Tuesday 21 May 2013

SAHAJANANDA YOGA CHARACTERISTICS


REMAINING NATURALLY IN A HAPPY STATE IS
SAHAJANANDA YOGA.

BRAHMAN, WORLD, INDIVIDUAL SOUL -- ALL
THESE ARE DIFFERENT FORMS OF ONE ASPECT,
'ATHMAN' WHICH IS PURE CONSCIOUSNESS,
KNOWING WHICH REMAINING IN A NATURAL 
STATE OF HAPPINESS IS 'SAHAJANANADA'

SHANKARACHARYA'S SLOKA-1 OF 
MAYA PANCHAKAM SAYS --


Maya, which is adept at making the impossible happen, 
superimposes on me (the Atman) who am in reality pure 
Consciousness, who am incomparable (because the 
Atman is the only reality and there is therefore nothing else 
with which it can be compared), who am eternal, partless, 
unlimited by space, time and other objects, in whom there 
is no differentiation whatsoever, the distinctions in the form 
of the world, God and the individual soul.

THIS IS THE FIFTH BHUMIKA IN SAPTHA BHUMIKA
5) MUKTHI-ANANDA(LIBERATION-HAPPINESS)

WHEN THE AVADUTHA REACHES 6th & 7th 
BHUMIKAS WHICH ARE--

6) THURIYA(FOURTH STATE OF BLISS)
7) THURIYATHITA(HIGHEST STATE-NO THOUGHTS)

ALL THE SAPTHA BHUMIKAS(7STEPS) ARE 
ACHIEVED ! !

YOGI CAN SIT ON THE THRONE OF AVADUTHA !!

Ishwara teaching Shanmuga

SAHAJANANDA RAJAYOGA :



Brahman,World,Athma -- all these naturally, natural same form
of the one aspect ATHMA, knowing which remaining in a happy
state is 'SAHAJANANDA'. Even though in name word 'natural' 
is used, it is not easy to achieve this.

Person who achieves this, he will not under go trouble of birth,
death etc. If you think this happens naturally,it will take place
naturally; if you think it is difficult,it will be difficult only to 
achieve this.  

By Yoga practice, happiness gets filled in the heart & overflows,
due to this pleasent state,opening the eyes becomes difficult
& internally swinging in happiness in oneself is Sahajananda.


When a boy & a girl fall in love, even when boy gives lot of 
trouble to the girl, without feeling unhappy the girl being in a 
happy state only, just like that the Yogi overflowing in high 
level of happiness,whatever difficulty comes to the body he is 
in Sahajananda only.  

Cold, sunshine,rain,mist,scorpion,forest,disease, Yogi's body 
without knowing all these difficulties, being in a state of 
happiness is Sahajananda.

This state of happiness is difficult to explain to others,only the 
Yogi only knows that state of happiness.If you give sugar to a 
dumb and ask him ,"How it tastes?" he cannot give an answer 
to that, same way this Brahmananda has to be experienced
by himself only.

Without Dvaitha Bhava(thinking there is no two),only thro'
nijabhodananda(happiness of knowing Reality),forgetting 
oneself in that happiness is the characteristic of this state.

Just like forgetting oneself in a game of love & becoming 
quiet, drowning oneself in the happiness of one-Athma,
not understanding anything is Sukhbhava(pleasant feeling).

Indria(body part),prana(breathing cycle),mind, chitta(memory),
vishaya(sexual),ahankara(ego),buddi(intellect),tapa thraya
(three pains),kama(lust),kroda(anger),asta mada(eight egos),
without seeing any of these,being in the highest happy state
is Sahajananda.

In which ever direction you see,you experience bright mass 
of light,darkness of Maya gets destroyed,just like rain, drops
of happiness covers you & by this external matters influence
on you stops,you loose track of  time- morning,noon,evening,
night,time of day.place & getting immersed in happiness,
forgetting meditation,concentration,process of gaining 
knowledge, swinging internally in happiness is Sahajananda.

During opening of eyes,closing of eyes,while eating,when 
relatives visit you,having happiness covering you all over,
without knowing whats going on externally,forgetting oneself
completely,knowing all what you see are Brahman only,
swinging in happiness is Sahajananda.

Executing various transactions during the day, getting very 
tired, as night approaches," Shiva Shiva,I don't want this 
samsara(family)" so saying when he sleeps,he enters 
deep sleep.state. Dear son,that time only man gets real 
happiness.Ignorant people without knowing this call it as 
sleep.when they get happy state of deep sleep, they don't 
analyse it.Yesterday I slept at six o'clock in the evening
& got deep sleep,how can I explain that happiness ! he
says,really he is not clear how this happens.

