Gajanan Maharaj - Revision history

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	'''Gajanan Maharaj''' was an Indian [[Hindu]] guru, saint and mystic. His origins remain uncertain. He first appeared at [[Shegaon]], a village in [[Buldhana district]], [[Maharashtra]] as a young man ~~at age of~~ 30 probably during 23 February 1878. He attained ''Sanjeevana Samadhi'' on September 8, 1910; which is thought to be a process of voluntary withdrawal from one's physical body. This date of his ''Samadhi'' is commemorated every year as part of the ''Shree Punyatithi Utsav''.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gajananmaharaj.org/sgmsenglish/awatarwork.htm\|title=Shree Gajanan Maharaj, Shegaon last paragraph\|accessdate=11 August 2014}}</ref> The date of his first appearance is considered an auspicious day and is celebrated as ''Prakat Din Sohla''.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.shreegajananmaharaj.com/shree-gajanan-maharaj-prakat-din-special/ \|title=Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Prakat din Sohla 2014 video \|access-date=11 August 2014 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903122229/http://www.shreegajananmaharaj.com/shree-gajanan-maharaj-prakat-din-special/ \|archive-date=3 September 2014 \|df=dmy }}</ref>		'''Gajanan Maharaj''' was an Indian [[Hindu]] guru, saint and mystic. His origins remain uncertain. He first appeared at [[Shegaon]], a village in [[Buldhana district]], [[Maharashtra]] as a young man aged 30 probably during 23 February 1878. He attained ''Sanjeevana Samadhi'' on September 8, 1910; which is thought to be a process of voluntary withdrawal from one's physical body. This date of his ''Samadhi'' is commemorated every year as part of the ''Shree Punyatithi Utsav''.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.gajananmaharaj.org/sgmsenglish/awatarwork.htm\|title=Shree Gajanan Maharaj, Shegaon last paragraph\|accessdate=11 August 2014}}</ref> The date of his first appearance is considered an auspicious day and is celebrated as ''Prakat Din Sohla''.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.shreegajananmaharaj.com/shree-gajanan-maharaj-prakat-din-special/ \|title=Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Prakat din Sohla 2014 video \|access-date=11 August 2014 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903122229/http://www.shreegajananmaharaj.com/shree-gajanan-maharaj-prakat-din-special/ \|archive-date=3 September 2014 \|df=dmy }}</ref>

			== Background and biographical versions ==
	[[File:Shree Sant Gajanan Maharaj.png\|right\|150px\|thumb\|Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj, [[Shegaon]].]]		[[File:Shree Sant Gajanan Maharaj.png\|right\|150px\|thumb\|Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj, [[Shegaon]].]]
			The early life details of Gajanan Maharaj remain obscure and his date of birth also is unknown. He is believed to have made his first appearance during February [[1878]] at [[Shegaon]].
	~~== Background and biographical versions ==~~
	The early life details of Gajanan Maharaj remain obscure and his date of birth also is unknown. He is believed to have made his first appearance during February 1878 at [[Shegaon]].

