Shri Dattatreya – Datta Guru

Lord Dattatreya

Shri Dattatreya is a very ancient incarnation, highly venerated through the ages. Dattatreya – a Universal Guru manifested in the recess of time of ‘Kaliyug’, when humanity had gone far from its pristine state and steeped into threshold of a time when all kinds of vices had already taken root, and the pious souls made fervent appealed for the salvage of the mankind surging forward in manifold way. He had descended on this earth to establish ‘Satya‘ (the Universal Truth), ‘Rta’ (the Cosmic Order), Dharma‘, (the perennial principles), in all its entirety.

Seer Atri was one of such Seers who had ‘seen’ and experienced the Brahman, the eternal Wisdom. To him was born a son, the product of the Grace or the Divine Will, which was the manifestation of all three Primal Energies of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He was ordained with the three energies; He came to have the concentrated wisdom of the three God-heads or symbolically three heads. The three heads signified as Brahma: ‘Tejas’ personified, Vishnu: ‘Ojas‘ personified, Shiva: ‘Tapas’ personified. Under these heads, illumination of knowledge, vigorosity of action and stringency of penance were represented as three aspects or state of being of the same.

Birth: Dattatreya had descended into the realm of world as progeny of Atri and Anusuya, a sage couple of the Vedic age. Anusuya became very famous for her devotion to her husband. She was the embodiment of chastity. Such was her spiritual power that, even hard earth turned soft and smooth for her as she walked about. This pious woman induced jealousy and envy in others, however, and the three Gods decided to prove these doubting elements how wrong they were.

They transformed themselves into mendicants, approached the hermitage of sage Atri and begged for alms. At that time sage Atri was away at the river offering his daily oblations. Anusuya came out and offered food to them. They made a strange request; the food be prepared and served to them by Anusuya, without clothes. In the Indian tradition any ‘athithi‘ (guest) cannot be turned away, as they are considered to be an aspect of God. Hence she was placed in a dilemma. She smiled to herself and reflected thus: ‘I am totally purified by the long association with the holy sage Atri. What harm can the god of lust ever do to me? So I do fear nothing. As they have sought food from my hands, I look upon them as my own children and not as strangers and grown up men!’ Her thoughts – the thoughts of a pious and chaste person – instantly became reality; the elderly guests became babies!

Sage Atri on his return to the hermitage saw his wife Anusuya fondling three babies. Anusuya said “These children are the gift of God to us who have been childless so far”. Sage Atri was overjoyed and named them Datta, which means ‘given’. At this the three Gods reverted to their real forms and disclosed the truth. They extolled the power of chastity and purity of Anusuya which vanquished the combined and colossal powers of all three of them. Sage Atri and Anusuya prayed that they should remain as their sons. They consented and the three Gods merged into one body.
This is how Shri Dattatreya incarnated and is known as Gurudeva Datta – the Guru of all Gurus.

Splendorous form of Datta Guru:

Shri Dattatreya or Datta Guru, an incarnation who came to light the lamp of wisdom among the people.
Shri Dattatreya is a splendorous form. His face radiates all wisdom and draws us away from the lures of the world.
Though He is the Supreme Lord of this universe, yet He is a total and supreme recluse. Though He moves from place to place, His favorite abode is the Holy Audambar tree (A type of fig type, Ficus glomerate). He has matted hair on His head. His body is ever smeared with holy ashes and He wears tiger-skin for His garment. A cow and four dogs are always with Him as His constant companions. He is an ‘Avadhoot’, ever anchored in Spirit, but always overflowing with compassion for all the beings and the entire creation. He is the embodiment of total Godhead. All the aspects of Godhead are fully manifest in Him. His faces and form are ever radiant with peace and divine charm.

• The Cow, which is always with Him, represents the Mother Earth and Dharma. She is the wish fulfilling cow ‘Kamadhenu‘.
  • The four dogs symbolise the four Vedas – the external repositories of Spiritual Wisdom.
  • The Trident indicates that He has transcended the three gunas, which constitute the illusory world:
  Sattva-illumination, Rajas-activity and Tamas-inertia.
  • The ‘Sudharshana chakra‘ , disc indicates that He is beyond the cycles of time i.e. the past, present and future and His holding of ‘chakra’ means He is the controller of time.
  • The Conch represents the eternal sound ‘AUM’ – which is the manifestation of the Spirit. It is also the life principle in us and the cosmos.
  • The ‘Bhasma‘ ashes indicated His ‘Vairaagya‘ dispassion as well as His purity. Ashes indicate the evanescent nature of all created nature of all created objects and the ultimate state of all matter.
  • He always carries a begging bowl so as to teach us the lesson that we will have to share our wealth and food with others.
  • The Japa-mala, rosary He wears reminds us that our primary duty is chanting the sacred name of the Lord and meditating on the feet of the Lord, and our redemption depends on this discipline alone.

Shri Dattatreya, in order to bless His devotees and the righteous ones, wanders about in the guise of a random guest at the lunch hour. That’s why it is said that a random guest has to be treated as the very embodiment of Lord Dattaterya.

God’s creation was His Guru:  He had twenty four Gurus.

Shri Dattatreya had twenty four teachers from nature “many are my preceptors,” he told King Yadu, “selected by my keen sense, from whom acquiring wisdom freely, I wander in the world…. The earth, air/breeze, sky, fire, the sun, pigeon, python, sea, moth, elephant, ant, fish, Pingala the courtesan, arrow-maker, infant/playful boy, the moon, honeybee, deer, bird of prey, maiden, serpent, spider, caterpillar and water are my twenty four preceptors.

His Teachings:

Guru Dattatreya gave Ashtanga Yoga (eight fold path of Yoga) to the world thousands of years ago. Patanjali codified this knowledge in sootra forms. It comprises:

1. Yama – non-killing, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, and non-receiving of any gifts. Moral discipline.
2. Niyama – cleanliness, contentment, austerity, study and self-surrender to God. Moral discipline Yama and Niyama are moral  training and form the basis of Yoga. As these two become established, the Yogi will begin to realize the fruits of his practice.
3. Asana – posture
4. Pranayama – ‘Prana’ is the life-force, ‘yama’ is control. ‘Pranayama’ consists of breath control exercises.
5. Pratyahara – withdrawal of senses from sense objects.
6. Dharana – concentration.
7. Dhyana – meditation.
8. Samadhi – the transcendental or super conscious state of being one with God: Principle tenets of the Dattatreya tradition.

The principle tenets of the Dattatreya tradition are:

1. Everyone should know oneself first and should know one’s own reality, which is but God.
2. One should realize the relationship between God, man and creation – the underlying kinship, unity and oneness of these three entities. Brahman is the immanent and all pervading reality in all matter – it is the origin, the support and sustenance of all.
3. To obtain this vision and discern this truth, one should conquer one’s ego through Yoga and renunciation.
4. Guru’s grace is indispensable. One has to surrender oneself totally and unreservedly at the feet of the Guru.
   His grace awakens ‘Jnana’ (illumination) by which we can recognize the Reality of Brahman, which is the real self of all.

Apart from this the disciples should:
• Have purity of thought, word and deed.
• Do ‘Nama smaran’ – remembrance of the Lord’s name and meditation on it.
• Have compassion and love for all beings.
• Render selfless services at the feet of the Guru and surrender completely and unconditionally.

Incarnations of Shri Dattatreya :

While Shri Dattatreya was the primal manifestation in “Datta Sampradaya” and Guru tradition, His incarnations are:

1. Shripad SriVallabh.
2. Sri Narasimha Saraswati.
3. Shree Swami Samarth of Akkalkot.
4. Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi.

Shripad Sri Vallabh was born in a Brahmin family in a village named Pithapur (East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh, India). A Brahmin couple Appala Raju Sharma and Sumathi, were devotees of Lord Datta. They had many children of whom only two survived. One was lame and the other was blind. They worshiped Lord Datta and never failed to offer food to mendicants and monks. They looked upon all such as they very forms of Lord Datta. One day, they were performing the annual ceremony in their house and many Brahmins were invited as guests for the feast. Tradition holds that none should eat on that day before these guests partake their food.

At that time Lord Dattatreya appeared at their threshold in the form of a renunciate sadhu (saint), bearing the staff and the water-vessel (Kamandalu) and asked for food. The housewife, with immense faith that the visitor was none other than the Lord to whom the whole annual ceremony was being offered, gave Him food even before the Brahmin guests were fed!

Her faith touched the Lord’s heart and He at once granted her a vision of this true form. His glorious form had three heads, clad in a tiger’s skin and his body besmeared with sacred ash (vibhuti), he looked like a silver mountain in moonlight.

The blessed housewife drank the divine glory of the Lord’s from and felt that the highest object of her birth was fulfilled. The Lord said, “Mother, I am pleased with your devotion. Even before you fed the Brahmin guests, you have given me food with the full faith that this is the Lord in the guise of a holy mendicant. Now, ask me for anything you wish and it shall be granted”. The sight blessed her eyes and now her ears were sanctified by His sweet words. “Lord”, she said, “Lord! You addressed me as mother, please let your word be turned into reality”.

Lord replied Tathastu (so be it) and disappeared. Lord Dattatreya, in order to bless his devotees and the righteous ones, wanders about in the guise of a random guest at the lunch hour. That’s why it is said that a random guest has to be treated as the very embodiment of Lord Dattaterya. Then Sumathi told her husband of the Divine vision the Lord had bestowed on her and of his granting her wish for a divine son.

Not long after, Sumathi conceived and delivered a male child at the proper time. She gave birth to one who is indeed birth-less.

This was no birth in the normal sense, the Lord just manifested Himself as a child in this house. As the child has all the Divine features with celestial radiance, he was fittingly named as Sripaad. This was the first incarnation of Lord Dattatreya.

As days and months passed, the child Serenade grew ever more glorious, the age of eight. As per the tradition, he was invested with the sacred thread. Normally, after the sacred thread ceremony a boy has to be trained by a Guru for 8 years before he can memorize the Vedas (external repositories of Spiritual Wisdom) completely. But this boy, Sripaad, started imparting vedic knowledge to this pupil right from the moment of his Upanyana (sacred thread ceremony). It was all a purely Divine miracle.

When Sripaad attained marriageable age, He was asked His opinion, “All women in this world are like my mother. I am married to sannyaasa (renunciation). My mission is to give initiation and guidance to sadhus (holy men)”. Speaking thus he sought permission from his parents to become a sannyasi and to leave the house. The parents were loathe to forego such a son. Apart from this the other two children were dumb, deaf and blind. If Sripad left his parents, who will look after them in their old age. Sripaad understood their anxiety. He called these blind and lame brothers, his heart, melting with compassion at the sight of the tears in his parents, Sripaad touched his brothers and made them whole in a moment! What is impossible for the Almighty and the lord of the universe?

The miracle dispelled the veil of delusion that blinded their understanding. Then the Lord granted them the vision of His real Divine form. The handsome, tender lad at once appeared radiant like a million suns and pleasing as myriad moons. His blissful nature seemed to enliven every atom of existence. With their permission, He renounced all worldly ties and trekked to several Holy places like Dwaraka, Brindavan, Mathura, and Badrinath. After wandering there for sometime, He marched down to the Holy Gokarna in order to bless the spiritual seekers. Sripaad lived for three years in Gokarna. Having uplifted several seekers there spiritually, the Lord went to Kurvapur and settled down there.

One day a widow, Ambika came to the river to end her life due to her unbearable poverty and to run away from the world which made fun of her for having given birth to a dullard and an idiot boy. Miraculously Shripad SriVallabh came there and said ‘Oh Brahmin, do not be hasty; otherwise you would incur the sin of committing suicide, as well as the sin of killing a Brahmin. No one can help you out of it. It is better for you to live on, facing any amount of suffering. The Brahmin lady then said, ‘Oh Holy one, people are humiliating me for being cursed with the birth of a stupid son. They consider it a sin even to see my face. What could I gain by continuing to live?’

The Lord was moved by compassion at her words and said, ‘Mother, by committing suicide, you only add to your former sins and you will have to suffer more in the next life. Therefore, devote your whole life to the worship of Lord Shiva. You shall be blessed with a noble son in your next life’.

The above event was perhaps Shri Guru’s own sankalpa to reincarnate again as Sri Narasimha Saraswati . Therefore He had pre-arranged this leela so as to meet and bless His next incarnation’s mother-to-be. Sripaad Vallabha disappeared one day after entering the Ganges river. Though he is physically no more, devotees ever feel His presence and grace. His divine spirit is ever manifest. The Lord is eternal. As He is the seed of the whole universe, His activities are infinite. So His purposes are infinite. In fact, He is ever in front of His devotees, granting their prayers. Yet he is invisible to all those who are blinded by the spirit of the ‘Kali’ age he has been granting the wishes of his devotees, though he is invisible to them. Shripad SriVallabh can even be seen by those who are pure of heart. That village has become a Holy by His eternal presence.

Shri Narasimha Saraswati lived from 1378 to 1459 (Shaka 1300 to Shaka 1380). Saraswati was born into a Deshastha Brahmin family in Karanjapur, modern-day Lad-Karanja (Karanja) in the Washim district, which is a part of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, India. His father (Madhav) and his mother (Amba-Bhavani) initially named him Narahari or Shaligramadeva, with the surname Kale.

First Incarnation – Sripada Srivallabha

This is sketch of Sri Nrusinh saraswati

Shri Narasimha Sarswati is considered to be the second incarnation of Dattatreya, the first Incarnation was Sripada Srivallabha, as per his blessings to Amba Bhavani, in her previous birth, Sripada Srivallabh had blessed her & he advised her to perform shiva pooja. Later he also told that he would be born to her in her next life as Narasimha Saraswathi to uphold the Sanatha Dharma in Kali Yuga. This instance has been well narrated from chapter 5 to Chapter 12 in the holy book Guru Charithra

Guru Mandir Karanja-Birthplace

Narasimha Saraswati was a quiet child, who did not speak much during childhood. This led his parents to worry about his speech ability; however, Saraswati showed through hand gestures that after his upanayana or munji (sacred thread ceremony), he would be able to speak. He started reciting the Vedas after his munja, which so impressed the Brahmins in the village that it was talked about, with senior learned Brahmins coming to him for learning.

Narasimha Saraswati left home in 1386 at a tender age of 8 all alone and went on a pilgrimage to Kashi on foot. He took Sanyasa at Kashi from Shri Krishna Saraswati. The second part of his name came from this guru, who eventually named him Shri Narasimha Saraswati. (This is a Sanskrit name.)