One can achieve this yoga through effort,at any time.The
aspirant(sadhaka) leaving all worldly happiness,without
attachment to Maya(nissanga),gaining Bhumikas
(aspects of yoga to follow) & practicing yoga, you achieve
Sahajananda Yoga. Bhumikas are steps to achieve yoga,
[refer WHAT IS 'SAPTHA BHUMIKA' ? (SEVEN STEPs) ]
gaining them one by one,when you achieve five Bhumikas,
state of happiness is gained.Further two more Bhumikas--
Turia(state of Bliss),Turiathitha(highest state of Super 
Bliss ie, no thoughts at all-living GOD) are achieved Great 
Happiness(Mahadananda) is achieved.

First three Bhumikas are for family man,next four are for 
Paramahamsa. As the fourth Bhumika is 'VasanaKshaya'
for a family man, how can there be Vasana Kshaya ? For
an Avadhutha,he is fit for fourth Bhumika to seventh 
Bhumika. Therefore fifth step of Bhumika-- Sahajananda 
in future Turiya,Turiyathita are very suitable for an Avadutha.
Always full of bliss & traveling from one place to another
is an Avadutha. There is Happiness in Yoga & happiness
is called Yoga.When Yoga yields result, it is called 
Sahajananda. Yogis experiencing happiness, they travel 
like a dumb person.

Bharatha,Rishabha,Priyavratha,Shuka,Durvasa,
Markandeya,Vamadeva,Samvartha,Sanathsujatha,
Sanaka,Dattatreya etc. are all Avaduthas & experiencing
Sahajananda, being like Lord Shankara they travel from
place to place.

Therefore Dear Son, you gain this Sahajananda, by which
you will be able to cross river of Samsara. Turiananda is
great happiness of high order. Turiathitha happiness
cannot be explained through words ! This Turiananda,
Turiathitha, if a Yogi possesses, Shruthi tells it is 
Sahajananda.

From first Bhumika to fifth Bhumika it is Sagunananda 
& above fifth Bhumika it is Sahajananda. When you 
achieve this state,lady of Moksha waits eagerly to 
garland you !

Please note that, this state is achieved due to previous
birth efforts(purva samskara) , Guru's blessings only,
& cannot be achieved by one's efforts !

Quality of Gold depending on its shine is classified by 
numbers. Highest quality gold is numbered 12. If we give 
weightage points in the same way  to turiathitha as 12,
to turia-11, merged in Athma Bhakthi-10, ordinary 
Bhakthi-9, hearing Mahima of God(Shravana)-8, 
ordinary hearing-7.

Avadutha is always in Turiathitha State ! Drik(seeing),
Drishya(seen) are called as turia is Nirvikalpa & is present
in face.Being witness to all this Sahajananda is called as 
Raja Yoga ! Turia ,Turiathitha joining together has become
a tree called  Sahajananda Raja Yoga ! This tree having
many branches as Saguna(many characteristics),by many
super natural qualities,many historical incidents became 
famous as sahajananda Raja Yoga ! Avadutha who 
achieves this Yoga,gets liberated,being himself Athma,
is free of trans-migratory cycle of birth & death.

Just like water mixes with water,sugar with sugar,milk 
with milk, ghee with ghee,Yogi merges in Athma !
Just as a ripe fruit cannot become raw fruit, butter cannot 
be converted back as curd, Ghee cannot be converted 
back as butter, great Yogi who has become Parabrahma
cannot revert back as Jiva. Many super natural powers
(Siddhis) eagerly await for his order, he will not even look 
at them & enjoying himself in the bliss of Sahajananda !

Dear son, those who surrender to me fully & pray to me,
I become their servant & fulfill their wishes. There is 
nobody greater than my Bhakthas who are 'ATHMA' only.
This way those who are having 'SOHAM' outlook(bhava)
& merged in me, they are liberated from samsara(family
life with attachment)

Just as we see snake in a piece of rope due to mental
illusion, this world what we see in Brahman is illusory 
dream & there is nothing real !! This can be understood
by experience only thro' Advaitha Bhava & difficult to 
believe by telling in Dvaitha Bhava ! Yogi's body is 
comparable to burnt cloth & he is really Nirakara !
(without form).

This yoga should not be told to, people with Desire,
bad conduct & character, sinners,murderers etc.
This should be told to those who accumulated Punya
(good deeds), possessing pure Sathvik Guna, 
Mumukshus(those who are desirous of  Moksha).
If you achieve this Yoga you become 'BRAHMAN' only.
By this Yoga let people get liberated,let it bring 
auspiciousness to you also !-- when ISHWARA told
this to Karthikeya, he became extremely Happy &
started to chant Hara Nama(Ishwara nama japa)
ie,repeat various names of Ishwara !





















Wednesday 15 May 2013

SRI GAJANAN MAHARAJ OF SHEGAON


DIVINITY OF SAMADHI OF GAJANAN MAHARAJ 
AT SHEGAON IS WELL KNOWN.

HE WAS AN AVADUTHA & DID MANY MIRACLES 
DURING HIS LIFE TIME !

ALL HIS SUPER NATURAL POWERS HAVE BEEN 
LISTED BELOW !