	One of his biographies known as ''Shree Gajanan Maharaj Charitra-Kosh'' was authored by Dasbhargav or Bhargavram Yeodekar, a native of Shegaon. The biography mentions various versions of Gajanan Maharaj's origins. While at [[Nashik]], Dasbhargav is thought to have met a contemporary saint known as Swami Shivanand Saraswati who was speculated to be of 129 years of age at the time. According to Shivanand he was a [[Brahmin]] who had previously met Gajanan Maharaj during 1887 at Nashik. He informed Dasbhargav about the period when Gajanan Maharaj appeared in Shegaon where he lived for the remainder of his life. He claimed to have made around 25 to 30 number of visits to Gajanan Maharaj during this period. Shivanand Swami also declared that he would often visit Dadasaheb Khaparde, a resident at [[Amravati]] and stay with his family at their residence during these visits. It is claimed that Shivanand Swami later travelled to the [[Himalayas]] and was never seen again (according to pages 362–365 of the aforementioned biography that details the conversation between Dasbhargav and Shivanand Swami). It is also believed that Shivanand Swami may have been a former resident at [[Sajjangad]], Maharashtra, also where the prominent 17th-century saint and philosopher [[Samarth Ramdas]] lived for many years. Gajanan Maharaj was an ardent user of marijuana and hashish which is exemplified in almost all available images in the public domain from the time of his attaining samadhi.Even the temple premises where he attained samadhi had a smoking choola as a symbolic representation.		One of his biographies known as ''Shree Gajanan Maharaj Charitra-Kosh'' was authored by Dasbhargav or Bhargavram Yeodekar, a native of Shegaon. The biography mentions various versions of Gajanan Maharaj's origins. While at [[Nashik]], Dasbhargav is thought to have met a contemporary saint known as Swami Shivanand Saraswati who was speculated to be of 129 years of age at the time. According to Shivanand he was a [[Brahmin]] who had previously met Gajanan Maharaj during 1887 at Nashik. He informed Dasbhargav about the period when Gajanan Maharaj appeared in Shegaon where he lived for the remainder of his life. He claimed to have made around 25 to 30 number of visits to Gajanan Maharaj during this period. Shivanand Swami also declared that he would often visit Dadasaheb Khaparde, a resident at [[Amravati]] and stay with his family at their residence during these visits. It is claimed that Shivanand Swami later travelled to the [[Himalayas]] and was never seen again (according to pages 362–365 of the aforementioned biography that details the conversation between Dasbhargav and Shivanand Swami). It is also believed that Shivanand Swami may have been a former resident at [[Sajjangad]], Maharashtra, also where the prominent 17th-century saint and philosopher [[Samarth Ramdas]] lived for many years. Gajanan Maharaj was an ardent user of marijuana and hashish which is exemplified in almost all available images in the public domain from the time of his attaining samadhi.Even the temple premises where he attained samadhi had a smoking choola as a symbolic representation.
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	Shree Gajanan Maharaj took ''Samadhi'' on 8 September 1910. His earthly remains were buried and a temple in his name is built on his [[Samādhi\|Samadhi]] at Shegaon. Maharaj was prescient and had predicted his time on this earth was close to getting over. His devotees had started building the temple in his honour for some time before his [[Samadhi]]-din. In fact, his [[Samadhi]] mandir is just below the temple of [[Shri Ram]]. It is said that Shri Gajanan Maharaj would routinely worship at the temple of [[Shri Ram]] during his lifetime.		Shree Gajanan Maharaj took ''Samadhi'' on 8 September 1910. His earthly remains were buried and a temple in his name is built on his [[Samādhi\|Samadhi]] at Shegaon. Maharaj was prescient and had predicted his time on this earth was close to getting over. His devotees had started building the temple in his honour for some time before his [[Samadhi]]-din. In fact, his [[Samadhi]] mandir is just below the temple of [[Shri Ram]]. It is said that Shri Gajanan Maharaj would routinely worship at the temple of [[Shri Ram]] during his lifetime.
	Shri Gajanan Maharaj was fond of smoking ganja in his chilam and is supposed to have also started a dhooni (loosely meaning hearth, but representing a glowing chilum{{typo help inline\|reason=similar to chillum\|date=November 2019}}) during his lifetime. The dhooni is still burning and is located very near the [[Samadhi]] mandir.		Shri Gajanan Maharaj was fond of smoking ganja in his chilam and is supposed to have also started a dhooni (loosely meaning hearth, but representing a glowing chilum{{typo help inline\|reason=similar to chillum\|date=November 2019}}) during his lifetime. The dhooni is still burning and is located very near the [[Samadhi]] mandir.
	At the time when he filled a dry well with water, the saint who had denied him water, saying all wells here are dry, Shri ''Bhaskar Maharaj Jayle'', later went on to become his big devotee. Bhaskar Maharaj's grandson, Shri ''Vasudeva Maharaj Jayle'' was also a great devotee <ref>{{Cite web \|title=गणेश चतुर्थी आज, सज गए गजानन महाराज \|url=https://www.amarujala.com/uttar-pradesh/sambhal/ganesh-chaturthi-today-gajanan-maharaj-was-decorated-chandausi-news-mbd4021045182 \|access-date=2022-05-31 \|website=Amar Ujala \|language=hi}}</ref>of Gajanan Maharaj, whose ''Shraddhasagar [[Ashram]]'' in [[Akot]] is a spiritual place for devotees in nearby areas.		At the time when he filled a dry well with water, the saint who had denied him water, saying all wells here are dry, Shri ''Bhaskar Maharaj Jayle'', later went on to become his big devotee. Bhaskar Maharaj's grandson, Shri ''Vasudeva Maharaj Jayle'' was also a great devotee <ref>{{Cite web \|title=गणेश चतुर्थी आज, सज गए गजानन महाराज \|url=https://www.amarujala.com/uttar-pradesh/sambhal/ganesh-chaturthi-today-gajanan-maharaj-was-decorated-chandausi-news-mbd4021045182 \|access-date=2022-05-31 \|website=Amar Ujala \|language=hi}}</ref> of Gajanan Maharaj, whose ''Shraddhasagar [[Ashram]]'' in [[Akot]] is a spiritual place for devotees in nearby areas.