After becoming a Sanyasi, Narasimha Saraswati visited several holy places before returning to Karanja at the age 30 to meet his parents. He visited various places before settling in Ganagapura (Ganagapur) (now in the state of Karnataka) for the last 20 years of his life

Towards the end of his life, Narasimha Saraswati met with the Muslim king (Sultan) of Bidar who was possibly ‘Ala-ud-Din Ahmed Shah’ of the Bahamani Sultanate, who was the area ruler at that time.

Since his karma for that avatar had completed, thus he decided to take samadhi. He left for the jungle of Kadali (Kadali vana near Srisailam). Saraswati took Nijanandagamana (निजानंदगमन) type of samadhi in 1459 for 300 years.

Shri Nrusinhsaraswati Maharaj of Shri Dattatreya Tradition, is known as the second incarnation of Lord Dattatreya and also as a next incarnation of Shripad Shrivallabha. “Shree Gurucharitra” a biography is mainly about his life itself. The woman, namely Ambika, who was blessed by Shripad Shrivallabh at Kuravpur, was reborn as Ambabhavani in the Brahmin family of the Vajasneya organ. She was married to a devotee of Lord Shiva from the same village at her proper age as per the custom in those times. Having the influence of the cultured treatment that she has received, she was to worship Lord Shivshankara on the day of Shani Pradosh. She gave the birth to a son at the age of sixteen. He was named as Narahari. He is none other than our “Shri Nrusinh Saraswati Swami”.

Right after the birth, the child started chanting “Aum”. The legendary news got spread all over and everybody rushed to the house to have a glimpse of the child. Till the age of his seven years, the son did not utter any other word than “Aum”. The parents started fearing that their son will remain dumb. At last, to overcome it, the solution of performing “Maunjibandhan”, a thread wearing ceremony, was decided. After the Sang vidhi, the total detailed rites ritual, Narahari was blessed with initiation in Gayatri spell and he went to his mother for the alms as per the custom. Immediately on this, he started rendering Vedas. Everybody present bowed to the Batoo, a boy who has just undergone the rituals of Manjibandhan. The experienced and the learned ones immediately acknowledged the extraordinary image, as an incarnation of the God.

At the concluding of this ceremony, the son (Batoo), asked his mother the permission for proceeding for the pilgrimage. But the mother denied it. At that very moment, presenting himself in the guise of Shreepad Shreevallabha he made her recall all the incidents from her past life. She gave her consent, but requested to wait till another son is born. And Batoo accepted it. Within a year she gave birth to the twin sons. After this incident, taking permission from all, Shri Narhari Batoo started on his pilgrimage to a holy place of kashi. Once at Kashi, Narahari Batoo started observing ‘Varnashram Dharma’. Looking at his devoted, religious conduct, all the ascetics over there were very much pleased and they all insisted on him to approach the most aged and the esteem authority, Shree Krishnasaraswati, who has spent longest period in ascetic practices, for initiation in Sanyas (renunciation). Accordingly, Narahari Batoo received an initiation from Shree Krishnasaraswati and he named Batoo as “Shree Nrusinhasaraswati”. Shree Nrusinhasaraswati Maharaj stayed for some period in Kashi. Many devotees became his disciples at this place. After some period, Maharaj started for pilgrimage in the North along with his disciples. With the purpose of pilgrimage, after travelling for thirty years, to keep the promise given to his mother, he returned to Karanja. Here he met his parents, brothers, sisters. He told them, that they will end their life at the sacred place Kashi,
assuring the Mukti (liberation) at the end of this life. Within this short stay, offering his company to the entire dear and near ones, Shree Guru left Karanjnagar.

In the following period, Shree Guru played leelas (mysteries) at various places. He visited many places of pilgrimage. He directed many seekers and advanced in ascetics, on the path of spiritual progress. He came to village Bhilawadi after the seclusion in a hide out of one year at Parali Vaijanath of District Beed. A stay for observing the period of “Chaturmas” at Bhilawadi by Shree Guru, multiplied the glory of the place. Later he came to village Amarapur, a place of union of river Krushna and Panchganga and stayed there for next twelve years. Due to his stay at this place for a period of one Tapa (twelve years), the village later came to be known as “Narsobachi Wadi”(Shri Kshetra Nrusinhawadi). In this long period of one tapa, Shri Guru cured many people from their ailments. Later Shree Guru came to Gangapur, District Gulbarga, Karnataka, a sacred place of the union of river Bhima and Amaraja. He was there for twenty four years ( a period of two Tapas). There are many references of the incidents in his stay at Gangapur. Many in distress got the relief. Number of people became his devotees and offered their services.

With the ever increasing publicity of Shri Swami Maharaj and fast growing rush, Shree Maharaj decided to leave Gangapur publicly to avoid getting engrossed, under the pretext of pilgrimage and declared the same to all his disciples. Every devotees and disciples became very sad to hear it. “Though I will not be present here in a physical form of this body, I will be here all the time in a latent and non physical presence for the sake of all my beloved devotees. I am leaving my “Nirgun Paduka”
(wooden sandals), here, believe in it as my material existence and never worry yourself.” Shree Maharaj thus satisfied everyone with this assurance. Then after Shree Maharaj set for crossing the river by sitting on the ‘Pushpasana” (a seat made of the flowers) and to enter the “Kardalivana”. He sent the message by the hands of sailor -“I am leaving at the sight of “Kaalee”, will be present at Gangapur forever. On reaching the monastery, you will receive the flowers of blessings. My four
disciples, namely – Sayandev, Nandi, Narahari and Siddha should collect those flowers.” Within a time of few minutes the lustrous figure started disappearing in a hazy form and finally vanished in a infinite tattva.

Shrimad Nrusimha Saraswati – Incarnation of Lord Dattareya

In a place called Karanja Nagar (Karnataka State) in Southern India, there lived a pious Brahmin couple, Madhava and Ambabhavani, in the 13th century.

Asceticism

To this God-fearing & religious couple, was born a son around 1275 A.D. This child was the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya and came to be known as the great sage Shrimad Nrusimha Saraswati. The child was unique in the sense that, he was chanting only ‘Aum’ (the Hindu holy chant) since his birth. The parents were concerned about his dumbness till his ‘Vratabandha’ (the sacred thread bearing ceremony), when this child was merely eight years old, he started reciting all the four Vedas (the Holiest Hindu scriptures) to the great astonishment of all the learned people.

After the aforesaid incident, the child left for Kashi (Uttar Pradesh State, Northern India) for Tapas [penance]. Pleased with his rigorous tapasya [penance], a learned ascetic named Shree Krishna Saraswati Swami, initiated him into Sanyasashram (Ascetism) and gave him the name, Shrimad Nrusimha Saraswati.

Biography

The biography of Shrimad Nrusimha Saraswati “Shree Gurucharitra”, gives us the details of his work in guiding the devotees and the various miracles he performed to help the devotees. He stayed at Ganagapur (Karnataka State, Southern India) for a long time and then gave his “Nirguna Padukas” to his disciples and devotees, before leaving for the Kardali forests to perform Tapas [penance]. His disciples prepared a floating seat of flowers for him on which he sailed against the current of the river Patalganga and disappeared.

Rigorous Penance

He performed rigorous tapasya [penance] on the Shree Shail mountain in the Kardali forests for nearly 150 years. After this he took an extensive pilgrimage, covering even places, now known as Jawa, Sumatra, Indonesia, China, Japan, Australia etc., relieved many people from their miseries, and guided them on the spiritual path. Finally, he came to the ranges of Himalayas where he enlightened many devotees. Later he sat under a Deodar tree for tapasya [penance]. This Tapasya [penance] in the Himalayas lasted for nearly 250 years, but a woodcutter unknowingly axed the anthill enveloping the body of Shrimad Nrusimha Saraswati. This resulted in the break in Tapasya [penance] and Shrimad Nrusimha Saraswati then left for an extensive travel throughout the Indian sub-continent guiding the devotees.

Akkalkot Niwasi Shree Swami Samarth

During this travel, he became popular by various names at various places. Thus at one place he was known as Chanchal Bharati and at another place he would be called Digambar Swami. As he travelled and stayed at various places, he became the Guru (preceptor) of many great souls like Shree Ramkrishna Paramahansa, Shree Saibaba of Shirdi, Shree Shankar Maharaj, Shree Gajajan Maharaj of Shegaon etc. Finally he settled down at Akkalkot (Maharashtra State) and stayed there for 24 years from 1854 A.D. to 1878 A.D. and thus came to be known as the Akkalkot Niwasi Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj (the great sage of Akkalkot).

Here he enlightened many disciples, such as Shree Dev Mamledar, Shree Balappa Maharaj, Shree Cholappa Maharaj, Shree Nrusimha Saraswati Maharaj of Alandi, Shree Ramanand Beedkar Maharaj of Pune etc.

Mahasamaadhi

On April 30, 1878 (Chaitra Vadya Trayodashi of Hindu year 1800) after nearly 600 years of the incarnation, the great sage adopted MahaSamadhi [the last conscious communion with God] under his favourite Banyan tree.

Devotees still experience his divine presence and feel reassured because of his quote “I have not gone, I am still present”.

Shree Swami Samarth of Akkalkot

Believed to be an incarnation of Shri Dattatreya the name of this spiritual master, popularly called Swami Samarth, is a household word in Maharashtra and the region around. As this Perfect Master chose to reside at a place called Akkalkot for 22 years where he took Mahasamadhi (left his mortal body) in 1878, he is also known as the Maharaj of Akkalkot, Akkalkot is situated in district Solapur of Maharashtra state of India.

For the devotees of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba, it would be inspiring to learn about the life and deeds of ‘Swami Samarth’. A comparative picturisation of the lives of these two great Saints, i.e. Swami Samarth and Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi would establish a surprising amount of commonness in their lives and deeds which includes their methods of teaching, the universality of their approach and the miracles they performed. Even a critical approach by a non-conformist would ultimately lead to the assertion that the over-all role of these two spiritual masters during the second half of the nineteenth century was similar, if not same. One, who is capable of making finer spiritual analysis, would be faced with a bewildering reality.
The reality is that Swami Samarth and Shri Shirdi Sai Baba were the manifestations of the same Divine Spirit in two gross bodies.

Many published writings on both these Saints by different writers authenticate about the interaction between these two Sadgurus both in the gross, and the subtle planes. Just before Mahasamadhi, Swami Samrath advised one of his disciples to worship Shri Sai at Shirdi saying that he (the Swami Samarth) would stay at Shirdi in future.

The early life of Swami Samarth like that of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba is shrouded with mystery. For that matter, even Shri Shirdi Sai Baba’s advent and early life has not been established. Yet it does not really matter for those who have faith in Him and continue to experience his benevolence in different ways. How does it matter if Christ was born of a virgin mother! He took the pain of the suffering humanity and led them in the path of spirituality. That is what the world needs.

Shri Narasimha Saraswati, about three centuries before the advent of Swami Samarth is believed to be the earlier incarnation of Shri Dattatreya. The ‘Guru Charitra’ one of the most famous books gives lot of information about Him. As per the most popular belief, Shri Narasimha Swami, after helping and spiritually uplifting a large number of people over a few decades, went away to the Himalayas for penance and went into Samadhi. In the Samadhi state He remained for about three hundred years. With the passage of time a huge anthill grew over him and he was lost to the outside world. One day accidentally a woodcutter’s axe fell on the bushes grown around the ant hill. He was shocked to find blood stains on the blade of the axe. He cleared the anthill and Lo, he found a Yogi in meditation. The Yogi slowly opened his eyes and consoled the dumbfounded woodcutter saying that it was the Divine Will for Him to re-appear in the world to resume His mission. This Yogi, in his new role came to be known as Swami Samarth.

Prior to his settlement at Akkalkot, Swami Samarth visited far and wide. While moving in the Himalayan region he visited China. Thereafter, he visited places like Puri, Benaras, Hardwar, Girnar, Kathiawad and Rameswaram in the South. He also stayed at Mangalvedha, a town near Pandharpur in Solapur district Maharashtra, which had been inhabited earlier by famous saints like Domojipant and Chokhamela. He came to Akkalkot in 1856 where he continued his physical existence for 22 years. He came to Akkalkot on the invitation of one Chintopant Tol and stayed at a place on the outskirts of the town.

What we call miracles are the normal ways of functioning of the God realised ones. The Risaldar of that area, a Muslim person, wanted to test the Swami by offering him a ‘Chilum’ (an earthen smoking pipe) without tobacco in it and asked him to smoke. Swami Samarth started smoking the empty Chilum after lighting it as if nothing had happened. Realising him to be an advanced spiritual person, the Risaldar apologised and made arrangements for his stay in the house of one Cholappa. It is in this small house that Swami Samarth lived upto his last.

Soon, the name of Swami Samarth as a Spiritual Master spread all around and devotees came for taking his blessings. The ordinary people did not understand many of his gestures and mystic statements, which he used to make cryptically, although their meanings became apparent on later dates.

He treated Muslims, Christians and Parsees all alike. His Kindness was always bestowed on the poor, needy and the people at the lowest rung of the society. Both Hindus and Muslim festivals like Dusshehra and Moharram etc. used to be celebrated by Him. As in Shirdi, Thursday became a special day of celebration at Akkalkot. Like Shirdi Sai Baba, Swami Samarth of Akkalkot was fond of mass feeding. Once, on his visit to a place called Rampur, a devotee named Rawaji, to celebrate his visit, cooked food for 50 people. However, hearing the news of Swami Samarth’s arrival hundreds of people from the neighbouring villages started rushing to the village. Seeing such a large number of people at his doorstep Rawaji became visibly panicky. Moved by his plight, Swami Samarth asked Rawaji to get some empty baskets. When the baskets were brought from the market, idols of all the deities like Khandoba, Annapurna, etc were put in them and food materials like chapatis (bread) etc. were piled over them. Bawaji and his wife were asked to carry these baskets and take three rounds around the Tulsi plant. After that, they were asked to serve food from these baskets to the guest without looking into them. When food were being served, Rawaji and his wife were amazed to see that the baskets never exhausted even after a few hundred people had been served. After all the people who had come finished their meal, Swami Samarth took his meal. This is known as ‘Annapurna Siddhi’.