DETAILS OF HIS PARENTAGE/CHILDHOOD IS NOT 
KNOWN JUST LIKE THAT OF SHIRDI SAI BABA, 
AKKALKOT MAHARAJ, SWAMI NITHYANANDA ETC.

HE USED TO SING OFTEN AS FOLLOWS --

'GAN GAN GANATH BOTHE'



Gajanan Maharaj - Gan Gan Ganat Bote Bhajan



OF WHICH IS VARIOUSLY EXPLAINED AS --



--  You are the part and parcel of eternal entity ie vishwa . 
         So whatever exists in vishwatmah is within you.
-- GOD IS EVERYWHERE, HE IS IN EACH ATOM. 
        Hence treat everyone as God, u will see God in every 
        thing.
-- Tell 'JAI' to Lord Ganesha (jai ganeshji ko kaho)
        Hence the name GAJANAN MAHARAJ !
-- The meaning of this mantra being - God is omnipresent.
        He is present in each and every thing around us. He 
        dwells in each one of us. Hence treat every individual 
        equally. God helps everyone without discriminating 
        between castes, creeds and religions, and also teaches 
        us to behave in the same manner.
-- Gani means count, Individual soul, (Gana) means 
       devotee, who is not different from Brahma and to suggest 
       it the word "Ganat" is used. Bote appears to be the 
       corrupt form of Bate meaning individual soul in Brahma 
       Himself and not anything different from it.
-- No being is separated from God; God exists in all and 
       all exist in God.


THIS POSTING IS BASED ON --

http://www.gajananmaharaj.org/html/aadhyay-main.htm


SRI GAJANAN MAHARAJ OF SHEGAON














LIFE STORY --

First emergence of Sri Gajanan Maharaj in Shegaon
Eating leftover food from patravali 

-- A fair looking youth, picking rice particles from thrown 
       away - Patravalies was seen by Two persons, 
       Bankatlala and Damodar.

-- The youth was chanting "Gan Gan Ganat Bote" to himself 
         without caring what was happening around.

-- His appearance pious face, brightness in eyes, stature , 
        powerfully built body and the calmness in his behaviour 
        made Bankatlala and Damodar spellbound.
-- They were so impressed that they tried to lay prostrate 
        before him and touch his fee, but could not, as he swiftly 
        ran away.
-- He was chanting Gan Gan Ganat Bote. So he was called 
        Gajanan Maharaj.

 Brought Besan - Bhakar as per his wish.


-- After some days - Bankatlala and Pitambara saw the 
        same personality on a pavement near Mahadeo Mandir.
-- The two humbly asked if he needed some thing and 
        brought Besan - Bhakar (Common food in Vidharbha) 
        as per his wish.
-- After eating he gave his Tumba (a jug shaped water pot) 
        to Pitambara and asked him to bring water for him from 
        the near by nalah ( a rivulet) ; warned him that the Tumba 
        should be straightway plunged into the nalah and not to 
        fill the water in it by hand.

-- Accordingly Pitambara put Tumba straight into water 
        which was only of skindeep-depth. And to his great 
        surprise Tumba dipped into that skin - deep - water 
        completely and the water was clean. Ashtonished 
        Pitambara told this to Bankatlala

-- The same night Kirtana of Govindbuwa Takalikar was 
        arranged in Mahadeo Mandir. Govindbuwa began his 
        Nirupama on a shloka of Hansa - Geeta. As soon as 
        Govindbuwa completed the first half of the shloka, the 
        same personality who was sitting behind the audience 
        chanted fluently the second half of the shloka.
-- Bankatlala tried hard and brought the personality to his 
        House. He was chanting Gan Gan Ganat Bote 
        continuously, So he was given the name
         "Gajanan Maharaj".


Janrao became hale and hearty .

-- Bankatlala's house

-- Rush of devotees for darshana.

-- A sadhu from Kashi who had specially came for 
       darshana with some intention could not reach and take 
       darshana. But to his surprise Gajanan Maharaj asked 
       one of the disciples to bring "him", and asked about the 
       intention in his mind.

-- One Janrao Deshmukh became seriously ill. All efforts 
        of doctor and Vaidyas became fruitless. He was counting 
        last moments.

-- One of his relatives took the Tirtha of Maharaj. To the 
        surprise of all the Tirtha did its work and Janrao became 
        hale and hearty .

-- Maharaj punished and drove away one of his devotees 
        as he was misusing the name of Maharaj.


Maharaj burnt the Chilim without fire
-- Day of Akshaya Tritiya

-- Janakiram a gold smith - refused to give fire for 
        burning the chilim of Maharaj

-- Maharaj burnt the Chilim without fire. And at the 
       sometime the main item of the food prepared at 
       the house of Janakiram, Chinchawani - soup of 
       Tamarind was seen, spoiled by worms.

-- Janakiram apologized and requested Maharaj to 
        forgive. And by the blessings of Maharaj the soup 
        became all right.