	==Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan==		==Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan==
	In the presence of Gajanan Maharaj, ''Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan'', a body of 12 trustees was formed on 12 September 1908 so as to commemorate the holy place which Maharaj had hinted ''Ya Jagi Rahil Re'' (It will be at this place) about his place and day for ''Samadhi''.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.gajananmaharaj.org/sgmsenglish/aboutsanstha.htm\|title=Shree Gajanan Maharaj, Shegaon\|website=www.gajananmaharaj.org\|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref> Shri Gajanan Maharaj Mandir is located below the temple of [[Shri Ram]].<ref>{{cite web\|title=Temples of Gajanan Maharaj\|url=http://www.gajanan-shegaon.com/int_page.asp?page=temples\|access-date=10 October 2017}}</ref> In the same area, there is the place where the Dhooni is burning. Also nearby, the ''Dhooni'' is the place where the devotees can see Maharaj's paduka (wooden sandals), the temple of [[Vithoba]] and Rukmini and the temple of [[Hanuman]]. There is an [[cluster fig\|umbar]] tree just near the temple of Hanuman and it is said to have been in existence since the days of Shri Gajanan Maharaj.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=अॅग्राेवन \|first=टीम \|title=संत गजानन महाराज पालखीचे सहा जूनला पंढरपूरकडे प्रस्‍थान \|url=https://www.agrowon.com/agriculture-latest-news/departure-of-sant-gajanan-maharaj-palkhi-to-pandharpur-on-6th-june \|access-date=2022-05-31 \|website=Agrowon \|language=mr}}</ref>		In the presence of Gajanan Maharaj, ''Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan'', a body of 12 trustees was formed on 12 September 1908 so as to commemorate the holy place which Maharaj had hinted ''Ya Jagi Rahil Re'' (It will be at this place) about his place and day for ''Samadhi''.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.gajananmaharaj.org/sgmsenglish/aboutsanstha.htm\|title=Shree Gajanan Maharaj, Shegaon\|website=www.gajananmaharaj.org\|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref> Shri Gajanan Maharaj Mandir is located below the temple of [[Shri Ram]].<ref>{{cite web\|title=Temples of Gajanan Maharaj\|url=http://www.gajanan-shegaon.com/int_page.asp?page=temples\|access-date=10 October 2017}}</ref> In the same area, there is the place where the Dhooni is burning. Also nearby, the ''Dhooni'' is the place where the devotees can see Maharaj's paduka (wooden sandals), the temple of [[Vithoba]] and Rukmini and the temple of [[Hanuman]]. There is an [[cluster fig\|umbar]] tree just near the temple of Hanuman and it is said to have been in existence since the days of Shri Gajanan Maharaj.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=अॅग्राेवन \|first=टीम \|title=संत गजानन महाराज पालखीचे सहा जूनला पंढरपूरकडे प्रस्‍थान \|url=https://www.agrowon.com/agriculture-latest-news/departure-of-sant-gajanan-maharaj-palkhi-to-pandharpur-on-6th-june \|access-date=2022-05-31 \|website=Agrowon \|language=mr}}</ref>