Swami Samarth had the capacity to read the minds of all the people coming to him and also was able to know about their past and future. Baba Saheb Jadhav, one of his great devotees one day came to meet the Master. Seeing him suddenly Swami Samarth said “Oh Potter! There is a summon coming in your name”. The potter being in the close circle of Swami Samarth understood the meaning of this sentence and begged of the Swami to save him from the approaching death so that he could continue to serve him (the Master). Moved by his devotion Swami Samarth looked-up towards the sky and muttered something as if he was addressing to someone who was invisible. Suddenly, he pointed his hand towards a bull passing nearby and said in a loud voice “go to the bull”. In the presence of a large number of devotees, the bull instantly fell dead. Jadhav, with a fresh lease of life, devoted himself totally to the service of Swami Samarth thereafter. Similarly, An European engineer from Solapur visited the Swami with the earnest hope of having a son. As he approached Swami Samarth, the latter just looked at him and told that he would have a son within a year. That is what exactly happened.

The Sadgurus or the Spiritual Masters always endeavors to change the quality of men that encounter them. Besides bestowing material benefit, they try to uplift them spiritually. Once a Jewish doctor, who was working as an eye specialist in the J.J. Hospital, Bombay met Swami Samarth. The doctor was very proud of his professional competence. Seeing him Swami Samarth asked “tell me doctor, how many of the eye patients you have treated have lost their eye sights for ever”‘. This sentence made a tremendous impact on the doctor. He realised that many people had lost their sights forever even if they had been treated by him. His ego immediately vanished and thereafter he became a devotee of Swami Samarth. After retirement the doctor settled-down at Akkalkot and served the Master till his last.

It is said that a touchstone can convert an ordinary metal to gold. The Spiritual Masters are such touchstones that they can convert any ordinary metal not to that of gold but to that of a touchstone. They are capable of giving spiritual life to any person in a fraction of a second by a touch, a look, a word or even by a mere thought. A person like Ramanand Bidkar who had lived an immoral life for a long period was converted to a Saint called Bidkar Maharaj by the kind grace of Swami Samarath, who by one grace i.e. Drishti Diksha evolved him spiritually. Under his guidance Sri Balappa Maharaj, Shri Gangadhar Maharaj, Sri Gajanan Maharaj and many others rose to spiritual eminence and contributed a lot to the society.

After serving the poor, curing the sick and helping the spiritual seekers over a few decades, Swami Samarth one day suddenly announced that the time had come for him to go out of his physical existence. By Hindu calendar It was Chaitra Sudha trayodasi, Shaka 1800 i.e. the year 1878 AD Tuesday at 4 PM. At this time he seated himself in Padmasana (Lotus Posture) and uttered his last words – “No one should weep I shall always be present at all places and I shall respond to every call of the devotees”. Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi had also said exactly the same thing before his Mahasamadhi.

Just before he had left his gross body, one devotee named Keshav Nayak who was emotionally charged, asked “Maharaj, since you are going, who will give us protection?”. Swami Samarth gave him a pair of his sandals to worship. He told him “In future I will be staying at Shirdi in district Ahmednagar”. Another devotee, Krishna Ali Bagkar decided to go to Akkalkot and worship the padukas of Swami Samarth. Thereafter he got a dream appearance of Swami Samarth who told him “Now I am staying at Shirdi, go there and worship me”. Bagkar went to Shirdi where he stayed for six months. Later, when he wanted to take leave of Shri Sai and go to Akkalkot again Shri Sai told him “what is there in Akkalkot, Maharaj of Akkalkot is staying here”. Bagkar realised that there is no difference between Swami Samarth and Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi as he recalled his earlier dream.

The divine game (leela) of Swami Samarth did not end with his Maha Samadhi (shedding his mortal coil). His devotees continue to experience the miracles of his visible and invisible help even till today. It is exactly like the experience received by the devotees of Sai Baba of Shirdi after his Mahasamadhi in 1918. Many people have authenticated his appearance in physical form before them. These people are not the faith-blind rural folk. Many of them are well educated people like doctors, educationists etc. For example, Dr. S.V.Marathe, a private medical practitioner of Pune once underwent treatment in a chest Hospital at a place called Aundh in 1964. Many of his friends were anxious to come and visit him. At this juncture, Swami Samarth appeared before many of his friends in a dream and gave the same message to all of them. He asked them not to worry about Dr.Marathe, as he was under His (Swami Samarth’s) protection and also not to come to Aundh.

Hundreds of devotees continue to have miraculous experience about the Perfect Master even today. But his miracles and those of Shri Sainath are so alike that one would be drawn to the conclusion that they are not two masters but are one, and the ONLY ONE TRUTH.

Born in a Royal Muslim family at Baluchistan between 1790 and 1800, she was known as “Gul Rukh” as a child. The name means “Face like a rose”. This name was most befitting for Babajan, as she was most pretty as a child. It was much later when Babajan was more than hundred years old that she came to Pune and settled down under a neem tree, near Dastoor road, where Merwan was staying.

Merwan who later became Meher Baba, regularly used to pass by the neem tree, under which he always saw Babajan sitting. One day in the month of May, year 1913, the old Lady called Merwan to come closer, and Merwan stopped the bicycle and went near to Her. Merwan was just 19 years old.

Babajan looked in to the eyes of Her beloved son, and Merwan stood speechless, absorbed in the divine ocean of love flowing from the eyes of the Divine Person Babajan. Merwan instantly knew that Babajan was no ordinary soul, but was the Ocean of Love and Grace. Tears started rolling our of the eyes of Babajan who embraced Merwan calling him “My Beloved Son”. Babajan knew the destiny of Merwan, the Avatar of the Age. Speechlessly, Merwan had come to understand that a transformation had taken place in his normal consciousness.

Hazrat Babajan’s Tomb / Dargah is in Camp Area of Pune, Hazrat Babajaan Square [Chowk], Near ST Vincent High School, Near Shivagi Market, Meher Dastur Road, Camp – Pune Pin Code -414001

Merwan became a regular visitor to the neem tree, and both Babajan and Merwan, often sat together in silence for hours. There was no need of words. The inner joy of the Self makes one speechless. Merwan’s consciousness was on the brim of the Ocean, preparing to be merged with the infinite Treasure, of Sat, Chit and Anand. In January 1914 that which was destined to happen did happen. One evening when Merwan was sitting near Babajan, in Silence, and as he was about to depart to return home, Babajan held his face in Her hand and kissed him on the forehead.

Instantaneously Merwan lost all consciousness of “Duality” and became One with God. His “self” merged into the real infinite and indivisible “Self” of consciousness. The purpose of Merwan’s life on earth was revealed. Merwan was awakened to the Reality of Oneness of God. Babajan often said, referring to Meher Baba, that one day “my beloved son (“Mera Pyara Bachha”) will shake the world”. The veil of ignorance on his Divine Person was removed.

Merwan was in a God-absorbed state for a very long time. His mother tried many Doctors and Hakims, but Merwan was not their candidate. Finally a little consciousness returned apparently spontaneously, and Merwan had the whim to visit the Perfect Masters of the age, including Sadguru Sai Baba and Sadguru Upasni Maharaj. Upasni Maharaj on seeing Merwan threw a stone that hit Merwan exactly at the spot where Babajan had kissed Him. Merwan started bleeding. The effect of this stone was to gradually bring Merwan’s consciousness to encompass the normal human level, while retaining His superconsciousness.

Merwan was now Meher Baba. He switched his residence frequently, until finally establishing residence on a quiet hill now called Meherabad, nearly 5 kms from Ahmednagar Town to establish His Ashram. Meher Baba explained the entire theory of creation in His most famous book “God Speaks”. In this book He reveled the secrets of the evolution of creation and the evolution and involution of Consciousness. He explained the journey from energy, to matter and from matter to the development of the various forms. He further explained that after attaining the Human form, with the grace of the Guru, consciousness starts journeying inwardly and gains spiritual heights, and ultimately attains the Realization of Self.

The spiritual journey according to Him is divided into seven stages of involution (inner evolution) perceived by the aspirant as planes of consciousness. The lower planes are full of sights and the radiance of God, while the seventh or the highest plane is of God Realization, where one becomes one with God. Such realized Souls provide immense spiritual benefit to those associated with them, as they are Perfect.

Meher Baba explained the philosophy of creation, and provided a method for translating between the terminology adopted by the three principal sources for information on consciousness and spirituality. These three schools are the Sufic, Vedantic and Mystic schools.

Meher Baba de-emphasized the importance of miracles and miracle workers. He warned His disciples that these were merely illusions within the grand illusion that is apparent existence. He clearly emphasized that the real miracle is the realization of the Self, and all other worldly miracles were just so much eye wash.

After leaving Pune, Meher Baba met Babajan in the flesh again only once. For years the two of them played out a complex game of non-meeting in which each would visit the other’s seat while the other was absent. As the apparent culmination of this game, one day Babajan came by car to Meherabad while Baba was in residence there. The two did not touch; Baba stood on the uphill side of the Ahmednagar-Dhond railway track, while Babajan stood in the downhill side. Then she left, and soon after dropped her body on Wednesday the 21st of September 1931 at Pune.

Meher Baba’s reverence for Babajan was continuous – he hailed her as the Emperor. Out of respect, He named His first school the “Hazrat Babajan School” upon its founding at Ahmednagar in 1925.

Meher Baba later toured the entire world, went to many countries and traveled across India, but always remembered Babajan and referred to the State of Infinite Bliss that He received with the one kiss on the forehead from the Graceful Sadguru.

Hazrat Babajan’s “Samadhi” is still in Pune under the same old neem tree, where Merwan and Babajan sat in Silence with tears flowing from the eyes of the Hazrat and Merwan. Babajan is still remembered by the people of Pune and worshipped. Meher Baba’s “Samadhi” is in Ahmednagar district on the Pune-Dhond Highway, and is open for Darshan from 6 A.M. to 8 P.M. every day.

Gul Rukh became Hazrat Babajan and Merwan become Meher Baba. The beloved son of Babajan, observed Silence for long 44 years. His work encompasses service to lepers and God-intoxicated (but apparently mad) souls called “masts”. He summoned humanity to awaken to the real Truth that all religions teach, leaving aside rites and ceremonies, which, he explained, never free a soul from bondage.

Meher Baba was born Merwan Sheriar Irani, into a Zoroastrian family in Pune (India); just after finishing his High Schools, he became God Realized through the Divine Blessings of Hazrat Babajan a Muslim women Sadguru in 1913 at the tender age of 19 years. With this touch of Hazrat Babajan, Merwan lost normal consciousness and started experiencing the Adwaita or Divine Bliss State, a state of consciousness that caused his worldly family to worry about his divine absorption. Though they were concerned about his condition, no remedy was found. At an inward urge, Merwan travelled to the ashrams of three other great Spiritual Masters of his time: Sai Baba, Narayan Maharaj, Tajuddin Baba. Finally, in 1915 he met Upasni Maharaj of Sakori.

Meher Baba as Merwan was in contact with Upasni Maharaj for seven years and under his guidance gradually regained consciousness of the world without losing his eternal God State. In the early 1920s his followers started calling him “Meher Baba.” Dwelling with these disciples at various locations, Meher Baba and his followers settled down at a place now called Meherabad around 5 km from Ahmednagar City in Maharastra State of India, and this small hill with some land around it became the “Ashram” of Meher Baba and his disciples.

On the 10th of July 1925 he announced that he would be observing Silence to emphasize that mere words are meaningless unless one is prepared to live one’s life according to them, and continued an unbroken Silence for 44 years until 1969 when he dropped his physical body. Meher Baba observed Silence for the rest of his life during an era of Radio and technology when the world was facing an uncontrollable desire to talk to each other. Meher Baba in spite of his Silence was active and communicative through an Alphabet Board in earlier years and later through hand gestures language. Some of his close disciples developed a good understanding of his communication methods and instantly articulated his words to visitors. In addition, books were given by him through the medium of the gestures or alphabet board and were scrupulously edited by him, word for word, before they were sent for printing.

From 1925 to 1969 Meher Baba extensively travelled many countries around the world including America, Australia and within India working with the poor, lepers or meeting God-intoxicated persons (known in some Indian languages as “masts”). The Words of his Divine Knowledge are available in the form of wonderful Books like God Speaks, Discourses, and some recently discovered manuscripts published as Infinite Intelligence.

In 1954 Meher Baba declared himself to be the Avatar of the Age, which is a similar term like the Buddha, Christ or Prophet of the present time and said that all religions of the World should be regarded as “beads on one string.” He stated that he has come to redeem the humanity from the bondage of false spirituality and show the real path to God’s Love, which he explained could be found in one’s own heart.

Most of his later years were spent in Seclusion for his inner Spiritual work, yet occasionally his followers organized Mass Darshan programmes where thousands of his followers visited and met him personally. As he lived in a time of inventions, fortunately we have a number of films and photographs of his life activity. Meher Baba, though a famous person, led a very normal life without luxuries and comforts, living his entire life with a group of close companions, in simplicity and discipline, as even the men and women followers of his Ashram always lived in separate premises.

On 31st January 1969, Baba dropped his physical body (died) at the age of nearly 75. His physical body was then brought to Meherabad Hill in Ahmednagar District of India to be interred in a Tomb or “Samadhi” that he had already directed to be constructed in 1939. His body was kept uninterred for “Darshan” for a week to allow followers to pay their last respects. For 7 days the “Darshan” continued with thousands of followers coming to pay homage from all parts of the World, there were no signs of deterioration on the physical body. So on 7th February it was decided to perform the internment, and the divine form was covered with a Marble Slab inscribed “I have come not to Teach, but to Awaken.” The Tomb (“Samadhi”) is now open every day from 6 AM to 8 PM for Darshan to visitors, and the Avatar Meher Baba Trust has developed infrastructure facilities to house and feed visitors. These facilities include a Museum, a Library and some archives and of course the preservation of the places and items from His time on earth. Meher Baba’s close Men and Women disciples who lived with him were called his Mandali and contributed a number of Books including a 12-volume biography called “Lord Meher” covering almost a day-by-day account of his life, his actions, and messages and conversations. Many other books describe the authors’ experiences in the company of Baba and also the Messages and stories given by Meher Baba. Many talks by members of the Mandali are available on audio and video.