-- In the month of Jyestha, nearly one month after 
        Akshaya Tritiya, Maharaj asked Chandu Mukim to 
        bring Two Kanwalas (Sweet item, prepared for 
        Akshaya Tritiya) from his house. And the Kanwalas 
        were there where Maharaj told. Even the wife of 
        Chandu Mukim has forgotten all about the Knawalas.

-- Gajana Maharaj advised Madhava, a Brahmin and 
        told about the fleeting,transitory way of worldly things.

-- Maharaj asked his disciples to perform Vasant Pooja. 
       But there were no Vaidik Brahmins in Shegaon. Yet 
       Maharaj insisted and advised to be prepared for it. 
       And to the astonishment of all, the Brahmins arrived at 
       the particular time as told by Maharaj.


Maharaj went into forest, found one old Hemadpanthi Devalaya

-- Once Maharaj went into a nearby forest, found one 
        old Hemadpanthi Devalaya, sat there and went into 
        Samadhi. For full two days he was in Samadhi - 
        awastha. In between men - women from nearby 
        village took him to the village in procession with 
        singing bhajans and beating of drums, gongs and 
        bells; But could not break the Samadhi.

-- Maharaj was wandering in the viseinity of Akoli 
       (Adgaon).It was hot summer noon time, Maharaj felt 
       thirsty, saw Bhaskar Patil in his field. When asked for 
       water Bhaskar refused and showed him a well. The 
       well was dry for more than 12 years. Maharaj went 
       and sat under a tree near the well; began to pray the 
       Almighty. And. Lo, the water gushed from under the 
       rocks and filled the well. The well totally dry for more 
       than 12 years was full of water !

-- No wonder that Bhaskar fell into the feet of Maharaj, 
        was totally changed and became a trustworthy disciple 
        of Maharaj .

The bees covered him completely.

-- Once, Bankatlala with friends went to eat maize-corns 
        in his farm. He took Maharaj with him. To roast the corns 
        fire was made. The wild bees on the honey combs which 
        were on the trees, got disturbed. They attacked all those 
        who were there.

-- All ran for safety, except Gajanan Maharaj. The bees 
        covered him completely.

-- Seeing that Bankatlala who also had run away dared to 
        come back. Mean-while the bees returned to their combs. 
        Bankatlala, on seeing the condition of Maharaj, begged 
        to be excused and requested to allow him to call gold-
        smiths for picking the stings from the body. Maharaj 
        smiled, forgave him and did the Kumbhak Yoga and all 
        the people saw that the stings popped out all over the 
        body. All the present bowed and acknowledged that 
        Maharaj was a Siddha Yogi.

-- Maharaj went to Akot to see Narsing Maharaj. They both 
        chatted and discussed Karma - Bhakti - Yoga.

-- Maharaj blessed Braj Bhushan of Shivar (Tah - Daryapur ) 
        who was a great devotee of the Sun God.

-- Gajanan Maharaj decided to stay at Hanuman Mandir 
        instead of Bankatlala's house.



They thrashed Gajanan Maharaj with sugarcanes;

-- Khandu Patil and his brothers were wrestlers They used 
        to tease Gajanan Mahraj and would ask to wrestle with 
        them.


-- One day when coaxed Maharaj agreed and fixed his foot 
        on the ground and asked Hari Patil to undo it. Hari Patil 
         tried and tried but in vain. He bowed down tired and 
         became the disciple of Maharaj.


 -- But Hari's brothers were not convinced. They decided to 
        test Maharaj. They thrashed Gajanan Maharaj with 
        sugarcanes; they severely beat Maharaj, but Maharaj was 
        calm and smiling and to the astonishment of all there 
        were no marks on his body. The brothers were surprised. 
        They sank down prostrated and called him "Yogeshwara".

-- The same time Maharaj took some sugar canes and 
        squeezed them by his hands & collected the juice for 
        them.They were so crestfallen that they became the 
        devoted disciples of Maharaj.

-- By the Aashirwada of Maharaj a son was born to Khandu 
        Patil.



Maharaj washed out the pride of Brahmagiri- a Pandit
-- Khandu Patil was exonerated in a Police case by 
        the Ashirwada of Maharaj.

-- Maharaj decided to live with the Patils; the devotees 
       of Maharaj.

-- Maharaj corrected the Brahmin. Pandits who were 
        proud of their knowledge of Vedas. Maharaj showed 
        the faults in their recitations.

-- Maharaj went to the farm of Krishnaji Patil. There was 
       a Shivalaya, Maharaj decided to live there.
-- Maharaj washed out the pride of Brahmagiri- a Pandit, 
        well versed in Vedant and his disciples. Brahmagiri was, 
       once, explaining the meaning of a shloka " Nainan Dahati 
       Pawakah----" to his disciples, without going deep into the 
       knowledge of Vendant.. So Maharaj asked him to sit on a 
       burning bedstead with him. Maharaj him self was actually 
       sitting on it. Brahmagiri could not; he fell on the feet of 
       Maharaj. Maharaj advised him and his disciples. .