	Shivshankar Patil is the head of the trust<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.gajanandarshan.com/trustees_of_sansthan.php \|title=Trustees\|last=\|first=\|date=\|website=www.gajanandarshan.com\|archive-url=\|archive-date=\|url-status=\|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref> Educational institutions run by the trust are located at Shegaon and are affiliated to [[Amravati University]]. These colleges are one of the best institutes for engineering education in the [[Vidarbha]] region.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=टीम \|first=एबीपी माझा वेब \|date=2022-05-28 \|title=गजानन महाराजांच्या पालखीचे 6 जूनला प्रस्थान \|url=https://marathi.abplive.com/news/maharashtra/ashadhi-wari-2022-pandharpur-gajanan-maharaj-palkhi-departs-on-6th-june-see-palkhi-schedule-1064012 \|access-date=2022-05-31 \|website=marathi.abplive.com \|language=mr}}</ref> The [[Anand Sagar]] project for tourists was developed in 2005 by the trust and spans over 650 acres. It is one of the largest amusement places in Maharashtra. Shegaon is on the main line [[Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line\|Mumbai-Howrah]] route. Most of the trains which are going to Howrah stops for around ~~2-3~~ minutes at Shegaon.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-05-05 \|title=असदपूर में गजानन महाराज मंदिर का भूमिपूजन \|url=https://mandalnews.com/amravati/bhoomipujan-of-gajanan-maharaj-temple-in-asadpur/ \|access-date=2022-05-31 \|website=Mandal News \|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite ~~web~~ \|title=Watch Latest Marathi Devotional Video Song 'Shri Gajanan Maharaj Bavani' Sung By Swapnil Bandodkar {{!}} Lifestyle - Times of India Videos \|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/lifestyle/devotional/marathi/watch-latest-marathi-devotional-video-song-shri-gajanan-maharaj-bavani-sung-by-swapnil-bandodkar/videoshow/89387357.cms \|access-date=2022-05-31 \|~~website~~=~~timesofindia.indiatimes.com \|language=en}}</ref>~~		Shivshankar Patil is the head of the trust<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.gajanandarshan.com/trustees_of_sansthan.php \|title=Trustees\|last=\|first=\|date=\|website=www.gajanandarshan.com\|archive-url=\|archive-date=\|url-status=\|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref> Educational institutions run by the trust are located at Shegaon and are affiliated to [[Amravati University]]. These colleges are one of the best institutes for engineering education in the [[Vidarbha]] region.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=टीम \|first=एबीपी माझा वेब \|date=2022-05-28 \|title=गजानन महाराजांच्या पालखीचे 6 जूनला प्रस्थान \|url=https://marathi.abplive.com/news/maharashtra/ashadhi-wari-2022-pandharpur-gajanan-maharaj-palkhi-departs-on-6th-june-see-palkhi-schedule-1064012 \|access-date=2022-05-31 \|website=marathi.abplive.com \|language=mr}}</ref> The [[Anand Sagar]] project for tourists was developed in 2005 by the trust and spans over 650 acres. It is one of the largest amusement places in Maharashtra. Shegaon is on the main line [[Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai line\|Mumbai-Howrah]] route. Most of the trains which are going to Howrah stops for around 2–3 minutes at Shegaon.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-05-05 \|title=असदपूर में गजानन महाराज मंदिर का भूमिपूजन \|url=https://mandalnews.com/amravati/bhoomipujan-of-gajanan-maharaj-temple-in-asadpur/ \|access-date=2022-05-31 \|website=Mandal News \|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news \|title=Watch Latest Marathi Devotional Video Song 'Shri Gajanan Maharaj Bavani' Sung By Swapnil Bandodkar {{!}} Lifestyle - Times of India Videos \|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/lifestyle/devotional/marathi/watch-latest-marathi-devotional-video-song-shri-gajanan-maharaj-bavani-sung-by-swapnil-bandodkar/videoshow/89387357.cms \|access-date=2022-05-31 \|newspaper=The Times of India \|language=en}}</ref>

	~~==See also==~~

	~~== [[Gajanan Maharaj Temples]] are spread in various parts~~ of ~~the country in~~ India ~~and as well in the world ==~~
	Indore<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-02-24 \|title=Gajanan Maharaj: दो साल बाद फूलों से श्रृंगारित पालकी में इंदौर भ्रमण पर निकले गजानन महाराज \|url=https://www.naidunia.com/madhya-pradesh/indore-gajanan-maharaj-appearance-day-after-two-years-gajanan-maharaj-went-on-a-tour-of-indore-in-a-palanquin-decorated-with-flowers-7317740 \|access-date=2022-05-31 \|website=Nai Dunia \|language=hi}}</ref>