The message of Meher Baba is to live a simple yet spiritual life full of true Love for God and Service to Humanity, which is free from unwanted bindings of religious dogma. For those seeking higher spiritual understanding, Meher Baba gave the theme of Creation explaining how God, the sole Reality, assumed different forms in order to know Himself through the medium of His own imagination or dream. His teachings compare and define the Spiritual Terminologies used in three major schools of spiritual thoughts i.e Mystic, Sufi and Vedantic from an entirely new perspective. His teachings cover explanations on topics as: God’s whim to know Himself, the evolution of consciousness, reincarnation, the drop-soul’s involutionary journey through the seven inner planes, God-realization, the spiritual hierarchy, and the ten states of God. Much of his teachings on these esoteric matters are to be found in his famous book “God Speaks,” published in 1954.

Tajuddin Baba of Nagpur

Hazrat Tajuddin Baba was one of the five Perfect Masters (Sadgurus) of his Age. Such is the play of nature known as maya (illusion) that this Perfect Master was declared a lunatic and kept in confinement in the Nagpur Lunatic Asylum for more than sixteen years. However, Baba Tajuddin started his divine play from this place and virtually converted the asylum to a place of worship. Baba Tajuddin was born on the 21st of January in the year 1861 at a place called Kamthi situated near Nagpur in the state of Maharastra, India.

From the birth itself, there was something unusual about the child, for the new-born baby would not at all cry. He would, at times, open his eyes and look at people and again go to sleep. All normal methods to induce the child to cry having failed, the parents took recourse to a traditional shock method of touching hot iron to the forehead and ear of the child. With the application of this method the child jerked out of its stupor and started crying. The burnt marks thus made on the head and ears of the child remained on his body till the last.

More often-than-not, it is seen that highly developed souls become orphans in their early childhood so that they become free to operate in their spiritual world. This had happened with Shri Shirdi Sai and this also happened with Baba Tajuddin. His father expired when he was about one year old and his mother expired when he was only nine years old. The care of this orphan was taken over by his maternal grandmother and maternal-uncle Abdul Rahman. As a child, Baba started his education at the age of six in a local madrasa in Kamthi. During this time a spiritually – developed soul, known as Hazrat Abdulla Shah, visited the madrasa and saw the child Tajuddin.
He immediately told the teacher – “Why are you teaching this child. He has got all knowledge from his past life.” Saying thus, he took out a dry fruit (Khumani) from his bag, ate half, and put the other half in the mouth of the child saying “Eat less, sleep less and speak less. Read Quran”.
As soon as the child ate the dry fruit, God – consciousness dawned on him and for about three days he remained in a state of spiritual ecstasy. Obviously Hazrat Abdulla Shah had given Tajuddin the spiritual power or consciousness known as “Shaktipata” in Hindu Yoga system. Thereafter, the child was found to be always in a state of contemplation in secluded places.

At the age of 18, the financial condition of his maternal – uncle’s house deteriorated due to floods. As a result, both Baba and his maternal – uncle searched for a job. In 1881, at the age of 20 Baba joined the Nagpur Army Regiment. Soon a contingent of the Regiment, where Baba was serving, was sent to a place called Sagar. At Sagar, Baba used to manage his duties as an army sepoy (soldier), somehow spending the best of the time in doing namaz and contemplation. Most of the nights he used to spend with a highly developed spiritual soul known as Hazrat Baud Saheb under-going spiritual practices. Hazrat Baud Saheb is, therefore, recognised as one of the spiritual masters of Tajuddin Baba. His absence from the army camp at nights, and his least regard for the service created problems from the higher authorities. One day, in a God-intoxicated state Baba suddenly submitted his resignation from the army and left the camp.

He then roamed about in the streets of Sagar like a mad man; without any sense of body. Soon his maternal grandmother heard of the news and took him away to Kamthi. She tried to get him cured through doctors and Hakims thinking that he was mad. The doctors and Hakims could hardly improve his condition as Baba Tajuddin‘s consciousness had, by that time transcended the gross and subtle body and was floating in the vast ocean of divine consciousness – beyond multiplicism and dualism of Nature. As the destiny of many spiritual seekers, children started throwing stones at him to which he would never react. The society around him discarded him to be useless for their purpose and declared him as mad and, therefore, humiliated him whenever and wherever they could.

However, miracles also started taking place around him. He would suddenly tell people about their past and warn them about future problems. One day in that Videha State (Beyond body state) he went near a British woman in a naked state. The horrified woman complained to the army authorities about such uncivilized behaviour. An army officer caught hold of him and got him admitted in the lunatic asylum of Nagpur on the 16th of August 1892. This is one of the biggest illusions of Nature (Maya) the mad people of the mad world declaring the Knowledge- Incarnate, who had come to redeem them of their worldly madness, as mad. But how could the authorities, confine a soul that is in a state of pure consciousness within the four walls of a lunatic asylum. As was the practice, the inhabitants of the asylum used to be locked up in barracks and cells at night. Similarly, Baba was also put in confinement under strict vigil.

Soon after he was locked up in the asylum that a strange incident took place that spread Baba’s name far and wide. Baba was admitted in the lunatic asylum on the 26th August 1892. On the same day many people saw him moving freely in the streets of Kamthi, even after he was locked up. On the next day i.e. 27th an army sepoy, who, under the orders of the magistrate had brought Baba to the lunatic asylum the previous day, saw Baba roaming in the street. The shocked sepoy ran back and informed the British officer of the regiment, about it. The officer immediately rode his horse and searched for Baba. He ultimately found him sitting under a tree smiling at him. British officer was so enraged at seeing him moving freely that he straight away rode to the lunatic asylum at Nagpur situated at half an hour distance from Kamthi. He asked the doctor on duty “Where is that insane whom I sent here yesterday?” The doctor informed that he was in a locked room and also showed the officer where Baba was locked, and behold, the officer found the Baba Tajuddin was sitting inside the room in the same posture in which he had seen sitting under the tree only half on hour back smiling at him. On seeing the officer, Baba said. ” Brother, you are doing your work and I am doing my work”. The officer was so influenced by the divine personality of Baba that he instantly became his disciple and started visiting Baba on every Sunday with his family members. Thereafter, the asylum authorities were reconciled with Baba moving at various places inside the asylum compound and outside. Gradually, Baba’s name became so famous that thousands of people from near and far started lining up before the lunatic asylum everyday to have Baba’s darshan, blessing and help.
During his 16 years stay in the asylum, Baba cured thousands of people of diseases , granted children to the childless and took on his shoulders the responsibilities (both temporal and spiritual) of lakhs of his devotees.

Miracles are the way of functioning of the Masters. Since more often, they work through the subtle and mental mediums than in gross which ordinary mortals cannot perform, they are termed as miracles. The forces creating miracles are subtle forces of nature not yet discovered. Since the work of the Perfect Master precipitates hundreds and thousands of actions at different place at the same time, they employ the subtle methods. Those who have become mediums of miracles know for sure that there are definite principles on which the so called miracles operate. For them they are not miracles but a normal way of functioning at their levels of consciousness.

The Perfect Master are not confined by any religion, any creed, caste or even by scriptural injunctions or prescribed methods of worship etc. They are in a state of total ‘freewill’ without any limitations of nature. This is not to be misunderstood, as a negative state of assertion for free will. Baba’s fame and love for people had been drawing thousands of people daily to the lunatic asylum. Even the staffs of the asylum including the doctors were his devotees.
The doctor gave report that Baba was not mad but a person of unusual qualities which medical science cannot explain. In the meantime, Maharaja Bahadur Shrimant Raghoji Rao Bhonsle, the Maharaja of Nagpur had become an ardent devotee of Baba and started visiting him regularly. One day, in the evening, he thought of getting Baba released from the lunatic asylum and bring him to his palace at Shakardara. The same night, he saw a vision in the dream in which Baba appeared and pointing towards Red Palace said “Oh, elder brother, let me stay here.” It was early morning- (3.00 AM) of 9th July 1908, a Thursday. The Maharaja immediately called his officials and discussed about the steps to be taken to get Baba released. The Council decided that the Maharaja should immediately make an application for release to the Governor, Central Provinces. Ultimately after depositing a security money of rupees two thousands, the Maharaja secured the release of Baba on the 21st of September 1908 and brought him to his palace. From his palace Baba started his divine work.

Once Baba was lying down on the sands of the river Kanhan when two ladies by the name of Shantabai and Subhadrabai from Amaravati, approached him. While touching the feet of Baba they mentally prayed to him for children, as they were childless. The omniscient (Pragyan Ritambhara) Baba heard their inner prayers and gave a ladoo (a type of sweetmeat) to each after testing them. He blessed them to have sons. While they were returning, Shantabai ate the ladoo as a blessed prasad, but Subhadrabai did not because Baba had tasted the ladoo and was Muslim by birth. She quietly got the ladoo buried in the sand. As the Divine Will could have it, Shantabai got a son nine months later. When the child was about two-month-old, she came to Baba with the child for his blessings. Subhadra, who had not conceived even by that time, accompanied her. When Shantabai put her child at the feet of Baba, Subhadra could not control herself. She fell at the feet of Baba and cried -“Baba where is my child?” Baba told her to search the child from beneath the sand (indicating that he knew where the ladoo was) Subhadra immediately realised her mistake and repented profusely before Baba. The Perfect masters are incarnation of kindness. Her repentance and plight moved Baba. He blessed her to have a son, which she got after a year. The perfect master is a wish- fulfilling tree Kalpvriksha who even shower unconditional grace (Ahetuk Kripa).

A poor scheduled- caste woman called Tara once wished to feed Baba but since Baba was staying in the palace. Tara did not know how to approach him and was also afraid that some people may not take it kindly. So, she cooked the food and tied the food in a piece of cloth with a tree near the palace. Sometime later, people from high classes kept the best of dishes before Baba for his lunch. Baba Said, ” I will not eat all these. Get my food tied in the Jamun tree”. Everybody started searching but could not find the food. Ultimately Baba got up from his seat, brought the food from the tree and ate only that with utter satisfaction. The Perfect Master are hungry not for the food offered by the people but for the love behind such offer. The spiritual masters never encourage anyone to change his religion. They are above all religions. They only see the theme of humanism, which is the basis of all religions.

There was a prostitute by the name of Giriji who was a devotee of Baba. Suddenly, she caught some disease and remained sick for long. Another devotee of Baba, Kashinath Patel, one day sent a person to the house of Giriji to enquire about her health. The man came and found Giriji dead and informed Kashinath accordingly. Kashinath directed him to go and ask Tajuddin Baba whether to bury the body of Giriji or to burn it. On his way to Baba’s place, he found a close attendant of Baba carrying tea in a pot. During discussion, Patel’s man told the attendant of Baba that Giriji is dead. When Baba’s attendant heard that Giriji is dead he told the other persons that Baba has asked him to ensure that Giriji drinks that tea. Therefore, he insisted on carrying the tea to Giriji, Both of them reached Giriji house and found her body surrounded by mourning women. The attendant of Baba, said in a loud voice – “Giriji, Hazur has sent tea for you. Take it.” He repeated the sentence thrice. After the third time Giriji opened her mouth and little by little tea was poured in. After taking the tea, she came back to life and lived for a few years more.

The love of a Perfect Master for his devotees is somewhat like but more than the love of the mother towards the child. Whosoever surrenders to him, he takes care of his biggest and even the smallest problems. Since his words are the ultimate truth, whatever they promise is fulfilled, even after they have left their body. Let us see one example. Sometimes, Baba used to travel in a horse-driven cart to distant places. One devotee named Hiralal used to be his driver (coachman). When Baba once declared that he would leave his body in few days (he left the body on the 17th of August 1925), Hiralal started crying. He asked Baba “Huzur, under whose protection are you leaving us and going”. Baba told him “you always stay in front of me (the driver sits at the front in a horse cart) and I will always stay behind you”.

It so happened that in 1965, on the day of the Moharram, the annual procession i.e. Baba’s Tazia started from Baba’s place by now name as Tazabaad and moving towards the main square (called Jhad Square) with people shouting ‘Allah ho Akbar’. Suddenly the people carrying the Tazia heard the cry ‘Ram naam satya hai’ from another procession moving in front of them. Those who knew what Baba had told Hiralal during his last days, found that the procession in the front was carrying the dead body of Hiralal. Tears rolled down from their eyes when they saw Hiralal’s body going in front and Baba’s Tazia following a promise kept by Baba forty years after his departure. One of the main functions of a Sadguru is to stand by his devotees at the times of their death, in gross or subtle form, to lead the soul towards further evolutions. None else – i.e. no other Guru, parents, relatives, or even yogis have the power to render such help to the souls once they have left the body.

By 1925, Baba had completed his 64th year. In the month of August his health started deteriorating. Maharaja Raghoji Rao pressed the best doctors for service, but which doctor could cure Baba who only had decided about his departure. Raghoji Rao understood that Baba is getting ready to depart. He asked Baba to allow people to have darshan even if medical advice did not permit. The ever-benevolent Baba just smiled and agreed. As the news spread thousands of people came to the king’s palace and had last sight of their beloved master who had served and protected them for decades. The stream of visitors continued till the last moment of Baba’s departure on the 17th August 1925. On that Monday, Baba lifted his hand as blessing to all, looking at them lovingly and quietly laid his body on the bed. By the time doctors could check him he had already left the gross body for its universal abode. But, today the experience of people visiting the Samadhi of Baba establishes the truth that the Perfect Masters always exist, in whatever form, in the time continuum for they are in the Beyond state.

The life and the message of Shri Manik Maharaj, has many similarities with the life of Lord Dattatreya. Lord Dattatreya himself, out of compassion took descent in the form of Shri Manik Prabhu Maharaj for establishment of Dharma (righteousness). At the time of Shri Prabhu’s birth, there prevailed the religious hatred, social inequality and a total cultural chaos. The seekers of true knowledge were in a confused state of mind and ran from pillar to post in search of spiritual solace.

Birth and early life:
In a village called Ladwanti, near the town of Kalyan, in the erstwhile state of Hyderabad, a child was born to a pious couple, Shri Manohar Naik and Smt. Bayadevi on 22nd December 1817, the birthday festival of Lord Dattatreya. They had in all three sons and one daughter. Amongst the sons, the middle one was the one who was to make history in time to come. He was named Manik.

As he grew, one and all were attracted to the child, who was fondled not only by his parents but also by his neighbours. His pranks were endearing to everyone. He started collecting a group of his friends and roaming the hills and dales in the vicinity of the town. He was, as it were, a child of nature, more close to the trees, the breeze, the birds and the flowers.