To his surprise the horse was calm and cool.

Gajanan Maharaj.was sleeping directly under the horse; between the legs; 

-- Hari Bhakta Parayan Govindbuwa Takalikar had a very 
        naughty horse used to bite or kick anybody who came 
        near.
-- One day Govindbuwa came for Kirtana at Mote's Shiva 
        Mandir on the horse. He tied the horse with rope, and 
        after Kirtana went to sleep.
-- In the morning, Govindbuwa came to see his notorious 
        horse and to his surprise the horse was calm and cool. 
        And again to his surprise somebody was sleeping 
        directly under the horse; between the legs; And that 
        somebody was none other than Gajanan Maharaj. 
        The horse with extremely bad habits was tamed by 
        Maharaj.
-- Maharaj fulfilled the wishes of Two Brahmins of Balapur, 
        in spite of their failure to bring the thing they decided to 
        give to Maharaj.
-- Balkrishna and his wife Putalabai were the devotees of 
        samarth Ramdas. They used togo to Sajjangada every 
        year on foot. But that year they could not continue that 
        tradition as both of them were too old. Samarth told 
        Balkrishna in the dream that he need not come to 
        Sajjangadha, instead he himself would visit his house 
        in Balapur. And on the said day Gajanan Maharaj 
        appeared before him and gave the Darshana in the 
        guise of Samarth Ramadasa


only by looking and touching the cow Maharaj tamed her.


-- When Gajanan Maharaj was in Amravati, he on his own, 

        went to the house of a poor devotee Ganesh Appa, 
        knowing his devotion and urge by the inner sight.
-- A special Math was constructed in the land given by 
        Sukhram Asolkar Bhaskar, Balabhau, Pitamber, 
        Ganesh Appa and Ramchandra Gurao decided to 
         stay permanently with Maharaj.

-- Maharaj had to beat Balabhau severely due to 
        Bhaskar's taunting and rebuking. But to the 
        surprise of all nothing happened to Balabhau.

-- A cow of Sukhlal of Balapur was very dangerous and 
       could not be tied down at one place. So he brought the 
       cow to Shegaon, tied down on a bullock-cart. But only by 
       looking and touching the cow Maharaj tamed her.

-- Laxman Ghude of Karanja was seriously ill. He was 
        brought to Maharaj on 'doli' after all efforts went in vain. 
        Maharaj gave a mango to his wife and asked her to feed 
        him. Her physician told otherwise. But she did as Maharaj 
         told, and to the surprise of all Laxman became alright 
         and, even, went to Shegaon to have the darshana of 
         Maharaj.

-- Laxman after becoming hale and hearty requested Maharaj 
        to visit his house in Karanja. But Maharaj came to know 
        his hipocracy and returned to Shegaon. Laxman had to 
        pay the penalty for his hippocratic  behavior within six 
        months



Maharaj ordered the crows to behave properly & they are behaving

-- A dog bit Bhaskar in the Das Navami function at Balapur
      . Maharaj advised him telling the futility** of this world and 
         the knowledge about Karma, Sanchita and Prarabdha.


-- All the Bhaktas agreed to have a monument erected in 
       the name of Maharaj as per the wish of Bhaskar.

-- Maharaj took Bhaskar and others to Trimbakeshwar 
        and Nasik on the occasion of Maha-shiv Ratri.
        Returning to Shegaon Maharaj took Bhaskar and other 
        Bhaktas to Adgaon for the celebration of Ram Navami. 
        At Adgaon Maharaj gave samadhi to Bahskar on Chaitra 
        Vaidya Panchami. People of Adgaon did the Annadana 
        for full Ten days.

-- But the crow, innumerable in number, were nuisance there.
        Maharaj ordered them to behave properly and not to 
        disturb such programmes hence forth. And the crows 
        behaved and are behaving likewise till now.

-- Maharaj saved the life of Ganu Jaware, a worker, from 
        dangerous blasts in a well.


 The dry tree became green.

-- Bachchulal Agrawal of Akola tested Gajanan Maharaj. 
       He gave Maharaj Valuables and gold coins worth nearly 
       Ten thousand rupees. Maharaj threw away all the things 
        saying he did not need such worldly things. Instead 
        Maharaj gave Aashirwada to Bachchulal that his wish to 
        construct a Ram Mandir would be fulfilled.

Maharaj ordered Pitambar, the nearest devotee to 
        abandon the Math. Pitambar went to kondoli; sat on one 
        of the trees in a Aamrai (trees of mangoes ). When 
        aske he said that he was the disciple of Gajanan Maharaj. 
        Nobody believed. Instead people asked to make a dry 
        mango tree green, otherwise they would beat him. 
        Pitambar had no other way, so he cried, wept and prayed 
        Gajanan Maharaj and to the astonishment of all the 
        villagers the dry tree became green. All of them hugged 
        Pitambar and shouted 'Gajanan Maharaj ki jai'.

