|| Jai Gajanan ||
Shri Gajanan Jai Gajanan Shegaon Niwasi Sant Shiromani Shri Gajanan Maharaj
Born: Nobody knows about his birth - the origin is untraceable but gave the First Darshan to the people on 23rd - Feb - 1878
Nirvana: He took the Samadhi on 8th - Sept - 1910
Geographical Location: Shegaon is on the Mumbai CST - Nagpur - Howrah route by Railway. The closest township is Akola in Maharashtra
Shri Gajanan Maharaj, the saint of Shegaon made his first appearance in Shegaon on 23rd February 1878. He was quite young then. He was seen picking up rice particles from a thrown away leaf plate. He drank water along with cattle and went away. Thereafter he appeared lying under the standing horse of Shri Govind Maharaj Taklikar, who was giving a musical discourse in a Shiva temple. Shri Govind Maharaj could know the wisdom of Gajanan Maharaj from the words uttered by him. Thereafter, Maharaj became known in and near about Shegaon.
Gajanan Maharaj was a siddha and was oblivious of his surroundings. He used to lie anywhere, eat anything, wear any piece of cloth or move naked. Once a woman fed him a ball of half a seer chillies which he ate gladly and drank water. He was unaffected. He used to chant "gana gana ganat botey ". That is why he came to be known as Gajanan Maharaj. People used to offer him rich clothes, ornaments, money and eatables. He used to discard these things and move away elsewhere. Devotees often felt peaceful in his presence. They used to feel elevated in his presence. Gajanan Maharaj entered in maha samadhi on 8th of September 1910 at 8 A.M., when large crowds were chanting God's name.
Late Hari Kukaji Patil erected a temple on the spot where Gajanan Maharaj left his body. Gajanan Maharaj Institute has been founded and it is conducting various welfare activities. Shri Ramchandra Krishnaji Patil managed the affairs of the institute from 1913 to 1948. His line continues to manage the affairs of the institute.
Shri Dasaganu Maharaj has written the biography of Shri Gajanan Maharaj in an ovi meter. It has 21 chapters. The book is written in simple and mellifluous Marathi, Shri Dasaganu Maharaj himself was a pious devotee and hence his book has great spiritual value.
Even today, the Samadhi Mandir where his last remains are enshrined attract thousands of devotees whose wishes and prayers are answered. Thus, increasing the faith and devotion.
Shirdi Saibaba and Shri Gajanan Maharaj knew each other. It is said that Saibaba was in a mourning on the day Gajanan Maharaj had left his body. It is believed that Saibaba wept profusely on the day Gajanan Maharaj breathed his last. " My life-breath is leaving me - a great part of my soul is giving up my body.
There are several web sites of Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon and to know more about him please be guided to the following site:
http://www.gajananmaharaj.org/index.htm
