Shri Dikshit Sakha Apte
Agnishtomyaji/Somayaji Dikshit Shri Sakha Apte was
guided by Lord Parashuram in 1946 to Param Sadguru Shree. He visited
Swami Samartha mutt, from there Lord Parashuram guided him to
Gurumandir where Param Sadguru Shree was. Lord Parashuram guided as
a tonga vala, (horse carriage driver).
He impressed Param Sadguru Shree so much, that he suggested him to
accept Srouta Agnihotra. The first Shrouta Agnihotra is inaugurated
by Param Sadguru Shree in Mapusa, Goa. There after in 1969 the first
Maha Somayaag occured in Shivapuri. Dixshit Sakha Apte was the
yajaman. This Somayaag was performed after 2,500 years after the
earlier Somayaag.
Sakha Hari Apte hailing from Mapuca in Goa reached Akkalkot in the
year 1945. In reality he was drawn towards his destination. He
hailed from a Vedic family following spiritual practices in line
with the Yajurveda tradition. Immediately after alighting at
Akkalkot Road Station, he saw one horse-cart to travel to Akkalkot
town which lies at a distance of about 7 miles. All happenings
thereon can be classified only as inconceivable! Actually at that
time no such horse-cart existed in the town. Apte was not aware how
far he had to travel and how much time it would require but he
certainly remembers that he was driven to his destination within
almost no time at all! He was brought at the lotus feet of his
master by divine will.
He says, "I remember the day very clearly when I first came to
Gurumandir. A young radiant yogi was standing in the main hall door
of the math. He welcomed me with these amazing words "Come. I have
been waiting for your arrival!"
Apte was immediately attracted by the divine luster on Shree's face
and he accepted Him as his master. Apte was asked by Shree to learn
the chanting of Veda. He had resolved in the presence of
Paramsadguru, that he would commence Agnihotra as described in Vedic
scriptures. This formal Vedic rite was performed on the no moon day
of Vaisakh month in the year 1963. The three altars were built and
three sacrificial fires called Garhapatya, Ahavaniya and Daksinagni
ie.Tretagni were churned from two pieces of woods amidst the
chanting of Vedic mantras and firmly installed in his house never to
go away. Shree had specially come to Goa for this function. He later
revealed referring to this episode that it was a predestined day and
only to rekindle the dormant Fire of Lord Parshuram he had visited
Goa. And it so happened that the visit of Prime Minister of India
Shri Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to Goa coincided with the same day on
which Shree was reestablishing the lost tradition of Agnihotra. Goa
was granted freedom from the Portuguese rule and Nehru's visit was
to celebrate the occasion. As if when the science of Yajnya was
being revived by Shree, the entire city of Goa was in jovial state.
The land of Parashuram was filled with joy. The reason for this
being, the Yajnya system - the backbone of Vedic religion was taking
roots.
This same 'Ahitagni' Apte played the chief role of Yajamana (sacrificer)
of Somayaga that was performed at Shivapuri in 1969. This was a
unique yajnya in itself. On this occasion, because the lost
tradition of pure Vedic yajnyas was being reiterated by Shree. Vedic
pandits who were well versed and trained under the guru-hood of
great Vedic scholars, were summoned from all over the country A
great cause was served by the Somayaga of 1969. In the annals of
history of Vedic religion, after thousands of years, totally
'violence free' Yajnya was performed precisely according to the
injunctions of Vedas. Shree insisted that no animal may be
sacrificed in this Yajnya as this was in accordance with Vedic
teachings. Referring to the 'violence-free' Yajnya Paramsadguru
announced later, "Hence forth only Satvic Yajnyas will have to be
performed. Even to offer a symbolic Pista Pashu (replica of animal
prepared out of dough) amounts to committing nothing but violence.
As such people offer Pista Pashu just because they are helpless, not
being in a position to carry out actual animal sacrifice. That too
is totally wrong. Violence in any form is unacceptable to Vedas"
Now, his three sons Shri Mahadev Dixshit Hari
Apte, Shri Dixshit Deepak Apte and Shri Dixshit Prakash Apte are all
Shrouta Agnihotris. Recently Shri Dixshit Bhallal Apte and Shri
Dixshit Achal Apte sons of Shri Hari Apte has also accepted Shoruta
Agnihotra.
Dikshit Hari Apte with wife Shradda
Shri Bhallal Apte with wife