In the course of play He would occasionally, casually disclose his divinity. Once, when one of His playmates, Govinda, failed to turn up for play for a couple of days, Manik went to his house to enquire after him. Arriving there He was informed that Govinda has passed away after suffering from fever for a few days. Manik told Govinda’s mother to stop grieving, as her son was alive. Sure enough, when Govinda’s mother called out to him to go out and play with Manik, he arose as if out of a deep slumber. All present were overjoyed and amazed at this occurrence. This and such other occurrences caused his fame to spread far and wide.
On the whole however, Manik behaved in such a carefree manner that the members of his family were concerned. It was, therefore, decided that at the age of seven his thread ceremony should be performed, so that a sense of responsibility may dawn on this wayward child, who, it appeared, preferred to roam rather than sit and read. When the sacred thread was being bestowed on Him and the sacred Gayatri hymn was being recited in his ears, as was the custom, a strange thing took place. Manik behaved as though all this was superfluous for him and he knew all about Gayatri and the significance of the eternal sound, AUM. He recited the hymn unaided, to the great surprise of the assembled people.

Manik was again free to roam in the woods. When he was sent to the school, his attention was to the open sky, the cool breeze, the rustling leaves and the chirping of the birds. He liked to seek teachers in the lap of nature, listen to Nature’s natural education rather than the artificial or contrived lessons in the classroom. It was not surprising therefore, that he was given to sneaking out of the classrooms and wandering in the woods. Nature became his classroom and his very Self became his teacher. His receptivity became keen, intelligence sharp and thoughts synchronized. Manik’s parents worried about his wanderings ignoring the formal education sent him to his uncle’s place.

Manik’s uncle sincerely felt that this boy should grow up like a normal child and should be trained and educated to take up the responsibilities of life. He was deeply frustrated by the failure of his measures in sending this boy to school. He then thought that employment may inculcate a sense of responsibility in him and thus got him appointed as a clerk in the octroi check post on the outskirts of Kalyan town.

From then onwards, his journey on the pathless path was within the folds of Mother Nature. As he breathed in the fresh, unconditioned atmosphere, a new wave of awareness came over him, spreading before him the universality of the Divine presence in every thing he saw, touched or heard. One by one the mysteries, long concealed, came to be revealed to him.

Shri Krishna’s assurance seemed to echo in every action of his. “He who see Me everywhere and sees all in Me, I am not lost to him nor is he lost to Me” (Bhagavad Gita VI.30). Consequently within himself and without himself, in nature, in creatures, in trees and streams, hills and dales, in the wise as well as in the foolish, in the saint as well as the sinner, in those who love and in those who hate, he saw only the same Divine essence, the Brahma.

In jungles, hills and woods:

The family members accepted the strange behaviour of Shri Manik, it nonetheless created anxiety in their minds, especially when he would wander from place to place without notice. Shri Manik was looked at with due respect. An aura enveloped his personality.

He preferred to stay in solitude and alone concentrating on the Supreme Self. He went to nearby places such as Manthal and especially to Ambilkunda or Amritkunda. Shri Prabhu told his family members in most compassionate words about His Mission in life. “With the Grace of Shri Dattatreya I took birth in your family. Your desire for a child was duly fulfilled. I stayed with you as long as it was necessary. Now that I have been initiated in Brahmavidya, wisdom of Brahman, My life is devoted to humanity. I will now have to wander from place to place to spread the message of the Compassionate Datta, Datta-Dayaghana, so that the misery of human beings can be alleviated. Therefore, it is futile to grieve for my loss. I will ever be with you. Go back to your home and leave me to fulfill my Mission. Whenever and wherever one needs me, I will come. This is certain; this is my promise.”

In Search of the Self

Shri Prabhu was greatly attracted to the hills around Manthal where the environment was quiet and peaceful and conducive for communion with the Supreme Self. He lived for many days immersed in the blissful state of realization. Some time he would come down from the hills and roam around the town. His behaviour was some so different from normal ways of life, that people would shun him as though he was demented. The wise ones, therefore, recognizing Shri Prabhu as a great Yogi honoured and worshipped Him, which Shri Prabhu accepted as though all this was natural for Him. But at the same time like a simple, unassuming child of nature, He would distribute the things received by him among the assembled persons.

Often when in spiritual rapture, He would sing and dance and many of his bhajans were the product of such ecstatic moods. When He sang these bhajans, which in Marathi are known as “Abhanga” he seemed to be inseparable from “Datta-Dayaghana” his chosen deity.

Shri Prabhu moved from place to place like a free bird or breeze, which knew no bounds. In the bosom of Mother Nature, he had all the satisfaction and contentment which the world of the attachment and possessions would not give.

During one of his wanderings, he arrived at Chalakpur, a small town near Kalyan and stayed at Lord Hanuman temple for few months. People thronged in thousands for His darshan and to seek His blessings. The entire atmosphere was surcharged with religious fervour. Bayadevi, Shri Prabhu’s mother and Nrisimha, His brother came over to Chalakpur. All experienced the overflowing Grace of Shri Prabhu and no one went back empty handed. Such was the compassion of Shri Manik Prabhu. Shri Manik Prabhu further proceeded to Mailar, which is one of the ancient holy places. Lord Shiva is worshiped here as Marthanda Bhairava and is also venerated locally as Khandoba. During this period, his fame as an Avatar of Shri Dattatreya spread further in the surrounding areas. Later Shri Prabhu left Mailar with some of his close associates to visit Holy places like Parali-Vaijanatha, Tuljapur, Pandharpur etc. From Pandharpur he went to visit Shri Junglee Maharaj at Poona and from there onward to Girnar to have communion with Guru Shri Datta, the compassionate one. Sourcing His power from the Primal source, He traveled further to Gangotri, Haridwar, Badari, Kedar, Prayag, Varanasi, Gaya, Puri, Mahur, Tirupati, Gangapur and to many Holy river banks and hills on the way. This travel established in Him the unique feeling of all-pervading nature of his Self and the manifestation of the Supreme Brahma in everything which he saw, touched, heard and breathed.

Finally he came to Kalyan, his hometown. He decided to live there for some time to consider the steps to give shape to his mission, for the time had come when the first step was to be taken.

Some misguided Mullas, who could neither understand nor digest the popularity of Shri Prabhu in their blind orthodoxy, decided to counter the effect of Shri Prabhu’s message on the people, amongst whom many were also Muslims. With a view to embarrass Shri Prabhu, they brought some plate covered with shawls, ostentatiously full of gifts. They wanted to embarrass him and make him look insignificant in the eyes of his devotees. They, therefore, surreptitiously brought beef in the plates instead of fruits etc. and offered the plates to Shri Prabhu with a false pretense of devotion. However, from a Yogi nothing is hidden and nothing can be hidden. He saw through their game and yet, graciously accepted their offerings by touching the plates. He then asked the contents to be distributed among the assembled peoples as Prasad (blessed food). When the shawl was removed what every one found was fruits and sweetmeats.

The Prasad (blessed food) was distributed to all the assembled people. The miscreants were humbled and felt ashamed. They fell at the feet of Shri Prabhu and asked for his pardon. All that Shri Prabhu did was to bless them to have good thoughts and follow the noble path, which the Koran (Holy scripture of Islam) has prescribed for them.

The area where Shri Prabhu spent much of his human life was ruled by a Muslim King and the population was also predominantly Muslim. Therefore, the above incident created a lasting impression on them and they considered Shri Prabhu to be an Avatar of Mehaboob Subhani, a Muslim Saint, which belief they can now hold. The Manik Prabhu Sampradaya also reciprocates this faith.
In the festivities at Maniknagar both Hindus and Muslims take part with equal enthusiasm. This is indeed the unique example Sakalamat Sampradaya, equality and universality of religions and faiths. A Yogi sees no difference between the various manifestations of the Lord, and for him everything that is in the world is but the manifestation of the Lord.

Large followings need a focal point to gather together. Shri Prabhu felt the need to have such a spiritual centre. Till now he was wandering from place to place in his own state of constant awareness of the Supreme Bliss. The descent of the Lord is not only for the sake of destruction of evil but also for the establishment of righteousness. Lord Krishna said “For the protection of the good and destruction of the evil, for establishment of righteousness, I come into being from age to age”. (Bhagavat Gita IV.8)

Later while traveling with some devotees He stopped near the confluence of the two rivers. There as Shri Prabhu sat under the Audumbar tree (Lord Dattatreya is believed to dwell under this tree) in ecstatic meditation, the decision to establish the spiritual centre at that very place was taken. Thus was established what is today known as the village of Maniknagar.

MANIKNAGAR

The time and place selected by Shri Prabhu for establishing the spiritual centre near Humnabad seemed significant as well as ideal. Those were the troubled times, both politically as well as religiously. He selected the confluence of the two rivers for establishing his spiritual centre, as if to emphasise that he wanted to bring the two communities (Hindus and Muslims) together. In his visionary mind he saw these two streams of great faith come together and live life of peace and understanding. How prophetic his vision was can be seen by the fact that even today both the Hindus and the Muslims flock to Maniknagar each year, to honour the great founder of the Universal Truth, the SAKALAMATA.

Originally, a small hut was constructed to establish the GADI, or the Spiritual Seat, which in time to come was to be associated with the living spirit of Shri Manik Prabhu Maharaj. Sitting on the Gadi, he would give Darshan to audience and His very Darshan would give peace and contentment to all who visited Maniknagar. Shri Prabhu’s mother, who had till then endured separation from her son, came to Maniknagar with the rest of the family.

In the Durbar, the people gathered would bask in the aura and the benevolent grace of Shri Prabhu. The entire atmosphere would be surcharged with spiritual splendour. Shri Prabhu would cast his compassionate glance on all, making everybody participate in the bliss, which he was experiencing.

People from far and near would come with their doubts and Shri Prabhu, even though he had not received formal education in the scriptures than the philosophers in his Durbar and was able to clear all doubts with great ease. Sometimes he would reply even before the questions were asked. Such was his authority, wisdom and spiritual insight. The graceful presence of Shri Prabhu that his very Darshan would assuage all the misery of a person.

He treated all devotees alike and wanted true devotion than outward austerity echoing the words of Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita (IX.26) “Whosoever offers to Me, with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, that offering of love, of the pure heart, I accept”.

Devotion to the Guru should be like that of the child towards its mother. Whether the mother is nearby or not, the child is ever confident that the mother will listen when it is in distress. If such confidence and faith is there, then Shri Prabhu’s Grace will ever be with us to guide us and tide us over the difficult times. Many devotees have experienced this expansive Grace of Shri Prabhu even when they have been in places far from Maniknagar. For surely Shri Prabhu does not reside only in Maniknagar but in the heart of all the devotees as well.

The grandeur of Shri Prabhu’s Durbar proved one thing. When the Lord oversees us, He knows our needs and so ordains accordingly. Whether we ask for little or more, Shri Prabhu knows fully well what is good for us. If there is ‘Shraddha’ (Faith) in us, nothing else is needed. If there is no Shraddha (Faith) then all efforts and endeavours to please Shri Prabhu are to no avail. He distributed wealth as well as health as needed by the sincere devotees. He was a great Yogi, a great recluse. For him wealth was as good as dust. He saw the Lord in both. Therefore whether he sat on a throne or on an earthen mound, for him it made no difference.

No one was stranger to Shri Prabhu. He knew each one by name as well as his problems. It was the Durbar of Srhi Manik Prabhu Maharaj and each one returned from there with a satisfied and contented mind, for Shri Prabhu was, indeed, the Kalpavriksh (Wish Fulfilling Tree).

Mahasamadhi (leaving the gross body)

Shri Prabhu himself was not bound by the gross body. He had realised his Self.

When he realised that the time had come for him to shed his mortal coil and merge in the Infinite, he considered seriously the future course to be laid down for the mission to continue, which was as important as the manner in which he would discard the gross body. As Shri Prabhu was reluctant to disclose the time of his own departure to all, he took only three or four persons into  confidence, those who understood the significance of his Avatar (incarnation). The news was kept in utmost confidence and all the required work was carried on with a smile on the face but with remorse in the heart. He advised them, “You think that once I take Samadhi everything will end and I will no more be available to you. What you will miss is the sight of my Gross body, but my Self, the spirit within, will ever remain with you to guide you without your realizing that fact. There will not be any breach in your spiritual path. Remember that decay and destruction of the gross body is certain. When every breath has already been numbered and assigned what is the purpose of grieving?” Shri Prabhu consoled them; “It is good that my work here is now coming to an end. You will all be able to carry the mission further by the Energy, which I will be leaving behind. What’s the use of remaining alive in this worthless body when the work is complete?”

One day, a small boil was noticed on Shri Prabhu’s back. He supervised the place where he was to take Samadhi (shedding themortal coil). The pit was dug in all secrecy and no one in Maniknagar could get even a breath of it. Soon the auspicious month of Margashirsha arrived. People from great distances flocked Manik Nagar to celebrate the annual Shri Datta Jayanti (birth day celebrations of Lord Dattatreya) festivities. Somehow that year was considered auspicious for Muslims also. Consequently, Shri Prabhu’s Muslim devotees also came in thousands.

As time passed, Shri Prabhu’s health was deteriorating steadily. The small boil was getting bigger and more painful. Yet, Shri Prabhu’s face bore no trace of the pain and it was blissful and tranquil as ever. On the tenth day of Margashirsha, Shri Prabhu decided to summon the Durbar, so that people could have his final Darshan. All arrangements were made for Shri Prabhu to sit in as comfortable a position as was possible.

The next day was Ekadashi, the eleventh day of the month. For Hindus it is one of the most auspicious days. It is the day on which, thousands of years ago Shri Krishna delivered the message of Bhagavad Gita to Arjun. This day is observed as Gita Jayanti. This 29th day of the month of November 1865 was the day on which Srhi Prabhu had decided to take Samadhi and merge His Self with the Supreme Self.