-- Due to the feuds in the town Gajanan Maharaj decided 
        to have a place that belonged to none. Hari Patil and 
        others, on the advice of Maharaj, put an application to 
         the then collector of the District Buldhana, Mr. Curry. 
         The Collector granted an acre of land. The work for the 
          new Math began.

Bhandara was again arranged next day as per the advice of 
        Maharaj and all went smoothly.

-- A favorable judgment was received on the encroachment 
        complaint while constructing the new Math by the grace 
        of Mahraj.

-- Ganga Bharati, a leper, came to Maharaj. By undisputed 
        Shraddha on Maharaj he was cured.

-- Zamsing, a disciple of Maharaj took Maharaj to Mundgaon, 
        his village; and arranged a Bhandara against the wishes 
        of Maharaj. When all people sat for Bhojana, all of a 
         sudden clouds gathered and it began to rain cats and 
         dogs, spoiling the cooked food.

-- Bhandara was again arranged next day as per the advice of 
        Maharaj and all went smoothly.


-- Mundgaon was attacked by plague. Pundlik Bhokre, a 
        devotee of Maharaj was attacked by the epidemic. 
       Though a swelling in the armpit and fever on body, he 
        started for Shegaon as usual on 'wari' (regular visit) on 
        foot. He reached Shegaon with high temperature and 
        sever pain and fell on the feet of Maharaj.

-- Maharaj lifted him, pressed his thumb on the swelling…. 
       And the swelling subsided, the temperature dropped. In 
       two days Pundlik was alright.


 fisher woman helped the boat to the bank and disappeared

-- Bandu Tatya, a money lender, became penniless due  
        to his extravagant expenditure. All including his wife 
        and children began to hate him. So he decided to go 
        to Himalayas. But by the advice of an unknown Brahmin 
        came to Shegaon. Maharaj advised him to go home 
       and dig at a particular place in the farm. Accordingly he 
       went home, dug and found a pot of coins of Gold.

-- On one Somavati Amavasya some devotees decided 
        to have Narmada Snana and Omakarwshwar Darshana.
       They took Maharaj against his wish, with them. There 
        they hired a boat and proceeded to go to other side of 
       the River. But in the middle, water gushed into the boat, 
       all trembled, began to cry, fell on the feet of Maharaj 
       requesting him to excuse and save the lives. Suddenly 
       a young lady in fisher woman's disguise appeared and 
      helped the boat to the bank and disappeared.


-- One Sadashiv Wanwale from Malwa came to the 
        Darshana of Maharaj. On seeing him Maharaj at once 
       embraced him, gave him two betel leaves and asked 
       him to give the leaves to his Guru Madhaonath Maharaj 
       who forgot to eat the leaves after taking lunch there.
       Astonished Sadashiv went to Madhaonath Maharaj 

       and asked about all that happened, which Gajanan
       Maharaj explained & found to be true.


Meeting was attended by Gajanan Maharaj, addressed by Lokmanya Tilak. 

-- Shiv Jayanti Meeting at Akola was attended by Gajanan 
        Maharaj along with many dignitaries. Meeting was 
        addressed by Lokmanya Tilak. Lokmanya Tilak was 
        arrested by the British Govt.


-- Maharaj, after 3 days of Samadhi hinted that 
        Lokamanya would be imprisoned. Maharaj, sent his 
       prasada of Bhakari to Lokmanya. Yet Lokmanya was 
       sentenced and sent to Mandale. There Lokmanya wrote 
       the world famous "Geeta Rahasya"

-- Shridhar Govind Kale of Kolhapur decided to go to 
        England for further education and then serve the 
        motherland. While traveling from Bhandara to Kolhapur 
        along with a friend, he got down at Shegaon to see 
       Gajanan Maharaj.

-- Maharaj read their faces and criticized their going to 
       England and advised not to leave India. Shridhar 
       obeyed, stayed studied and later became the principal 
       in Gwalier State.


Maharaj was waiting for him and his Besan - Bhakari 

-- Pundlik Bhokre of Mundgaon was Maharaj's disciple 
       But one Shrimati Bhagabai tried to divert him. And 
       when he became restless Gajanan Maharaj gave him 
       'dristant' in the night that he was being sent the Padukas   
       next day. Accordingly the Pandukas of Maharaj reached 
       Pundlik at Mundgaon by the hands of Zamsing, another 
       disciple of Maharaj.
-- Triambak Kawar of Akola was doing his Medical 
        Degree in Hyderabad. One day he decided to serve 
        Maharaj with Besan - Bhakari. His Vahini, who was 
        otherwise arrogant, gladly prepared Besan Bhakari 
        and haded over to him But in between the train to 
        Shegaon left. He reached Shegaon by second train 
        in the afternoon at about 4 pm. And to his great surprise 
        Maharaj was waiting for him and his Besan - Bhakari 
        setting aside all the rich food brought by other Bhaktas.
-- Tukaram Shegokar was unknowingly hit by a lead ball 
        fired from a rifle by a Shikari. All efforts to take it out 
        (from his head) went in vain. The pain was sever. On the 
        advice of a devotee he started to clean (sweep) the Math 
        and its premises regularly. And after 14 years the lead 
        ball fell from his ear and the pain stopped. Up to his last 
        he cleaned the Math.