	Dewas<ref>{{Cite web \|title=गणेश चतुर्थी आज, सज गए गजानन महाराज \|url=https://www.amarujala.com/uttar-pradesh/sambhal/ganesh-chaturthi-today-gajanan-maharaj-was-decorated-chandausi-news-mbd4021045182 \|access-date=2022-05-31 \|website=Amar Ujala \|language=hi}}</ref>		[[Gajanan Maharaj Temples]] are spread in various parts of the country in India, such as [[Indore]]<ref>{{Cite web \|date=2022-02-24 \|title=Gajanan Maharaj: दो साल बाद फूलों से श्रृंगारित पालकी में इंदौर भ्रमण पर निकले गजानन महाराज \|url=https://www.naidunia.com/madhya-pradesh/indore-gajanan-maharaj-appearance-day-after-two-years-gajanan-maharaj-went-on-a-tour-of-indore-in-a-palanquin-decorated-with-flowers-7317740 \|access-date=2022-05-31 \|website=Nai Dunia \|language=hi}}</ref> and [[Dewas]].<ref>{{Cite web \|title=गणेश चतुर्थी आज, सज गए गजानन महाराज \|url=https://www.amarujala.com/uttar-pradesh/sambhal/ganesh-chaturthi-today-gajanan-maharaj-was-decorated-chandausi-news-mbd4021045182 \|access-date=2022-05-31 \|website=Amar Ujala \|language=hi}}</ref>

	== References ==		== References ==

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	One of his biographies known as ''Shree Gajanan Maharaj Charitra-Kosh'' was authored by Dasbhargav or Bhargavram Yeodekar, a native of Shegaon. The biography mentions various versions of Gajanan Maharaj's origins. While at [[Nashik]], Dasbhargav is thought to have met a contemporary saint known as Swami Shivanand Saraswati who was speculated to be of 129 years of age at the time. According to Shivanand he was a Brahmin who had previously met Gajanan Maharaj during 1887 at Nashik. He informed Dasbhargav about the period when Gajanan Maharaj appeared in Shegaon where he lived for the remainder of his life. He claimed to have made around 25 to 30 number of visits to Gajanan Maharaj during this period. Shivanand Swami also declared that he would often visit Dadasaheb Khaparde, a resident at [[Amravati]] and stay with his family at their residence during these visits. It is claimed that Shivanand Swami later travelled to the [[Himalayas]] and was never seen again (according to pages 362–365 of the aforementioned biography that details the conversation between Dasbhargav and Shivanand Swami). It is also believed that Shivanand Swami may have been a former resident at [[Sajjangad]], Maharashtra, also where the prominent 17th-century saint and philosopher [[Samarth Ramdas]] lived for many years. Gajanan Maharaj was an ardent user of marijuana and hashish which is exemplified in almost all available images in the public domain from the time of his attaining samadhi.Even the temple premises where he attained samadhi had a smoking choola as a symbolic representation.		One of his biographies known as ''Shree Gajanan Maharaj Charitra-Kosh'' was authored by Dasbhargav or Bhargavram Yeodekar, a native of Shegaon. The biography mentions various versions of Gajanan Maharaj's origins. While at [[Nashik]], Dasbhargav is thought to have met a contemporary saint known as Swami Shivanand Saraswati who was speculated to be of 129 years of age at the time. According to Shivanand he was a Brahmin who had previously met Gajanan Maharaj during 1887 at Nashik. He informed Dasbhargav about the period when Gajanan Maharaj appeared in Shegaon where he lived for the remainder of his life. He claimed to have made around 25 to 30 number of visits to Gajanan Maharaj during this period. Shivanand Swami also declared that he would often visit Dadasaheb Khaparde, a resident at [[Amravati]] and stay with his family at their residence during these visits. It is claimed that Shivanand Swami later travelled to the [[Himalayas]] and was never seen again (according to pages 362–365 of the aforementioned biography that details the conversation between Dasbhargav and Shivanand Swami). It is also believed that Shivanand Swami may have been a former resident at [[Sajjangad]], Maharashtra, also where the prominent 17th-century saint and philosopher [[Samarth Ramdas]] lived for many years. Gajanan Maharaj was an ardent user of marijuana and hashish which is exemplified in almost all available images in the public domain from the time of his attaining samadhi.Even the temple premises where he attained samadhi had a smoking choola as a symbolic representation.

