Datta Kaka

There are people who not only achieve ultimate happiness in their lives, but who help others live a happy, frictionless, smooth life. These human beings are called 'Saints'. Since they know the path to reach the peak of happiness, they have a right and an authority to help others come to that peak.

Datta Kaka (Datta Uncle) was such a person who not only reached the peak very early in his life span, but then spent the rest of his life helping others. Right from the beginning of his life, his focus was on understanding life so that living becomes happy and smooth for himself and others.

He was a follower of Brahmachaitanya Gondavlekar Maharaj from Gondavle, District Satara. His teachings are very easy, universal, time-tested, and very much practical — and so it is easy to follow them and achieve the peak of happiness.

To a few this is a problem, and a point to complain: why is bitter gourd so bitter, why is salt so salty? But a seasoned chef, instead of complaining about the phenomenon, uses them to make food that is tasty, satisfying to the taste buds, aromatic and finger-licking. He learns to use the right amount of salt with spices, a pinch of sugar, and a drop of lime. He learns that by applying salt on bitter gourd a big amount of the bitterness is removed — and so even bitterness is made tasty.

He used the example to explain how life can be made beautiful, and living smooth and happy, just by learning and using the characteristics of life in proper proportion. So the point of complaint actually becomes a point to cherish and enjoy. This learning he used to call the 'Midas Touch' in life.

This understanding and acceptance of the Midas Touch is possible by chanting 'Ram Nam'. So in a nutshell, his teaching indicates that merely by chanting Ram Nam and trying to learn about life, any life is made easy, smooth and full of happiness.

According to him, understanding this means experiencing God's hand in our day-to-day life, which gives solace to the human being. His reactions and consequent actions are changed, making that person a different and hence a happy personality, whose world changes to a Happy World.

The tool he prescribed to experience God's hand in one's life was remembering God by chanting his divine, pure and loving name — and thanking him for whatever he is doing in your life.

According to Datta Kaka, Gondavle is a producer of happy generations — and Datta Kaka himself was a happy soul of Gondavle's own production. He devised many formulae for happiness, and guided and dictated many books on happiness for the common man in his problems.

He was a saint of the common man. No issue of a common man's life was left unsolved by him, always through practical and easily doable solutions. He used to speak Hindi, English and Marathi.

Though he will remain alive through his teachings, his works, and the pure love showered by him on many during his life — and still continues through his remembrance — for those who believe in history, here are some glimpses from his life.

Mr. Pundalik and Mrs. Indira Bai Kulkarni were blessed with their third child, who was named 'Dattatray', in a small town named Chikhali (District Buldhana) on July 10, 1942.

He was later popularly known as DP Kulkarni among his colleagues, DP to many of his fellow Guru-Bandhus, Datta Bhaiyya for peers, Datta Kaka for youngsters, Kulkarni Saheb to LIC people, Nam ghenare (Nam Chanting) Kulkarni, Datta Aaba for children, Datta Ajoba, Namyogi Datta Kaka for disciples, Nampremi Datta Bhaiyya, and so on.

There were four siblings — the eldest being Mr. Janardan (aka Bapusaheb), then Mr. Vasudev (aka Babasaheb), then Datta Kaka himself, and his beloved younger brother Mr. Govind.

The entire family was a staunch follower of Shri Gondavlekar Maharaj (Shri Maharaj). At the tender age of seven, Datta Kaka received ordination — दीक्षा in Hindi, अनुग्रह in Marathi — from Shri Maharaj.

Then happened a meaningful event. Shri Maharaj asked this kid, “Will you follow me?” — to which he firmly replied, “I will follow you and only you.” This was literally followed, in words and in spirit, by Kaka all through his life.

At that moment itself, Kaka knew that it was only Shri Maharaj who understood him inside out, who was capable of guiding him and helping him attain the ultimate goal of life — Satchidaananda.

Datta Kaka grew up into a tall man with a positive aura around him, as if a happiness bubble was there, and anyone who came into his radius could experience divine happiness, contentment and solace.

His smiling voice and assuring words were such a delight to the ears of many. His kind and honest eyes were such that the one who looked into them could see immense love and care of Kaka for that person, as well as a reflection of one's own deeds.

Datta Kaka joined LIC of India and started his career from A (Assistant), reaching Z (Zonal Manager) by continuously upgrading himself through continuous learning and internal exams.

He used to be so punctual that people literally set their watches by seeing Kaka going to office. He was dutiful, particular about everything, and a smart officer, as he lived by his philosophy — a hero is a hero in all walks of life. All of his virtues got his colleagues saying: he is the gem of our office.