Before samadhi He called two sons of His brother Narisimha and blessed them and thus the line of succession to the Gadi (spiritual seat) was laid down for all to know. He made the elder one Manohar the successor to Gadi by transferring His Eternal Energy to him. Thus the Guru-Parampara of Shri Manik Prabhu Sampradya was established for all time to come. The successors to the Gadi (spiritual seat) after Shri Manik Prabhu took Samadhi are:

Shri Manohar Manik Prabhu

Shri Martan Manik Prabhu,

Shri Shankar Manik Prabhu and

Shri Siddharaj Manik Prabhu

Having done this Shri Prabu started walking towards the hut where the pit was dug. With his face glowing with extraordinary spiritual splendour, Shri Prabhu took each step. It was like the space merging within the space leaving no trace whatever. For Shri Prabhu the occasion was joyous for it was like going back to the origin from where He had started. He sat in the pit in Padmasana (lotus posture), forcing His Kundalini to rise and reach the Brahmarandhra. The pit was closed slowly by the close associates, in a mood that was surcharged with spiritual fervour.

The news of Shri Prabhu having taken Samadhi was kept secret till Poornima (full moon day), lest the grieving crowds might vitiate the solemn and serene occasion, in their ignorance if the significance of the event. When they came to the Gadi for Shri Prabhu’s Darshan as usual, before they departed from Maniknagar, they were shocked to hear the news. They rushed to the hut in uncontrollable grief. Close devotees and associates had to pacify the crowd.

Shri Prabhu had assured time and again, His continued presence in Maniknagar. He answers the prayers of all who keep Faith in Him.

An explanation about the role and greatness of Shri Sai of Shirdi would remain incomplete without the understanding of the life of Kashinath Govind Upasani Sastri, who later came to be known as ‘Shri Upasani Maharaj’. Shri Sai’s deeds and life was full of miracles, but the greatest miracle was His creation of this once inconsequential person to the status of a Sadguru within a period of four years!

The methods used by Shri Sai to completely transform Kashinath Sastri, the pain taken by him to protect the neophyte and the assurance with which he grew this unsure and confused disciple to the state of a Perfect Master, would indicate where in the spiritual hierarchy of this world Shri Sai remains.

Born on 5th may, 1870 at Satana, Maharashtra (in India), Kashinath did not exhibit traits of a normal child from the beginning, although his deviations did not indicate existence of any super-intelligence or excellence in him. He held extremely strong views about two vital aspects of life when in his teens. First, he declared that the formalised educational learning was only for bread winning and, therefore, after doing three years in a vernacular elementary school left it; merciless canning by his teacher becoming the immediate cause of such realisation. Secondly, he hated and condemned the body (i.e. his own body) as the creator of limitations and pain in life. He spent all his time doing in Asans (exercises as per Yoga), Pranayama (Breath control exercises), repetition of mantras etc. With such an attitude he could earn nothing and for his family members he was a problem child. To make matters worse, he was married with the hope that his ways would change. Old habits die hard. Not only did Kashinath not change, but also a few months after marriage he ran away from home (at the Dhulia district in Maharashtra) leaving a departing note and reached Nasik. However, two months later anxiety about the plight of his parents compelled him to return home. Shortly thereafter his wife expired, but before the cup of sorrow could be emptied, Kashinath, now fifteen was got married second time. To earn livelihood he went to places like Pune and could not find a job because of the absence of any formal education. At times he did menial work for others and at other times, he took to begging. He was in a miserable state of life. Sometimes, he even had to sleep on footpaths (sideways) and live only on Margosa (Neem) leaves.

During this period of trials and tribulations, he met a saint who impressed upon him the virtues of Brahmacharya (celibacy). Leaving Pune he went to a place called Kalyan where he restored to begging as a means of livelihood, often quenching his hunger only by drinking water. A few days later, frustrated and exhausted, he decided to return home moving through Nasik. He reached home at Satana in July 1890. Soon after his father passed away. To earn livelihood, he practiced medicine for some time, followed by a job of a Malgujari (tax collector for the king or ruler). However, he failed in all the material ventures he undertook. His health also deteriorated substantially due to neglect and lack of comforts. While practicing Pranayama (Breath control exercises), his breath-cycle also got disturbed. Even his sleep, digestion and evacuation systems got difficult. All efforts of medical and religious having failed, he tried to get occult help of a Yogi. A Yogi called Yogi Kulkarni whom he met at Rahuri told him that Kashinath had entered a high yogic state and therefore, must take the help of Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi. Presuming Shri Sai to be a Moslem, Kashinath did not take the advice seriously. One day when Kashinath was walking in the streets of Rahuri, an old man approached him to take hot water as a curative measure and to avoid taking cold water. Kashinath did not take this unsolicited advice given by a unknown person but continued his search for a Hindu Yogi. While on such a move, at a certain place called Jajuri, he went into a Samadhi state while sitting in a lonely place surrounded by prickly-pear bush. When he awoke, he felt very thirsty and went to the stream nearby to drink water. At that time the same old man re-appeared from nowhere. He repeated his advice in an angry tone and disappeared suddenly. Kashinath took his advice (this time) seriously and found sudden relief. In a short time his health became all right by this hot-water therapy. Then he went to meet Narayan Maharaj of Kedgaon a famous Saint. On his way back he again met Yogi Kulkarni at Rahuri who again insisted upon him to meet Sai Baba, as Shirdi was on the way. Ultimately Kashinath came to Shirdi and met Shri Sai on 27th June 1911. Little did he realise at that time that he had met his Sadguru (Master) and that the course of his life would undergo complete thereafter.

After staying at Shirdi for about two or three days, Kashinath wanted to leave for home. Obviously he had been wishing for a happy union with his family members and to live with them happily ever after. However, Sai would not agree. Everyone in Shirdi knew that if Shri Sai did not permit one to leave Shirdi, there must be something more to it. Those who disobeyed faced problems, which could have been avoided, had they heeded to the words of Shri Sai. When Kashinath pleaded vehemently, Shri Sai ultimately permitted him on the condition that he (Kashinath) should return to Shirdi in eight days. Kashinath, at that time, not having full faith in Sai, started worrying and fretting as eight days was too short a time. Sai knowing his mental state told him “well, go if you like, I will see what can I do.” Very happy at the prospect of going home he made a quick departure. However, strangely enough, moving from place to place, he reached Kopergaon (a village 8 miles away from Shirdi) on the eighth day. He was utterly confused and did not know that as to how in eight days of continuous walking he could only cover eight miles. Willy-nilly from Kopergaon, he came to Shirdi with a group of pilgrims and met Shri Sai again.

When he bowed before Shri Sai, the latter asked him:-
Sai : “So You have come, when did you leave this place?”
Kashinath : “Thursday”
Sai : “ At what time?”
Kashinath : “At Three”
Sai : “What day of the week is this?”
Kashinath : “Thursday.”
Sai : “How long since you left?”
Kashinath : “A week. To-day is the eighth day”.
Sai : “That’s it. When you left, you protested that you could not return within eight days!”
Kashinath : “I do not know how this has happened. It is all your doing”.
Sai : “Man, I was behind you all these eight days. Now go and stay in that wada” (i.e. Kaka Saheb’s, where visitors of Shri Sai usually stayed. ‘Wada’ means a building within a compound) From that day onwards Kashinath was put on probation by Shri Sai who asked him to stay in the wada (a place where the other pilgrims were put up). Kashinath attempted to understand Sai by starting to enquire from other devotees and observation of His daily activities. On one day, Sai as usual narrated a peculiar story in the form of a self-experience to the assembled devotees. He said that once he met an emaciated and pregnant woman whom he advised to take only hot water and avoid cold-water, so that the child could be delivered early. She did not heed His advice but went on to drink cold water. He again came and advised the lady not to take cold water but to take hot water only. When she started to take hot water, she delivered the child. While narrating the story Shri Sai pointed frequently at Kashinath, who was convinced that it was Shri Sai who had appeared at two places to save him. Love and gratitude engulfed him so much that he started crying. Sai told him clearly that he and Kashinath had Rinanubandha (Karmic obligations of the past, including the previous births) for many centuries.

To protect Kashinath from all external factors that effect spiritual growth, Sai asked him to go and sit in Khandoba Temple and do nothing so that Sai would be able to do whatever he wills to do i.e. to work within Kashinath and evolve him. Sai told Kashinath that Khandoba’s (Lord Shiva) full grace will come on him after a period of four years.

Like a mother protecting its child from the on-slaughts of nature and people around even at the cost of her own life, Shri Sai protected Kashinath whole-heartedly and openly. Before the assemblage of jealous devotees who asked about the reason of His extreme grace He said, “Yes, Yes, everything has been given, whatever he is, good or bad, he is mine. There is no distinction between him and me. Now, the whole responsibility for him rests with me.” Kashinath still could not understand the importance of the words of Shri Sai. To further indicate his future, Sai said “wherever you are, you are God – You will realise everything.”

The grace of the Sadguru is immeasurable. It is said that whereas a touch stone can change a stone to gold by mere touch, the Sadguru (Perfect Master) is such a touch-stone who can convert a stone (disciple) to a touch-stone i.e. to His own state (Perfect Master). The Sadguru, at this stage is responsible for everything, good or evil, done by the pupil. At this stage, the Sadguru virtually remains at the mercy of the disciple. By this total sacrifice of Himself, the Sadguru evolves the disciple to a state of perfection i.e. His own state. Shri Sai, once told one of His close-associates that the endeavor should be to create these perfect men so that they can, in turn, spiritually uplift thousands and millions of other souls from the state of Jivatma (bonded souls) to the state of Shivatma (Perfect souls). To evolve Kashinath was no easy task for Shri Sai. It is said that the difference in the state of consciousness between a stone and an ordinary man is what is the difference between an ordinary man and a Sadguru. Like a man turning a piece of stone by the use of hammer, chisel to a beautiful piece of sculpture, the Sadguru can change a gross individual to that of a perfect soul. This is what Shri Sai was trying to do on Kashinath. The methods he used were, sometimes, harsh from the point of view of Kashinath, but, none the less were meant for his evolution to that perfect state only.

To begin his work Sai told Kashinath “Sit quiet, somehow. Have nothing to do with anyone”. Sai wanted Kashinath not to create further ‘Samskaras’ or impressions for himself in attachment with other people but to draw his mind inwards. As he followed the master, a series of mystic reactions happened in Kashinath and around him.

To make Kashinath realise that, his Guru (Shri Sai) was present in every living being irrespective of the species, He once told Kashinath that he would one day visit Khandoba temple (where Kashinath used to stay). He further said that would Kashinath recognise Him, He would have chillum (earthen pipe for smoking) with him. About two or three months later Kashinath was taking some food to his Guru (Sai, who was sitting at the DwarkaMai mosque). A black dog who had been watching Kashinath while cooking, followed him. Without giving any food to the dog, Kashinath went straight to Sai, who said, “why did you take the trouble to bring the food here, in this hot sun. I was sitting there (i.e. near the temple)”. Kashinath was shocked to hear that his Guru was at the temple and he did not know. He told Sai that there was none in the temple except a black dog. At that, Sai said ‘yes, yes, I was that dog”. Hearing this Kashinath could not stop crying and resolved never again to commit such a blunder. On the next day, while cooking, he watched around cautiously lest the dog would come again. The dog was no where to be seen. A shudra (lower-caste) beggar was found leaning against a wall and watching him cook. Kashinath the Brahmin (Uppermost-caste) grown in the orthodox tradition, immediately asked him to go away. Later when he approached Sai, the latter asked him “yesterday you did not give me food and today you also ordered me not to stand there and drove me away. Do not bring food for me hereafter”. Again Kashinath was surprised and again he was told that ‘shudra’ was Sai Himself. These two lessons taught Kashinath that God and Shri Sai are in everything, and that the essence of God pervades everyone and everything.

On the Gurupurnima day (Ashadha full moon day) of 1913, Shri Sai asked a devotee Chandrabai, a strong willed lady to worship Kashinath the way Sai was being worshipped. This lady approached Kashinath in Khandoba temple with the Puja (worship) material for his worship. Kashinath refused to be worshipped and, even, threatened her for her audacious act. But Chandrabai told him (the language of Sai said through her) that even his body, which he thought was being worshipped, did not belong to him. From this day onwards Kashinath was called as Upasani Maharaj as officially Sai installed him as a Guru even in his probation period. After this incident, he started losing the sense of his body (Dehabhava).

Now Upasani Maharaj started having visions and feelings of a highly psychic and spiritual nature. For example, he lost his normal vision by looking at the sun constantly. The sun and other light sources looked dark to him. When in this state, one day, he suddenly started seeing circles of light, which expanded and then came near him. These circular specks of light would disappear coming near his body. Now he started seeing spiritual visions inside these circles of light. One day he saw himself standing at some place in the space and saw the whole cosmos including the sun, moon, sky revolving. The whirling cosmos slowly became smaller and smaller, came towards him, and vanished near him or into him. Upasani Maharaj now experienced that the whole world was illusory and revolving and that he, as a soul, was outside it. This was a higher stage in his spiritual growth.

From his childhood Upasani Maharaj had identified the body as the cause of all evils in life and had made conscious attempts to punish it. For a spiritual aspirant identifying the body with the self is a big limitation. How Shri Sai removed it is an interesting story. One day Upasani Maharaj saw a vision that in an old building he (Upasani) and Sai were there. Shri Sai beckoned him to bring his ear close to his (Sai) mouth so that he could give a mantra. When Upasani Maharaj tried to do so, a shabby figure, which looked exactly like him tried to pull Maharaj away from Sai. Then Sai beat-up that shabby figure carried him out and burnt him in a pyre. Identifying himself with this figure when Upasani complained about this action (of burning). Shri Sai told him that it was his (Maharaj’s) evil form, which has been burnt. Little later, he saw an illuminated figure of himself. Again on being asked, Sai said that it was his (Maharaj’s) virtuous form. Maharaj was surprised and asked if he had an evil form and also a virtuous form who was he! Shri Sai told him that he was beyond both these forms and was the pure soul the element with which Shri Sai himself was made of.

As Upasani Maharaj proceeded from the stage of illumination to self-realisation occult powers and ‘siddhis’ came to him. When an aspirant evolves in the spiritual path higher psychic and occult powers gradually grow in him. He could read the minds of everyone – his past, present and future. People started surrounding him and he had some following. Often, when he would be worshipped by a few persons, a crazy ascetic called Nanavali, who stayed at Shirdi, would come and pull out his cloth and talk with him with disrespect and contempt. Once he tied him up and beat him up. As Nanavali was a tough and dangerous person, no one could protect Upasani Maharaj. His cup of sorrow was full but inwardly his Godly qualities were evolving to perfection. He was getting ready for his new and bigger role. Every time he faced a problem, Sai assured him by saying that He (Sai) was always with him and that the more he suffered at present, better it would be for his future.