	Another biography of Gajanan Maharaj known as ''Shree [[Gajanan Vijay]]'' was composed by Das Ganu who was born at Akolner. Das Ganu who was initially named Narayan by his maternal relatives had at some point moved to [[Ahmednagar]], Maharashtra where his father had been a care-taker of a property. He was later renamed as Ganesh and his grandfather often called him Ganu, a shorter version of his name.<ref>http://saileelaa.blogspot.com/2011/01/das-ganu-maharaj-brief-biography.html</ref> When he arrived at Pandharpur, Das Ganu was contacted by a resident at Shegaon, Ramchandra Krishnaji Patil who was also a devotee of Gajanan Maharaj. He advised Das Ganu to write a biography on Gajanan Maharaj.<ref>http://www.dattamaharaj.com/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%AF</ref>		Another biography of Gajanan Maharaj known as ''Shree [[Gajanan Vijay]]'' was composed by Das Ganu who was born at Akolner. Das Ganu who was initially named Narayan by his maternal relatives had at some point moved to [[Ahmednagar]], Maharashtra where his father had been a care-taker of a property. He was later renamed as Ganesh and his grandfather often called him Ganu, a shorter version of his name.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://saileelaa.blogspot.com/2011/01/das-ganu-maharaj-brief-biography.html\|title=SAI BABA LEELAS: Das Ganu Maharaj - Brief Biography\|date=2 January 2011}}</ref> When he arrived at Pandharpur, Das Ganu was contacted by a resident at Shegaon, Ramchandra Krishnaji Patil who was also a devotee of Gajanan Maharaj. He advised Das Ganu to write a biography on Gajanan Maharaj.<ref>http://www.dattamaharaj.com/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%AF</ref>

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{{Short description|Hindu guru from western Indian state of Maharashtra}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{More citations needed|article|date=June 2009}}
{{Infobox philosopher
| image = gajanan.png
| caption = Sadguru Shri Gajanan Maharaj
| signature =
| name = Shri Gajanan Maharaj
| birth_date = Unknown; Date of first appearance - January 25, 1878,(on the day of krishna/vadya saptami of Magha month which is the 11th month of Indian Shalivahana Shaka calendar) [[Shegaon]], [[Buldhana district]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| birth_place =
| death_date = September 8, 1910 ,(on the day of shuddha/shukla panchami of Bhadrapada month which is the 6th month of Indian Shalivahana Shaka calendar)
| death_place = Shegaon, Buldhana district, Maharashtra, India
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'''Gajanan Maharaj''' was an Indian [[Hindu]] guru, saint and mystic. He is often believed to be an incarnation of the Hindu deity [[Ganesha]]. His origins remain uncertain. He first appeared at [[Shegaon]], a village in [[Buldhana district]], [[Maharashtra]] as a young man in his twenties probably during February 1878. He breathed his last on September 8, 1910 by attaining ''Sajeevana Samadhi'' which is thought to be a process of voluntary withdrawal from one's physical body. This date of his ''Samadhi'' is commemorated every year as part of the ''Shree Punyatithi Utsav''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gajananmaharaj.org/sgmsenglish/awatarwork.htm|title=Shree Gajanan Maharaj, Shegaon last paragraph|accessdate=11 August 2014}}</ref> The date of his first appearance is considered an auspicious day and is celebrated as ''Prakat Din Sohla''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreegajananmaharaj.com/shree-gajanan-maharaj-prakat-din-special/ |title=Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Prakat din Sohla 2014 video |access-date=11 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903122229/http://www.shreegajananmaharaj.com/shree-gajanan-maharaj-prakat-din-special/ |archive-date=3 September 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref>

[[File:Shree Sant Gajanan Maharaj.png|right|150px|thumb|Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj, [[Shegaon]].]]

== Background and biographical versions ==
{{Additional citation needed|date=April 2020}}

The early life details of Gajanan Maharaj remain obscure and his date of birth also is unknown. He is believed to have made his first appearance during February 1878 at [[Shegaon]].

One of his biographies known as ''Shree Gajanan Maharaj Charitra-Kosh'' was authored by Dasbhargav or Bhargavram Yeodekar, a native of Shegaon. The biography mentions various versions of Gajanan Maharaj's origins. While at [[Nashik]], Dasbhargav is thought to have met a contemporary saint known as Swami Shivanand Saraswati who was speculated to be of 129 years of age at the time. According to Shivanand he was a Brahmin who had previously met Gajanan Maharaj during 1887 at Nashik. He informed Dasbhargav about the period when Gajanan Maharaj appeared in Shegaon where he lived for the remainder of his life. He claimed to have made around 25 to 30 number of visits to Gajanan Maharaj during this period. Shivanand Swami also declared that he would often visit Dadasaheb Khaparde, a resident at [[Amravati]] and stay with his family at their residence during these visits. It is claimed that Shivanand Swami later travelled to the [[Himalayas]] and was never seen again (according to pages 362–365 of the aforementioned biography that details the conversation between Dasbhargav and Shivanand Swami). It is also believed that Shivanand Swami may have been a former resident at [[Sajjangad]], Maharashtra, also where the prominent 17th-century saint and philosopher [[Samarth Ramdas]] lived for many years. Gajanan Maharaj was an ardent user of marijuana and hashish which is exemplified in almost all available images in the public domain from the time of his attaining samadhi.Even the temple premises where he attained samadhi had a smoking choola as a symbolic representation.

