A body functions as long as a soul inhabits it. Similarly saints are the souls of the society. A society devoid of saints is bound to destroy itself, may it be anywhere in the world. India abounds in sages. Maharashtra has a galaxy of saints.
Shri Gajanan Maharaj, The saint of Shegaon made his first appearance in Shegaon on 23rd February 1878. He was quite young then. He was seen picking up rice particles from a thrown away leaf plate. He drank water along with cattle and went away. Thereafter he appears lying under the standing horse of Shri Govind Maharaj Taklikar, who was giving a musical discourse in a Shiva temple. Shri Govind Maharaj could know the wisdom of Gajanan
Maharaj, from the words uttered by him. Thereafter, Maharaj became known in and near about Shegaon. Gajanan Maharaj was a siddha and was oblivious of his surroundings. He used to lie anywhere, eat anything, wear any piece of cloth or move naked. Once a woman fed him a ball of half a seer chilies which he ate gladly and drank water. He was unaffected. He used to chant gani gana ganat botey
That is why he came to be known as Gajanan Maharaj. People used to offer him rich clothes, ornaments, money and eatables. He used to discard these things and move away elsewhere. Devotees often felt peaceful in his presence. They used to feel elevated in his presence. Gajanan Maharaj entered in maha samadhi on 8 of September 1910 at 8 A.M., when large crowds were chanting God’s name.
Late Han Kukaji Patil erected a temple on the spot where Gajanan Maharaj left his body. Gajanan Maharaj Institute has been founded and it is conducting various welfare activities.
Shri Ramchandra Krishnaji Patil managed the affairs of the institute from 1913 to 1948. His line continues to manage the affairs of the institute. Shri Dasaganu Maharaj has written the biography of Shri Gajanan Maharaj in an ovi meter.
No comments:
Post a Comment