One night in July 1914 Upasani Maharaj left Shirdi quietly taking mental permission from his Guru for a role he was destined to play elsewhere. First he went to a place called Shindi, then to Nagpur where he stayed for about a month and finally Kharagpur. At all these places, people started worshipping him even when he tried fervently to run-away from such situations. He tried to remain incognito but people would not leave him in peace. At Kharagpur, he deliberately stayed in a dirty condition and used filthy articles and even abused people in most unparliamentary language that he could. People followed him everywhere and conducted his Puja (worship) and demanded advice out of him. When a flower blooms and its aroma spreads, butterflies and insects naturally get drawn towards it.

Same was the case with Upasanji Maharaj. Since he had become a ‘Satpurush’ (Perfect one) people naturally flocked to him whether he liked it or not. All persons coming in contact with a Satpurush get purified. His following increased everyday and his surroundings became a place of activities like poor feeding, kirtan and ‘Naamjap’ remembrance of the name etc. Although Upasani Maharaj would not agree to be the creator, but a number of miracles started happening around him. After staying for about a year in Kharagpur, when people tried to build a permanent abode for him, he quickly left the place. Soon he reached Nagpur, where also, people surrounded to have his darshan. After two months of stay at Nagpur, he visited places like Poona and also his home at Satana. As his four-year period was over, he returned to Shridi and stayed at Khandoba temple for about seven months. Thereafter, he left for a place called Rahata where he conducted naam japs, poor feeding etc. From there he went to Ahmedabad for some time. Returning to Shirdi, a third time he stayed near to his Guru for about two to three months. In 1917, he finally shifted to Sakori and started functioning as a spiritual master (Sadguru). This child of Shri Sai served thousands and thousands of people, day in and day out with least regard for his personal comforts and finally left his gross body in the early hours of the 24th day of December, in the year 1941. Like his Guru, Upasani Baba had given enough indications about his final departure earlier. Upasani Baba was Shri Sai’s loftiest creation a stone turned into a touchstone.

Narayan Maharaj was born on 20th May 1885, at Bagalkot in Karnataka. His early childhood was full of calamities. He lost his father, when he was hardly 14 months old and lost his mother when he was four. As a worldly duty his grandmother looked after him. His sacred thread ceremony was performed at the age of nine. His grandmother was planning to appoint Narayan as her heir, but it created problems with the other relations and he was also not interested in any material acquisition. He left his grandmother’s place and all his relations, as he was keen on establishing the only relationship with Lord Dattatreya. After leaving home he took rest for the night in Shiva’s temple, but no one came to enquire about him.This proved to be an important event to break all the worldly ties for him. Whatever is destined to take place must take place. Suffering is a great blessing in disguise, it has the ultimate objective to bring sufferer on the path of love and realisation.

His life was full of hardships, trials and traumas but he had the absolute and unflinching faith and devotion for Lord Dattatreya, hence he had no fear of any kind.

There are many incidences which prove that the unseen divine hand was constantly guarding him in many ways. When he was just 12 years of age, he was residing in Lord Shiva’s temple. Everyday for more than a week a tiger was coming to the temple, bowing to the Lord and touching Narayan’s feet, who used to be meditating in the corner. Once when he was deep into meditation, the roof of temple collapsed. He protectively covered over the Shivalinga. The Shivlinga (Lord Shiva’s Idol) and Narayan, both were saved. Once while meditating in the riverbed seated on a big rock, the river got flooded all of a sudden, water level was increasing menacingly, however instead of flowing over the rock, water currents took the detour leaving Narayan safe and untouched.

He was going through a dense forest, where leave aside human beings even animals were hesitant to stir out. Narayan was extremely thirsty. Suddenly a horse rider came from nowhere showed him the spring water and disappeared. Once he was sleeping under the tree and a large snake encircled his legs. Fear did not enter Narayan’s mind. After a while it started raining incessantly and the snake loosened its grip from his legs and went away.

Hundreds of incidents like these happened in Narayan Maharaj’s life, which gave a glimpse of the Divine power standing behind him. He was asked by a Saint to go to Gangapur and serve Lord Dattatreya. He was in Gangapur for about 10 months and Lord Dattatreya showed him the definite and fearless path to achieve his cherished goal. At Gangapur he completely and earnestly surrendered to the Lord and the Lord made His abode in his heart.
While moving from place to place, he came to Bet and heard the conversation of a pair of Pingla birds, “This place was sanctified by the brief stay of Lord Ram. This is a Holy Land, where thousands will get food and true satisfaction”. So the 4 hectares of land was taken by Maharaj to create the place for his divine service rendered to humanity.

He created a magnificent township in 4 hectares of land at New Bet, which was known as Narayan Nagri, adorned by the majestic temple of Lord Dattatreya. The place was abound with spiritual bliss. Lord Shiva’s temple, Sadhana (Practice) place for Maharaj, a large Dharamshala (Rest house) for devotees and many small cottages were built by the devotees, who wanted to live near the Master. Distribution of free food everyday to thousands of people and chanting the Lord’s name made the whole place pristine and divine.

Maharaj had all the ‘siddhis’ or spiritual powers at his command, but he never used them for himself but there are many instances where these spiritual powers came into use on their own as result of his spiritual perfection.

The voice of Smt. Anjanabai who was a singer of reputed fame was miraculously restored, a ship and its owner were rescued from the cyclone storms with his divine intervention. A famous doctor was pulled back from jaws of death by a mere glance from him. Limited food was prepared for few, when covered by Maharaj with a cloth was more than sufficient to feed thousands of people and still remained in the utensils. Drunkards were inspired to leave the alcohol forever by the mere glance. He saved a devotee and his car from falling into river by physically appearing in front of the car. He cured many incurable diseases and helped thousands of families by giving food, clothes, medicines and education.

He organised many religious ceremonies at New Bet between 1928 to 1935, when communication and transport facilities were non-existent in this remote place. He had outstanding organizational skills. The ceremonies were so flawless, perfect and divinely inspired. The scale, grandeur, serenity and purity was so profound on all these occasions that everyone felt, that God Himself was present there.

His message was very simple and practical, “Treat every being as God.” Chanting of Lord’s name was so dear to his heart that his basic advice to his devotees was “Chant God’s name and experience the bliss”.

His devotees were renowned Doctors, Advocates, Professors, Artists, Kings of erstwhile Indian States and Nepal and a number of foreigners. But he was a Saint for the under privileged, weaker and poor people.

He was a Perfect Master and was known far and wide. He traveled to religious places – Varanasi, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Nepal, Omkareshwar, Mahakaleswar, Rameshwar, Madurai, Chidambaram, Shiv Kanchi, Vishnu Kanchi, Tirupathi, Ramakrishna Ashram, Calcutta, Banglore, Mysore, Dwarka, Somnath, Dakornath, Shri Gokarna Mabaleshwar and host of other places.

From 1942 his health started falling, for a change of weather he decided to go to Ottacmond. Whenever he used to leave on earlier occasions his parting words used to be “I will be back soon”; but this time while leaving his words were, “I am going”. But no one could grasp the meaning at that moment.

Ottacmond did not suit him. He came to Bangalore and in spite of failing health he decided to organize ‘Ati Rudra Swahakar’ to Lord Mallickarjun (a form of Shiva). State of Mysore made outstanding arrangements. He performed the Maha Pooja (grand worship) and gave Mantra for chanting to the large gathering of the devotees and returned to his chamber without visiting ‘Yajnashala’ (a place for fire sacrifice) due to complete exhaustion. The whole ceremony was conducted in an exquisite style, without any slackness in the presence of around 1,00,000 devotees. After the completion of all Poojas (worships), Maharaj was given the message. He was in Padmasan (Lotus posture in Yoga).
Before anyone could realise, he took a long breath and finished his mortal journey on 3rd September 1945.

Though Mysore State arranged an aircraft for carrying the body to Bet, devotees of Bangalore were not ready to part with the body and wanted to have his Samadhi Mandir at Bangalore. Mysore State gave two acres of beautiful land near the lake, where his mortal remains were buried and now a beautiful Samadhi, where the Sadguru is resting, came into existence. Even today at Bet, the vibrations can be felt of the presence of this Master and He is still helping scores of devotees, who ardently call on him.

Shankar Maharaj was a Perfect Master in the tradition of Nath Siddhas.
Different stories are told about the birth and early life of Shankar Maharaj. But the following story of his birth and initiation by his guru appears to be most authentic, having been told by Maharaj himself to his prime disciple Dr. Nagesh Dhaneshwar of Nagar, about 200 kms from Pune.

Once Dr. Dhaneshwar asked Maharaj his age. Instead of answering, he asked him to judge his age from physical examination since he was a medical doctor. Dr. Dhaneshwar judged his age to be more than 125 years. Maharaj agreed with him and told him that he was born in about 1800 at Mangalwedha (near Pandharpur) in the family named Upasani.

He used to be a very naughty boy. Once, when he was seven to eight years old, he went chasing a deer. The deer entered the forests on the banks of the river Chandrabhaga towards a place called Machnur. He followed it and soon reached a Shiva temple. When he was about to shoot the arrow a large sanyasi came, lifted the deer and held it in his arms .He said “My child, why do you kill the innocent animals? If you want to hunt, hunt wild animals, but don’t kill this” nevertheless he shot the arrow at the deer in the sanyasi’s arms. It hit him but became blunt and fell down. Another arrow also met the same fate. He become confused but the sanyasi smiled, kept the deer down, came near and fondled him. Thus Maharaj got “ Sparshdiksha” or initiation by touch of the Yogi, who was no other than Swami Samarth of Akkalkot. Maharaj stayed with him for six months during which he gave him all knowledge and instructed him to go on pilgrimage.

He went to the Himalayas where he did a very hard penance. On returning from there he spent his time with Siddha-Yogis in and around Vriddheshwar (near Nagar) which is known as the center for meditation of several Nath Siddhas in the past. Maharaj remembered having received Dakshina from Peshwas hands in Shanniwarwada in Pune, the seat of Peshwas rule. After the British took over Pune, he met a British Collector who developed a faith in Maharaj and considered him his Spiritual guide. He took Maharaj to England where he stayed for ten years teaching the yoga path to this British officer.

Being asked by Dr. Dhaneshwar whether this is how he is able to speak such good English, he said, “No Doctor, He who understand the principle which is beyond the source of all languages and who becomes one with it, knows any language, even the language of animals and birds. He becomes the energy itself therefore he is able to decipher the vibration. I understand the English language perfectly. I have read complete Shakespeare. He had rich experiences of life. Among his plays, I Like Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello and Romeo-Juliet.”

One can surmise therefore that at the time of samadhi Maharaj was about 150 years old. It is not clear when Maharaj came to Maharastra, Pune in particular. From the biography of Dr. Dhaneshwar who was born in 1899, it is seen that Maharaj met him at Nagar when he was a schoolboy, that must have been around 1910 when Maharaj was already past hundred. He used to move frequently between Nagar, Pune, Solapur and Akluj, also visiting in places with Shri Dattatreya influence like Gangapur, Narsobawadi, Mahurgad and Girnar. Wherever he went he attracted devotees.

In appearance Maharaj is described as ‘Ashtavakra’ or bent in eight places. Maharaj had a short stature, but was “Ajunubahu” or having long hands reaching below his knees. Most noticeable were his large and bright eyes and a child like expression on his face. In later years he had a beard. He often had a brandy bottle in his hand and a hunter whip with him. He used to address people by the swear words, but without malice. It was believed that if Maharaj rebuked anybody he got rid of misfortunes. He used to talk with lisp which was due to his unusually long tongue. The immense kindness and compassion of Maharaj were consistent with his being a Nath Panthi in the Guru tradition.

According to what Dr. Dhaneshwar told “The aim of a Nath Panthi is to help people without bothering about his own personal liberation. Because of the compassion for all living, he takes birth again and again all over the earth in all communities and not necessarily ordained as a Nath Panthi during that birth. It is because of such selfless liberated souls that the fabric of human society is maintained.”

Maharaj did not stay long at any single place. He used to move from devotee to devotee. He was fond of smoking honeydew (popularly known as Pilo hatthi) cigarettes. He was also fond of drinking brandy and appeared to be often intoxicated. He used to like the scent (attar) of hina and loved music.

Maharaj used to drink with a purpose. His drunken appearance helped him in keeping unwanted people away. Only those people who saw Maharaj beyond the external looks could come to him. There are instances when Maharaj drank and another person nearby got drunk. Some people to whom Maharaj gave a brandy glass and asked them to drink it told later it was not liquor but nice tasting coconut water. Maharaj was fond of wearing rings and jewels but he could throw them or give to others easily.

The life of Shankar Maharaj has been full of miracles he performed to help his devotees. Such miracles are associated with many Yogis. The miracle includes the knowledge of past and future events, creation of matter going from one place to another instantly, being at several places at the one time, feeding a multitude from the small quantity of food and so on. Maharaj did these miracles to instill faith in them and to draw people to spiritual path. Maharaj had said, “I am a slave of the simple and teach lessons to the scoundrels. I am the blotting paper of egotistic persons. I cannot tolerate ego. I suck it out.”

Maharaj had large number of devotees and disciples world over. Dr Dhaneshwar, Maj. Abhyankar and his son Dattareya , Raobahadur Navale from all from Nagar; G.K Pradhan and Keshavbhai Asher from Mumbai, Raosaheb Mehendale and his wife Taisaheb, Vasudev Pandit, Baburao Rudra, Mamasaheb Dhekane, Yellubahi and Gosavi all from Pune, Mr.Girme and Mr. Vasant Kulkarni from Akluj, are some of well known names from the large family of disciples. Maharaj gave spiritual guidance to millions, who are evolving spiritually under his protection even today. Dr Dhaneshwar was his principle disciple. According to Maharaj, their association was for more than six hundred years. Being Nath Panthis in the earlier births also and closely connected to Gahininath. Maharaj had shown him the place where he i.e. Dr Dhaneshwar used to do sadhana in the caves in the Vrishdheshwar hills near Nagar in the previous birth. He was a very capable person and Maharaj gave him all his knowledge. Maharaj first appeared before Dr Dhaneshwar when the latter was a schoolboy but the real training started just after his Graduation in medicine. Maharaj used to visit him often and throw things around. This used to make the doctor angry. One Day, Maharaj scattered some importance articles here and there. Doctor, who was under tension due to personal worries asked Maharaj to leave and when he did not, pushed him down the stairs. As a result of this outburst the doctor became unconscious.