He served in various parts of India covering Ahmedabad, Dhule, Indore, Bhopal, Kolkata and more, and attended a seminar in Japan on behalf of LIC. He retired as Zonal Manager in 2003.

He had a strong determination to devote his life to serve Rama (Ram-Seva) and to take forward the work of Shri Maharaj, encouraging people in the adoration of God. The commitment for the said mission was so powerful that he stayed a bachelor.

Besides office and rest hours, he used to continuously chant Rama-Nama. He read, meditated on and contemplated the literature of Shri Maharaj — Shri Sadguru Lilamrut and The Discourses of Shri Maharaj — listened to audio cassettes of Shri Baba Belsare, took notes, and focussed on continuous learning. Meanwhile many people visited him and received guidance. He contributed his service to the Hospitality Department in Utsavs held at Malad and Gondavle, and took incessant Nama.

Rather than limiting himself to starting and maintaining his own family, he had a big family of thousands of members with different surnames and separate addresses.

He maintained a fine work-life balance and taught the ambitious generation that it was not required to let go of their ambitions, desires and dreams to be able to do Parmartha. Rather, Datta Kaka set an example by doing Parmartha and achieving everything in life simultaneously — indicating that taking Nama and being successful in Parmartha has an overflowing effect on Prapancha. Again proving: a hero is a hero.

He ignited the urge in an individual to become successful, guided them continuously on how to study well and appear in competitive exams, to 'Go on TOP', and how to live a permanently happy life in the remembrance of God. He used to say that Parmartha is not a credulous person's cup of tea — one has to be smart and intelligent to be able to see and acknowledge God's hand in one's life. And even if one is not smart enough, the beauty of chanting Ram Nam is that it makes the chanter smarter and wiser, to experience God in life and so become very relaxed and contented. It is the easiest, safest and cost-free method to become smart and wise in life.

By listening to the problems of people and giving solutions, he made their minds free of internal friction. This in turn made them smarter and more receptive to God's role in their life. When one gets a solution to his problems, he is ready to invest his time in doing productive things. This way his mind becomes open and happy — and a happy soul would automatically take Nama and thank God for all his blessings.

He believed in the philosophy of teaching the art of fishing rather than feeding with a fish. So initially he seemed to give solutions to one's problems, but later the person themselves, with an open and receptive mind aided by Nama and blessings, could find solutions and become an independent Happiness Seeker.

He never believed in, nor encouraged, superstitious activities or irrational behaviour, and never suggested any solution that was anything but easy to follow. He and his teachings were, and are, very practical, logical and sustainable — time-tested, universal, and very much achievable.

During his stay at Indore from 1981, he started Samuhik Upasana (collective worship) every Sunday from 9 to 10 am. People used to besiege Kaka after upasana to listen to the stories and learnings he shared about Shri Maharaj. His knack of telling about the ease of doing Parmartha in a super practical way, in the most easy words, helped many youngsters achieve on both dimensions of life — Prapancha as well as Parmartha.

As a token of acknowledgement of his work, in 1983 Shri Dinu Mama Ketkar (son of Shri Tatya Saheb Ketkar) offered the holy footwear (Paduka) of Shri Maharaj to Datta Kaka, which he endured with the expected sense of responsibility, love and care.

Every bee — every human being — that came near Kaka got the divine nectar of Ram-Nama. He gave the formula: take Nama and be happy. Where there is happiness, there is Maharaj, hence earn, sustain and increase happiness. Happiness is something which, when given out, does not reduce in the giver's hand, and when received does not fall short in the receiver's hand.

His eyes were never judgemental, rather benevolent and ready to shower blessings even on those who were not welcomed by society. He accepted them and helped them take Nama and be happy. Many people changed in his company, their ill habits got cured, they learnt how to live a happy life, their homes became heavens. He never publicised Nama, but spread the urge to take Nama and be happy.

In Kolkata, Shri Maharaj had conducted Hari-Haat — a sort of fun-fair — wherein people worshipped God in the way they wanted to: humming holy songs, bhajans, Sanskrit canticles, Ram-Nam, playing fugdi, cooking various delicacies for God and then donating the same as prasaad to those present.

In the same way, a Hari-Haat was organised at Mandleshwar (Madhya Pradesh) on the completion of the resolution of chanting Ram-Nama 13 crore times. Such fairs were a celebration of the accomplishment of a Sankalp, as well as a motivation for the next.

