In the year 1951, one day when Shree Digambardas Maharaj (Vitthalrao Joshi) had come to see Shree Baba Maharaj, Shree Baba Maharaj asked him “Vithoba, will you be able to take a house in Pune and look after me?.” This really meant “Would you be able to carry on my Swaroop Sampradaya by staying permanently in Pune?”. Shree Digambardas Maharaj replied in affirmative. Shree Baba Maharaj had infact, nominated his Satshishya Shree Digambardas Maharaj as his successor!.
One day on July 24th 1953, Shree Digambardas Maharaj had come to see Shree Baba Maharaj. It was the most important day in the life of Shree Digambardas Maharaj, since the greatest of evolution took place and he attained life’s highest objective-the Divine Truth.
Shree Baba Maharaj took the right hand of Shree Digambardas Maharaj and held it with the palm facing up in his own right hand. Then Shree Baba Maharaj placed his left hand tightly on the palm of the hand of Shree Digambardas Maharaj and then spoke “Vithoba, from today onwards I have accepted all your egoism, on my own will. Today onwards you need not do any work on your own. Remember that henceforth, I would be doing all your deeds”. So, henceforth, Shree Baba Maharaj was to carry out all the responsibilities relating to the Swaroop Sampradaya only through Shree Digambardas Maharaj. That day Shree Digambardas Maharaj was fully satisfied since his life had accomplished the very object of existence.
On 26th July 1953, Full moon day (Poornima) of Ashadh month as per Hindu calendar, Shree Digambardas Maharaj performed the Shodashopchar worship of Shree Baba Maharaj. This was a remarkable festive ceremony. No sooner this ceremony was over, Shree Baba Maharaj took out his garland of roses with his own hands and put it around Shree Digambardas Maharaj. He also handed over his rosary of beads, as well as his and Shree Aaisaheb’s photo to Shree Digambardas Maharaj.
Also for daily worship he gave his wooden sandals to Shree Digambardas Maharaj. Finally Shree Baba Maharaj, with great affection, removed both rings including the ‘Sarpamukhi’ ring from his finger and put the same in the right hand forefinger of Shree Digambardas Maharaj. Then looking steadily in the eyes of Shree Digambardas Maharaj, Shree Baba Maharaj remarked, “Both these rings given to me by my Sadguru, have now been duly put back into the finger’s of my Sadguru!”. Both these rings were given to Shree Baba Maharaj by his Sadguru Shree Beedkar Maharaj who was reborn as Shree Digambardas Maharaj in this life.
As soon as these rings were put in his finger, Shree Digambardas Maharaj lost his outer consciousness and got the divine perception that Shree Baba Maharaj himself occupied the whole universe.
Then Shree Baba Maharaj embraced Shree Digambardas Maharaj and said “Henceforth you yourself need not do anything. I will do whatever is to be done, through you. You might go anywhere or to any corner of this world, even to America or England. Everywhere, I will be present with you. Henceforth you should only look after the temple-shrine. If you come across any fertile land, in rare cases only, you should sow the seeds in my name”. This really meant, “Only if you come across a suitable and capable person, should you initiate him in the Swaroop Sampradaya”.
Above remark was exactly similar to that exclaimed by Shree Swami Samarth to Shree Beedkar Maharaj- “Unless a man is hungry, do not feed him any food as it will not get digested”. Further Shree Baba Maharaj ordered Shree Digambardas Maharaj “Henceforth don’t come to Pune, without my permission. Until then, remain in Ratnagiri only”. Ratnagiri is a District place in Maharashtra.
After this, Shree Baba Maharaj gave the indication of his departure from this world. This created a very sad atmosphere among his devotees. Shree Digambardas Maharaj felt extremely disheartened. He was not able to bear the separation of his Sadguru. It was only because of the implicit love and stubbornness of Shree Digambardas Maharaj, that Shree Baba Maharaj deferred his departure from this world for a year.