When the doctor recovered from unconsciousness he found his head was on Maharaj’s lap and Maharaj was gently caressing his head with love of a mother. At that moment he suddenly realised the real nature of Maharaj. He realised that the Guru’s love is deeper than mother’s love. From that moment he completely surrendered to Maharaj.

Raosaheb Balwantrao Mehendale who was a barrister and his wife Taisaheb Mehendale were also close disciples of Maharaj . One of his friends Sardar Mirikar was instrumental in bringing Raosaheb to Maharaj.

Maharaj initiated Tai Saheb and asked her to give discourses on Dnyaneshwari (an exposition on Geeta). The Mehendale couple left Bombay and settled in Pune in their ancestoral house Mehendalewada at the Appa Balwant Chowk in Pune. Spiritual programs like the discourses, bhajans and kirtans were held in Mehendalewada which became a center of solace for people who were frustrated in life and needed a relief. These discourses from Taisaheb used to impart deeper bliss to the listeners and they used to feel the meaning of their life being unfolded. It was as if Shri Shankar Maharaj was speaking through her, for he had already told that “I myself cannot give discourse. I need some intelligent person with pure mind”.

This incident of giving darshan of the desired deity was unique. Sir Chunilal Mehta, once Governor of Bombay Presidency in British Raj was a close friend of Raosaheb Mehendale. He was a a kind natured person and scholar, well versed in both Western and Indian literature. He used to attend the discourses in Mehendalewada. One day he told Raosaheb that inspite of his vast reading, travelling all over India visiting holy places, he felt something was lacking in his life. This was just before Taisaheb’s discourse on Dnyaneshwari was to start. The stanzas Taisaheb had selected that day related to seeing manifested God. Sir Chunilal was considerably influenced and said that he wanted to experience something like that. Raosaheb took him next day to meet Maharaj who was at that time in Mama Dhekne’s house. Maharaj was as usual reclining on a cushion, laughing and talking to himself. Lady Mehta sat with Taisaheb on ground. Sir Chunilal stood and did namaskar to Maharaj. Raosaheb spoke to Maharaj and told him that Sir Chunilal had come with his wife to meet him. Maharaj first ignored him and then fixed his eyes on Sir Chunilal who instantly went into a deep trance, tears started flowing from his eyes. And then Sir Chunilal ran to Maharaj and fell on his feet making them moist with the tears.

Lady Mehta was also in a similar condition. Sir Chunilal later told that in those moments Lord Vishnu his personal deity had appeared before him. Sir Chunilal was still in trance for a long time. The feeling of incompleteness left Sir Chunilal permanently. Thereafter Sir Chunilal continued to remain in that internal trance state. He never went any more on pilgrimage to holy places. A few months before taking samadhi Maharaj had chosen the present site. It was a farmland owned by one Mr. Malpani who had agreed to give him the land. A few days before the samadhi, Maharaj told to his devotees, who had gathered at Mama Dhekne’s house, “These clothes have become old. They must be discarded.” everybody realized he was referring to his body and not real clothes. He then asked them to gather there after four days and that he would make ‘khichdi’ for them. Four days later, when they gathered at Mama Dhekne’s house, Maharaj himself cooked the ‘khichdi’ and distributed it. Then Maharaj said, “Dnyaneshwari is not to be read. One must live by it. This world has been saved only by the advice of the Saints and Dnyaneshwari He who fills his life with Dnyaneshwari will surely have a happy life. I have nothing more to say.” And with that he bid good-bye to those who had gathered, except Dr. Dhaneshwar, Gosavi, Dnyananath, Mehendale couple, Mama and Mami Dhekne. He said, “For Yogis and liberated persons, samadhi should be taken at an auspicious time. This time is coming on Vaishakh Suddha Ashtami. I am going to deposit this material body in the ground that day.”

During the next ten days or so, Maharaj broke all outside contacts. Only the usual group used to visit him at Mama Dhekne’s house. Not a word was spoken. On the seventh day, that is the day before the samadhi, he told Mami,” Give me just a cup of tea. Inside the shelf spread a small mattress and keep a cushion. I am going to take bath and sit here. I don’t want to speak a word nor meet anyone. The door should not be opened.” And they did accordingly. Mama and Mami were sitting the whole night in front of the shelf keeping watch. At four o’clock in the morning voice came from inside the shelf, “Make further arrangements. Take care of this material body. This flame of Dnyanadeo is now leaving it”.

It was April 24th 1947. People gathered to have a last sight of the body of the Master. Next day around noon the body was taken in procession to the place and by the route indicated by Maharaj. Ground was dug at the indicated place for the body. About five o’clock in the evening the body was interred and in no time only a mound of garlands was all that could be seen. An unusual thing about Maharaj has been that even after samadhi he visits his devotees Most visits have been out of a need to save them from calamities or to give guidance.

There is hardly any authenticated information about the early life of Shri Gajanan Avdhoot, popularly known as Gajanan Maharaj. His place of birth, date of birth, parentage etc. are shrouded with mystery, although people speculate that he was born in a place named Sajjangarh in Maharashtra.

It has been experienced that the terminal points (birth and death) in the lives of spiritually advanced souls is often mystical.

Shri Gajanan did not reveal about his past and did not encourage people to search for it. However, Shri Gajanan Avdhoot was first noticed collecting left over food items in a garbage dump on the outskirts of village Shegaon in Mahrashtra by a person named Bankatlal Aggarwal. The Maharaj, although having a shining and extremely healthy body, was at that time in a superconscious state without a sense of his body; for he had no clothes on his person.

Bankatlal, who had earlier association with some spiritually advanced persons, sensed that the apparently crazy person collecting food from the dustbin might be a ‘Siddha’. It was 23rd February, 1878. Bankatlal, along with a friend named Damodar Pant Kulkarni approached Maharaj with humility and asked “Maharaj, why are you eating left over food, if you are hungry, I will certainly make arrangements for you. “However, Maharaj paid no heed to his words and continued to eat his food in a state of utter detachment. Seeing this, Bankatlal ran to the Ashram situated nearby, collected whatever food he could, and came back to Maharaj. As he offered food, Maharaj mixed up all the food items and gulped it down.
It may be understood that the saints at this level actually do not have a sense of taste as they are beyond the body state. Bankatlal, thereafter, went away to collect some drinking water. By the time he returned, he was shocked to see Maharaj happily drinking water from the reservoir meant for cattle. Bankatlal was convinced that he was in the presence of no ordinary mortal but a highly evolved spiritual entity. He prostrated in reverence and asked for blessings. By the time he lifted his head, Maharaj had vanished from there.

Disappearance and reappearance are one of the eight ‘siddhis’ or powers that yogis of India used to possess in the past. Bankatlal was extremely sad and depressed at the sudden disappearance of Maharaj but at that time little did he know that Gajanan Avdhoot was his own Sadguru (the Master) who had himself come at that time. Sadgurus or Perfect Masters attract or reach their disciples when the appropriate time comes, to lead them to their spiritual goal. Their attraction becomes so powerful that it becomes difficult for anyone to resist. No doubt, therefore, that Bankatlal was so sad at his disappearance. His mind could think of nothing except Gajanan Avdhoot all the time and he searched for him whole day without any success. However, he again found Maharaj in the evening when he went to the old Shiva temple to join the worship. He was overjoyed to find him and in an emotionally choked voice requested Baba to come and stay in his house. Maharaj, on his request, came to his house from where his divine function (Leela) started.
The function of the Sadguru is to give a universal push to all the human beings and other species towards spiritual evolution. For them, caste, religion, sex, nationality and even difference in species etc. does not matter. They are humans with human beings and animals with animals. When they start playing this role, people from far and wide start getting drawn as if by the pull of an invisible force. In fact, this is what Shri Sainath used to say, “I draw my children from thousands of miles like a child pulling a bird with a string tied to its legs”.

With the advent of Gajanan Avdhoot thousands of them experienced temporal upliftment. With so many people visiting his house, Bankatlal tried to make whatever arrangements he could.It is not easy to have a perfect master as one’s guest, as social or religious laws do not limit them. Whatever they say or think, happens as they only carry out the functions of God with the help of nature. Their behavior at times becomes extremely unpredictable to the common man. At times they behave like children, at times like a mad man or even like a person possessed.
Nevertheless whatever they do, it is for the good of others. Only spiritually advanced people can understand this motivation behind the actions of a Sadguru. Maharaj often used to quietly escape out Bankatlal used to search him out by strenuous efforts and would request him to come back.

One day Maharaj quietly strayed away to another village named Adgaon. At about mid day, when the sun was on the high, he approached a farmer cultivating his land and requested for drinking water, the farmer had with him. The farmer, named Bhaskar Patel, thought that he was one of the ordinary types of mendicant sadhus and started rebuking him saying that he would not give a drop of water which he has carried from home to a sadhu who is a parasite on the society. Maharaj only smiled without any reaction and slowly walked towards what looked like an old well. Bhaskar Patel again started teasing him from behind saying that it is a dry well and how can any fool get water from there. Maharaj reached the well and meditated for a few moments and soon the well, which was dry for about twelve years, was filled with clean water. He quenched his thirst with this water. Seeing this miracle, Bhaskar Patel realised that he (Maharaj) was no ordinary man and profusely apologised for his intemperate behavior.

The Sadgurus are the ocean of love and mercy, and they are incapable of getting annoyed or angry-far to speak of being revengeful to the creations of God. That is why the epithets “Kripa Sindhu” (Ocean of grace) or “Daya Nidhi” (Abode of Mercy) etc. are used for them.
Seeing the plight of Bhaskar Patel moved Maharaj told him that he has created water for him in the well so that Patel does not have to carry water from the village strenuously every day for cultivation or drinking.
The love that we sometimes feel within us, the depth of kindness that stirs in our heart when we are in touch with a Sadguru, is because the Sadguru first showers his total love and compassion on us without any qualification and even without our asking. This is what in known as “Ahetuk Kripa” (the grace without asking) Thus, by total sacrifice of himself, the Sadguru tries to evolve his children towards their goal and teach that sacrifice for others without any intention of getting returns raises Godly qualities in human beings.

The Sadguru teaches, by his own examples that in order to shine one must sacrifice one self. No one can truly help others without any sacrifice on himself. Protection of the Sadguru is the strongest armoury in a person’s life because the extent to which a Sadguru can go to protect his children cannot be imagined.

Once Maharaj was invited by Bankatlal, went to his farmland to eat corn stalk (Bhutta). Baba, along with a group of devotees sat under a tree, lit fire and started roasting the corn (Bhutta). No body had seen that there was a honey beehive on the tree. As the smoke from the fire reached the hive, the honeybees got out in swarms and started stinging everybody. Except Maharaj all of the devotees ran away. All the honeybees, thereafter, settled on the body of Maharaj who continued to stay unmoved and in his normal composure. Suddenly Bankatlal saw this from a distance and was moved by the plight of Maharaj. When he approached Maharaj to render help, Maharaj addressing the honeybees said, “you go back to your own place. My dear devotee Bankatlal should suffer no pain”. No sooner than he uttered these words that the entire swarm of honeybees returned back to the hive. The devotees on return saw that Baba’s whole body was full of stings. No ordinary person can quietly bear the stinging of a swarm of honeybees. All of them started thinking that Maharaj must be in pain. Seeing their plight Shri Gajanan Maharaj gave a smile and took a deep breath. At once all the stings fell out of his body in hundreds.
In this case what the Sadguru did was to take on his own body the pain of the honeybees stings and not allowing his children to suffer.

After a short stay at Khodgaon, the Maharaj returned to Shegaon. There he moved to the house of one Khandu Patil. His style of living was so ordinary like that of Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi that it was not easy for everyone to make out about of the depth of his spiritual personality in the first look. One day, about ten South Indian Brahmins, with the intention of earning some money came to Maharaj, who was sleeping under the cover of a blanket. Suddenly Maharaj woke up during the recitation and pointed out to the Brahmins that they were pronouncing the vedas in a wrong manner. Thereafter, he himself started reciting. Soon the Brahmins realised that Maharaj was a Saint of very high spiritual order and prostrated at his feet. Maharaj blessed them all and also gave them dakshina.

One day Maharaj went to the Nilakanth temple near the village and desired to stay there. Patil built a palm cottage for him and people started visiting the place. Once a group of Gossains (a type of Sadhu) claiming to be the disciples of one Brahmin Guruji reached the place where Baba was staying. The pretentious Sadhus demanded halwa, puri (a variety of food in India) and ganja (opium) from Patil. They also told him that by doing so he would get more virtue than by serving a mad and naked person like Gajanan Maharaj. After taking his food just in order to prove his superiority over Maharaj the group leader, Brahmagiriji started lecturing on Bhagavad-Gita to draw attention of people. He started explaining “Nainam chhindanti Sastrani, Nainam Dahati Pavakam”- meaning ‘neither weapons can destroy the soul nor can fire burn it’. In spite of his efforts, people were found to be collecting around Gajanan Maharaj who was smoking his Chilum (clay tobacco pipe) sitting on a wooden bed right opposite to Brahmagiriji. His ego was hurt and he became very angry finding absence of proper public appreciation and attention. Strange are the ways of Sadgurus. In this situation a strange thing happened. The bed on which Maharaj was sitting suddenly caught fire. As the fire rose up the disciples of Maharaj requested him to get out of fire and also started arranging for water. Maharaj said that neither water would be used to extinguish fire nor would he get out of the fire bed. Addressing Brahmagiriji who was enjoying the sight, Maharaj said, “since you have been telling people for the last one hour that neither weapon can destroy nor fire can burn the soul, please come and prove it by sitting on fire.” On this Brahmagiriji did not react but tried to avoid the situation. Then Maharaj asked a physically strong disciple to catch hold of Brahmagiriji and bring him before Maharaj.
One can well imagine the condition of a pretentious sadhu in such a situation. His ego was totally shattered and he repented not only for his behavior but also for his pretentiousness. Maharaj pardoned him and advised him on the path to be followed for spiritual upliftment.

The Sadguru is the Universal Guru. He deals with each person at his level of consciousness. He tries to destroy their ego through his superior power in order to evolve that person. Sadguru removes all such limitations of mind and body that are not conducive to the evolution of a soul slowly. What methods in the gross, subtle or mental level the Sadguru may use can never be predicted by anyone.