People started loving chanting Nama and requested Kaka to visit their homes and give them a chance to welcome him. This way many Upasana Kendras (centres for prayer) came into existence, where people continued the practice of praying, becoming happy, and making others happy. Kaka guided how the format of prayer should be — a fine blend of Jaap, prayer, and reading of the Discourses by Shri Maharaj. He ensured monotony was avoided and welcomed innovative ideas to make Upasana more enjoyable.

The theme of this activity was that when like-minded people unite for one resolution, a Group Power comes into existence, and that power helps generate positive and happy vibrations, which ultimately attract more positivity and happiness — the real hunger of any living thing.

Now Datta Kaka was not just an uncle for people; his divinity was overflowing, bestowing upon others all the blessings and divine complaisance (anugraha). This became more evident in the Utsav of Buldhana in 1993, conducted on the accomplishment of the resolution of chanting Rama-Nama. It became a grand pilgrimage.

A grand cortege was happening, with the portraits of Shri Maharaj and Shri Prahlad Maharaj in a palanquin, where various people urged Datta Kaka to give them anugraha. Kaka knew his role, and understood that all the people could not afford to go to Gondavale — and in case going to Gondavle got prolonged, why waste that time? Rather one should start taking Nama as soon as possible, as soon as one's conscience allows one to align with Maharaj.

So Kaka did not avoid giving people anugraha. Every segment of humanity wanted to be part of Kaka's circle — be it poor or rich, man or woman, aged or a kid, wise or ignorant, be it anyone. Kaka accepted everyone without any reservations.

One thing ignites curiosity: what was it that brought so many people, of different ages, genders and intellectual levels, to Kaka? It was his knack of telling Shri Maharaj's teachings and the importance of chanting Rama-Nama against the backdrop of contemporary happenings, technology, and relatable work-related experiences. Since he had himself lived by the teachings of Shri Maharaj, he knew every nuance of how applying them helps one in every walk of life.

The magical ingredient of his training was humour. He used to explain deep and enigmatical concepts of Parmartha by citing simple humorous situations from our day-to-day lives. This not only solved day-to-day problems but also helped increase faith in Shri Maharaj. Anyone who came to Kaka with problems and teary eyes would leave with a broad smile on his face, and confidence and love at heart.

He used to say: “My job is done, there is no need to get upset and disappointed by little things in life. We make a fuss of little things out of our imagination, which leads only to disappointment, and we stay devoid of the Real Happiness which is out there for us. We should remove the needle of a negative thought by simply providing another needle of a positive, happy thought — and thus both needles slip away.”

The stories, memories and learnings of Shri Maharaj shared by Datta Kaka were compiled into books and published under the series “Datta Kakanshi / Bhaiyyanshi Sukhsanwad” — Pleasant Conversation with Datta Kaka. Twenty-two parts of this series have been published so far.

How to deal with internal questions, materialistic or spiritual; how to behave in everyday life while protecting our happiness; how students should undertake their studies so as to achieve their goals; how the youth should go to the top of their field; how the relationships of a family may be nurtured with understanding and love, be it husband and wife or mother-in-law and daughter-in-law; effective parenting — all these aspects and more have been threaded into his books.

Originally written in Marathi, some of these books have been translated into Hindi, English, Kannada and Bengali. Since the books were written and compiled by different individuals, it benefited them too: in the process of compiling, they got to experience the teachings of Kaka.

On the eve of his retirement from LIC of India, his female colleagues expressed their gratitude for what Kaka had taught them during his tenure, and said: “We received fatherly affection from him.”

After retirement his work of helping people geared up, and he tried to use every second of his life to meet people throughout India, to spread Nama and Shri Maharaj's teachings, the happiness formulae, and his guidance. He continuously suggested that very little time is left — get benefitted as soon as, and as much as, possible. He did not care for his physical health, but gave every bit of it to the divine work with which he was entrusted by Shri Maharaj.

One who has come to this world has to leave it one day or another. That is the rule of this world. But Kaka has made a difference in so many lives by being alive through his teachings, his guiding words, his happiness-oriented thoughts, and the attitude one should behold to be able to be happy and make others happy.

He used to say: “If you put a scent on your wrist, people will enjoy the aroma — and since the wrist belongs to you, you can enjoy the fragrance any time.” Though he left this world physically on May 17, 2012, he stays alive in our hearts even today. He had specifically mentioned: “I will remain alive in your smile.”

It is said that saints are not limited to their physical existence, but remain alive through their teachings. One who implements those teachings in one's life can experience how the Guru's mighty hand is continuously helping him, making him happy, taking him towards permanent happiness. One should hold on to the rope of faith and enjoy the allotted lot — because for him, only THE BEST IS HAPPENING.