Another biography of Gajanan Maharaj known as ''Shree [[Gajanan Vijay]]'' was composed by Das Ganu who was born at Akolner. Das Ganu who was initially named Narayan by his maternal relatives had at some point moved to [[Ahmednagar]], Maharashtra where his father had been a care-taker of a property. He was later renamed as Ganesh and his grandfather often called him Ganu, a shorter version of his name.<ref>http://saileelaa.blogspot.com/2011/01/das-ganu-maharaj-brief-biography.html</ref> When he arrived at Pandharpur, Das Ganu was contacted by a resident at Shegaon, Ramchandra Krishnaji Patil who was also a devotee of Gajanan Maharaj. He advised Das Ganu to write a biography on Gajanan Maharaj.<ref>http://www.dattamaharaj.com/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%AF</ref>

It is believed that he had once visited Nashik, Maharashtra and the surrounding pilgrimage sites including Kapiltirtha. He lived at Kapiltirtha for around 12 years.<ref>Shri Gajanan Vijay Grantha</ref> Contemporaries of Gajanan Maharaj identified him by several names such as Gin Gine Buwa, Ganpat Buwa, and Awaliya Baba.

== Parallels with other prominent saints and spiritual masters==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2020}}
According to his biography ''Shree Gajanan Vijay'', Gajanan Maharaj used to consider a few other spiritual personalities such as Narasingji, Vasudevanand Saraswati (Tembhe Swami Maharaj) and Sai Baba of Shirdi as brothers. Gajanan Maharaj appeared as the Hindu deity [[Vitthala]] in [[Pandharapur]] for his one devotees Bapuna Kale. He also appeared as Samarth Ramdas for another devotee.

There are some similarities between Gajanan Maharaj and Swami Samarth of Akkalkot, another Hindu guru and mystic. They both were ''Paramahans'' and ''AjanBahu''. They represent different forms taken from the same source .

He is regarded as an enlightened being {{Citation needed|date=February 2019}}. He received a significant following in Maharashtra and thousands visit the Shegaon temple every year. According to the ''Shree Gajanan Vijay'', he was an exponent of three streams of [[Yoga]] i.e. Karma, Bhakti and Gyan Yoga.

== Appearances and divine powers ==
According to a legend, a money lender named Bankat Lal Agarwal first saw Gajanan Maharaj in a "superconscious state" on 23 February 1878 on a street, eating leftover food which was thrown (and thus spreading the message of food is life and food should not be wasted). Sensing him to be not an ordinary man who needs food to eat but a Yogi, Bankat took him home and asked Maharaj to stay with him. In his lifetime, he performed many miracles such as giving a fresh lease on life to one Janrao Deshmukh, lighting the clay-pipe without fire, filling a dry well with water, drawing sugar cane juice by twisting canes with his hands, curing leprosy of a man, curing himself of the many bites of honey bees, etc. Some of the above acts are because Shri Gajanan Maharaj knew Yoga Shastra on his own admission in the book by Shri Das Ganu Maharaj.

During a public meeting on the occasion of [[Shivaji|Shiv]] Jayanti, the great freedom fighter [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak|Lokmanya Tilak]] met Gajanan Maharaj. When Tilak delivered a charismatic speech, Maharaj predicted that Tilak would get a very harsh sentence by the [[British Raj]]. Maharaj's words did come true, however, Tilak is said to have taken blessings of Maharaj and his ''Prasad'' which helped him in writing his book – [[Shrimadh Bhagavad Gita Rahasya]], which is the summarised version of the holy book of Hindus, the [[Bhagavad Gita]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gajananmaharaj.org/sgmsenglish/awatarwork.htm|title=Shree Gajanan Maharaj, Shegaon|website=www.gajananmaharaj.org|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref>