 Maharaj sat in the women's bogie And a case was registered against Maharaj. 

-- Bhaskar had given word to Vishnusa that he would bring

        Maharaj to Malkapur. Maharaj was against ; but Bhaskar 
        forced. Maharaj sat in the women's bogie. And a case 
        was registered against Maharaj. But the Magistrate held 
        Bhaskar responsible instead of Maharaj and fined him.

-- Maharaj was once in Akola. A Muslim SadhuMahatab 
        Shah came to see him. Maharaj thrashed him. But next 
        day Maharaj had not taken his food without Mahatab 
        Shah.Mahatab Shah left his work and went to his native
        place as per the wish of Maharaj.

-- Only Presence of Gajanan Maharaj in the house of Bapurao 

        at Akola made the so called Bhanamati run - away.

-- Once Maharaj went Akot to see Narsingji Maharaj, sat on 

        the wall of well in the Math; and said to Narsingji Maharaj 
        that he wished to bathe in the waters of Godawari, 
        Yamuna and Bhagirathi those were in the well. Hearing 
        the words water from inside the well gushed like fountain 
        and showered on Mahraj.



Maharaj gave Bapuna darshana in the guise of Vitthala,

--  Bayaja of Mundgaon was a devotee. Her   husband was

impotent. so his brother tried to molest her

Maharaj taught him a lesson.



-- She (Bayaja) used to come to Shegaon with Pundlik.

      People doubted their relationship. Maharaj assured 


      her parents about the purity and chastity of Bayaja.

-- Triambak Kawar, a doctor then, suffered from a boil 

        (a tumor on skin). Being a doctor himself, consulted 
        the specialists, got the operation done, but all in vain.
        Being a devotee, he surrendered completely to 
         Maharaj Maharaj gave him ' Angara and Tirtha' in 
        the disguise of Brahmin. And in hours the doctor 
        became alright.

-- In Pandharpur at the time of Ashadhi Ekadashi 

       Maharaj gave Bapuna the ardent disciple, the 
       darshana in the guise of Vitthala, as he could not go 
       to Vitthal Mandir.

-- Maharaj cured a patient suffering from the epidemic 

       Cholera.

-- A Karmath Brahmin on seeing a dead dog on the 

       door the steps of the Math, became annoyed, Maharaj 
       sprinkled some drops of water on the dog and the dog, 
        to the surprise of Brahmin, sat-up and wagged his tail .


He went to Pandharpur and with tears asked the permission of 
Shri Vitthala. to leave this world.

-- Maharaj told kashinath Garde, a devotee, when he came 

        to darshana that a telegram for him was waiting at his 
        home and to his surprise it was true and that was his 
        appointment order.

-- Once Maharaj had been to Nagpur as the guest of 

        Shrimant Gopal Buti. Buti left no stone to be unturned in 
         reception of Maharaj and kept Maharaj for so many 
        days and wished that Maharaj should not go to Shegaon 
        But Hari Patil brought Maharaj to Shegaon.

-- A Sadhu from Dhar Kalyan, Raghunath visited Shegaon 

       and met Gajanan Maharaj. Swami Vasudevanand 
       Sarswati came to Shegaon to see Maharaj, Maharaj 
       had given pre information of his arrival one day before. 

-- Maharaj explained Balabhau about the three ways to 

        reach God i.e. Karma Marg, Bhakti Marg and Yoga Marg.

-- Maharaj asked Shrimati Salubai, a devotee to cook 

       food in the Math for the devotees. She did likewise 
       thereafter.

-- To the great surprise of Atmaram of Jalamb, Maharaj 

        corrected his recitation of Vedas, by himself reciting 
        Vedas. Atmaram stayed with Maharaj afterwards and 
        donated all his property to the Math.

-- Maharaj awoke, Timaji, a servant of Marutipant of 

        Morgaon Bhakre and told him to guard the grain 
        threshing ground properly as some donkeys entered 
        into it.

-- A Police Inspector insulted Maharaj at Balapur. In 

       spite of the advice of the people he abused and 
       thrashed Maharaj. After some days the news came 
       that the Inspector and his family perished.

-- Maharaj fulfilled the desire of Hari Jakhade of 

        Sangamner who came to darshana of Maharaj.

-- Gajanan Maharaj in the guise of Yogi gave 

        Ramachandra Nimonkar hints about Yoga at 
        Kapildhara a holy place in Nasik District.

