Gajanan Maharaj

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This article is about Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon, an Indian saint who lived from the late 19th to the early 20th century.

Gajanan Baba at Shegaon, India 20th century

Name	Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj
Birth	February 23, 1878
School/tradition
Main interests	Hindu Religion

Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj, Shegaon.

Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj, from Shegaon (Buldhana District), Maharashtra, India, is considered by many Hindus to be a saint with miraculous powers. Gajanan Maharaj took "Samadhi" at Shegaon. Sant Gajanan Maharaj Temple is built on the Samadhi of Gajanan Maharaj at Shegaon. Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan is the biggest temple trust in the Vidarbha region and is so called as "Pandharpur of Vidarbha". It attracts pilgrims from all over Maharashtra and India.

Gajanan Maharaj also has followers all over the world. The origins of Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj are untraceable in history.Recently Biruduraju Ramaraju, in his collection of books called Andhra Yogulu tried to establish that he was a Telugu brahmin. In the biography of Maharaj too there is a reference that He corrected the chants of Telugu Vedic scholars. The legend had it that he might have come from Sajjanghad, the native place of Sant Samartha Ramdas. His exact birthdate is unknown, though his followers believe Gajanan Maharaj "appeared" on a Saturday dated 23rd February in 1878 in the Maagh month of the Hindu calendar. He was first seen eating the rice particles from the discarded leaf-plates in front of Shri Paturkar's residence, indicating "Annam Parabrahman," that is Food is Supreme Brahman; he was in the Superconscious State then. He was first noticed by a money lender by name Bankat Lal Agarwal (died 1923) who took him home, bathed him, fed him and requested him to stay with him. While he was at the residence of Bankatlal, he performed many miracles like giving a fresh lease of life to Shri Janrao Deshmukh, lighting the clay-pipe without fire, creating water in a dry well etc. Gajanan Maharaj later moved out from there, as saints normally do not live with house holders. Gajanan Maharaj looked upon all religions with equality and had devotees like Dr Lobo and Sheikh Kadu from other religions who also revered him. Even now a large number of devotees from different religions visit Shegaon for his darshan.

Gajanan Maharaj was known by several names like Gin Gine Buwa, Ganpat Buwa and Awaliya Baba. He used to move about nude or with very little clothes on his body, as he was completely oblivious of his surroundings.

Gajanan Maharaj had pre-indicated two years ahead of his giving up of his mortal coil and had informed his closest aides Balabhau and Hari Patil, the exact location where he should be interred. When people grieved he said "Dont think, I am gone. I will always be there, whenever you think of me. I will rest here." Even today several devotees get his vision in their dreams and maharaj forewarns them of any untoward incidents or any happy auguries.

HBP Das Ganu Maharaj has written a 21 chapter biography of Gajanan Maharaj in Marathi which is known as "Shri Gajanan Vijay," and which when read with devotion, gives devotees tremendous inner strength to ward off difficulties. Sadguru Gajanan Maharaj, takes care of his devotees from birth to birth, sees to it that they cross the ocean of worldly existence safely without drowning and leads them on the path of Liberation or Salvation. Maharaj propounded Advaita Tattva through his conduct and teachings. He had tremendous love and respect for all the saints.