Shree Gajanan Maharaj took ''Samadhi'' on 8 September 1910. His earthly remains were buried and a temple in his name is built on his [[Samādhi|Samadhi]] at Shegaon. Maharaj was prescient and had predicted his time on this earth was close to getting over. His devotees had started building the temple in his honour for some time before his [[Samadhi]]-din. In fact, his [[Samadhi]] mandir is just below the temple of [[Shri Ram]]. It is said that Shri Gajanan Maharaj would routinely worship at the temple of [[Shri Ram]] during his lifetime.
Shri Gajanan Maharaj was fond of smoking ganja in his chilam and is supposed to have also started a dhooni (loosely meaning hearth, but representing a glowing chilum{{typo help inline|reason=similar to chillum|date=November 2019}}) during his lifetime. The dhooni is still burning and is located very near the [[Samadhi]] mandir.
At the time when he filled a dry well with water, the saint who had denied him water, saying all wells here are dry, Shri ''Bhaskar Maharaj Jayle'', later went on to become his big devotee. Bhaskar Maharaj's grandson, Shri ''Vasudeva Maharaj Jayle'' was also a great devotee of Gajanan Maharaj, whose ''Shraddhasagar [[Ashram]]'' in [[Akot]] is a spiritual place for devotees in nearby areas.

== ''Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan'' ==
In the presence of Gajanan Maharaj, Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan, a body of 12 trustees was formed on 12 September 1908 so as to commemorate the holy place which Maharaj had hinted ''Ya Jagi Rahil Re'' (It will be at this place) about his place and day for ''Samadhi''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gajananmaharaj.org/sgmsenglish/aboutsanstha.htm|title=Shree Gajanan Maharaj, Shegaon|website=www.gajananmaharaj.org|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref>
The area around the temple is well maintained. Shri Gajanan Maharaj Mandir is located below the temple of [[Shri Ram]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Temples of Gajanan Maharaj|url=http://www.gajanan-shegaon.com/int_page.asp?page=temples|access-date=10 October 2017}}</ref> In the same area, there is the place where the Dhooni is burning. Also nearby the ''Dhooni'' is the place where the devotees can see Maharaj's paduka (wooden sandals), the temple of [[Vithoba]] and Rukmini and the temple of [[Hanuman]]. There is an [[umbar]] tree just near the temple of Hanuman and it is said to have been in existence since the days of Shri Gajanan Maharaj.

Shivshankar Patil is the head of the trust<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gajanandarshan.com/trustees_of_sansthan.php|title=Trustees|last=|first=|date=|website=www.gajanandarshan.com|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2018-09-06}}</ref> and well known in India for his administration and management of the temple, bhojan kaksha, engineering and management college, Anand Sagar project and many other institution run by the trust located at Shegaon managed by Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan Shegaon affiliated to [[Amravati]] university. This college is one of the best institutes for engineering education in [[Vidarbha]] region. The Anand Sagar project is also developed by the trust over 650 acres for tourist with all facilities at nominal rates. It is one of the largest amusement places in Maharashtra.The temple is famous in Maharashtra for its clean, neat, tidy environment and polite and respectful behaviour of the sevakas of Gajanan Maharaj trust who work there just for seva.
Shegaon is on main line -Mumbai-Howrah route. Most of the trains which are going to Howrah stops (2-3 min) at Shegaon.
==See also==
*''[[Shegavicha Rana Gajanan]]''
*[[Gajanan Maharaj Temple - Kanhor]]
*[[Gajanan Maharaj Temple - Indore]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.gajananmaharaj.org Official Website about Devasthan]
* [http://www.dasbhargav.com/ Yogi Gajanan Maharaj – Marathi Article]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100326133804/http://www.gajanan-maharaj.com/ Gajanan-Maharaj.com]
* [https://www.krazzymag.com/gajanan-maharaj-aarti-lyrics/ Gajanan Maharaj Aarti Lyrics]
* [http://gajanan-maharaj.com/Mandir.html Temples of Shri Gajanan Maharaj around the Globe, identified on Google maps]
* [http://gajanan-maharaj.com/Places.html Places visited by Shri Gajanan Maharaj identified on Google maps]
* [http://gajanan-maharaj.com/PalkhiMarg.html Palakhi Marg (Palanquin route) identified on Google maps]

[[Category:Indian Hindu saints]]
[[Category:People from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:19th-century Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:1910 deaths]]