-- Tukaram Kokate decided to offer one of his 

        sons, if they survived, to Gajanan Maharaj as his 
        issues - earlier issues died one after another. 
        Afterwards three sons were born and they survived 
        and even attained adulthood. But when Tukaram 
        forgot the words, a calamity happened, his eldest 
        son stuck with illness and could not recover though 
       he tried his utmost. Then he came to Maharaj 
       apologized and prayed for the son's life. The boy 
       recovered and became alright and served Maharaj 
       upto his last.

-- At last Maharaj decided to say goodbye to this world. 

        He went to Pandharpur and with tears asked the 
        permission to Shri Vitthala. Hari Patil was with him.
       The tears in the eyes of GAJANAN MAHARAJ made 

        him serious. Maharaj told him his decision. Returning 
        to Shegaon with shocked state he told all the Bhakatas 
        the decision
-- The state of the Bhaktas could not be described; they 
          wept - cried - tried their most to pursue. But Maharaj 
        was as calm as Himalayas.

-- Maharaj explained them his thought, showed the place 

       for Samadhi and asked all the devotee to come to the 
       Math on Ganesh Chaturthi Day.
-- Throughout the day Maharaj was in happy mood, 

        chatted with Bhaktas, argued them, consoled them 
        and assured them that he was and he would be with 
        them forever. And in the last asked Balabhau to sit 
        near him bade all who were there and - and said 
       'Jai Gajanan' and took his last breath.

-- It was morning of Bhadrapada Shuddha Panchami, 

       aptly called 'Rishi Panchami', Shake 1832
       Can anyone could describe the state of minds of the 

       Bhaktas ? - and that of the people of Shegaon ?
       Thousands of Bhaktas from all parts gathered. A sea 

       of men - women young old gathered, No words to 
       describe their grief. 

-- They took the body of Maharaj in procession, the 

        longest and the biggest in the history of Shegaon. 
        All were weeping, crying and hugging each other in 
        grief. Because the unthinkable had happened their 
        mother; their adviser, their God, their Lord had left 
        them !!


A tall Sadhu consoled Laxman Hari Janjal at Bori Bundar Platform, Mumbai

-- Gajanan Maharaj had taken the Samadhi. But the 
        Divine flame continued to glow and the devotees found 
        that the same calmness was still there.

-- Maharaj advised the wife of Ganpat Kokate in her 

       dream not to object to the donation Ganpat was giving to
       the Math to feed the Brahmins.

-- A tall Sadhu consoled Laxman Hari Janjal at Bori Bundar 

       Platform, Mumbai. He was in a desperate mood. Sadhu 
       said as he was the disciple of Gajanan Maharaj he need 
       not worry. And - Laxman's worries left him. Who was that 
       Sadhu?

-- Madhao Joshi, a revenue officer had a strong desire to 

       go to Shegaon for dershana. So after day's work he along 
       with his peon started for Shegaon on a hired bullock-cart ;
       put the cart through waters of Man River. Those were the 
       raining days, water of the River was on rise. When the cart 
       came in the middle, water level rose, touched the part of 
       the cart. Madhao prayed with eyes closed. And when he 
      opened the eyes the cart was on the other bank. Who 
      came to their help?

-- Dr. Kawar had to stay at Shegaon against his wishes. Why? 

        Because that day was not suitable for travel during night.

-- The son of Ratansa was cured from rickets, His sincere 

        devotion and faith paid;

-- After the unsuccessful efforts of all the expert doctors,

        Chandrabhaga, daughter of Ramchandra Patil, was 
        cured from Naujwara by the 'Vibhuti' and faith on Maharaj

-- Rheumatism of Janakibai Patil, wife of Ramchandra Patil, 

       was also cured by every day darshana of Samadhi.

-- After the death of Balabhau, Narayan of Nandura was 

        advised in his dream to come and serve the Math. 
         Narayan served all his life.


A Gosavi came to Ramchandra Patil and asked him to serve the Math as a Manager 

-- While the construction of the Mandir was going on, 
        a labourer fell from the hight of 30 ft. Nothing happened. 
        When asked, he said that some body caught and put 
        him safely on ground.

-- A stone pillar fell down on a woman who came from 

        Rajasthan to darshana. People took her to a Lady 
        Doctor, but found that nothing had happened. Instead 
        the people knowing her said that some evil-spirit that 
        had possessed her body, disappeared then.

-- A Gosavi came to Ramchandra Patil and asked him to 

        serve the Math as a Manager even advised about the 
        duties to be done. Who was that Gosavi? The doubt 
        was cleared that night in his dream.

-- The Samadhi Mandir was constructed by the devotees 

        of Maharaj. All Other Construction was also done 
        through the donation collected.
-- It is the experience of Bhaktas that the faith in Maharaj 

       saves them from all the difficulties.
       So keep faith in Bhagwan Gajanan in his Samadhi 

        in this Gajanan Vijay Granth 

        So said Das Ganu Maharaj.