close the eyes and sit in meditation. To his great surprise he saw a majestic temple rising out of the selected land. He also saw devotees praying there and singing devotional songs !
So despite the rainy season the construction of the temple went on continuously and smoothly and it was completed only within four months! And the murti of Gopinathji (the form of Shree Hari) was installed by Shree Hari Himself on the twelfth day of the dark half of the month of Ashvin in Samvat 1885 before a large gathering of followers, devotees and saints !
Once a relative from Ayodhya asked for two thousand rupees for returning to Ayodhya from Suvasinibai but she expressed her inability. Asked by Shree Hari, Dada Khachar immediately gave two thousand rupees to that relative from Ayodhya!
Once a barber was shaving Dada Khachar when Shree Hari called for him. He immediately turned up with his head partially shaved!
Jiva Khachar the uncle of Dada Khachar created dispute about the ownership of certain fields of Dada Khachar. Jiva Khachar arranged for 200 hundred soldiers of Bhavnagar state for getting possession of the fields for him by misleading the ruler of Bhavnagar. Shree Hari also sent his assistant Harji Thakkar to that ruler with documents of Dada Khachar’s claim over the fields. But before any action would follow the divine power of Shree Hari brought there a messenger from the ruler. He brought the royal decree accepting the rightful claim of Dada Khachar and allowed him to take away the crop!
Once Dada Khachar had to go to Rajkot for some legal dispute but his case went on for more than a month. Worried by his absence Shree Hari sent a message to Dada Khachar to approach the British Governor and to request him to make him free to return to Gadhada. The Governor completed the case soon and Dada Khachar could return to Gadhada next day.
Now Shree Hari’s mission as God upon the earth was finished. He prepared his devotees and saints to bear the shock of His permanent departure from the world. And Shree Hari breathed His last to the waves of sorrows and shocks all around. But the grief of Dada Khachar knew no bounds. People had to stop him from jumping into the burning pyre of Shree Hari.
He went to the mango tree near by and prayed Shree Hari to come back to life so Shree Hari manifested there with his divine form and consoling Dada Khachar said: “Dada, I am immortal.” He garlanded Dada.
Dada told the mourners : “Shree Hari is not dead. He always lives with us in His divine form. So let us stop mourning. He Himself gave me this garland.”
Shree Hari departed on the tenth day of the bright halt of Jeshtha in Samvat 1886 while Dada Khachar lived for 23 years more to serve the saints and devotees and he passed away in Samvat 1909.